Disney4me Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 We’re stopping by Lotus Blossom Cafe today for a quick dinner and a line-free dining experience!Learn About:Lotus Blossom CafeEpcot RestaurantsDisney World RestaurantsThe counter service spot, located in Epcot’s China Pavilion, isn’t a frequent stop for me. That’s because, to be honest, there are just lots and lots of other things I’d rather eat around World Showcase. And during my few previous visits, I haven’t been exactly wowed by their offerings.But, you never know what you’re going to get with Disney restaurants; and since this is the Disney Food Blog after all, here we go!AtmosphereLotus Blossom Cafe is set back a bit within the China Pavilon. Really, among all of the beautiful Pavilions that make up the countries of World Showcase, China holds its own. The detail and decor here is stunning.Epcot’s China PavilionAnd even the Lotus Blossom Cafe is no exception from a decor perspective.View of the Restaurant’s Seating Area from the OutsideThe layout is, however, classic Disney counter service. The entrance leads directly to several registers. Join a queue (if there is one) and check out the menus before you place your order with the cast member cashier.Lotus Blossom Cafe Entrance and Ordering AreaOnce your food arrives, there’s both indoor and outdoor seating to choose from. And here’s a spot that may need a little clarification. Lotus Blossom Cafe’s seating is located in an open-air pavilion. So while the indoor seating is sheltered, it’s still open to the outdoors.Something else to note — every time I’ve been here, this place is absolutely spotless, and there is at least one cast member buzzing around, trying to make it even more so. While most Disney spots are pretty clean, Lotus Blossom en pointe.Indoor SeatingOutdoor seating is just that — situated along the edge of the restaurant, barely under cover of the roof. During the day, these tables can get their fair share of serious sunlight.Outdoor SeatingSee what I mean?View of Outdoor Seating During the DayAnd…um…that’s about it! Ordering area flanked by two open-air rooms for seating, and some outdoor tables as well. Pretty simple.EatsSo, here’s one comforting thought, if you’re already a fan of Lotus Blossom (and many of you tell me that you are) — in a World that’s ever changing, menu-wise, Lotus Blossom is pretty steady.You can begin with a few traditional Appetizers, like Potstickers and Pork and Vegetable Egg Rolls.Appetizers and Kids’ Picks — Click to EnlargeThe list of Entrees is a little more robust, but the options don’t seem to change up a whole lot.Entrees Menu — Click to EnlargeThe Beverage and Dessert Menu offers some Tsing Tao, Yuengling, and Plum Wine for a little “flavor,” along with two smoothies and two ice creams.Beverages and Desserts — Click to EnlargeI wasn’t terribly impressed with the potstickers the last time I sampled them. Here’s a pic from that visit to give you an idea.Pot StickersPot Stickers — Up CloseWe also sampled the Pork and Vegetable Egg Roll as part of the The Lucky Combo at the Joy of Tea kiosk — one of our favorite World Showcase snack stops. I’m confident that it’s the same offering you’ll get here, and it’s decent.Pork and Vegetable Egg RollPork and Vegetable Egg Roll — Cross SectionAs for entrees, we decided to try two different dishes. First up was the Orange Chicken. This was a substantial plate of plain Steamed Rice and chunks of battered and glazed white meat Chicken. I’d put this into the “frozen meal” or “not the best take-out you’ve ever had” column. In other words — I wouldn’t choose this over a sandwich at Les Halles or an entrée at Sunshine Seasons.Orange ChickenWe also sampled the Beef Noodle Bowl. With a large portion of sauteed Beef and fresh Spinach, this seems to me like a nice alternative to the normal breaded and deep fried options that pass for American Chinese food.Beef Noodle BowlUpon closer inspection of the dish, I also found a good portion of Rice Noodles in the broth, hiding beneath the beef and spinach. While it’s not the easiest dish to consume with disposable cutlery (I’d definitely recommend going the chopsticks route here) this was definitely the better choice on this visit.Beef Noodle Bowl — Up CloseI had tried the Caramel Ginger Ice Cream during a previous visit to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. (This was a while back…it’s not an offering on this year’s China Booth Menu.) While these flavors aren’t really my thing, I encourage you to try both options here and let us know what you think. After all, it’s pretty interesting to get out-of-the-ordinary options like this.Caramel Ginger Ice CreamFueled up, we were ready to take in Illuminations and enjoy the rest of our evening.OverallYou won’t get rave reviews from me about Lotus Blossom Cafe. For starters, there are just lots and lots and lots of other things I’d rather eat in all of Disney World in general, and at Epcot in particular.But if you really love quick service Chinese or you’re craving this flavor profile, then, well, there you go. So now I’d love to hear from you! Is Lotus Blossom Cafe one of your favorite stops in the Epcot World Showcase Pavilion? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts!Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts:Quick Bites: Pot Stickers and Pork Buns in Epcot’s China Pavilion Review: The Lucky Combo at the Joy of Tea in Epcot’s China Review: Green Tea Plum Slush at Joy of Tea in Epcot’s China Pavilion View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.