Magic Kingdom’s counter carrier eating place lineup has been a race to the ground for the closing 5 years. There’s been 0 pageant for first, while it’s like a 9-way tie for worst. Magic Kingdom is the weakest meals park at Walt Disney International, which is an absolute disgrace for the reason that it’s the most well liked park and has no scarcity of distinctive eating venues.
That’s exactly why we had been so occupied with the scoop that some of the Magic Kingdom’s maximum mediocre meal spot used to be getting a brand-new menu! As you could recall, Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe used to be up to now useless to us. We wrote that piece, titled “The Dying of Pecos Invoice” a bit over a yr in the past, and the refrain of fifty+ reader feedback in large part agreed. When it got here time to suppose up a “artful” identify for this overview of the brand new menu at Pecos Invoice, the phrases “alive once more” and “worst to first” saved coming to thoughts.
Alternatively, the previous didn’t make sense with out context, and the latter someway wasn’t even true! In some way, Pecos Invoice used to be no longer up to now the worst counter carrier eating place in all of Magic Kingdom, which is truly pronouncing one thing (and no longer a excellent factor). Slightly, it used to be the only with probably the most squandered possible. A high-capacity eating place that might’ve been excellent and, at one time, used to be a spotlight. So principally, this overview addresses whether or not the brand new menu delivers and is helping Pecos Invoice reclaim the crown as the number one counter carrier eating place in Magic Kingdom…
Frankly, it’s been sudden and disappointing that, on the similar time Chipotle Mexican Grill has risen in reputation, Walt Disney International had long gone in the complete opposite path with Pecos Invoice. The menu were dumbed down, delicacies high quality reduced, and so forth. That is doubly true if you check out the phenomenal Donald’s Cantina at the Disney Treasure and Want. (Tangential, however the deck eating at the new ships is an actual spotlight.)
Fortunately, Walt Disney International is in spite of everything undoing that harm. We gained’t bury the lede: that is the most efficient menu at Pecos Invoice in virtually a decade. No longer precisely a excessive bar, because the outdated meals used to be terrible. Nevertheless it’s as though somebody in spite of everything dared to dream: what if meals on the international’s hottest theme park had been in reality safe to eat?
In opposition to that backdrop, let’s dig into the brand new menu overview at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe…
For the reason that 4 core menu pieces are Construct Your Personal Bowls, I’m going to begin by way of reviewing the trio of proteins that you’ll be able to make a choice for any of those. Let’s get started with the Citrus-Chipotle Hen.
The Citrus-Chipotle Hen is my third-favorite protein possibility, which isn’t a knock. There are beneficiant chunks of mushy and juicy meat, which is flavorful and tastes love it’s in reality of an inexpensive high quality. The ‘notes’ of citrus and chipotle are refined, however they’re there. Should you’re within the temper for rooster, you’re no longer going unsuitable by way of ordering this–it simply wasn’t my non-public favourite.
Oh, and as for the dish pictured within the two footage above, that’s the Grilled Masa Flatbread.
This corn-based, plant-based flatbread is already defunct. I will perceive why, because it didn’t fairly hit the similar excessive notes as the opposite entrees–and used to be an absolute mess to consume. I’m nonetheless quite disillusioned, because it used to be an artistic entree that added menu selection. They must’ve iterated in this (perhaps ditch the faux cheese?) slightly than leaving behind it. Oh smartly.
Someday since we closing dined at Pecos Invoice (so inside the previous few weeks), they changed the Grilled Masa Flatbread with the Plant-based Rice Bowl with Unimaginable Meatballs in Crimson Chile Tomato Sauce, Pinto Beans, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Cowboy Caviar, and Lime “Crema.” We haven’t had a possibility to take a look at that but, however we discover Unimaginable “Meat”balls to be the most efficient of the Unimaginable merchandise.
Our subsequent protein is the Inexperienced Chili Beef.
I truly like this red meat. Nearly the precise description applies as for the rooster–that is mushy and juicy, and a beneficiant portion of meat is piled onto the bowl. The golf green chili taste is refined even whilst you consume the red meat by itself, and masked totally when combined into the bowl.
As somebody who ate on the outdated iteration of Pecos Expenses a couple of too again and again (for loss of higher choices–no longer everybody with whom we’d discuss with likes seafood, taking Columbia Harbour Area off the desk), I additionally can not understate how a lot upper high quality each the rooster and red meat are than their predecessors. I up to now referred to as the meats at Pecos Invoice “pet food grade.” That used to be most effective slight hyperbole. Those are on par with what you’d order at Chipotle or some other speedy informal Mexican spot.
Saving the most efficient for closing, the overall protein possibility is the Coca-Cola Cherry Braised Red meat.
This meat is shockingly incredible. There’s a sweetness to the meat, and it has a slow-cooked high quality that makes it mushy, juicy, and scrumptious. There are two ‘extinct’ entrees this jogged my memory of, one from lunch at Be Our Visitor Eating place and some other from Flo’s V8 Cafe again when it first opened. The ones are favorable comparisons, and extremely excessive reward for a cafe that when had its meats in comparison to pet food.
