Good Counter Service Recommendations?

[SomeDude78]

I don't see it get mentioned a lot, and it doesn't look like much, but I really like Plaza Inn for inexpensive (for DLR anyway) counter service. The fried chicken there is delicious, much better than one might expect. I didn't try it until many years into my DLR addiction and was very pleasantly surprised.

EDIT:
Just saw that mouseymommy said the same thing on the 1st page. LOL! The chicken there is seriously good. The other items I've tried there have been hit and miss, but I'm salivating a bit just thinking about their chicken...

 

[Huff]

Bengal BBQ is very good for a snack. Otherwise I find the food inside both parks poor quality for the high price. Outside in DTD there are several excellent options. We love the burgers and beignets at Jazz Kitchen Express. Wetzels is quite good. Counter service in DTD for pizza, tacos, smoothies etc. are all great. I really haven't found anything bad in DTD.

 

[isisisme]

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

My husband did and liked them both, he said they were similiar but not exactly the same. I am not sure more than that other than the cheese looked different. LOL Sorry.

 

[isisisme]

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.

I love Royal Street Veranda, and it was in my list, I thought.

My DH says it makes his tummy happy.

 

[purple figment]

Places we've liked in DL:

-Jolly Holiday Bakery: pastries, sandwich, salad and one day when I wasn't feeling good, the chicken noodle soup hit the spot.

-French Market: Jambalaya, salmon, non-alc mint julep. Beignets at the outside window for dessert. Jazz musicians are good to listen to while eating.

-Bengal Barbecue: Bacon wrapped asparagus!

-River Belle Terrace: breakfast.

-Hungry Bear: salad

-Stage Door Cafe: funnel cakes

DTD is only a couple minutes away:

-Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen Express

 

[SilentFeline]

I've only been to DLR twice as an adult, so there are a lot of CS places I haven't tried yet, but when I find something I like I tend to stick with that because I'm pretty picky. Here are the places my boyfriend and I have enjoyed so far:

DL:
Riverbelle Terrace (breakfast)
Jolly Holiday Bakery (great for lunch/dinner and snacks)
Troubadour Tavern (lunch-baked potatoes)

I'd like to try Rancho del Zocalo. I've read good things.

DCA:
Pacific Wharf Cafe (great salads)
Corn Dog Castle (we love the hot link corn dog, but if you like regular corn dogs you can get them at DCA or DL)

We're really looking forward to trying Flo's V8 Cafe on our next trip! We also may try Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta.

I also want to add White Water Snacks at the GCH since it's so close to the parks. They have great breakfast/lunch/dinner options at affordable prices.

 

[MagicMomma1]

There've been a couple comments here re: the roast beef sandwiches at FFP and the Jolly Holiday. Sounds like ppl like them... Haven't tried the rb at FFP but DH had the rb sand at JH and said it was REALLY tough. Says he will NOT order it again. Not sure if this was an anomaly or if others have had the same experience?

 

[disneegrl4eva]

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.

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.

I have been to wdw and its sad but very true...*sigh*

Jolly Holiday Bakery, Bengal BBQ, Corn Dogs

The corn dog wagon on Main Street!

now thats what Im talkin' about...also in DCA they have a place called corn dog castle over by goofys sky school..they have 3 different kinds of corn dogs..regular, (same as you get at the wagon in DL) a hot link corn dog and one that is just ooey gooey cheese..i like to get the original and the cheese one and split it with whoever Im with so I can get half cheese and half hot dog..its yummy

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.

I ♥♥ HB....their burgers are so good and their onion rings are too...they dont sell regular fries but I personally like sweet potato fries so it works for me

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

There've been a couple comments here re: the roast beef sandwiches at FFP and the Jolly Holiday. Sounds like ppl like them... Haven't tried the rb at FFP but DH had the rb sand at JH and said it was REALLY tough. Says he will NOT order it again. Not sure if this was an anomaly or if others have had the same experience?

oh that stinks...i honestly think it was just a bit of bad luck on that one because I love it...its one of my favorites and a must do for me now!!!

Bengal BBQ is very good for a snack.

-Bengal Barbecue: Bacon wrapped asparagus!

I never go there for just a snack...its a meal but then again I always get the Chieftan chicken skewer cuz its sweet...the banyan beef cuz its spicy and the bacon wrapped asparagus plus the tiger tail bread...yum!!

 

[BeckWhy]

I'm getting really nervous about the counter service options at Disneyland now... I think the quick service options in WDW are horrible (with the exception of Sunshine Season). I think I ate double bacon cheeseburgers every day because there wasn't any other options.

 

[MagicMomma1]

I'm getting really nervous about the counter service options at Disneyland now... I think the quick service options in WDW are horrible (with the exception of Sunshine Season). I think I ate double bacon cheeseburgers every day because there wasn't any other options.

DON'T be nervous and please DON'T think you'll be relegated to eating dbl bacon chzburgs every single day!!!!

