New Epcot Restaurants

Tigger031266

DIS Veteran
Joined
Nov 29, 2004
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I found this on the rumors board. Think of how cool it will be to have these restaurants close to BWV and BCV:



From WDW Guest Relations:
Quote:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- When Epcot debuted in 1982, the World Showcase pavilions pioneered the idea of global cuisine as a theme park attraction in itself, and expanded fine dining in Central Florida.
Now for the park's 25th birthday, Epcot is unwrapping the biggest makeover in World Showcase history, with grand new dining experiences that truly raise the bar with exciting restaurants, diverse menus and redesigned settings to wow guests with something fresh and different.

Here's what's on the front burner:

Patina Group's Tutto Italia Ristorante just opened in the Italy pavilion. Another new restaurant in the same space is planned for late 2008.

In October, the Japan pavilion debuts Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo, a dramatic redevelopment of their dining rooms.

China's Nine Dragons Restaurant closes in early 2008 to create a new dining room with five cooking stations, reopening in late 2008.

By summer 2008, a new tequila bar opens adjacent to San Angel Inn Restaurante in the Mexico pavilion, and the outdoor Cantina de San Angel expands, with more seating and a new menu.

Collaborating with chefs and restaurateurs from around the world, such as France's celebrated trio of Paul Bocuse, Roger Verger and Gaston Lenôtre at Chefs de France, and Joachim Splichal's just-opened Tutto Italia Ristorante, the Epcot restaurants are premiere attractions at Walt Disney World Resort. From a spirited mariachi band and mole poblano in Mexico to belly dancing and spicy bastilla in Morocco, World Showcase offers gustatory globe-trotting -- all in easy walking distance.

"There's not another theme park in the world with such diverse dining adventures," said Rilous Carter, general manager of Epcot Food & Beverage. "The idea is to immerse our guests in traditional cultures, but with contemporary experiences."

As Epcot celebrates its silver anniversary, the Walt Disney World culinary team is unwrapping all-new dining concepts, and expanding and renovating longtime favorites. And menus are being rewritten with lighter, fresher, more healthful cuisine.

"World Showcase is timeless, and continually evolving with more interactive experiences," said Dieter Hannig, vice president of Food & Beverage New Concepts. "As our world grows smaller, Epcot grows more exciting, more authentic. The dreams and ideas are endless."

Explore Italy's Cuisine at Tutto Italia Ristorante

In the Italy pavilion, Tutto Italia ("everything Italian") Ristorante is the newest restaurant for California-based Patina Group. Showcasing cuisine from different regions of Italy, the newly outfitted restaurant features a bustling open-kitchen kitchen and a menu with freshly made breads and pastries, handmade mozzarella and pasta and an array of Italian wines.

"My inspiration for Tutto Italia was the incredible variety of cuisines that I have enjoyed during my visits to Italy," said Chef Joachim Splichal. "I wanted to distill that experience and create a restaurant with some of my favorite dishes."

Meals start with a complimentary starter, or assaggini, that includes vegetables, bruschetta, crostini and olives served with bread. Special features include the "Abbondanza Family Table" with family-style platters for sharing at lunch and dinner. Tutto Italia also has an outdoor kiosk and a gelati cart.

Tutto Italia Ristorante is the latest addition to Patina Group's portfolio of nearly 30 restaurants and its first in Florida, with plans to open another restaurant in the same space at Epcot by late 2008.

All-New Dining at Japan

Just unveiled on the top floor of the Japan pavilion is the all-new Tokyo Dining, and beautifully redesigned teppanyaki dining rooms, renamed Teppan Edo.

"This is not a renovation, but a complete redevelopment," said Yutaro Iwamura, director of business for Mitsukoshi USA. With sleek interiors and stylish new costuming for chefs and servers, both restaurants infuse authentic Japanese hospitality with a dash of hipness.

The popular teppanyaki rooms feature show-style cooking and upscale cuisine such as Wagyu and Kobe beef, along with traditional teppan dishes. Tokyo Dining (formerly the tempura bar and adjoining lounge) is a 140-seat dining room with a centerpiece "show stage" where diners can watch the sushi chefs in action. Nearly 50 varieties of sushi and sashimi and six varieties of sake are on the menu, along with tempura and grilled steaks and seafood.

Japan is one of several operating partners at Epcot who make the dining experience magical.

"These operating participants bring expertise and authenticity to Walt Disney World," said Keith Bradford, vice president of Operating Participants. "Particularly in World Showcase, these professional restaurateurs bring a diverse perspective to the park experience."

China's New Exhibition Kitchen

In China, a new Joy of Tea outdoor cart features hot and cold teas, trendy frozen green tea concoctions and alcoholic drinks such as plum wine and wine green tea slush. The pavilion's Lotus Blossom Café has been renovated and features a new menu that includes Beijing barbecue chicken, sesame chicken salad and rou jia mo, a popular Chinese sandwich made with sliced beef stuffed in toasted wheat-flour flatbread.

China's Nine Dragons table-service restaurant will close in early 2008 to make way for an innovative dining room that will feature five cooking stations where guests can interact with chefs from China. Scheduled opening is fall 2008.

Changes All Around World Showcase

In the Mexico pavilion, a 50- to 60-seat tequila bar, including a history of the beverage, replaces a retail shop adjacent to the restaurant, opening in summer 2008. Also in summer 2008, the pavilion's waterfront Cantina de San Angel is expanding with more seating with optimal views of World Showcase, and will offer a new menu.

