Good Counter Service Recommendations?

[onelilspark]

I'm heading back to DLR in August with my Mom. I went in March 2010 with my now husband and we were quite disappointed with the counter service options compared to WDW.

To be fair, I think it's because I know where to go (and more importantly, where to avoid) in WDW.

So...does anyone have suggestions for us to check out?

We ate at Redd Rockett's Pizza Port, Taste Pilot's Grill, & Blue Ribbon Bakery. We liked the bakery, had that for breakfast two mornings. But really wasn't thrilled with Taste Pilot's or Redd Rockett's.

 

[shellie may]

When I went to DLR in February with my mom we both really enjoyed the pacific wharf area at DCA as well as the boardwalk pizza and pasta place also at DCA. At DL we enjoyed the hungry bear. Hopefully you find some great places to eat this time around

 

[KateDrake]

I know exactly what you mean! I've had a few bad meals before because I didn't know where to avoid. Luckily, Disneyland has revamped many of the menus, so things are getting better. But I sure do wish they'd get a Sunshine Seasons
Here's my list of places I find unoffensive, and some to avoid. Of course others will disagree, but food is so subjective! It makes to hard to know what people will like.

Disneyland
Hungry Bear: Fried green tomato sandwich is great!
Jolly Holiday Bakery: Good sandwiches, etc.
Redd Rocketts: The pasta and salads are OK, but avoid the pizza.

DCA
Pacific Warf Cafe: I like the salads and soups
Paradise Garden Grill: I like the kebabs
Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta: Again, pasta is better than pizza here
I've heard great things about Fidler, Fifer and Practical and Flo's V8 Cafe here, but haven't tried either yet.

Places to avoid:
River Belle Terrace (I thought the sandwiches and salads here were gross)
Tomorrowland Terrace (haven't ever tried it due to universally bad reviews)
Lucky Fortune Cookery (gross chicken, but I do hear the veggie combo is good)
Taste Pilots (not too bad, but just kind of meh)

Disney is trying to do better at this stuff, but they do have a long way to go to catch up to WDW. Though it has it's share of losers as well. I think you have it right, it's all about knowing where to avoid! The places I'm recommending are still just OK, nothing truly great. I fill up on Mickey pretzels and Dole Whips, you can't go wrong there!

 

[Girimama33]

Jolly Holiday Bakery, Bengal BBQ, Corn Dogs and Turkey Legs are good if you like that kind of stuff. I liked Tomorrowland Terrace or breakfast. I did not care for Village House. I had good experiences with both Rancho Del Zocalo and Cucomnga Cocina too.

 

[KateDrake]

Jolly Holiday Bakery, Bengal BBQ, Corn Dogs and Turkey Legs are good if you like that kind of stuff. I liked Tomorrowland Terrace or breakfast. I did not care for Village House. I had good experiences with both Rancho Del Zocalo and Cucomnga Cocina too.

I thought Rancho Del Zocalo was OK as well. DH had the carne asada plate, and it was pretty darn good.
I forgot to mention that the Blue Ribbon Bakery is now closed, but Jolly Holiday is pretty much the same thing, just re-themed to Mary Poppins.

 

[4th Gen Disney Fan]

The corn dog wagon on Main Street!

 

[NiceOneSimba]

I think Riverbelle Terrace is good for breakfast. They have Mickey pancakes, and a couple of different egg combos. Plus, I think the outdoor seating area is quite pleasant.

Hungry Bear is great for a couple of reasons. The fried green tomato sandwich is very, very good (I would gladly eat it outside of DLR), and the setting is great. Even though it was crowded when we went, there's something about sitting right on the water that is very relaxing.

I thought Village Haus was fine. Not amazing by any means, but the BLT flatbread pizza was good and my husband liked the chicken sausage on pretzel roll. I had the salad on a previous visit, and it was fresh and had all sorts of good stuff in it, but I didn't particularly like the dressing. Still, it was much better than I was expecting.

Bengal BBQ is yummy, but I see it as more of a snack than an actual meal. If you like bacon and asparagus, you have to try that skewer. So good!

I'm excited to try some of the new places in DCA--Flo's, the Cozy Cones...can't wait to start reading more reviews of those as the time goes on.

 

[cmwade77]

A lot has changed since 2010 in terms of Counter Service out here, a lot of the menus have been revamped, so here are the good places, in my opinion:

• Disneyland
  
  [*]Jolly Holiday Bakery
  [*]Hungry Bear
  [*]Village Haus
  [*]Plaza Inn​

• DCA
  
  [*]Flo's V8 Cafe
  [*]Cozy Cones (more snack foods though)
  [*]Giradelli (Dessert Only)
  [*]Award Wieners
  [*]Fidler, Fifer & Practical Cafe
  [*]Boardwalk Pizza
  [*]The Medetreannean place next to Boardwalk Pizza (Sorry, I forget the name)​

• Hotels
  
  [*]Whitewater Snacks
  [*]Tangaroa Terrace​

Places to avoid:

• Disneyland
  
  [*]River Belle Terrace
  [*]Pizza Port​

• DCA
  
  [*]Rancho Cucomonga
  [*]Lucky Fortune Cookery​

Counter service locations that are not listed in either category are simply ok, the ones that I have listed are just the ones that tend to stand out as either really good or really bad, as applicable.


