WDW Dining Review: Regal Eagle Smokehouse (Epcot)

One of the things I really enjoy when I visit Walt Disney World is trying new dining options throughout the resort. When I was down there last month, one of the places I was excited to try was Regal Eagle Smokehouse, a Muppets-themed quick service that recently opened at The American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot.

 

This dining location replaced the old, outdated, and (in some cases) disliked Liberty Inn. The Liberty Inn opened in 1982 on the opening day of Epcot. Over the years, it went by the wayside, not being well attended and serving very generic food that you can get almost anywhere throughout Walt Disney World. Being one of only a few quick-service dining locations with ample seating at Epcot, with The Electric Umbrella closing down during the Future World upgrades, Disney needed to do something to create a spot where their guests want to dine at. Last Summer, the Liberty Inn closed to make way for Regal Eagle Smokehouse.

The Regal Eagle Smokehouse is a BBQ-themed eatery. From what I was told while visiting on my trip, it stemmed directly from the huge popularity of the special Festival Booths at The American Adventure. These booths, though having somewhat different menus at each of the festivals, were all centered around American BBQ. Every time I was at a festival, the food at The American Adventure booth topped the dishes at the festival. They were almost always crowded. So much, in fact, that Disney was trying to think of how to monopolize on this popularity all year long. When time came for the Liberty Inn to get an upgrade, it opened the door for this change.

 

 

Before we head into the interior part of Regal Eagle, I wanted to showcase the new outside bar that this location now has, in addition to the ample seating area for dining. Not that Epcot needed yet another place to get alcohol, but hey, Epcot is becoming more and more popular with the adult-drinking crowd. For that reason alone, this is a great move by Disney, as The American Adventure didn’t have a full-service bar as most of the other countries do.

 

Inside the Regal Eagle, the dining area has a minimal- Muppets theme. Sam Eagle is celebrating famous BBQ throughout the US, brought to you by four groups, each with a “mascot” on the wall.

 

 

 

 

 

Additionally, each of the groups has a signature sauce.

 

The interior of the restaurant has changed considerably. The fountain in the middle of the place was removed, and the ill-fitted metal and glass tables and chairs were replaced with square and rectangular wooden tables with wooden benches. This allows for a lot more seating for guests inside.

As far as the ordering area, not a lot had changed with the kiosks, but some decor and a beverage station was added.

 

Here is the current menu for the location.

 

I ended up eating at this location twice during my trip last month. The first time, I got myself the American Platter, with the Sliced Texas Beef Brisket, Memphis Dry Rub Pork Ribs, and the North Carolina Chopped Smoked Pork Butt. Here is the platter, which I got onion rings and the garlic toast with.

I love BBQ, and all of these different styles were delicious. I also got to try all four of the sauces, and each one was delicious. My favorite? Probably the vinegar-based sauce. During this meal, a friend of mine got the Kansas City Smoked Half Chicken. For him, it was very dry and over-smoked. Working with a smoker and a pit, I guess that can happen.

 

The next time I got food here, a bunch of my friends and I were outside ready to listen to the Flower & Garden Festival’s Garden Rocks Concert Series. I went over and got a bunch of stuff for the group to share, including the brisket sandwich (with fries), the American Platter (with chicken, ribs, pork butt, and mac ‘n’ cheese), and a side of onion rings.

 

Again, everything was great… except for the mac ‘n’ cheese. It was not anything special, especially in comparison to the rest of the dishes I’ve gotten so far. If I don’t get that side dish anymore, that would be fine. Everything else I would get again.

 

Overall, I think this is a great new chapter for this dining location. Before Walt Disney World closed to to Covid-19, employees at Regal Eagle were even telling me that they were expanding dining hours because of the popularity of it. The updated menu, the beautiful new look, and the expanded seating makes this a great place to take you and your family to for some great food at Epcot. The next time you visit, you should check it out.