During each visit to Disney World I try to experience new things. I like to make reservations at restaurants that I have never been to before. It’s fun to experience new things each trip!
One of the new restaurants I tried during this latest trip was suggested by Maureen, my friend and Main Street Wishes contributor. She hadn’t been to the restaurant in years and I had never been, so it was an easy decision to make a reservation there. We really enjoyed our experience at The Garden Grill for multiple reasons, which are discussed below.
The Garden Grill Review
General Info
- Location: The Land Pavilion in Epcot
- Type of Restaurant: Table Service with Family Style Dining
- Dining Plan Accepted: Yes
- Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Ambiance
The atmosphere of the restaurant is pretty cool. The restaurant rotates, so the atmosphere is changing as the restaurant rotates. During your meal you will move past different scenes from the Living with the Land ride that is on the floor below.
There are two levels to the restaurants for seating. The first level has booth seating while the upper level has tables and chairs for seating. There is a low wall in between the two levels, but we could still see the changing scenery from the second level. We did notice families with little kids were requesting the booth seating so the kids could see the different scenes as the restaurant moved. I probably would have done the same thing if my kids had been with me.
When we first arrived at our table the plates and bowls had been set up to look like Mickey Mouse. So that was a fun start to our meal!
The Food
The food at The Garden Grill is served family style, which means they bring out big bowls of salad, mac and cheese, fries, and a big skillet of meat and vegetables for the table to share.
Here is what is on the menu:
- Harvest-inspired Farmer’s Salad
- Sliced Turkey
- Home-style Pot Roast
- Italian Sausage with Sautéed Peppers and Onions
- Garden Fresh Vegetables
- Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
- Bacon and Leek Stuffing
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Short Cake
I really enjoyed the pot roast and the mashed potatoes. We didn’t touch the macaroni and cheese (it came on a platter with french fries), but I know my kids would have loved that platter! There was so much food.
They also have a selection of drinks, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic. I had the frozen lemonade and it was very good.
Since the chefs use food grown in the greenhouses there they sometimes come up with other dishes for guests to try. When Maureen and I ate at The Garden Grill the chef had extra spinach, so he made a chicken and spinach dip for the tables. The dip tasted fresh and it was so good!
Character Interaction
This dining experience is a character dining experience and it’s one of the best ones that I have experienced. During your meal you will get to see Chip, Dale, Mickey and Pluto. Some other character dining experiences feel a little rushed when the characters come to your table, but it was not like that at The Garden Grill. Each character passed by our table 3 or 4 times! I’m sure it varies, depending on how busy it is, but I have never had a character dining experience where the characters stop by that much, regardless of how busy it is.
Cast Member Interaction
Our experience with every cast member at this restaurant was very positive. Oskar was the cast member who helped us at our table and he was very friendly. He made us feel welcome and he was attentive to our table. Cast members are a big part of the experience at Disney restaurants and Oskar definitely helped with our positive experience at The Garden Grill.
The Cost
Ages 10 and up: Just under $50
Ages 3 – 9: Just under $30
For what lunch costs vs. what you get, I think this lunch is worth the cost. Between the food, the character interaction, and the cast members, this was a great dining experience. Sometimes the dining experiences don’t feel up to Disney standards, but this experience definitely felt like you were getting the Disney treatment.
We were on the dining plan, so we didn’t pay out of pocket, but we did have to use a dining credit each for the meal. Again, for the experience you get, I think it was worth the dining credit. Plus, it’s a character dining experience and you only have to use one dining credit. Definitely worth it!
This came with our receipt. It’s good info to have, especially for those on the Disney Dining Plans.
Would I recommend this dining experience?
Absolutely. I think this is a great dining experience for kids and adults. This experience was just me and my friend, no kids, but we had a great time. However, I know if I go back with my husband and kids we will also have a good time. Mac & cheese and being able to see the Disney characters multiple times? You can’t go wrong with that combination where my kids are concerned!
Have you ever been to The Garden Grill?
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
I love the garden grill! We went to it this past trip with my wife and kids. It was awesome because it wasn’t very crowded and the characters were great. I know for sure we will be going back.
We also loved the garden grill.. we didn’t go on this past Christmas trip… but squeezed it in on our spring break trip in 2016. I would agree the food is plentiful and tasty… way too much for our family of four.. the characters are awesome! We even had acorn shaped cupcakes as it was Chip and Dale’s birthday celebration!! So much fun!!!
That’s awesome, Linda! It’s so much fun to be a part of celebrations like that in Disney. 🙂