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Plaza Restaurant
(photos below)
When one thinks of the best dining experiences available at the Walt Disney
World Resort, few of the Magic Kingdom's restaurants are likely to be at the top
of the list. Sure, all of the table service establishments, and many of the
counter service eateries offer good food and a fun atmosphere in which to eat--I
personally love to dine at quite a few of them! However, even at the higher end
of the Magic Kingdom's dining spectrum, the food tends to be aimed at pleasing
the whole family, as it should.
While I enjoy many of the more unusual dishes offered in restaurants all around
WDW, often I find
myself wanting to be able to sit back and relax during a meal, to be able to glance over a menu and make a
quick and easy decision without having to think about which entree will be better suited to my tastes.
The Plaza restaurant on Main Street U.S.A. is just such a place. 
Order Coffee and you'll get a pot,
cup, and creamer
The Plaza is a Victorian-era restaurant, which fits in nicely with the Main Street U.S.A. theme. The menu
features a nice assortment of sandwiches, along with soup and salad. The desserts are very nice here, including lots of floats
and related ice cream concoctions. Nothing is unusual--you'll probably recognize everything listed here! The menu remains the same all day, so whether you're having lunch or dinner, you'll
enjoy the same menu (and the same prices).
My favorite item here is the grilled cheesesteak sandwich--a hoagie stuffed with shaved beef grilled with onions and peppers and topped with
cheese. This is a really yummy sandwich, and one I like to have from time to time, whether I'm at home or at the World! For vegetarians, there's a vegetable sandwich which is quite tasty as well.
It includes cucumber, tomato, lettuce, and other items, with a nice vinaigrette--it's somewhat like a salad on focaccia bread! While filling, this one doesn't leave you feeling as though you've overeaten, though it does look large when it arrives at your table. The sandwiches are served with your choice of potato salad or french fries.
A special treat was the delicious tomato biaque soup as appetizer.
Beware the slow refills here! After waiting too long
between refills several time,
we finally asked the server to bring (2) glasses of tea for each of us--and she
did it without a squabble!
Several years ago, I ate at the Plaza and ordered the cheesesteak sandwich. When it arrived at my table, I was shocked at the small size (it was probably a 6-inch hoagie bun)
of the sandwich. I even complained to my server, but she was unable to do anything for me. She told me that she heard the same thing from many of her guests.
A year or so later I returned, and this time found the hoagies larger--probably 8-inches--which is the current size. This is a better portion, though I'd really like to see the footlong bread size
offered here! I did notice that some of the other sandwiches (especially those seved on sliced bread) looked quite large. Additionally, the french fries aren't the best quality either. Picture frozen
Ore-Ida crinkle-cut fries! Not a big fan of any frozen fry, I was less than thrilled with this side, though I was able to get some A-1 steak sauce to dip them in (instead of catsup).
Fortunately, you may opt to have "homemade potato chips" instead of
the fries (or you can choose broccoli slaw)--the chips are a much better choice! 
Our party of (2) ordered
sandwiches--and this condiment plate came with them (shared
among our party)
The food portions, though not as hearty as perhaps they could be, are still adequate. Those with big appetites may choose this as a lunch location, while lighter eaters will find it satisfying for
either lunch or dinner.
The decor, the location, and the friendly, relaxed service you'll encounter here make the Plaza worth trying.
A really nice feature is the low prices. My party of two had appetizer soup, sandwiches, and iced tea, and
the bill was just under $30. The Plaza does accept the Tables in Wonderland
(formerly known as Disney Dining Experience) card for a 20% discount--which
totals up to significant savings here (after the Tables discount, our check was $24).
The front of the plaza restaurant blends seamlessly with the Main Street U.S.A. theme
Plenty of windows look out toward Cinderella Castle
Totally Victorian inside, this restaurant is
somewhat evocative of the Grand Floridian Cafe
Tomato Bisque Soup--one Soup of
the Day--it's very yummy!
Lunch/Dinner Menu (Updated
Saturday, January 30, 2010)
Kid's Menu (Updated
Saturday, January 30, 2010)
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