Questions for Foodies

[dairyou]

Disney seems to have at best average food for high prices. My problem is we are cheap and like the food we pay for to be worth it.

So Foodies, what are good places to eat that is worth the cost? Maybe more Disney Springs?


TIA!

 

[kranzaldua]

We were happy with CityWorks. We've been there a few times in the past few months. Good portions and good food. Mainly sports bar type food- but delicious nonetheless. Smokehouse burger was awesome!!

If you're going sometime during the Flower & Garden festival or Food & Wine festival, we always enjoy eating around the world and sharing a bunch of different flavors for lunch/dinner. It's a foodie paradise!!

As far as buffets are concerned, Boma has the best breakfast in my opinion and not too crazy expensive. They have so many yummy offerings. Pro tip- book a late breakfast (10:45-11ish) and make a breakfast and lunch out of it. The restaurant isn't open for lunch and dinner doesn't start until 5, so you won't be rushed to finish.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Disney seems to have at best average food for high prices. My problem is we are cheap and like the food we pay for to be worth it.

So Foodies, what are good places to eat that is worth the cost? Maybe more Disney Springs?


TIA!

20 plus years ago we enjoyed eating/dining at WDW. I don't feel WDW is a dining destination for us anymore. I agree with you, the food is average at best and certainly not worth the price tag. We went to 2 restaurants in October that we haven't been to before. Terralina crafted Italian and Narcoosee's. Both were awful. The pizza at Terraline was like eating stale pita bread and we can just kick ourselves for putting out $$$$ at Narcoosee's. I will give a shout out to Boathouse though, that was pretty good. Best ever, no, but good.

 

[chris benton]

Kimonos for simple nigiri and simple maki. Don't get caught up in all of the hipster mayo maki with crumbs and "eel sauce" stuff all over it, and you'll be happy with the bill for the quality in the middle of Wallyworld.

FOR THE PRICE, and being in the middle of AK, ribs and onion rings at Flame Tree are better than you'd think. I'd order the ribs and rings only, and ask for the other sides to be left out to save your $. Are they the best ribs and o rings you'll ever have? I hope not. But all in all, solid choice for the setting.

Chicken Tenders at QS places that have them, are usually a solid choice. (We never even think of getting chicken tenders anywhere, but in Wallyworld, they are a safe choice to avoid serious disappointment for the prices you are paying, and they are generally better than you'd think.)

I'd also order fried chicken anywhere if you are on the fence. It'll be safe, and has a high chance of being pretty decent for the price.

Do some studying with A.J over at Disney Food Blog, and Molly at AllEars. Both have done a TON of heavy lifting for this topic with bunches and bunches of youtube videos. My deal is this: for the most part, food at Wallytown is mostly about damage control, especially if you are from a place which has good food options. You're gonna PAY, no matter what. Sometimes you get burned. With a little bit of research, you can do ok and find a few gems for the prices.

 

[disney castle days]

I agree with CityWorks, we did brunch there a few weeks ago, and it was very good and the service was good. I believe the prices were pretty reasonable given the portions and it is Disney.

We also were really impressed by Maya Grill at Coronado Springs. If you like Mexican food, definitely check it out. The prices were comparable to what we get at home. The 50th dessert is very expensive but is SO worth it, it feeds 4 I believe. There were 2 of us and I don't think we ate even a quarter of it, so we took it back to the room.

I also really like Boma for their buffet, a lot of good options.

I would check out the hotels, I tend to find that food, in general, is better in the hotels than in the parks (whether it is chicken nuggets or a sit-down dinner).

 

[MICKIMINI]

Le Cellier, Steakhouse71, Boma are awesome. Chef's de France and O'Hana not good. Fav QS is Capt Cooks at Poly. We spent a small fortune in Oct/Nov 2021 and it was about 50/50 quality. Until the third party chefs/staffs go away, we won't take a chance as $300+ for four people for a bad meal is just too much IMO.

Our next two planned trips will include Le Cellier, Steakhouse71 and Boma for ADR's as you get a great meal. Otherwise, we will just order QS and always, always get Tonga Toast at Poly. Good luck!

 

[WishesQueen]

Hi there...
As for Disney Springs we love Wine Bar George and George is actually there serving and cleaning...great conversation and I love supporting an independently owned restaurant on Disney property...granted Disney must get a chunk but he wants you to walk away happy...nothing like an owner on location

We also really love Jaleo...Small plates and paella...delicious. the Boathouse is good too, very crowded but huge menu. Homecomin is fantastic if your interested in fried chicken.

In the parks...We NEVER eat in MK
We would go to Kona Cafe, GF Cafe, Narcoossee, Citricos, California Grill and I am dying to try Steakhouse71

EPCOT
Via Napoli, even beginning from NY its pretty good or we walk over to Yachtsman Steakhouse and Flying Fish if it ever reopens. Ale and Compass is decent as well.

Hollywood Studios
We love SciFi but only the burger and the artichoke dip, otherwise we like Brown Derby, even the outdoor lounge has decent food.

