What is the world's best theme park restaurant? We asked Theme Park Insider's readers that question, and today we are announcing the six finalists that topped the vote in our recent survey of newsletter subscribers.
Those six finalists will face off in a reader vote, starting today, for the 2021 Theme Park Insider Award for Best Restaurant. Your nominees, in alphabetical order, are:
Carthay Circle Restaurant, Disney California Adventure
Magellan's, Tokyo DisneySea
Mythos Restaurant, Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure
The Three Broomsticks, Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood
Tiffins, Walt Disney World's Disney's Animal Kingdom
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria, Walt Disney World's Epcot
Now it is time to vote... and campaign in the comments. We will announce the winner on January 1, 2021.
Of these, I have only been to Mythos, Tiffins, Three Broomsticks, and Via Napoli. All are excellent. But I must say, with the hype around Mythos our family's first trip there was somewhat of a letdown. The food did not match the price, in our humble opinion. Tiffins gets my vote!
@Will
While not my favorite I cannot deny that it was such a brilliant idea to incorporate the restaurant into the ride. I'm surprised that that concept hasn't been improved upon since.
I would also have to have SS Columbia on any list of my top 10 theme park restaurants.
I voted for Mythos from the get-go largely because I’ve always experienced great food and great service whenever I’ve been there, not to mention the atmosphere. I know that some of Disney’s restaurants are probably better overall, but the fact that I know I can always get a seat at Mythos without six months of advance planning is what puts it over the top for me.
While Mythos is not my favorite of the list, it has the most well-rounded menu, thus earning my vote.
Happy to say I've been to 4 of 6. Need to get to Tiffin's and Tokyo DisneySea. I'm a sucker for all things classic Hollywood, so Carthay Circle gets my vote. Love the downstairs lounge, too. Mythos, which I got to visit for the first time in February is a really interesting spot, while the food and Potter atmosphere of Three Broomsticks is amazing. Via Napoli, well, it's good, but nothing about it transports me to Italy.
I've eaten at all of these restaurants. None are as goof as Me Cellier at EPCPT.
Going to abstain from voting on this one. Have only been to three of these. My experience at Via Napoli was a bit of a letdown. And while I loved the atmosphere and service at Mythos, I can't say that I was amazed by the food - but it would probably get my vote from the choices. But, as I said, I've not had the opportunity to eat most of these, so I won't tilt the decision in any particular direction.
@TH Creative: Le Cellier has been one of my faves, arguably the best steaks in Orlando, let alone Disney World and lovely setting to boot. Surprised it didn't make the cut.
I’m bias to 3 Broomsticks: It’s my old venue(Have great memories there).
@MikeW - I'm with you and TH. I would love to have seen Le Cellier on the list. But having watched a bunch of Vlogs on "Dining in Disney World" it has a reputation of being inconsistent in terms of food quality and service.
I've never had a bad experience there, though. And I love the atmosphere.
Oops .. Not the TDS restaurant.
@B Goodwin: I'm surprised, every time I'm there, it's always top-notch. I know no one has a perfect record but never struck me as a place so inconsistent.
I've eaten at all and Carthay Circle is my absolute favorite. Magellan's is a close second. I agree that Le Cellier is too inconsistent to be considered a top restaurant. I have had some bad steaks there and that should never be the case at those prices.
I cannot vote as I am not a restaurant goer and only eaten at Broomsticks from the list.....and only once! That was not a good experience. The food was so basic, I prefer Mrs Plum's, on a bad day with limited ingredients. If people genuinely think that this food is quality then I will open up my own place serving staple mediocre UK fare. Every pub in Britain serves better food for a fraction of the price..........seriously!
Will the winner be the based on the theming or the food? If the food, the best one for me, and I haven't been to many as eating lavishly is not part of my itinerary, is La Hacienda at EPCOT, and we were fortunate enough to have a table facing the lagoon for IllumiNations. The food and service were 5/5.
I've been to all but one of the restaurants on this list, and for me it depends on what type of meal I'm looking for at a given time while in a theme park. If I was picking solely on the basis of value, Mythos would easily win. However, when the quality and diversity of the food is taken into account, Tiffins takes the top spot in my book. I really like Mythos' accessibility and seasonal menu items, but the menu's staples lack the ingenuity of Tiffins.
I am also a bit bummed to see Blue Bayou and LeCellier miss the cut here, but I would not put either of those ahead of Tiffins or Mythos. Blue Bayou is really good, but a bit old fashioned and stale compared to the more dynamic offerings of other theme park restaurants. LeCellier has become such a difficult reservation to get, and Disney has taken this demand to mean that they can increase prices well beyond reason for food that is ultimately not that much different from your average high-end Steak House (like Ruth's Chris or The Palm).
I don't think you can go wrong with many of the choices here, but I would lean towards Tiffins as the best in-park restaurant.
Is it okay if I say none of these? The best bang for your buck (along with your tastebuds) is to grab a frozen Butterbeer in Hogsmeade and walk back to the Lost Continent to grab the footlong hotdog as a pairing. Best meal at a Florida themepark right there.
I'm going with Magellan's here. I've been to all but one of the included restaurants. The meal at Magellan's was just delicious and the environment was so reminiscent of The Adventure's Club from Pleasure Island, it made me giggle inside.
What an interesting mix of restaurants! I am always intrigued by how different everyone’s experience can be. There are so many mentions of Le Cellier in the comments for example and that would be at the bottom of our family’s list! (Also someone mentioned Adventurers Club- awww, miss that place!! Kungaloosh! My absolute fave is Victoria & Albert’s.
This is a tough vote for me. I feel that the top two here are Mythos and Tiffins. Both are very similar in what they are trying to accomplish. My vote goes to Tiffins because it still stands with the best food and service I have ever gotten inside a theme park.
I am a big fan of Via Napoli too, but its just pizza. Very good pizza, but not as bold as Mythos or Tiffins.
@PinksWhirled - I think V&A's stands alone above anything here, but is not actually inside of a theme park, so probably wouldn't be qualified for this award.
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The Blue Bayou at Disneyland is probably my favorite. But I'll pick one of these.