50's Prime Time Cafe

Disney’s Hollywood Studios may be the smallest of all the theme parks, but it is home to two of my favorite restaurants. One of the best parts about dining in Disney World is that you can eat at places that you can not experience anywhere else. This holds especially true for the Sci-Fi Dine-In and the 50’s Prime Time Café, restaurants that are uniquely Disney and offer dining experiences unlike anything you may have had before. These two restaurants are really great examples of Disney storytelling at its best, featuring a main theme which is then embellished with the most minute of details to create an atmosphere and experience which is truly immersive. While both restaurants will take you back in time, they transport you to totally different worlds, worlds in which theming and detail are just as important as the food when it comes to your dining experience.





Overview:
The 50’s Prime Time Café is a nostalgic tour back to the 1950s, a time of classic television sitcoms such as “I Love Lucy,” “Leave It To Beaver,” and “Father Knows Best.” In fact, a meal at 50’s Prime Time makes you feel as though you have stepped right into one of these television shows. This is a restaurant where everyone is treated like family. While Mom is back in the kitchen preparing your lunch or dinner, you are waited on by an “Aunt” or “Uncle” and are introduced to the rest of your “Cousins” (your fellow diners) who are sitting at the tables next to you. While you are invited to be comfortable and make yourself at home, Mom also has some rules that she expects everyone to follow such as not putting your elbows on the table or making sure to eat all your vegetables. Your Aunt or Uncle will make sure that you follow these rules and there is a good amount of fun and gentle-ribbing that goes on during the course of your meal. Depending on how strict they are, you may also be forced to set the table before you get your food. For this reason, the 50’s Prime Time Café is more than your typical restaurant, but rather an experience that makes you an active participant in the meal.

Atmosphere:
Attention to detail is something that Disney is known for and it is clearly evident at the 50’s Prime Time Café. From the minute you step in the main entrance you feel as though you have set foot in a typical 1950’s home. The waiting area and bar have the look of a large living room, complete with wood-paneled walls, bookshelves cluttered with various knick knacks, brightly-colored sofas and love seats, and of course numerous retro-looking black and white televisions playing scenes from classic 1950’s sitcoms.







Entering the main dining area, you move from the living room to the kitchen and once again are treated to a completely immersive and authentic 1950’s atmosphere. The restaurant’s décor features an astonishing amount of little details, with everything from kitchen appliances such as toasters, blenders, pots, and pans to various vintage clocks, storage canisters and containers, tea pots, colorful glassware, and many decorative items featuring roosters or advertising coca cola.







One of my favorite parts of the décor were the numerous cookie jars coming in all shapes, sizes, and designs, including one that looked like a dog house.



Just as in the waiting area, the dining rooms feature black and white televisions broadcasting scenes from classic shows such as “Father Knows Best,” “Leave It To Beaver,” and the original “Mickey Mouse Club.” All these details really make you feel as though you are eating in a 1950’s kitchen, and it is really fun for people who grew up in the fifties to spot different items that they had in their own home.



This at-home feel gives the 50’s Prime Time a very fun, casual, and laid back atmosphere. It is definitely a great restaurant for the entire family (with little kids especially liking the fact that they can watch television throughout their entire meal). Adding to this atmosphere is the tremendous amount of bright and vibrant colors found throughout the restaurant. The main dining area is divided into a series of smaller rooms, with each of these rooms having a different feel in terms of color and decoration. As you move from room to room you encounter various changes in wall paper, curtains, counter tops, and light fixtures, all of which make you feel as though you are moving through different rooms of a house (except in this case all the rooms happen to be kitchens).



Overall the atmosphere of the restaurant can be appreciated on different levels by different guests. For kids it is fun to see how things were in the past and how different they are from today, while for adults the atmosphere helps to brings back memories of their own childhoods.

The Menu:
While the 50’s Prime Time Café may not feature a menu of gourmet delicacies, it can give you a good, old-fashioned, home-cooked meal that is “just like Mom used to make.” There are slight differences between the lunch and dinner menu, and while most items are feature on both there are other selections that are exclusive to one or the other. The appetizer offerings are the same for both lunch and dinner and feature classic Americana favorites such as Chicken Noodle Soup and Beer-Battered Onion Rings. The restaurant’s more popular entrée items include Mom’s Old-Fashioned Pot Roast, Dad’s Traditional Meatloaf, and Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken. The lunch menu also offers a series of lighter choices including several sandwiches such as Cousin Eric's Char-grilled Chicken Sandwich topped with cheddar cheese, grilled onions, barbeque sauce, lettuce, and tomato served on a Kaiser roll. There is also a Fish Sandwich featuring beer-battered haddock on a crusty roll with lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce. Also, the Stacked Sandwich comes with your choice of smoked turkey or ham on seven grain bread, with lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and mayonnaise. A couple of items which can be found only on the dinner menu are the Grilled Boneless Pork Loin glazed with a peppered mushroom gravy and served with mashed potatoes and green beans as well as the Char-Grilled Butcher Tender Steak with red wine sauce, sautéed mushrooms, cheddar scalloped potatoes, and green beans.

