Best restaurants for dining at the bar

[k-wa]

Pre-baby, my husband and I used to love eating at the bar part at restaurants. On our date night, I want to do just that. I would appreciate a suggestion for a WDW restaurant that has great atmosphere for dining at the bar. Thanks!

 

[LovesTimone]

If you can get into Cali Grill that would be my top pick. But it is very hard...not impossible, DH and I got lucky on New Years eve 2010/2011 and did get a seat at the bar. If not DTD has lots of options, Planet Hollywood, Rainforest, T-Rex, Raglan Road, for that pub feel. I also think that "The Wave: at the Contemporary has a really beautiful bar setting.

 

[Sugardimples]

We really like the bar at Flying Fish. Actually, they have two bars - the regualar bar and the Chef's Counter. If you sit at the Chef's Counter you have a full on view of the kitchen at work. We love it!

 

[plutolovr]

We always sit at the bar at Dad's Tune-In Lounge at 50's Prime Time Cafe. We have also done the same at Raglan Road and Flying Fish, however, I believe you still need an ADR to sit at the kitchen-view bar at Flying Fish.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Ohh ... so many. I'll give you my "short" list of favorites. The full restaurant menu can be ordered at any of them:

California Grill
Jiko
Bluezoo
Sanaa
Raglan Road
Il Mulino
The Wave

 

[nkereina]

We ate at the bar at ESPN Club and it was good. Very comfortable, others doing the same, and a very big bar with tons of TVs so easy to get a seat. Rose & Crown at Epcot has a separate pub area with high top tables and a pub menu, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to get a seat in there.

 

[KBoopaloo]

We recently ate "dinner" at the Territory Lounge between Artist Point and Whispering Canyon Cafe. They have a very small, appetizer type food menu but it was quite tasty. Our server actually brought us some soup from Artist Point to tide us over because our appetizers took too long (her assessment, not ours. We were completely surprised by the free soup!)

I think you can also order some of the Yachtsman Steakhouse menu at the Crew's Cup Lounge but I am not 100% sure on that.

 

[bowbat]

We recently ate "dinner" at the Territory Lounge between Artist Point and Whispering Canyon Cafe. They have a very small, appetizer type food menu but it was quite tasty. Our server actually brought us some soup from Artist Point to tide us over because our appetizers took too long (her assessment, not ours. We were completely surprised by the free soup!)

We also had a light meal in the Territory Lounge. Good food & really nice mellow atmosphere in there -- you're totally removed from all the hustle & bustle.

 

[ScoJo15]

I'd recommend the bar at Bluezoo! Expert mixologists serving a unique menu of drinks, along with an amazing Todd English bar menu (oysters for the win!)

 

[annnewjerz]

We have eaten at the bar/counter at Flying Fish, bluezoo and Beaches & Cream and we really enjoyed each experience.

At Flying Fish, we sat at the Chef's Counter and really had fun watching the food be prepared. It provided some nice entertainment during lulls in our conversation and we had the whole counter to ourselves.

At bluezoo, we actually sat at the bar in the lounge area just to grab some apps (scallops over short-ribs, yummmmm!) and drinks and it wasn't bad at all. The place was dead, so we had the attention of the bartender and the drinks were awesome. This is probably our favorite WDW restaurant, definitely worth stopping in.

At Beaches & Cream we sat at the counter because we requested first-available seating and I'd definitely sit there again. Again, like with FFC, watching the icecream be made (especially the kitchen sink) was a fun way to keep us occupied while we waited for our food and interact a bit more with the CMs.

 

[Pakey]

buezoo gets my vote also. It's a gorgeous lounge, much more adult than the bars at the Disney resorts and the bartenders here are attentive and knowledgable. When we were there last week (six adults), the bartender made us samples of each of the signature drinks before we ordered so that we could decide what we wanted.

I would pick Il Mulino second, particularly if you enjoy wine.

So many of the WDW lounges are used by families waiting for tables in the dining room. Others, like Flying Fish, require an ADR. We've had better success at the Swan/Dolphin with walkups.

 

[nkereina]

Not to hijack, but if you're on DP and eat at a bar off a pub menu, are you charged TS? Or would DP not be accepted? Just curious, because we also wouldn't mind eating at the bars some more.

 

[BriarRosie]

I think you can also order some of the Yachtsman Steakhouse menu at the Crew's Cup Lounge but I am not 100% sure on that.

Well, that has been true, sort of. I'll share my experiences at Crew's Cup. Two Decembers ago, I was able to order from a bar menu that had some items that were served at Yachtsman. They had only a choice of filet mignon or Sirloin as steak choices. But you were able to have a variety of appetizers and side dishes, as well as pub food like burgers.

The following October, I noticed the limited version of the Yachtsman menu was gone. And the pub menu was limited to basic "pub grub" and burgers.

Not to hijack, but if you're on DP and eat at a bar off a pub menu, are you charged TS? Or would DP not be accepted? Just curious, because we also wouldn't mind eating at the bars some more.

I don't think all the bars accept the dining plan. You should first ask, when you sit down, if that bar serves the full menu and accepts dining plan credits. If the answer is "yes", be sure to ask the cast member what items are valid against the dining plan.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would recommend the ESPN Club.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Another vote for Todd English's Blue Zoo. Great drinks, even better food and fun ambiance. Love the Tuna Tartare, the shell fish platter, so fresh and those garlic parmensan fries! We had only ever done dinner but the last time we did couple of appetizers and drinks at the bar.

I've never had room for dessert but I've promised myself to take home a piece of banana cream tart next time.

 

[Uncleromulus]

All of my favorites have been mentioned except Citricos, Shulas and Yak and Yeti...

To add that I always thought that you could not get a full meal at the bar at Il Mulino. If that's changed, that's good!!!

If I had but one choice it would probably be Blue Zoo--followed by Shulas and then Flying Fish.

I hope the OP isn't restricted by the DP?

 

[Sweet Melissa]

To add that I always thought that you could not get a full meal at the bar at Il Mulino. If that's changed, that's good!!!

I guess it has! My partner and I had reservations at Il Mulino a couple weeks ago but asked if we could take our meal in the lounge instead. We were given full menus. He had risotto and I had cannelloni.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Glad to hear that! I never understood why any restaurant wouldn't offer full meals at their bars....

 

[TigerKat]

Another vote for BlueZoo & Il Mulino!!

 

[k-wa]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I think we're going with Blue Zoo as I have always wanted to try it.