Written by: Brittany Madden

Hello Saving Everyday readers!

In my introduction post, I talked about some of my favorite things at Walt Disney World. If you remember, picking out my favorite restaurant (which was Narcoossee’s) was the hardest choice for me because there are some many awesome restaurants at Disney. Because of that, I decided to go more in-depth about the restaurants that I love to dine at while vacationing at WDW!

Favorite Restaurant at Magic Kingdom: Columbia Harbour House 
Runner-up: Liberty Tree Tavern

            Personally, I do not think MK has a lot of excellent table service restaurants. Maybe I haven’t tried enough of them, but I just don’t get too terribly excited about trying new restaurants while at MK. That being said, I do love Columbia Harbour House! It is tucked away where Fantasyland meets Liberty Square, which is the perfect location to escape from both the crowds and the heat. Plus, their menu is seafood driven, which I thoroughly enjoy. When I dine there, I like to get the fried shrimp platter or tuna fish sandwich, both of which are delicious! Like I said, Columbia Harbour House is hidden between two lands, so be on the lookout for it if you plan to stop by for lunch or dinner. Also know that it is considered a quick service restaurant because you order at a counter and bring your food to a table, so you will not be waited on.

Favorite Restaurant at Epcot: Via Napoli 
Runner-up: Biergarten Restaurant

           Unlike MK, Epcot is the perfect place for any foodie lover! There are SO many good restaurants at this park and I love trying out different ones. Plus, Disney keeps adding new locations. Speaking of which, one of the latest additions to Epcot is Via Napoli, an Italian inspired restaurant that spotlights the cuisine native in the Naples region. 

           Remember how I said Narcoossee’s is my all-time favorite Disney restaurant? Well, Via Napoli is giving it a run for its money! My family and I have been there twice now, and it keeps getting better and better. This restaurant has the best pasta dish I have EVER tried – no joke! (It’s called Candele, FYI.) I have dreams about this dish it is that good! But Via Napoli offers more than just pasta. There are tons of yummy appetizers and also homemade pizzas that are prepared with ingredients imported straight from Italy. Even the water is unique – it is formulated to mimic the water in Naples, which is famous for giving pizzas light, thin, and chewy crusts. 

           I think it is clear how much I enjoy this restaurant. I mean, look at how much I wrote, lol! Anyhow, eating at Via Napoli has become a new tradition for my family and now we won’t go on a trip to Disney without stopping by. I highly recommend to anyone who is vacationing to WDW to make a reservation for Via Napoli ASAP! (…and seriously Narcoossee’s, you need to watch your back because Via Napoli is after your number one spot! =P)

Favorite Restaurant at Hollywood Studios: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
Runner-up: N/A

           You know how I said MK lacks restaurants? Well, HS is even worse! For some reason, many of the restaurants at HS do not interest me and my family. However, there is one that we all love and it is Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. This place is so cool! It is designed as if you are at a drive-in theater and all the tables are placed within cars. In addition, sci-fi films and fun cartoons from the 1950-1960s are played on a drive-in style screen and you can watch them while you wait for your meal. Though their menu is somewhat limited, I really love the ambiance this restaurant creates, making it one of my favorite places to dine while at the World.

PS: I didn’t include a runner-up restaurant because truly, besides eating from a food stand, I have not the other restaurants at HS. Maybe you guys can suggest a new place for me and my family to dine at the next time we are at HS!

Favorite Restaurant at Animal Kingdom: Yak & Yeti
Runner-up: Yak & Yeti Local Foods Café

           For a long time, I was never thrilled with AK’s restaurant selection. It was one of those parks that I just grabbed something quick and focused more on the rides. That is until Yak & Yeti was built. Man, do I love this restaurant! It is one of the few Asian inspired restaurants at WDW, which is really refreshing and a great way to mix up your dining experience. The menu is really versatile and provides a little something for everyone. Plus, the décor is phenomenal! I love looking at all the decorations while waiting for our food to arrive. I am so glad that Disney added Yak & Yeti to AK and it is one restaurant that I always look forward to going back to!

PS: I know it may seem counterproductive to have the runner-up as the Yak & Yeti food cart, but it offers such a great selection of Asian menu items at low prices I couldn’t resist!

Favorite Restaurant at Downtown Disney: Three way tie between Cooke’s of Dublin, Wolfgang Puck Café, and Earl of Sandwich

           I know I am supposed to pick one restaurant as my favorite, but it is just too hard to narrow down! These three restaurants are all really quite different, but they do have one thing in common: they are delicious! Earl of Sandwich and Cooke’s of Dublin are some of the best quick service restaurants WDW has, and you know Wolfgang Puck Café is good because it was created by world famous chef Wolfgang Puck. For those who do not know, Earl of Sandwich offers an array of delicious sandwiches made with their freshly baked bread, Cooke’s of Dublin is a mix between Irish and seafood cuisine (Can you say fish and chips?!), and Wolfgang Puck Café has a little bit of everything kicked with an Asian or California flare. Some of my favorite meals have come from these restaurants, so it is definitely worth it to stop by at least one of them during your next Disney vacation. 

Favorite Restaurant at a Disney Resort: Narcoossee’s located at the Grand Floridian Resort
Runner-up: Cape May Café located at the Beach Club Resort

           You all already know Narcoossee’s is my all-time favorite Disney restaurant, so naturally it would win this category. To refresh your memory, the main reason why I love this restaurant so much is because of one simple dessert: the almond crusted cheesecake. It is, without a doubt, the best dessert I’ve had in my life. And it is one of those meals you have to have while at the restaurant; it is just not the same if it’s not freshly prepared for you. I really love this cheesecake and I wish I had it in front of me right now, ha ha! Plus, the entrées at Narcoossee’s are really special and spectacular.

           I hope you guys enjoyed reading about some of my favorite places to eat while at the World. And by the way, below are some of the restaurants I want to try. If you have dined at any of them and want to talk about, please comment about your experience. Or if you just want to share something about your most beloved Disney restaurants, you can comment about that too! I love reading about other people’s Disney dining experiences, and would especially enjoy what you readers have to say! =)
Restaurants I want to try: Kouzzina by Cat Cora, Todd English’s bluezoo, 1900 Park Fare, Artist Point, Paradiso 37, Portbello, The Crystal Palace, La Hacienda de San Ange, Rose and Crown Pub, Tutto Italia Ristorante, 50′s Prime Time Café, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano.