EPCOT is extensively thought to be Walt Disney Global’s “foodie park” thank you in large part to Global Exhibit, which some lovers imagine the culinary capital of WDW. Unpopular opinion, however we view this recognition is in large part overblown. This isn’t to mention EPCOT’s eating places are dangerous, simply somewhat puffed up.
To make sure, EPCOT does have a powerful meals lineup and the perpetual gala’s give a contribution to that. If going by way of the sheer choice of choices which might be above-average, EPCOT is the number one meals park at Walt Disney Global. Alternatively, we’d argue that many (if no longer maximum) of those are not anything particular as soon as the newness has worn off. Excellent-to-great choices for first timers, however if you’ve been a couple of instances–or can evaluate them to previous variations of the similar spots–they begin dropping their luster.
There are a couple of true top-tier standouts, with Takumi-Tei and Monsieur Paul being some of the peak 3 eating places in all of Walt Disney Global. Le Cellier has additionally made a comeback in recent times and is among the higher steakhouses as soon as once more. One drawback is time. The primary two foods are multi-hour affairs, or even Le Cellier is time-consuming. That is more than likely a just right factor given the costs, that are the second one drawback. Takumi-Tei and Monsieur Paul will set you again no less than $200 in line with individual, and it’s laborious to get out the door at Le Cellier with out shedding $100 a head.
If I didn’t must pay the invoice on the finish, I’d do each unmarried EPCOT meal at a kind of 3 eating places. Possibly with the occasional prevent on the different desk provider eating places within the Japan and France pavilions, however even the ones may also be hit and miss. Don’t get us improper, we nonetheless love consuming our manner round EPCOT, however it’s normally for meals sales space favorites–the standard of the most efficient dishes has stepped forward over time and worth for cash has in truth stepped forward “thank you” to inflation and better eating place menu costs.
Suffice to mention, there’s a explanation why By way of Napoli and House 220 are the culinary representatives of EPCOT on our listing of the 25 Best possible Eating places at Walt Disney Global in 2025. Nobody goes to accuse both of the ones of being the top of WDW eating, however they provide reliably amusing and unbelievable studies together with most commonly just right delicacies.
Anyway, that is all a long-winded setup to provide an explanation for why we in truth do maximum of our EPCOT day foods out of doors of EPCOT when there isn’t one thing to be executed “for the sake of analysis” or an ongoing pageant. If it’s only a meal for amusing, we normally glance past Global Exhibit and head out the Global Gateway go out.
That is doubly true once I’m touring solo. In all my years of doing this, I nonetheless have no longer gotten utterly relaxed eating by myself in lots of high-profile desk provider eating places–particularly within the parks. Almost definitely an lack of confidence that’s all in my head, however it’s there, nonetheless. What I’ve discovered is that the non-Signature hotel eating places are a lot more laid again, generally tend to look extra solo vacationers (conventioneers), and are simply most often extra horny to me.
Input my new favourite (once more) eating place within the EPCOT house: Staff’s Cup Front room at Disney’s Yacht Membership Hotel.
Longtime readers may recall that Staff’s Cup Front room was once one among our favourite eating spots in all of Walt Disney Global. There used to be a time once we dined right here greater than another eating place at Walt Disney Global, save for in all probability Sunshine Seasons and Cosmic Ray’s. That are supposed to let you know simply how a ways we’re going again–it used to be ahead of the outlet of Ale & Compass across the nook.
Issues modified some time in the past. The deceptively easy however shockingly scrumptious burger that we beloved such a lot used to be changed. The substitute, whilst nonetheless just right, were given regularly costlier. To the purpose that we questioned why we had been paying a top class for an only-okay burger when numerous higher choices existed.
Similarly as vital, we turned into reluctant lovers of Ale & Compass. The menu there stepped forward and our opinion of the internal softened. It together with Trattoria al Forno proved to be very good mid-tier desk provider eating places within the Crescent Lake house. Identical is going for just about a half-dozen choices over on the Swolphin. (I will’t lend a hand however give somewhat of side-eye when lovers bemoan the loss of high quality sit-down eating choices at Crescent Lake. They’re plentiful. It’s counter provider that’s the problem.)
In the end, we in any case returned to Staff’s Cup following a menu overhaul in early 2020. Minus an underwhelming “fancy” sizzling canine, the brand new menu used to be robust. Staff’s Cup used to be a champion as soon as once more! However we by no means were given round to publishing a evaluate because of, ahem, intervening externalities.
