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Are These Table Service Restaurants Overrated? You Decide! Round 3!

We’re back for another round of debate over five different table service restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort. In Round 1 we covered ‘Ohana, Whispering Canyon Café, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Chef Mickey’s, and Le Cellier Steakhouse and in Round 2 we looked at California Grill, The Hollywood Brown Derby, Wine Bar George, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, and Cinderella’s Royal Table.

Today, let’s check out five more popular Disney dining options throughout the Walt Disney World Resort that are frequently busy but could also be argued as overrated for a variety of reasons. Are they truly overrated or worth it? Let’s check out some details and you be the judge if these are overrated table service restaurants or not and worth visiting on a Disney vacation.

Dining Room
Credit: Disney

Grand Floridian Café

The Grand Floridian Café is a table service location found at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa that is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that features a bright an airy interior that continues the charm of Victorian elegance that the Disney Resort is known for. Featuring traditional floral patterns, ornate molding, and whimsical touches including chicken and rooster silhouettes, the restaurant is a charming location that Guests are sure to feel relaxed in.

RELATED: Dining at the Grand Floridian Cafe

Lobster 'Thermidor' Burger
Credit: Disney

The menu at the Grand Floridian Café focuses on casual American favorites that have been reinvented in creative ways with the breakfast and lunch menus being identical and dubbed “blunch” and a unique dinner menu. Guests can choose between options such as the Lobster ‘Thermidor’ Burger, Buttermilk-fried Chicken and Waffle, Traditional Eggs Benedict, Miso-glazed Salmon, New York Strip Steak, and Café Meatloaf.

Guests Dining
Credit: Disney

The Grand Floridian Café can definitely be considered a little underrated compared to other Disney dining options at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa including Citricos and Narcoossee’s, but the menu features some unique options that can’t be found elsewhere. It’s up to Guests to decide whether they truly want to take the time to travel to the Disney Resort for a meal and if they consider this restaurant to be a better choice than the other nearby options.

RELATED: Dining at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Credit: Disney

Yak & Yeti Restaurant

The Asia area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to Yak & Yeti Restaurant, a unique location that features a rich backstory that immerses Guests in the culture and beauty of Southeast Asia. Spread throughout two floors of dining rooms, the table service restaurant is bursting with authentic artwork and artifacts from Southeast Asia that were collected by Imagineers and some of the upstairs tables feature beautiful views overlooking the walkways of the Disney Park below.

RELATED: Dining at Yak & Yeti Restaurant

Ahi Tuna Nachos
Credit: Yak & Yeti Restaurant

The menu at Yak & Yeti Restaurant for lunch and dinner is extensive and features a blend of pan-Asian cuisine with influences from many different regions. Guests can choose from menu items including Ahi Tuna Nachos, Korean Fried Chicken, Chop Chop Chicken Salad, Bhaktapur Duck, Teriyaki Chicken, and Fried Wontons, all of which are bursting with flavor and sure to please.

Credit: Yak & Yeti Restaurant

Yak & Yeti Restaurant is always busy and definitely attracts many Guests each day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but a meal there can eat up a lot of time that would otherwise be spent enjoying the Disney Park. Guests who are keener on saving time and experiencing more should instead opt to dine at the adjacent quick-service Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafés which feature several similar menu items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day.

Credit: Disney

Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant

The Landing in Disney Springs is home to some of the most popular table service restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort including Raglan Rod Irish Pub and Restaurant which is designed to feel like a lively pub in the heart of Dublin. The restaurant features several charming dining rooms featuring unique artwork and large antique-looking bars and there is live entertainment such as bands and Irish Step Dancers throughout each day.

RELATED: Dining at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant

Fish and Chips
Credit: Disney

Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily as well as brunch on the weekends and features an extensive menu of Irish pub favorites all with cheeky names that are sure to make Guests chuckle. Some of the menu options available to Guests include Scallop Forest, Nom Nom Wings, Pancakes Diaspora, Fish & Chips, Braised Be Beef, and Bangin’ Bangers & Mighty Mash.

Credit: Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant

There’s no question that the menu at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant is delicious and that the entertainment is fun to watch, but it can definitely be very loud and stimulating. Guests who are looking to enjoy a quieter or calmer meal should definitely opt for another nearby location in Disney Springs and still have the option of enjoying traditional Irish pub food at the adjacent quick-service Cookes of Dublin.

Water view of The Boathouse
Credit: Disney

The Boathouse

Also found in The Landing area of Disney Springs is The Boathouse, a popular restaurant that combines airy and nautical dining rooms with outdoor decks that offer up stunning water views of Lake Buena Vista. The décor is a perfect combination of kitschy and classic and Guests can soak in the views while also checking out the vintage amphicars as they launch from a nearby area and cruise around Lake Buena Vista.

RELATED: Ahoy! Dining at The Boathouse

Maine Style Lobster Roll
Credit: The Boathouse

The Boathouse is open daily for lunch and dinner and features a menu of seafood and land favorites with indulgent ingredients that pair perfectly with specialty cocktails. Guests are sure to love delicious menu options such as Oysters on the Half Shelf, Coriander-seared Ahi Tuna, Shrimp & Andouille Mac & Cheese, Grilled Mahi Tacos, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Filet Mignon Sliders, Boneless Ribeye, and Porterhouse.

Raw Bar at The Boathouse
Credit: The Boathouse

There’s no arguing that The Boathouse features a delicious menu and a view of Lake Buena Vista that can’t be beaten, but it might not be the best option for every Guest in Disney Springs. Guests who don’t eat seafood or aren’t looking for steak options will find themselves fairly limited at The Boathouse and potentially better off choosing from one of the other nearby table service options such as Morimoto Asia, Frontera Cocina, or Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante.

RELATED: Enjoy Beautiful Water Views from These Restaurants in Walt Disney World

Dining Room
Credit: Disney

The Crystal Palace

The final table service restaurant up for debate in this round is The Crystal Palace which can be found at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom. This charming restaurant features an elegant Victorian greenhouse-inspired building with ornate white framework and glass windows that create an airy interior filled with vintage light fixtures, large topiaries, vibrant carpeting, and comfortable seating and previously featured character dining with Winnie the Pooh and friends.

Dining Room
Credit: Disney

The Crystal Palace is the only restaurant in the Magic Kingdom that features a buffet of American favorites served up for lunch and dinner each day. Guests can enjoy plate after plate of buffet options such as Braised Beef Brisket, Carved Prime Rib, Country Fried Chicken with Black Pepper Gravy, Seasonal Salads, Mashed Potatoes, and more.

Desserts
Credit: Disney

The Crystal Palace does feature a charming interior and beautiful scenery, but the menu is a little lacking when compared to other locations in the Magic Kingdom such as the Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in Adventureland. There’s nothing wrong with The Crystal Palace, Guests just have to decide if the limited buffet is right for them or if they would prefer more options from another nearby restaurant.

Caitlin Kane

Caitlin Kane has been visiting Walt Disney World since she was a child and has developed a deep love and appreciation of the Disney Parks with a particular interest in the small details and history that can be found all around. Visiting every chance she gets, Caitlin loves to enjoy the ambiance of the Disney Parks and try something new every time. She can often be found eating and drinking her way through the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, riding the Haunted Mansion, sipping on a Lapu Lapu, pretending Illuminations: Reflections of Earth was still in existence, and enjoying… More »

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