WDW Cravings Countdown: Day 2 - Counter Service Favorites

WDW Cravings Countdown

Day 2 - Counter Service Favorites

I'll start this off by saying that we aren't really counter service people. We have nothing at all against fast food (I love KFC every few months etc.) but we just don't feel that Disney does fast food that well. With a few very special exceptions!

First up:

Wolfgang Puck Express

Exterior

It is almost a crime to refer to this restaurant as "counter service". Sure, you line up at, and order from, a counter. But that is where the comparisons stop.

After you have placed your order, you are handed a number and asked to find a seat anywhere you would like. There is lots of seating, both indoors and outdoors (under a covered patio). You are free to get a drink as you exit the counter area and enter the seating area. However, from this point on, your glass will be refilled for you by a member of the wait staff.

The majority of items are cooked to order here. With the exception of items that require advanced preparation such as the meatloaf or baked macaroni and cheese.

The food is presented on real plates, with real cutlery. The wait staff bring your food, any condiments you require etc.

In addition to this wonderful restaurant-style, and good service, the food is fantastic!

Some of our favorites include:

Corona Light & Cherry Coke

I am such a sucker for Cherry Coke! It is nearly impossible to find in Canada now, which makes me very sad. I practically lived off the stuff in high school.

Anyways, this is one of the few places on WDW property that regularly carries Cherry Coke in the fountain variety.

 My parents also love getting a corona here.

Meatball Pizza

The pizzas at Wolfgang Puck Express are superior to nearly all Disney pizza (with the exception of Via Napoli). They are thin crust, with gourmet toppings. After all, Wolfgang Puck DID invent the gourmet pizza! It should be good! This particular variety is great. The perfect amount of cheese and sauce, with slices of tender homemade meatballs scattered on top.

Chinois Chicken Salad

As I stated in the 'Ohana countdown, I am not a huge salad lover. However, this salad could make ANYONE a salad lover! Crunchy napa & red cabbage, slivered carrots, tender roasted chicken and crunchy wontons, all tossed in a tangy rich asian honey mustard dressing. It is heavenly. We get one every time and all share as it is massive!

Crispy Chicken Strips and BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

The crispy chicken strips are "just" chicken fingers. But they are darn good ones. And the fries? Better than the best McDonald's fries you've ever had! The chicken is coated in panko for a particularly crunchy exterior, which subsequently locks the moisture in as well. The fries are tossed with an herb and garlic mixture, along with large grains of sea salt. Another must have on every visit.

Sadly, the BBQ Chicken Quesadilla pictured in back is no longer on the menu. It was a yummy option and we were sad to see it go. It was two large flour tortillas, filled with roasted chicken, jack cheese, smokey BBQ sauce and pico de gallo. The top was then swirled with more smokey BBQ sauce and ranch dressing for a creamy contrast.

Side of Macaroni & Cheese

The mac & cheese here is to die for. The recipe has changed slightly over the years, but I believe it always includes four cheeses. The cheese combination is a blend of sharp, hard, creamy and stringy cheeses such as cheddar, parmesan, goat cheese & mozzarella etc. It is very rich, so a side portion is more than enough!

Creme Brulee

You wouldn't think that a counter service restaurant (outside of Boulangerie Patisserie at the France Pavilion) would do a great creme brulee would you? Well, Wolfgang Puck Express does! The custard is the perfect balance between firm and wobbly. The crust is thick, well caramelized and cracks beautifully when you hit it with a spoon.

Another fantastic option at Wolfgang Puck Express is....BREAKFAST!

We only discovered this a few trips ago, but the unique breakfast items here make it worth a visit.

Breakfast Pizza

The "Breakfast Pizza" sometimes known as the "Smoked Bacon Pizza" is something that made this egg-hating girl, like eggs! A thin crispy pizza base is topped with mozzarella & cheddar cheeses, scrambled eggs, smoked bacon and tomatoes, and swirled with ranch dressing. Wow! Just wow! It is exactly as it sounds, a full breakfast on a pizza and it works. Try it and you'll love it.

Crispy Cornflake French Toast

The Crispy Cornflake French Toast sounds so interesting that I just had to order it. You get three slices of toast, covered in cornflakes and cinnamon sugar, served with fruit and maple syrup. This is a texture phenomenon. It is super crisp on the outside, and meltingly soft and custardy on the inside. The secret? The "toast" is a plain bagel, sliced in three! The bagel has enough substance that it can absorb the right amount of egg mixture to stay soft on the interior, but not disintegrate when it is dredged in the cornflakes and deep fried to a crunchy golden brown.

The other exception to our "we don't do counter service" rule is:

Flame Tree BBQ

We have loved Disney's Animal Kingdom from the very first time we set foot in the park. The details, the intricacies and stories that are woven into each attraction, land, and even each pathway, are incredible. We could spend hours simply walking around and enjoying the atmosphere.

Our very first visit, we stumbled across Flame Tree BBQ and I have to be honest, it was the smell that led us there. That smokey, sinfully good smell of barbecue! We were skeptical, how good could theme park BBQ be?

I'll preface my answer by saying: We don't have "good" BBQ in Toronto. I've never tried true southern BBQ but I'm dying to. In lieu of that - Flame Tree is AMAZING! Far better than anything we can get at home.

What shocked us, was the amazing seating area. Multiple tiers of canopied seating, tables out in the open in a jungle-like area, with fountains, trickling streams, a lily pond! It is like an oasis!

Even more interesting, the predator and prey theme! Take a look around text time you are there. Every seating canopy has a different predator and prey. There are anteaters and ants, owls and rabbits etc. And it is the most carnivorous restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom, so that theme is pretty darn appropriate!

BBQ Chicken Salad

Mom's item of choice at Flame Tree BBQ is....a salad?!? I know what you are thinking. How can that possibly be a favorite item? But it is great! The lettuce and veggies are crisp and refreshing. There is a light oil and vinegar dressing and the chicken! It is smoked and tossed in both a spice rub and BBQ sauce. It is juicy, tender and very flavourful.

St. Louis Ribs

Dad and I go straight for the St. Louis ribs. They have varying degrees of how good they are, but the majority of the time they are outstanding. Good ribs shouldn't "fall off the bone" but rather, should be easily bitten off without the bone slipping out. These are just that. The meat is tender, seasoned with a tasty rub and then you get to add as much or as little sauce as you'd like. And the sauce....it's bliss. I have tried to replicate it at home, with reasonable success. The balance between smoke, tang, spice, and sweet is perfect.

Onion Rings

The onion rings are surprisingly good! And for someone like me who isn't a fan of beans or coleslaw, they are a good alternative side. Though, you cannot substitute them for the sides given with the ribs.

Well, this update has made me incredibly hungry! We're leaving in less than 24 hours! :) Day 1 coming up tomorrow!