Should we Sit Down at the Sit-Downs Anymore?
It’s no secret that those of us in the Disney nerd universe love to look forward to dining when visiting Walt Disney World. Over the years there have been many “must do” places to refuel as we navigate through the parks.
There have been establishments which for one reason or another have fallen in and out of what I refer to as my “rotation.” Some of these I am sure many of you have visited and perhaps still do.
In most cases these restaurants were favored because of their special offerings which you could not get anywhere else.
I remember Tonga Toast way back when the Tangorora Terrace was in operation at the Polynesian Resort. That was a must do.
Then there was the cheddar cheese soup at Le Cellier in EPCOT’s World Showcase.
Back in the day the only place to get Dole Whip was at The Magic Kingdom’s Aloha Isle.
I could go on but I’m here to mention that many of my favorite places have not just dropped down in the rotation but have essentially dropped out of the rotation (everything is temporary these days) due to the drop-off in food quality, service, or the heightened price for said food. .
So should we write off the sit-down restaurants and stick to quick-service?
Well if you are on a very strict budget then of course but if not there are a few restaurants that seem to have held on to the quality of their food and service and have not gone off the deep end with prices.
So for what it’s worth here are some sit-down restaurants which are currently on my rotation list. I may not always visit them on every visit but I usually will find myself dining at one or two of them at least. I find it difficult to rank them so for my purpose here they are introduced in alphabetical order and I’ll let you determine how they should be ranked
You may notice that most of these places reside at Disney Springs.
Current Rotation
Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge - I try to avoid any type of buffett at Walt Disney World but Boma is one of those places where you will find unique things to try and there are so many healthy choices, especially for vegetarians and pescatarians. I find that they replenish and rotate the dishes frequently at this buffett. That is, the dishes are turned over enough to keep everything fresh. I recommend the ox tail soup. Also, two words: Zebra Domes.
Enzo’s Hideaway at Disney Springs - To me this is a hidden gem at Disney Springs. It’s also “hidden.” It is a great place to get out of the heat in the summer. They have very good salads and Italian fare. I recommend going for lunch as it’s not crowded because, well, it’s hidden.
Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West - If you happen to be at Old Key West please promise me to try Olivias’s Cafe. It was never on my radar but one day it just happened to be a default place to eat and I was impressed. If you get a chance to go you should, and I mean really should and try the buttermilk fried chicken. Maybe it tasted good because I had not had fried chicken in 200 years but I’ll tell you…it was delicious.
Raglan Road at Disney Springs - Raglan Road offers its customers decent food and decent entertainment at decent prices. If you are looking for both then you may want to hit this place late afternoon or early evening. If you want to really be entertained try to get there around 5:00-6:00 PM. For this establishment I recommend the Bangers and Mash and if you cannot make up your mind what to drink there’s always the beer flight.
Sanaa at Kidani Village - When this place first opened up I don’t think it understood what it’s identity was but it soon figured it out. The atmosphere is pleasant and the fare offers so many healthy choices. What do I recommend? Well there is a trio of salad like dishes you can try but OMG don’t forget that bread service.
Spice Road Table in World Showcase - These days I find it challenging to find a goto sit-down restaurant in the theme parks. Spice Road Table is another place that had to figure out exactly what was needed on the menus to be successful. I find myself going back to Spice Road Table because it just offers a chance to try some interesting dishes and all the while eating outside. I recommend trying the fireworks package.
Splitsville at Disney Springs - I put this place on the list because it has what every member of the family would want…burgers, pizza, salad, sushi…you name it. It has been consistent over the years and I find myself visiting it on almost every trip to Walt Disney World. The quality of the food is always good and when the menu has changed it has always changed in a good way. Yes I’ll have the Southern Goddess salad please.
Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs - This is a relatively new restaurant…maybe two years old. I’ve been to it twice and I will tell you that it is probably a candidate at best for breakfast. Oh and if you like cinnamon buns you won’t find a better one…or a bigger one on Walt Disney World property than here.
Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Lago at Coronado Springs - If you get a chance to either stay or visit Coronado Springs you should seriously think about trying Three Bridges is an outdoor restaurant overlooking the water. It is just a refreshing way to break up or end the day…it seems to have an atmosphere that helps to recharge you for the rest of the night or for the next day. I recommend the Villa del Lago Steak Berry Salad.
Wine Bar George at Disney Springs - Wine Bar George is one of those sit down restaurants where you can order an assortment of things to try and just relax. Some may categorize WBG as sort of a Tapas place. Don’t look for a real exotic list of entrees but if you are looking for a cheese board or some hummus and some other interesting dishes…and of course wine….try a visit.
Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill at Disney Springs - Don’t know what it is about Wofegang Puck but I keep going back. It’s very much like Splittsville in that there’s something for everyone. I will tell you that the salads have always been on my radar and the flatbreads are good too.
Honorable Mentions
There are about a half-dozen places which are sort of on my radar and from time to time when I can I’ll visit to see if they can make it back on my rotation list.
Disney Springs - The Edison is definitely a possibility from time to time. There may be a few others but The Edison is close to a possible rotation slot.
Theme Parks - Very few these days but Yak & Yeti in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is my #1 choice if hungry and in that park.
Resort - I can only think of two that I would like to mention. One is Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club. If you just want a nice burger and of course a memorable dessert then this is your destination. The only other place I think I will mention is Trattoria al Forno at Boardwalk but only for breakfast.
When I think about my current rotation list, I’m a little sad that there are not more theme park restaurants but it just seems to me that most of the places in the parks just don’t offer the type of quality fare that I was used to years ago and for a reasonable price.
Having said that there are some decent quick-service restaurants in the parks and sometime in the near future I’ll mention my quick-service rotation list.
See you next time.