Favorite and not so favorite places to eat at WDW?

[dduckfan1]

I am going to WDW next May with DH for the first time. (DH has been to WDW once before) I have looked at menus for some of the restaurants and would like to know what are some of the places to eat that are a must and some that can be skipped. One of the things that I am most excited for is I've heard that the food is pretty good for the most part at WDW.

Any comments/suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[KateB]

First of all I am so excited for you! I remember my first visit just a few years ago, and I loved every moment. Just remember to slow down... you will see lots of things and it's ok if you don't see it all.

Now on to one of my favorite parts.... THE FOOD!


My DH and I ALWAYS do:

California Grill (get a time to watch the fireworks)
Narcoossee's (also fabulous for the fireworks)
Coral Reef (ask to be seeted by the tank it is cool to watch the fish)
Yak & Yeti (best place in AK)
Earl of Sandwich (wonderful lunch)

We also enjoy (but don't always have time for):
The Brown Derby (get the Fantasmic package)
Whispering Canyon Cafe (have fun with the waiters, tell them your very thirsty)
Yachtsman Club (wonderful steak- best we've had on property)
Sci Fi Dine Inn (awesome atmosphere)
Crystal Palace (I LOVE the characters)

We also will NEVER return to:
Kouzzina's (just gross, and bad service)
Liberty Tree Tavern (not very many options and not impressive)
Chefs de France (not impressed, people praise but we don't get it)

I hope that this gives you some help I LOVE the food at WDW and can't wait to go and eat again. Just make sure that you get a Dole Whip at MK- you have to experience its deliciousness!!!!

HAVE FUN!!!

 

[heart goes boOm]

My DH and I ALWAYS do:

California Grill (get a time to watch the fireworks)
Narcoossee's (also fabulous for the fireworks)
Coral Reef (ask to be seeted by the tank it is cool to watch the fish)
Yak & Yeti (best place in AK)
Earl of Sandwich (wonderful lunch)

what time are the fireworks?

 

[CajunMomof3]

We love the breakfast at the Kona Cafe- the Tonga Toast really is all that it is cracked up to be! And the coffe is great too!

We always eat at the Yak & Yeti as well...

My advice would be to try resort restuarants over park ones. It is fun to see the resorts and the food is better IMHO.

 

[lblume91]

We have tried many different CS & TS locations in WDW.

Our favorite TS:
O'hana - great food &, if you time it right, you can see MK fireworks!
50s Prime Time Cafe - great food in a fun, atmosphere.

We also really like
Whispering Canyon Cafe - fun atmosphere & good food. Downside: very loud.
Cape May Cafe - nice buffet, includes crab legs which is always a winner with my DH.

The only TS meals we've been truly disappointed in:
Cinderella's Royal Table - maybe our expectations were too high but we thought the food was blah & the interaction was very limited - even our DD3, at the time, didn't like it - very disappointing.
Biergarten - we are German by heritage & live in a small German town in mostly German southern Indiana so we thought this would be right up our alley. It wasn't.
Sci-Fi Dine In - wierd seating & food was bland.

Our favorite CS spots by park:
MK - Columbia Harbour House
E - Sunshine Seasons
DHS - Catalina Eddie's
AK - Pizzafari

We always stay at POR & they have an awesome food court.

 

[RichmondTiggerFan]

My Favorites:
1. Crystal Palace
2. Garden Grill
3. Garden Grove at the Swan (only on Monday/Friday nights, when Timon & Rafiki are there)

Least Favorite:
1. ABC Commisary (Like everyone else on this board -worst burger I've ever had on property)
2. Liberty Tree Tavern - without the characters, this dinner is not worth the price.

 

[snarfblatt]

That Whispering Canyon sounds awesome
How hard is it to get to from the parks? Time?
Is lunch the same atmosphere as dinner?

