One of our favourite desk service eating places in EPCOT and considered one of Walt Disney World’s most underrated eateries actually hiding in plain sight is Spice Road Table. With it providing same-day Candlelight Processional eating packages, we figured it’d be value revisiting our most up-to-date meal to give you an concept of whether or not Spice Road Table is value it.
For starters, we’ll rapidly recap the ‘saga’ of Spice Road Table in the previous couple of years. Shortly after reopening, Walt Disney World took over operations of the Morocco pavilion from Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant LLC. That third get together working participant that beforehand ran all the eating places and retail within the pavilion was now not financially viable, with the closure and low crowds post-reopening being the final straw.
Walt Disney World instantly started making adjustments to the Morocco pavilion, most of which have really been enhancements. More coloration, design particulars, and thematic thrives have been added to plenty of areas to offer them extra persona and depth. It hasn’t all been good, with the beloved Tangierine Cafe remodeling right into a everlasting pageant “booth” and questionable merchandise selections made in a number of the outlets.
However, fan considerations that Disney would “Aladdinify” the Morocco pavilion have largely been unfounded (for now). Instead, it’s extra like Imagineering was wanting to get in and make plenty of little adjustments that had been bugging creatives for years. Oh, and so they additionally eliminated a definite phallic form on one wall that had grow to be a well-liked picture spot. So that was in all probability a bummer for the children who loved selfie shenanigans.
About the one factor we view as believable is an idea change is for Restaurant Marrakesh (pictured beneath). As we’ve talked about elsewhere, we anticipate that to be one of many final eating places to reopen at Walt Disney World, and I’d wager cash on it turning into a personality eating expertise. Between its tucked away location and delicacies that was beforehand too adventurous for common visitors, I don’t see how Walt Disney World can enhance that restaurant’s reputation with out turning it into a personality meal.
Even as a (recovering) EPCOT purist and one who liked the outdated Restaurant Marrakesh, that doesn’t trouble me within the least. Just think about a hijinks-centric “street rat” character meal throughout which Aladdin and Abu run across the restaurant playfully pickpocket from visitors or take from their plates. Families would in all probability pay huge bucks for that have, and Chapek is salivating on the concept of charging visitors extra to steal from them. (Not that he hasn’t been already doing it for the final two years!)
But I digress. This is a evaluate of Spice Road Table, not armchair Imagineering about Chapek’s dream to rob visitors and have them prefer it. In the case of Spice Road Table, no theft of any type is happening–only a good meal at comparatively cheap costs (by Walt Disney World requirements). Let’s have a look…
The final time we reviewed Spice Road Table, the restaurant had launched a menu of extra substantial entrees per different desk service eating places at Walt Disney World. When it initially opened in early 2014, it was a Mediterranean small plates or tapas restaurant.
When Walt Disney World resumed possession of the Morocco pavilion, they reintroduced the Mediterranean small plates idea. What’s outdated is new once more. The solely actual distinction was a (barely) completely different and extra restricted menu, with the extra adventurous choices eliminated.
For our first plate, we ordered the Naan Spreads: Hummus, Chermoula, Marinated Olives, Za’atar.
This is mainly a story of two dishes. Even as I take a look at the picture now, my mouth is watering. Both the hummus and za’atar have been excellent, with the hummus being easy, creamy and wealthy whereas the za’atar had an addictively sturdy savory and piquant high quality (I appreciated it much more than Sarah did). The olives have been additionally a pleasant contact in rounding out the dish.
Unfortunately, the naan tasted like somebody went out to Publix or Costco and acquired the stuff in bulk. It was dry and one-note, inferior to the stuff we purchase from the freezer at Trader Joe’s. The spreads have been sufficient to masks this–and I’d get this once more due to that–nevertheless it was a bit disappointing that the naan couldn’t stand by itself. This has the potential to rival the bread service at Sanaa, however for now, it falls brief.
Next, the plant-based Pomegranate-Chili Crispy Cauliflower: Red Pepper Aleppo Sauce.
