Restaurants that pleasantly surprised you

[AInWonderland]

Liberty Tree Tavern- we have been to Magic Kingdom at least 30 times and never tried it. Last week we were craving a “real meal”. It was great comfort food!

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I agree it is sad that The Wave won't be re-opening, as it had some of the consistently best quality food on property, in my experience.

The restaurant that pleasantly surprised me was Skipper Canteen, back when it was new. I'd read the menu and thought it looked too weird and not in a good way, but I gave it a try anyway, and instantly became a fan! It's my favorite restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, and one of my overall favorites.

I need to try it (though selfishly for the pao de quejo (cheese bread)

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Ooh fun question! Mama Melrose was a surprise to me the first time I was there. It seems to be inconsistent since, but it can be soo good. Chefs de France was another. It has remained a favorite.

I have heard good things about both! One day I shall try them!

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I don’t know about surprise but we have tried restaurants that became favorites we have to eat at when we visit every few years. I have family members with food allergies and they have been so great.

Parks - Crystal Palace breakfast,Tony’s, BOG, Coral Reef, Chefs de France,
Tutto Italia, Le Cellier, Hollywood Brown Derby, 50’s Prime Time Cafe,
Tusker House breakfast, and Rainforest Cafe Animal Kingdom. Plus Liberty Tree Tavern lunch (hope they bring the a la carte back).

Resorts - Whispering Canyon Cafe breakfast, Trail’s End Buffet breakfast,
Cape May breakfast, and Boma breakfast and dinner.

I really should get back to Tusker house haven’t been there since 2001! Liberty tree is a bucket list for my family. One day!

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Satuli Canteen, ABC Commissary, Ale and Compass, Geyser Point.

We seriously love ABC Commissary! Geyser Point is also a must do-hopefully next trip we stay at wilderness lodge!

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Coral Reef - I had only read so-so reviews about it, but my sister really wanted to eat there on one of our trips, so I begrudgingly made an ADR. We really enjoyed it, so DH and I went back again a few years later and had an excellent experience again.

It’s one I’m shocked we never ate at even when I was a kid. Our neighbors love it there!

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

We really loved Geyser Point. Also enjoyed Brown Derby, 50s Prime Time Cafe, and The Wave.

Clearly the universe is telling me at this point to try Geyser Point lololol. Sad we never got to try the wave! We sadly have no desire to try 50s

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I absolutely loved the food at The spirit of aloha dinner show.

One of the few hotels we’ve never made our way over too is the Polynesian. Hopefully it will return!

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Tony's. After reading all the negative reviews I really wasn't sure what to expect. Was it fine dining? Nope. But the service was good, it was SUPER clean, there was a good sized selection even though it was post-covid limited and the food was decent. I wouldn't say it's a must return on every trip but I would go again.

I have heard so many mixed reviews about Tonys I wouldn’t know what to do! Happy to hear it was great!

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

We have had quite a few that surprised us. Maybe we had low expectations, but we had a good meal for a good price.

1. Olivias
2. The Wave
3. Ale & Compass
4. Mama Melrose
5. Flying Fish
6. Skipper's Canteen
7. Tiffins

Olivias is one we need to try!

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

We were very pleasantly surprised with the Southwest Salad and Tatooine Two Suns Hummus at Backlot Cafe (DHS).

Backlot Cafe and Express are always worth it imho! It’s also so out of the way it’s never crowded!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

The Wave. It's usually a quieter restaurant, tucked away. Our first time we tried it because ds needed a break from the park, and the food was absolutely delicious, exceeding our expectations. The waitress was one of the best we've had, and it was a really good experience. The second time we went the menu was completely different and still just as good.

Agree with this assessment. We were also very pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it enough to return a couple times. Of course, now they've gone and changed it, so I guess we'll see what it's like now!

 

[igrsod]

It’s one I’m shocked we never ate at even when I was a kid. Our neighbors love it there!

We go every trip and have a great meal. We always ask to be close to the tank even if it means waiting a bit longer. It's worth it.

 

[olwyngdh]

Honestly, I have learned over the years not to really listen to other people's opinion of restaurants. I read them, but I tend to get disappointed in the hyped up ones and pleasantly surprised at the ones people hate. Some of our favorites are on what seems to be a large portion of the Disboards hate list, like Mama Melrose. We had a good meal at Tony's. Was it a 5 star experience? No, but we don't get that at Olive Garden or the local Italian place either. We love Skippers and Chefs (I like it better now that they don't bring that rat around to the tables).

 

[Miffy]

Skipper Canteen. We picked it because CHH was still closed in May and we weren't really expecting much, but we really enjoyed it and had a terrific meal. I'm vegan and my sister is vegetarian, and we were super happy with our lunch and the restaurant itself. It's now on our must-go-to list for our next trip.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Without a doubt-Nine Dragons! Not only was the food good, the atmosphere nice and fairly quiet, but service was great. In all honesty, service was good until DH asked for chopsticks when our meal came. When our server brought the chopsticks, DH said "Thank You in [Mandarin?]. Then they determined our server was from the same city that DH had visited several times. After that service quickly became excellent.

 

[cafetao]

An oldie that is not there anymore, Kouzina sp? The reviews on here were not good, but the menu intrigued us and we went. One of our favorite meals of the trip. The food was good and the servers were awesome. My mom still talks about it and is mad it closed. That was about ten years ago.

 

[Scubadaddy32]

Sebastian's at CBR is very good.
Raglan Road was a very pleasant surprise for us last trip.
Three Bridges Bar and Grill at CSR is a good one.
Mama Melrose was a surprise on our last trip in 2019 before the shut down.
ABC Commissary had some nice improvements on their menu on our trip in April.
Not a surprise per say, as the reviews are typically really good, but the Ronto Wrap at breakfast stood up to the fan fare.

 

[Jennasis]

House of Blues

LA Hacienda de San Angel

 

[fly girl]

Le Cellier.

I booked it because many sit down restaurants still weren't open this past spring break. I thought, well, it gets mixed reviews, but let's give it a go and find our for ourselves. (I also did that with Coral Reef. I get the bad reviews for that establishment.)

We loved our meal! All three of us were so splendidly surprised. My only disappointment was that I was too full for dessert. DD wasn't, and of course she chose the creme brûlée. Really??!! Ahh, that's my least favorite dessert!

DH found a new cocktail he absolutely adores, the Ottawa Apple. I don't even like whiskey, but enjoyed that drink. We have tried to replicate it at home but cannot master since we cannot get Crown Royal Maple. I tried with a little bit of real maple syrup but not the same. Still good though!

I will add, this was when capacity was only 50% so we didn't feel crowded. We all say that meal was our favorite part of that entire trip! lol