We love Top 10 lists. And ours change on a whim, especially when it comes to Disney dining. A delicious dish goes on the menu. A special offer catches our eye. So, for whatever reason, here are our Top 10 Walt Disney World restaurants (for spring). Share your favorites!
Victoria & Albert’s. OK, so this is a no-brainer since it’s the crème de la crème of Disney dining. But it’s the new Queen Victoria Room that has us buzzing about the exquisite service and divine cuisine – we felt transported to another most civilized place and time.
Kouzzina. The sweet potato hash with poached eggs topped with arugula has us dreaming of breakfast at Kouzzina. And we love to make a meal of the mezze for dinner: crispy calamari, clams and sausage in a wine broth, goat cheese-stuffed grape leaves, spanakopita, saganaki…with an zippy ouzo-tini. Opa!
The Wave. The earnest kitchen team works hard to bring diners a taste of Florida like the avocado and citrus salad with local greens, linguine with Florida littleneck clams, and their house-made sorbets.
Artist Point. Cedar plank roasted king salmon, need we say more? Add that smoky Portobello soup and the berry cobbler to seal the deal. With a glass of wine from Pacific Northwest vineyards, we’re happy.
Cítricos. A best-kept secret is the Chef’s Domain for a private dinner. We always start the meal with the sautéed shrimp with lemon, white wine, tomatoes and feta, then go with whatever the kitchen recommends, like the braised short ribs with creamy polenta that take us to our happy place.
California Grill. About to turn 15, the Grill is still hot, hot, hot – stellar views, fabulous food, but it’s Yoshie’s sushi that keeps us coming back. Her California Roll with jumbo lump crab, avocado and cucumber redefines the ordinary.
Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant. With white linens on the tables, it sure doesn’t feel like a theme park restaurant. How often do you find Loch Daurt salmon with scotch whisky maple glaze on the menu? And we’re slightly addicted to the Cobb Salad (order it for two to share as an appetizer).
Sanaa. We can stop with the naan bread and all those wonderful dips and spread. Mango chutney. Cucumber raita. Green mango pickle. But go ahead, order the tandoori lamb chops or the New York strip with golden raisin chutney. You won’t be disappointed.
Tutto Italia. The snazzy Italian waiters get a thumb’s up for this well-run dining room. And we always hope for an al fresco table. We love the house-made pastas, the melt-in-your-mouth baked eggplant, the fresh mozzarella. Authentic and delicious.
Le Cellier. For a World Showcase bargain, go for dinner and order from the “Chef’s Favorites” menu: start with spicy chicken and chipotle sausage with roasted corn polenta, then the salt-crusted prime rib and finish with maple crème brûlée. Yum.
Comments
1) Cape May Cafe
2) Beaches & Creme
3)Le Cellier
4) Rose & Crown
5) Season at the Land
6) Le Chefs de France
7)1900 Park Fare
8) Liberty Tree Tavern
9) Boma
10) captain cooks
i love Boma’s, O’hana’s and Le Cellier…the only one I don’t agree with is The Brown Derby…
Does anyone know where the WAVE is at? I have never heard of this place.
Too many to name of course! But the Crystal Palace never disappoints. I am about to visit for the 10th time at the end of this month and we always go there. The service is outstanding for a buffet, every one is so friendly, the air conditioning rocks and the food is the best of any buffet I have ever been to.(Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore and Piglet don’t hurt either) We also love the Coral Reef (ask for a window near the aquarium, they will try their best to seat you close), Le Cellier for the great food and even better deserts, 50’s Primetime Cafe for the best fried chicken and amazing atmosphere and service (Disney magic indeed!) The food at Disney World has never disappointed. But if you can, book when you get the free meal plan. Five of use ate for free for 4 nights and saved so much money.
One of the nicest meals we had was at Liberty Tree during the Very Merry Mickey Parade in December 2009 – very filling and absolutely devine. We’ll be back again December 2010 and have already got it ont he list to return to 🙂
Le Cellier is the best. We went in December 2009, ordered the steak (which was gorgeous) to be told it was Aussie beef – and we had travelled half the way around the world to eat it (we could have stayed at home LOL)
If I had to pick 10 final (adult) meals at WDW without repeating any, they would be at:
1) Victoria & Albert
2) Bluezoo
3) Kimonos
4) Citricos
5) CA Grill (this is probably blasphemy, but we thought the sushi was overrated and liked Kimonos better for that)
6) Jiko
7) Bistro de Paris
8) Flying Fish
9) Artist Point
10) Narcoossees
For DL/DCA:
1) Napa Rose
2) Jazz Kitchen
3) Steakhouse 55
4) Storytellers Cafe (for breakfast)
5) Blue Bayou (this is a very marginal call – we feel the food has really taken a nosedive in recent years, although the location is still great; with kids, we’d go with Ariel’s instead)
I may sound a little crazy, but I love the Flame Tree BBQ. I know it’s only a counter service, but the food is good and the outdoor seating is fanastic.
Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge is great for breakfast! Crystal Palace is nice at the Magic Kingdom. Too many choices, so little time!
What about Tokyo in Japan, I made reservations there for dinner the night of the 15th. Ive eaten at alot of Disney restuarants but have never tried this one…any opinions? Also, HOW in the world does one get a reservation at the Royal Table, Ive been taking my daughter to disney since she was 6 months old (now 8) and we have never been able to get a reservation for lunch, dinner, nada. We are going down next week for a very special celebration and Ive been trying for weeks (daily) to get in, any ideas? Thanks!!!!
Having been to Disney so many times and eaten at almost all the restaurants I am very sad to see BOMA is not on this list. Animal Kingdom is our home away from home and I have to be honest the food is amazing and the service is wonderful and me not being a mustard fan the mustard is out of this world.
Cinderella’s Castle is magical especially at night and you get a window seat.
Ohana and Norway’s breakfast buffets are amazing and really geared for the young and young at heart.
LeCellier is amazing and definitely worth the wait and the chocolate mousse is so worth all the calories.
Liberty Tree Tavern is always a family favorite.
there are many more yummy eateries but those are just some of our faves. hope you enjoy them and the most magical place on earth
Le Cellier hands down for no other reason than their Cheddar Cheese Soup!!!!!! Yum!!!!!!
for the past 20 trips( from Illinois ) we average 10 sit down meals per trip — my top 10 favorites would be:
1/ Cali Grill
2/ Boma
3/ Biergarten
4/ Prime Time Cafe
5/ Liberty Tree Tavern
6/ Olivia’s Cafe
7/ O’Hana
8/ 1900 Park Faire
9/ Raglan Road
10/ Coral Reef
I enjoy some of the simple pleasures of a Disney trip, such as little or no wait for Pirates of the Caribbean, guessing which hitch-hiking ghost I will get in my Doom Buggie, some of the small hidden references to the Twilight Zone TV show at Tower of Terror, picking my “job” on Mission Space, and so on. So to pick a favorite dining location it doesn’t get much simpler than eating a turkey leg while watching Fantasmic. It may not excatly be a traditional dining spot, and may not be the “best of the best” in terms of food that Disney has to offer. But for me, there isn’t much better when it comes to enjoying my evening.
The Garden Grill in Epcot’s Land Pavillion will always hold a special place in my heart because I went there for my 6th birthday and met Mickey for the first time! Another restaurant that I really love is O’hana, where you can meet Stitch (my favourite character!), and you can’t go to DHS without going to the 50s restaurant and the Sci Fi Dine In! 🙂
The last time my family was in WDW was March 2009. We had just gotten onto property, checked in at Carribean Beach and were exhausted from our travels, but we had to quickly turn around and head out to our first ADR at Fort Wilderness. The bus took forever, and when we got to MK we had to wait another 15 mins. or so for a boat to take us over to the campgrounds. We just made it for our reservation at Hoop Dee Doo, and I gotta tell you, it was the best tonic for what ailed us! Sure, it’s not fancy, but the beer was cold, the fired chicken was crispy, the cornbread was mouthwatering and th dinner show was so much fun – it kept all of us thoroughly entertained — from our 2 yr old, to our 5 yr old, to us 30-somethings. That’s why Hoop Dee Doo is my family’s favorite and why we will go back each trip!
We ALWAYS have to dine at Jiko and we always ask for the “wine room” for a more quiet dinner. The food is always outstanding. The other restaurant we always have to dine at is the Flying Fish Cafe and we love sitting up at the chef’s station if available. The last time we were there, we ate dinner up at the bar and had a wonderful time interacting with the bartenders. These two restaurants never disappoint us and are always consistent which is why these always have to be on our dining out lists.
There is no place that is as much fun as the Whispering Canyons Cafe at the WDW Wilderness Lodge. Ask for MT. She is an amazing server and will treat you well (in character of course!)!
Hello from The Netherlands!
My favorite Dining places are: in WDW THE ROSE AND CROWN
in the EPCOT World Showcase area.
and THE RAINFOREST CAFE on different locations in the world.
also in the Studio park the Brown Derby restaurant.
feels you are in Hollywood!