Animal Kingdom
Nomad lounge..never there for dinner but I would love to go to Tiffins. Yak and Yeti was decent as well.

We just tried Toppolinos and it was outstanding. I would love to try Toledo one day I heard thats good as well.

I feel like I am forgetting a couple but I hope this helps...have a great time

 

[leebee]

Polite Pig at Disney Springs has decent (not outstanding, but decent) BBQ offerings at reasonable prices.

JALEO. DD28 and I spent $110 on dinner for two, including 2 adult beds each and tax. Food was outstanding, service impeccable, wait staff knowledgable. Didn't think it was stupidly expensive for what we had.

Boma. We don't mind the price because the food is varied and usually pretty damned good. There's a discount if you use a Disney VISA to pay for the meal.

I agree, try the resorts for better food than the parks. A new favorite is Olivia's at OKW. Prices were more reasonable than most Disney restaurants, they give a Disney VISA discount, and the food was really good. We had fried chicken and a tofu coconut curry that was delicious!

DD said the 2nd best meal they had on their honeymoon was at House of Blues. Toledo was the best of the trip.

The food at GF Cafe is usually pretty good, and this is another place that has a Disney VISA discount.

 

[JZCubed]

Disney seems to have at best average food for high prices. My problem is we are cheap and like the food we pay for to be worth it.

So Foodies, what are good places to eat that is worth the cost? Maybe more Disney Springs?


TIA!

I am a self-described spoiled-foodie.

I disagree with your premise.

The real 'premium' costs at Disney are associated with uniquely-themed restaurants and/or character restaurants.

You pay extra to receive something extra.

At the high-end, Disney often has reasonable value. Good food & service costs extra.

In the mid-range, Disney has reasonable value too. The places with $20 entrees have reasonable food at reasonable prices.

It's at the low-end where Disney has mediocre food quality. A $13 Qwik Serve sandwich rarely tastes like a good value.

So, you're frugal. OK.

Save where you can, but spend where you have to. Do in-room groceries for snacks, breakfast, and beverages....and balance out those savings with the restaurant pricing that comes with a Disney visit.

Because here's my problem - I'd rather sit down where someone is bringing me a cold beverage and my meal for $20 than to pay $13 for a sandwich where I have to sit around with a beeper in my hand and bussing my own table.

Keep in mind - a $40 paella at Jaleo may feed 2-people, where a $13 burger at D-Luxe feeds one.

So value dining at Disney becomes a very 'relative' thing.

In a nutshell, I find the Qwik Service places to be bad 'value', but find table-service places offer fair-value.

We're partial to Homecomin', Frontera Cocina, & House of Blues for 'value'; Jaleo to touch our inner-foodie and wallets.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

with the CS prices it is not that bad to switch to a TS. the only thing you'd lose is time.

Not sure what kind of foodie the OP is. If you have excellent choices in the home area, it will be difficult to not be disappointed at WDW.

City Works is good bar food, not someplace I'd think a "foodie" would be interested in. It's good and reasonable though.

I suppose for high end eating, I do like Jaleo. My usual resort favorites are closed currently. Citricos was good if expensive

 

[kanerf]

I had a Bison steak at Le Cellier the other night and it was really good. It was $42 of course, but I did get the 10% DVC discount.

 

[Bahamontes]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/best-values-if-you-don’t-have-dining-plan.3777357/
That’s a really useful thread!

 

[dairyou]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions! I have written them all on my list to try. We stay at a DVC resort where we have a kitchen and there will be a few days where I’ll “cook” something simple from the room.
We are not hardcore foodies but we do like to experiment in the kitchen with recipes. Especially with the shortage of workers and Covid has changed how we go out to eat/cook.
Thank you again for all the information!!!

deb

 

[dairyou]

I am a self-described spoiled-foodie.

I disagree with your premise.

The real 'premium' costs at Disney are associated with uniquely-themed restaurants and/or character restaurants.

You pay extra to receive something extra.

At the high-end, Disney often has reasonable value. Good food & service costs extra.

In the mid-range, Disney has reasonable value too. The places with $20 entrees have reasonable food at reasonable prices.

It's at the low-end where Disney has mediocre food quality. A $13 Qwik Serve sandwich rarely tastes like a good value.

So, you're frugal. OK.

Save where you can, but spend where you have to. Do in-room groceries for snacks, breakfast, and beverages....and balance out those savings with the restaurant pricing that comes with a Disney visit.

Because here's my problem - I'd rather sit down where someone is bringing me a cold beverage and my meal for $20 than to pay $13 for a sandwich where I have to sit around with a beeper in my hand and bussing my own table.

Keep in mind - a $40 paella at Jaleo may feed 2-people, where a $13 burger at D-Luxe feeds one.

So value dining at Disney becomes a very 'relative' thing.

In a nutshell, I find the Qwik Service places to be bad 'value', but find table-service places offer fair-value.

We're partial to Homecomin', Frontera Cocina, & House of Blues for 'value'; Jaleo to touch our inner-foodie and wallets.

I agree with you. I should had written that we don’t want to pay a lot for a buffet with average food .. AND since we are empty nesters we don’t need to pay for the magic of the experience. Definitely hit the nail on that one.

