Noms are better late than never!! UPDATED 9/13 Liberty Tree Tavern

[wdwpirates]

Well here I am feeling super guilty that I waited to start this dining report. We visited WDW back in May for goodness sake! But, as the title says, "noms are better late than never". So here we go!

You can see our pics down there in my sig. That's me (Kerri) and my husband (Jim). We don't have kids, however we have 2 furbabies. I was a picky eater throughout my whole childhood and early adulthood. I do much better now. I am always willing to try something at least once. Jim loves food. Period. The only things he is not a fan of are blueberries and green beans. He also has a food allergy. He can't eat any crustaceans! Lobster, shrimp, crayfish...all off limits. Craziness!

I'm going to be totally up front here and say that I can't remember the order in which we visited these restaurants. I'll try my best. And there are a couple in which I missed getting pics. But for the most part we're covered.

So let's have at it!

The first spot we visited was The Plaza at MK. This is one of my favorite places. I love everything about it...the decor, the food, the service. Always great! I do think that this restaurant doesn't get the recognition it deserves. We were seated at a very nice table in the front window. It offered a great view of the folks walking by outside and the hustle and bustle of the restaurant itself.

I can't remember the servers name to save my life but she was a lovely lady. I chose to have the Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Oh but it's soooo much more than a chicken sammie. Add a slice of ham and some swiss and we've got a good time! The sandwich was juicy and tender...not dry like some grilled chix can be. It comes with a choice of broccoli slaw, house made chips, or french fries. I went with the fries because they are, quite simply, perfect! Crispy on the outside, hot and soft on the inside.

Jim opted to go with the Meatloaf Meal. It comes with mashed potatoes and corn. He asked to sub out the corn for the fries. He was carb-ing it up already!! He loved the meatloaf...and of course I stole a bite...it was very good!! I should also mention that it's a huge portion. It could easily be split between 2 people.

Now being that we were at The Plaza which of course is attached to Plaza Ice Cream Parlor we had to get some kind of dessert! There was no way we'd be able to each eat our own so sharing it was! We settled on the Brownie Sundae. Just what we needed to top off our first night in The World. Great fudgy, chewy brownie and super hot fudge. Mmmm mmmm good.

I also wanted to mention this little beauty that was sitting outside at the check-in podium. The Mickey's Kitchen Sink! So cute! Loved that dish!!

That's the end of my first dining description. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!

Here's a Table of Contents for the rest of the reviews (forgot to save a post for this...rats).

The Plaza
IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party Part 1
IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party Part 2
Via Napoli
The Wave
Tony's Town Square
Electric Umbrella
Liberty Tree Tavern
Gaston's, Kringla Bakeri, and other snackies
Snackies Part 2
Flower & Garden Festival Food Booths
Beaches & Cream
Hollywood & Vine - Star Wars Dine
Liberty Tree Tavern
Be Our Guest
ABC Commissary
Nine Dragons
Biergarten
Rainforest Cafe
Mama Melrose's
Crystal Palace

 

[lynn46356]

We've always enjoyed The Plaza also. Besides who doesn't like to end a meal with ice cream. And, yes, love those french fries. Yumm!!!! Looking forward to more reviews.

 

[wdwpirates]

We've always enjoyed The Plaza also. Besides who doesn't like to end a meal with ice cream. And, yes, love those french fries. Yumm!!!! Looking forward to more reviews.

Dinner and ice cream! You just can't beat it!!! Thanks for reading along!!

 

[wdwpirates]

I've heard some folks question the price of this special event. As of right now the cost is $49 per adult...$29 per child. I understand that it's a steep price especially if you have a larger group. I would say that Jim and I found it worth the money for us. We did feel that the cost for kids was really not worth it. They aren't drinking and I am sure have smaller appetites than that of an average adult. It's really a perfect special event for couples to enjoy, IMO.

