REVIEW: This EPCOT Pavilion Is Hiding One of Disney's BEST Restaurants

You know, sometimes the best experiences happen at places you didn’t even realize were there.

Since Disney World has over 200 places to eat at, it makes sense that there’d be some that you’d walk right by… completely unaware. If you ask us, some of those specific spots are the best restaurants on Disney World property. Come along as we check one out!

Background

Garden Grill Restaurant is perched above the Living with the Land attraction in EPCOT’s The Land Pavilion.

It’s a character dining restaurant that offers “all you care to enjoy” family-style meals, served directly to your table. What makes it extra special is that it slowly rotates, giving diners unique views of various scenes from the Living with the Land ride below.

A look into Living with the Land from Garden Grill

Beyond just the setting, Garden Grill features meet-and-greets with your favorite Disney characters like Mickey, Chip, Dale, and Pluto. It’s perfect for families or anyone looking for that signature Disney charm. The restaurant doesn’t just focus on the ambiance and characters. It also serves up some seriously comforting food.

Atmosphere

Like we mentioned, one of the coolest things about Garden Grill is the fact that it rotates! Yup, the entire restaurant is on a slow-moving platform that gives you an ever-changing view as you dine. The rotation is so gentle that you might not even notice it at first, but it provides a fun twist to the experience, especially if you’re into Living with the Land.

The seating itself is cozy, with booths that face outward towards the attraction. It’s a snug spot, and the booths make it feel a bit more private, which is nice considering it’s a character meal where a lot of people are often up and down for photos. Plus, if you’re dining with kids, they’ll be delighted when Mickey, Chip, Dale, and Pluto come to your table for some quality face time.

What’s even better is that we saw the characters not once, not twice, but three times during our meal. They’re incredibly interactive, and you can take home a cute little card with all their autographs.

And let’s be honest: when Disney characters are involved, no one’s ever too old for a selfie!

But enough about all that. It’s time to talk about the FOOD!

Food & Drinks

Garden Grill serves a family-style feast, meaning you get a whole spread of dishes delivered to your table, and you can ask for more of whatever you love. It’s simple, hearty fare but delicious all the same. For adults, you’re looking at $62.00 for the meal, and for the kiddos ages 3-9, it’s $40.

Things kicked off with a nice little selection of cornbread, honey butter, ranch with veggies (carrots and celery), and a Garden Harvest Salad.

The cornbread was served warm in a cute little skillet and paired perfectly with that honey butter. It’s a simple touch but so comforting.

The salad, with its fresh veggies, olives, and a light vinaigrette, hit the spot. It felt light and refreshing before we dove into the heavier main course.

Also, don’t knock the carrots and celery. It’s a good way to balance out what’s coming.

Now on to the main course. This was delivered all in one big skillet, and let me tell you, this is where the “all you care to enjoy” part really comes into play.

The chimichurri steak was easily the standout. The steak was perfectly cooked, tender, thinly sliced, and loaded with garlicky chimichurri sauce. We asked for seconds of this without hesitation.

The turkey with gravy is classic. It’s like Thanksgiving comfort food but lighter, so you don’t feel weighed down. The mashed potatoes were super buttery and smooth but still had just the right amount of chunkiness for texture.

As for the green beans, they were buttery and so good that we literally craved them days later. We’re talking “maybe go back just for the green beans” kind of good.

The mac and cheese was a fun addition. It had Goldfish crackers sprinkled on top, which we admit made us a little nervous at first, like, is this for kids or adults?

But the crunch from the Goldfish added a playful vibe and was a surprising hit. Plus, Chip and Dale kept joking about how they made the mac and cheese, which added a cute layer of character interaction.

Now let’s talk dessert. The meal ended on a high note with the seasonal farmer’s apple pie.

It was warm, comforting, and served with a scoop of melty vanilla ice cream. Overall, the meal is filling but not too heavy, so you’ll definitely have room for dessert.

Magic or Tragic?

If you’re thinking about visiting Garden Grill, stop by:

It has great character interactions: You’ll get plenty of face time with Mickey, Chip, Dale, and Pluto. We saw them at least two to three times, and they’re great at keeping the energy up with every visit.
It’s got delicious, comforting food: The chimichurri steak, buttery mashed potatoes, and those addictive green beans make it worth the trip. Plus, the whole meal is served family-style, so you can keep asking for more of your favorites.
It’s got a unique atmosphere: The fact that the whole restaurant rotates and gives you a look into Living with the Land adds an extra layer of magic to the meal. If you love that ride, this dining experience will feel like a behind-the-scenes look.

You should skip dining at Garden Grill if:

If you’re looking for a quiet, more adult dining experience, this probably isn’t it.
If you’re a picky eater or looking for an elevated dining menu, the family-style menu might not work for you. While the food is good, it’s also pretty standard comfort fare.
Garden Grill isn’t the cheapest dining option in EPCOT, especially for what could be considered a glorified Thanksgiving meal. If you’re on a tight budget, you might want to consider other options.