Best Amusement Park Restaurant
If you want something different from turkey legs and pizza on your next amusement park visit, you're in luck: over the years, many parks have expanded their culinary repertoire, turning standard fair food into destination dining. We're serving up our favorite amusement park restaurants that'll give you a taste of everything, from home cooking to creatively themed cuisine (chocolate burgers, anyone?) and fine dining. So put down the corn dog and pull up a seat at these popular park dining venues.
These 10 amusement park restaurants were selected by our featured panelists and contributors and voted on by readers as the best of the best.
1. Aunt Granny's Restaurant at Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, TN
Honey-glazed carrots, fried catfish, green beans, banana pudding—you may think you've stumbled into a Southern grandma's kitchen at the aptly named Aunt Granny's Restaurant. This award-winning eatery in Dollywood features home cooking at its best, with an all-you-can-eat buffet. You'll find healthy options too, such as oven-roasted herbed chicken and a salad bar. Be sure to pair your country cuisine with blackberry cobbler and an ice-cold sweet tea.
2. Granny Ogle's Ham 'n' Beans at Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, TN
Granny Ogle's Ham 'n' Beans at Dollywood is like sitting on the back porch for a family Sunday dinner: you can enjoy the breeze and shade as you chow down on chicken pot pie, deviled eggs and butter pecan cheesecake. Linger on the porch a little longer with a cup of Tennessee Mud, the restaurant's specialty coffee with hazelnut syrup and whipped marshmallow cream.
3. The Chocolatier at Hersheypark | Hershey, PA
Go for the wild chocolate milkshakes, then stay for the delicious street tacos and burgers (which also contain chocolate!) at Hersheypark's Chocolatier. While you savor your sugary treat, you can check out retired cars from vintage park rides that now grace the restaurant's dining room. Want to see current rides while you eat? Head to the rooftop patio and bar for a sweet view of the theme park.
4. Miss Lillian's Mill House at Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, TN
Come and get it! When the dinner bell rings, head to Miss Lillian's Mill House at Dollywood for a buffet filled with fried chicken, loaded baked potatoes and other stars of country cooking. After your last bite of baked beans or coleslaw, you can grab a buttery chess bar or a gooey brownie. And best of all, it's a surprisingly affordable place to feed your whole family in the park.
5. Biergarten Restaurant at EPCOT | Orlando, FL
At EPCOT's Biergarten Restaurant in the Germany Pavilion, it's always Oktoberfest! With your Jägermeister or stein of classic German lager in hand, you can feast on Bavarian favorites like bratwurst, schnitzel and apple strudel. Live polka music, a street festival atmosphere and a touch of Disney magic make this place wunderbar for adults and children alike.
6. Das Festhaus at Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, VA
Whether you're in the mood for knockwurst with sauerkraut or a pizza and a side of fries, the iconic Das Festhaus has something for every taste. Along with a variety of Bavarian and American cuisine, this cafeteria-style dining hall in Busch Gardens Williamsburg is known for its live shows, from oompah bands to German dance troupes. End your culinary journey through Germany with the popular Black Forest torte cake.
7. Liberty Tree Tavern at Disney's Magic Kingdom | Orlando, FL
It's Thanksgiving year-round at Magic Kingdom's Liberty Tree Tavern, where you'll find all-you-can-eat turkey and gravy, pot roast, mashed potatoes, stuffing and mac 'n' cheese. Other Early American favorites are celebrated too, such as apple cake, hard cider and the incredibly popular toffee cake. Take a moment to wander this cozy restaurant's six rooms, each with 18th-century decor dedicated to the nation's founders.
8. Le Cellier Steakhouse at EPCOT | Orlando, FL
When you walk under the stone arches and past the flickering candlelight of Le Cellier Steakhouse, you may forget you're in a theme park and not an estate wine cellar. Located in EPCOT's Canada Pavilion, this fine-dining restaurant elevates Canadian cuisine, from gourmet poutine and ale cheese soup to truffle scallops and rib eye steak. Complete your flavorful journey with sweet ice wine or a delicate maple crème brûlée.
9. Tusker House Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom | Orlando, FL
At Animal Kingdom's Tusker House Restaurant, you're in for a culinary safari through Africa! You'll love exploring the buffet's dishes, from tandoori chicken and braised beef to cauliflower curry and lentil salad. The eatery is most popular for its all-you-can-eat breakfast, where your kids can meet Donald Duck while enjoying Mickey waffles, fruit and bacon (and you can indulge in a Sunrise Margarita) before your day in the park.
10. Space 220 Restaurant at EPCOT | Orlando, FL
You'll be over the moon—and the earth—when you dine at Space 220 Restaurant in EPCOT. The restaurant's Stellarvator launches you to this one-of-a-kind culinary experience, a simulation in the stars 220 miles above the planet. Watch the amazing earthrise from the viewports before browsing the prix-fixe menu, which puts unique spins on salmon, short ribs and pad thai that pair nicely with a Galaxy Spritz or Black Hole Fashioned.
About Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards
Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For more details, read our terms and conditions. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readerschoice@newsweek.com.
Our Featured Panelists
With more than 20 years in journalism and content creation, Gretchen Pahia is a wife and mother of two teenage boys. With articles published in several publications, she is a recognized writer covering a variety of different topics including travel, dining, lifestyle, family and entertainment. You can follow along on Instagram @gpahia.
Linnea Bailey is an award-winning journalist specializing in travel and tourism. Her freelance work can be found in Southern Living, The Palm Beach Post, Florida Weekly, Modern Luxury, art&culture magazine, The Palm Beaches Blog and more. A former newspaper reporter, she now owns a communications company in West Palm Beach. Linnea is an active member of The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the North American Travel Journalists Association, the International Travel Writers Alliance, The Family Travel Association and The Adventure Travel Trade Association. She is a graduate of the University of Central Florida's journalism school. Learn more about her travels at www.linneabailey.com.
When Jacky took her first flight at age 17 to Spain, she hadn't stepped a foot outside of Chicago. As a broadcast journalist for 20 years, she always managed to bring her travels back to her Chicago audience with radio documentaries about the culture and characters of places she visited. She transitioned to print journalism (syndicated travel column via Tribune Media Services and Travel Columnist for the Daily Herald Chicago) and then to the web where she has written for numerous outlets such as CBS, LuxuryHotels.com, Examiner.com, AOL, USA Today and others. Follow her on Facebook.
Susan Lanier-Graham is founder and publisher of Wander With Wonder, an award-winning online travel journalism magazine. She has authored more than 75 books and hundreds of magazine articles while traveling the world over the past three decades. Susan's work has appeared in a variety of publications, including various AAA publications, TravelandLeisure.com, Hotels.com, Modern Luxury, WHERE publications, Fairmont.com, Marriott.com and more. Susan is a member of Society of American Travel Writers, International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association, and North American Travel Journalists Association. She is also a Certified California Wine Appellation Specialist.
Newsweek contributors speak from a variety of backgrounds and offer expertise in a wide range of subject areas.