Davis Family Newspaper

The Mark A. Davis Family in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

Our Favorite Disney Restaurants

Over the years we've developed a passion for planning our days around a relaxing dinner at one of the tremendous restaurants at Disney World.  In the picture at the right, the entire family is enjoying a great meal at the Yak and Yetti Restaurant in Animal Kingdom in 2008.

Here is a list of our favorite restaurants, in order of preference and showing where the restaurant is located and the dates we ate there.  Most of the restaurants also have links to the Disney web page where you can get a better description and an idea of the menu and price range.

In order of preference

Restaurant Description Location/Date
Narcoossee's This is likely the best restaurant in Orlando.  Its much more upscale than other Disney restaurants Grand Floridian

2000
Le Cellier Outstanding steak!  It was a memorable meal, and even the kids said it was one of the best.  EPCOT - Canada
2010
Teppanyaki Outstanding food and we had a terrific time.  Japanese hibachi cooking, and we had the best chef ever.  None of the other tables appeared to be having as much fun as we were having. EPCOT - Japan

2006
Yak & Yetti Located in Animal Kingdom, this restaurant has very good food.  Since Animal Kingdom often closes at 5pm, its usually easy to get reservations for 4:30pm - and its neat being the last people to leave the park.  Animal Kingdom
2008
Teppan Edo I'm a little confused about the restaurant in EPCOT Japan.  Half the restaurant is habachi-style and the other side serves high-end sushi.  But how does one know which restaurant to request when making a reservation?  Anyway - we somehow knew that we were going to the sushi restaurant and we were very very pleased.  Excellent quality.  One word of caution - don't over-order.  We had a lot of food left over. EPCOT - Japan
2010
Hollywood & Vine A surprisingly delicious buffet with an unusually high quality and broad range of food choices.  We highly recommend this. Disney Studios
2008, 2010
Coral Reef Located in the Living Sea's pavilion at EPCOT.  Great food.  Terrific underwater view of the fish tank, including watching divers and sharks. EPCOT - Living Seas

2007
Whispering Canyon Cafe Great food and tons of it!  They really engage the diners with fun antics, games, and lots of hootin and hollerin Wilderness Lodge

2007, 2008
Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano Outstanding food and a terrific time Disney Studios

2002, 2004, 2006
San Angel Inn Very good mexican food, though the service was a little slow.  EPCOT - Mexico
2008
The Plaza Restaurant Main St restaurant is slightly upscale, and has great food Magic Kingdom

2006, 2007
Rainforest Cafe This is the franchise and is a lot of fun for the kids Animal Kingdom

1997, 2002
'Ohana Very good grilled food that they bring right to the table and serve off the skewers.  The food is very good, and the bread pudding dessert is awesome.  We were able to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the table, with the soundtrack playing in perfect timing with the fireworks.  Excellent!! Polynesian Resort

1978, 1997, 2004, 2010
Restaurant Marrakesh Unusual.  Lamb and spices. Not bad.  I enjoyed it but Jeanne didn't EPCOT - Morocco
2000
Polynesian Luau This dinner show hasn't changed much in the past 30 years.  The food is okay, but not great.  The entertainment is just so-so - with one exception.  The fire twirler is awesome, and its worth doing this once just to see that act.  Incredible. Polynesian Resort

1976, 2007
Nine Dragons I was a bit disappointed in the food quality.  I was expecting a flavorful Chinese experience and the food was actually a bit bland EPCOT - China
2000
50's Prime Time Cafe A fun time, but the food was pedestrian and institutional (meatloaf, fried chicken).  The waitresses are fun - yelling at you for having you elbows on the table .  The decor is 1950's kitchen - including the counter and old style kitchen chairs.  Disney Studios

2007
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall We haven't been here in a while and I suspect we'll be happier today than we were in 1997.  EPCOT - Norway

1997
Liberty Inn Just burgers - nothing special EPCOT- American Adventure
Shutters Awful food.  There was nothing here that any of us liked.  Stay away Carribean Beach Resort
2010

Restaurants we'd like to try

  • EPCOT Paris
  • EPCOT Italy