Top 3 Epcot restaurants?

[NU2WDW]

DH, myself and three DDs (ages 4-1/2, 6 & 7) will be in WDW at the end of April. We are staying off property and plan to have dinner only once or twice in the parks. What would your top three Epcot choices be with these considerations:

1) More interested in food quality than character interaction (unless you feel both are possible simultaneously!)
2) Great atmosphere/decor that fits the country
3) Value for the price (i.e., don't mind spending $$$$ if food & service will be worth it)

Also, which restaurants are good for seeing Illuminations? Can you request a "viewing table"? I know we're very late in terms of making ADRs but I may as well give it a try. Any add'l advice you have re Epcot eateries is appreciated. THANKS!

 

[devonsmommy]

Based on the info you gave, I think:

Coral Reef--We really enjoyed our food here, and I think the atmosphere is great. I think it's a good place for kids.

Biergarten--We had a lot of fun here, but make sure you like the food being offered on the menu. The atmosphere was fun, and it was a good family place.

I can't help with the Illuminations question.

Have fun!

 

[Lynn5700]

My top 3 in Epcot are

Le Cellier
Tutto Italia
Coral Reef

I also like Biergarten and Chefs de France

You can see Illuminations in Chefs de France if you sit by a window, outside at Tutto and outside at Rose and Crown..you may have the best view there.

Your kids would have fun at Biergarten. They have a band play during dinner and there is a big dance floor. The kids can get us and dance. It is so cute.

 

[KatMark]

DH, myself and three DDs (ages 4-1/2, 6 & 7) will be in WDW at the end of April. We are staying off property and plan to have dinner only once or twice in the parks. What would your top three Epcot choices be with these considerations:

1) More interested in food quality than character interaction (unless you feel both are possible simultaneously!)
2) Great atmosphere/decor that fits the country
3) Value for the price (i.e., don't mind spending $$$$ if food & service will be worth it)

Also, which restaurants are good for seeing Illuminations? Can you request a "viewing table"? I know we're very late in terms of making ADRs but I may as well give it a try. Any add'l advice you have re Epcot eateries is appreciated. THANKS!

Our top three in Epcot are: LeCellier, Biergarten and Rose and Crown (we hope to try Tutto this year; we don't do french food or mexican food).

As for Illuminations, there is outdoor seating at Rose & Crown. HOWEVER, you cannot reserve an outside seat.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Le Cellier is fantastic
Tutto is the best but the price is very high
Beirgarten is our favorite!

 

[theToes]

Mexico is our favorite. Great atmosphere and food.

 

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

I would have to say Coral Reef and Teppan Edo are our faves. Great food and atmosphere at both. These are DD13's top 2 restaurants in all of WDW and high on my list as well. We will also try to get either Chef's De France or Tutto Italia on our 2010 trip, but not sure which one yet. Hoping for Chef's but that's a long time away.

Have fun!

 

[disneystick]

My family really enjoys:
1. Chef de France
2. Le Cellier
3. Teppan edo

 

[Shleedogg]

We ate at Tutto Italia, Le Cellier and Chefs de France and will probably only return to Chefs.

We had bad service and food at Tutto.

Le Cellier was ok, not bad, just not anything that wowed us.

Chefs was great. It was the only meal all week where we didn't feel rushed, service was fabulous and the food was great. We also had a seat in the front of the restaurant, where all the windows are, and we had a great view of Illuminations. We had a 7:50 ADR and had dessert just as the 9pm Illuminations was starting.

Also wanted to add that Chefs de France doesn't seem like real French food. Most French food scares me but I was able to find more than one thing on the menu that sounded good. I think it's probably Americanized food. The Bistro upstairs probably has more authentic fare.

 

[NU2WDW]

Wow, thanks everyone! Keep it comin'! Beirgarten intrigues me and I'm glad to see several recommendations.

