Disney World’s Spice Road Table dining experiment is a winner
Late last year Disney took over the Morocco pavilion in EPCOT because the company that was running the pavilion came into financial woes due to COVID-19. Disney has reopened the Spice Road Table restaurant in the pavilion, but a bit different than before.
This time, Disney has created a lounge experience. The menu is tapas style with small shareable plates. So, if you are looking for a traditional meal, you are not going to get it here. What Disney is now offering is more of a “Taste” of Morocco.
I call this a culinary experiment on the part of Disney because while people have no problem eating bites when going around to various festival kiosks, but it seems tapas has not been popular when tried at many restaurants.
The plus of this type of dining, especially during the pandemic health and safety measures, guarantees a place to sit down, remove your mask and have a meal, instead of holding a plate or looking for a table along the walkway. You won’t be spending a lot of time, and you can eat and drink as much as you want, or just come in for a quick bite and leave to try other cuisines at the kiosks.
The Mediterranean small plates are perfect for sharing and the food is delicious. Once you place your order, be aware that the food will come out once it is prepared. So there will not be a specific order of arrival.
For a quick lunch, the two of us ordered the Naan Spreads, which comes with Hummus, Chermoula, Marinated Olives and Za’atar; the Pomegranate-Chili Crispy Cauliflower with Red Pepper Aleppo Sauce; and so we could have taste of everything we ordered the Road Table Sampler with Lamb Kefta, Tzatziki, Spiced Chicken and Tiropitakia (miniature Greek feta cheese pies).
Everything was fresh and tasty. If you normally turn your nose up to the idea of cauliflower or have never thought of trying cauliflower, the tasty Pomegranate-Chili Crispy Cauliflower with a great glazed sauce is a perfect introduction.
The sampler just made us wanting more and well, you can never go wrong with nana and dips.
As a lounge, Spice Road Table offers a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks from various mimosas to a Moroccan Mule to a Medina Mixer.
The one thing that we both wish would be offered that is now missing on the menu and in the pavilion is shawarma. Add that to the menu and I would be stopping by every week.
Here’s a look at the menu:
Drink menu
- Mahiarita – Fig Brandy, Agave, Lime Juice, Sumac Salt, and Pomegranate Seeds
- Pomegranate Mimosa
- Hibiscus Mimosa
- Blood Orange Mimosa
- Moroccan Mule – Fig Vodka, Ginger Beer, Agave, and Lime
- Medina Mixer – African Rum, Tangerine Liqueur, and Cranberry Juice
- Sahara Spritz – Botanical Cucumber and Mint Vodka, Soda Water, and Lime
- Iced Mint Tea with Gin
- Moroccan Hot Tea Service (nonalcoholic)
- Iced Mint Tea (nonalcoholic)