The Best Restaurants at Walt Disney World According to TripAdvisor

Everyone happily expresses their opinions about the best places to eat in Orlando.

I’ve done this many times over the years, but I recognize that it’s just my opinion.

Your favorites won’t be the same as mine. It’s mathematically unlikely.

So, I’ve taken a different approach today. I went to TripAdvisor and examined the reviews for Orlando.

Here are the Walt Disney World restaurants that TripAdvisor reviewers have ranked as the best of the best.

Honorable Mention: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

Yes, Trader Sam has suffered mightily during the pandemic. Disney has removed him from his long-standing spot at Jungle Cruise.

Alas, that two-for-one deal is off the table forever, as Sam has gone into a different kind of commerce now. He runs a gift shop at Jungle Cruise.

However, he should take heart in the fact that his lounge is so popular. I felt weird about including it since the food menu is so sparse.

Still, I should note that Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto currently ranks in the top ten, according to reviewers. It’d finish ninth if it were a proper restaurant.

12) Cape May Café

The other day, we received some phenomenal news. Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is reopening!

In fact, it might have returned by the time you read this. And Disney fans like me have really missed it.

This place provides a delightful Minnie Mouse character meal in the mornings, followed by the seafood dinner of your dreams.

I’d argue that Cape May Café delivers the best seafood meal at Walt Disney World, but this list proves mine is a minority opinion.

Three more seafood places rank in the top twelve! In fact…

11) Flying Fish

Random, right? After more than 2,600 reviews, Cape May Café has earned a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, but its sibling across the water beats it.

Flying Fish, the pride of Disney’s BoardWalk, also shares a 4.5-star rating after 1,700 reviews and counting.

The difference is that it grades out slightly higher, which will happen for nearly everything else on this list. Only one place receives a five-star rating.

You’ve likely already guessed which one, but let’s not sleep on Flying Fish.

I’ve previously described this place as providing “one of the most romantic atmospheres I’ve ever had at a restaurant.”

You don’t need to love fish to enjoy date night here. I speak from experience on that front.

10) Ravello Italian Restaurant

Suppose you’ve never visited Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. In that case, you’re missing out on arguably the best Orlando hotel.

In fact, this property recently sold for a stunning $610 million…in cash!

Ravello represents the pride and joy of the several restaurants at the hotel. I mean, it even offers a Disney character meal!

Perhaps the only reason why Ravello doesn’t score higher on this list is that it’s still so new and relatively unheralded.

Only about 350 people have reviewed it on TripAdvisor thus far.

9) Sanaa

The following two restaurants reside at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, but that’s not even the striking part.

Remarkably, neither of them claims the highest ranking for that particular resort!

Suffice to say that the eating is good at Animal Kingdom Lodge! Sanaa is especially noteworthy for its bread service.

Also, this seems like a good time to mention that you order this bread service to go now! You should do that.

8) Boma Flavors of Africa

Out of the three Animal Kingdom Lodge restaurants that TripAdvisor voters adore, my favorite is Boma.

I adore the Zebra Domes, one of the tastiest desserts at Walt Disney World.

I also like some of the hearty stews here, which is surprising given my limited palate.

7) Citricos

MORE FISH!!!

Okay, I’ve got bad news about Citricos. Out of all the places listed here, it’s the only one that isn’t open and has yet to declare a return date.

When Citrico returns, it’ll continue with its delectable menu of Mediterranean seafood dishes, using the freshest possible ingredients from Florida’s coast.

6) Geyser Point Bar & Grill

Did you just do a head tilt at this reveal? Yes, it’s true!

Disney owns and operates more than 100 Quick Service restaurants, yet only one earns a place on TripAdvisor’s list.

You’ll find Geyser Point at the back of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, parallel to the boat dock.

So, you can ride a boat here from Magic Kingdom and grab a savory entrée like the already legendary bison burger.

5) Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’

Okay, this one won’t surprise anyone who has visited Disney Springs over the past few years.

When Art Smith, a former cast member, agreed to return home and open a restaurant, he instantly caused a stir in the community.

Since Homecomin’ has opened, it’s turned into one of the toughest tickets in town. I’m 0 for my last three Disney vacations in booking a reservation here.

Orlando residents and tourists alike flock to Homecomin’ to sample the superb comfort food, especially the chicken and donuts dishes.

4) The BOATHOUSE

I’ve raved about The BOATHOUSE since the first time my party ate there.

This place claims the title of best-reviewed seafood joint at Walt Disney World, which you can tell is no small feat.

Guests rave about the deep menu and sheer volume of entrees. You can eat here like eight times without ordering the same thing. And I say that as a picky eater.

Beyond the food, the best part of The BOATHOUSE is its piano bar music. If you notice someone sitting at the piano, you’re about to have a great time!

3) Jiko – The Cooking Place

Disney has created a special tier for its finest dining experiences.

Yes, the Signature Dining class comes with a hefty price tag, but many guests don’t mind.

Three of the restaurants on this list – Jiko, Citricos, and Flying Fish – are in the Signature Dining group, and they’re not even the most expensive places!

At the risk of sounding glib, the food at Jiko doesn’t differentiate itself much from Boma or Sanaa.

That’s in no way a dig. You can tell from this list that those places are spectacular, too.

What separates Jiko from its siblings at Animal Kingdom Lodge is the wine. This place features one of the best wine menus at Walt Disney World!

When you want a romantic dining experience, it’s an excellent choice.

2) Shula’s Steak House

Here’s a fairly random fact about TripAdvisor’s rankings. Its readers/voters quite like the restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin hotels.

Two other places from those non-Disney restaurants nearly earned a spot on this list.

The one that did is a Florida institution. Don Shula coached the only undefeated NFL team in the modern era.

Then, he opened a steakhouse franchise, which means that he has lived my dream existence as a Super Bowl winner who gets free steaks.

This restaurant is probably the second priciest on this list. Still, it’s a small price to pay for arguably the most delectable steak in Florida!

1) Victoria & Albert’s

I know. This feels like a cheat. Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa should finish in first because it costs about $500 for a party of two!

Even so, its five-star grade proves that the people who pay the price believe that they’ve received a dining experience worthy of the high cost.

Victoria & Albert’s doesn’t merely serve tasty cuisine for a theme park hotel restaurant.

The food here has earned awards as the best upscale dining experience in the country!

So, including it in these rankings is akin to putting Pat Mahomes in a group of high school football players and then picking which one is the best.

Acknowledging the strange reality of this, Victoria & Albert’s legitimately delivers one of the best meals on the East Coast.

Obviously, you should aspire to dine here as a Disney bucket list experience.