For an appetizer I decided on the Beer Battered Onion Rings, which in my opinion were some of the best I have had not only in Disney World but anywhere. The onion rings were fried perfectly with a nice golden brown color and were not overly crispy. There was a slight beer flavor to the batter, but it was just enough to add a little extra taste rather than being overpowering. What really adds to the onion rings is the horseradish sauce that accompanies it, providing an extra little kick. The flavor of the horseradish complimented the onion and beer batter extremely well and it was not so strong that it dominated everything. This may be a simple and common appetizer found at many other restaurants or even prepared in your own home, but it is executed perfectly in taste, texture, and flavor and comes in a huge portion that can easily be shared by three or four people.



Whenever dining at the 50’s Prime Time, my mainstay entrée has always been Dad’s Traditional Meatloaf, but this time I decided to try something different and opted for Grandma’s Chicken Pot Pie. Again, while the menu features many traditional, home-style meals that may not jump out at you as being anything special, you are still getting the same type of quality food that you get from any other Disney restaurant. The chicken pot pie was very rich and creamy with big pieces of chicken and vegetables. There was also a slight hint of cheese that really added extra flavor to the dish and helped give a little bit of a new twist to a traditional dish. I liked the fact that there were large pieces of chicken breast rather than having the chicken cut up into small, bite-sized pieces. The vegetables, which included mushrooms, carrots, celery, peas, and onions, were cooked just the way I liked them so that they were not too hard and not too soft. I would have liked the vegetables more, however, if there had been more carrots and onions and less celery. That being said, I am not usually a celery fan, but I did feel as though the celery added a little extra flavor and texture to the dish. The pie crust was very light and flaky, also featuring a hint of cheese for added flavor, and really helped make the meal stand out as something more than your typical chicken pot pie.



For dessert I decided to try the S’mores, which presents a new spin on a campfire favorite. The marshmallows are toasted to a nice golden brown and not burnt at all. The dessert is very chocolaty, featuring a layer of chocolate between the marshmallows and the graham crackers as well as drizzled over the top. The graham crackers were a little softer than what I expected and I would have really liked it if there had been a layer on top as well like traditional s’mores. Nevertheless, this was still a simple, but tasty, dessert and a fun way to end the meal.



Service:
I would argue that more so than any other restaurant in Disney World, the service at 50’s Prime Time Café can truly make or break your dining experience. This is really a restaurant where the service is just as important as the food. Even if the food is great, if you have a lackluster server it takes away from the overall impact of the restaurant and you leave feeling a little disappointed. On the whole, I have mostly had great experiences at 50’s Prime Time. There are some servers who are really over-the-top and truly go above-and-beyond with the theming. I have seen servers not only yelling at guests to take there elbows off the table and embarrassing them in front of the other guests but also putting children (and sometimes adults) in time-out and having them stand in the corner of the room facing the wall. I have been force-fed vegetables by one of my servers when I didn’t finish them and another time a server brought me a very “special” dessert because I had not finished my string beans.



At the other end of the spectrum there are some servers who are more laid back and low-key and, although it seems funny to say, they are just too nice. While these servers still provide good service, they do not help create the same sense of immersion that you get when you have a server who is going all-out. Overall, it is the service, especially the really enthusiastic and passionate cast members, that make this restaurant truly special.

Dining on a Budget:
Both lunch and dinner at 50’s Prime Time Café are fairly affordable by Disney standards. Lunch does offer some cheaper options if you are looking for something on the lighter side. Cousin Eric’s Char-Grilled Chicken Sandwich is $13.49, the Fish Sandwich costs $12.49, and the Stacked Sandwich is just $11.49. Also, there is a very large Caesar Salad with Chicken for $12.99. These prices are just a little more expensive than what you would pay at a counter service restaurant and you are getting so much more in terms of food quality plus the overall dining experience and atmosphere of the restaurant. If you are looking for an even cheaper option, the restaurant also features a bar at which you can sit and order off the regular menu. One possibility for a quick and fairly cheap lunch for two people would be to sit at the bar and order a couple of appetizers. The Beer Battered Onion Rings could easily serve two for $7.99 and the menu features several other affordable appetizer options as well. If you are still hungry, consider splitting a dessert, such as Dad’s Brownie Sundae, which is absolutely huge and also a good value at $5.99.

The Overall Experience:
When it comes to theming and creating an overall sense of immersion, the 50’s Prime Time Café is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Disney World. It is a dining experience unlike any other. While the food may be a far cry from gourmet, it is still of a very high quality. But, this is a restaurant where the food may not even be the most important aspect. An extremely dedicated and passionate group of cast members who deliver service that is both fun and entertaining, great attention to the smallest of details, and a unique back-story all combine to make dining at 50’s Prime Time truly unforgettable. I highly recommend this restaurant for everyone, but especially families traveling with children because not only do you get a good, old-fashion, home-cooked meal at an affordable price but you also have a lot of fun doing it.

Ohana

Disney’s Polynesian Resort has several appealing dining options and even if you are not staying at the resort it is still definitely worth the visit to go to these restaurants. The Kona Café is widely known for its Tonga Toast and Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes for breakfast, but also offers lunch and dinner menus featuring a more elegant spin on south-seas cuisine. Captain Cook’s may only be a counter service restaurant but it also features some unique offerings that you cannot find at other resort quick-service locations. Not to be overlooked, the Spirit of Aloha Polynesian Luau offers an all-you-care-to-eat feast paired with traditional south-seas music and entertainment. Lastly, there is the restaurant that may receive more hype than any other in Disney World: Ohana. I had never eaten at Ohana before, but I had certainly heard a lot about it with many people saying that it is their favorite restaurant in all of Disney World and that they go there every time they visit. For this reason, my expectations were extremely high when I went here, and I am pleased to say that it more than lived up to them. Ohana is definitely a restaurant not to be missed and it offers a dining experience unlike any other and one that is quintessentially Disney.



