REVIEW: We Ordered Walt Disney’s Favorite Meal and Can’t Believe He Ate This Every Day 😱

 

If you’re obsessed with Disney history, this restaurant definitely deserves a spot on your bucket list!

There is TONS of rich Disney history to explore in Southern California, including the OG Disneyland Park, of course! But if you’re ready to do a deep dive into Disney lore, you may want to make at least one dining reservation outside of the resort during your next vacation. We recently visited the legendary Los Angeles steakhouse Tam O’Shanter, a favorite spot of Walt Disney himself, AND the place where he and his animators discussed their ideas for some of the most iconic animated films of all time!

Atmosphere

The moment we entered Tam O’Shanter, it was easy to see why Walt Disney and his animators considered it a great spot for their brainstorming sessions. It’s beautifully classic and makes you feel like you’re in a storybook cottage!

We sat at the same table where Walt most frequently sat when he would dine here. For guaranteed seating at this table, guests can make a reservation for the Table 31 experience, which is what we did!

As an homage to Walt, there’s artwork of Mickey Mouse at Tam O’Shanter hanging above his favorite table.

There are also still notes and sketches carved into the table from the animators during their brainstorming sessions with Walt.

Plus, the table also has a plaque that marks the historical significance of the location.

Obviously, this table is an extra-special place for Disney history buffs. But the restaurant also has lots more photographs and artwork throughout, especially at the check-in desk, that honor its history and connection to Walt Disney.

Now, let’s get into the dining experience itself!

Menu

Like we mentioned earlier, we booked the Table 31 Experience, which was priced at $89 per person.

It includes guaranteed seating at Walt’s table, plus a selection of starters, your choice of a first course and second course, and a dessert. Drinks aren’t included in the price, so those need to be purchased separately.

It’s a curated menu of Walt’s favorites, and you get a loyalty card to bring back with you if you do this experience multiple times.

Each time you book the Table 31 Experience, you also get a surprise souvenir! We got a Tam O’Shanter pin as our souvenir, and our hostess said that there are up to four different surprise souvenirs you can collect.

Let’s kick things off with some drinks!

Drinks

We were told that Walt Disney himself allegedly had a Scotch Mist every day, so we obviously had to start with one of these, priced at $16. Fair warning for the uninitiated: this is just liquor. It’s Scotch whiskey poured over a glass of tightly packed crushed ice with an expressed lemon peel twist. The lemon peel did absolutely nothing to cut through this incredibly strong drink, and we had to let the ice melt before we could drink it so it would water down the whiskey. If you love the taste of whiskey (think malty, woody), this might be one that you can enjoy. But if you prefer a lighter taste of alcohol in your cocktails, this one will probably be tough to finish!

We also tried the Pimm’s Cup for $14. This was also a pretty simple blend of ingredients, made with Pimm’s No. 1 (a dry gin blend) and ginger ale. The ginger ale added a really nice sweetness, and we appreciated the bubbly, carbonated mixture. The drink itself was slightly fruity thanks to the strawberry flavor profile. We also got notes of lemon, but it was subtle. It came with a cucumber garnish, which we didn’t feel added much but also didn’t bother us, and overall the drink was mild and easy to sip on throughout the meal.

It’s officially time for some FOOD!

Eats

The Table 31 Experience includes a starter of Deviled Eggs & Pickled Veggies & Bacon-Wrapped Dates — it automatically comes with this, so no choice for this course! The deviled eggs were a hit with us. The egg white was nice and soft while still being firm enough to hold the filling. Speaking of the filling, it was a little bit more pungent than a mild deviled egg, and we sensed that they used some horseradish to really give it a kick and flavor. The pickled vegetables were super straightforward. They had a nice snap to them, but weren’t hard, and the main flavors were the vinegar and the chili flakes on top. They were nice and refreshing, although they might be a little bit surprising to people who prefer milder flavors.

The bacon-wrapped dates were definitely our favorite part of the starter. The dates were soft and had an almost caramel flavor. The bacon was perfectly salty and had a touch of crispiness on the edges, which gave them an interesting textural element. It was a sweet/savory kind of bite! Overall, these were a nice start to the meal and gave a clear picture of the flavors and style in the courses to come.

Now, on to the first course! We were dining with two people, so we were able to try both of the different options, starting with The Tam’s Famous Chili. It was maybe the most hearty chili we’ve ever had, and we honestly couldn’t believe Walt ate this almost every day with how filling it was! It was really rich in flavor and consistency, and you could tell there were tons of different spices mixed into it (we tasted notes of cumin, paprika, and chili, specifically). It was really heavy on the beans and meat, making it a thicker consistency. It also had a surprising amount of spice, significantly more than “Disney theme park spicy,” so be careful if you prefer things more on the mild side!

The other first course option was the Wedge Salad. This might be the better choice if you plan on doing the (very hearty) 31 Burger for the second course, since it comes topped with the chili. It’s half a wedge of lettuce, cut into two pieces, with a vinaigrette along the bottom, and topped with loads of blue cheese, dressing, bacon, and tomatoes. The vinaigrette got lost in the pungent blue cheese, and we didn’t notice much flavor coming from it. The wedge was fresh and crispy, and the tomatoes and bacon added a much-needed, salty and acidic element to make it more interesting. It was really nothing to write home about, but it’s a solid choice if you want a lighter first course or if you’re a big blue cheese fan.

