Single Dining in EPCOT

[BradChristian]

Hello Friends,

I'll be in Orlando Wednesday September 16th-18th for my first solo trip. I'm hoping to have a nice social media meet up on Wednesday night at Trader Sams. However - on September 17th (Thursday) I am enjoying one of the few (1) days on the crowd calendar at Hollywood Studios and then closing the afternoon/night in EPCOT

I've studied the EPCOT restaurants a bit, and have enjoyed the unique offerings of Sunshine Seasons in the past. However - I'm going to be in world showcase for Illuminations, and I'm trying to figure out a solid meal for a single diner.

There looks to be a lot of good offerings. However - many come across like I can experience them from a local eatery in my town rather than only Orlando. For instance - Orange Chicken in China, Japanese steakhouse in Tokyo, Mexican food from LaCatina. I LOVED cowfish at Universal earlier this year because of how unique it was!

From what I can tell... The most unique option in EPCOT that would work well for a single diner is Via Napoli - Their pie does not look like something I can order from Dominos.

The french options also sound interesting, but don't know if they are worth the cash while traveling alone.

I also enjoy Mediterranean food, but I had that last time I was in world showcase.

Any suggestions?

 

[Alesia]

Via Napoli has wood-fired Neapolitan style pizza. We can get that at home, but apparently many people can't.

If I were going to eat table service, my choice would probably be Spice Road Table, but I much prefer snacking around the world.

 

[winthropf]

San Angel Inn is not what I would consider a typical Mexican restaurant, at least in my area. It is not the normal Tex-Mex fajitas and tacos. Take a look at the menu and reconsider. Also, the venue is theme extremely well.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Personally I love Marrakesh in Morocco.

 

[samsteele]

I'd take a look at all of the updated Epcot menus online & see what really appeals. I've enjoyed San Angel, Chefs, Tokyo Dining and, as PP mentioned, Marrakesh. I don't think you'd feel out of place at any of the Epcot restaurants as a solo diner. Another option is to take the boat from the International Gateway to the Cape May seafood buffet at the Beach Club.

 

[BobC]

I'm in the same boat as you and made a reservation at Via Napoli in Italy. Huge pizza fan and they have ind. pizzas for a good price. Excited to do that solo.

Also, someone said San Angel at Mexico is good too on the lake. Seems inviting and good for a solo traveler.

I couldn't see doing Chef De France or another sit down place solo. Biergarten might also be fun for you solo.

 

[roselark]

La Hacienda is not a typical tex-mex type restaurant. They have excellent food, and dishes I cannot find anywhere at home (and we have lots of good Mexican places). It is one of my favorite spots in World Showcase. I have eaten here many times solo.

 

[ArmyVet80]

Via Napoli would be a good choice. The Biergarten may also be a good choice if you do not have a German eatery near your home. It is a buffet and you would be sat with a random group of people at your table. It's like being in a German biergarten. It is one of my DW and I's favorite places. A plus to the Biergarten is the view for Illuminations from the German Pavilion is one of the better places to see it (in my opinion).

Those would be our two choices.

 

[Dug720]

I'm in the same boat as you and made a reservation at Via Napoli in Italy. Huge pizza fan and they have ind. pizzas for a good price. Excited to do that solo.

Also, someone said San Angel at Mexico is good too on the lake. Seems inviting and good for a solo traveler.

I couldn't see doing Chef De France or another sit down place solo. Biergarten might also be fun for you solo.

I am going solo for the Wine and Dine half marathon and have an ADR for Via Napoli, but I am having a hard time with those prices. If $18-21 for an INDIVIDUAL pizza is a "good price" I hate to see what you think is standard for an individual pizza.

I pretty much dine solo all the time and have never had an issue anywhere I've gone. The only place I can think of I would not go on property solo is Sci Fi because a) I really don't go to the studios because YAWN and b) I don't find the thing about the person/people in the third row of a car not related to the group in the first two rows being called a hitchiker funny or cute.

 

[DisneyPrince1982]

I would say Via Napoli for sure. Very unique tasting pizza that would be hard to find elsewhere and it's more on the casual side so a solo diner wouldn't feel out of place in the least. Everyone is too busy stuffing their face full of pie to even notice single diners.

I don't think Biergarten is a good option as you will be seated at a table for 8 and could get stuck in between couples/familes who are conversing amongs themselves, might be a bit awkward.

 

[BradChristian]

I considered Biergarten, but I have heard some mixed reviews on the food being on the dry side.

