Disney World Dining Review - Epcot Food!

Mediterranean Falafel Wrap - Tangierine Cafe

If you're a foodie and you've never been to Epcot, then you're in for a big surprise! Epcot is divided into two sections, Future World and World Showcase, but many families choose to spend most of their time in Future World where most of the attractions are located. World Showcase houses the 11 country pavilions arranged in a semi-circle around the Showcase Lagoon and is full of restaurants and shops. There are a couple of attractions (Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico and Frozen Ever After in Norway) but it's mostly a cultural experience. This is actually what makes Epcot my favorite park! I love interacting with Cast Members from other countries and immersing myself in the environment. It doesn't hurt that there is plenty of alcohol in the area, as well ;-)

For this post, we'll be focusing on the standard Epcot food offerings and we'll save the Food & Wine Festival for separate post. I wish I could put them together but, trust me, it's just too much information to share at once! I'll be giving a review of four locations in this post but we dined at these places over the course of two days.

Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

This restaurant is usually referred to as just "Via Napoli" and was probably our most anticipated meal of the trip. We read a lot of reviews, most of which were positive. Every once in a while we would run across a negative review that basically summed the experience up like this: "I live in XYZ city and our pizza is so much better than this 'authentic' stuff." Something I try to do every time I visit a new place is forget what I'm accustomed to eating at home and keep an open mind. 

We already knew what we wanted to order because we had been salivating over the menu for months, and the food did not disappoint! We were slightly discouraged to wait for nearly 15 minutes even though we had a reservation but the service was otherwise impeccable. The wait staff offers water to start the meal and there are a couple of options: tap water, still water, and sparkling water with American and Italian versions of both the still and sparkling choices. We opted for the still Italian water. Next, we ordered the Arancini, which are fried risotto balls filled with mozzarella and meat ragu. Just take a look:

Arancini

It may look like a small appetizer but we were almost too full after eating just these risotto balls! There is extra sauce on the plate so you should definitely try to pour a little extra on top for extra flavor.

Via Napoli was our lunch option and we really should have kept our portions smaller but we were undecided on the pizza toppings and ultimately ordered a large pizza with 1/2 quattro formaggi (4-cheese) and 1/2 pepperoni. 

Large pizza: 1/2 quattro formaggi, 1/2 pepperoni

This was honestly the BEST pizza I have ever had. I can't even end that sentence with an exclamation point because I am so serious about this pizza. The crust is hand-tossed and wood-fired so it is slightly uneven and charred in some spots but, for me, that's perfect. I loved the slightly chewy crust on the bottom with the fresh tomato sauce and authentic toppings. You can even see the places where the slices of fresh mozzarella melted out of their circular shape. And the best part - this pizza is not greasy except for the natural release of fat from the cheese. The pepperoni was not like typical American offerings because it was much smaller and less fatty. Via Napoli deserves a 10/10 and has earned its place as my favorite restaurant on Disney property.

Le Cellier

The second signature meal of our trip was at Le Cellier located in the Canada pavilion. It is a steakhouse that is well-known for its filet, cheese soup, and poutine. That's right, poutine! While they don't offer the standard poutine, they have a signature dish with fries, Canadian cheddar, truffles, and red wine reduction that is ahhh-mazing. It was so good that we ate it without taking any pictures :-(

The restaurant is quite dim and the dining area is tiny. I was happy with our table because we had a partial booth in a corner with ample overhead lighting but the table next to us didn't have much room between our table and the table next to them and it was a challenge to get out of their seats at the end of the meal. The small size of the restaurant might make it seem more romantic but it mostly feels like we've all been ushered into a tornado drill and they offered us some great food to make up for the disturbance.

Le Cellier Filet Mignon

The filet mignon is what most people order when they visit Le Cellier; the AAA Canadian tenderloin is served on a bed of mushroom risotto with asparagus-tomato relish and truffle butter sauce. Patrick ordered this dish and thoroughly enjoyed it, although he would have preferred more asparagus on the plate. The steak was cooked perfectly and the mushroom risotto lived up to its hype.

