La Cava del Tequila

tony67

DIS Veteran
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
5,176
For those who have not tried it yet, La Cava del Tequila was a great time.

Just be prepared to wait. Yesterday the line was ridiculous (as were most of the lines for food or drink). This was also partly do to the Tequila Tasting since they closed down the seating area.

I have stopped in 3 times so far this week. I would say it is probably the best drink value in Epcot. You get a good size margarita for around $13.

What really impressed me was the knowledge of the bartenders and the time they spent making the margarita. I ordered a classic margarita with Don Julio Anejo, one of the less expensive aged tequilas they sell, but the one I use for margaritas at home. He tried to talk me out of it since many people consider it a waste, but I prefer the taste. He asked me if I wanted it sweet or not and also asked if I preferred Gran Marnier or Cuontro in it. He poured a very large portion of Tequila and mixed my margarita. He tasted the results and made some final adjustments. He said that it was very good and that if I did not like it he would drink it.
I have to say this was the best margarita I have had hands down.

My next visit was for the tequila tasting. This was nice, but if you have seen the episodes in Tequila of "The Thirsty Traveler" or "Three Sheets" you will not learn anything new. The portion of alcohol was similar to the $8 tastings. Since you also get the food pairing I feel $20-25 would be a fair price. The biggest benefit was being able to get into La Cava without waiting 30 minutes in line to get to the bar and after the tasting you could stay and have anther. The biggest problem was the noise from the bar area, but I think this has already been discussed in another thread.
One BIG surprise in the tequila tasting was that the food was good. I expected it to be similar to San Angel Inn, but it was surprisingly good. There was a sampler plate of a ceviche, a chicken tostada, and a crab tostada. The ceviche was far superior to the one at the Santiago booth. There was a lot more flavor and a lot more heat. The crab tostada was even better. Lots of crab and lots of cilantro.

After the tasting I was able to snag a table and order a margarita as well as an order of the ceviche. I ordered the same Margarita with Don Julio Anejo. It was good, but not as good as when I ordered it directly from the bar tender. Something may have been lost in translation. I have a feeling it may have been the Don Julio Reposado and not Anejo. Then the ceviche came it it was a plate of FOUR of them. Not only does it taste better then the one in Santiago, but it is a much better value. 4 for $11 as opposed to 1 for 4.75.

I went back for yet another margarita today and it was slower so I was able to get to the bar and order a margarita. This one was again made as requested and came out well.

My recommendation would be to visit when it is slower so they can take their time and order from the bar since you can see them make it and you will be tipping them, so they want to make sure it is right.
 
Thank you for the descriptions. I love tequila, but will have to live vicariously as I missed my chance last month - we ran out of time to go to the Cava. Next trip I will have kids along, so I don't think I'll be spending much time there. Hopefully one day I'll get to try this. Sounds fun!
 
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the cave. I am here right now and have not posted yet for my report but hands down the best margarita's! I agree the food is fantastic. although I would prefer chips with the guacamole over the funions they provide.
 
Oh my goodness! Saturday the line was ridiculous. I ducked in at 2:40 (right before the tequilla tasting) to get a margarita to go and I turned right around and left. On Friday I had a Blood Orange Margarita that was outstanding and didn't have any problems with lines or waits, but Saturday was seriously outrageous. I was at Epcot the day after Christmas in 2008 and I swear it wasn't nearly as busy in the World Showcase as it was on Saturday!!!
 
Yo Tony! :banana:

Today was the only day I didn't go to the Ditch. :laughing:

I tried a new margarita each day I stopped in, and I have liked every single one of them I tried. I also enjoyed the tequila tasting, and I thought the mural on the back wall made the presentation more interesting.

Enjoy the rest of your trip!
 
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the cave. I am here right now and have not posted yet for my report but hands down the best margarita's! I agree the food is fantastic. although I would prefer chips with the guacamole over the funions they provide.

I agree I would also prefer fresh chips, but those funions type things that look like cartwheels they serve are a real Mexican snack. We buy them on occasion in the ethnic food isle, sorry I do not know the name. They are better then the Tostitos in the main restaurant.

BTW, If it was up to the bartenders I have talked to they would have fresh chips and salsa served with the margaritas for free. But for some reason that idea was nixed. I get the feeling Disney does not want people getting too comfortable and staying there drinking too much. According to the bartender last night it took 4 years for Disney to approve opening the location.
 
