Whats up with the Epcot USA pavillion food?

[DizWacko]

Hello all, I find it really curious why the American Pavillion in Epcot has nothing more than a burger and fry joint ... (perhaps I dont know about another restaurant that may be present there?)

All of the other countries seem to have alteast one CS, one borderline fine dining at minimum, and then some kind of grab&go snack offering ..

After all, this is the USA right? Why not a nice sit-down restaurant (Steakhouse/BBQ/anything USA or the like)??

 

[iliketoby]

I was really disappointed by this, too. (and the movie, but that's another thread.)

 

[Aimeedyan]

Because every other restaurant at WDW practically is American Fare. Garden Grill is American, just across the way in Future World. And all the other CS places in Future World. Most of the CS places across MK, MGM, and AK are American Fare. Most table places are, and all the signature places are (off the top of my head). You can walk out of International Gateway and onto the Boardwalk full of American fare.

I personally don't understand why Americans would eat a hot dog and drink a Sam Adams at Epcot with all the other great offerings but it never fails that there are people there! LOL

 

[Rob&Jan]

I agree, the U.S. has such great and diverse food choices to say nothing of the wine regions. I'm Canadian and love the U.S. for the above reasons and many more of course, but i think you are doing a diservice by only serving burgers and fries. I think a wonderful TS resturant with a fantastic view of Illuminations and the world showcase would be a huge success, my menu suggestions would be a sampling of each area of the country. You have such wonderful food ...Celebrate it!
"Build it and they will come"

 

[WDWBetsy]

I have to admit that I had a craving for a hot dog and fries, so we ate at the Liberty Inn at Epcot for lunch while there last week. It was so good!!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

We go there only because there's plenty of seating and it's a cool place on a hot day. The food is awful. Would love for them to serve something with a bit of flavor---barbecue?? A fabulous salad bar or baked-potato-with-toppings bar?? Soul food?? Organic food?? Corn on the cob?? I realize there is no one "American"-style food, but they could have some fun with it. I'm vegetarian, but I'd still rather see a barbecue place than a burger-and-fries place, which has no originality at all.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

I think a Soul Food place would be great. There's the House of Blues, but they're only like semi-soul food, so it would be nice to see Disney do a truly regional place. Or maybe an idea like food from just different regions of the US - Southern, Midwestern, New England, Californian, South Western. It's such a waste of space and potential.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I've often thought that a nice sit down restuarant with a menu that has one offering for each of the various parts of the USA, Midwest, South, Northeast, Northwest, Southwest etc.

 

[Park Hopper]

I've wondered for years why better, more representative food isn't available here. Even the food-booth selections at the annual Food & Wine Festival are lacking. This year two of the offerings were seafood-based -- lobster corn chowder and cheddar crab cake with dried cranberry slaw -- and the third choice was cranberry orange cobbler. Disney must have gotten a good deal from the Cranberry Growers Association.

 

[Mary626]

Yeah, having it be a hamburger and fries place has always seemed like such a 2-dimensional view of this country. It reminds me of when I was visiting a friend in Thailand and talking to her young cousin, I asked her if she wanted to visit america and she responded "yes, but I don't eat hamburgers.." as if that's all we eat here..

 

[bicker]

Because every other restaurant at WDW practically is American Fare.

Precisely that. For fine American cuisine, head to Artist Point, California Grill, Yachtmans Steakhouse, Coral Reef, Brown Derby, etc.

Besides, it is impolite for the host to show up invited guests. We already beat-the-pants off the other pavilions in terms of the attraction, The American Experience. It would be just plain rude to beat-the-pants off the other pavilions in the dining department as well.

I personally don't understand why Americans would eat a hot dog and drink a Sam Adams at Epcot with all the other great offerings but it never fails that there are people there! LOL

I agree with you about the hot dog, but don't knock Sam Adams!

