The 2023 Foodie Awards have just been given out by the Orlando Sentinel, the city’s daily newspaper, and fourteen restaurants on Walt Disney World property received recognition.
The Foodie Awards have two components: the Orlando Sentinel’s food critic Amy Drew Thompson, who picks her faves in each category, and readers who are invited to submit votes in the same categories.
Here are the Walt Disney World restaurants chosen best of by both the critic, and the readers, in the 2023 Foodie Awards:
Best Theme Park Restaurant
Critic’s Choice:
Winner: Nomad Lounge (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
Runners-up: Spice Road Table (Epcot) and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Thompson called Nomad Lounge: “one of the cutest bar-eats venues in the realm.” Of Spice Road Table, she noted its waterfront views and its veg-friendly menu.
And her love of kitsch is why Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater ended up one of her picks. Can’t say I blame her. The atmosphere is a fave of mine, too.
Reader’s Picks:
Now the readers picked a non-Disney restaurant for their winner, but both Le Cellier Steakhouse (Epcot) and Tiffins Restaurant (Disney’s Animal Kingdom) were runners-up in voting.
Best Splurge Restaurant
Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Restaurant was chosen by readers as a runner-up in this category, as was Bull & Bear at the Waldorf Astoria Bonnet Creek.
Best African Restaurant
Readers picked Boma – Flavors of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as their top pick in this category, and Jiko – The Cooking Place in the resort as a runner-up.
Best German Restaurant
Readers picked Biergarten Restaurant at EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion as a runner-up in this category.
Best Hotel Restaurant
Readers picked Bull & Bear at the Waldorf Astoria Bonnet Creek as a runner-up in this category.
Best Irish Restaurant
Raglan Road at Disney Springs nabbed the Critic’s Choice award in this category, along with runner-up as chosen by readers.
Of her pick, Thompson said the restaurant “pairs authenticity and truly exemplary takes on Irish fare with undeniable Disney Springs flair.”
Best Spanish Restaurant
Critic’s Choice
Winner: Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood (Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort)
Runners-up: Jaleo (Disney Springs)
Of her pick, Thompson noted the “insane views from the rooftop of the Coronado” along with the food for Toledo’s top spot.
Best Wine Bar
Readers picked Wine Bar George at Disney Springs as a runner-up in this category.
Congratulations to all of these restaurants for being recognized this year. If you had to pick, what would be your choice for Best Disney Restaurant? Let us know in the comments.