Favourite Restaurants at each park?

[Chestnut]

Going in February for my 4th time and wondering what are your personal fav's for restaurants in each park. My favourite used to be Coral Reef (last time was 1999), but the reviews have been disappointing lately. I'm on a budget w/ my gf and can only splurge on a few choice lunches / dinners.

What would you recommend for each park since we are planning to visit one for each day and would like to have 1 or 2 exceptional meals.

Should I go back to Coral Reef (my gf hasn't been there) or is should I make plans to go to France?

Thanks a bunch guys! This is my first newbie post

 

[flynnmnstr]

Ok here are my choices for each park. First I should tell you that DH and I do not have fancy tastes. Many of our dining choices revolve around restaurants that have good atmospheres, comfortable surroundings and good food.

Epcot- Rose and Crown or San Angel Inn
These two restaurants are probably 2 of our favs. Make a 7:30-7:45pm PS at Rose and Crown; check in early and tell them you will wait for a table on the patio (they have always granted our request). You'll be able to stay there and view Illuminations; its a great view. It is one of our fav meals when we go; make sure to order the cheese and crackers and dessert. When DH and I went for the first time together in Dec of 2000 it was very romantic. Haven't tried that seating with DS 2 yet (the result of that very romantic evening back in 2000) but we are going to try this upcoming trip. If he gets cranky or fussy we'll just eat and watch the show elsewhere.

MGM- I know it gets mixed review but we love the 50s Prime Time Cafe. I think the food is more than decent (my fav meal is the fried chicken with a vanilla milkshake); stick with the traditional dinner choices (chicken, meatloaf, pot roast). ORDER THE SMORES FOR DESSERT!! Anytime we have tried Sci-FI it was horrible. We also had lunch at Brown Derby and did not think it was that good for the $$.

Magic Kingdom- This park is tricky. We really don't like any of the sit down restaurants. IMHO Pecos Bill's is the best counter service. Liberty Tree Tavern is good but very busy and its a Thanksgiving dinner; we're not always in the mood for that. I would recommend taking the monorail and eating at one of the hotels for a sit down. We are going to try Ohana at the Polynesian this time. We haven't eaten at many sitdowns in this area because we normally tend to be at Epcot in the evenings.

Animal Kingdom- Aside from Rainforest Cafe there are no sit down restaurants here. We like Flame Tree BBQ or Tusker House. Flame Tree is only open seasonally. ANother option is to take the bus over to AKL and eat at Boma (buffet) or Jiko. I have heard good reviews on both of those restaurants. We're going to try Boma this time.

Honestly I would just eat at counter service in AK and MK and save your $$ for restaurants in Epcot or the Resorts. Not sure how long you are going to be there for or where you are staying. THat would factor into my decision of where to eat also. If you are only there for a short time than I would make my dining choices at my hotel or in the parks. Only because transportaion to the resorts takes much time out of your day unless you are planning later dinners after the parks close.

If you are only going to have one or two sit down dinners, I would definitely choose Rose and Crown (but only for the 7:30-7:45 PS), just because it is romantic and relaxing and the food is good. I love the atmosphere and the patio seating is so nice. Remember check in early and tell them you'll wait for a patio seat.

 

[Chestnut]

Thank you for your suggestions.

I will definitely try to get a seat for illuminations. Sounds very romantic =)

I'm going for a week and staying at Pop Century this time. Read the forums and seems like a good idea because then I can spend more on food and souvenirs

Well the good thing is that this is the first time i'm not going at Xmas / New Years so the crowds should be less and the park closes comparatively early. Prob drive out of Disney for cheaper eats half the time.

 

[jann1033]

if you want a sit down for lunch the Mk liberty
tree is a different menu, not just 'Thanksgiving "like at dinner....and the plaza restaurant had good burgers last time we ate there (MK also) but that said unless we go to the plaza r. I can't say I have been overly impressed with any MK counter or sit down. Cystal palace was good food but I got a cooked spider in it so gross now to me but the chances of that happening again are probably pretty slim!

if money is an object, if you eat your big meal of the day at lunch and go to the food court for a light dinner it's lots cheaper and you don't have to drive around looking for an off property rest. (imo) most of the park menus are similar for the lunch and dinner and have at least a few non sandwich lunch meals.

 

[sha_lyn]

Epcot.... Marrakesh or Biergarten. It would be hard for me to pick just one of these 2. The food is great at both, so I'd chose it based on atsmpophere. For a coulpe I'd probably go with Marrakesh


MGM..... I love both Primetime and Mama Melrose, but for a couple I'd go with Mama Melrose.

AK.... I'd head over to AKL and do either Boma, or Jiko. Love Boma, but haven't tried Jiko. IT gets great review here however and owuld be my choice for a couple.


MK..... Hummm I'd say eat at one of the resorts. Haven't tried the sitdowns at either (except the tea at GF), but from reviews here I'd go with Narcoossee at the GF

 

[Manda1219]

I'd have to agree with counter service in AK.
Epcot I love Le Cellier, but if you can get the patio seating at Rose & Crown, that sounds like it'd be really nice!
MK I like Cinderella's castle, both time's I've gone in the past 2 years, we made reservations for the first dinner (I think it was at 5?) and arrived earlier than anyone else. Both times, we got window seats, which are great!
I'm not really too fond of any of the places in MGM.
And if you're looking in Downtown Disney, I'd DEFINATLY go for Fultons or Portabello