Moving on to the second course, let’s talk about the 31 Burger. Spoiler alert, it’s A LOTTTTT. It comes with a burger patty on sourdough bread covered in chili, next to a platter of fries also covered in chili. It’s the same chili from the first course, so it’s HEARTY. The sourdough was probably an inch thick and hard to cut through. The hamburger patty was completely overwhelmed by the taste of chili, and we barely even noticed it was there. We did notice the chopped onions, though, which we appreciated to break through some of the chili flavor. There were also slices of bacon that added a nice fattiness and crunch. The fries were just “normal,” but we still enjoyed them. They didn’t have any special seasoning (trust us, the chili is doing plenty of heavy lifting there), but they were well cooked because they were crispy enough and soft on the inside. We felt like this plate could have been shared by multiple people, honestly, especially since there are other courses involved.

Next up, we’re moving on to the Prime Rib, which we thought was easily the best dish we had here! It came with prime rib, potatoes and gravy, cream spinach with bacon, and Yorkshire pudding. It’s listed as a “smaller portion” on the menu, but it was still a super hearty meal. The prime rib melted in our mouths and was perfectly cooked. It was so juicy and flavorful! The mashed potatoes were incredibly smooth with no lumps at all. They didn’t have a ton of taste by themselves, but the gravy added a rich, salty flavor. The cream spinach was rich, smooth, and buttery. The Yorkshire pudding had more of a bready taste, as opposed to the eggy taste some versions can take on, and it was a very subtle addition to the dish. It felt like more of a vessel to soak up all the amazing juices around the prime rib than something to enjoy on its own. Overall, this dish was such a wonderful standout, and we loved every part of it!

Now let’s talk dessert, starting with the Hot Fudge Sundae. This was quite nice after all of the heavy dishes that we had! It’s vanilla ice cream, topped with whipped cream, fudge, and peanuts. The flavors were super familiar and easy to enjoy, and the nuts added a really nice crunch to an overall very soft dessert. The simple vanilla ice cream was really welcome after eating so much hot chili!

And finally, we also tried the English Trifle. We’d say this one was just okay, but we weren’t blown away. The sponge cake was light, but it was overwhelmed by the whipped cream and filling, so it got lost in each bite. In the moments when we did notice the cake, it had really soaked up all of the fruity flavors, which was nice, but those bites weren’t frequent. The trifle tasted like it was strawberry-flavored, but the whipped cream really took over the flavor profile, so that was the only thing we 100% picked up on all the way through.

The overarching theme through each of the courses was classic, retro flavors and HEARTY portions, so if you plan to do the Table 31 Experience, be sure to come hungry!

Nosh or Not

This restaurant is a must-visit if…

• You’re a huge fan of Disney history and lore. It was a seriously cool experience to try some of Walt’s favorite dishes while dining at his go-to table. Between that and the various pieces of Disney decor and history (including the animator notes ON the table!), it’s a must-do for anyone obsessed with the history of the company and Walt Disney himself.
• You’re in the mood for a hearty meal. Between the portions and the style of the food itself, this is definitely a heavy, filling meal, especially if you do the full Table 31 Experience. It would be hard to leave here hungry, assuming you actually eat the items you order, of course!
• You enjoy classic, nostalgic flavors. There was definitely a retro vibe to each of the courses that reminded us of a mid-20th-century feast. If tried-and-true classic dishes are right up your alley, you’ll have plenty of good options here.

You should skip this spot if…

• You aren’t super interested in Disney history. We really enjoyed our meal here. Everything was at least good, and we had some truly great standouts, like the prime rib and chili. BUT, Tam O’Shanter is a pretty far drive from Disneyland (over 30 miles, with LA traffic to consider). With that in mind, if you’re staying near the park, it’s probably only worth the trek to get there and back if you’re interested in the restaurant’s ties to Disney history.
• You prefer a light meal. The food here was all on the heavier side, and you get a TON of it, especially with the Table 31 Experience. If you aren’t super hungry or want to eat lighter because you have a busy day ahead, it can be harder to get your money’s worth here.
• You’re looking for trendy food and drinks. Both the flavors and presentation here definitely lean towards the classic, old-school vibe. To use a Disney World restaurant analogy, expect dishes more in line with 50s Prime Time Cafe, as opposed to somewhere like Space 220.

Overall

This was a solid meal, and we enjoyed all of the food we tried, with a few standouts we’ll happily rave about (shoutout to the prime rib!). The Table 31 Experience is a must-do for anyone passionate about Disney history. Getting to sit at Walt’s table and try some of his favorites is a unique experience we’ll be thinking about for years! Of course, it’s a bit of a trek to get to Tam O’Shanter if you’re staying near Disneyland, so you’ll need to plan appropriately if this is on your must-do list. But if you’re a Disney Adult like us, it might be well worth the visit!

We’ll keep reporting back with more restaurant reviews from the Disney parks and beyond, so stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for the latest updates!

8 of the Best Restaurants for Picky Eaters in Disney World

Wondering where you should dine on your next vacation? Check out our ranking of ALL the table service restaurants in Disney World!

Have you eaten at Tam O’Shanter? Share your experience in the comments!