Best restaurants I can walk up to?

[MickeyMania]

Hey everyone. Can anyone tell me what the best restaurants are that I don't have to place reservations or something ahead for? Obviously there's a language barrier that keeps me from reserving a seat, so I guess the Blue Bayou style stuff is off my agenda. Is there anything to avoid?

Secondly, I know we've all seen the pictures of that Hunny Hunt line that spirals into infinity, so are the restaurants as bad? Which is to say if I get hungry and want a bite, am I looking at a 30 minute wait to get to a counter?

For the record, my tastes are mostly middle america and I don't care for most ethnic Asian foods. I'm not unwilling to try, since one could argue a trip to Japan would be pointless without it, but I'd rather not spend a fortune on a dish I might not like, and I'd like to keep my squid content low.

[TDR_Fan]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

I would highly recommend the Sailing Day Buffet, because it has a wide variety of highly delicious "western" food. We walked up to it twice (once during dinnertime!), and they led us right in without any wait.

[TDLFAN]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

MickeyMania, you won't have any problems at TDR with language. If someone does not speak english, they will get someone who will. Fear NOT! I speak NO japanese and have been getting around TDR and Japan for that matter (by train and bus) with hardly any problems.
However, in regards to restaurants... please give Queen of Hearts banquet Hall a try...

[The Goddess Mara]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

I second TDLFAN's endorsement of the Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall--delicious food! Sometimes there's a brief wait. Eating on the early side usually avoids the wait.

Also, you'll find plenty to eat at Blue Bayou, and all you have to do is ask the concierge at your hotel to make the Priority Seating reservation for you. Otherwise, just walk there in the morning and make the reservation yourself at the podium.

There's also an Italian restaurant in DisneySea right near the end of the main drag where it opens up into the harbor. I think it's called Cannilettos's.

There are plenty of opportunities for hamburgers, pizza, and hot dogs (though Japanese hot dogs are a bit odd until you get used to them) in various spots. There's a tasty Mickey-shaped pepperoni pizza sold at a counter in Toontown. And Mickey-shaped hamburgers at one of the restaurants in Tomorrowland (can't remember if it's the Tomorrowland Terrace).

Don't worry--you'll eat.

[TDLFAN]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

There's also an Italian restaurant in DisneySea right near the end of the main drag where it opens up into the harbor. I think it's called Cannilettos's.

Heart attack here!! You *NEVER* refer to Mediterranean Harbor as "main drag". EVER!!! That is so so so 6-Flags!!! Promise you will never do that again Mara. And the restaurant you are talking about is the Ristorante Di Canaletto, and it's located at the end of the Venezia area of Mediterranean Harbor, adjacent to American Waterfront. The other ristorante at the opposite end of the Harbour, closest to the Roman Ruins is the Zambini Bros. Ristorante, and a favorite of mine.

[polygonaut]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

*** TDL ***
Grandma Sara's Kitchen at Critter Country area has comparatively huge capacity in TDL (more than 500seats).
And its theming is relaxing. ($ out of 3)
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/t...rest_sara.html
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/t...u/cc_sara.html

Though, this is a kind of BlueBayou style, my favorite restaurant in TDL is Eastside Cafe at World Bazaar. ($$)
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/t...rest_east.html
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/t...u/wb_east.html

*** TDS ***
I love Casbah Food Court the best in TDR. Also this restaurant has 860seats!!! ($) It's a little bit ethnic taste though...
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/t...st_casbah.html
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/t...ac_casbah.html

If you miss typical western food, As TDR_Fan mensioned, Sailing Day Buffet at American Waterfront area($$) should be your first choice.
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/t...t_sailing.html
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/t...w_sailing.html

Or... Newyork Deli at the same area($)
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/t...rest_deli.html
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/t...u/aw_deli.html

TDS has many BlueBayou style (i.e. reservation recommended) restaurants & a variety of ethnic restaurants. There are plenty of nice restaurants in those ones.

[TDLFAN]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

I have to say... Sailing Day Buffet keeps popping on everyone's list, but the day I tried it, I was not all that impressed. While it was nice to "eat all you wanted to eat", I was not all that excited about the food options here. maybe they have changed since last year??

As for the Casbah Food Court in Arabian Coast.. A *must*. Try the Curry Sampler plate.... heaven!! NY Deli is great as well but portions are a bit small for the price you pay. I also highly recommend Zambini's Bros in Mediterranean Harbour, or Ristorante Di Canaletto. HECK! Try all of the restaurants, as they offer unparalled themed dining experiences and varied menus that put EPCOT's World Showcase restaurants to bloody shame.

[MickeyMania]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

Okay, so when we're talking about reservations, there's nothing like WDW where you have to make reservations for some fairly moderate items IMMEDIATELY when the window of oppertunity for your dates appear? Someone mentioned making a same-day reservation, so I guess that there's no rush.

I have to say... Sailing Day Buffet keeps popping on everyone's list, but the day I tried it, I was not all that impressed. While it was nice to "eat all you wanted to eat", I was not all that excited about the food options here. maybe they have changed since last year??

You liked the Excalibur buffet, so your opinion on such matters is void anyway. (jk)

[TDLFAN]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

You liked the Excalibur buffet, so your opinion on such matters is void anyway. (jk)

Believe it or not, I find the Excalibur buffet to be nicer and more plentiful over the Sailing Day Buffet, but if you are into sushi and stuff you can't recongnize when you look at it, then be my guest.
Furthermore, I would not waste my time on fancy seatdown places, simply because the cheaper options at TDS are great and varied. In fact much nicer than EPCOT much overhyped restaurants.
As for reservations, most priority seating reservations need to be done the same day, except for those who are staying in the Disney Hotels who can reserve in advance. But I honestly do not have much experience in that field. Everytime I have eaten in such places at TDR, I walk up and make the reservation the same day I am there. No problems.

