Magic Kingdom’s counter service restaurant lineup has been a race to the underside for the final 5 years. There’s been zero competitors for first, whereas it’s like a 9-way tie for worst. Magic Kingdom is the weakest meals park at Walt Disney World, which is an absolute disgrace on condition that it’s the most well-liked park and has no scarcity of distinctive eating venues.
That’s exactly why we have been so excited concerning the information that one of many Magic Kingdom’s most mediocre meal spot was getting a brand-new menu! As you would possibly recall, Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe was beforehand lifeless to us. We wrote that piece, titled “The Loss of life of Pecos Invoice” just a little over a yr in the past, and the refrain of fifty+ reader feedback largely agreed. When it got here time to suppose up a “intelligent” title for this evaluate of the brand new menu at Pecos Invoice, the phrases “alive once more” and “worst to first” stored coming to thoughts.
Nevertheless, the previous didn’t make sense with out context, and the latter by some means wasn’t even true! By some means, Pecos Invoice was not beforehand the worst counter service restaurant in all of Magic Kingdom, which is basically saying one thing (and never an excellent factor). Moderately, it was the one with probably the most squandered potential. A high-capacity restaurant that might’ve been good and, at one time, was a spotlight. So mainly, this evaluate addresses whether or not the brand new menu delivers and helps Pecos Invoice reclaim the crown because the #1 counter service restaurant in Magic Kingdom…
Frankly, it has been shocking and disappointing that, on the identical time Chipotle Mexican Grill has risen in reputation, Walt Disney World had gone within the actual other way with Pecos Invoice. The menu had been dumbed down, delicacies high quality lowered, and many others. That is doubly true when you attempt the distinctive Donald’s Cantina on the Disney Treasure and Want. (Tangential, however the deck eating on the brand new ships is an actual spotlight.)
Fortunately, Walt Disney World is lastly undoing that harm. We received’t bury the lede: that is the most effective menu at Pecos Invoice in nearly a decade. Not precisely a excessive bar, because the outdated meals was terrible. But it surely’s as if somebody lastly dared to dream: what if meals on the world’s hottest theme park have been really edible?
Towards that backdrop, let’s dig into the brand new menu evaluate at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe…
For the reason that 4 core menu objects are Construct Your Personal Bowls, I’m going to begin by reviewing the trio of proteins that you would be able to select for any of those. Let’s begin with the Citrus-Chipotle Rooster.
The Citrus-Chipotle Rooster is my third-favorite protein choice, which isn’t a knock. There are beneficiant chunks of tender and juicy meat, which is flavorful and tastes prefer it’s really of an inexpensive high quality. The ‘notes’ of citrus and chipotle are delicate, however they’re there. If you happen to’re within the temper for hen, you’re not going flawed by ordering this–it simply wasn’t my private favourite.
Oh, and as for the dish pictured within the two pictures above, that’s the Grilled Masa Flatbread.
This corn-based, plant-based flatbread is already defunct. I can perceive why, because it didn’t fairly hit the identical excessive notes as the opposite entrees–and was an absolute mess to eat. I’m however barely disillusioned, because it was an creative entree that added menu selection. They need to’ve iterated on this (perhaps ditch the pretend cheese?) moderately than abandoning it. Oh properly.
Sooner or later since we final dined at Pecos Invoice (so inside the previous few weeks), they changed the Grilled Masa Flatbread with the Plant-based Rice Bowl with Not possible Meatballs in Crimson Chile Tomato Sauce, Pinto Beans, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Cowboy Caviar, and Lime “Crema.” We haven’t had an opportunity to attempt that but, however we discover Not possible “Meat”balls to be the most effective of the Not possible merchandise.
Our subsequent protein is the Inexperienced Chili Pork.
I actually like this pork. Virtually the precise description applies as for the hen–that is tender and juicy, and a beneficiant portion of meat is piled onto the bowl. The inexperienced chili taste is delicate even whenever you eat the pork by itself, and masked totally when combined into the bowl.
As somebody who ate on the outdated iteration of Pecos Payments a couple of too many instances (for lack of higher choices–not everybody with whom we’d go to likes seafood, taking Columbia Harbour Home off the desk), I additionally can not understate how a lot increased high quality each the hen and pork are than their predecessors. I beforehand known as the meats at Pecos Invoice “pet food grade.” That was solely slight hyperbole. These are on par with what you’d order at Chipotle or one other quick informal Mexican spot.
Saving the most effective for final, the ultimate protein choice is the Coca-Cola Cherry Braised Beef.
This meat is shockingly incredible. There’s a sweetness to the meat, and it has a slow-cooked high quality that makes it tender, juicy, and scrumptious. There are two ‘extinct’ entrees this jogged my memory of, one from lunch at Be Our Visitor Restaurant and one other from Flo’s V8 Cafe again when it first opened. These are favorable comparisons, and extremely excessive reward for a restaurant that after had its meats in comparison with pet food.
