Picky Eater

[Yenfid]

Going to Disney next year and started looking at Restaurants to eat at. I am a little more adventurous in my eating, but the person I am going with is not. They are a Burger, Steak, Pasta, Sausage, Chicken person.
With that said, I have decided on some restaurants. They have already said they want to eat at Biergarten in Epcot and the Crystal Palace for the Pooh Breakfast Buffet. The other places I looked at were, 50's Prime Time and Si Fi at Hollywood Studios. Tony's and the Plaza at MK. Rose & Crown at Epcot. Rainforest at AK. And T-Rex and Earl of Sandwich at Disney Springs.

Are these good places to eat? Am I playing it too safe? Also it seems like since the last time I was at Disney the restaurants changed their menus and they became more foodie and not comfort food. Not sure comfort is the correct term but I hope you get my drift.

I know he'll eat at quick service no problem, but I want to do a sit down at every park. Looked at Be Our Guest and just don't think he'll eat there or at France or Morocco and I am not sure if I would eat a Tiffins or Jungle Navigation Co Ltd Skipper Canteen. And I know he would love Canada Steak house but it is just too coastly. So any other suggestions?

 

[Clarissa McDaniel]

I'm a picky eater too. I could agree with your picky eaters list but would leave off steak (eww). I've happily eaten at most of the restaurants on your list. They few I haven't eaten at I have seen menus for and they had options I would enjoy. The only restaurant on your list that was tough for me was the Rose and Crown. If you are looking for a table service restaurant that would fit your picky eater's taste buds, I would recommend Garden Grill. Garden Grill serves turkey breast, sliced beef, sausage, salad, veggies, mashed potatos, macaroni and cheese, rolls, dressing, and dessert family style and all you can eat.

 

[tglancy]

If he likes steak, Be Our Guest would work. The steak is pretty good there. Also, Mama Melrose would be a good place as well. I would swap Rose and Crown for Garden Grill or maybe even Beaches and Cream.

 

[Hockey89]

Reading all these threads about being a picky eater makes me so happy my parents made me eat everything as a child... Can't imagine being an adult and not being able to eat anything... Buzz kill

 

[cdeev8690]

Reading all these threads about being a picky eater makes me so happy my parents made me eat everything as a child... Can't imagine being an adult and not being able to eat anything... Buzz kill

I'm the opposite! I didn't eat anything as a child even with my mom's persistence that I finish my plate, i'd sit at the table for hours after dinner not touching my food. I was a big brat. Now, there's not much I won't eat. Puberty hit and I began to broaden my culinary horizons. I wouldn't say eating at Disney is going on the adventurous side of culinary dining (most places at least).

Back on topic : You should be able to find something for everyone at all of the theme parks. If your Disney partner likes meat, why not try 'Ohana which is a step below a Brazilian Stakehouse? 99% of restaurants within the resort have a basic chicken or steak plate. It's nice that you're thinking of the person you're going with but it's your vacation too! It's not fair that you have to cater 100% to this person without spoiling yourself a little too! Find a place with a menu that excites you so you can have one meal that is totally up your alley. Your Disney partner will find something to enjoy on the menu, I promise.

 

[Abby's Daddy]

We have eaten at most of the restaurants on your list. For the most part they are fairly safe. We are not fans of Tony's but everyone has their preferences. In MK, Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch would be safe, dinner is a thanksgiving dinner served family style. However lunch is a la carte and probably within your friend's wheelhouse. I would agree that Beaches and Cream would be safe, and enjoyable, but it is outside the park. Rose and Crown can depend on the time of year you are going and time of day you are going. If you are going late spring or midsummer for lunch you should note that about half the seating is outside and it can be quite uncomfortable during the midday heat.

 

[bunnyman]

You can get chicken, pasta, and a beef dish on just about any menu at WDW. I learned via traveling with kids/teens over the years that even the most exotic restaurant will still have a basic grilled chicken or pasta dish on the menu (and I don't mean the kids menu). Never gone wrong with Tokyo Dining, Rose & Crown, Biergarten, 50's Prime Time, Sci-Fi Dine In, Skipper's Canteen has some good items, Crystal Palace, most resort dining options, etc.

