Dining is a major component to any Disney vacation.  It is never fun to be in the middle of the park while you’re hot, tired, and hungry, with no plan for what to eat.  I really encourage my guests to organize their meals ahead of time.  In our family we prioritize having a sit down dinner with a glass of wine after a long day with the kiddos.  Other people prefer to eat on the go or at the pool.  Either way, having an idea of what you’re doing in advance makes for a more organized and seamless vacation.

If I’m planning an itinerary for any guest at some point I’ve probably mentioned dining in Epcot.  The World Showcase features over a dozen sit down restaurants and gives a wide variety of choices.  Unless you are a very picky eater, it is likely you will find something here that appeals to you.

There are a few restaurants that I find myself recommending time and time again and I’m going to tell you why:

TEPPAN EDO – My number one pick for Epcot dining is Teppan Edo in the Japan Pavilion.  I love this restaurant for a number of reasons.  The food is good, plentiful, and reliable.  It’s typical hibachi with the multiple courses, so you will not leave hungry.  It’s fun to watch them cook the food in front of you and it’s a good use of one credit on the dining plan.  Look at this chef – he made a freaking Mickey out of ONIONS!  Do you know the level of skill to do that?  It was pure, delicious magic.

LA HACIENDA – My number two pick is a favorite because I love Mexican food and you can get a great view of Illuminations with the right seat.  My kids have asked to go across the way to the San Angel Inn in the Mexico Pavilion, but I’ve read such mixed reviews that I can’t bring myself to do it.  Instead we always take a stroll around the gift shop and do the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros.

This was the view from our table.  Not too shabby.

SPICE ROAD TABLE – This is a spot that we didn’t try for many trips and I’m not quite sure why.  We like Mediterranean food and once we sat down we realized everything about it was right up our alley.  Great sangria for me, beer for Mike, excellent food, Moroccan decor, and another great viewing spot for Illuminations if you go for dinner.  We ate there for lunch and loved every second. Dinner with a prime view would have been even better.

A big peeve of mine is when restaurants don’t have music that matches the theme.  Call me crazy, but I think that should be a requirement.  Disney is right on the mark for Spice Road Table and Grant was feeling the tunes during lunch.  Click on this link to see his awesome dance moves:  https://youtu.be/3vn46_pkXOE

CORAL REEF – My fourth pick is for the kids.  The food is adequate, but the atmosphere is really cool.  Where else can you dine in front of a gigantic aquarium?  If you are looking for a half day at Epcot I usually suggest grabbing dinner here and spending some time checking out Nemo, Turtle Talk with Crush, and exploring the Coral Reef.  Let me repeat – you are going here for the KIDS, not the food.  Just get a drink and be happy you’re in Disney.

I have left a bunch of restaurants off my initial list, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t necessarily good choices for your family.  This is an entirely subjective topic!

  • Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – great if you want a one pointer on the dining plan to character dine with a lot of princesses.
  • Biergarten Restaurant is fun if you like German food and a show.  Food is served family-style.
  • Chefs of France is pretty adequate and they have a prix-fix menu that’s decent.
  • Via Napoli is very authentic Italian cuisine.
  • The Garden Grill is a rotating restaurant with a character experience featuring Chip and Dale and food is served family style.
  • Restaurant Marrakesh is good if you find yourself in Epcot and need a last minute sit-down restaurant.  I didn’t mind the food, but Marrakesh missed the mark for me because it felt like a cafeteria. A little more ambiance would go a long way.
  • Rose and Crown has typical English fare if that’s your jam. If you’re looking for something on the go, the fish and chips are an excellent use of a quick service credit.

There are two fine dining restaurants in Epcot that require two points on the dining plan: Le Cellier (steakhouse in Canada Pavilion) and Monsieur Paul (France Pavilion).  I haven’t been to Monsieur Paul yet, but not sure if I will ever try it out.  As for Le Cellier….it pains me to say this because I know the love that people have for this restaurant, but I wasn’t feeling it last time I went.  They always run behind schedule, it’s too bright, and the tables are close together.  The food was good, but didn’t knock my socks off.

I’m working on a steakhouse article for the future where I will compare Le Cellier, STK Orlando (Disney Springs), and Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht Club Resort) more in depth.  I’m visiting Yachtsman in September 2018, so I will be able to make an accurate assessment.  As for right now, I found the food and atmosphere at STK better than Le Cellier.  However, if you’re looking to stay in the park Le Cellier is still a good option.

by Ellen Volpe – Co-Owner of ET Family Travel