Thanks for allowing me to tag along with you folks Lori. It was a great time.



I stopped by the Cave again last night expecting it to be open till midnight for the EMH, no such luck.

All the carts were closed at 9PM and the ditch closed about 10. Last call at 10PM?, this is like Ireland in the old days ;)

I was able to get a margarita, but unfortunately the bartender did not make them as good as Pepe. I mentioned this to the barman and he laughed. It seems the other bartenders call him "the master." He was also good enough to give me a taste of the avocado margarita since he was making one and had some extra. IT was very nice, but needed more tequila.:)

All the staff here is really good and really happy to be there.
My recommendation though is to ask for Pepe if you are ordering a margarita.
He will ask you how you want it and give you a small taste before he serves it. He really takes his time.
I told him there was not enough Tequila (Don Julio Anejo - BTW) and he loaded it up for me.
For 16 dollars it is a great value. I'm used to paying that for one about half the size.
 
Hi....I have never been her but I looove margaritas and now I am craving one so bad even though it is 8:30am;) Is this a permanent place or is it something from the F&W festival? Do they serve dinner? Can you use the DP here? Thanks!
 
Hi....I have never been her but I looove margaritas and now I am craving one so bad even though it is 8:30am;) Is this a permanent place or is it something from the F&W festival? Do they serve dinner? Can you use the DP here? Thanks!

Yes this is a new permanent location.
They do not take the DDP as it is mostly tequila, but they do have 5 or 6 very nice appetizer items that are very tasty for around $11 each.

I recommend the Crab Tostados or the Mexican Shrimp Cocktail.
 
I heartily concur ... great drinks and tasty appetizers. We spent an entire afternoon in the ditch one day last week and it was a rowdy good time!
 
Loved La Cava!

I stopped in on Monday and Thursday of last week. On Monday I visited with the family and had the jalapeno margarita which I think also had hibiscus? Whatever was in it ... it may have been one of the best margaritas I've ever had. It also had some sort of red colored pepper salt. It had just a slight heat, but also a cooling cucumber flavor. I also had a pineapple margarita (I think the Pino on the menu), which was good. I loved the place so much I returned on Thursday with a fellow diser. I just had to grab another jalapeno margarita!

There were seats available each time I visited, and was able to sit in the comfy couch area during one of the visits. Francisco was our server both times, and was a very freindly and knowledgable fellow.

All in all, the only bad part is walking back into the sunlight if visiting during the day! The Cave is definitely going to be back on the must do list for my next visit
 
I love the Ditch...went opening day and just kept going back.

If you want some more heat to your jalapeno margarita ask for "muy caliente"
 
I think that it does help to step up to the bar and talk to the bartenders. My first margarita was definitely made with care.

I wish they could have devoted a bigger area to this place, because it's wildly popular.
 
We were there last week and had a great time. The food as well as the drinks were great. The bartenders were also wonderful so I recommend getting your drinks by the bar. They will have to expand as this is going to be a great spot.
 
All in all, the only bad part is walking back into the sunlight if visiting during the day!

Yeah, I agree 100%.

Maybe they could use a section of the CS restaurant outside (since the food is so bad now) and make that an outdoor version of the tequila bar.
That would also reduce the line across the pavilion on weekends. They are going to need to do something about this.
They are losing business when it is very busy.

I don't think it will happen (it took 4 years to get approval for the current location), but that would be really nice.
 
Forgot to mention, when we stopped in that Friday, my boyfriend was wearing his birthday button and they insisted on giving him a free tequilla shot even though I was the one ordering the margarita (he passed.) It was very nice of them!

I do look forward to visiting "the ditch" when it's not stuffed to the gills.
 
I'm leaving in a couple of weeks and this is my number 1 must do for the trip. I'm so glad it's getting great reviews.
 
Forgot to mention, when we stopped in that Friday, my boyfriend was wearing his birthday button and they insisted on giving him a free tequilla shot even though I was the one ordering the margarita (he passed.) It was very nice of them!

I do look forward to visiting "the ditch" when it's not stuffed to the gills.

Yeah I saw this a few times while I was there. I was not going to mention it since people may go get a button just to get a free shot ;)

I did think about doing that myself.
 
I'm loving the sound of this place the more I read!!

DH and I are going on an adults only trip in January so I'm hoping it will be less crowded then during F&W.

Whereabouts is "the cave"? Is it inside the pavilion?
 












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