 

[wyonative78]

If you're looking to try a few signatures, I highly recommend Jiko, Yachtsman, and California Grill. The best steak I have had anywhere (and I mean anywhere) was the filet mignon at Yachtsman. Wow. You also can't beat the ambiance of Jiko and Cali Grill. All three had outstanding service as well.

Boma has an awesome dinner buffet and Tusker House has a super yummy breakfast buffet. Of course, you can always opt for a hot cinnamon roll from Main Street Bakery or a huge cupcake from Starring Rolls in DHS for a meal. Don't judge.

If you're looking for burgers, fries, and ice cream, you can't beat Beaches and Cream at BC.

Happy eating!

 

[LoveKermit]

We could use some info on your where & whens to help. No one's made a bad suggestion.

We've recently discovered The Plaza, but we like sandwiches and getting waited on.

Someone already mentioned Dole Whip, I'd like to recommend other "treats."

MK bakery, Germany & the Goofy Candy Shop (DTD) have awesome German Chocolate cookies. Germany also has decent gingerbread. My mom's is still the best, but this was a close second--especially with the chocolate dipped Mickey ears.

The Gran Marnier slushies in France are awesome too. We just discovered these in January (after many trips). They are expensive, but in Jan we shared. In August, we did not share.

Have fun! Can't wait to be planning! Feb for ADRs can't come fast enough (but the holidays can wait).

 

[sherbetdibdab]

Favourites:
California Grill - best food we've eaten at WDW and utterly amazing to watch the fireworks from the roof. Superb service too.
Tangerine Cafe, Morocco - lovely lunches and something a bit different.
Food and wine festival - if you are there for the festival some of the snacks on the concessions are lovely.

I too am obsessed with Dole whips LOL - divine! I also love the Mickey ice cream sandwiches - taste like giant ice cream oreos and are delicious!

Wouldn't bother again:
San Angel Inn - atmosphere is fab but the food is so bland. Shame really.
Wolfgang Pucks DTD - had good and bad meals but when it is bad it is very bad and generally you can't hear yourself think if it's busy.

 

[lblume91]

That Whispering Canyon sounds awesome
How hard is it to get to from the parks? Time?
Is lunch the same atmosphere as dinner?

We have only eaten dinner at WCC, usually either early (5 pm) or later (8 pm). We always go to MK & then, depending on how much time we have, either take the boat or the bus to the Wilderness Lodge. If you're at another park, just take the WL bus. No problem getting there at all.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Favorites:
Fulton's
California Grill
Citrico's
Yak & Yeti

Really Enjoy:
Jiko
Shula
Flying Fish
Yachtsman
Liberty Tree Tavern Lunch

Not Returning:
San Angel Inn
Mama Melrose
Crystal Palace

 

[TRBelle84]

Places we will always try and eat at:
California Grill
Jiko
Hollywood Brown Derby

Places we've been to but have no real desire to return to:
Yachtsman (after eating the steak at Jiko & Cali Grill, there is truly no need to go to Yachtsman)
Teppan Edo (we have hibachi restaurants where we live that are much tastier)
Nine Dragons (same as reasoning for Teppan Edo but with Chinese food)

 

[Little_Sister]

My advice would be to try resort restuarants over park ones. It is fun to see the resorts and the food is better IMHO.

I agree that the resort restaurants are very very good...the wave, california grill, kona, boma, beaches and cream...YUM! and you're absolutely right about visiting the resorts...they're an attraction all on their own!

but i also think in Epcot...Tokyo Dining is stellar--very good sushi and the service is wonderful (also really awesome to have a window seat during illuminations) and Rose & Crown is on our not be missed list--we have to do this at least twice each trip....the cheese/sausage plate for two...fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding...omg i love this! but we also just really like sitting and drinking too!

Downtown Disney--we love TRex--this is just way fun and WPE is the best counter service we've had.

If you are going to eat in Magic Kingdon...I'd do Liberty Tree Tavern at LUNCH...the pot roast is just ridiculously good.