Jim and I arrived right as they began allowing people in. We secured a high-top table along the fence closest to the water. It was towards the left side. There was a bush in front of us but we felt we could easily step to the side when the show started. (This did work out fine BTW.)

After the table was secured Jim went off to check out the offerings. I should mention that there are no stools or chairs at the tables. If you are looking for a comfy spot to sit down this is not the place for you. Some folks did sit on the cement for a while but that wasn't my idea of a good time. The standing wasn't that bad. You did have the table to lean on a bit.

Sparkling Wine selections

Prosecco

Jim returned to the table with 2 flutes of sparkling wine. I enjoyed mine and had a few additional tastes of each one during the evening. Jim is not a fan of wine of any kind but he did try it....let's just say I ended up finishing it. But no worries! There were plenty of other types of beverages to be had. There were 2 drink stations that included coffee, iced tea, hot tea, lemonade, punch, and ice water. Oh, and I think there was hot chocolate too.

Beverage Stations

The dessert selections weren't numerous. However, the quantity of each one was plentiful. Jim headed straight for the sweets. His first round included the following:

Donut topped with coffee ice cream

Pot de Creme, Tiramisu, and Baklava

He was very pleased with his choices. 2 thumbs up!

After Jim collected his first round of goodies I took off to find mine! I chose the following:

Sundae with vanilla ice cream, almond slivers, and hot fudge

Grapes, strawberries, shortbread cookies, and Tiramisu

Here are those delicious hot donuts (actually, they may have been cronuts...not sure)

Continued in the next post!

 

[wdwpirates]

Pot de Creme

Shortbread Cookies

Liquor for churros

Churros!

Freezer case with Mickey Bars

I thought the fruit was delicious. Very fresh, sweet, and juicy. Thumbs up on that! I enjoyed my little sundae very much. I was not impressed with the churros...they were very hard! It was a project to chew them. I passed on any more of those. Mickey bars were fabulous, of course!

All in all we had a great time and a great view of IllumiNations. It was a nice atmosphere with room to spread out and enjoy the scenery. Jim and I both felt that this was $100 well spent. In closing, here are some pics of the party at dusk. Thanks for reading!

 

[lynn46356]

We have not this dessert/wine party. I have done the wishes dessert party though and I thoroughly enjoyed that! Just looking at your pictures (which are great) I'd say I prefer the wishes dessert party. Plus you get to sit down at that party. After a long day at the parks, a chair is always welcome. Glad you enjoyed it though! I wonder how long before the cost goes up for the wishes dessert party? Looking forward to more of your reviews!!!!!

 

[jabead]

Hi Kerri! Happy to see that you are doing a dining report. The Illuminations Sparkling Dessert Party was something that I'd been curious about so was very glad to see your review. Thanks!

 

[wdwpirates]

Hi Kerri! Happy to see that you are doing a dining report. The Illuminations Sparkling Dessert Party was something that I'd been curious about so was very glad to see your review. Thanks!

Hi Barb!! So glad to be writing it! I've only done 2 reviews so far but it's cool looking at my pics again and remembering the fun we had! Thanks for reading along!

We have not this dessert/wine party. I have done the wishes dessert party though and I thoroughly enjoyed that! Just looking at your pictures (which are great) I'd say I prefer the wishes dessert party. Plus you get to sit down at that party. After a long day at the parks, a chair is always welcome. Glad you enjoyed it though! I wonder how long before the cost goes up for the wishes dessert party? Looking forward to more of your reviews!!!!!

I absolutely agree. Wishes party is better. More choices and SEATS! LOL! I was hoping to get a ressie for the Wishes party for our December trip but no dice. I really hope the price doesn't increase for Wishes...that would be a shame. I'm assuming that the increased price for the IllumiNations party is because of the liquor???

 

[wdwpirates]

Via Napoli is currently my favorite restaurant at Epcot. The food is scrumptious! Last time we were there (December 2013) we had a wonderful server named Guido. He was amazing. This time...a different server...and not so amazing. I was so underwhelmed with this fella. He really made me feel like we were a huge inconvenience. And when we said we were just splitting a pizza it was as if we just told him his cat died.