 

[NU2WDW]

Thanks Shleedogg -- how was the pace there? Do you think Chefs is a good choice even w/ young kids? The menu looks really delicious ("authentic" or not) but I wonder if time-wise it would feel "too long" for kids. I HATE being rushed during a meal but with kids of course, there's that fine line. lol
Would love the chance to have a comfy seat for Illuminations, though!

 

[drakes]

We liked...

Le Cellier
Coral Reef - my dd (9) favorite
Garden Grill- the family favorite- we get the best character interaction here for some reason, Mickey sat with us and watched dd make her sundae, Pluto danced with her, Chip N Dale threw sugar packs and crayons at DH then hide.
Teppan Edo

None with Illuminations viewing.

Tokyo Dining looks like it may have the best veiwing, all glass facing the fireworks? maybe someone else would know about this?

 

[Time Traveler]

Le Cellier
Tutto Italia
Chefs de France

The pretzel bread...it calls for us!

 

[kutchyone]

"Tokyo Dining looks like it may have the best veiwing, all glass facing the fireworks? maybe someone else would know about this?"

It does ane we have enjoyed dining and watching from there. It's always been pretty empty when we have done this.

Le Cellier
Restaurant Marrakesh
Chefs de France or Tokyo Dining

 

[skellingtonfreak]

Rose and Crown - Great viewing from outside for Illuminations and the food is good too.

Tokyo Dining - Food is great if you like Japanese food and if you get a window table, the view is perfection for Illuminations.

Tutto Italia if you don't mind the prices...I think it is totally worth it though.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

We went to Chef's with kids who were 6,4 and 2. And we all LOVED it! They didn't get bored. Frankly, by 8pm, they were too tired to be bored

Great time. We hope to try Cellier or Rose and Crown next year.

 

[disneychic]

Le Cellier is by far our favorite in Epcot with Coral Reef being our second fave. We've also enjoyed meals at Mexico and Japan as well - however, it's been a while time since we've eaten anyplace but Le Cellier. It never disappoints.

 

[Shleedogg]

Thanks Shleedogg -- how was the pace there? Do you think Chefs is a good choice even w/ young kids? The menu looks really delicious ("authentic" or not) but I wonder if time-wise it would feel "too long" for kids. I HATE being rushed during a meal but with kids of course, there's that fine line. lol
Would love the chance to have a comfy seat for Illuminations, though!

There were lots of kids there, including my DD who was 2 mos. When she fussed I didn't even worry because it was loud there. Not overwhelmingly loud, but definitely some noise. All in all I think we were there for about an hour and twenty-thirty minutes, it didn't seem long to me, it felt just right. However, we had a 2 month old who slept through the meal and a 14 yr old so I'm probably not the best judge of that, lol.

We felt rushed at Le Cellier and Tutto but not at Chefs or Mama Melrose. The service was great at MM too. DH was running the marathon the next day so our waitress put extra rolls into a to-go container for him to snack on and carbo-load.

 

[Withinthehour]

I went in January with a couple of friends at the same time the marathon was there. We ate at Chefs de France the night of the full marathon...there were a ton of kids there and they all seemed to enjoy it quite a lot. Granted there are no charaters, a good portion of the restaurant has windows and there is so much to see, like the street performers.

As for the food, it was by far the best meal I had my entire trip. I raved about it so much that my parents requested two dinners there during our trip in June!

Concerning Illuminations, as far as I know Rose & Crown is one of the best places to go for that because they are located right on the lagoon and have some primo seats on their terrace...only thing is that they don't take advanced request for those patio seats, you have to ask if one is available when you arrive.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Our favorites are Le Cellier, Tutto Italia (but yes, it is pricey ... thank goodness for free dining!) and a toss between Coral Reef & Chefs de France.

We do love the Biergarten as well ... food is good, floor show is entertaining.

Coral Reef would be a good pick because of the aquarium. We had a great lunch there last year.

We did watch Illuminations from Rose & Crown one time. I didn't enjoy it as much as watching from the grass though.

I guess it may be easier to ask which restaurants we didn't like! (San Angel is the only one that comes to mind)