Happy first trip!!!

 

[disneydiva1313]

My favorites are The Plaza and Crystal Palace, both in the Magic Kingdom. I also like Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney.

Not a fan of ABC Commissary in Hollywood Studios.

 

[asdfghjkl13]

Favorites:

1. Ohana-- amazing food, service was so good too!
2. Boma-- Fantastic buffet
3. Crystal Palace-- food is really good, by far the best food at a character dinner
4. Garden Grill-- not the best food, but the atmosphere above the Land boat ride cant be beaten (and the restaurant spins)

Also really like:

5. Whispering Canyon- very entertaining
6. Mama Melrose- good food
7. Tony's- good food
8. Chef Mickey's- love the atmosphere and food is good

Least favorite:

1. Hollywood & Vine- bad food
2. Cape May Cafe- not a fan of the choices
3. Liberty Tree Tavern- again, not a fan of the choices
4. Teppan Edo- while the food was decent, local hibachies are WAY better

 

[catne]

Favorite...Le Cellier #1, then Flying Fish, then Via Napoli

Least Favorite: Hollywood & Vine bottom of the barrel! Yachtsman Steakhouse #2 least favorite.

That's about it for least favorites. We pretty much liked all the rest of the restaurants (35+ and counting)

 

[OhioWDWDuo]

We love the restaurants in WDW!!!! You will have a GREAT time! Here's the list from DH and I:

Favorite/Must-Do's:
Narcoossee's
California Grill
Cape May Cafe (character breakfast)
Liberty Tree Tavern (for lunch)
Toyko Dining
Le Cellier

We Really Like:
Tutto Italia
Yak and Yeti
Beaches & Cream
Hollywood Brown Derby
Wolfgang Puck Cafe

Not Our Favorites:
Ohana (for dinner)
Coral Reef
The Plaza
San Angel Inn

You'll get so many different opinions, so my advice is to look at the menus and see what appeals to you. Good luck!

 

[jlk806]

Must dos for us:
Coral Reef (the atmosphere is worth dining here, even if you dont love seafood, they have steak and chicken options also)

Ohana

Chef Mickeys

Crystal Palace

Cape May Cafe


Just tried this trip and loved:
Tony's Town Square

Could live without:
Whispering Canyon Cafe (dont care for the food in the skillet as much as we used to - they got rid of the sausage and shrimp for pulled pork and brisket

Tusker House Donald's Safari Breakfast - only 3 characters rotating tables and very rushed

Akershus Breakfast - actually this one was pretty ok, and a must do if you've got little girls who want to meet the princesses

 

[Amy&Dan]

I sort of enjoy eating at restaurants that have either a cuisine or an atmosphere I cannot get at home.

I enjoy the character meals, even though my kids are older we still have fun at them. The food is not the draw, but the characters are! My favorites are the Cape May breakfast, the Ohana breakfast and Crystal Palace, and Chef Mickey's, although we have enjoyed all of them.

Enjoy Coral Reef for the tank, its fun to eat inside there. Plus I still remember that Full House episode!

Love Sci Fi, it really does feel like you are eating at a drive in. We do lunch because we enjoy the burgers, onion rings, reubens and shakes.

Enjoy the dinner at Ohana for the lively atmosphere and the stellar views of the castle.

We also enjoy Yachtsmen. We have good steakhouses at home, but their filet is consistently wonderful and we enjoy the atmosphere.

Love places in Epcot like Marrakesh,San Angel, Tokyo Dining and many of the counter serve places for the cuisine and atmosphere. I love Tokyo Dinign because I think the wait staff do a terrific job of presenting Japanese culture, and San Angel serves a variety of Mexican food I don't find at home. Love Marrakesh for the Morrocan food plus the belly dancer and atmosphere.

And I love Boma, its a nice mix of something unique I can't get at home, with some standard stuff thrown in for my picky daughter and we love to eat at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.