The Complete Idiot's Guide to Walt Disney World, 2012 Edition
Page 17
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
One word for you: Princesspalooza! Although they’re not all there at the same time, the meals are hosted by a bevy of Princesses, including Snow White, Belle, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. Occasionally, Mulan and others come by as well.
The Nordic castle setting is fit for a Princess, and the food is very good. I loved it back when this was a standard Norwegian dining experience, but few people ever scream, “Hey, let’s go get some Norwegian food!” so it’s probably all for the best.
Breakfast is a family-style all-you-can-eat meal with mostly American staples. Lunch and dinner bring out the Norwegian koldtbord (cold table buffet of primarily meats and cheeses) and then à la carte entrées, followed by family-style desserts. The entrées include several Norwegian specialties in the selection. I won’t lie to you: finicky kids may not be crazy about all the food choices, but I think when you can get them to look past the menu, they’ll find more than several great choices. You really can consider it a mostly American menu at all meals, even if some choices are exotic.
I strongly recommend this to anyone wanting a premier Princess character experience, as it is by far the best one in all of Walt Disney World.
Biergarten Restaurant
Cuisine Type: German
Serving Style: Buffet
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $ Prix fixe
Dinner: $ $ Prix fixe
: Yes
Location: Germany Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
This is a fun way to try German cuisine. The buffet line has a good selection, though some German fare you would expect isn’t here. There are also some Americanized choices for kids who refuse to try new things. The dinner-time beer-hall atmosphere—complete with an oom-pah-pah band and the family-style seating—makes for a noisy but festive and social environment. This isn’t a romantic dining destination, but it’s great for families and adult groups who want to have a good time. Seating is family style at tables of eight, so you might get put in with another group.
Often I recommend eating at World Showcase table-service restaurants at lunch to save money while getting the same meal. But in this case, dinner is far preferable, basically because of the entertainment and the way it makes the atmosphere more festive. Oh, did I mention that their beer (extra charge) is not too bad, either?
Bistro de Paris
Cuisine Type: French
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: Not open
Dinner: $ $ $ $
: No
Location: France Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This isn’t exactly the dining one expects in a theme park, so this high-end eatery may not be what you want on a busy day—the quality of the food and service seem out of place. The cuisine is creative, and the selection is quite nice. It is certainly one of the finer meals I have had in all of Walt Disney World. There’s a four-course tasting menu, with a wine-pairing menu to go with it as well. Just because you can get an appetizer and an entrée for under $50, don’t expect to get out for less than $75 per person.
Le Cellier Steakhouse
Cuisine Type: Steak
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $ $
Dinner: $ $ $
: Yes: (L: 1, D: 2)
Location: Canada Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
The steaks are served in a cellar dining area that can be a cool and dark escape from the hot and bright Orlando summer. Lunchtime sandwiches are not bad, but the steaks are obviously the draw here. I’m not crazy about steak for lunch, but I would crawl the length of the park for a bowl of their Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup.
An important note is that this is one of the smaller restaurants around. That, paired with a massive cult following, makes it one of the three hardest restaurants to get into. Reservations are an absolute must!
Les Chefs de France
Cuisine Type: French
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $
Dinner: $ $ $
: Yes
Location: France Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆
This airy dining space provides a great view of the World Showcase walkway immediately outside. The atmosphere is very reminiscent of Parisian street-side cafés, and the food is good. While the steak au poivre vert sounds nice, I prefer the Croque Monsieur and side salad for a lighter lunch. Dinner entrées are good, too, but I like to hit this restaurant for lunch, largely for the daytime scenery and people watching, as well as to save some money while still getting what I want.
Why such a high rating when fancier French fare can be found upstairs? Well, no doubt the food is more haute cuisine at Bistro de Paris, but this setting and menu are both more appropriate in the World Showcase, and that counts for a great deal. Also, at lunch you can occasionally be visited by Remy, the star of the Disney Pixar movie Ratatouille.
Coral Reef Restaurant
Cuisine Type: Seafood
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $
Dinner: $ $ $
: Yes
Location: The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The view in this restaurant is fantastic. All the tables face huge windows that look into the pavilion’s aquarium. It is one of the best scenic options in all dining at Walt Disney World. The seafood is also good. After that, however, the restaurant starts to lose points. First of all, come here only if you want seafood. And, although there are only a few seafood selections, that’s what they do well. They do have a decent selection of nonseafood entrées, but nothing is very special. The room has a cold and sterile decor. Frankly, if you want seafood (and price is not an object), you’re better off walking to the Flying Fish at the nearby BoardWalk.