Regrettably, increasingly menus at Walt Disney World now have cauliflower rather than rooster or an precise fried meals. This means my cauliflower consumption, as soon as confined to the house, has elevated at eating places. In each instances, I don’t have a lot say within the matter.
While I don’t like this development, I can’t fault this particular dish. It was improbable. Between the crisp exterior coating and the sauce, quite a bit is working onerous to masks the cauliflower taste–and fairly efficiently. I wouldn’t order this voluntarily if eating alone, however I gained’t complain the following time Sarah desires to get it. I suppose that qualifies as an endorsement?
Our ultimate tapas plate was the Spice Road Table Sampler: Lamb Kefta, Spiced Chicken and Tiropitakia. (Pictured above with the hummus–the sampler is simply the underside plate.)
If you’re doing the Candlelight Processional eating package deal, that is an apparent choose in order for you the very best bang to your buck. Not solely is it the costliest of the choices, nevertheless it’s the most important one with essentially the most selection.
Even below new administration, the lamb kefta is precisely nearly as good because it has all the time been.
This has been a staple of the Morocco pavilion’s varied eating places and meals cubicles for years–together with at Spice Road Table. The meat is mouth wateringly scrumptious, juicy, and flavorful with only a trace of mint to stability out the gentle gaminess. This is my favourite factor on the menu.
I don’t recall spiced rooster beforehand being on the menu, however that is one other sturdy dish.
It’s not extremely spicy, however there’s a little bit of kick right here with the ras el hanout spice mix within the sauce soaking into the naan and rooster. Sarah positively appreciated this a bit greater than I did–she’s an enormous fan of butter rooster and tikka masala, and thought this might maintain its personal in opposition to ‘real world’ restaurant variations of these dishes.
The final of the dishes within the sampler is the Tiropitakia.
Although I really like the lamb kefta greater than the rest, it is a very shut second. The flaky phyllo pastry had simply the correct quantity of doughiness coupled with that cheese-filled middle…it was simply pure bliss. The cucumber-tomato relish was additionally improbable, and will’ve been a properly refreshing relish to offset the savory pastry, however I most popular to take pleasure in them individually and let every converse for themselves.
This cross-section picture doesn’t even start to the do the Tiropitakia justice.
If it have been as much as me, I’d order this and the lamb kefta as standalone dishes. However, Sarah liked the sampler and located every of them to be worthwhile. (Unsurprisingly, she didn’t love the Tiropitakia as a lot as I did, so our rankings right here would differ.) Bottom line, although, is that every part on the sampler is a standout. It simply so occurs that I love two of the dishes and “only” actually like the opposite.
During a earlier meal, we had additionally ordered the Fried Calamari with Rémoulade and Harissa Sauce.
This was considered one of my two favourite objects on the earlier menu of Spice Road Table, and it holds up. In equity, there’s solely “good” and “great” calamari in my guide, however this positively skews in the direction of the latter. Hearty parts of flavorful seafood plus a relatively mild quantity of batter is a profitable mixture. Highly advisable.
We’ve additionally finished the House-made Hummus Fries with Citrus Chipotle and Preserved Lemon sauces many, many instances.
This dish is a sore topic for me. These hummus fries debuted at one of many EPCOT festivals about 5 years in the past, and have been twice the scale and half the worth. No joke. They have been an instantaneous smash success as a result of they style nice and supplied nice worth for cash on the time. Even although I nonetheless take pleasure in them–the feel and refreshing zest make the dish a winner–I can’t recover from the worth now versus then. Without this “burden of knowledge,” I’d in all probability simply order and love the present model.
To conclude the present meal, we ordered the Dessert Platter consisting of various Moroccan pastries.
This choice adjustments seasonally, or maybe extra regularly. The Karithopita (Greek walnut cake) is the staple, however the different two differ relying on the pastry chef’s whim.
The Greek walnut cake was completely improbable, a cinnamony and syrupy dense dessert that was candy however not overpoweringly so. Like so many Moroccan pastries, it supplied unimaginable vary and nuance because of the spices used. The almond cookie was dry-but-good, and grew on me with every chunk. The Kataifi roll was one other improbable dessert, with the same amongst of textural and taste vary because the walnut cake (and completely completely different flavors).
