After a hiatus of a few months, Overrated/Underrated is back! In today’s edition, we will discuss Table Service restaurants that we consider to be underrated. These aren’t necessarily our favorites. However, these are ones that we consider to be great choices for which which are often overlooked by theme park goers. In some cases, you might even be able to walk up!
So without further ado, here is our list of hidden gems.
MAGIC KINGDOM: Tony’s Town Square
Tony’s generally has a poor reputation for some reason, but we think it is a solid dining choice in the Magic Kingdom. First, you can’t beat the location. There is something really cool about dining right on Main Street USA. If you are lucky, you can snag a table with an outdoor view, where you can people watch or even catch a parade! And the ambience/theming of the restaurant itself is really well done. All over the restaurant, you can see all sorts of pictures and decor that honor the iconic Lady and the Tramp movie. Don’t miss the Lady and the Tramp fountain!
The food itself is pretty standard Italian-American fair. Yes, it isn’t going to win any Michelin stars, but we’ve always enjoyed our meals there. I have seen a lot of complaints online about how you can get similar quality food at a chain Italian restaurant for much less. However, you have to remember that you are inside the Magic Kingdom. Prices naturally are going to be inflated everywhere in the parks, so I don’t understand why people single out this restaurant for being overpriced. I mean, is the food at Cinderella’s Royal Table really worth the cost of a mortgage for a family of four? Relatively speaking, Tony’s is a bargain considering its location.
If Disney were to go more upscale with the menu, it would make it even less economically accessible to many park goers. I, for one, appreciate having an option like this for families looking for an unpretentious meal at a reasonable price by theme park standards.
EPCOT: Biergarten
Biergarten in the German pavilion has always been a favorite of ours – probably because Banshee spent a year in Germany as an exchange student. The ambiance is wonderful. When you enter the restaurant, you are transported to a German night market. You feel like you are dining under the stars in a quaint Bavarian town. In addition, they bring out a real German oompah band to entertain you with drinking songs while you eat. You can even come down and dance on the dance floor in front of the band! You get the full Octoberfest experience without leaving Central Florida!
The food itself is high quality and plentiful. Being an all you can eat buffet, you can sample all of the wonderful German foods that they serve. I highly recommend the Bavarian cheesecake! One of our fonder memories is Little Banshee falling asleep from a food coma because she loved the food so much. I think that memory also contributes to our love for this place.
Honestly, I would put this on par with other, more popular, dinner show experiences at WDW. I might even rank this above them, given the lower price, the ease of getting reservations, and the fact that they don’t try and rush you through your meal so that they can turnover tables.
ANIMAL KINGDOM: Tusker House
Honestly, it was hard to pick a “hidden gem” table service establishment at Animal Kingdom since most places there are pretty fairly rated. However, we went with Tusker House, mainly because it is a much easier reservation to get than its natural competitor, Chef Mickey’s. Despite its lesser popularity, we consider it to be the superior character dining option.
While we like Chef Mickey’s, the food generally is pretty basic stuff. However, Tusker House includes a wide and unique variety of African and Indian inspired selections. This elevates the character dining experience. For those who might not be as adventurous, they do have familiar selections as well, so you do get the best of all worlds.
Last time we went for breakfast, they had this wonderful Jungle Juice which we couldn’t get enough of. I think it was some variation of POG juice (passion fruit, orange, guava). Whatever it was, it was amazing!
In addition, you get to meet the characters in their safari attire, which is a really cool and unique experience. So bring your camera and be ready to take lots of photos!
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS: Nothing!
Unfortunately, we don’t have a selection for Hollywood Studios. We feel like most of the restaurants here are actually OVERrated. The only table service restaurant that would be in the running is Hollywood Brown Derby, but it is hard to consider it to be underrated.
RESORT: Sanaa (Animal Kingdom Lodge)
Because we don’t have anything for Hollywood Studios, we’ll give you an underrated choice both at the resorts and at Disney Springs. Our resort selection is Sanaa.
This restaurant gets overshadowed by the other two excellent restaurants at this resort: Boma and Jiko. However, Sanaa deserves some love, if only because of the bread service. When you dine here, you MUST get the bread service. The bread itself is Indian naan bread, freshly baked, hot out of the oven. There are different styles of bread that you can choose from, but all are amazing. On top of that (no pun intended), you get nine different dips for your bread. They vary in levels of spice, so you can choose the accompaniments that you find most appealing.
While they do have a variety of Indian-inspired appetizers and entrees, our family can probably make a meal out of just the bread service! However, if you can put aside the carbs for a moment, the Tandoori Chicken is “melt in your mouth” good.
If that weren’t enough, the ambiance is amazing. The restaurant has a floor to ceiling glass window that looks out on the Animal Kingdom Lodge savannah. Be on the lookout for animals that might wander through the area while you dine. You might want to have your camera at the ready in case a photo opportunity arises.
ALERT: TWO TIPS FOR DINING AT SANAA LIKE A PRO!
- Make sure you dine before sunset. Once it gets dark, you won’t be able to see the savannah. That definitely detracts from the overall experience.
- Last time we dined at Sanaa, they had a house-made candy bar that was amazing. It wasn’t on the menu, so ask your server if it is available.
DISNEY SPRINGS: Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar
This technically might not be considered Table Service, since they don’t take advanced reservations. However, you sit at tables and people take your order, so that’s good enough for me!
The main draw is their Indiana Jones theming. Jock Lindsey is the pilot who appears at the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark, best known for his Yankees cap and his pet snake Reggie (presumably named after Reggie Jackson). He created this bar to display many of his Indiana Jones mementos. If you look behind the bar and on the walls, you will see all sorts of Indiana Jones Easter eggs. I won’t spoil them (except for the picture above), other than to say if you are a fan of that franchise (which I am), this is the perfect place for you!
While they are known more for their drinks, they have a great selection of food items. They are mostly small plates / appetizer style, so feel free to order a few to share with the table. The names are all Indiana Jones themed, but even if you aren’t a fan, you will enjoy their offerings. We especially enjoy the Air Pirate’s Pretzel, with cheese and mustard dipping sauces. Perfect for sharing!
While there is limited inside seating, don’t be alarmed. We actually prefer sitting on the outside deck which overlooks the water. Even on a hot day, the shade and the breeze will keep you sufficiently cool.
That wraps up our selection of underrated dining locations at Walt Disney World. Please leave a comment if you disagree with our selections, or you think we missed something. We’d love to hear what you think!
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