Disney has a lot to offer the foodie in all of us.  There are a lot of really good restaurant.  But where should you look if all the top choices are taken?  What restaurants are out there that provide a good experience and have tables available on short notice or for larger groups?  Today’s article tries to answer those questions by focusing on the restaurants that are overlooked by a lot of travelers.  The restaurants are listed in no particular order and cover a wide range of cuisine and resort choices.

The Grand Floridian Cafe

The Grand Floridian Cafe has an excellent American cuisine menu.  The restaurant also gets overlooked by a lot of guests because of the other great restaurant choices (Citricos, Narcoosse’s, Victoria and Albert’s) at the Grand Floridan Resorts.  This does not mean that the Grand Floridian Cafe is a bad restaurant.  Quite the opposite, guests can get a quality meal at an affordable price (it is the least expensive of the Grand Floridian restaurants).  They can also get into the restaurant very easily.  Reservations do not need to be well in advance for the Grand Floridian Cafe – though I would suggest still making them.

A review of the Grand Floridian Cafe.

Olivia’s – Old Key West

This restaurant requires guests to make a trip out the Old Key West resort to enjoy one of the finer dining spots at Walt Disney World….Olivia’s Cafe.  Olivia’s is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  This article is going to focus on the lunch and dinner menu which features American cuisine with a southern emphasis.  Most of the lunch and dinner entrees are southern inspired dishes from along the Gulf Coast.

A full review of the restaurant can be found on my friend Lisa Green’s Blog – Living a Disney Life.

Crew’s Cup – Yacht Club

While not fully a restaurant, Crew’s Cup is the lounge area next to Yachtsman Steakhouse.  It is open for both lunch and dinner.  It has a smaller menu for lunch with mainly appetizers and sandwiches.  For dinner, the menu expands with a pan roasted chicken breast, New York strip steak, prime rib, and a pasta entree added to the menu.  Seating for this restaurant is first come/first serve and seating is also quite limited.  Seating several booths with some tables, in the middle, that can be pushed together for a larger group.  The food here whether waiting for your Yachtsman Steakhouse reservation or for a full meal is excellent.

Maya Grille – Coronado Springs

If you have a hankering for some Mexican cuisine and can’t get into either restaurant in the Mexico Pavilion, Maya Grille is the place for you.  Like Olivia’s, you will have to find your way out to the Coronado Springs resort to enjoy this fine restaurant.  It is overlooked by a lot of guests because it is not on the monorail loop or one of the EPCOT resorts.  The only way to get to the resort is by Disney bus, taxi, or your own car.  It is worth the trip.  Prices are reasonable and it is very easy to get a table.

You can read my full review of the restaurant – here.

Behind the Magic Podcast (5-26-15): http://traffic.libsyn.com/behindthemagic/Top_10_Top10.mp3

Thanks for reading!