A peek into the kitchen of Via Napoli

Anyhow, I ordered a Strawberry Acqua Fresca and Jim ordered a Coke. The Acqua Fresca looked so light and refreshing from across the room. When it arrived I took a sip and was totally turned off. It was warm...blegh...and it had an overwhelming chemical/artificial sweetener taste to it. Ew. When our server returned I requested a glass of ice water with lemon and Jim also requested bread. The server did take the Acqua Fresca away and it never showed up on our bill...so he get's a cookie for that. I admit that I was sad that this beverage wasn't better. I really wanted to enjoy it.

Bread service

Then it was pizza order time! We went with a large in hopes that we'd have some to bring back to the hotel for a late night snackie. Our topping ended up being chicken sausage...it is SOOOOO good. I actually crave this when at home. No other chicken sausage I try even comes close to it...seriously!

Large Chicken Sausage Pizza

Being a brick oven pizza we of course had to wait a little bit but that was OK. We just chomped away on our bread (very nice) and took in our surroundings. The ovens are so cool. Whomever designed them has a wonderfully creative mind. Definitely the centerpiece of the restaurant. The entire atmosphere is homey and comfortable. Some of the tables are a little cramped but they are manageable. If seated at a booth table, especially, you are really close to the party next to you. Luckily we were at a small 2-top close to an aisle and the servers beverage station. We didn't feel as claustrophobic as we have in the past.

Via Napoli Pizza Ovens

Look at how close those seats are at the communal table!

Finally the pizza pie arrived and it looked and smelled fabulous! The first bite (and 2nd and 3rd....you get the picture) was fantastic. Perfect flavors. Perfect amount of cheese to sauce. We were happy little eaters. Once our "lovely" server dropped the pie off he was gone for quite a while. If I recall correctly Jim had to ask another server to grab our server so that we could request our check. And guess what!! We did have a couple slices to take with us! YAY!!!

Overall, we blocked out the server and just focused on the food and what was going on around us. Sub out that server and we would have had the perfect visit. We all have our off days so I'll give them a pass on that. We are definitely returning in December. Maybe we'll have the Chicken Parm or something different....although, I hate giving up my chicken sausage..man, I love that stuff!!!

Thanks for reading along!!

 

[librarygeek]

Glad you started your dining review even if it is a little late! Believe me, I know the feeling - I started mine a couple of weeks ago and it's from February!

I've eaten at the Plaza once and loved the fries - and the ice cream, of course!

It was good to see your review of the Illuminations dessert party. I've been torn because of the price, but I have to say that the lack of chairs is a total deal breaker for me. We spend a lot of time in the parks and a lot of time walking, and I need to sit a lot. I have done the Wishes one and really enjoyed that.

Yum, Via Napoli! We love it too. My favorite is the proscuitto and melon pizza. Such a unique combo but so good!

 

[DaisyNY]

Following along...Dessert Party looks better than the one in MK. May have to try it on our next trip.

 

[wdwpirates]

Glad you started your dining review even if it is a little late! Believe me, I know the feeling - I started mine a couple of weeks ago and it's from February!

I've eaten at the Plaza once and loved the fries - and the ice cream, of course!

It was good to see your review of the Illuminations dessert party. I've been torn because of the price, but I have to say that the lack of chairs is a total deal breaker for me. We spend a lot of time in the parks and a lot of time walking, and I need to sit a lot. I have done the Wishes one and really enjoyed that.

Yum, Via Napoli! We love it too. My favorite is the proscuitto and melon pizza. Such a unique combo but so good!

I've always wondered about the proscuitto and melon pizza. Are the melon and prosciutto served cold with the hot crust? The combo does sound yummy! I love prosciutto!

Following along...Dessert Party looks better than the one in MK. May have to try it on our next trip.

