Restaurant Recommendations

[centurythree]

I'm a Disney "veteran," but for some reason I always end up at the same restaurants. I can actually list the ones still extant that I've visited over the last 25 years or so:

MK:
Tony's Town Square (back when they served breakfast. The last time was just after they transitioned to the Lady and the Tramp theme.)
Crystal Palace (before my last visit to Tony's, lol)
Pecos Bill's
Cosmic Ray's

DHS:
The Commissary
Backlot Express
Starring Rolls

Epcot:
Electric Umbrella
Sunshine Seasons
Le Cellier
Chefs de France
Rose and Crown

Animal Kingdom:
I'm embarrassed to say, besides the Rainforest Cafe, nowhere except the McDonalds

So . . . what restaurants can you recommend? I'm taking a few people down later in the year and they're more adventurous than my family. So, I figure this is my big chance to try out some new places.

I'm also interested in any "can't miss" restaurants outside the parks. I've been to the Rainforest Cafe in DTD, that's all.

It's a 6-7 day trip, with 1-2 rest days.

 

[colonialtinker]

Epcot: Try the Coral Reef Restaurant, DD8 loved it so much we're going there again
DHS - 50's Prime Time Cafe - We have eaten there 3 times and really enjoy the atmosphere. Takes us back to all the reruns we watched growing up

We also try to eat at one of the Resorts. We try a different resort every vacation. DH better watch out there are more resorts we haven't tried. Hope this helps a little. I'm sure there will be lots of replies.

 

[WDWguru]

JIKO!! (At Animal Kingdom Lodge) It's like nothing else you'll ever have anywhere else. Great wine list, adventurous without being scary... it's our favorite restaurant on property.

I also agree about 50s Prime Time. Yummy comfort food and a really fun atmosphere. Also the original cobb salad at the Brown Derby is worth eating there for. We go for lunch and get it as our entree!

 

[okeydokey]

For Counter Service at MK, we swear by Columbia Harbor House.

 

[wilde_oscar]

avoid tony's and coral reef

Crystal palace is a good buffet

Chef Mickey is a decent breakfast.

California Grill has a great view during the fireworks.

Same with Narcosse.

Kona Cafe is good off the menu Breakfast.

Yak & Yeti has great food, though the jury is still out on service.

Tusker house is a great breakfast, and lunch/dinner it is all kinda a Boma Light.

Boma is a great buffet, better at breakfast than dinner.

Captain's Grille is a hidden gem for breakfast lunch and dinner.

Mamma Melrose is OK, Brown Derby is better than OK.

le Chefs France is great, le cellier is great, rose and crown is good.

When it comes to counter service... by and large they are mostly equal, many locations have something that is a little different than everywhere else to go along with burgers and fries.

 

[t_catt11]

Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge has great food, huge portions, and is a ton of fun if you enjoy some light-hearted cowboy antics with your dinner. Easily one of the best restaurants in all of Disney!

 

[fabfivefigo]

One of our favorites is the Sci-fi dine in theater in DHS, which is just what the title indicates, a drive-in theme with cars for booths and B-quality sci-fi movies playing on the big screen. It also has great milk shakes.

We also always hit the restaurants in Italy and Germany in Epcot.

I recall the food at Ohana being good, too, but we've only been there once.

 

[wilde_oscar]

Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge has great food, huge portions, and is a ton of fun if you enjoy some light-hearted cowboy antics with your dinner. Easily one of the best restaurants in all of Disney!

this is the one where the children scream... a lot, right?

 

[wilde_oscar]

One of our favorites is the Sci-fi dine in theater in DHS, which is just what the title indicates, a drive-in theme with cars for booths and B-quality sci-fi movies playing on the big screen. It also has great milk shakes.

We also always hit the restaurants in Italy and Germany in Epcot.

I recall the food at Ohana being good, too, but we've only been there once.

Ohanna Dinner is decent family style... breakfast, um if you are a stitch fan by all means go, but don't go for the food.

