The Best Disney World Hotel Restaurants Ranked

Are you planning a little dining for your Disney World vacation? Then, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we will discuss the best table service restaurants at Disney World’s Hotels and a few tips for what to order.

Our choices for best table service are based on food quality, atmosphere, and price point. So whether you want to eat in an elegant setting offering fine cuisine or enjoy some delicious comfort food that won’t break the bank, we have ranked the best options for everyone.

Best Disney Resort Table Service Restaurants

We’ll start our options for the best table service in the Epcot Resorts Area. These hotels are all within walking distance or only a Skyliner ride from the park. Therefore, if you are staying in this area, you can easily access these restaurants.

#1 Ale and Compass

Our first stop is Ale and Compass restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. This table service restaurant offers American fare with a modern twist. Some of their most popular items include chocolate waffles for breakfast and a New England seafood pot pie at dinner.

several meals combined on a table — *Chocolate Waffles at Ale and Compass*

The location is perfect for families and couples looking to enjoy a lovely setting and a reasonably-priced meal. We eat here more often than any other restaurant at Disney World. It’s also one of our top choices for breakfast at Disney World. Our breakfasts here have always been budget-friendly, and the entrees we’ve tried to date have been superb.

Ale and Compass offers to-go orders for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is an excellent option if you prefer to dine outside or take a meal back to your room. During our last stay at Yacht Club, we placed a mobile order for breakfast each morning and enjoyed it at the pool.

*To-Go Order from a Disney Resort Table Service*

Tip: Those rolls are available next door at the lounge. They are so good.

#2 Yachtsman Steakhouse

If you’ve read our Disney fine dining guide, you know that Yachtsman Steakhouse ranks in our top five restaurants for signature dining at Walt Disney World. This is THE PLACE to reserve a table to enjoy a bit of surf and turf.

This table service restaurant’s menu includes mainly steak and seafood options. Some of our favorites include the filet mignon, lobster bisque, and those oh-so-good onion rolls!

They have a revamped menu. Some items I have my eye on for a future reservation include the seafood cioppino and the pineapple with coconut tart.

On our last visit, we enjoyed the prime rib, ribeye, a side of asparagus, and an order of house-cut fries. It was one of the best meals we’d had in a while.

Related: Yachtsman Steakhouse Review

We were so full by the end of our meal that I completely forgot to order dessert!

Warning: this location is going to be on the expensive side. However, it’s worthy of being that “one” nice restaurant for your vacation.

Yachtsman is an excellent choice for couples who want to enjoy a romantic evening. If you time it right, you can walk over to enjoy the fireworks at Epcot after your meal. Or you might want to have dinner on the early side and enjoy a sunset stroll around Crescent Lake afterward.

#3 Beaches and Cream Soda Shop

Our next stop keeps us at the same resort. However, this time, we’re on the Beach Club side. Beaches and Cream Soda Shop is probably one of the most popular diners in Walt Disney World.

They have burgers, sandwiches, soups, fries, and onion rings. And then there’s the ice cream menu.

Some ice cream selections the soda shop is known for include the No Way Jose and the Kitchen Sink. The Kitchen Sink comes in a plastic Mickey-themed kitchen sink containing eight ice cream scoops!

On my last visit, I tried the patty melt with onion rings. It was delicious and one of those guilty pleasure meals.

*Burger with Onion Rings from Beaches and Cream*

This best table service restaurant at the Disney Resorts is fun for everyone! Make sure to get an advanced reservation. They fill up fast here!

#4 Topolino’s Terrace

Next, we’ll look at one of the newer table service restaurants at Walt Disney World’s Riviera Resort. Topolino’s Terrace offers a character dining experience for breakfast and transitions to signature dining in the evening.

You can expect entrees like lobster linguine, veal, and a plant-based cassoulet for dinner. And the table service location has a children’s menu, perfect for those with little ones. However, children will probably prefer the character meal over fine dining.

This resort table service restaurant is my number one recommendation for a character dining experience. You’ll have the opportunity to see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy during your meal. And the food is excellent, which, unfortunately, isn’t always the case with these types of meals.

#5 Sanaa

If you have heard anything about Disney dining, you’ve probably heard mention of Sanaa. At least, I hope so. Sanaa is located at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Kidani is the secondary Disney Vacation Club Resort on the Lodge’s property.

Related: Kidani Village Review

Sanaa is amazing! Their claim to fame is bread service. Anyone who enjoys bread or dips, in general, won’t want to miss this tremendous appetizer. It comes with five different types of Naan and has nine unique sauces.

The table service menu at Sanaa also features dishes from Africa with various spices. And there are Indian and Asian influences as well.

This table service restaurant has been consistently ranked among the best on the property by many Disney enthusiasts. If you’d like to learn more, we have a full review of Sanaa, including the bread service.

#6 Jiko, The Cooking Place

While at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, we’ll stop in for two more restaurants deemed worthy of our best resort table service list. The first is Jiko, The Cooking Place, located on the lower level of Jambo House (the main lodge).

Jiko is a fine dining restaurant that is only open for dinner. Additionally, this restaurant ranks high on our list of fine dining locations at Disney.

On our last visit to Jiko, I went with a cocoa-crusted bison dish. It came with the most appealing root vegetables for the sides. There was even a side of whiskey-poached peaches with a saffron crema.

A meal here is always a pure delight to the taste buds. While Jiko is pricey, I’ve never left there wishing I had eaten elsewhere. And I doubt you will either.

You can read the full review of Jiko, The Cooking Place.

#7 Boma- Flavors of Africa

Breakfast or Dinner? You’re probably going to want to try both! I’m not kidding.

Boma is amazing. While it doesn’t make much sense for me to visit the same restaurant repeatedly, this is one of the few for which I’m willing to make an exception.