Angus New York Strip

I ordered the Angus New York Strip, which is served with potato-turnip gratin, crispy paprika onions, and three peppercorn butter. I don't eat much steak at home but I will absolutely order this dish every time I visit Le Cellier! The gratin was creamy and delicious; I could barely taste the turnips. There were a lot of crispy onions on the steak, most of which I couldn't finish, but I ate nearly the entire steak and that's quite a feat. I like my steak medium-well and this cut of beef was just as juicy as Patrick's medium-rare filet. I have zero complaints about this dish.

While the food was perfect, the service was not. Our server could not answer my questions about a Pinot Noir on the menu and had to bring the bartender to the table (much, much later) to help me out. The recommendation was for the most expensive glass of wine they offered, which felt like more of an up-sell than an attempt to help me pick a wine that I would enjoy. Also, due to the limited space in the dining room, we had to wait 30-45 minutes beyond our reservation time to be seated. We will return to Le Cellier in the future but probably not on our next trip. 

Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe

SNACK STOP! The bakery in the Norway pavilion is a must-do for many Disney travelers. I've been there before but I had never tried the famous School Bread. I know the name doesn't give much away, but this pastry is anything but basic. 

School Bread

The menu says it's a "sweet cardamom bun filled with vanilla creme custard and topped with glazed and toasted coconut" ...but really all I am reading is "YUM". The bread itself is slightly sweet with the perfect amount of spice. The custard in the middle balances the flavors nicely and the toasted coconut adds extra texture to each bite. I will make a special stop at Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe to order the School Bread on every trip!

Katsura Grill

Our second day at Epcot was mostly devoted to Food & Wine Festival but we wanted to try a couple of quick service options, as well, and decided to head to Katsura Grill for lunch. This restaurant is largely praised for its scenery because it is tucked behind another building in the Japan pavilion and is a quiet place to dine during most times of the day.

Top: Spicy Roll, Bottom: Veggie Roll

I'm still pretty new to the sushi game since I discovered vegetables rolls, but I think Katsura Grill delivers a pretty decent meal. We paid less than $20 for both rolls and two drinks, which is basically highway robbery at Disney. Patrick was a little more critical of his spicy roll and likened it to "upscale grocery store sushi" but I'm pretty sure that was the expectation when we chose to eat here. We plan to try Tokyo Dining at the Japan pavilion on our next trip so we'll have more sushi items to compare in the future.

Tangierine Cafe

I'm going to end this post with the restaurant that broke my heart. I love falafel and was really looking forward to Tangierine Cafe, especially since I had heard some pretty great reviews. We decided to make a stop at this restaurant for dinner and I quickly realized that I must be a serious falafel snob because my meal (picture at top of post) did not come close to my expectations. 

Mediterranean Chicken Wrap

We both ordered wraps with lentils and couscous on the side, but Patrick picked the chicken while I opted for the falafel. Neither of us were impressed. The lentils and couscous both had great flavor but the couscous had raw chunks of peppers that were slightly off-putting. As you can see from the picture of the chicken wrap, there was a lot of lettuce but not much meat. Patrick is a proud carnivore and would have been happier with a bit more chicken and sauce. The falafel was pretty big so I don't think my wrap had any issues with too much lettuce but it was very dry and I would have preferred more tzaziki sauce or hummus.

The food wasn't great but the service was excellent. While waiting for our meal, I met a very friendly man that struggled to speak in complete English sentences but was eager to practice conversation. I enjoyed spending several minutes with him and hope he learned as much from me as I learned from him. These are the moments in World Showcase that make Epcot so special.

Overall, our days at Epcot were fantastic. We enjoyed the table service meals and will visit Via Napoli and Le Cellier on future trips. Katsura Grill was an average quick service option and Tangierine Cafe didn't meet our expectations so we'll probably try new quick service locations next time.

Disney and Universal Resources

I thought I would take a break from the trip review to share some sites that have been very helpful in years past. Of course there's nothing better than browsing around various media sources and finding what works best for you, but here are a few places to get you started:

1. DIS: DIS is made up of several different resources of information, but the core group behind this operation is an agency called Dreams Unlimited Travel. They are one of the premier travel agencies that specialize in Disney trips and they have several mediums for information. First, there are the forums at disboards.com; the threads are divided by major categories and subtopics including all Disney properties, Universal, and lifestyles (solo traveler, adult groups, and LGBTQ). They also have a popular podcast titled DIS Unplugged, as well as a YouTube presence with lots of video series on everything from Dining and Resorts to pop culture info sessions. And finally, there is a public Facebook group titled 'disboards on facebook!' that is also associated with this resource.