Overview:
Ohana is extremely popular, for both breakfast and dinner (the restaurant does not offer lunch), and it is thus very important to make reservations well in advance if you want to dine here. In Hawaiian the word “ohana” mean family and that is a central theme for what the dining experience here is all about. Both breakfast and dinner are served family-style and are all-you-care-to-eat. While this restaurant will certainly appeal to everyone, it is especially good for those families with younger children. Breakfast features the characters Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and Pluto who visit each table for pictures and autographs. Although dinner is character-free, it does feature live entertainment and other activities for kids to participate in. Disney is a company which prides itself in providing something for every member of the family, whether boy or girl, old or young. At its core, this is what Disney World is all about. Walt Disney himself once said, “The important thing is family. If you can keep the family together, that’s what we hope to do.” Ohana is a restaurant which truly lives up to this Disney legacy, offering an experience that helps to bring families together to have a good time and enjoy a good meal.

Atmosphere:
In keeping with the family-oriented nature of the restaurant, Ohana has a laid-back and casual atmosphere. It is no surprise that the restaurant has a south-seas flare, but in a way that is more subtle and subdued in its island décor rather than over-the-top. While it does feature carved tiki statues and thatched roofs, the rest of the restaurant’s décor is fairly simple.





That being said, Ohana has a certain exotic quality and an authenticity that makes you feel as though you are dining in some faraway Polynesian locale. One of the most notable features of the restaurant is the open fire pit where you are able to watch the chefs grilling the various meat skewers that will be served for your main course. The fire, smoke, and amazing aroma coming from the grill provides some added flare and excitement to the dining experience.







Overall the restaurant has a very open feel, thanks in large part to the fact that it is basically comprised of just one large dining room. Also adding to this sense of openness are the large windows along the perimeter of the restaurant that afford spectacular views of the resort’s pool area and beyond to the Seven Seas Lagoon and even a distant glimpse of the Magic Kingdom. The windows let in plenty of light, but as you move to tables further away from them the restaurant takes on a slightly darker feel (as is also the case once the sun goes down). Next time I go I will definitely make sure to request a table by the window because the view is definitely one of the main allures of the restaurant’s atmosphere.



Another important component of Ohana’s authentic south-seas feel is its live entertainment. Throughout the night an entertainer wanders through the restaurant singing and playing songs on his ukulele, teaching guests different Hawaiian words and phrases, and playing games with the children such as limbo and coconut races. I felt that this entertainment really gave the restaurant a more festive atmosphere and allowed for the kids to have some fun during the meal. It should be noted, however, that because of all the singing and activities going on during the course of the meal the restaurant can get a little noisy, especially when it is very crowded. If you are looking for a quiet and romantic night out this might not be the restaurant for you, but if you are looking to have a good time with your entire family then Ohana is a great option.

The Menu:
Before talking about the food I would first like to sound this warning: whenever dining at Ohana the most important thing you should remember is to PACE YOURSELF. I can best describe dinner at Ohana in three ways: it features a prix fixe menu including a salad, appetizers, entrée, and dessert; the food is served family style and is all-you-care-to-eat; and you will most definitely get a lot of food.

The meal starts with Welcome Bread, which was unlike any other bread I have had before. It was served warm, soft, and was light in texture. The bread had a slight flavor of coconut and pineapple, but was not too strong. There was enough flavor, however, that you do not even need to put any butter on the bread. As a bread lover I think I could have eaten a whole loaf myself, but its important to know that there is still a lot more food to come.



Along with the Welcome Bread was a Mixed Greens Salad with a Honey-Lime Dressing. The salad was very fresh and the dressing was light and very flavorful. The flavors of the honey and lime complimented each other extremely well in a way that was neither too sweet nor to sour. It was a very refreshing way to start the meal.



Next came the appetizer items that included Pork Dumplings with a Sweet-and-Sour Sauce as well as Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings. Of the two, the dumplings were definitely my favorite. They were served slightly crispy on the edges but still soft on the inside and the pork filling was seasoned just enough to give the dumplings an added kick but without being too overpowering. The sweet-and-sour sauce that topped the dumplings added a little extra flavor and complimented them very well. The chicken wings were also very good, but I think they would have been even better if they had been served crispier as I found them to be a little too soft for my personal taste. The sauce that topped the wings was mild and had a slightly sweet flavor, which provided a good contrast to the slight spiciness of the Pork Dumplings. The wings also came topped with sesame seeds and, although they added a little extra texture, I could have done without them and actually ended up scraping them off.





Then came the entrée, and by this point the amount of food was just staggering and it seemed as though it just kept coming with no end in sight. First came Noodles that were tossed in a teriyaki sauce along with Stir-Fried Vegetables. The noodles were actually one of my favorite parts of the meal and had a surprisingly sweet flavor. The light taste and texture of the noodles served as a perfect accompaniment to the rest of the entrée. The vegetables likewise went along very well with the rest of the main course, but were served a little too undercooked for my liking.





