The Plaza Restaurant Review

The Plaza, located at the Castle end of Main Street USA, has become one of my go-to Magic Kingdom dining destinations for several reasons: value, ease of getting a reservation, consistent food and good service. On a recent trip we joined another family for dinner at the Plaza and again I was not disappointed.

The atmosphere at the Plaza is very pleasant—it has an art nouveau décor and out the many windows you can catch a great view of Cinderella Castle. The restaurant is quite small, however, so there are not many tables to be had. This usually isn’t a problem since it is still somewhat of a hidden gem, reservations are not usually difficult to get. We had a table for 9 and got the reservation within 90 days.

The menu is no-frills but the food is quite good and fresh. Mostly sandwiches, soups, burgers, and a killer strawberry chicken salad. Over my many visits here I’ve enjoyed several of the menu items—nothing fancy or fussy but consistently good food served at the proper temperature. And for dessert the hand-dipped milkshakes are a real treat. The best things about the menu are the price points, with the sandwiches priced at $11-$13 it is on par with a quick service restaurant (like Be Our Guest lunch).

As you approach the restaurant the check-in podium is outside (there is no room inside to wait for your table to be ready) but there are the yellow and white tables with umbrellas along with the covered portion of Main Street to the side (in case of inclement weather). We checked in, were given our buzzer and waited between 5-10 minutes to be seated.

Once inside we were given a long table along the wall in the main portion of the restaurant. There is a second “side” dining room as well. The restaurant is similar to Crystal Palace in that it is bright and airy—lots of mirrors line the walls to make it seem larger. I’ve had lunch here before and the Mayor or some of the other Main Street characters come in and chat with diners. That is a fun touch too.

We all placed our order for various sandwiches. My husband and I shared a plate with no problems (we were not on the Dining Plan). As usual, the food was prepared fresh and was good quality. Our server was prompt and friendly, and made some good suggestions on the menu. We had some special requests for some of the sandwiches, and all were able to be accommodated. One of our younger party members ordered the turkey sandwich on the kids menu which is normally served on the “goldfish” shaped flat bread—it was no problem to substitute and have it made on “regular” bread. Several of us chose the homemade chips for our side and they were quite good. Broccoli slaw is another side item choice that varies from the normal French Fries.

For dessert a round of milkshakes were ordered to go. This is a great way to have your dessert and still be able to get back out into the parks for more attraction action.

Tables in Wonderland and other discounts are accepted at the Plaza which makes it an even better value. I would recommend The Plaza to anyone looking for a relaxing table service meal at the Magic Kingdom, and those looking for a good value when paying out of pocket for dining. It is also a good option for last minute planners since it doesn’t fill up quickly despite its small size. The Plaza is open for lunch and dinner.

FAST Review:

Food: Good and consistent. Nothing fancy or extraordinary, but the Strawberry Chicken Salad is a light, refreshing and tasty option. The homemade chips are a nice side item choice.

Atmosphere: Light and airy with nice views of the castle. Art Nouveau décor matches the feeling of Main Street.

Service: Efficient & Friendly—no complaints!

Tips: Tables in Wonderland and other discounts accepted—so ask if you are DVC or AP just in case. Substitutions don’t seem to be any problem. Ask for your milkshake to go.