Thanks for the encouragement on the mexican food being special. I just heard Big Fat Panda and Lou Mongello review some of the offerings, so I can see how it is not your usual mexican food.

 

[BradChristian]

I am going solo for the Wine and Dine half marathon and have an ADR for Via Napoli, but I am having a hard time with those prices. If $18-21 for an INDIVIDUAL pizza is a "good price" I hate to see what you think is standard for an individual pizza.

I pretty much dine solo all the time and have never had an issue anywhere I've gone. The only place I can think of I would not go on property solo is Sci Fi because a) I really don't go to the studios because YAWN and b) I don't find the thing about the person/people in the third row of a car not related to the group in the first two rows being called a hitchiker funny or cute.

I agree that $20 is a bit high - However - I see many dishes in Mexico are almost double that... Hmm...

 

[Dug720]

I agree that $20 is a bit high - However - I see many dishes in Mexico are almost double that... Hmm...

Not a Mexican food fan, so I've never considered it.

I did go to Biergarten in January with some friends and thought it was really good. Didn't find anything dry.

 

[GaryDis]

I'm slightly surprised that no one has mentioned Akershus in the unique department. I realize that between adding the Princess meet and purportedly Americanizing the menu, it's no longer as interesting for the adult diner with no kids. And perhaps the crowd is enough to disqualify it. But as near as I can tell, the appetizer buffet is still there, and remains uniquely Scandinavian.

As for Italian, my best advice is to move some place where you get better choices than Domino's.

 

[Dug720]

As for Italian, my best advice is to move some place where you get better choices than Domino's.

I'm going to take a wild guess that was directed at me since I mentioned the price of the pizzas...

I live in NYC and have a pizzeria that is owned and managed by a first-gen Italian-American right around the corner - and even their XL pie (which trust me, is FAR superior to Dominos) isn't $21.

 

[GaryDis]

I'm going to take a wild guess that was directed at me since I mentioned the price of the pizzas...

I live in NYC and have a pizzeria that is owned and managed by a first-gen Italian-American right around the corner - and even their XL pie (which trust me, is FAR superior to Dominos) isn't $21.

No, it was directed at the OP who said that Via Napoli looked like stuff he couldn't get from Domino's. FWIW, a 4 topping Large from Bertucci's ( a regional brick-oven chain in the northeast) is $25.

 

[Dug720]

No, it was directed at the OP who said that Via Napoli looked like stuff he couldn't get from Domino's. FWIW, a 4 topping Large from Bertucci's ( a regional brick-oven chain in the northeast) is $25.

Ah gotcha.

I've got access to enough places around here that are independently owned I avoid chains as much as possible, especially where anything Italian is concerned.

 

[ktlm]

Biergarten is often easy to get a walk up as a single. We have had single walk-ups placed at our table many times and have enjoyed the company. If you don't mind talking to strangers, I think it would be fun. Even if you got with some non-social families, then it wouldn't be much different than eating on your own, but chances are there will be someone at the table that has a conversation with you. It is our must do place every trip. We like the food and enjoy the band. The Bavarian Cheesecake is a must do dessert for us. If I was a single in WS, that is where I would go.

 

[GaryDis]

Ah gotcha.

I've got access to enough places around here that are independently owned I avoid chains as much as possible, especially where anything Italian is concerned.

Bertucci's is pretty upscale, I'd say slightly ahead of places like Applebee's or TGIFriday's. Certainly better than our local pizza shops (which, for some reason in the 'burbs, seem to be run by nationalities other than Italian). Still, it's not high on the list unless we have guests. Lunch today is scheduled to be Noodles & Co., another chain, but sufficiently unique and low-cost to make it worth the visit.

 

[Simba's Mom]

For solo dining, I've done Rose and Crown, Coral Reef, Chef's de France, and Teppenyaki in Epcot. Chef's de France and Rose and Crown were both nice, although I enjoyed R&C a lot more at lunch than at dinner. I sat on the porch and loved watching the boats go across the lagoon. At Teppanyaki, I had a real bad experience with the communal dining. I got seated next to a girl who obviously was having her worst nightmare-sitting next to a stranger and vacationing with her parents. I couldn't engage her in conversation and at the end of the meal, I don't know which one of us was more anxious to leave. That's when I decided I'd rather be alone than wish I was, and now I avoid communal dining. Next time I'm dining solo at Spice Table Road.