 

[Phonedave]

As others have said, WDW really plays it safe with menus. There is something at just about every restaruant that a picky person can eat. If something looks "Strange" on the menu, ask the server to describe it. Disney is far from "foodie" - I term I despise anyway - but they have followed the trend of making their menus sound as complicated as possible.

Somthing like

Flame grilled tourandoes of beef with maderia demi glace served with haricot verts, croquetts of potato, and a sweet pea coulis

may make a picky eater go "no, I don't think so"

but call it what it is.

Slices of beef tenderloin steak, with red wine sauce served with green beans, breaded and fried balls of mashed potatoes, and some pureed peas on the side for color

And there you go - picky eater dish. You can also charge $15 more if you call it by the first description.

-dave

 

[Weather_Lady]

I know he'll eat at quick service no problem, but I want to do a sit down at every park. Looked at Be Our Guest and just don't think he'll eat there or at France or Morocco and I am not sure if I would eat a Tiffins or Jungle Navigation Co Ltd Skipper Canteen. And I know he would love Canada Steak house but it is just too coastly. So any other suggestions?

You'll be fine. Virtually every restaurant on property (even Skipper Canteen!) offers things like steak, roasted chicken, simple pasta dishes, or chicken nuggets -- although the nuggets might only be found on the kids' menu). If you've looked at the menus and are still worried that there will be nothing your friend likes at TS restaurants, stick to buffets -- again, even if most of the buffet is themed to something other than plain American food, every one of them to which I've been has a kids' section with those kinds of things (mac & cheese or ziti, chicken nuggets or roasted chicken, and simple veggies are the norm), and adults are free to help themselves to it.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Reading all these threads about being a picky eater makes me so happy my parents made me eat everything as a child... Can't imagine being an adult and not being able to eat anything... Buzz kill

Appropos of nothing, I once dated an otherwise perfectly wonderful man who just happened to be an excruciatingly picky eater. (I'm talking, would call a hot dog "ruined" if it had anything other than ketchup on it or was presented in something other than a plain white roll, called veggies "too spicy" if they'd been seasoned with salt and pepper, refused to eat at any "international" restaurant other than Italian or Mexican...) Of course, his mother had cooked special meals for him his entire life, and that was so not happening with me! I love to pursue "adventures in food," both in cooking and dining out, so this man's pickiness was a deal-breaker!

Back to the topic, though -- I think it's lovely that the OP is going to such lengths to consider her friend's enjoyment of their meals while on vacation. Just don't sweat it too much, OP! Disney not only offers a plethora of traditional American food on even its more exotic menus, but is wonderful about accommodating requests to bland-ify things to suit (e.g., "my friend will have the steak, but would it be possible to leave off the 'African spices' mentioned in the menu, please?'").

 

[JIMINYCR]

Appropos of nothing, I once dated an otherwise perfectly wonderful man who just happened to be an excruciatingly picky eater. (I'm talking, would call a hot dog "ruined" if it had anything other than ketchup on it or was presented in something other than a plain white roll, called veggies "too spicy" if they'd been seasoned with salt and pepper, refused to eat at any "international" restaurant other than Italian or Mexican...) Of course, his mother had cooked special meals for him his entire life, and that was so not happening with me! I love to pursue "adventures in food," both in cooking and dining out, so this man's pickiness was a deal-breaker!

Reminded me of a DS situation. He was pretty particular growing up about food and textures of foods. DW insisted he at least try a bite of things. We could never get him to really eat much of international foods, and we love lots of spicy exotic items. After he got older and started dating, he surprised us by telling us about all the restaurants he went to and wonderful food stuff his GF got him to eat. What some will do for love and influence of a woman.

Disney not only offers a plethora of traditional American food on even its more exotic menus, but is wonderful about accommodating requests to bland-ify things to suit (e.g., "my friend will have the steak, but would it be possible to leave off the 'African spices' mentioned in the menu, please?'").

AGREE... Disney is the best. DW has had to ask for menu items without sauces or toppings due to digestive medical issues and Disney cant do enough to accommodate her, even willing to cooking things that arent on the menu for her needs. Here at home when we dine out, we have all kinds of issues getting the cooks to give her what she asks for, even asking to make things plain is too much trouble.

