A Tasty Tuesday piece for Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue is long over-due. I’ve written about a lot of food in my time as a theme park writer – but this might be one of my favorite theme park dining locations yet. This location replaced an outdated Liberty Inn, which served standard burgers and fries with a richly themed location with classic American barbeque to match! But that’s not even the best part – there are Muppets too!
A smokehouse with a story
Of course, as a huge fan of the Muppets, I was incredibly excited when I heard about the opening of Regal Eagle. If you’ve never been to this location before, the storytelling is immersive and exactly what you would expect from a Disney Parks location. In my opinion, their best storytelling used to be saved only for attractions, with quick service locations remaining fairly plain. When there was theming, it was more of a land-inspired overlay, rather than true storytelling, but not at Regal Eagle.
Regal Eagle is located in the American Adventure pavilion. With a large outdoor bar and smoker, it’s difficult to miss this unique offering. This barbecue cook-out is hosted by Sam the Eagle – the iconic and patriotic Muppet. For this cook-off, Sam has called upon all of his friends. Each one has created a barbecue dish of their own. And each dish showcases a type of barbeque from across the United States.
The theming on the inside is adorable. It combines Americana with the all-American Muppets. Each barbecue style and sauce matches up to decor in the restaurant, where you can see the logo along with the Muppet who submitted it and all of their previous barbeque awards. Posters of Sam the Eagle adorn the walls telling one and all about his nationwide competition.
The Muppets, the barbecue, and me
At the beginning of 2020, which seems like a lifetime ago, I was working at EPCOT. I worked in Cast Communication, and it was my job to inform Cast Members about new offerings at EPCOT. Included in this – Regal Eagle. As a fan of the Muppets, EPCOT, highly themed experiences, and food, I could not have been more excited. Getting to be a tiny (and I mean tiny) part of the team that worked towards the opening of this location was nothing short of a dream. I remember test meals and filming with our Walt Disney World Ambassadors to spread the word about this new quick-service location.
Here’s a photo of my team and me right before opening day. It was such a wonderful experience to see the restaurant and to eat together for the first time!
The barbecue
The coolest part about the food at Regal Eagle is that there is a real smoker used to slow-cook the meat. Plus, as a dedicated sauce girl, I love that they have so many options for barbecue sauces of all different styles from the biggest names in barbecue!
At this point, between test meals and visiting as a Guest, I’ve tried just about everything on the menu. The portions are huge and filling and taste homemade. They have fresh and flavorful salads, which can be difficult to find on Disney property, and an awesome plant-based burger option too. This burger is topped with barbecue jackfruit that perfectly replicates pulled pork and is served on hearty Texas toast.
As for the meats, the ribs and the chicken, shown above, are fall off the bone tender. Out of everything I’ve had, my favorite menu item is their North Carolina chopped smoked pork butt plater. It has just the right amount of smokiness and I think it pairs so well with my favorite sauce – the Mustard Guild “Old Glory” Mustard Sauce. Along with the meat you get a thick and buttery slice of garlic toast and a side of your choice. I enjoy all of their sides, apart from their baked beans. They’re just a bit too smokey for my taste. Typically, I select their beer-battered onion rings. They round out the meal perfectly. But, if you’re a cheese-lover, you cannot miss their mac and cheese!
Eating in EPCOT
It’s no secret that EPCOT is my favorite park – and that it is the park with the best food! If you’re visiting just for a day, it can be tricky to fit in all of the incredible food they have to offer. At EPCOT, I always suggest taking advantage of festival foods if you’re visiting during a festival, such as the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. However, I highly suggest that all Disney and especially Muppets fans check this location out. It is such a spectacular culmination of some of the best things the parks have to offer!
More Tasty Tuesday
Are you looking for more delicious and unique places to eat in Orlando? Whether you’re a local or a tourist, Naroodle Noodle Shop is a one-of-a-kind spot you won’t find anywhere else!