 

[plutolovr]

Besides, it is impolite for the host to show up invited guests. We already beat-the-pants off the other pavilions in terms of the attraction, The American Experience. It would be just plain rude to beat-the-pants off the other pavilions in the dining department as well

You have got to be kidding me. I think this is one of the worst pavillions in the WS. The last time we saw the show I looked around at my kids and they were all sleeping and I was fighting to keep my eyes open. I think we can do much better here. I also think the food needs to be changed. I like what someone said about regional cuisines. I only ate here once many years ago and now I figure I can get a burger at McDonalds for much cheaper.

 

[bicker]

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about that. Between the American Adventure, and what I forgot to mention before, the Voices of Liberty, this pavilion is often one of the highlights of our trip!

 

[mtdevine615]

I guess our history is boring to some people, but let's not forget it. A lot of blood, sweat and tears were and continue to be shed for this country. Back on topic, I saw a rumor a little while ago that said they were looking at putting in a TS restaurant in the American pavilon. Maybe someday this will happen.

 

[DizWacko]

Precisely that. For fine American cuisine, head to Artist Point, California Grill, Yachtmans Steakhouse, Coral Reef, Brown Derby, etc.

Besides, it is impolite for the host to show up invited guests. We already beat-the-pants off the other pavilions in terms of the attraction, The American Experience. It would be just plain rude to beat-the-pants off the other pavilions in the dining department as well.

I agree with you about the hot dog, but don't knock Sam Adams!

I totally disagree with your logic, then why have an American Pavillion at all? Geez, all you have to do is leave World Showcase and you can experience America all around you ...

 

[WDWBetsy]

We liked the CS food - DH had a southwestern salad and I had the hot dog & fries. While it might not appeal to everyone, there are people who like the choices offered. It was not nasty or gross to us, in fact our meals were well-prepared and tasted good.

 

[betterlatethannever]

When we did one of the behind the scenes tours (I can't remember which one) the tour guide mentioned that not having a sit down restaurant in the American Pavilion was part of the deal to get the other countries to participate.

Ed

 

[jann1033]

even though there are naturally plenty of "american" type places really lots of them are food court places and not in epcot . i wish they had a nice regional menu at a ts in epcot, not so much for people from the states but so people not from the states realize we all don't live on bad burgers and fries, or worse greasy turkey legs

canada must not have gone over to well though when it was the more canadian meat pie type thing they used to serve so maybe the us can "share " Le Cellier" and call it the cellar since it seems pretty "american like" to me ( good but not exotic)

 

[DCDisney]

Personally I'm glad for a place with "bland" food. I have food allergies so most of the more exciting counter services have stuff I can't eat Table service at Epcot is easy for me but when I can't order stuff without sauces, dressings, or on a different type of bread it gets complicated fast. The rest of my family can eat at Tangierine cs and I can get something I can live with at Liberty Cafe.

Yvonne

 

[zulaya]

So if the agreement was no TS at the American Pavilion, it would be nice if they did have more regional offerings, in addition to the current ones. Make it a nice food court/counter service area.

Hot dogs, chicken fingers and fries be the All American Food station. Maybe throw in some apple pie for dessert here.

Then have a northeastern region...throw in Cranberry Slaw, Clam Chowder, a good regional salad and dessert offering. Plus, maybe some wines from that particular region.

Southern... I am not exactly sure what southern food would be (I am midwest gal)...would this be where BBQ falls...Pecan Pie? Somebody chime in here who knows more than me.

Or maybe we need Southeast and Southwest, since I am sure they both have distinctive flavors. Southwest would be a little more Mexican influenced. Wraps, tacos, etc.

Midwest...that covers a lot...might need a Northern Plains section in addition to Midwest. I know from MN, you'd probably see something with wild rice. Probably a lot more meat and potatoes type things...maybe a venison stew?

Rocky Mountains area?

Pacific Coast? Salmon, maybe in a salad of some sort?


This is just off the top of my head. I am sure they could come up with offerings that would be easy to make in a counter service/food court setting, yet wouldn't compete with their sitdowns at resort restaurants.

It would be a good learning experience as well to see just the diversity of the types of foods we have in America and not just for international visitors.