My party of 3 spent $150 on small plates and sangria at this Disney World restaurant. Here’s why it’s one of the property’s best-kept secrets. – Yahoo Life

Walt Disney World’s EPCOT is known for its World Showcase, where guests can visit pavilions themed around countries like Mexico, Japan and Norway while tasting foods and sipping drinks from each locale. But with 11 countries represented, the options for sit-down dining can feel a bit overwhelming, leaving many wondering which EPCOT restaurant is the best place to make a coveted dinner reservation.

As someone who writes about theme parks, holds an annual pass at Walt Disney Globe (WDW) and has been visiting the popular tourist destination for years, there’s always a clear winner if I’m looking for a simple-but-delicious dinner in EPCOT. Located in the theme park’s Morocco pavilion, Spice Road Table is a respite through the crowds, nestled along the waters of the particular World Display Lagoon (the body of water from the center of the World Showcase).

Recently, I ended an evening at EPCOT with friends in my absolute favorite way: a dinner reservation with Spice Street Table. Reservations are the method to go for any sit-down dining experience at WDW, since it can hard to snag a walk-up table, plus this Mediterranean restaurant is no exception. In the time surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Spice Road Desk stopped taking reservations, but as associated with Dec. 2022, it’s now easy to reserve a spot through the The Disney Experience app, online or by phone. With the ability to guarantee a seat on one of our favorite spots back upon the table (pun intended) we knew closing a good evening associated with drinking margaritas in “Mexico” and riding Guardians of the particular Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind out with a relaxing sit-down supper would be perfect.

And we were right. We walked into Spice Road Table and asked to be seated outside near the lagoon — the airy patio will be perfect on those rare Florida nights when the particular weather is usually cool. (Even on hot days at EPCOT, is actually worth sitting outside with regard to the shade and the breeze. ) We were quick to order sangria because Spice Street Table makes some of the best sangria on WDW property. The secret? Each variety contains not only wine, yet a spirit, making each drink, which usually cost $14 for a glass or $39 for a pitcher, a little boozier than some drinks found at EPCOT. The restaurant’s red sangria is produced with gin, while the particular rosé variety contains pamplemousse (grapefruit) liqueur. There’s fig-flavored vodka in the white sangria and the sparkling kind contains both pamplemousse liqueur and vermouth. If sangria isn’t your thing, try an hot mint green tea, which, like the red sangria, is made with gin. It’s all delicious, plus sitting by the water on a beautiful night while relaxing with friends is the perfect respite from the particular throngs of park goers walking the World Showcase.

There are no huge, food coma-inducing entrees in this WDW restaurant: Spice Road Table serves up a wide variety of tapas instead, which is greatest enjoyed family-style. We feasted on hummus fries, tiropitakia (cheese-filled phyllo dough pockets), spicy shrimp, crispy pomegranate-chili cauliflower, chicken and naan bread, complete with dipping sauces and marinated olives.

At just over $10 for most dishes, ordering a beautiful spread of tapas for our desk and sharing it produced for a perfect dinner. I was especially impressed with the high amount of plant-based dishes upon Spice Road Table’s menu, part associated with WDW’s initiative to make vegan-friendly dishes more mainstream inside its recreational areas and resorts.

One of the best parts about Spice Road Table is the staff, who are usually supremely type and excited to welcome you into the restaurant. From your bartenders that make that delicious sangria to the particular hosts and hostesses who else check you in for your own reservation, stepping inside this particular waterfront eating experience is definitely always feels like a vacation within a vacation, a vibe that keeps us coming back.

Essence Road Table is also among the sit-down restaurants from EPCOT that will offer pre-fixe menus during the park’s numerous annual festivals. Currently, during EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, festival goers can reserve seating for the meal with this and other restaurants, followed by reserved seats for the festival’s Disney on Broadway concert series . Prices for these dining packages range from $35 to $95 depending on the restaurant, with Spice Road Table’s offering landing at $47. As a Disney event pro, this is my favorite way to make sure I get a good seat at in-park concerts that are a priority to me. In fact , We still reminisce about the time I had amazing seats in order to watch NSync member Joey Fatone perform at the particular EPCOT Worldwide Food and Wine Festival after a delicious dinner on Spice Street Table. Worth it.

Another Essence Road Table tip? If you’re anxious to try that boozy sangria, you don’t need a dining reservation to do it. Simply walk up in order to the bar inside of the cafe and purchase your drink of choice: There’s no seating at this particular WDW pub, but every variety of the restaurant’s sangria pairs perfectly with drinking and strolling around the nations from the Entire world Showcase.

While Spice Street Table can be not the high-end The disney produtcions dining encounter, like the particular illustrious rooftop California Grill or the AAA Five Diamond Award-winning Victoria and Albert’s , really a more affordable way to enjoy the flavors offered WDW and give your feet a rest whilst you take in beautiful water views. For that reason, the experience was well worth the $150 price tag to my party associated with three.

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