Start your day with a Brownie Cheescake from the Boardwalk Bakery then have lunch at Pecos Bill’s and end the day at either the Coral Reef or California Grill.
My mom and I ate at the Sci-fi Diner last year and split the Butcher Steak with the wine glaze; let me just say I wanted to literally lick the plate clean! Since we were with the entire family though we mostly ate at quick-service restaurants the rest of the trip, so my favorite quick-service restaurants are:
1.Flame Tree BBQ in the Animal Kingdom…LOVE IT! And for dessert we’d always eat the fruit tray, sooo good!
2.Sci-fi Diner in Hollywood Studios…my mom and I went here without the rest of the fam and split the Butcher Steak with wine glaze and I literally wanted to lick the plate clean lol! And the funny clips were a treat to watch while eating too!
3.Sunshine Season Food Fair in EPCOT…Great place to go for picky eaters as there’s so much to choose from, but I rate it #2 for it’s desserts, we tried them all lol since the whole family (12 people in all…yes 12) went we each got a different dessert and just passed them around the table
3.Cafe Rix at Coronado Springs Resort…awesome breakfast foods! loved the cinnamon rolls! My brother and I shared one and still didn’t eat it all!
4. Starlight Ray’s Cosmic Cafe in Magic Kingdom…another good place to go for picky eaters lots to choose from and a great place to go cool off before going back to catch a spot to view the fireworks!
5.Pizza Planet in Hollywood…best pizza in Disney World and great place to cool off if you have younger kids with you they love the games here; my two younger cousins had a blast here while their parents got a few mins to cool off and catch their breath lol
6.Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney…loved my bbq burger there but I have to say I enjoyed eating my aunt’s stuffed manicotti better lol!
7.Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom…this should be a no-brainer lol pineapple ice cream? come on! AWESOME!
8.Pecos Bills in Magic Kingdom…I liked the bbq sandwich but the kids all enjoyed eating here while watching either the parade pass through or the people riding splash mountain lol…we also had some bird friends come and sit with us at the table it was pretty hilarious
9.La Cantina De San Angel in EPCOT…awesome nachos here!
10.Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom…if you love funnel cakes then look no further than Liberty Square! Best way to re-energize for those extra magic hours!
Lottie, don’t fret! The Top 10 list does not reflect the best dining for everyone! There are plenty of other great restaurants and dining – 300- to try.
Tonight, in preparation of our 4th WDW trip, my family chose how to spend its 8 table service dining credits. We have selected a few past faves (including Sci Fi at the studios and Biergarten at EPCOT -non-gourmet food but fun atmospheres) as well as some new dining options including Boma (AK Lodge), Le Cellier (Canada at EPCOT), Raglan Road (Irish fare at Downtown Disney), Les Chefs de France (EPCOT, of course), and Rose & Crown (England, EPCOT). We are also going to dine at Cinderella’s Royal table – just to go inside the castle. The choices aren’t always about the food! Our goal is to experience a wide range of dining options with our teenagers and make memories. The family agreed on the two “former” hot spots and each of selected a restaurant that we would like to experience. No one gets to complain and must try something new. This is an adventure after all and the stuff of which memories are made!
No matter what, you can have a great time no matter where you go! Good Luck and have fun. As THE mouse says, “Oh, Boy!”
Oh yeah ohana for dinner is great. The yak and yetti is fun and has good food and don’t forget the hoop dee doo revue great dinner show
You only picked seafood restaurants. There are people who can’t eat at those restaurants (me being 1, allergic to fish!). You forgot Boma, Kona Cafe, the chinese place I can’t remember the name of and several others. Disappointing list unless you love seafood.
I am a seafood fan, but all of these restaurants have phenomenal beek dishes — the steak at Flying Fish is one of my favorites; love the short ribs at Sanaa; the pork and polenta and California Grill, and the lamb shank at Kouzzina. You won’t be disappointed!
We were just in Disney world last week & visited many restaurants including Artist Point, Citrico’s, & California Grill. The food was excellent at all of them & the service was great. We were however, dissapointed that although they are supposed to be upscale restaurants, we were surrounded by people in shorts, T’s & flip flops, which kind of cheapened the whole experience, even though the prices were still very upscale.
I’m so happy to see the Coral Reef getting it’s props. It’s frequently panned on podcasts and forums. I think it’s truly a hidden gem and one of my favorite places to dine in all of Walt Disney World. Now if could only get my wife to feel the same way. Oh by the Christine, 50’s Prime Time has the best shakes on property.
We’re going in July and have several of these on our list!!!
Favorite is Le cellier…but all are wonderful
Woo Hoo, Can’t wait to try some that we haven’t before.