 

[MegRuss626]

I'm just as picky as the person you're traveling with it sounds like and I would eat at all of those except for Biergarten and Rose and Crown. Biergarten doesn't have a lot of "normal" food. If you want to get super adventurous and your picky friend likes breakfast foods, try Tusker House in Animal Kingdom!

 

[Yenfid]

Thanks for the info. He is a picky eater but he picked Biergarten, he likes german food, and I enjoyed it when I ate there. I thought Rose and Crown because of the Sheppard's Pie or the Banger and Mash or even the Fish and Chips. He could say yes to any of those or turn up his nose, hard to tell. I love the restaurant in Morocco but I know not to even mention it. I might look into Liberty Tree. I like Tony's but again he just might turn up his nose at it. I also like the Plaza and a few others on the list so I am picking places I like too. I'm not a real fan of any of the places at Hollywood Studios, they are just okay to me. And I do no know much about Animal Kingdom, we always eat at Rain Forest when we go there. I like France but the menu changed since I've been there last and now I'm the one who doesn't think I will find something I would like there. Maybe I'll look at Garden Grill also at Epcot. Again thanks for all the ideas

 

[Yenfid]

I make it sound like he is very picky, but he likes most veggies, except carrots, and he can't have corn or seeds for medical reasons, but he likes american cheese and swiss and that is about it there. He is not a fan of bread, I know, really? He sticks to what he knows and like but he'll try what I get and if he liked it he'll then order it for himself. He does like Mexican but no beans or gauc. He likes fried food and burgers and hot dogs and chicken and pork and chicken fingers and mac and cheese. He loves pork, ham, sausage, steak, and the only italian he seems to like is chicken marsala. Pasta is just okay to him. So, it is hard trying to plan. He is also in the lets wait and see instead of planning ahead too. Told him there is not much room of the lets play it by ear when it comes to dinning at Disney

 

[lilclerk]

I am a very picky eater, and Rose & Crown is probably my favorite WDW restaurant. The steak is pretty good (for a WDW steak anyway,) but we always have fun with the servers there, plus if you can sit outside, it's perfect.

 

[DisneyDaver]

I make it sound like he is very picky, but he likes most veggies, except carrots, and he can't have corn or seeds for medical reasons, but he likes american cheese and swiss and that is about it there. He is not a fan of bread, I know, really? He sticks to what he knows and like but he'll try what I get and if he liked it he'll then order it for himself. He does like Mexican but no beans or gauc. He likes fried food and burgers and hot dogs and chicken and pork and chicken fingers and mac and cheese. He loves pork, ham, sausage, steak, and the only italian he seems to like is chicken marsala.

So sushi is probably not an option ...

 

[DisneyDaver]

Reminded me of a DS situation. He was pretty particular growing up about food and textures of foods. DW insisted he at least try a bite of things. We could never get him to really eat much of international foods, and we love lots of spicy exotic items. After he got older and started dating, he surprised us by telling us about all the restaurants he went to and wonderful food stuff his GF got him to eat. What some will do for love and influence of a woman.

That was me too. I was pretty much limited to chicken, turkey and burgers on white bread until I broke up with my college GF in my mid-20's and starting dating. I quickly learned to try lots of different foods and now will eat just about anything.

 

[Yenfid]

So sushi is probably not an option ...

You lose me at Sushi

 

[Tony the Tigger]

If Rose & Crown is in question, show him the menu online to get an idea.

It's become a favorite regular stop for us. While the menu is very "meat and potatoes" it's somewhat different than hours. The Shepard's Pie is fantastic - looks smallish but fills you up. The bangers and mash - I'll just say the sausage is different from American/Italian sausage. But if he likes German food, that's probably right in line for him.

We also love Prime Time - it's fairly classic comfort food but really well done - especially the pot roast.

 

[bunnyman]

You lose me at Sushi

If you're scared off by sushi, Tokyo dining has plenty of other options such as teriyaki chicken, panko crusted chicken, tempura, etc.