According to our Theme Park Insider reader ratings, here are the top table-service and counter-service restaurants in the Orlando-area theme parks. (10 votes minimum)
Best table-service restaurants
Best counter-service restaurants
*We've got Be Our Guest listed as a counter service restaurant, since we've heard it serves more guests that way at lunch than as a table service restaurant at dinner, even though many readers are rating it on the basis of dinner. Either way, though, it's making these lists.
(Update: We also had Finnegan's on the counter service list by mistake, originally. That's corrected, which bumps Liberty Tree Tavern from the table-service top five, and promotes Flame Tree Barbecue to the counter-service list.)
If you've dined at any of these restaurants recently (past year or so), please follow those links above to submit your own rating, and a short review if you're a registered member of Theme Park Insider. (Member can submit reviews on any listed attraction, restaurant or hotel. You don't need to register to submit a rating, however.)
Of course, visitors to the Orlando theme parks have abundant options outside the parks, including many top-quality restaurants in the resorts' hotels and in the Downtown Disney and CityWalk marketplaces.
Our fans on Facebook recommended 'Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Resort, along with Victoria & Albert's at the Grand Floridian next door. In Downtown Disney, our Facebook fans liked Bongos, while Margaritaville and the NASCAR Cafe at CityWalk earned some shout-outs, too.
Over on Twitter, the California Grill atop Disney's Contemporary Resort earned the most mentions. That restaurant is reopening next Monday, September 9, with a new look and menu, and we'd love to hear some reviews from visitors. Just email us at themeparkinsider@gmail.com with pictures and descriptions!
Our Twitter followers also recommended 'Ohana and the Kona Cafe at the Polynesian, as well as Jiko, Boma, and Sanaa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Trails End at Fort Wilderness, and Kouzzina at Disney's Boardwalk.
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*slightly related* I'm really glad Universal has a real winner on their hands with the new Simpsons restaurant. As a 90's kid, I grew up watching the series and look forward to eating there when I head back next. It sounds like it might even surpass Louie's on my list.
Also all the bad places are Disney? Come on man....,
For what it's worth Artist Point delivered the single best meal I've ever eaten in Orlando, and to be honest one of the best meals I've ever eaten anywhere, period.
Where is Sunshine Seasons?
First the good (actually great): Mythos! By far it is my favorite theme park restaurant in the history of theme parks! The food is outstanding, the service is great and the ambiance is quite good as well.
The Hollywood Brown Derby is also quite good, however, several years ago they changed the recipe for their signature dessert, the grapefruit cake and to me it has never been as good.
I know it is everybody's personal opinion, but from the unremarkable experience we received from both Lombards and Finnegan's I have no idea how they made the list. I can think of at least a half dozen sit down eateries on property that are better.
I am also stunned that the readers would recommend the NASCAR Cafe, because without a doubt it is one of if not the worst sit down restaurant of any theme park in Orlando. The food and service was terrible before they remodeled the place a few years back and my wife and I decided to try it again after it reopened and it was the same (exact same) poor quality food and the service was similarly poor.
In my opinion outside of Mythos, one cannot go wrong eating at the Biergarten or Le Cellier for either lunch or dinner at Epcot and La Hacienda de San Angel at Epcot for dinner only. Excellent food and atmosphere.
These are what I call the "normal" restaurants. Obviously if your taste buds want more excitement and your wallet can support that, Victoria and Alberts, the California Grille, and Todd English's bluezoo are all top notch choices!
One restaurant i was surprised didn't make the "I'll Pass" list was the Cape May Cafe in the Disney's Beach Club Resort. We dined with friends and my takeaway from the experience was it was a slightly dressed up version of Angel's Seafood Buffet on 192. MEH is an understatement!
IMO, that's the worst counter-service restaurant in Orlando. Inedible trash.
I was surprised that anyone mentioned NASCAR, too, but several people did. Outside of Emeril's, I can't remember getting consistently good meals anywhere in CityWalk.
At WDW, I prefer the pavilions at Germany, Mexico, Canada and Norway.
I must also agree with a lot of your commenters that service and quality has generally lagged behind the high-brow average prices charged.
Flame Tree is okay, but again, I wouldn't put it in the top 5. Three Broomsticks is awful. Great ambiance, but the chicken is always dry and overcooked.
I'd like to see Clumiba Harbor House up there, and maybe even Village Haus. Both have significantly stepped up their game in the past couple of years. Aside from those two, I generally try to avoid counter service in the parks, although I do admit to generally hitting up Flame Tree in a pinch. AK just doesn't have a ton of great options.
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I know my wife always bought some sort of meal deal during our Disney trips, but the only place that sticks in my mind is Ohana. Great Mai Tai's and meats on sticks.....