Unpopular Opinion: Epcot Restaurants are Mid

[SoloJim]

When Epcot opened (as EPCOT Center) in the 80's, one of the big features and draws was the variety of restaurants, mostly in World Showcase. At the time, Magic Kingdom was a world of burgers and dogs with a few exceptions (hello, Harbor House), so having all the international options, including a number of table service restaurants, was huge. It seems to me that, in recent years, restaurant reviews rate most of the World Showcase TS restaurants squarely in the Mediocre category. I'm sure there are some stand-outs but I'm hesitant to take a leap on a place with 2-star reviews and 4-star prices. Is the restaurant situation actually good and I should just get over myself? What's good and what's not?

 

[NYCgrrl]

prices. Is the restaurant situation actually good and I should just get over myself? What's good and what's not?

I enjoy a lot of the restaurants at EPCOT but think it’s best for you to decide for yourself .

Good for me is:

Yorkshire Fish and Chips
Katsura
Spice Table (love sitting by the water outside watching the boat traffic)
All of France
Via Napoli. Do not opt for the pizza window; doesn’t taste the same at all. Probably all the Italian restaurants in Italy are good but we only eat the pizza for the kids. Easy to get Italian at home.
the German QS. Pretzels are rare to never hot but the weisswurst are on point.

Bad for me is:

Biergarten but then I dislike all buffets, lol.
Legal Eagle or is it called American Eagle? Whatever it is just no and it pains me to say so. How can you mess up the host country’s food??

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm hesitant to take a leap on a place with 2-star reviews and 4-star prices.

If that's a concern, it's probably best to avoid WDW. Most things are overpriced relative to "the outside world."

Is the restaurant situation actually good and I should just get over myself?

I've never had a truly regrettable meal at Disney. Most are fine. Some are really good. If you are expecting a Michelin star, you're not going to get it*. But it's fine.

----
*: Offer void at Victoria & Alberts

 

[Micca]

I think the best spots are at Disney Springs and the resorts. Inside the parks, a lot of 'em are pretty good for theme park eateries.

 

[Newsies]

I don't personally find that to be the case -- Epcot is really the only park where I find myself going out of my way to book a sit-down meal for my family in anymore, despite all of the festival booths and great snacks/QS options. If I'm going to Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, there's a high likelihood I'm booking dinner at the end of the evening at my resort, a neighboring resort, or Disney Springs. Animal Kingdom actually has some pretty good TS options but we don't always visit or stay for long enough to sit down and eat anywhere.

In Epcot, I've found:

- Chefs de France is one of my personal favorites in all of Walt Disney World. I'm kind of a picky eater but I really love sitting here with a glass of brut and enjoying their macaroni gratin and creme brulee.

-Hacienda de San Angel (the TS restaurant outside of the pyramid) has some great food, the Queso Fundido is one of my favorite appetizers in WDW-- skip the San Angel Inn restaurant (inside the pyramid).

-Biergarten is a favorite in my family, there's some good meats, pastas, and potatoes on the buffet line if you want something hearty and it's not too hot outside.

-Via Napoli is a bit overhyped, at least in recent years.

-Teppan Edo is fun and good, but not better than your local hibachi restaurant

We haven't tried Shiki-Sai or Spice Road Table yet, but I've heard those are very good.

 

[SoloJim]

I think the best spots are at Disney Springs and the resorts. Inside the parks, a lot of 'em are pretty good for theme park eateries.

True, I've had some very fine meals at Disney Springs and the resorts. There are also great options in some of the parks. I think Animal Kingdom and the Studios have some really good restaurants, both table and quick service. I've just found Epcot to be kind of disappointing.

 

[SoloJim]

I don't personally find that to be the case -- Epcot is really the only park where I find myself going out of my way to book a sit-down meal for my family in anymore, despite all of the festival booths and great snacks/QS options. If I'm going to Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, there's a high likelihood I'm booking dinner at the end of the evening at my resort, a neighboring resort, or Disney Springs. Animal Kingdom actually has some pretty good TS options but we don't always visit or stay for long enough to sit down and eat anywhere.

In Epcot, I've found:

- Chefs de France is one of my personal favorites in all of Walt Disney World. I'm kind of a picky eater but I really love sitting here with a glass of brut and enjoying their macaroni gratin and creme brulee.

-Hacienda de San Angel (the TS restaurant outside of the pyramid) has some great food, the Queso Fundido is one of my favorite appetizers in WDW-- skip the San Angel Inn restaurant (inside the pyramid).

-Biergarten is a favorite in my family, there's some good meats, pastas, and potatoes on the buffet line if you want something hearty and it's not too hot outside.

-Via Napoli is a bit overhyped, at least in recent years.

-Teppan Edo is fun and good, but not better than your local hibachi restaurant

We haven't tried Shiki-Sai or Spice Road Table yet, but I've heard those are very good.

I've done Chefs de France years ago and thought it was very good. I will give it a shot next trip.

 

[DVCjj]

When I go to Disney (often), I never go expecting gourmet...or even wonderful food. (Can't and never will afford V&A). I live in a "Food City" all my life and am used to everything and anything.

Yet, I go to a lot (most) of the restaurants mentioned above and love it....the experience, the ambience and, frankly, just being at Disney World. And thankful I'm able to afford to be there.

 

[BeachMouse1]

We have had some excellent meals in Epcot (Monsieur Paul, Sushi Izakaya,) and some not so good (Coral Reef). However we believe that any restaurant can have an off day.

We live in south Florida and I will say that dining here is on par or even more expensive than Disney and you don’t get the Disney experience LOL.

We used to plan a TS every day. However lately we have been doing more lounges and snacking type eating. A snack from France, an appetizer in Tutto Gusto in Italy, dessert from the caramel shop in Germany, there are so many options.

Also , from Epcot you have all the Epcot resorts you can walk to for a good meal. Getting back to lounges Ale & Compass and Crews Cup have good lounge food. But you have flying fish, and all the restaurants in the Swan & Dolphin as well

 

[Smugpugmug]

Coral Reef and Space 220 suck but Shiki Sai is really good. Pricey especially since I've had similar food for cheaper but the service is amazing and the food quality is better than most Epcot table service.

 

[Cfabar1]

Our favorite is spice road table... we can't handle the noise at crown and rose, we also enjoy Le Cellier, which in many ways seems to be the flagship food at Epcot other than the super high-end offerings like Monsieur Paul....

We also like the Chinese restaurant because it is cheap and DVC/Annual pass get 20% off....

Many we find to be overrated/overpriced, and so we enjoy/prefer eating at the resorts more than the restaurants in the parks, but have yet to have a truly terrible meal ever with Disney.

 

[Anthony1971]

I definitely wouldn’t consider any 2 star at 4 star prices however this relative to where you live. I have never had a bad meal at EPCOT in 30+ years. The prices have increased while at many times in the past I found them to be under priced. With that there are places based on what you can get local that you may find just ok. If you try to compare to your local place down the road yes the prices are higher in busy areas you get closer in price in touristy areas Disney is a decent value. I will say the CS at the countries are very good and definitely a better value if you decide TS is not a good option. Disney CS has vastly improved through the years while yes the TS has become more touristy price with better then expected service for us at least and food of the same or better quality.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

All the actual top notch restaurants are at resorts. I don't expect much from park restaurants...except Tiffans which is delicious.

I tried the sushi place at Epcot and it was good, but overpriced. Spice road is good for small plates. San Angel is decent for dinner.

Nothing is really BAD there, just OK to fine/good. I never left saying something sucked, put it that way. Never been to monsier Paul so I am sure that place is excellent based on what I read.

 

[StevieB81]

Monsieur Paul is very good. Could be considered a training run for V&A? We love Biergarten. The food is good, but the experience is the best part about it. I thought Tutto Italia was pretty good as well. I've also never had anything "bad" at EPCOT. Is it the best food around? No, but that mussel soup at Monsieur Paul was pretty dang good. I'd eat that every day.

 

[Minnie1222]

Is the restaurant situation actually good and I should just get over myself?

Yes.

 

[nursejackie]

Over the years we've dined at Via Napoli many times (we always enjoy the pizza metro), and once each at Monsieur Paul, Chefs de France, Tutto Italia and Le Cellier, all of which we enjoyed at the time.

I haven't eaten in too many TS places at Disney Springs though, our go-to place every trip is the Boathouse, or it's just Earl of Sandwich and snacks.

 

[gmi3804]

I’ve been to most of the places mentioned so far in this thread, and thinking about where I’d want to go again (and pay those prices!) just depresses me. Every single one has been so dumbed down to the point that not a single one is compelling to me anymore. The ghosts of long-ago good to great meals would keep me from enjoying myself. And, truth be told, most every other place in the World fits that description to varying degrees.

 

[Becky Mouse]

When Epcot opened (as EPCOT Center) in the 80's, one of the big features and draws was the variety of restaurants, mostly in World Showcase. At the time, Magic Kingdom was a world of burgers and dogs with a few exceptions (hello, Harbor House), so having all the international options, including a number of table service restaurants, was huge. It seems to me that, in recent years, restaurant reviews rate most of the World Showcase TS restaurants squarely in the Mediocre category. I'm sure there are some stand-outs but I'm hesitant to take a leap on a place with 2-star reviews and 4-star prices. Is the restaurant situation actually good and I should just get over myself? What's good and what's not?

We just ate at Shiki-Sai and really enjoyed it.

 

[neverlandsky]

For QS we thought Sunshine Seasons was good & underrated.

 

[SoloJim]

For QS we thought Sunshine Seasons was good & underrated.

Sunshine Seasons has long been my go-to QS at the front of the park (former Future World). Always a solid choice.