But if you do more than one meal here, might I recommend breakfast? That’s because Boma has an excellent breakfast buffet selection with African-inspired items and various other menu options.

A carving station with corned beef and ham has Boma mustard on the side. And this is one of those places you’ll want to try all the sauces and extras you might not be familiar with. Trust me.

Additionally, there are several items like corned beef hash and turkey bobotie. My mouth is watering from the memories of these tasty dishes!

Boma’s dinner buffet has many items, making this meal period a fan favorite. Oh…and speaking of fan favorites, zebra domes are on the dinner buffet. You’ll probably want to try them.

However, if you don’t end up having dinner here, zebra domes might be available in the cooler at the Mara. They make a perfect late-night snack to enjoy in your room while you’re lying in bed watching Mickey Mouse shorts. (I wouldn’t know anything about that.)

Related: Boma Breakfast Buffet Review

#8 California Grill

Moving on to the Magic Kingdom Resorts Area, we’ll look at what I consider the best table service restaurant in Walt Disney World. Now, I want you to understand that I often mention favorites here on the site.

Sometimes, I might say my favorite buffet is Boma, or my favorite breakfast is at Ale and Compass. That’s true. There are so many good-quality restaurants at Disney that sometimes you have to categorize your favorites.

And you don’t want to get stuck dining at the same restaurants repeatedly, even if they’re so good!

But I digress. California Grill is my favorite restaurant (yes, of all time) at Disney World. And I think it might be yours too! Here’s why.

Disney’s California Grill sits on the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. They offer dinner service every evening starting at 5:00 p.m.

For starters, the food is excellent, and the menu is seasonal. If you return repeatedly (it’s okay to do that here), new items will be on the menu.

And if you are indeed a sucker for ordering something you consider safe, there are always classic dishes available, like the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli. You can’t go wrong with that dish.

*Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli at California Grill*

Not only is the meal good here, but the experience makes you feel…special. By special, I mean for a few hours over dinner, you were a member of some elitist club, and dining at California Grill was just a regular thing.

However, if you’re anything like me, you secretly know it isn’t, which makes it all the more exciting. And if you do eat at exclusive restaurants regularly, you might consider that some of your nearby table neighbors probably don’t. And that’s okay, too. We can’t all be the same.

The other “special” thing about this resort table service restaurant is its views of the Magic Kingdom for days. Those views can be enjoyed during the nightly fireworks from your table or the observation deck.

Say you dined here and left around 6:00 p.m., but the fireworks didn’t start until 9:00 p.m. Bring your receipt back about 15 minutes before the start time, and you’ll be escorted back to the restaurant’s observation deck.

On the deck and inside the restaurant, some speakers stream the music for the spectacular. So it will feel like you are in the middle of the magic.

*View of Magic Kingdom Fireworks from California Grill*

Most will agree that a meal at California Grill will make for a note-worthy end to the evening.

#9 Kona Cafe

As we take the resort monorail from the Contemporary, our next stop is Disney’s Polynesian for a meal. Kona Cafe is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House.

Kona Cafe was one of the first table service restaurants that came to mind when I drafted this article. It’s family-friendly, affordable, and has a great menu suitable for large groups.

You’ll find that the menu includes Asian cuisine like sushi and duck confit fried rice. It’s even included in our list of the best sushi at Disney World.

Related: Kona Cafe Review

There’s also American fare, like burgers and chicken wings. The kids’ meals include grilled chicken tacos (different from everywhere else) and mac and cheese and cheeseburgers.

Additionally, you can enjoy fan favorites like Tonga Toast or Macadamia nut pancakes for breakfast. Tonga Toast is a French toast stuffed with bananas, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and features a compote of strawberries.

Lastly, if you’re not staying at the Polynesian, you should drop in for a meal during your vacation. The tropical-themed resort will put you in relaxation mode when you step foot on its property.

#10 Grand Floridian Cafe

Our last stop for Disney’s best resort table service is next door to the Polynesian at the Grand Floridian Resort. Grand Floridian Cafe is located on the backside of the lobby on the first floor.

This is one of the most convenient restaurants for breakfast or lunch before a long day at the Magic Kingdom. We often prefer to enjoy lunch here because it combines the breakfast and lunch menu.

For us, my son always enjoys breakfast items for lunch here over the standard lunch fare. At the same time, I like to order items like the chilled shrimp cocktail or the Miso glazed salmon.

*Shrimp Cocktail at Grand Floridian Cafe*

We have a full review of the Grand Floridian Cafe.

Of all the restaurants discussed in this article, I admit I’ve eaten at Grand Floridian Cafe more than any other. Of course, Ale and Compass and California Grill aren’t too far behind.

It’s just that the cafe is family-friendly, reasonably priced, and has the best servers. Plus, you can walk from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom. So that makes it even more convenient.

A meal at the Grand Floridian Cafe is a no-brainer. And if you were to visit over the holidays, you’ll want to allow a little extra time before or after your meals to tour the Grand Floridian at Christmas.

Final Thoughts: Best Resort Table Service Restaurants at Disney

We’ve finally arrived at the end of our journey to uncover the best table service restaurants at the Disney Resorts. I hope this article highlights a few restaurants for your next vacation.

How many table service restaurants did you recognize from the list?

For other dining spots at the resorts, you might want to check out a few other articles:

That list is significant if you plan on doing a little resort-hopping and need to know where to enjoy a meal without a reservation.

Knowing where you want to eat can be challenging with so many restaurants. Hopefully, this list of the best table service restaurants at the Disney World Resorts will help you find a new favorite!

Let me know yours in the comments.

The Best Disney World Hotel Restaurants Ranked