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5. Restaurant Marrakesh (Alternatives: Spice Road Table and Tiffin’s)

Crispy Sadza at Tiffins

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)

The Morocco pavilion remains one of our favorites within Epcot for its beautiful atmosphere, winding streets, and stunning art. Restaurant Marrakesh has been a mainstay at the pavilion for decades, but some feel that much of the food just isn’t what it used to be. While guests who are craving delicious Moroccan food can find some great options at the pavilion’s counter service location, Tangerine Café, where are guests to go for Mediterranean and North-African flavors in a table service restaurant?

One of our two picks can be found a stone’s throw away on the pavilion’s waterfront. We have loved Spice Road Table since its opening nearly ten years ago, and it remains one of our favorite dining locations in Epcot both for its delicious menu of Moroccan style tapas and relaxing atmosphere. We’re big fans of the Mediterranean Vegetable Platter.

While nothing can replace the unique flavors of traditional Moroccan food, if you’re looking for a top notch dining experience from a similar palette, you may want to consider Animal Kingdom’s Tiffin’s. Tiffin’s is not a Moroccan restaurant, but it does offer an eclectic menu from around the world with some of the most delicious Asian and African dishes available at Walt Disney World. The Gobi Manchurian remains one of the best things we ever ate in the parks along with the Crispy Sadza.

6. The Garden Grill (Alternatives: The Boathouse and Tusker House)

The Boathouse on the water

Image: Disney

This was probably the most challenging location on our list to find alternatives for. Epcot’s Garden Grill is a uniquely polarizing restaurant. We were disappointed with recent experiences due to changes on the menu from the original farm-to-table model to more of a family Thanksgiving feast. Many guests love the latter, but for us, it just felt like the Garden Grill had lost its sustainable soul in the name of a more mass-producible comfort food model.

There is not much that can replace the old Garden Grill with its rich flank steak, sustainable fish, farm fresh salads, and roasted vegetables. However, if you’re willing to try a slightly more upscale experience, consider the Boathouse at Disney Springs. The Boathouse is truly a hidden gem (well, not exactly hidden—it’s huge) among Disney Springs’ myriad dining options, but we have yet to find anything on the restaurant’s rich New American menu that we didn’t care for. It’s hard to put a finger on just why the Boathouse makes us think of the Garden Grill of yesteryear, but it might be the respect with which Boathouse treats their food. You really feel like every entrée is a celebration of the protein or vegetable you’re enjoying.

If family-fun and character dining is your favorite aspect of the Garden Grill, we highly recommend Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Tusker House mostly features African flavors, but their buffet also includes a great selection of comfort food items and familiar favorites kids will love. The character dining is a huge hit with kids as Mickey and the gang regularly travel the restaurant to greet guests. It can get a bit raucous compared to the Garden Grill at times, but the insanely delicious food more than makes it worth it.

Are there other restaurants at Walt Disney World you no longer visit due to menu changes or decline in quality? Where do you go instead at Disney as an alternative?

 
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