Frankly, I want they’d serve the Coca-Cola Cherry Braised Beef as a standalone, plated entree. Because it stands, I can simply envision a state of affairs the place we order a bowl with a double portion of this beef to separate. It’s that good.
Since we’re already speaking about it, let’s begin by digging into the Rice Bowl with Pinto Beans, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Cowboy Caviar, and Queso Fresco.
Like all the pieces within the ‘Construct Your Personal’ part of the menu, that is priced at $12.99. What’s pictured above is a single portion of the meat on prime of the bowl.
I point out that as a result of this dangerous boy is an enormous meal, nearly greater than sufficient for one particular person–and that’s value mentioning at a time when many different Walt Disney World entrees are shrinking in measurement however rising in value.
The elements right here work rather well collectively, and there are beneficiant quantities of queso fresco in addition to the pinto beans and cilantro-lime rice beneath. I might’ve personally used a bit extra cowboy caviar, however that looks as if a minor quibble.
As soon as once more, the purpose to emphasise is that the standard is far improved over what was provided at Pecos Invoice earlier than. This nonetheless doesn’t attain the identical excessive bar because the glory days of the toppings bar, nevertheless it’s excellent–an evening and day distinction over what was right here earlier than.
The underside line is that it is a high-quality rice bowl, and roughly precisely what you’d anticipate. It might’ve used a larger number of toppings, however nonetheless glorious. It’s within the working for my #1 entree at Pecos Invoice.
The opposite contender for that crown is the Steamed Tamale.
That is mainly the identical dish because the rice bowl, however with the addition of a Steamed Inexperienced Chili-Cheese Tamale and Pico de Gallo rather than the Cowboy Caviar.
I wasn’t an enormous fan of the tamale by itself, however it’s mainly a freebie and does add one thing to the dish as a complete. Unsurprisingly, corn is the dominant taste right here, and as a part of the bowl is supplies one other texture, together with a semi-sweet and earthy high quality. Most significantly, it didn’t appear to be the parts of rice or pinto beans obtained any smaller because of the tamale being added.
It’s on that foundation that the Steamed Tamale is our new #1 entree at Pecos Invoice…and maybe Magic Kingdom as a complete.
There are different dishes that we every individually actually like across the park. At Columbia Harbour Home, I’m an enormous fan of the Lobster Roll and Sarah loves the Maple-Mustard Glazed Salmon. The issue with each is enjoying the portion measurement lottery. If you happen to’re a loser, you’ll stroll away hungry.
Against this, for a similar value because the Salmon entree–or for $4 much less than the Lobster Roll–you would order the Steamed Tamale with double beef from Pecos Invoice and it might simply feed one particular person, maybe each of us (appetite-dependent). In different phrases, when taking worth for cash into consideration, this dish has actually no competitors in Magic Kingdom.
Our last ‘construct your personal’ entree is the Nacho Bowl: Home-fried Corn Tortilla Chips smothered with Stewed Pinto Beans, Chipotle Queso, and Pico de Gallo.
Smothered is Disney’s phrase within the description above, and it’s an apt one. This positively had extra queso than the opposite bowls, and I actually appreciated that–it labored properly with the nachos. Additionally paired fantastically with the meat.
With that mentioned, the chips are bizarre. As a base, this simply doesn’t maintain a candle to the above choices. Not as tasty or as filling. If you happen to’re within the temper for nachos and wish chips piled excessive with cheese and beef, you completely can not go flawed right here, although!
We’re not finished with the entrees–there’s additionally the Double Chili con Queso Burger: Two Flame-broiled All-Beef Patties topped with Chili con Carne, Chipotle Queso, and Corn Chips with Barbecue-Cheddar Seasoned Fries.
This burger presently prices $16.19, which is definitely a value lower for the reason that menu launched. And albeit, that is sensible, as my greatest criticism of this burger can be the worth proposition versus the ‘construct your personal’ choices.
For ~$3 extra, it’s simply arduous to justify this on condition that it’s across the identical portion measurement–if not smaller–than the bowls.
In equity to the burger, it’s fairly tasty!
It’s slathered in Chipotle Queso, with simply the correct amount of Chili con Carne for taste and Corn Chips for texture. That is good, as a result of beneath which might be two customary problem Walt Disney World burger patties, and these function a signature mix of cardboard, capybara, and hyena.
Suffice to say, Disney counter service burgers want an overabundance of toppings to masks their mediocre meats, that are dry and flavorless. This fills that position high-quality, and turns into the #1 counter service burger at Magic Kingdom by default consequently. There’s no level in ordering this when the ‘construct your personal’ bowls are proper there, however I assume it’s an excellent fallback choice for choosy eaters who discover all the pieces else too adventurous.
