Eat Your Heart Out- Favorite Restaurants of WDW

by: D-Team Member Adam

The food.

It’s sometimes overlooked in the sale pitch for Walt Disney World.  People tell you about the attractions, the rides, the fireworks and the memories… but oh, the food. The glorious, glorious food.

It can be something as small as the zebra domes at Animal Kingdom Lodge or as large as the Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Creams, but once you’ve had the food at Walt Disney World, you’ll find yourself craving it at 3 am.  The best part is, there are so many restaurants that there will always be new restaurants for you to experience on every trip.

The following are just a few of the restaurants I’ve loved in my many journeys.  They’re mostly in no particular order, but the ones at the bottom are my favorites.

Ghiradelli

Located in the Downtown Disney Marketplace, Ghiradelli is an island of delights.  First of all, if you go into the chocolate section, they’re usually giving out free samples.  In the restaurant area, I like to order a rootbeer float or a peanut butter sundae and enjoy it by the water at the tables outside.  You might even catch a concert at the outdoor theatre near by.

Paradiso 37

Located at what used to be Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney.  Like Ghiradelli, Paradiso 37 is a partner restaurant, not actually owned by Disney.  It has a mix of American and Hispanic flavors.  The food is decent, but the atmosphere is the main draw.  At night you can enjoy your food outside while a live band plays.

Landscape of Flavors

The Art of Animation’s resident cafeteria is sort of typical of Disney’s new cafeteria style.  The food is really good, but what I love about it is that, just like the resort itself, you can dine in Radiator Springs, Atlantis or Africa.  It’s a lot of fun.

The Yak and Yeti

Located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom near Expedition Everest.  You can order chinese food and eat it straight out of a chinese food carton.  I had the sweet and sour chicken.  Love it!

Sci Fi Dine In

This used to be on my must do list every time I ate at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now it’s not as immediate, but still a treat. Sci Fi is set to resemble and old drive-in movie theatre.  The tables are cars and you watch a reel of old cartoons (curiously, none of them traditional Disney cartoons) and trailers for classic black and white schlock scifi movies.

Main Street Bakery

As soon as you walk into Magic Kingdom, enjoy any number of desserts, including those great cheese danishes!  There used to be giant cinnamon rolls, but soon those will only be found at Gaston’s Tavern in the brand new Fantasyland Expansion.

Columbia Harbour House

Located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom.  It’s kind of like being in one of those Colonial towns… except for the credit cards.  Try the turkey.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

More or less a typical quick service restaurant in Tomorrowland, except for animatronic alien Sonny Eclipse.  Sonny is an old fashioned lounge singer… from space.  It’s a lot of fun and a great place to stop for a quick bite.

Nine Dragons

I’ve heard people aren’t fond of the restaurant in the China Pavillion at EPCOT.  For me, Nine Dragons is a must do.  I love the Honey Chicken.  As an added bonus, if you’re by the windows, it’s not a bad spot to watch Illuminations.

Ohana

I love Ohana’s for breakfast. Love it.  The food is really great.  It’s actually the same food you can find at Chef Mickey’s (which is harder to get into) and 1900 Park Fare (which is easier to get into).  The main difference is how you’re served, what characters show up and the environment.  Ohana has a more pleasant atmosphere than the other two.  And I like having my picture taken with Lilo and Stitch.

The Polynesian Resort also has a Luau at night. That’s on my to-do list.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

Located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, this steakhouse is wonderful.  As soon as you walk in, the smell of meat hits you.  It’s actually almost a bad thing, because the whole time you’re waiting for your food, you have to smell that delicious steak. It’s maddening.

Le Cellier Steakhouse

OH CANADA! The creme de la creme of steakhouses.  I. LOVE. Le Cellier. You’re recommended to make your dining reservations for Le Cellier 6 months in advance. That’s how much people love this place.  It’s just so good! Oh god, I want the filet mignon right now.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

Food and Wine obviously isn’t a restaurant. It’s an experience. During this wonderful time of year, you can walk Epcot’s World Showcase and taste food and alcohol from all over the world.  If you’re particularly adventurous when it comes to food, you’ll be in heaven!  This year I enjoyed a small serving of the Filet Mignon from Le Cellier and a frozen Cosmopolitan (basically an alcoholic strawberry slushee).  They also have the Eat to the Beat concert series on weekends over by the American Adventure.  If there is one event that should not be missed at Epcot, it’s the Food and Wine Festival.

That’s my list.  What are your favorite restaurants and foods at Walt Disney World?