Plaza Restaurant

Although we visit Walt Disney World resort frequently, we manage to keep each trip fresh by trying new restaurants and entertainment options. Most recently we paid a first visit to one of the Magic Kingdom’s most iconic eateries, The Plaza Restaurant. This American food restaurant is the cheapest and most casual of the park’s table service restaurants, but we were pleasantly surprised by the quality and overall enjoyment we found there.

Know Before You Go
Located at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., the Plaza Restaurant serves an identical menu for lunch and dinner. I believe you can also go in for just ice cream. Since the advent of the Disney Dining Plan, it is practically a necessity to have reservations for any table service meal unless you are visiting during the extreme off-season. We were able to snag our Plaza reservations the night before, but walk-up waits were running more than an hour on the evening we visited.

Seating for the Plaza Restaurant itself is indoors, but the tables outside provide an excellent vantage point for watching the evening parade either before or after your meal.

Atmosphere and Service
The restaurant’s interior is Victorian-inspired, with cast iron tables and chairs and mirrors throughout. This place is extremely bright even in the dark of night. I wouldn’t call it relaxing, exactly, but I would describe our time at the Plaza as “welcoming.” Theoretically some tables have a view of Cinderella castle, but the thoroughfare outside is bustling so you’ll mainly be people-watching.

Our server had a friendly, motherly way about her and was eager to make sure we enjoyed our experience. Despite the busy night, food and drink refills came promptly. I think this would be one of the better table service options for families traveling with children, as the pace of the meal moves more quickly than at most EPCOT or hotel-based eateries. That said, we certainly weren’t rushed, and mom and I lingered over our meal and dessert

The Food
The Plaza Restaurant is a relative bargain, and one of the few left for those not on the dining plan. Most meals are right around $10.00 while desserts range from about $3.00 to $5.00. A meal for two under $30.00 is practically unheard of at Disney so we appreciated this change of pace.

The food is simple, well-prepared fare. Some of the meals are healthy (chicken strawberry salad) while others are not (grilled reuben). Mama_chelledun opted for the club sandwich, which she enjoyed. I had the cheeseburger which came with a big, delicious bun and plenty of cheddar cheese. The fries were something to write home about. They were piping hot and delightfully thick. I ate all of mine and some of Mama_chelledun’s.

This isn’t a place that can be easily left without dessert. Plaza serves all the traditional ice cream fare – hot fudge sundae’s, banana splits, etc. I played it conservative with two scoops of delicious Toll House cookie swirl, while Mama_chelledun opted for a hot fudge sundae. Consider sharing a dessert if you can come to an agreement on one, because they’re pretty large.

Overall…
The Plaza Restaurant is a pleasant, affordable, gimmick-free family eatery. If you’d like to avoid the hassle of counter service without dropping a fortune on lunch, consider stopping here for your burger and fries instead.


Recommend this product? Yes

Kid Friendliness: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Burgers, fries, and ice cream!
Best Suited For: Kids and Families