[mikeland]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

We did not have a problem when we went to TDR. As I remember, they had picture menus, so we just pointed at what we wanted. You won't go hungry.

[TDLFAN]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

Well.. he lives in Vegas. No one goes hungry there and food is everywhere. I can see why he's concerned. It's like taking that security blanket off his hands...

[DisneySeaFan]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

Zambini Brothers Ristorante, Sebastian's Calypso Kitchen, New York Deli, Cafe Portofino, Casbah Food Court, or Horizon Bay.

Ok holy crap, anything that isn't table service! All of the restaurants are worthy. If you want atmosphere, you need to try Volcania, although I don't like the menu, it's just greasy Chinese. New York Deli has some really good fresh food, Zambini is basic Italian, Japanese style. Also, Casbah Food Court has some good choices as well. You can't go too wrong with food in DisneySea.

[TDR_Fan]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

Believe it or not, I find the Excalibur buffet to be nicer and more plentiful over the Sailing Day Buffet, but if you are into sushi and stuff you can't recongnize when you look at it, then be my guest.

Huh? The Sailing Day Buffet was my favorite restaurant at Tokyo DisneySea BECAUSE of it's delicious food. Where else can you get salmon fillets in tomato sauce, shepherd's pie, and different kinds of soup? They had so many choices of food that I couldn't decide which one to try next. Simply scrumptious and I never saw sushi there either like you mentioned. It was basically all western style food with maybe a bit of ethnic foods as well.

[TDLFAN]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

The menu at the sailing Day Buffet must have changed because since my last visit because I really didn't care much for the food in there. However, I was more captivated by the Columbia SS' luggage and cargo storage theme inside of the buffet.

[TDR_Fan]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

The menu at the sailing Day Buffet must have changed because since my last visit because I really didn't care much for the food in there. However, I was more captivated by the Columbia SS' luggage and cargo storage theme inside of the buffet.

It must have. The food there was simply delicious.

[The Goddess Mara]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

Forgot to mention that I had a nice roast beef sandwich in the Teddy Roosevelt Lounge aboard the S.S. Columbia one afternoon. The price was a bit of a knock on the head, but it was good.

[TDR_Fan]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

I'd like to recommend one more from personal experience: The Cafe Portofino. Their veal loaf in mushroom sauce is to die for; my mouth waters just thinking about it.

[MickeyMania]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

Believe it or not, I find the Excalibur buffet to be nicer and more plentiful over the Sailing Day Buffet, but if you are into sushi and stuff you can't recongnize when you look at it, then be my guest.

Yeah, I just thought I'd rib you a bit because I tried the Exaclibur buffet a couple weeks ago thinking "well, I guess TDLFAN lived" and found myself in the midst of a cattle call for mediocore food where I had to refill my own drinks (which is really pretty incredible since buffet waiters do a lot less than other restaurant waiters even when they do refill drinks.)

Furthermore, I would not waste my time on fancy seatdown places, simply because the cheaper options at TDS are great and varied. In fact much nicer than EPCOT much overhyped restaurants.

Good to hear, I think. People bitched me out for not doing any special dining on my WDW trip, and I didn't think much of it because (1) I was short $100 by accident and (2) anything other than a character meal when you're alone just reminds you of how alone you are. On the other hand, living where I live, it's not like I don't know what good food tastes like and need Mickey to serve it up for me, at full price with no comp program.

Everytime I have eaten in such places at TDR, I walk up and make the reservation the same day I am there. No problems.

Sounds good. I was just concerned that with the crowds we've all seen in pictures, that the food options might be completely SLAMMED and that I'd roam the park starving because the lines for food crawl around the building.

[MickeyMania]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

Update: Holy cow, TDR's website is deceptively simple looking but actually quite useful. Writing down places where I think I'd like to eat has become easier than I thought.

I mean, you can even see a list of all the places in TDL that serves churros. Not that I'd travel all the way to Japan to eat a churro, but I remember failing to find them at MK and thinking "if this was DL, I'd have found a stand by now!" Granted, this system is not quite as nice as being able to read the menus (even for many of the nicest restaurants) over the web like I can do with our resorts, but it's way better than the help you can get from a certain other, especially massive Disney resort.

[TDLFAN]

Re: Best restaurants I can walk up to?

Yeah, I just thought I'd rib you a bit because I tried the Exaclibur buffet a couple weeks ago thinking "well, I guess TDLFAN lived" and found myself in the midst of a cattle call for mediocore food where I had to refill my own drinks (which is really pretty incredible since buffet waiters do a lot less than other restaurant waiters even when they do refill drinks.)

Cattle call pretty much summs up the TDR experience at time, and you don't even get a free refill!!

People bitched me out for not doing any special dining on my WDW trip, and I didn't think much of it because (1) I was short $100 by accident and (2) anything other than a character meal when you're alone just reminds you of how alone you are.

Most of WDW's so-called "dining experiences" are way to overrated for what they are and the food can be as mediocre as anything found on the strip in Vegas.

I was just concerned that with the crowds we've all seen in pictures, that the food options might be completely SLAMMED and that I'd roam the park starving because the lines for food crawl around the building.

That only occurs on most terribly crowded days.. which is about 2/3rds of the year. Besides, stop being lazy and do the lines!!!

Not that I'd travel all the way to Japan to eat a churro

I recommend you try a churro at TDL. Great tastes not available at DL.

but it's way better than the help you can get from a certain other, especially massive Disney resort.

Wait until you experience that leve l of service in person, and a certain massive resort will never be as magical as you think it is ever again...