The Garden Grill Restaurant
Cuisine Type: American
Serving Style: Family style
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: Not open
Dinner: $ $ Prix fixe
: Yes
Location: The Land Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The hearty meals, compliments of Chip and Dale, are served at tables in the rotating restaurant that overlooks parts of the Living with the Land attraction. The food is good (flank steak, fried catfish, and pork loin), and some of it is actually raised in the pavilion. This is one of the more affordable character meals, so it’s a pretty good value in that category. Make sure to request a seat on the lower level for a better view.
La Hacienda de San Angel
Cuisine Type: Mexican
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $
Dinner: $ $
: Yes
Location: Mexico Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆
A nice middle ground between authentic Mexican cuisine and Americanized flavors that are approachable to most visitors sets the stage for a great new addition to the Epcot dining world. The entrée portions are noticeably small, which can be a bit perturbing when you see that you are certainly not getting off light in the pocketbook. But the food is very good, both from an execution and flavor profile.
This restaurant also has added some much sought after waterside seating that is good for the IllumiNations fireworks show. As such, dinners are popular, so get reservations if you can.
Restaurant Marrakesh
Cuisine Type: Moroccan
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $
Dinner: $ $ $
: Yes
Location: Morocco Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Rock the Kasbah! The setting is very authentic in this Moro
ccan government–sponsored pavilion. The king of Morocco even sent over artisans to make sure it looked just right. The food is exceptionally authentic as well. That means it may not be the most kid-friendly menu, but the entertainment (Moroccan trio accompanying a dancer) can draw their attention easily. Stick to the lamb and the kebabs, simply because they’re so good. Also consider this as a lunch destination to save some dirham (I checked—that’s what they use for money). Remember that this is one of those meals that you might not be able to get back home, so why not experiment a little?
Nine Dragons Restaurant
Cuisine Type: Chinese
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $
Dinner: $ $
: Yes
Location: China Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
This restaurant has recently undergone a massive redesign that has made it a much better choice than in the past, both for the improved food and the more refined atmosphere. Often this restaurant is overlooked because we all know that there are Chinese restaurants back home. Nevertheless, the food is good, and while most of the entrées are pretty standard fare, they’re made well.
Tutto Italia
Cuisine Type: Italian
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $ $
Dinner: $ $ $ $
: Yes
Location: Italy Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆
This new restaurant makes semi-upscale dining a bit more fun than the restaurant it replaced in the same location. The cuisine covers several Italian regional flavors, with many of the expected entrées and appetizers. It’s a great place to have lunch as opposed to dinner to save some money without losing any of the experience.
HIDDEN MAGIC!
Staffers at the different restaurants are almost exclusively native to that particular nation, here on an academic program. Strike up a conversation with them. They are energetic ambassadors of their countries, and you can walk away with a really positive experience.
Rose & Crown Dining Room
Cuisine Type: English
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $
Dinner: $ $
: Yes
Location: United Kingdom Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆
Why is this such a popular dining establishment? After all, everyone makes fun of the British for their food. Well, to start, the outdoor courtyard seating is an idyllic location for watching the IllumiNations fireworks show after dinner, if you can get one of the tables. The food is quite good, too, if you stick to the classics. Bangers and mash, fish and chips, or one of the pies is a sure way to a filling and tasty meal. If you just want a quick meal, you can grab the fish and chips from their counter-service window to the side, but I like dining here for the atmosphere.
San Angel Inn
Cuisine Type: Mexican
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $
Dinner: $ $
: Yes
Location: Mexico Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
This is not Tex-Mex food. The people running this restaurant are from one of the finest restaurant families in Mexico. Selections are very authentic and rich with flavor. However, this is one of the few restaurants where I do not recommend going for lunch instead of dinner to eat basically the same meal for less. The dinner menu here has a much better selection than at lunch, including perhaps the finest mole sauce (rich, chocolate based) I have ever put in my mouth. The setting is also ideal for romantic dinners. While it is located inside the pyramid, the setting is a romantic Mexican plaza at twilight with a volcano and pyramid off in the distance.
This restaurant has declined in recent years, and the addition of La Hacienda de San Angel on the waterfront area of this pavilion might further its demise. But if you are visiting at a crowded time this could be a good, easy-to-get-into option that is better than anticipated.
Teppan Edo
Cuisine Type: Japanese
Serving Style: À la carte, teppanyaki
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $
Dinner: $ $
: Yes
Location: Japan Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Many know this style of dining from the popular Benihana chain. Seated at a hot grill, often with strangers at the other end of the table, you get to watch a chef swing sharp knives and spice shakers as he grills up your meal. It’s entertaining and the food is good, if not particularly exotic. This is a favorite for families with older kids.
