Your favorite counter service

good to know, although I don't currently have any plans to go down there

When we were there this past January, Pecos Bill's was closed for renovation, so El Pirata was open but serving Peco Bill's menu!

Per Allearsnet.com, El Pirata has all of three selections on the menu.

http://allears.net/menu/men_pir.htm

I don't think I've eaten at this place since the mid '90s.

Here's something I found out, or rather, confirmed, about El Pirata y El Perico during my last trip to WDW. None of the food you get there was made there. Everything has been pre-made elsewhere.

I tried to order one of the entree and asked for no sour cream. The cast member said that it has been pre-made, so they can't serve it without the sour cream. It kinda confirmed what I had guessed previously.

I've never liked the place. We were eating there because at that late at night (it was during an extra magic hour), it was the only counter service that was opened in that area. Compare that to, say, Sunshine Seasons where you can see many of the items being prepared right there behind the counter, and there's no competition. Now, one can argue that the items one orders at Flame Tree or turkey legs at various location were not made there either. But this is not the same. The turkey legs and the BBQ are not something you cook last minute, or requires assembly on the spot upon ordering. But with the "mexican" food, especially the buritos at El Pirata y El Perico, I keep thinking that I could get the same thing from my freezer at home that I bought from Costco. It certainly tasted the same.

Zz.

I'd think even if food was pre-made you'd put the sour cream on at the end. If something sits like that it's going to turn out messy.

Most of the WS counter service places are great- we love Cantina de San Angel, Boulangerie Patisserie, and Sommerfest.
In DHD the kids love PIzza PLanet- and Mike and I don't mind it either.
We fell in love with the Columbia Harhour House in MK this past December too.

To be honest, I didn't even know Columbia Habor House existed until i went there when I did keys to the kingdom a few years back. This is another QS that I really enjoy.

I do have some favorites, a new one added this last trip...

DTD - EARL OF SANDWICH - best sandwiches anywhere!!

AK - Flame Tree - I also love the Anandapour Tea House - not for food but for the Chai - delicious! A really wonderful selection of teas there...They do cold drinks too, a nice alternative to a cold soda

Epcot -
Future World - Sunshine Seasons
World Showcase - Yakitori House

DHS - don't really have a favorite here (Disney are you listening??) but had a decent meal at Studio Catering this last trip. But I wouldn't say it's a "must do"

MK - Cosmic Ray's - we had never tried this one before, but since we had returned to the park at 11 pm for EMH we didn't have as many options and I just wasn't in the mood for a hotdog at Casey's - lunch had been at the Crystal Palace at 3:30 in the afternoon so we were looking for something more than a hotdog since we were planning on staying until the end of EMH at 2 AM!! 2:45 by the time you actually exit the park! Even at 11:30 pm I was really impressed with the quality of the food and I LOVE the toppings bar. Cosmic Ray's will be one of our "preferred" CS at MK.

Columbia Harbor House is a favorite on that side of the park

Resort - really enjoyed the "build your own pasta" at PO Riverside - I had Penne Pasta with Alfredo Sauce, proscuitto, sun dried tomatoes, black olives and chicken...unbelievably delicious and made fresh right in front of me. My only complaint was that the pasta was a little too soft...not terribly, but I like mine a little more al dente

While it was a few years back that I did the keys to the kingdom tour, and I don't remember a lot of the details. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for something extra on their next trip. They talked about how they deliver some of the magic (like where they hide speakers, coloration of the sidewalks, etc.), took us on the jungle cruise and haunted mansion (skipping the line and tell us about behind the scenes info of the ride like the donald chair in haunted mansion, how they make the ghosts,etc.), lunch at columbia harbor house, and a small tour of the utiladors (no we didn't see mickey without his head). It was great and would love to do it again someday, but I also want to try some of the other tours

Millie -- You got me thinking about how they have some CS restaurants that everyone loves and some that no one likes. I'm curious why they don't just switch them out more. Keep the Flame Tree Barbeques and Cosmic Rays and replace the others. Of course maybe the ones we don't think are great are the same ones little kids love and make lots of money.