WOW! A popular post!
Artist Point is our fav! Chefs Al and Matt are top notch and the wine list is a great addition to the flavors of the Northwest menu.
Having been to WDW 7 times, and with a picky eater for 6 of them, my list is
Jiko
Le Cellier
California Grill – I loved it, my dining companion was disappointed
Kona Cafe – great lunch
Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch
Beaches and Cream
The picky eater loves Garden Grill and Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney
We’re going to D-Land for the 1st time next month – Melissa – thanks for the list! Any other opinions on Disneyland dining?
Tutto Italia is wonderful. We ate there last year (which was our first trip to DW) and we are eatting there again in 16 days. Everything from the appetizer to the dessert was excellent. I see also that Le Cellier is also on the list and we are trying for the first time. I have to say that there are so many good places in DW to eat that you cannot go wrong.
I agree 100% that ‘Ohana should be on the list.
Our family LOVES Disney World. I have four little ones so we always have Chef Mickey’s. My husband is a huge Boma fan and is very excited to have reservations for Le Cellier and Narcoosee’s this trip. Ohana’s is wonderful as well as Le Chef de France. We are also trying Brown Derby and 1900 Fare Breakfast for the first time on our next visit! I am getting hungry and excited just thinking about it 🙂
That’s a very hard issue for me , but my favorites are Le Cellier, The Yachtsman Steakhouse, Jiko, California Grill for table service and Columbia Harbour House for its awesome tuna sandwich and clam chowder and Casey’s Corner for its delicious mini corn dogs…Arkeshus, Crystal Palace, Ohana and Artist Pointe for all you care to eat…and sooo many others…
Best food ever!!! Yeaay
My food taste would best be described as pedestrian, and with three kids, I spend plenty of time eating fast food, so my picks are a bit different than many.
We love supper at Liberty Tree Tavern in MK, breakfast at Crystal Palace: the food is good, the characters are great! No trip is complete without a stop at the Sci Fi Dine In Theater. The chicken and strawberry salad at The Plaza is amazing, and I absolutely love the Rose and Crown.
Planet Hollywood is a must do, and let’s not forget the counter service! Flame tree BBQ has some great food, and my trip isn’t complete without fish and chips from the Yorkshire County Fish shop. Columbia Harbor house is one of my personal favorites, and we all love Peco’s Bill.
I think those are probably our 10 favorite places to eat in Disney World!
This was our 10th trip and we’ve never had a bad meal. This time we had 4 young children with us so it was different. If you want suggestions, feel free to e-mail me. Here are my current top 10:
1. Narcoosee’s (not for young children)
2. California Grill
3. Yak & Yeti (a wonderful surprise)
4. Chef Mickey’s
5. Akerhaus
6. Crystal Palace
7. Teppan Edo
8. Tony’s Town Square
9. Rainforest Cafe
10. Rose & Crown
11. Cinderella’s Royal Table (the children preferred Akerhaus to this)
Heck, I loved all of them but these were really nice.
#51 – For the best dining experience at WDW, hands down, it’s Victoria & Albert’s!! We ALWAYS eat there when we go to WDW, we request their Cashew Cream Soup and have never been disappointed! The last time we were there was December 2009, so the new Queen Victoria Room had not been started yet. As soon we were heard about the Chef’s Table, we’ve tried to get an ADR for it, but so far, we’ve never gotten one. That’s the only disappointing thing we’ve ever experienced there.
For the best dining experience at the Disneyland Resort, hands down, it’s the Napa Rose Restaurant at the Grand Californian Hotel!! We’ve eaten in the regular dining room, the lounge and the Chef’s Counter and the best is definitely the Chef’s Counter! Their food is incredible and we go there even if we’re not going to the parks as well. We love to interact with the chefs and watch them do their magic!!
Bring back Spoodles!
My family and I go to WDW partially for the food. Our top 10 would have to be:
Artist Point, Flying Fish, Jiko’s, Les Chefs de Paris, California Grill, Victoria and Albert’s, Rose and Crown, Bistro de Paris, Citrico’s, and Narcoossee’s.
Personally, I don’t see how The Wave is on the list because the food is good, but compared to a lot of the other restaurants, it’s bland. Brown Derby hasn’t hit any spectacular notes either and we haven’t gone in a few years.
I do have to say, all the food at Disney is still amazing and even some of the quick service restaurants really aren’t that bad. The chefs always do a great job!
California Grill is by far the best! Hands down
Whoa, hold off on the negative comments on Tutto Italiana. It has turned into one of my favorites!
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