It was a good time for sure. I think worth it to try it out at least once.

 

[vettegirl]

The dessert party looks lovely! I love champagne, hubby not so much. I assume they don't offer beer do they? I have yet to dine at VN or the Plaza but both look great! I have walked in VN to see the ovens in person and they are super cool.

 

[wdwpirates]

This was our first time visiting the Wave for any meal. It was a last minute whim to grab a ressie. I had read many good things on the DIS about their breakfast buffet. We arrived on time for our ressie which is a miracle for us given that breakfast takes place in the MORNING! I am so not a morning person. It takes me at least an 60-90 minutes to become fully conscious again. But I digress, we were there and that's what mattered!

The entrance of the restaurant is a cool tunnel made to resemble a stylized wave with blue neon lights lighting up the tunnel. We checked in at the podium and were led right into the dining room without delay.

The dining room is quite vast with booths lining the walls and tables in the center. We were seated at a table in the center. I think it was a 4-top. I looked around the room and I wondered where the buffet was. Our server, a very sweet lady, came over and explained that the buffet was behind a wall closer to the kitchen. It was weird positioning but I figured since breakfast was the only time a buffet was available they needed it to be hideable. She brought us ice water, coffee, and orange juice. I don't believe these beverages were included in the cost of the buffet but I could be wrong about that. Obviously water was free.

Jim and I both opted to go with the buffet. It felt strange sneaking behind the wall to get our food. It felt like when you are looking for a restroom in a restaurant and accidentally walk in to the kitchen! The buffet itself was not overly large. There was a minimal selection but the choices made by the chef were spot on and more than adequate. Quality before quantity...that's what I say. There were a few different "stations" along the wall.

Sticky Buns, Breakfast Potatoes, Cheese Grits, Applewood Smoked Bacon

I must say that this is THE BEST bacon on property. It's the real deal...unlike the bacon found at Crystal Palace or at the counter service locations at the resorts, for example. Delish. And those Sticky Buns...don't even get me started. Absolutely melt in your mouth perfect!!! I could have eaten a trough of those!!!

Multigrain Mickey Waffles, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Cheese & Ham Omelet, Eggs Benedict

Pork Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Biscuits w/ Sausage Gravy

Fresh Fruit and Yogurt

Smoked Salmon and accoutrements

A plethora of baked goods!

More fresh fruit

Now here is my first plate. Baked goods, I love baked goods. I am not even going to beat around the bush on that subject. Carb me up, Scotty! Clockwise from the bottom left: apple danish, blueberry muffin, croissant, bacon, breakfast potatoes, and STICKY BUN!!

And here's my lovely bowl of strawberries!

And are a couple of Jim's plates. He thought the sticky bun and the sausage were both awesome.

Sticky Bun, Scrambled Eggs, Potatoes, Sausage, Bacon

Fruit, Croissant, Yogurt, more sausage

Overall, Jim and I were very impressed by this hidden gem. I can't believe this place isn't packed in the morning. Standouts for us were the sticky buns, potatoes, bacon, sausage, pastry, and fresh fruit. No joke, the best breakfast going on property (that I've experienced). For a 20 dollar bill you get the freshest food around. It was a nice relaxing start to our day at Magic Kingdom. We have already planned to visit again in December. I'd also like to try dinner here at some point. Based on breakfast I have to believe that it will be a good experience.

Thanks for reading!!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

The sticky bun looks absolutely evil...can't wait!

 

[Dislover1991]

Did the Wave have any oatmeal or other egg options?

 

[vettegirl]

I have always heard good things about the Wave. Everything looks delicious. Good to know they have great bacon, that can be hard to find at a lot of places not just WDW.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[lynn46356]

Ok, it's breakfast time now and after reading your review of The Wave I'm more than ready to head down now!!!!! Of course, that's not going to happen, but your meal and review sounds and looks delicious. Yummm! I can't get enough of those carb items also. Have you ate at Boma for breakfast? It's my favorite but your review sounds and looks great too!!!!!

