Which 2 restaurants would you pick?

Walt Disney World Dining
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I’m planning a mom & daughter trip for 2025. The budget is a little tight (international travellers) so we will mostly eat/share QS meals. But I do want to book 1 or 2 special buffet/table service meals. She’s 15 and her range is ‘meat, carbs and desserts’. I’m more adventurous. We enjoy buffets (who doesn’t?) but are not interested in character dining. We’ve previously done Ohana and Akershus.

If you were ONLY allowed to choose 2 WDW sit down restaurants for your trip, that are good value and good quality, what would they be?

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I think San Angel Inn is a great sit-down for a decent price. Of course, you need to be in EPCOT to experience it. Just a fun environment and cool on a hot day. I think Sci-fi is also a pretty neat sit down in HS for a decent price. If non-park then Sanaa would pretty neat. Bread service is fun and not terribly pricey. Or you could go to Boma for the buffet side of it. So many choices…

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Are we restricted to any park(s)??

Do you have any places you’ve thought about, but are unsure??

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Steakhouse 71
and
Jiko

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Any parks, any resorts.
I was considering Boma because we do want to resort hop and AKL is on the to see list.
The other one is wide open.

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Thanks. Can I ask why Steakhouse 71? I’ve seen it highly recommended but it just seems so…steakhouse-y. :grin:

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One of my favorites is Sanaa, but I’m wondering how Indian fusion cuisine fits into this criterion? I am a picky eater and love it, but everyone is different.

Homecomin’ certainly fits.

Steakhouse 71 is one of my favorites, especially for lunch (I get the steak frites, which is not on the dinner menu).

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  1. Good location right next to MK – easy to break away from the parks for a relaxed meal.

  2. Great, high quality food. Some of my favorites appetizers, sides, and main courses.

  3. Not as expensive as some other similar quality options.

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You said meat and carbs and :person_shrugging:t4:

And it’s good meat and carbs and desserts!

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I’ll go with my picks by parks, a resort and Disney Springs.

I am considering that you said you need to be within a “budget” and that you have a teen that needs good “basic” food + I chose a “theme” place when possible. You may not “need” a character meal, but a “theme” always makes food taste better - IMHO!!

I live with two VERY picky eaters & go through this dilemma every trip!

MK - Liberty Tree Tavern…it’s a “meat, carbs, dessert” TS/buffet feast. You could eat a big lunch & then just snack the rest of the day!

EP - Teppan Edo… It’s good / basic hibachi food… meat & noodles + a show!

AK - None… If you don’t want a character meal at Tusker then IMHO there’s not much TS here for a ‘meat, carbs and desserts’ person. I can’t recommend Rain Forest Café and other options at AK I think are “adventurous”

DHS - 50’s Prime Time OR Woody’s Round-Up BBQ - Both are good and similarly priced

Resorts - Boma - There may be enough to please a picky eater & things you’ll like

Disney Springs - Homecookin’… All around good menu

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Woody’s Round up BBQ seems to fit her range well. I have not dined there, but will be in August. May be one to look into.

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Possibly one of the best experiences is an ADR at Tusker House for about 5 minutes before park closing.

There are great desserts, some sliced while you watch protein and grunches of interesting buffet dishes.

The restaurant is a bit more quiet at this time - the characters will stand and wave at you if that seems all you’re interested in.

We’ve had great CM interaction at this time.

And then, there’s the stroll out of an amazingly quiet, nearly empty of humans park. In summer, it’s almost dusk. In winter, pretty lights everywhere. :sparkles:

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I really wanted to put Tusker as my choice for AK. I’ve only done the character breakfast though. If it’s good at dinner, that would be my recommendation too!

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You’ll have to try it sometime.

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My 12 year old and I would do Homecomin’ and Toledo. If those were too far out of the way for us and we were looking for good in-park or close-to-park options, our second choices would be Skipper Canteen, SH71, and Flying Fish.

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Reading through this thread, it seems like you are looking for a non character buffet because you want other things besides steak but needs to meet the meat, potatoes, and carbs criteria!

Boma for breakfast meets all but dessert criteria.

Homecomin’ has huge portions but doesn’t meet the buffet preference.

My favorite buffet is Hollywood and Vine for lunch but it is a character meal. I’m a huge foodie. Its food is yummy. The craved meats are juicy, tasty, and tender. There’s carbs galore! And the desserts are good and not grocery store quality like some WDW buffets.

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Definitely nice vibes here! I wouldn’t say the food is the best, but it is still quite good …but it wins for atmosphere!

We did Sci-Fi this past March for the first time. We were shocked how good the food was, and the vibe was fun.

Our experience at S71 was not good. We were going to give them another chance this September, but we watched some food review vlogs, and their experience was quite the same as ours …steaks were not very good. In my case the steak was practically inedible, but the sides were amazing. But the vloggers felt the sides were inedible! So it seems they are quite inconsistent.

This was fine, but likely one and done for us.

We love going to Yak and Yeti if you like Pan-Asian food. Also second Homecomin’, as others suggested. Great food. But …we personally liked the chicken from Olivia’s even better than Homecomin’!

There is so much subjectivity to all this though.

ETA: we did Frontera Cocina for the first time in March…now that was a great meal! Highly recommend.

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It’s been a few years, but we loved Grand Floridian Cafe for lunch. Customer service was great and remember the food as being very high quality for the price. It was also nice to get away from the crowd at MK, only a short walk away.

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Adventurous buffet:
Tusker Horse or Boma!

Whispering Canyon Cafe

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We did this our last trip, and are planning on it again this year. Great value, food was great. Atmosphere was very nice…great break from the heat of the day at MK

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