Diamond Horseshoe Table Service Wins Its Independence Through July 4th

Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

The Diamond Horseshoe Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom began offering table service on March 13 of this year.  I wrote about the menu offerings here.  Originally the table service was set to conclude on May 30, but as of right now, Advanced Dining Reservations are available through July 4 on the Walt Disney World website!  There has been no official word as to whether or not it will be extended again after July 4.

Have you experienced the table service offerings at the Diamond Horseshoe?  What did you think?  If not, are you going to go?

Fellow Magical DIStractions editor Bruce Berglind recently dined there and has the following to say:

We arrived over 20 minutes early for our ADR at this “new” restaurant.  This was not a problem, as we were seated immediately – only 3 of the 30 or so available tables were occupied.  This did not change during the hour or more we were there.  The Cast Members present were quite humorous and self-effacing as to how “popular” their location seemed to be.  For me, it was fun to be in the venue again – I had not been in the Diamond Horseshoe since Slue Foot Sue regularly starred in its live stage show in the 1970s.  The perimeter of the dining room is splendid, capturing the idealized look and feel of a Mississippi River saloon and dance hall.  However, detracting from this theme are Formica-topped tables one could find in any Ramada meeting room (where even they would undoubtedly cover them).  This, combined with a lack of other Guests nearby, contributed to a cold, stark ambiance.

The service is a hybrid of a several styles found in other Disney venues.  Cornbread and salad are served family style (think “Olive Garden”).  The salad is dressed with a chipotle ranch that has a respectable kick to it.  In spite of this, our 8-year-old daughter and her 7-year-old friend devoured it.  Typically both “spice spurners,” they both declared this to be extra tasty.  Entree and dessert orders are taken by a server in a traditional table service style.  The difference is, once one has completed an entree, another can be ordered in the Disney all-you-care-to-enjoy mode.  Portions are medium in size which makes this appealing.  My wife and I each enjoyed an entree, and then split a second.

Variety is limited to 3 entrees and 2 desserts, which may deter some from trying this dining option at its price-point (prix fixe at $33 for adults and $19 for children).  Entrees are BBQ pulled turkey over cornbread, spit-roasted ham with country beans, or stewed beef and mashed potatoes.  Each includes seasonal vegetables.  On the upside, all 3 were delicious – enough said!  But on the downside, in every instance, seasonal vegetables meant green beans.  This further exacerbates the variety problem at this restaurant.  It would not take much imagination to remedy this.  Desserts are an apple tart or a campfire brownie (chocolate brownie on a graham cracker crust, topped with toasted marshmallow).  Both were passable but not remarkable.

Cast Members were competent, attentive and engaging, with one exception: when asked our server replied that the brownies had walnuts.  I could tell she wasn’t sure so I followed up with a manager who assured us there were none.  Regardless my daughter, who has a nut allergy, refused to try the brownies.  We left satisfied, but my personal preference for a full meal in the Liberty Square and Frontierland area remains the Liberty Tree Tavern next door.

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