2. WDW and DLR Prep Schools: These websites are divided by destination to include Walt Disney World (WDW) and Disneyland Resort (DLR). You can find them at wdwprepschool.com and dlrprepschool.com, respectively. Each site is managed by a different contact but they include podcasts and blogs full of information that is primarily geared toward a family visit to the parks. I really like the passion behind these sites; I utilize them often for parade and fireworks location recommendations and other non-group related information. I highly recommend checking these websites out if you're planning a trip with a family and/or children.

3. Disney Tourist Blog: Fun fact - this was actually the first site I stumbled upon when I decided to expand my knowledge about Disney. Tom offers a lot of great advice about photography and he shares many of his photos as wallpaper downloads for free. He and his wife Sarah also offer a free ebook for Christmas, as well as a forum for conversation and itinerary suggestions. More than anything, I recommend this site to anyone that plans to travel abroad to the Disney locations in France, China, or Japan. Tom and Sarah have been everywhere and they have very detailed reviews of their experiences! Check it out at disneytouristblog.com.

4. Kenny the Pirate: Kenny is well-known in the Disney community for his expertise in character meet-and-greet planning. He offers an app titled Character Locator that will assist with tracking character schedules and other park events. I haven't used his services yet but I've heard nothing but positive reviews. You can find more information at kennythepirate.com.

5. Disney Food Blog: If you love Disney food - or if you just love food in general - then you won't want to miss the action at disneyfoodblog.com. This is the best place to find restaurant reviews, specialty food and drink information, as well as exclusive details about Epcot's Flower & Garden and Food & Wine festivals. They are usually the first site to update food kiosk information and they sell several guides to help you make the most of your dining experience at Disney.

6. Orlando Informer: The Orlando Informer (also referred to as "OI") community is an excellent resource for Universal news and tips. They have a website at orlandoinformer.com as well as a podcast and a group on Facebook by the name of "Universal Community by Orlando Informer". I've found OI to be very helpful with general Universal information, but especially with planning for Halloween Horror Nights this year.

There are a few other sites that didn't make the expanded list but are worth mentioning:

• MouseSavers.com - this site has recently changed management although the information appears to still be in good order. You can find a lot of valuable advice with user-friendly navigation. Their biggest asset is the monthly newsletter, which I recommend everyone sign up to receive. 
• TouringPlans.com - there is a free version of this site with basic information but the subscription option will provide access to their custom touring plan creator which will utilize your FastPasses to help you make the best decisions about when to visit certain attractions during your visit. They also have a dining reservation finder but it's free to use (no subscription required) - definitely use this tool if you need help snagging a particularly difficult restaurant! Please note: you will still need to create an account on the site but the tool is free: https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/reservation-finder 
• Undercovertourist.com - site for discount tickets and crowd calendar

Of course I'm always available to answer questions about Disney and Universal - contact me any time! If I don't know an answer then I'll make sure we find it together. Thanks for reading this post and check out these websites when you get some extra time!

Disney World Dining Review - Magic Kingdom Food!

Food is a very important part of our Disney trips. In most cases, meals determine our schedule because we can book reservations 180 days ahead of arrival and set specific times to eat. Most of these reservations are not negotiable later on because they are for high demand restaurants or experiences. One such restaurant is Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom, which will be a highlight for this post. In case you hadn't guessed it, Be Our Guest is Beauty and the Beast themed with an extra special visit by the Beast himself during dinner hours. The restaurant has been open for a few years but it's still a priority reservation because of the atmosphere and, in some cases, the food.

But before we get to Be Our Guest, there are some other meals at Magic Kingdom that I would like to share with you.

Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen

We booked our Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party dinner at the restaurant most commonly known as Skipper Canteen. This is another of those options that is a bit more adventurous so be sure to check out the menu before snagging a reservation.

Schweitzer Slush

There are two specialty non-alcoholic drinks on the menu; the Schweitzer Slush is frozen apple and passionfruit juice topped with green apple boba balls. Not pictured is the Punch Line Punch, which is comprised of tropical fruit juices and mango puree. We ordered both and really enjoyed these options. I am a huge fan of boba (bubble tea) so this was an especially enjoyable find. 