The main feature of the entrée is the meat skewers which have been cooked over the open fire. They included Chicken, Pork Loin, and Sirloin Steak. Along with these skewers also came Grilled Peel-and-Eat Shrimp. Each of the skewered items was grilled to perfection and slightly charred just enough to add some extra flavor to the meat. The chicken, pork, and steak were also very tender and not fatty at all. Each of these grilled items was very flavorful and well-seasoned. They had enough flavor on their own that I did not even use any of the dipping sauces that were provided. While the grilled meats each had a little kick, it was the shrimp that were by far the spiciest of all. Even though the shrimp were really good and had a lot of flavor, I would have enjoyed them even more if they did not have shells on them. In fact, the shells were not even split which made them even more difficult to remove.



Overall, what I most enjoyed about the meal was that it offered a wide variety of different flavors that both complimented and contrasted each other very well. There was a good balance of both sweet and spicy flavors along with some items that were light in flavor and texture while others were stronger and heavier in taste.

As if that was not enough food, then came the dessert which is considered one of Ohana’s signature items: Bread Pudding a la mode with a Banana-Caramel Sauce. This is why it is very important to save some room while you are eating your appetizers and main course because this dessert is one not to be missed. The bread pudding is extremely sweet and rich in flavor and is also very filling (just in case you are not full enough already). There was just enough banana flavor to notice that it was there, but not so much that it overpowered everything else. The vanilla ice cream served on top was very refreshing and complimented the bread pudding and banana-caramel sauce very well.



Even though the bread pudding was very good, I could not help but compare it to the bread pudding at Raglan Road. Having now partaken of both bread puddings I would give the edge to Raglan Road in large part to the fact that it is made fresh when you order it and is served piping hot. At Ohana, I could tell that they must have prepared a large batch of bread pudding in advance in order to be able to serve it quickly. At the same time, however, Ohana presents a different spin on bread pudding (with the banana-caramel sauce) that makes it unique from that of Raglan Road.

Service:
My only complaint about Ohana was that the meal was too fast-paced. Everything just felt very rushed and you hardly had time to finish one course before the next course was brought out. Adding to this was the fact that the servers kept bringing out the additional courses of food without clearing the previous courses, which meant that the table quickly became cluttered with a wide assortment of dishes. The fast pace of the meal is most likely due to the vast popularity of the restaurant. The servers need to bring out the food quickly so they can get the tables turned over quickly in order to get more parties seated. Even though the meal was extremely good, it would have been nice to have some time to relax and digest between courses rather then getting bombarded with one thing right after another. On a positive note, the servers were extremely good about continually bringing over more food. As soon as a bowl of noodles or vegetables became empty, they were right there with another bowl. The servers actually give you so much food when they initially bring out the entrees that there is little need for second helpings.

Dining on a Budget:
Ohana is not cheap. However, I still believe that you get good value for your money based on the quality of food and the amount of food that you get. If you are not necessarily a big eater or if family-style/buffet meals do not really appeal to you, then you might get better value for your money somewhere else. At $34.99, Ohana is comparable in price to many of the dinner buffets found on property, such as Chef Mickey’s ($34) or Crystal Palace ($32.99), but it does offer a dining experience which is far more unique and exciting than those found in these other restaurants. Therefore, while it may not be the best choice if you are looking to save some money, it does offer you a good bang-for-your-buck.

The Overall Experience:
Even though this was my first time dining at Ohana, it has already become one of my favorite restaurants in all of Disney World. Once you get past the fast-paced nature of the meal, everything else about the dining experience is top-notch. An “experience” is truly an apt word to describe Ohana because it is more than just a restaurant, but rather a little taste of the south-seas in the middle of Florida. The atmosphere, live music and entertainment, and vast amounts of food all combine to create a level of authenticity and immersion that is what you come to expect when dining at a Disney restaurant and one that is truly unique in all of Disney World. As its name suggests, Ohana is a great restaurant for the entire family where you can go not only for an exceptional meal, but also to have fun.

Raglan Road

Ever since all of the clubs on Pleasure Island closed their doors for the last time, the area has become somewhat forgotten and overlooked by many guests visiting Downtown Disney. However, Raglan Road proves that there is still some life left on Pleasure Island and offers a dining experience geared more towards adults. With its pub-like atmosphere featuring live music and step dancing Monday thru Thursday from 7pm to midnight as well as Friday and Saturday from 8pm to 1am, dining at Raglan Road is about more than just the food and offers a setting where adults can relax and have a good time at night. Whether just stopping by the bar for a pint or having a full meal, Raglan Road offers a fun and lively dining experience that is just like a little bit of Ireland in the middle of Disney World.



Overview:
Raglan Road is actually the name of an Irish song which combines Patrick Kavanagh’s poem “Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away” with the traditional Irish tune “The Dawning of the Day.” Since it was first recorded in the 1960s, “Raglan Road” has become an extremely popular song and has been performed by many famous Irish singers, including Van Morrison and Bono. With a name based on an Irish song, it comes as no surprise that Irish music is a theme carried throughout the restaurant. Equally as interesting as the origin of the restaurant’s name is the resume of its head chef, who has cooked for many famous celebrities, most notably Queen Elizabeth and U2. Raglan Road offers a true, authentic Irish experience rather than one that is idealized or cliché (you will not find any shamrocks or leprechauns here) and even the restaurant’s logo is based on a traditional Irish motif. The logo is a symbol is known as a triskele, composed of three interlocking spirals representing the ancient Celtic concept of the interrelation between earth, water, and sky. This is but one example of the level of authenticity prevalent throughout the restaurant.