Rapid-forward any other ~5 years, and Staff’s Cup menu is as soon as once more bold. So I headed out to look whether or not my favourite meal from that final overhaul that have been restored nonetheless lived as much as my recollections, or if nostalgia used to be clouding my judgment.
That is already lengthy, so I’m going to dig proper into the primary path ahead of operating backwards with feedback at the inside and surroundings of Staff’s Cup Front room…
My new favourite EPCOT meal is the Top Rib Sliders at Staff’s Cup Front room. Once more.
This combines Yachtsman Steakhouse’s signature Onion Rolls piled excessive with Top Rib together with horseradish cream and au jus at the aspect. They’re served with Space-made Chips.
The ‘backstory’ at the sliders is principally the Walt Disney Global culinary similar of a overdue night time kitchen raid. The cooks at Yachtsman Steakhouse mixed their iconic pull-apart onion rolls with high rib on a lark and, voilà, it turned into an instant-favorite of the Forged Contributors. In the event you’ve ever had the signature rolls or the high rib at Yachtsman Steakhouse, you’ll be able to consider how this tastes.
The Top Rib Sliders at Staff’s Cup Front room have briefly develop into a fan favourite for a similar causes. In reality, the entire is inexplicably higher than the sum of its scrumptious portions.
The onion rolls are probably the most peak 3 bread services and products in all of Walt Disney Global, proper up there with Sanaa and Sebastian’s Bistro. They’re dense, buttery, and flaky, permitting you to peel off their layers…like an onion! We order those each time we dine at Yachtsman Steakhouse, and I used to be tempted to get a standalone order of them at Staff’s Cup Front room, too.
The high rib is in a similar fashion unbelievable. It’s gentle, thinly-sliced (however no longer shaved), and served heat. The beef is juicy and has the very best quantity of fats for taste. This combo by myself is a top of the range and scrumptious one-two punch, and the sliders could be unbelievable with out the rest.
The additionally very good horseradish cream truly places them excessive, even though.
All it takes is a mild quantity to reinforce the flavour of the already very good meat and onion rolls. You don’t wish to get too heavy-handed, since the high rib and roll will have to have the starring function. (Get it? Talking of which, we truly omit Starring Rolls Cafe. Any other factor to carry again, Disney.)
The au jus used to be tremendous. I’ve 0 proceedings about it, however felt it didn’t upload up to the horseradish; the 2 in combination had been an excessive amount of. For the sake of analysis, I additionally examined the Black Garlic Aïoli with the Top Rib Sliders. This is superb on just about the whole lot, however I discovered it to be a tad an excessive amount of right here. Once more, the onion rolls and high rib are so just right on their very own that you simply truly don’t need the rest moving into the way in which of that.
Talking of which, the Top Rib Sliders are served with the house-made chips, that are additionally a stand-alone menu merchandise (Space-made Chips with Smoked Paprika Salt and served with Black Garlic Aïoli).
Those had been tasty, however not anything to jot down house about. At very best, a slight improve to the slightly usual house-made chips served round Walt Disney Global.
The problem, from my viewpoint, used to be that the chips paired with the Black Garlic Aïoli had been simply an excessive amount of. And I say this as any individual who loves Black Garlic Aïoli. It didn’t lend a hand that my chips had been bathed in that smoked paprika salt.
Alternatively, the Truffle Fries had been unbelievable. Those are Hand-cut Fries lined in Herbed Parmesan and served with that very same Black Garlic Aïoli.
Those were a staple of the Staff’s Cup Front room menu for so long as I will have in mind. A minimum of a decade. A part of the explanation we beloved the burger again within the day used to be getting a substitution of the Truffle Fries to head together with it.
The presentation has modified somewhat through the years and the accompanying sauce is other, however those hang up. They’re each bit the all-star these days that there have been 10 years in the past. And that’s uncommon with Walt Disney Global menus.
Those house-made fries could be very good on their very own, however we all know that desserts make the rest higher. That plus the wealthy Black Garlic Aïoli makes those fries superb. It’s virtually superior overload, however not like the chips, the flavors simply paintings in combination.
The Truffle Fries at Staff’s Cup Front room are a flawless, 10/10 no notes aspect. You will have to order those.
With all of those reward heaped on Staff’s Cup Front room, it’s not with out problems.
My grievance again within the day used to be that the whole lot stored getting costlier. Marvel, wonder: that’s nonetheless true! On this case, I’d be much less frustrated by way of worth will increase over the process ~5 years since the whole lot has long past up. No longer simply at Walt Disney Global. In every single place.