Yes, it's true that there's a lot of crappy, outrageously priced fare to be had AT DLR but there's enough that's decent that a body can get by. We tend to eat at our faves (HB, JH, LRW) more than 1x over the course of our trip. And don't forget about DD. Earl of Sandwich is opening in the old Compass Books location sometime this summer. The menu looks good, is inexpensive, and ppl universally love it. Really looking forward to that as an option.... Oh, not to mention everyone seems to be digging the new food offerings in Carsland.

Having never been to a Disney park and all my exposure to Dis eats coming from Food Network shows about all the FUN & FABULOUS dining at WDW... I naturally assumed the same about DLR. Imagine my... surprise... at discovering DLR is not some kind of culinary mecca. It was then that I realized WHY they are never featured on the Food Network!!


But I recovered and that's a good indication you'll be fine, too.

 

[tanyaewa]

I prefer DCA for dinner counter service
Boardwalk Area and Pacific Warf area are like food courts with nice options for everyone and reasonably priced.
Hungry Bear is best in DL

 

[franandaj]

Onelilspark, didn't you used to live in upstate New York? I think I read that TR when you visited DLR in 2010.

I find it odd that so many feel that WDW has superior CS restaurants to DLR. With the exception of Epcot, I have to agree with what BeckWhy says below.

I'm getting really nervous about the counter service options at Disneyland now... I think the quick service options in WDW are horrible (with the exception of Sunshine Season). I think I ate double bacon cheeseburgers every day because there wasn't any other options.

There are so many ethnically diverse choices at DLR, I don't really think I'm saying anything different that most of the others have, but Disneyland has a lot of varied choices, especially compared to MK. So I'll add pictures where I can!

Bengal BBQ is my favorite snack location, nothing can beat their bacon-wrapped asparagus.

I also like the Gumbo in a bread bowl from the Royal Street Verandah. Though I'm not a fan of Fried Green Tomatoes, those who like them love that sandwich from the Hungry Bear.

I recently heard about the BLT flat bread at Pinnochio's Village Haus, and that was tasty, as was the chicken sausage sandwich.

The Plaza Inn Fried Chicken is awesome, we like to get that and a Cobb Salad and split it between the two of us.

Also for a change there are the baked potatoes from Troubadour Tavern with different toppings.

At DCA, the new Garden Grill has a tasty Ground Beef Kebab that I enjoyed with the Tzatziki Sauce.

These beef tacos at the Cucamonga Cucina really hit the spot.

The Corn Dog Palace has the best dogs around, they're probably just as good as the ones from the red cart, but we get a cheese dog too and split them both.

The new Ghiradelli Soda Fountain promises some tasty eats as well.

I didn't eat at Flo's V8 Cafe, but I bet the eats there are pretty tasty. I'm thinking about the kids Mac & Cheese personally.

I'm also looking forward to trying the Chili Cone Queso

I know that you asked about CS restaurants, but I would highly reccomend a reservation at the Carthay Circle Restaurant.

It's been getting rave reviews, and I believe you two enjoyed your trip to Napa Rose. Andrew Sutton is the executive chef at that restaurant too.

Have a great trip!

 

[onelilspark]

Thanks franandaj! You're right, I lived in Rochester, NY until April of this year when we moved to Florida!

We're definitely going to get a reservation for both Carthay AND Napa Rose! Yum!

BeckWhy: Your comment is the exact reason I asked. I haven't had a burger in WDW in YEARS. Because I know where to go and what to order to avoid it. Whenever I hear that all people ate in WDW is burgers, I'm always surprised. But I'm sure those that frequent DLR think that I'm crazy for having a chicken sandwich and pizza at DLR!

I'm much more excited about the Counter Service options now than I was before this post!!

 

[limace]

I would also disagree with the negative comparisons of counter service with WDW. In my opinion, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EPCOT, counter service offerings at DL are superior to WDW. I know the podcast folks have mentioned this previously, and they have a lot more experience than I do between the two parks. I think counter service at WDW is really poor, again, with the exception of Epcot. I think DCA has superior options to DL, but, unlike WDW, you can easily hop from one park to the other at DLR to take advantage of food service options.

 

[Zbugz]

Having been to both to WDW, and DLR, I would say the counter service options at DLR are similar in quality and price. The main difference for me is that the options at DLR aren't very interesting in variety. It's basically burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, BBQ, pastas, soups and salads over and over again. Other than the two Mexican places (okay), one Asian place (meh), and one Mediterranean place (very good), it's all American, Cajun-French, or American-Italian fare. I happen to like American, Cajun, and Italian food, but I also like to try some new tastes. That is what gives WDW the advantage, IMO. I would love to see DLR branch out into some new ethnic flavors and add some more seafood options.

We really liked French Market, Paradise Garden Grill, and Bengal BBQ last time we went.