Need Suggestions for casually paced dinner at Epcot

[AimForTheFlatTop]

My husband and I are AP and we go to the parks regularly. The only table service meal we've ever had was at CRT and that was the night we got engaged (over 5 years ago). Since we're such regular visitors now, we want to start focusing on enjoying some good Disney meals. We like casually paced dinners where we can have a glass or two of wine and try a few things from the menu. I've read in these boards about feeling rushed while eating at the parks and I'm trying to avoid that. For my birthday we are visiting Epcot and I want to have a relaxed dining experience. Is it possible to have a well paced dinner at Tutto Italia or Via Napoli (we love Italian)? I'm also open to suggestions for other Epcot venues that may work for a quality slower paced meal.

(Le Cellier and Bistro de Paris are out.)

Thanks!

 

[Nadjalu]

Personally I love San Angel Inn.

The atmosphere is very romantic (i know it's your bday but still...).
The food is very good, although read the menu to make sure it appeals to you. As it is NOT tex mex style, but more traditional dishes.

I also recommend taking the little boat ride in the pavillion, so cute and romantic if you make it that way.

But to eat under the stars, next to a river by a volcano all while INSIDE, is very cool.
Not to mention the margaritas....that is relaxing.

Enjoy your bday.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Tuto Italia is a very good pick for a slower paced meal IMHO, we are trying out Via Napoli when we are there in May. Other places that really slow it down are the signatures especially at Yachtsman's, California Grill, and Artist Point.....however, these are the only Signatures that we have been too so far...we will be tring out Narcoossee's in May as well and
I am going to assume that that experience will be just as slow as the others. One other, and it is not a signature, that really slowed down the pace was Sci-Fi Dine in. When we ate there in September, we spent a little over 2 hours for our meal, and this was lunch too. We didn't complain because we loved watching the old movie clips and just being in the atmosphere, (and the cool air conditioning) but we were quite surprised that it was slow for a 1 TS meal.

 

[PictureJumpr]

Choose your favorite cuisine.
Arrive for your ADR at the appropriate time.

Then pace the meal yourself - tell your server when you are seated that you will be ordering a full meal, just not all at once. Order apps and drinks, wine if you like, and don't order your entree until those first plates appear at the table. Don't order your dessert and coffee until you are finished with your entree.

Well-trained servers will graciously oblige, and if they object simply ask to speak to the management. We've done this many times in many restaurants all over WDW, and only once did we get an objection - which was quickly and apologetically overruled by the manager (he offered to re-seat us with a different server, but really that server did a fine job, I think she was fairly new and had been assuming she would somehow be in trouble if we lingered too long).

 

[dzneelvr]

We've never found any of the sitdowns in EPCOT to rush you, so I'd say "eat your way around the World" as you please.

 

[danall]

A colleague at work just came back from Disney and she went to the Mexican restaurant - she really enjoyed it and said it was better than she expected. My personal favorite is Le Cellier but you said it was out. I wouldn't recommend Chefs de France, we were still hungry when we walked out. I wasn't impressed with the Japanese Tepanyaki restaurant.

 

[Disneyfreak616]

I think Les Chefs de France is your best bet for what you're talking about. We had a very leisurely meal there

 

[drenalin'junkie]

For Italian consider taking the boat(5-10 minutes or walk) over to Swan for Il Mulino,food is at least twice as good as Tutto and a much more casual experience.We will sometimes order singly through the courses one at a time to ensure we are not "rushed"

Bistro,Le Cellier are also pretty good in the park.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Take PictureJumprs excellent advice. That's how we always do things at every restaurant where we dine--at WDW and at home. Many servers actually appreciate the slower pace as that gives them more time to attend to those patrons in a big rush.

Should note that some WDW restaurants do appear to hurry thiings along, due mostly (I think) to the fact that many people ARE in a hurry to eat--and then get to the parks, fireworks, etc

I fondly recall one dinner at the Brown Derby when a group was in such a hurry to get to Fantasmic that they demanded the check as they were ordering the meal!!!

 

[Pakey]

If you love Italian, you really should take the 10 minute walk to the Swan and eat at Il Mulino. It's definitely in a league far above what you will get in the in-park restaurants. Since it's not on the dining plan, they still offer unique and interesting dishes and they have a great wine selection. I would not go in park attire though; it's a nice upscale place.

If you are set on eating Italian inside Epcot, I would pick Tutto over Napoli. I thought the feel in Napoli was almost like a counter service meal. While I'm not a huge fan of Tutto either, it would be my choice of the two for relaxing with a couple of glasses of wine.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

For a leisurely pace (and the best restaurant in Epcot) go to Bistro de Paris upstairs in the France Pavilion. It is definitely fine, leisurely dining. Note they do not take any DDP (but accept TiW) and they discourage childen.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

We really enjoy Chefs de France. Try to get a table by the window.

 

[Sweettears]

I agree that we have never felt like we have been rushed at a TS in WDW. I also agree that there are probably many people who are in a hurry so many Cms assume that to begin with unless you tell them otherwise. For us the dining is half of the fun on our trips so we like to take our time and enjoy.

In Epcot, I would second San Angel and also recommend Tutto or Coral Reef.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

We ate at Via Napoli last month and the pace of the waiting staff was definitely leisurely . . . you wouldn't struggle to stretch the meal out there!! Pizza was nice as well!

 

[Philleigh]

We enjoy Morocco and have never felt rushed at the TS. There is entertainment (music and a belly dancer).
We had lunch (actually it was my b-day) at Via Napoli - we enjoyed the pizza and wait staff was "leisurely" (a bit slow), but would not be my choice for a nice birthday dinner.

 

[prncess674]

Make a later dinner ADR that is outside of kiddie dining hour. If you make an earlier ADR (5-7pm) then you are in prime kiddie dining time and the restaurant has more incentive to turn the table for the next round of diners. Later ADRS are usually recognized as more refined diners who prefer not to be rushed.

 

[Sweettears]

Make a later dinner ADR that is outside of kiddie dining hour. If you make an earlier ADR (5-7pm) then you are in prime kiddie dining time and the restaurant has more incentive to turn the table for the next round of diners. Later ADRS are usually recognized as more refined diners who prefer not to be rushed.

Although I've never thought of this in these terms this is right on. We have always had great dining experiences in WDW. Looking back we rarely eat before 7:30 and have had ADRs as late as 9:30 or so. prncess our secret is out!

 

[AimForTheFlatTop]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!