 

[stellablue]

Epcot: Definately take your guests to the Biergarten in Germany!! This place is a blast with the band and decor. Food is great (traditional German food) and they have a great beer selection.

Resorts: Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is terrific. We loved the dinner and the AKL is a great resort to explore before or after your meal. Great animal viewing areas to see Giraffes, Bongos, Zebra, etc...

MK: Main Street Bakery is wonderful for breakfast or a mid day snack

DHS: Definately check out 50's Prime Time. Your guests will love it-very unique and entertaining with terrific home cooked meals.

 

[racheljessicasara]

I was at Yak and Yeti yesterday....LOVED it!!! Service was great and food was amazing!!!

 

[Gus]

Fourthing the Boma love.

@ AK: Flame Tree Barbecue is really good, and there's a fantastic seating area.

 

[stellablue]

@ AK: Flame Tree Barbecue is really good, and there's a fantastic seating area.

What's great about the seating area? We were gonna go here during our trip, but we went with Pizzafari instead. I didn't realize that Flame Tree BBQ had a good seating area-does it have a view of animals or a view of something else? Maybe we'll go here next time if it has a cool view.

 

[ReninDetroit]

Jiko - a truly wonderful experience at the AKL. A popular choice is the filet with zip sauce, macaroni and cheese - it's good, but try something more adventurous instead. We had great sturgeon once, but I'm wondering if that was a daily special. Either way, start with the tomato, cucumber & red onion salad - amazing. With a watermelon vinaigrette...mmmm....

The Brown Derby, in DHS - one of the most underrated restaurants in WDW, in my opinion. I highly recommend the porkchop. It's served with red wine braised cabbage and smoked fondue cheese; very, very good.

Kona Cafe - not necessarily spectacular, but I really enjoyed it. If you're a coffee lover then it would definitely be worth the trip over to the Poly.

 

[kevw67]

What's great about the seating area? We were gonna go here during our trip, but we went with Pizzafari instead. I didn't realize that Flame Tree BBQ had a good seating area-does it have a view of animals or a view of something else? Maybe we'll go here next time if it has a cool view.

The seating is under cover, up out of the way. Kinda relaxing to me.

We also endorse Boma. Love the food. We have also done Biergarten which our kids love. Crystal Palace and Hollywood and Vine are decent buffets.

I have also been to Liberty Tree Tavern. Food was ok.

We have had decent food at just about any counter service place: Casey's @ MK, Electric Umbrella @ EPCOT, Flame Tree, Pizza Planet(this was OK not great).

 

[ireland_nicole]

I second the emotion on Flame Tree, Jiko's, Crystal Palace, and Le Cellier. If you're a foodie and money isn't a concern, definitely consider Victoria and Alberts at GF. The most amazing food and service (if you don't mind paying a small mortgage payment) and well worth the cost. We only go to Disney once every 15-16 months and "splurge" on a meal here-also very quiet, no children under 10 allowed (not that I don't love kids, I have 2, but every so often its nice to have an adult meal). Also Citrico's at GF. So good.
Nicole

 

[loafskier]

Boma is a great buffet

Biergarten is alot of fun, food is decent

Coral Reef for a different atmosphere and good food

 

[centurythree]

Thanks for the recommendations so far!

One restaurant that's conspicuously absent is Cinderella's Royal Table. I've heard that the food hasn't been that great in its previous incarnations . . . is this still the case?

If not, would this be too "girly" for an 11 year old boy?

Also, am I correct in assuming that 50's Prime Time is recommended over the Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater?

 

[Magic4Four]

The old wolfgang puck express had what we thought was the best counter service food in aal of Disney. We will have to wait and see what the refurb and new menu offers.

By the way, just ate at whispering canyon last week, food and service was terrible.

 

[kevw67]

I would do 50's primetime for the atmosphere alone. If you get a good CM, it makes you feel like you were back at your mom's or grandma's kitchen getting told to get elbows off the table, take you hat off, eat your veggie's, blah, blah, blah.