Hint: At Taste Pilots, ask for your burger with no seasoning, then they end up having to cook it fresh, something they used to do a while back. Either that or if it comes out and looks like it has been sitting there for a while, ask for a fresh one. You are certainly paying enough for the food to get fresh, hot food and there that makes all of the difference on their burgers.

 

[CheshireGato]

After trying Hungry Bear for the first time last year, it is probably one of my favorite places now. We don't eat counter service often (usually bring snacks or go back to the hotel for lunch) but Hungry Bear is one that we feel like we can't miss any more.

If you are craving Mexican, Rancho del Zocalo is ok. I wouldn't say avoid it, but it is not somewhere that you can't live without.

 

[cpster]

Hint: At Taste Pilots, ask for your burger with no seasoning, then they end up having to cook it fresh, something they used to do a while back. Either that or if it comes out and looks like it has been sitting there for a while, ask for a fresh one. You are certainly paying enough for the food to get fresh, hot food and there that makes all of the difference on their burgers.

Great tip! I will ask for no salt next time to get a fresh one.

I enjoy the food at the Plaza Inn. We found the CMs there really nice too. The air conditioned dining room was a great break from the summertime heat.

 

[onelilspark]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all the tips!

 

[NorthernCalMom]

Don't know if this counts as "counter service," but I love the Pineapple whips in front of the Tiki room...

 

[isisisme]

I am going to agree with most people.
In DL
Rancho de Zoccolo is pretty good. I love their veggie tostada salads.
Riverbelle for breakfast only. Lunch was sad.
Hungry bear is okay, but I keep forgetting to try the fried green tomato
Jolly Holiday is great for breakfast, lunch, snacks, late night dessert.
I also really like Royal Street Verandah. They do not have a lot of options, but it is still tasty.

DCA
Flo's V8..oh my goodness, I love this place.
Cozy Cone's: the veggie chili is awesome
Fidler, Fifer, and Practicle is very tasty (I wish I would have had the tiramisu cup!) My DH loved their roast beef sandwhich.

I really do not like Lucky Fortune. it is just not good when I have tried it,
I have tried breakfast at Taste Pilots and it was pretty tasty, but I did not really care for the other menu items. But I am willing to try it again.

I think it really depends on what kind of food you like. Some of the food is more kid-centric (like Pizza Port). Some are more family centric, so more for adults.

Of course, my favorite quick food is popcorn and mickey pretzels!

 

[onelilspark]

I think it really depends on what kind of food you like. Some of the food is more kid-centric (like Pizza Port). Some are more family centric, so more for adults.

No kids here! We're both more adventurous, me more so than my Mom.

 

[mouseymommy]

We really like the Plaza Inn for their chicken. Also the onion rings at Hungry Bear are AWESOME!! I just had the bread bowl at DCA and it was so good!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Hungry Bear and the Little Red Wagon!

 

[ValpoCory]

Redd Rocketts [Pizza Port]: ... OK, but avoid the pizza.

That made me laugh.

 

[ValpoCory]

Fidler, Fifer, and Practicle is very tasty (I wish I would have had the tiramisu cup!) My DH loved their roast beef sandwhich.

Has anyone compared the roast beef sandwiches at FFP vs. the ones at the Jolly Holiday Bakery? The look very similar.

 

[MagicMomma1]

...we were quite disappointed with the counter service options compared to WDW.

To be fair, I think it's because I know where to go (and more importantly, where to avoid.

Never been to WDW so can't speak from experience but ANECDOTALLY I understand that the food there is FAR superior to DLR's. And while DLR food is improving, IMO the vast majority of it is pretty darn dismal. Basically what I'm trying to say is that your inability to find a decent counter service meal ISN'T YOUR FAULT.

We like: The Jolly Holiday (personally like the caprese sandwich), The Hungry Bear (fried green tomato sandwich and beer battered o-rings), and the corndogs from The Little Red Wagon on Main St. Either we're grabbing a meal at one of these 3 places or choosing a sit-down option. Also, to be fair, I have to disclose that we've never eaten breakfast in the park (always do a cold b-fast in our hotel room) so that's why there's no comment re: that meal, not because of some failing on DL's part.

 

[DisneyMommy403]

Am I the only one who loves Royal Street Veranda? Whether its the clam chowder or the gumbo in a bread bowl, I have to eat there.
Bengal BBQ, I remember eating some pretty awesome skewers there once.
Pizza Port... NO THANKS!