 

[wdwpirates]

The sticky bun looks absolutely evil...can't wait!

Oh, they were, they were!! Melt in your mouth! Highly recommended!

Did the Wave have any oatmeal or other egg options?

The only egg dishes on the buffet were the ones I showed in the pics. I can't remember seeing any oatmeal. The All Ears menu indicates that oatmeal is on the buffet but I honestly don't recall it. If they don't have it on the buffet, there is an a la carte menu in which it can be ordered from.

I have always heard good things about the Wave. Everything looks delicious. Good to know they have great bacon, that can be hard to find at a lot of places not just WDW.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

That's very true! A lot of restaurants seem to serve it almost underdone...I like it somewhat crispy.

Ok, it's breakfast time now and after reading your review of The Wave I'm more than ready to head down now!!!!! Of course, that's not going to happen, but your meal and review sounds and looks delicious. Yummm! I can't get enough of those carb items also. Have you ate at Boma for breakfast? It's my favorite but your review sounds and looks great too!!!!!

LOL! Actually we've only been to Boma for dinner. Breakfast is definitely on the "must eat" list! We really enjoyed the dinner buffet a lot.

Thanks, everyone, for reading along!! Another review is coming right up! This time we are going to visit Tony's Town Square!

 

[wdwpirates]

Oh Tony, Tony, Tony....you've broken my heart. We'll get into that in a bit. We visited Tony's on our last day in MK. We opted to visit for lunch. I think this may have even been a last minute ressie. We've had so many good meals here (dinner). This experience just made me sad.

Upon check-in Jim requested indoor seating as it was midday and hot, hot, hot! So we really wanted to cool off for a bit. There was no rhyme or reason to the check-in booth. There were seaters/greeters all over the place. People were forming 2-3 lines trying to check in...it was chaos. And it wasn't even super busy!! We waited quite a while, easily 30 minutes. Finally, our name was called...and we were led straight outside. I get that they can't always accommodate requests...so I was ok with that. What can ya do??

Our server visited soon after. A very nice older man. Super polite. We ordered drinks and an appetizer of calamari. We've had this a few times and it's been delish. The calamari arrived soon after and seriously looked to me like a plate of mush. The breading was falling off the rings every time you tried to pick one up. There was a HUGE grouping of tentacles in the middle with a good size piece of the body still attached. IMO the chef or server should've caught that. The flavors were good. It was just very unappetizing and off putting. We didn't eat too much. Jim was going to say something. But, I was hot and didn't feel like getting into anything...so we let it go. Hindsight being 20/20, I really shouldn't have let it go.

Calamari Appetizer

While we were eating our app we placed our entree orders. I went with the chicken parm and Jim chose the spaghetti with sausage and marinara. My meal left so much to be desired. The chicken breast was breaded in breadcrumbs. The chicken was pounded too thin and this made the it tough and dry. It really tasted like a frozen chicken cutlet that was just thrown into a fryer. The sauce was also blegh...there was almost no flavor. You could hardly taste the tomato! This entree totally reminded me of middle school cafeteria lunch.

Chicken Parmesan

I sat there for a minute hoping that Jim's was better. In the past he has ordered this dish and the sausage was nice and browned on the grill with good flavors. This time the sausage appeared to be boiled and "soggy" (I guess that is how I would explain it). He also said there was very little flavor to the sausage and the sauce. I will say that the pasta was cooked al dente. No issues with that.

Spaghetti with Italian Sausage and Marinara

We did wait quite some time for our server to clear our plates and bring the check. Again we said nothing about the quality or the taste of the food. At that point we were hot and just wanted to scram!

After having so many good experiences here we were both bummed out. I just looked at pictures from a few trips ago and the food looks so much better. All of the breading is on the calamari! LOL! So needless to say we'll be skipping Tony's for a while.