The larger factor is that my go-to meal right here used to include 3 Top Rib Sliders and had been served with an aspect of fries (which you will or would possibly not were in a position to improve to Truffle Fries) that used to be the case the final time I ordered those, on March 3, 2020. As of 2025, it’s two sliders and the inferior chips. You continue to may be able to improve to Truffle Fries because the aspect–I didn’t check out. (It used to be hit and miss prior to now; I believe that’s nonetheless true.)
I hate complaining about this kind of factor, as “shrinkflation” is ubiquitous, and it isn’t precisely useful to somebody studying this. K, cool tale dude. Let me move bounce proper in my time gadget and return 5 years to when the whole lot used to be larger and less expensive. Maximum of you most likely don’t have time machines, and people who do may just more than likely put them to higher use than acquiring greater and more economical sliders. I dunno.
Except the triumphant go back of the Top Rib Sliders, the opposite explanation why I paid a discuss with to Staff’s Cup Front room used to be to look at the Detroit Lions recreation on a display screen greater than my telephone. One of the vital causes I didn’t truly care about dropping ESPN Membership used to be as a result of I’ve at all times most popular staring at video games right here.
The lighting fixtures is low right here, it’s normally lovely quiet and uncrowded (as you’ll be able to see from my pictures) particularly previous within the night time. To each and every their very own, however I’m no longer truly keen on sports activities bars–I favor bars that occur to air sports activities. One individual’s “high-energy” surroundings is any other’s obnoxious one. I’d reasonably watch the sport in peace, and that’s doubly true if Sarah is with me–it’s a compromise that we’re consuming someplace with a tv, within the first position. Your mileage would possibly range on that, even though.
The interior of the Staff’s Cup Front room is subtle and upscale–precisely what you’d be expecting from the Yacht Membership. It has an abundance of masculine woods, and strikes a chord in my memory of a quiet position Teddy Roosevelt would come for some whisky after a protracted day of sculling. Even supposing you don’t get down with rowing, it’s the very best position to decompress throughout an afternoon at EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Listed below are extra pictures of the internal of Staff’s Cup Front room, together with seating and thematic main points and the encircling house (for the ones unfamiliar with Yacht Membership):
The secret’s that if you happen to’re eating at Staff’s Cup for the primary time these days, unburdened by way of the data that they was once larger and less expensive, you’ll love those Top Rib Sliders and the Truffle Fries. We’d extremely suggest inquiring along with your server as as to if it’s imaginable to replace the chips for fries because the slider’s aspect.
As for the opposite pieces at the menu, the Lobster Bisque soup used to be very good the final time we had it at Yachtsman Steakhouse. I don’t have any use for salads with the exception of as a way to an finish (healthiness, I suppose), so I’m the improper individual to study the ones. I’ve heard just right issues, if that’s your jam.
I’m additionally no longer in particular fascinated by charcuterie or shrimp cocktails in a cafe atmosphere until it’s one thing truly particular (so principally, simply St. Elmo’s). In a different way, I believe like I will organize meats and cheeses on a plate at house; similar is going for shrimp.
To be absolutely clear, I point out all of those different dishes on goal…so I don’t really feel guilted into ordering that stuff sooner or later “for analysis” once I return. I do hope that Staff’s Cup additional distinguishes itself from Yachtsman Steakhouse and brings again a couple of extra long-lost menu pieces, as there are some gem stones which were misplaced to time.
For now, I already know my favourite pieces at the present menu at Staff’s Cup are, with out query, the Top Rib Sliders and the Truffle Fries. I will be able to be striking this actual order “for amusing” at Walt Disney Global sooner or later, which is the best reward I will give any meal–that I’d vote with my pockets/abdomen and purchase it over and over again.
Those two dishes on this decompressing atmosphere whilst staring at the Detroit Lions and seated subsequent to the butcher’s window are about probably the most Distinctly Patriotic enjoy you’ll be able to have at Walt Disney Global. It’s all sufficient to overpower the senses and make Sam Eagle (who’s no longer a Birds fan!) shed a unmarried tear.
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Your Ideas
Have you ever dined at Staff’s Cup Front room in Yacht Membership Hotel at Walt Disney Global? In the event you’ve had the Top Rib Sliders or the Truffle Fries, how would you price them? Suppose famed Detroit Lions fan Sam Eagle (that’s canon now) would dub this probably the most Distinctly Patriotic WDW eating enjoy? Do you compromise or disagree with eating place evaluate? Any questions we will will let you solution? Listening to comments about your studies is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas beneath within the feedback!