Tokyo Dining
Cuisine Type: Japanese
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $
Dinner: $ $
: Yes
Location: Japan Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
This restaurant has really spruced up and has a great look and feel to it, with a blend between traditional Japanese architecture and a cool, modern, and chic ambiance. The menu welcomes you to the land of Japanese fried foods, as well as a few other choices, including bento boxes and grilled entrées. Heavily leaning on fried shrimp and scallops, this dining experience can be a fun one, though maybe too exotic for some kids. Also, the view overlooking the World Showcase Lagoon is a nice plus, especially if you can get a window seat. Few even know that some of these tables have a view of the IllumiNations fireworks show, so you might catch a break!
Via Napoli
Cuisine Type: Italian
Serving Style: À la carte
Breakfast: Not open
Lunch: $ $
Dinner: $ $
: Yes
Location: Italy Pavilion
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
A new pizzeria that brings the first truly good pizza to Walt Disney World! The airy central room with high ceilings and a modern touch to the decor makes for a nice setting; however, the noise levels can get high during peak meal times. But it’s well worth it to try the Napolese–style pizza that features paper-thin crusts charred from the three wood-fired ovens. Appetizers were a bit disappointing, but the Italian sodas are a nice treat, and you should be saving room for the pies anyway.
Counter-Service Dining and Snacks in Epcot
The snack selection is more varied than in any other park, so try something new. This is a great place to get the most value for your counter-service credits if you’re on a Disney Dining Plan.
Boulangerie Patisserie
This is a great place for delicious French pastries and croissants. Some sandwiches are available, but this is a better venue for desserts. It’s just too bad it’s not open for breakfast.
La Cantina de San Angel
Unlike the restaurant inside, this stand is mostly Tex-Mex fast food, with meals available. There are margaritas around the corner as well, for a nice afternoon drink and snack break.
Electric Umbrella Restaurant
One of the few places to eat in the Future World side of Epcot, this is also one of the few breakfast places in the park. Lunch and dinner are mostly burgers and wraps.
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
The open-face sandwich combo comes with soup and a dessert. All three are Norwegian dishes, so it can be a quick, affordable way to try out this rarely experienced cuisine. Otherwise, stop by for one of the unique desserts.
Liberty Inn
If your kids (or other traveling partners) just don’t care to experiment with foreign cuisines, this is where you need to take them. Grilled chicken and burger meals will fuel them up.
Lotus Blossom Café
Rice bowls and other Chinese specialties are pretty run-of-the-mill fare.
Sommerfest
Bratwurst, frankfurters, and pretzels provide portable but expensive lunches.
HIDDEN MAGIC!
What is Snackapalooza? Well, if you really want to try some of the great cuisine at the World Showcase, all you have to do is walk the world. Walk around the 11 pavilions of the World Showcase and sample some of the foods available at the stands in each country. If you can share with friends, all the better! You can visit each country and share a bite at each. What do I recommend? Most good selections seem to lean to sweets, but I have picked a few heartier entrée-style choices so you could make a meal of it.
• Mexico: Churros (fried dough with cinnamon)
• Norway: Lefse (potato dough bread rolled with butter and cinnamon)
• China: Egg rolls (they come in twos, so easier to share!)
• Germany: Bratwurst
• Italy: Cannoli
• U.S.A.: Funnel cake
• Japan: Sushi tokyo roll or kagi age udon, for the sushi-wary
• Morocco: Lamb shawarma (gyros) or a walnut, cinnamon, and peanut baklava
• France: Crêpes au chocolat
• United Kingdom: Fish and chips
• Canada: Nothing! Can you believe it? On my last visit, all they had was popcorn. And it was Indiana popcorn. Last I checked, Indiana was still in the United States, not a province in Canada. But that’s okay—by now, you should be completely stuffed!
Sunshine Season Food Fair
The display kitchens create fresh, flavorful meals that improve upon and redefine fast food. Located in the lower level of The Land Pavilion, the seating area is open to the upper floors, creating a bright, vibrant space that is fun for kids, although a bit noisy. It’s all indoors, so enjoying air-conditioning and avoiding the rain are side benefits to dining here. Open for breakfast, but with a very limited menu, things get much better later in the day. Choices include sandwiches, salads, grilled meat entrées, and some Asian-inspired selections.
Tangierine Cafe
Perhaps the best counter-service restaurant in the World Showcase, this is also the most expensive. Shawarma (gyros) sandwich platters go for $12 to $14. They may be expensive, but they are excellent, and are a good value despite the high cost. Good vegetarian options also are available, as well as standard American kids fare, but both are also more expensive than usual. Still, the quality makes up for the extra few dollars, at least for me.