 

[dairyou]

Polite Pig at Disney Springs has decent (not outstanding, but decent) BBQ offerings at reasonable prices.

JALEO. DD28 and I spent $110 on dinner for two, including 2 adult beds each and tax. Food was outstanding, service impeccable, wait staff knowledgable. Didn't think it was stupidly expensive for what we had.

Boma. We don't mind the price because the food is varied and usually pretty damned good. There's a discount if you use a Disney VISA to pay for the meal.

I agree, try the resorts for better food than the parks. A new favorite is Olivia's at OKW. Prices were more reasonable than most Disney restaurants, they give a Disney VISA discount, and the food was really good. We had fried chicken and a tofu coconut curry that was delicious!

DD said the 2nd best meal they had on their honeymoon was at House of Blues. Toledo was the best of the trip.

The food at GF Cafe is usually pretty good, and this is another place that has a Disney VISA discount.

We also enjoy Olivia’s. That is also on our list! JALEO here we come

 

[dairyou]

Hi there...
As for Disney Springs we love Wine Bar George and George is actually there serving and cleaning...great conversation and I love supporting an independently owned restaurant on Disney property...granted Disney must get a chunk but he wants you to walk away happy...nothing like an owner on location

We also really love Jaleo...Small plates and paella...delicious. the Boathouse is good too, very crowded but huge menu. Homecomin is fantastic if your interested in fried chicken.

In the parks...We NEVER eat in MK
We would go to Kona Cafe, GF Cafe, Narcoossee, Citricos, California Grill and I am dying to try Steakhouse71

EPCOT
Via Napoli, even beginning from NY its pretty good or we walk over to Yachtsman Steakhouse and Flying Fish if it ever reopens. Ale and Compass is decent as well.

Hollywood Studios
We love SciFi but only the burger and the artichoke dip, otherwise we like Brown Derby, even the outdoor lounge has decent food.

Animal Kingdom
Nomad lounge..never there for dinner but I would love to go to Tiffins. Yak and Yeti was decent as well.

We just tried Toppolinos and it was outstanding. I would love to try Toledo one day I heard thats good as well.

I feel like I am forgetting a couple but I hope this helps...have a great time

Wow!!! Thanks for all the useful information!!

 

[purpliequeen]

I'm a self-proclaimed foodie, having gone to college for hospitality & currently working in hospitality, and I hear what OP is saying on the value proposition. That being said, part of why I love Disney is because of the overall story that Disney tells. I love restaurants that go above & beyond the menu, chairs & tables, etc., and actually try to create an experience for you. That includes the uniforms the Cast Members are wearing, characters if applicable, the decor/theming, etc. I really love these experiences that allow me to say "wow" and want to talk about it with friends & family. There are many of these places around WDW, but my personal favorites include: California Grill (will try the new menu in a few months) - especially during fireworks; Tonga Toast at Poly (either Capt. Cook's or Kona); Trader Sam's (talk about an experience - I'm sure Enchanted Rose at the GF would be similar); many restaurants in DS including Jaleo (plus Jose Andres is just incredible & a good person to support), Morimoto, Gideon's (again, talk about theming - just wow), Jock Lindsay, Polite Pig, etc.; Boma, Jiko, and Sanaa (I mean animals right oustside!?); Beaches & Cream (food has gone downhill and I haven't eaten here since it expanded, but I've always been impressed with the theme/concept)... I can go on & on. I am excited to try a few new places during our upcoming trip: Nomad Lounge, Steakhouse 71, and Topolino's.

 

[luv2cheer92]

I've never had a bad meal anywhere at WDW, and very, very few average meals. Most have been above average to excellent, especially for theme park food. But even not considering that, I find the food be delicious.

 

[jimmymc]

Places I think are definitely worth the cost:

Jungle Skipper Canteen
Hollywood Brown Derby
Satuli Canteen
Woody's Lunchbox
Ronto Roasters
Il Mulino

Places that might be worth the cost, depending on what you get:

Jaleo - Get the steak and a few other dishes, or just the paella
Be Our Guest - Prix fixe, I also like the steak here
Docking Bay 7
Chefs du France - can be hit or miss depending on your taste
Sunshine Seasons
Pecos Bills

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

We've had some good meals over the years at Disney but most of these have been a mixture of a good atmosphere, good company and decent food. Had a couple of meals on the patio at Via Napoli while the sun was setting with family that we really enjoyed. Also had a great meal at Chefs de France for lunch one time while watching the crowd outside and spending time with my lovely wife. The brunch at California Grill was a memorable experience--food was good, company outstanding, and a great view. But if it's solely food quality that you are worried about then Disney largely falls short, especially for the price. Le Cellier was bad--cramped tables and steaks that tasted like nothing but salt. Boma was really good once and then bad the second time (multiple dishes with hair in them is disgusting). And Cape May had about the worst seafood we've ever had, including the crab legs. The only meals I've had at Disney where the food quality was in line with the cost were a breakfast at Yacht Club years ago and perhaps the California Grill brunch.