Atmosphere:
As soon as you step inside Raglan Road you feel as though you have been transported to Ireland thanks to a level of detail and authenticity you expect from restaurants at Disney World (although it should be noted that Raglan Road is not owned by Disney but is a third-party establishment). One of the most notable features when you enter is the massive bar, which is 130 years old and was actually transported to Florida from Ireland.



The antique quality of the bar helps set the tone for the rest of the restaurant’s old-world feel. Although the main dining room is a large, open space, it has a rather dark and intimate feel due to its stained glass windows and dark-wood tables, chairs, and floor.



At the center of this main dining area is a raised platform used at night by the step dancer and along one of the walls by the fireplace is a small stage where the live band performs.



Off to the sides of the central dining area are two additional dining rooms. Although these rooms have windows that allow for more natural light, the wood-paneled walls help maintain the cozy, pub-like feel throughout the restaurant.



For those of you that like to dine al fresco, Raglan Road does offer an outside seating area as well, although you do not really get the same authentic Irish experience as you do when eating inside.



Overall, the restaurant has a very casual, laid-back feel, but this does not come at the expense of great details in the décor. The prevailing theme that is carried throughout the restaurant is Irish music, with the walls adorned with paintings, portraits, and pictures of various Irish bands and singers. Adding to the authenticity are large glass cabinets filled with a plethora of musical memorabilia ranging from records to sheet music to fiddles, banjos, and other instruments. While this musical theming is not over the top, there is just enough to give the restaurant a cohesive feel and also gives it’s a more immersive quality.





It should be noted that depending on what time of day you choose to dine at Raglan Road you will encounter a different type of atmosphere. If you are looking for a more quiet meal I would definitely recommend going for lunch as you can normally walk in without having a reservation and have the restaurant largely to yourself. Dinner offers a louder and much more raucous, party-like atmosphere, especially with the live entertainment and the bar packed with patrons. If dining here with children lunch would definitely be the way to go, while dinner offers a good alternative for adults who want to have a night out on their own.

The Menu:
It should be noted that Raglan Road features a different menu for both lunch and dinner and while there are some items that are found on both, there are others that are exclusive to either one or the other. In general, the lunch menu is cheaper (even with items found on both the lunch and dinner menu) and offers more in the way of lighter offerings such as salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads.

Appetizers on the lunch and dinner menu are largely similar. Some of the highlights are the Scallop Forest, battered scallops served with a citrus lime dipping sauce and sweet chili jam, and the Dalkey Duo Sausages, which are lightly battered and served with mustard. Other appetizers include the Calamari City, which comes with mixed tempura vegetables and a spicy remoulade, as well as the Sweet & Spicy Guinness Glazed Wings tossed in a Guinness barbeque sauce and served with an herb ranch dressing.

The lunch menu features a wide array of salads to choose from, such as the Smoked Salmon Salad tossed in a citrus vinaigrette with pickled cucumbers and chive dressing, the Warm Goat Cheese Salad served with berry compote and walnuts, the Citrus Salmon Salad topped with toasted almonds and a herb citrus dressing, and the Cashel Bleu Cheese Salad with caramelized pecans, fresh raspberries, crispy prosciutto, and tomatoes with mixed greens and a raspberry vinaigrette. The sandwich selections are equally as diverse ranging from a Prosciutto & Chicken Sandwich, served with Dubliner cheese, lettuce, tomato, and herb aioli, to a Lobster Club with a lobster and avocado salad, crispy prosciutto, watercress, and citrus herb mayonnaise, and even an Irish Meatball Sandwich featuring Guinness meatballs in a red wine tomato sauce with Parmesan cheese. My server also noted that the Fada Burger with tomato chutney, Irish bacon, and Dubliner cheddar cheese was one of the more popular items on the lunch menu.

Just recently the lunch menu was expanded to include new Stone Breads (freshly baked flatbreads) and there are several to choose from. The Sliced Banger is topped with Guinness and onion infused pork sausage, caramelized red onion, grape tomatoes and Dubliner cheese while the Peppers & Goat Cheese features roasted baby peppers, goat cheese, and grape tomatoes. There is also the Salmon & Goat Cheese, which includes salmon, goats cheese, grape tomatoes, chive dressing, and watercress, as well as the Irish Bacon & Cabbage with honey and whiskey-glazed Irish bacon, sautéed cabbage, Dubliner cheddar cheese, and diced fried tomatoes.

For those looking for something a little more substantial than a salad, sandwich, or flatbread, the lunch menu also includes several traditional Irish favorites such as Sheppard’s Pie, Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mashed, Irish Stew, and Chicken & Wild Mushroom Pie. It should be noted that all of these items are also featured on the dinner menu but are more expensive.