Plans are under way to expand outdoor seating at the popular Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, with covered waterfront dining that's optimal for viewing the nightly "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" fireworks show.
The expanding roster of international chefs joining the Epcot culinary team includes Chef Damien Besson, who comes from Chef Paul Bocuse's L'abbaye de Collonge in Lyon, France. And Artur Bukalo, a native of Berlin, Germany, is the new chef at Germany's Biergarten Restaurant.

While restaurant menus are redesigned to reflect tastes and trends, there's special emphasis on fresh, seasonal creations, said Epcot Executive Chef Christine Weissman. And like the rest of Walt Disney World Resort, trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils are being phased out of all restaurants.
"Our guests know more than ever about food and wine," said Weissman. "They are health-conscious and looking for new taste sensations -- our fun challenge is to exceed their expectations."

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Adding even more diversity to the mix for dining experiences is the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, in its 12th year. The six-week-long festival adds more than 25 international marketplaces with tapas-sized tastes of food from around the world, from the Dominican Republic to Turkey.

The Epcot festival has grown dramatically, attracting a diverse audience of more than 1 million guests each fall, from wine connoisseurs and epicures to neophytes primed to boost their wine IQs. Beer aficionados can raise their steins at several tasting locations.

"There's no other festival environment in the world like ours," said festival manager Nora Carey. "From the picturesque World Showcase Lagoon to the authentic architecture that showcases many cultures, it's an ideal backdrop for the exceptional culinary and wine-related talent of Walt Disney World Resort and for the great celebrity chefs and wine connoisseurs who join us each year."
 
Patina Group's Tutto Italia Ristorante just opened in the Italy pavilion. Another new restaurant in the same space is planned for late 2008.

I was there last week and I think the prices are little high although they did offer a standard menu they had an inclusive option of 39.99 a person for lunch and 59.99 a person for dinner without tax tip and drinks. Their standard menu was pricey as well exciting yes but affordable for a family no. I am not sold on these changes being that good.
We did not eat there as we decided to finally try Mama Melrose and being we had to pay 6.95 for bread much less not finding the food to be that good I will cross them off our list.
I will stick with Portabello Yacht Club in DTD for our Italian meal the food and service has been consistently outstanding I am happy to pay thier prices.
 
That was EXACTLY my thought when I read that....Sounds VERY expensive. It also sounds like Disney is moving away from Walt's idea to have something for BOTH the kids and adults, and has moved over to adult dining and left the kids behind.
 
I was very disappointed by the prices at the new Italian place, although the menu looks decent. The three course meal prices are ridiculous. I don't think I'll be trying this one anytime soon.

I'm nervous about what they are doing at Nine Dragons. I love it there, and I hope they don't make the prices like they are in Italy.

I wish they would do something in the Oddessey spot.
 

Hoping that these changes work out for the best, but this doesn't seem to be adding substantially to the available dining options -- mostly a redesign of what is already there. However, I did recently read a thread about adding a new country (or 2 or 3) to the Showcase, which would represent a true expansion if it comes to pass.
 
We have a reservation at Japan this Dec. I can't wait to try it... see all the changes. Maybe the new DDP will be a good idea, if food is going to get a price tag of $59.99 per adult for a good meal. :rolleyes1
 
Sounds like they are just re-doing what was already there to me. We are planning to try Tokyo Dining at some point. Unless the prices come down at Tutto Italia, we'll be passing that one by. The menu looks just OK to me - nothing I am going to spend that much money on.
 
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I had read on another thread that they were adding a counter service at the Italy location, across from the Tutto Italia. Anyone else hear about this?
 
I wish they would do something in the Oddessey spot.

I know this is off topic.. but what was originally in that Oddessey spot? I think I remember SOMETHING being there when I was a kid but I don't remember any specifics.
 
Well this is definatley a glass half empty crowd. I think it will ne nice to have some upscale restaurants close by. Expecially with the DDP.
 
We ate at Tutto Italia this past Sunday evening on the DDP.

The food and service were outstanding, and the prices were similar to what we would find here in Columbus. We went in thinking it would be a one time visit, only on the DDP. After a most memorable evening, we decided that of all the places we ate, this would be one worth coming back on our own.

There were several families nearby, ane the wait staff paid special attention to the children - seeming to delight in them, much as the waiters on DCL do.

The families seemed to be very happy.
 
I know this is off topic.. but what was originally in that Oddessey spot? I think I remember SOMETHING being there when I was a kid but I don't remember any specifics.

IIRC, there was a cafeteria-type restaurant there (and one on in Le Cellier too) many, many years ago. :goodvibes
 
Well this is definatley a glass half empty crowd. I think it will ne nice to have some upscale restaurants close by. Expecially with the DDP.

I'm with you Tigger. I've had a favorite of mine at Epcot change for the worst. I'm looking forward to the new restaurant and I'm glad we got one good review for it! Amo il cibo italiano ! (I love italian food!)
 
We ate at Tutto Italia this past Sunday evening on the DDP.

The food and service were outstanding, and the prices were similar to what we would find here in Columbus. We went in thinking it would be a one time visit, only on the DDP. After a most memorable evening, we decided that of all the places we ate, this would be one worth coming back on our own.

There were several families nearby, ane the wait staff paid special attention to the children - seeming to delight in them, much as the waiters on DCL do.

The families seemed to be very happy.

We were there last Sunday too and had a great experience as well. So much so we tried it again on Thursday night but it was too soon for us. I should have looked at Tokyo's menu. I had heard Sushi restaurant and don't do raw fish but that menu looks great. It was open BTW as there were people dining in the window seats everytime we walked past.
 



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