Falls Family Falafel

We settled on the Falls Family Falafel for an appetizer (please excuse the two missing falafel that were hungrily devoured before the picture was taken.) I have to warn you that I'm a bit of a falafel snob and this dish didn't quite satisfy my picky palate. The falafel was extra dry and missed some of the distinctive herbs and spices that make it such a unique offering.

Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak

Skip's Beefy Baked Pasta

Our entrees couldn't have been further from each other in both portion size and flavor. Dr. Falls Signature Steak was a fairly standard cut of meat with average flavor, but the yucca planks were delicious and really brought this dish together. Skip's Beefy Baked Pasta was enormous; honestly, they could have omitted the green beans and I still wouldn't have been able to finish my meal. But I'm glad the green beans were on the plate because they offered a taste break from the fairly monotonous experience of eating this meat-and-pasta monstrosity. There is very little sauce in the pasta and the meat is pretty dry. The whole thing was reminiscent of leftover noodle bake from grandma's house - you know it probably tasted great at one point but the flavor is gone. 

Overall, we weren't amazed by Skipper Canteen but we'll probably give it another shot on a future trip. It's a fairly new location at Magic Kingdom and they still have some things to work on.

Be Our Guest

We love Be Our Guest so much that we booked both breakfast and dinner reservations on the same day. The perks of a pre-park-opening breakfast reservation is that you can get pictures of most park sites without many people around and you'll have first dibs on rides before the crowd is released at the front gate. While we enjoy these advantages, we also really like the breakfast offered at Be Our Guest.

Open-Faced Bacon and Egg Sandwich

We both ordered the Open-Faced Bacon and Egg Sandwich, which is served with brie cheese and tomatoes on a toasted baguette. The dish arrives with assorted fruit and a pastry plate to share. We really enjoyed this offering because the flavors work perfectly together, although the baguette presents a bit of a challenge to eat with fork and knife. The pastries are incredibly fresh and there is so much food that it was actually quite difficult to finish everything. The price is not great - currently $24 per plate - but it's a wonderful way to experience Be Our Guest in a casual atmosphere.

Potato Leek and French Onion Soups

I rarely order soup as an appetizer but the Potato Leek Soup at Be Our Guest is a must-order item on every visit! The consistency of the soup and depth of flavor make this a dish that I crave year-round. We also ordered the French Onion Soup, which was very similar to soups that we've had elsewhere. It was still a solid choice.

Grilled Strip Steak

Braised Beef

My apologies for the dark pictures, the lighting is quite low during dinner hours. Our entrees were the Grilled Strip Steak and Braised Beef, both very popular options at dinner. I always order my steak medium-well (go ahead, make fun of me) and was very surprised that this steak turned out extremely juicy! The green beans beneath the steak tasted really great because they had their own seasoning and then mixed with the juice from the cut of meat on top. But the star of this dish is the garlic-herb butter served with the fries (pommes frites). The fries are great on their own but the butter adds the WOW factor! The Braised Beef was served with broccolini and mashed cauliflower; Patrick really enjoyed the meat and broccolini but was not super impressed with the cauliflower. It was completely mashed as you might expect with potatoes but the flavor was still very much cauliflower and didn't pair well with the other items on the plate. 

Be Our Guest did not disappoint and continues to be the premier dinner location at Magic Kingdom. Definitely check it out if you can get a reservation for your trip!

Honorable Mentions

We didn't get any pictures but we enjoyed a late-night meal at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe. Patrick ordered the Taco Burger and I had the Beef Nachos; both were pretty average and quite bland by typical Tex-Mex standards. The most appalling detail of this restaurant is that it was incredibly dirty. We cleaned our own table before taking a seat and watched as many tables nearby remained filthy for the entirety of our meal.

Gaston's Tavern is another quick-service stop that we often frequent for its huge cinnamon rolls and signature drink, LeFou's Brew. It's not often crowded during the day and is a wonderful place to escape the heat and sun.

And finally, no trip to Magic Kingdom is complete without a Dole Whip! Aloha Isle serves up the Dole Whip and Float concoctions although it is usually quite busy and may require a wait. 

I would love to see more delicious table service options available at Magic Kingdom to spread out the Be Our Guest crowd, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. It's popular for good reason and I know that we will continue to make reservations there as long as it's open. There are a few other meals from this trip that earned equal respect from us and will be added to the 'must visit' list for every vacation but you'll have to stick around to find out more!