Some items that are exclusive to the dinner menu include the It's Not Bleedin' Chowder with potatoes, mussels, prawns, scallops and fresh seafood infused with white wine and cream. Other dishes featured on the dinner menu are the Serious Sirloin Steak topped with Irish whiskey glaze, drizzled with basil oil, and served with mashed potatoes and crispy fried onion strings, the Mighty Mixed Grill which includes lamb cutlet, Guinness banger, sirloin steak, black pudding, chicken drumstick, and bacon, and Kevin's Ham, which is an Irish Mist glazed loin of bacon with cabbage and an apple potato cake.

For my meal I started with the Baby Back Guinness Ribs appetizer. These were unlike any other baby back ribs that I have ever had. The distinguishing feature of the ribs themselves is that they are so light and are served slightly crispy. I can best describe it as having the same texture as you would expect from a chicken wing. They are also extremely tender and not fatty at all. What really makes the ribs is the Guinness sauce which is very light and slightly sweet in flavor. There is a definite hint of Guinness flavor but it is not overpowering; it compliments the ribs extremely well. This was actually a perfect way to start a meal because it was a fairly light appetizer, but the portion size is large enough that it could be a meal unto itself.



For my entrée I went with the Fish & Chips. Being from New England where seafood is abundant, I have tried many different versions of Fish & Chips, but I can say that the ones at Raglan Road are some of the best I have ever tasted. The batter is very light in flavor with just the slightest hint of beer so that it is noticeable but does not take away from or overpower the flavor of the fish. The fish was perfectly fried so that the batter was crispy (but not overly so) on the outside and the fish was still light and flaky on the inside. The chips (fries) were thick-cut but I would have preferred it if they had been served a little more crispy. Also, there is no need to add salt to the fries as they came served with enough salt already on them. The tartar sauce that accompanies the fish is freshly made, very creamy, and thick and rich in flavor, providing the perfect compliment to the light-tasting fish.



For dessert I wanted to try something a little different so I decided on the Bailey’s Brulee Tart, an Irish spin on the traditional crème brulee. When it was served it looked more like a slice of cheesecake than crème brulee. The custard is far thicker and a little firmer than what you would typically find in crème brulee, but it still comes topped with the traditional layer of caramelized sugar. This is a very light, smooth, and creamy dessert and while it has a slight hint of Bailey’s flavor it is not too overpowering. I am not usually a big fan of crème brulee, but I thought this dessert was very good.



No review of Raglan Road would be complete without talking about my favorite dessert in all of Disney World, Ger’s Bread & Butter Pudding. If you are a fan of bread pudding (and even if you are not) this is definitely a dessert that you need to try. It is unlike any other bread pudding that I have ever had. First of all the dessert is absolutely huge and could easily be a meal by itself. It comes served piping hot in a large coffee mug accompanied by butterscotch and vanilla sauces which you can add on top to suit you own taste. Both of the sauces compliment the flavor of the bread pudding extremely well while at the same time enhancing its flavor and adding a little sweetness to the dessert. This dessert is extremely rich and very filling, but you will definitely savor each and every bite.



Service:
In keeping with the pub-like atmosphere of the restaurant, I found the service to be very laid back and casual, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. My server was very conversational, and not just limited to offering advice about different items on the menu. I was wearing a Washington Nationals baseball cap and we struck up a conversation about baseball and Washington DC and when he found out I am a cast member we talked about what it is like working for Disney. I did notice that all the servers in the restaurant really try to push the alcohol, especially the numerous type of Irish beer they offer. This is due primarily to the pub-like nature of the restaurant. Overall, the meal progressed at a relaxed and leisurely pace, not too slow but just enough time between courses to digest your food a little. If you are looking for a quick meal, however, this may not necessarily be the best place for you.

Dining on a Budget:
If you are looking to save some money I would definitely recommend going to Raglan Road for lunch instead of dinner. As noted early, several of the items found on both the lunch and dinner menus are actually much cheaper for lunch. For example, Fish & Chips for lunch will cost you $16, but for dinner the price goes up to $19. Similar price increases can be seen with the Sheppard’s Pie ($15 for lunch and $18 for dinner) and the Irish Stew ($14 for lunch and $17 for dinner). If you are looking for a cheaper option for lunch, the Stone Breads are just $12 each but still offer a good-sized portion. Also, the Guinness Baby Back Rib appetizer is easily big enough to be an entrée and is a good value at $13. Another option would be to just get a Soup of the Day, a Mixed Green Salad, or a Caesar Salad appetizer for just $5 and save plenty of room for the Bread & Butter Pudding for dessert. The bread pudding is large enough that you would still leave the restaurant completely satisfied.

The Overall Experience:
Raglan Road has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants at Downtown Disney because it offers a dining experience that is truly authentic. Everything about the restaurant, from the pub-like atmosphere to the live entertainment at night to the traditional Irish foods found on the menu, all makes you feel as though you have been transported to Ireland. The restaurant offers everything you would expect when dining at Disney, a well detailed décor with subtle yet immersive theming, great food in terms of both quantity and quality, and extremely friendly service. I highly recommend this restaurant for everyone, but especially for those adults who may be looking for a night out on their own away from the kids. Nighttime at Raglan Road offers a fun and exciting atmosphere where adults can relax, have a good time, and enjoy a good drink and a good meal. This is also a great restaurant for anyone looking to try food that is a little different from what we are normally used to eating, a little taste of Ireland in the middle of Disney World.

