Are These Table Service Restaurants Overrated? You Decide! Round 4!
We’re back for another round of debate over five different table service restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort! Read on to check out five unique locations and learn about their menu, theme, and location before deciding if they are overrated or not.
Be sure to check out Round 1 where we covered ‘Ohana, Whispering Canyon Café, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Chef Mickey’s, and Le Cellier Steakhouse. Round 2 where we looked at California Grill, The Hollywood Brown Derby, Wine Bar George, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, and Cinderella’s Royal Table, and Round 3 where we examined the Grand Floridian Café, Yak & Yeti Restaurant, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant, The Boathouse, and the Crystal Palace.
Now, onto Round 4!
Olivia’s Café
First up for discussion today is Olivia’s Café, a table service restaurant found at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, which is run by Conch Flats’ local Olivia. Open for brunch, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant continues the theming of the Disney Resort with a laid-back and charming feel, nautical and seaside accents, and dining tables found both inside and outside on a small covered patio.
The menu at Olivia’s Café focuses on the popular flavors of the islands and the Florida Keys while using fresh ingredients to create comforting dishes. Depending on the meal period, Guests can enjoy menu options like Banana Bread French Toast, Spam-Cheddar Biscuits, Crab Cake-Eggs Benedict, Slow-cooked Prime Rib, Chicken and Waffles, Shrimp Fritters, and Key Lime Tart.
The main issue with Olivia’s Café is its location, which can be a hike out of the way for Guests who are not staying at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. That being said, the menu is so packed with delicious and comforting options in such a relaxing atmosphere that the trip can definitely be considered worth it.
Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera
A very popular table service restaurant that Guests have come to love is Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, which can be found at the very top of Disney’s Riviera Resort. The stunning restaurant pairs an elegant and upscale interior with Mediterranean influences, as well as a sweeping view of Barefoot Bay and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera is open each day for Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends as well as a traditional seated dinner. Both menus feature Italian and French cuisine with beautiful dishes such as Smoked Salmon, Sour Cream Waffle, Wood-fired Butcher’s Steak, Avocado Toast, Slow-roasted Octopus, Lobster Linguine, Diver Scallops, and Bouillabaisse.
There’s no debating the beauty of the interior of and the view from Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera and the menu is absolutely indulgent with bright and bold flavors from the Mediterranean. It can however be argued that the location is slightly out of the way for those not staying at Disney’s Riviera Resort, though the Disney Skyliner does add some ease of access, and the current modified interactions with Mickey and friends leave something to be desired.
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen is a table service restaurant in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom that continues the spirit of exploration from the world-famous Jungle Cruise and the humor from the attraction’s skippers. The interior of the restaurant is filled with bright pops of color, exotic props and items, and even the S.E.A. Room which was once the secret location of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers and is accessible via a secret door in a bookcase.
Open for lunch and dinner daily, the menu at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen is a blend of international flavors from Asia, South Africa, and Africa with each menu item featuring a cheeky and comical name. Some wonderful options to try include the Orinoco Ida’s Cachapas, Falls Family Falafel, Senegali Sal’s Short Ribs, “Tastes like Chicken” Because it is!, and Perkins Thai Noodles.
While the setting and menu at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen are definitely unique, the restaurant might be viewed as overrated by some Guests thanks to its adventurous international cuisine. Picky eaters can be fairly limited at this table service location in the Magic Kingdom and might be better off dining elsewhere nearby.
50’s Prime Time Café
There are several table service restaurants to be enjoyed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including the 50’s Prime Time Café which whisks Guests back to the 1950s and invites them to dine on a menu of American family classics inside of a vintage kitchen. While dining, Guests can watch old clips of television shows on small sets and be reminded by their “cousins” serving them to keep their elbows off the table, finish their vegetables, and keep their phones away.
The theming and interactive nature of the 50’s Prime Time Café makes the restaurant memorable, as does the menu of American comfort food classics that have all been passed down by family members. Guests can enjoy lunch and dinner items like the Beer-battered Onion Rings, Deviled Eggs, Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken, Cousin Megan’s Traditional Meatloaf, and Mom’s Old-fashioned Pot Roast.
The dining experience at the 50’s Prime Time Café is completely unique at the Walt Disney World Resort and immerses Guests in the wholesome era of the 1950s. However, the restaurant might be considered overrated by Guests who are not interested in the playful interactions with the servers or are looking for lighter menu options with more adventurous flavors.
Yachtsman Steakhouse
The final table service restaurant that we’ll be looking at today is Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Open only for dinner each night, this upscale New England-style steakhouse features an elegant and nautical interior with wooden accents, bright pops of blues and teals, views of Crescent Lake, interesting architectural details, and glimpses into the large dry-aging room.
The menu at Yachtsman Steakhouse focuses on traditional indulgent steakhouse classics with the perfect combination of steak and seafood. Guests who dine at the restaurant for dinner can enjoy menu items including Beef Carpaccio, Chilled Admiral’s Tower for Two, 8-oz Filet Mignon, Dry-Aged Duroc Pork Chop, Seafood Cioppino, 16-oz Rib-Eye Steak, and Crème Brulée.
Yachtsman Steakhouse is one of the most elegant and upscale dining options currently open at the Walt Disney World Resort, and the location features some of the best steaks available to Guests. However, many might consider it to be overrated thanks to the very hefty prices that can easily cost over one hundred dollars per meal without many enhancements or additional menu items.