Frankly, I want they’d serve the Coca-Cola Cherry Braised Red meat as a standalone, plated entree. Because it stands, I will simply envision a situation the place we order a bowl with a double portion of this red meat to separate. It’s that excellent.
Since we’re already speaking about it, let’s get started by way of digging into the Rice Bowl with Pinto Beans, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Cowboy Caviar, and Queso Fresco.
Like the whole thing within the ‘Construct Your Personal’ phase of the menu, that is priced at $12.99. What’s pictured above is a unmarried portion of the meat on best of the bowl.
I point out that as a result of this dangerous boy is a large meal, virtually greater than sufficient for one individual–and that’s price bringing up at a time when many different Walt Disney International entrees are shrinking in measurement however rising in worth.
The substances right here paintings truly smartly in combination, and there are beneficiant quantities of queso fresco in addition to the pinto beans and cilantro-lime rice underneath. I may’ve for my part used just a little extra cowboy caviar, however that turns out like a minor quibble.
As soon as once more, the purpose to emphasise is that the standard is way stepped forward over what used to be presented at Pecos Invoice ahead of. This nonetheless doesn’t succeed in the similar excessive bar as the distinction days of the toppings bar, nevertheless it’s superb–an evening and day distinction over what used to be right here ahead of.
The secret is that this is a fine quality rice bowl, and kind of precisely what you’d be expecting. It might’ve used a wider variety of toppings, however nonetheless very good. It’s within the operating for my #1 entree at Pecos Invoice.
The opposite contender for that crown is the Steamed Tamale.
That is principally the similar dish because the rice bowl, however with the addition of a Steamed Inexperienced Chili-Cheese Tamale and Pico de Gallo rather than the Cowboy Caviar.
I wasn’t an enormous fan of the tamale on its own, however it’s principally a freebie and does upload one thing to the dish as an entire. Unsurprisingly, corn is the dominant taste right here, and as a part of the bowl is supplies some other texture, at the side of a semi-sweet and earthy high quality. Most significantly, it didn’t look like the parts of rice or pinto beans were given any smaller on account of the tamale being added.
It’s on that foundation that the Steamed Tamale is our new #1 entree at Pecos Invoice…and most likely Magic Kingdom as an entire.
There are different dishes that we each and every in my opinion truly like across the park. At Columbia Harbour Area, I’m a large fan of the Lobster Roll and Sarah loves the Maple-Mustard Glazed Salmon. The issue with each is taking part in the portion measurement lottery. Should you’re a loser, you’ll stroll away hungry.
Against this, for a similar worth because the Salmon entree–or for $4 much less than the Lobster Roll–you have to order the Steamed Tamale with double red meat from Pecos Invoice and it might simply feed one individual, most likely either one of us (appetite-dependent). In different phrases, when taking worth for cash into account, this dish has actually no pageant in Magic Kingdom.
Our ultimate ‘construct your individual’ entree is the Nacho Bowl: Area-fried Corn Tortilla Chips smothered with Stewed Pinto Beans, Chipotle Queso, and Pico de Gallo.
Smothered is Disney’s phrase within the description above, and it’s an apt one. This unquestionably had extra queso than the opposite bowls, and I truly favored that–it labored smartly with the nachos. Additionally paired superbly with the meat.
With that mentioned, the chips are extraordinary. As a base, this simply doesn’t dangle a candle to the above choices. No longer as tasty or as filling. Should you’re within the temper for nachos and wish chips piled excessive with cheese and red meat, you completely can not cross unsuitable right here, although!
We’re no longer executed with the entrees–there’s additionally the Double Chili con Queso Burger: Two Flame-broiled All-Red meat Patties crowned with Chili con Carne, Chipotle Queso, and Corn Chips with Fish fry-Cheddar Seasoned Fries.
This burger these days prices $16.19, which is in reality a worth lower because the menu introduced. And albeit, that is smart, as my greatest grievance of this burger will be the worth proposition as opposed to the ‘construct your individual’ choices.
For ~$3 extra, it’s simply arduous to justify this for the reason that it’s round the similar portion measurement–if no longer smaller–than the bowls.
In equity to the burger, it’s lovely tasty!
It’s slathered in Chipotle Queso, with simply the correct amount of Chili con Carne for taste and Corn Chips for texture. That is excellent, as a result of underneath which are two usual factor Walt Disney International burger patties, and those function a signature mix of cardboard, capybara, and hyena.
Suffice to mention, Disney counter carrier burgers want an overabundance of toppings to masks their mediocre meats, which might be dry and flavorless. This fills that function positive, and turns into the number one counter carrier burger at Magic Kingdom by way of default in consequence. There’s no level in ordering this when the ‘construct your individual’ bowls are proper there, however I suppose it’s a excellent fallback possibility for choosy eaters who to find the whole thing else too adventurous.
It’s additionally price bringing up that the Fish fry-Cheddar Seasoned Fries served with the burger (or as a facet) are the most efficient fries at Magic Kingdom.