Via Napoli

Disney certainly does not lack in restaurants offering Italian cuisine. Tony’s Town Square in the Magic Kingdom, Tutto Italia in Epcot, Mama Melrose at the Hollywood Studios, Portobello Restaurant in Downtown Disney, and Il Mulino at the Swan Resort all offer compelling options for those diners craving a good Italian meal and each providing their own unique spin on many classic Italian dishes. What Disney World has been missing over the years, however, is a restaurant that specializes in serving true, authentic Italian-style pizza. The opening of Via Napoli in Epcot’s World Showcase has now changed that in a resounding way. I had the good fortune to dine at Via Napoli on the first day it was opened to the public and I can already tell that it is going to be a very successful and popular restaurant among Disney guests.



Overview:
As you enter Italy in World Showcase, the striking façade of Via Napoli is prominently featured at the rear of the pavilion. The structure adds much needed depth to the pavilion and its intricate architectural and artistic details greatly enhance the overall theming and sense of immersion.











The opening of Via Napoli means that the Italian pavilion has two sit down restaurants located right next to each other, but they each offer a truly unique dining experience. You could eat at Via Napoli one night and come back to eat at Tutto Italia the next night because the two offer striking contrasts in terms of menu selections, atmosphere, and the overall feel of the restaurants. In this way, I think that the two restaurants compliment each other very well because they both help to showcase the wide array of cuisine found in Italy. Via Napoli is more than your ordinary, run-of-the-mill pizzeria. Just as with restaurants found all across Disney World (and especially World Showcase in Epcot), dining at Via Napoli is about more than just the food but rather is a complete dining experience. Yes, the food plays a major role, but there are many other factors that contribute to make this restaurant what it is and in every way Via Napoli lives up to the high standards that guests come to expect when they dine at a Disney restaurant.

Atmosphere:
Upon entering Via Napoli one can immediately begin to notice differences between it and Tutto Italia. Overall, the restaurant has a much more casual, family-friendly feel. The atmosphere is very bright, very open, and the dining area is just one big room. The restaurant features plenty of large windows that allow in a lot of natural light and its high cathedral ceilings add to this sense of openness. This offers a definite alternative to Tutto Italia’s more intimate and refined setting. It is very clear to see that Via Napoli is more geared toward families, and for this reason I think that the restaurant is going to be extremely popular. One slight problem that I did see was with the acoustics as the high ceilings seemed to amplify the sound of everyone talking making it a little noisy inside, but nothing too unmanageable. I actually thought that the noise level gave the restaurant a bit of energy and buzz that made it feel more like an authentic Italian pizzeria.







There is plenty of seating to be found in the restaurant, although the tables are a little close to one another. One interesting feature of the dining room was a large banquet-style table located in the center of the restaurant that could sit multiple families. There is also an outdoor seating area with quite a few tables. This area also has ceiling fans which diners will definitely appreciate during the hot summer months.





The décor of the restaurant is fairly simple and subdued, but still features several nice little details that add to the restaurant’s overall theming. The back wall of the restaurant features posters highlighting different Italian cities while another wall is entirely covered by a huge mural depicting a garden with images of flowers and trees. Overall, the atmosphere of Via Napoli is much more vibrant and colorful than that of Tutto Italia, a color scheme that is even carried to the costumes worn by the restaurant’s servers.

The most noticeable feature of Via Napoli, however, is its open kitchen and three wood-burning ovens. The ovens are named after the three active volcanoes found in Italy (Etna, Vesuvius, and Stromboli) and each featuring their own unique face. For me this was the highlight of the restaurant and a great example of the type of detail that makes Disney dining truly special. It would have been very simple to have just ordinary wood-burning ovens, but Disney went above and beyond to greatly enhance the level of detail and the overall theme of the restaurant and created something the likes of which you have never seen before. The ability to see the chefs preparing the pizzas also helped add to the sense of immersion and authenticity in the dining experience; it was like something you would expect to see when actually dining in Italy. The next time I eat here I am definitely going to request a table closer to the kitchen just to be closer to all the action and activity that is going on there.









The Menu:
Although Via Napoli has received a tremendous amount of hype for its pizza, the menu actually features a wide variety of different offerings. Although the prices are not cheap, all of the food that I saw being served appeared to be of the highest quality and portion sizes that were very generous. Since Via Napoli is a new restaurant that most people have yet to experience, I will take some time to look at the menu in its entirety.

Appetizers feature Italian standards such as Fried Calamari served with a spicy tomato sauce, Minestrone Soup, and Arancini, which are fired risotto balls filled with mozzarella and meat ragu. Other appetizer items include Caponata alla Siciliana, an eggplant salad with olives, capers, tomatoes, and raisins, as well as Insalate del Contadino, an array of fresh greens, fagiolini, fennel, radish, tomatoes, and a red wine vinaigrette. Another larger appetizer that can be split by the entire table is the Frito Misto that includes an assortment of fried vegetables, fish, and cheese.

