Dining Review: Tiffins
When a signature dining experience was opened right in the heart of the Animal Kingdom theme park, I'm sure many were skeptical. Veterans of Walt Disney World know that the best dining is often found at resorts, and the theme parks, while still good, tend to be a little lower in quality.
Enter Tiffins, which opened Memorial Day weekend 2016.
Disney describes Tiffins with "Set off on a culinary expedition of international cuisine at this restaurant inspired by exploration and adventure". The real Walt Disney World fan will be delighted to know the person whose adventures we are talking about is none other than Joe Rohde, Veteran Disney Imagineer Extraordinaire, who is responsible for many iconic creative works in the parks including the Adventurer's Club, the Mexico and Norway pavilions in EPCOT, Expedition Everest, and Pandora, to name just a few things.
Joe Rohde is very prominent at Tiffins where the walls are filled with his sketches and notes from travels around Africa and Asia. You can see from these sketches and notes how scenery from his travels inspired sets and scenes within the Animal Kingdom theme park. For a real Animal Kingdom fan, this restaurant is an attraction in itself just for the art.
My mother's dish - a vegetarian roasted beet concoction
But let's talk about the food, shall we? The menu is full of flavors from Africa, but also Asia and Mexico. Many of the items have a fusion feel to them. If strange food frightens you, don't be scared of Tiffins. The servers are exceptionally attentive and will direct you to something you will likely enjoy. There are some wonderful steak and seafood dishes here.
Duck with burberry sauce (spelling intentional)
The menu seems to change frequently. When I was there in the Spring of 2018, I had pan-seared duck with burberry sauce, and black-eyed pea fritters, neither of which appears to be on the menu today.
Either way, this was some of the best food I've enjoyed at Walt Disney World, including a lovely meal I had at California Grill.
It will cost you. Dinner entrees range from $29-$62, appetizers $11-$17 and desserts $9-$12. However, the current Tiffins menu offers a lunch "tasting menu" of one appetizer and one entree from a list for $35, which seems a very good deal.
In addition to a wonderful and imaginative menu, the specialty cocktails are also delightful and again, some of the better cocktails on Disney property. Tiffins shares a building with Nomad Lounge which is a great place to wait for your table or to just cool off with a drink in the middle of the day.
South American chocolate ganache
Service is also very nice. I actually wrote down our server's name when we dined because I felt he was so polite and attentive (hey, Giancarlo!). This server seemed to have a sixth sense. If we had a question about our food, he was there to answer. If we were ready to order, he appeared immediately. There was no waiting, I never felt he was busy with other people, and I also never felt intruded upon as he always found a way to come to our table during a lull in conversation. This is some of the best service I've had at a restaurant - period.
The main thing that had me apprehensive was wondering what the atmosphere of a fine dining place would be when set right in the middle of a theme park. This also was a non-issue. Step through the doors of Tiffins (or Nomad Lounge) and you are suddenly in an oasis of quiet, calm, refinement.
In summary, Tiffins might be my new favorite restaurant for fine dining on Disney Property.
Here's the Sassagoula Low-Down on Tiffins:
Food: *****
Service: *****
Drinks: *****
Cost: $$$$$ If on a dining plan, this is a signature restaurant. Some plans consider this 2 Table Service credits.
Is it appropriate for kids? Kids are welcome, but it is a more adult place.
Ease of getting there? Since it's in one of the main theme parks, getting there is easy using Disney transportation. You will need admission to Disney's Animal Kingdom to dine here.
Menu recommendations: The wagyu beef is always rated highly when on the menu, South American chocolate ganache.
Tips: Walk through each dining room to see the art, and arrive early if you can to enjoy a drink at Nomad Lounge.
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