Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
157
T-Rex Cafe
Kids
AMERICAN Families will find this paleontologist's paradise a fun
diversion thanks to its prehistoric environment—think Rainforest Cafe only several
thousand or so years earlier. The menu, while varied, is filled with familiar favorites
(rotisserie chicken, ribs, salads, and the like) but with a slightly creative twist (and fun
names). The Footprints Flatbread is topped with melted cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan,
and goat cheeses; rotisserie chicken; and caramelized onions drizzled with a balsamic
glaze—a tasty way to start off your meal (and large enough to share), while it may take
the entire family to finish the Chocolate Extinction—a decadent dessert that's got it
all—vanilla ice cream, chocolate fudge cake, whipped cream, and caramel drizzle. A
thematic decor inspired by water, fire, and ice combines with animatronic dinosaurs,
glowing rooms, bubbling geysers, meteor showers, and a slew of other prehistoric special
effects to create this unique Disney dining experience. Waits can average around 2 hours
(just like at the Rainforest listed above) unless you've made advance reservations.
Downtown Disney Marketplace; near McDonald's.
&
407/828-8739.
www.trexcafe.com. Advance Res-
ervations recommended. Main courses $11-$40 lunch and dinner (most less than $25). AE, DC, DISC, MC,
V. Sun-Thurs 10:30am-11pm; Fri-Sat 10:30am-midnight. Free self-parking.
DISNEY'S WEST SIDE
Moderate
Bongo's Cuban Cafe
Overrated
CUBAN Singer Gloria Estefan and her husband,
Emilio, created this restaurant with high expectations. Its exterior, with a giant pineapple
standing tall against the Downtown Disney skyline, is hard to miss. The interior is Art
Deco with a Havana flavor and includes colorful tile mosaics and hand-painted wall
murals of Cuba in its heyday. A Desi Arnaz impersonator gets things going every night
as the restaurant fills with loud Latin music. Alas, while visually appealing, the food isn't
great, though the prices say it ought to be. The
churrasco
(a thin, tenderized steak) can't
match what you find in Rolando's (p. 174). The
ropa vieja
(shredded beef ) is tasty but
dry, and the
arroz con pollo
(chicken with yellow rice) would be a highlight if the portion
matched the price. The best bet: The Cuban sandwich—thin, toasted bread with ham,
pork, and cheese—is safe and sanely priced. For a more relaxing experience, grab a drink
at the bar (just know that the bongo-shaped barstools can be difficult to manage after a
few drinks), or sit a spell out on the patio lounge upstairs.
1498 Buena Vista Dr., in Disney's West Side.
&
407/828-0999.
www.bongoscubancafe.com. Reserva-
tions not accepted. Lunch $8-$17; dinner $16-$33 (many less than $20). AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11am-
2am. Free self-parking.
5
House of Blues
SOUTHERN CREOLE Most folks come for the blues bands and
Sunday's gospel brunch, a foot-tapping, thigh-slapping musical affair worth high marks
on the entertainment side. (The omelets are good, and there are enough fillers—bacon,
salads, dessert, and bread—that few leave hungry.) The average food has a New Orleans
flavor and includes such offerings as pan-seared voodoo shrimp; gumbo with smoked
turkey and shrimp; and Creole jambalaya with shrimp, chicken, ham, andouille sausage,
and roasted green onions. The rustic backwater bayou interior has a Cajun voodooish
sort of feel and is by far the most interesting in Downtown Disney, filled (literally) with
bottle caps and buttons, skeletal etchings, and hand-painted folk art. Do check out the
restrooms; they're decorated with that diamond plating seen on the beds of some pickup
trucks, especially in the South.