Entrees of the non-pizza variety include Italian classics such as Eggplant and Chicken Parmesan, both of which are served with spaghetti. There are also two baked pasta dishes which are cooked in the wood-burning ovens. The Lasagna Verde features spinach, parmesan cheese, and besciamella while the Candele is candle-stick pasta with sausage ragu, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese. Other pasta dishes include Mafaldine Amatriciana, which is ribbon pasta with guanciale and pomodoro sauce finished with pecorino cheese, Spaghetti e Polpettini featuring veal meatballs and tomato sauce, and Fusilloni Trapanese, which is large corkscrew pasta tossed with tomatoes, almonds, and basil.

For those looking for something a little lighter there are several entrée salads to choose from. The Calamari salad features fried calamari, arugula, carrots, and fennel topped with an orange vinaigrette. The Pollo salad comes with chopped lemon chicken, romaine, cantaloupe, cucumber, red pepper, green beans, vidalia onion, almonds, pasta crisps, and a honey-citrus dressing. Lastly, the Bistecca salad is topped with grilled steak, watercress, tomato, red onion, gorgonzola, apple, cucumber, and a red wine-mustard vinaigrette.

Dining at Via Napoli it is clear to see that the pizza is going to be the most popular item of choice on the menu. While I was there it was not a stretch to say that about nine out of every ten people in the restaurant had ordered a pizza. Fortunately the menu features a wide assortment of different pizzas to choose from. What I found interesting was that all the pizzas were the same price regardless of the toppings that were on them. What makes the pizzas so special is the quality of the ingredients being used. The flour for the dough is imported from Naples, the mozzarella is handmade, and the water comes from wells identical to the water found in Naples. So while the pizza prices may appear to be expensive, you definitely get what you pay for. The pizza comes in three sizes: individual, large, and a half-meter. Below are the nine pizzas featured on the menu:



For those with a sweet tooth, the menu also features several delectable desserts ranging from the classic Tiramisu to more unique desserts such as the Coppa Di Brutti Ma Buoni, which is an amarena cherry and vanilla gelato sundae with cookies. Dessert options also include Torta di Sarena, an apple cake with almond sorbetto, as well as Zeppole di Catarina, which are ricotta cheese fritters topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

For my meal I decided to try the Calamari Pizza, topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, fried calamari, arugula, and fennel. The pizza was a thin-crust just like what you would expect if you ordered a pizza in Italy, but not paper thin. It was cooked perfectly in the wood-burning ovens, slightly charred just enough to add a little extra flavor. The dough itself was very light in flavor and texture, and although it was crispy on the outside it was still nice and soft on the inside. The tomato sauce is very light and fresh, and the pizza is not too saucy at all. The calamari was fried and perfectly tender. I was pleasantly surprised at how much of it was actually on top of the pizza. My only complaint was that there was a little too much arugula on top of the pizza for my taste, but this could be easily picked off. What I liked most about the pizza was how well all the ingredient blended together, with no one flavor really overpowering the others. To top it all off, the portion size was absolutely huge; I ordered the individual pizza but could only finish half. It would not be a stretch to say that this was one of the best pizzas I have ever had.



Service:
I found the service at Via Napoli to be very good. My server was very friendly and took time to explain several of the items found on the menu. Since the restaurant is new and I had never eaten there before, I had quite a few questions about different things on the menu in general and certain dishes in particular and my server was able to aptly answer all of them. I could tell that the entire wait staff was very excited to be a part of the opening of this new restaurant and there was definitely a great amount of energy and enthusiasm about them. I was also pleased to see that the chefs preparing the pizzas in the open kitchen did not mind you watching them (or even taking pictures) and I actually was able to talk with one of them for a few minutes. Being a brand new restaurant, several members of the management team were also on hand and they asked me several questions about my dining experience really trying to see in what areas they could improve. For a restaurant that had just opened, I was extremely impressed at how smoothly everything was running.

Dining on a Budget:
If you are dining on a budget this might not necessarily be the restaurant for you, but since you are on vacation it is okay to splurge every once and a while. Even though the prices on the menu are a little expensive, you have to remember that you are truly getting what you pay for in terms of both quality and quantity. Yes, sixteen dollars for an individual pizza is a lot, but this is not Dominos or Pizza Hut. My best advice if you are dining with a larger group of people, the larger the pizza the better the value becomes. The largest, half-meter pizza is absolutely huge and could easily feed four to five people. If you are dining with two people and looking to save a little money, my best advice would be to order an appetizer or two and then split an individual size pizza. If you are still hungry after that you could then get a dessert to split. Also, the menu is the same for both lunch and dinner and thus it is the same prices regardless of what time of day you eat there.

Overall Experience:
I was very impressed by Via Napoli and will definitely be eating there again. With so many different items on the menu it offers the opportunity to try something different each time you, and not just pizza but also their wide variety of pasta dishes as well. My only regret is that the restaurant does not also feature a quick-service, walk-up window serving pizza by the slice that would offer a quick and affordable alternative to the table-service restaurant inside. That being said, I forsee this restaurant being very popular, especially among families, because of its menu and the fact that it offers a more casual dining experience than that of Tutto Italia. At the same time, I do not think that the opening of Via Napoli will hurt Tutto Italia just because the two restaurants are just so different from each other. The future success of Via Napoli rests on the fact that the restaurant lives up to the high standards that everyone expects from a Disney restaurant. High quality food, great service, as well as an immersive and authentically Italian atmosphere all combine to create a unique and unforgettable dining experience that is quintessentially Disney.