The seasoning right here takes extraordinary Disney fries to the following stage. They’re not anything innovative, however as a easy snack, they’re fairly excellent. I by no means knew that is what used to be lacking from Disney fries, nevertheless it completely is.
My non-public wishlist for Pecos Invoice could be to have loaded fries added to the menu. I’m no longer positive Sarah would approve, however I’d love a heaping order of those fries (as a substitute of rice) crowned with a beneficiant slathering of queso to function the bottom for my double portion of that scrumptious red meat. Now that will be the easiest entree indulgence!
In any case, we have now the Candy Corn Mousse: White Chocolate and Raspberry Powder.
Walt Disney International debuted this ‘looks as if corn, however is in reality cake’ dessert a pair years in the past all through both Mickey’s No longer So Frightening Halloween Celebration or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Celebration (if reminiscence serves me), and it used to be an enormous hit. Disney lovers experience a excellent gimmick.
When you get previous that gimmick, there’s no longer a lot to like about this. It’s fairly dear at over $6, the portion is small, and each the flavour and texture are somewhat one-note. We additionally discovered it to be overly candy (sugar, versus candy corn, is the dominant taste), however which may be mentioned about maximum Disney cakes. Should you’re going to reserve this for the joys footage, have at it–simply perhaps glance in other places for a scrumptious dessert. Magic Kingdom has no scarcity of the ones.
In the long run, it’s no wonder that the brand new menu at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe is a marked development. For something, there used to be nowhere to move however up. I don’t suppose Walt Disney International lovers who hadn’t been in a couple of years notice simply how dangerous and uninspired the outdated Pecos Invoice menu had gotten.
Pecos Invoice used to be principally Showcase A within the former Disney CFO’s quote about converting providers and substituting substances to scale back prices. Even the most cost effective Mexican meals from the Dealer Joe’s freezer case had been upper high quality than what Pecos Invoice used to be serving. And but, it nonetheless wasn’t the worst counter carrier eating place at Magic Kingdom. (Which frankly must’ve been embarrassing for Disney.)
It gave the impression of the outdated menu used to be allowed to limp alongside till Pecos Invoice were given reimagined, however with that venture nixed, Walt Disney International management learned the present incarnation of the eating place could be round for a couple of extra years. (Till the inevitable reimagining right into a Vehicles-inspired eating place.)
Past this, best to backside menu overhauls like this are virtually all the time an development. Disney’s culinary groups get the fairway mild to make important adjustments and, the cooks have amusing developing new menus which are formidable and intriguing. The culinary groups don’t in reality need to serve slop to visitors with pet food grade meat and entrees which are worse than frozen meals–that’s the byproduct of managers meddling and adjustments to make menus extra environment friendly or less expensive.
With that mentioned, the standard trajectory is for tweaks to be remodeled the process the primary yr of the brand new menu that do dilute it. We’re already seeing this with the brand new menu at Pecos Invoice, and it’ll more than likely proceed right through 2025. The culinary crew objectives excessive, however a few of their alternatives aren’t all the time sensible for high-capacity places or consistent with visitor personal tastes.
That is the principle reason why that menus are dumbed down through the years, far and wide will get a fundamental burger added, and so forth. It’s additionally frequently essential to scale back preparation steps, as dishes transform too hard work extensive or time-consuming to arrange. In different instances, pieces that aren’t getting ordered–or are receiving damaging visitor comments–are pulled or changed. That just about for sure explains the lack of the Grilled Masa Flatbread.
Whether or not Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe dethrones Columbia Harbour Area to transform the brand new #1 counter carrier eating place in Magic Kingdom is more than likely a question of viewpoint. Particularly, does your birthday celebration want seafood or Mexican delicacies?
For us, each are winners–all of it relies on what we’re within the temper for and the way hungry we’re. Columbia Harbour Area is superb, however it may be dear and inconsistent, while Pecos Invoice reliably delivers. As you’ve more than likely accrued from the number of footage, we’ve already executed a number of foods at Pecos Invoice because the overhaul and just one at Columbia Harbour Area all through that point. That’s more than likely our ‘new commonplace’ going ahead, particularly since there’s extra at the menu right here that Megatron can consume.
That reliability is the tiebreaker from our viewpoint, and what provides Pecos Invoice the slender victory. Both means, there at the moment are double the collection of excellent counter carrier eating places at Magic Kingdom, and all visitors win in consequence. Right here’s hoping that Cosmic Ray’s is subsequent–it would additionally truly use a menu overhaul. Now that call for has died down for it, we’d additionally love to look Be Our Visitor revert to a counter carrier lunch. Are you able to believe Magic Kingdom having 4 profitable counter carrier eating places? It’s virtually unthinkable! Dare to dream, I guess.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you take into accounts the brand new menu at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe? Excited for those additions? Should you’ve already attempted the brand new menu, what are your favorites? The rest you didn’t like? Do you compromise or disagree with our review? Any questions we will be able to allow you to resolution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas underneath within the feedback!