The dessert platter is actually good and extremely advisable. Even with the one okay cookie, we completely liked this and would eagerly order it once more simply to attempt a special set of pastries.
All in all, an excellent ending to an excellent meal. The tapas we ordered price us solely somewhat greater than eating at a counter service restaurant, and possibly have been about equal in value to grazing round pageant cubicles in World Showcase–however with every part delivered to our desk somewhat than standing in a bunch of separate traces.
As for whether or not Spice Road Table is definitely worth the cash as a Candlelight Processional eating package deal, that actually relies upon upon how a lot you worth your time. Given that all the Advance Dining Reservations for Candlelight Processional eating packages booked up inside minutes of being launched, that is actually your solely choice apart from Regal Eagle Smokehouse.
If you need the knowledge of seats for Candlelight Processional and don’t have any need to attend within the standby line, doing the Spice Road Table Candlelight Processional eating package deal might be a good suggestion. You’ll additionally possible find yourself with a greater view than through standby, until you line up properly upfront. (If you’re a vacationer, your trip time is simply too useful to do this. Camping out in standby is essentially a neighborhood’s sport.)
While you continue to would possibly be capable to rating an ADR for the Candlelight Processional elsewhere, you’ll be reliant on cancellations or extra capability being added; Spice Road Table and Regal Eagle Smokehouse are the one two same-day Candlelight Processional eating package deal eating places. Of course, since you may solely do these day-of, you may all the time preserve making an attempt for Advance Dining Reservations till the final minute. (As all the time, we’d suggest checking ADRs late at evening the day earlier than.)
For our half, we have been shut out of the Candlelight Processional eating package deal ADR sweepstakes. I’m nonetheless holding out hope for a cancellation, however failing that, we are going to in all probability do the same-day eating package deal–it actually is determined by how unhealthy traces are for the 8:30 pm performances on weeknights. If we do the same-day package deal, we’ll select Spice Road Table over Regal Eagle.
Just understand that you’re paying a major premium as in comparison with the common menu at Spice Road Table. Honestly, although, the identical might be stated about actually each restaurant that gives the Candlelight Processional eating package deal–and the remainder offered like hotcakes.
The price of the Candlelight Processional eating package deal at Spice Road Table is $52 per individual (the picture above is from final 12 months, therefore the cheaper price displayed). That’s for two small plates, a non-alcoholic drink, dessert platter, and assured seating. The minimal out of pocket worth of the meals is $28; the utmost worth is $45.
Ultimately, whether or not it’s value it to pay a premium of $7 to $24 per individual for the assured Candlelight Processional seating is a private query. The consensus amongst Walt Disney World trip planners is clearly that these packages are value it, however we’d contend that FOMO drives manner an excessive amount of of that.
Our meal at Spice Road Table–for each of us–price below $50 and we left fairly full, however not stuff. I might simply see doing a big lunch right here and spending $40 per individual. That looks as if an inexpensive quantity to spend at Spice Road Table. Our extra measured, FOMO-free perspective is that Candlelight Processional eating packages are value a $10 to $15 per individual premium. To every their very own on that, although.
What we will conclusively say is that Spice Road Table has good delicacies and is a worthwhile eating choice amidst the ocean of strong delicacies in World Showcase. It’s not the very best restaurant and even as enjoyable as grazing EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays cubicles, nevertheless it’s a pleasant, stress-free expertise on the water with tasty and inventive-but-approachable meals. We can’t give a definitive reply as to whether or not the Candlelight Processional eating package deal is definitely worth the cash, however hopefully we’ve given you the data needed to attract the conclusion for your self!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you dined at Spice Road Table since Walt Disney World took management and restored the tapas menu? What did you consider the meal? Do you assume Spice Road Table is “worth it” as a same-day choice for the Candlelight Processional eating package deal? Anything you ordered that you simply significantly appreciated or disliked? Where do you assume Spice Road Table ranks among the many eating places which are presently open at Epcot? Any questions we might help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!