It’s additionally value mentioning that the Barbecue-Cheddar Seasoned Fries served with the burger (or as a facet) are the most effective fries at Magic Kingdom.
The seasoning right here takes bizarre Disney fries to the following stage. They’re nothing revolutionary, however as a easy snack, they’re fairly good. I by no means knew that is what was lacking from Disney fries, nevertheless it completely is.
My private wishlist for Pecos Invoice can be to have loaded fries added to the menu. I’m unsure Sarah would approve, however I’d love a heaping order of those fries (as an alternative of rice) topped with a beneficiant slathering of queso to function the bottom for my double portion of that scrumptious beef. Now that will be the right entree indulgence!
Lastly, we have now the Candy Corn Mousse: White Chocolate and Raspberry Powder.
Walt Disney World debuted this ‘seems to be like corn, however is definitely cake’ dessert a pair years in the past throughout both Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering (if reminiscence serves me), and it was an enormous hit. Disney followers get pleasure from an excellent gimmick.
When you get previous that gimmick, there’s not a lot to like about this. It’s fairly costly at over $6, the portion is small, and each the flavour and texture are pretty one-note. We additionally discovered it to be overly candy (sugar, versus candy corn, is the dominant taste), however that could possibly be mentioned about most Disney desserts. If you happen to’re going to order this for the enjoyable pictures, have at it–simply perhaps look elsewhere for a scrumptious dessert. Magic Kingdom has no scarcity of these.
Finally, it’s no shock that the brand new menu at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe is a marked enchancment. For one factor, there was nowhere to go however up. I don’t suppose Walt Disney World followers who hadn’t been in a couple of years notice simply how dangerous and uninspired the outdated Pecos Invoice menu had gotten.
Pecos Invoice was mainly Exhibit A within the former Disney CFO’s quote about altering suppliers and substituting elements to scale back prices. Even the most affordable Mexican meals from the Dealer Joe’s freezer case have been increased high quality than what Pecos Invoice was serving. And but, it nonetheless wasn’t the worst counter service restaurant at Magic Kingdom. (Which frankly ought to’ve been embarrassing for Disney.)
It appeared just like the outdated menu was allowed to limp alongside till Pecos Invoice obtained reimagined, however with that venture nixed, Walt Disney World management realized the present incarnation of the restaurant can be round for a couple of extra years. (Till the inevitable reimagining right into a Vehicles-inspired restaurant.)
Past this, prime to backside menu overhauls like this are nearly at all times an enchancment. Disney’s culinary groups get the inexperienced gentle to make vital modifications and, the cooks have enjoyable creating new menus which might be bold and intriguing. The culinary groups don’t really wish to serve slop to company with pet food grade meat and entrees which might be worse than frozen meals–that’s the byproduct of managers meddling and modifications to make menus extra environment friendly or cheaper.
With that mentioned, the conventional trajectory is for tweaks to be revamped the course of the primary yr of the brand new menu that do dilute it. We’re already seeing this with the brand new menu at Pecos Invoice, and it’ll most likely proceed all through 2025. The culinary group goals excessive, however a few of their decisions aren’t at all times sensible for high-capacity areas or in step with visitor preferences.
That is the first cause that menus are dumbed down over time, in every single place will get a fundamental burger added, and many others. It’s additionally typically needed to scale back preparation steps, as dishes grow to be too labor intensive or time-consuming to organize. In different circumstances, objects that aren’t getting ordered–or are receiving unfavourable visitor suggestions–are pulled or changed. That just about actually explains the lack of the Grilled Masa Flatbread.
Whether or not Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe dethrones Columbia Harbour Home to grow to be the brand new #1 counter service restaurant in Magic Kingdom might be a matter of perspective. Specifically, does your social gathering favor seafood or Mexican delicacies?
For us, each are winners–all of it is dependent upon what we’re within the temper for and the way hungry we’re. Columbia Harbour Home is great, however it may be expensive and inconsistent, whereas Pecos Invoice reliably delivers. As you’ve most likely gathered from the number of pictures, we’ve already finished a number of meals at Pecos Invoice for the reason that overhaul and just one at Columbia Harbour Home throughout that point. That’s most likely our ‘new regular’ going ahead, particularly since there’s extra on the menu right here that Megatron can eat.
That reliability is the tiebreaker from our perspective, and what provides Pecos Invoice the slender victory. Both manner, there at the moment are double the variety of good counter service eating places at Magic Kingdom, and all company win consequently. Right here’s hoping that Cosmic Ray’s is subsequent–it might additionally actually use a menu overhaul. Now that demand has died down for it, we’d additionally like to see Be Our Visitor revert to a counter service lunch. Are you able to think about Magic Kingdom having 4 worthwhile counter service eating places? It’s nearly unthinkable! Dare to dream, I suppose.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the brand new menu at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe? Excited for these additions? If you happen to’ve already tried the brand new menu, what are your favorites? Something you didn’t like? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
