Best food in or around AK for *lunch*?

[momomonster]

Hi all- hoping someone here can help.

We'll be at Disney the last week of September and I hear Tusker House will be closed, which everyone seems to rave about. It also appears neither of the highly-rated restaurants at AKL are open for lunch and the Yeti place won't be open yet.

What's a foodie to do?

I really don't mind CS if it's good and tasty- there just don't seem to be many options at AK either way.

Would you recommend park-hopping that day, just so we can squeeze in a decent meal? The Rainforest Cafe doesn't appeal to me, just because it's a chain theme restaurant and I haven't had great luck with them.

Thanks so much for any advice, input, comments, etc.

Happy travels!

 

[schwaa]

It also appears neither of the highly-rated restaurants at AKL are open for lunch and the Yeti place won't be open yet.

I'm not sure what these "highly-rated restaurants" are that aren't serving lunch. At the moment, all the eateries inside the park are counter service.

With Tusker House closed, you still have:

Flame Tree BBQ - which is really good
Pizzafari
Restaurantosaurus - which is McDonald's

I would just eat at one of these for lunch that day and then do a sit down for dinner.

 

[FancyBrat]

I've always preferred Flame Tree over Tusker House but we like BBQ. Nice seating area too.

 

[Pumbaa_]

We are fans of Flame Tree Barbecue. We alternate, get ribs one year, chicken the next. If you like barbecue, this place is yummy. It is a dry barbecue though, not a saucy one. There are barbecue sauces available though to add or dip.

 

[momomonster]

schwaa- I was referring to Jiko and Boma at the AKL. Sorry for the confusion.

FancyBrat- Thanks for the suggestion. However, as a southern gal (Georgia), I'm pretty picky about my BBQ and find I only crave it occasionally, anyway. It's so heavy.

Sounds like we'll be park-hopping or just doing as schwaa suggested- quick lunch there and nice dinner elsewhere.

Thanks yall.

 

[foxfire]

Another fan of Flame Tree -- we always have to eat there at least once during a trip.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Another vote for Flame Tree. The outdoor seating area by the river is so peaceful and relaxing. And I think the food is very good too. You also have the RFC option for lunch, not exactly gourmet but it is a sitdown. Your other option is to get on a bus to say the Poly, and have lunch at Kona Cafe or one of the other monorail resorts restaurants. But that can be very time consuming. Given the large scope of AK and the shorter hours, I would just enjoy a cs lunch right there then head somewhere nicer for dinner. You could also go to the cs place in the AKL, Mara for lunch.

Oh and for the heavy nature of bbq, I like their smoked turkey sandwich. Its not heavy at all. I also enjoy the bbq chicken salad and the fruit plate at Flame Tree. You can also just enjoy some nice fresh fruit from the fruit cart.

They really dropped the ball with this Tusker House thing, AK is now in short supply of decent cs.

I also have to say the sandwiches at Pizzafari are pretty decent. The pizza is sort of gross but dh and I like to share a sandwich.