Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom
*This dining experience took place in May 2017.
Lunch at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
It's the wildest meal in the wilderness, when you dine at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe, located in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom. You'll have a rootin' tootin' good time enjoying Southwestern inspired burgers and rice bowls. Pecos Bill's has long been a favorite lunch and dinner spot for Disney guests, and I've always enjoyed the special diets options here.In the past few years, Pecos Bill's has changed its menu, going from burgers, fries, and chicken tenders to more Southwest inspired foods. They've brought back a burger option but have stuck with the Southwest theme with rice bowls and more. It's a solid option if you're looking for something different and filling when you're in the Magic Kingdom, and I stopped by recently with my brother to grab a filling lunch.
Atmosphere
The interior of Pecos Bill's is pretty much what you would expect it to be from a Frontierland restaurant. It's rustic and southwest-inspired. Depending on where you sit in the restaurant will depend on your view, but I have to say that my favorite room is the one directly to your left when you enter the seating area. It includes some building exterior that makes you feel like you're eating outside.
Seating in Pecos Bill's can get tight. I like to sit in a cozy corner or nook if I can to get away from the crowding and close quarters. But, sometimes that is hard to avoid -- especially during peak hours. Overall, I do always love the cozy atmosphere in Pecos Bill's.
The Food
Of course, my favorite thing about Pecos Bill's is the food. This quick service restaurant does carry an allergy-friendly menu, which covers the top 8 common allergens. If you have any questions or have multiple dietary needs, I do recommend speaking with a manager. I also recommend speaking with a manager if you're concerned about cross-contamination and Pecos Bill's famous fixins bar.On my last visit, I ordered a chicken rice bowl, which came with seasoned rice. Because I've been re-introducing dairy back into my diet over the past few years, on that visit, I got only gluten free options and not dairy free. This is an important note because previously the seasoned rice contained dairy (cheese).When we went this time, all special diets options, including gluten free only dishes contain white rice. The seasoned rice is now gone. I'm wondering if they changed vendors or products and the seasoned rice now contains gluten. It's a good thing there's plenty of fixins to make the rice bowls tasty no matter what kind of rice they serve.I did ask to speak to a manager on this visit, and I asked for toppings from the fixins bar to be brought from the kitchen. This is to help avoid cross-contamination from gluten. The manager told me this was no problem and offered to bring me all the fixins.
As you can see from the photo, I ordered the Chicken Rice Bowl. It was listed as both gluten free and dairy free. I only indicated gluten as a special dietary need, so I was given all the toppings you see in the photo plus cheese and sour cream -- which I gave to my brother, as I try limit my dairy consumption.Of the toppings, my favorite has to be the roasted corn salsa, but I was also glad to see some fresh limes along with the other toppings. This added a nice fresh flavor to the rice bowl. The rice bowls are a solid option, and they are so filling. This is really true if you add a lot of fixins to your dish. The fixins really do make it too, so be sure not to miss out!
Overall
I always find Pecos Bill's to be a solid option for lunch and dinner at the Magic Kingdom. It's a great quick service spot that offers a lot of options for special dietary needs. Plus, the food is filling and plentiful. It's a regular on my Magic Kingdom quick service list and a restaurant I tend to visit again and again. Plus, at the time this post is being published, annual passholders get 20% off their meal, which makes it pretty affordable too!Have you been to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe? What do you think of their options?
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom
*This dining experience took place in May 2017.
Lunch at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
It's the wildest meal in the wilderness, when you dine at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe, located in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom. You'll have a rootin' tootin' good time enjoying Southwestern inspired burgers and rice bowls. Pecos Bill's has long been a favorite lunch and dinner spot for Disney guests, and I've always enjoyed the special diets options here.In the past few years, Pecos Bill's has changed its menu, going from burgers, fries, and chicken tenders to more Southwest inspired foods. They've brought back a burger option but have stuck with the Southwest theme with rice bowls and more. It's a solid option if you're looking for something different and filling when you're in the Magic Kingdom, and I stopped by recently with my brother to grab a filling lunch.
Atmosphere
The interior of Pecos Bill's is pretty much what you would expect it to be from a Frontierland restaurant. It's rustic and southwest-inspired. Depending on where you sit in the restaurant will depend on your view, but I have to say that my favorite room is the one directly to your left when you enter the seating area. It includes some building exterior that makes you feel like you're eating outside.Seating in Pecos Bill's can get tight. I like to sit in a cozy corner or nook if I can to get away from the crowding and close quarters. But, sometimes that is hard to avoid -- especially during peak hours. Overall, I do always love the cozy atmosphere in Pecos Bill's.
The Food
Of course, my favorite thing about Pecos Bill's is the food. This quick service restaurant does carry an allergy-friendly menu, which covers the top 8 common allergens. If you have any questions or have multiple dietary needs, I do recommend speaking with a manager. I also recommend speaking with a manager if you're concerned about cross-contamination and Pecos Bill's famous fixins bar.On my last visit, I ordered a chicken rice bowl, which came with seasoned rice. Because I've been re-introducing dairy back into my diet over the past few years, on that visit, I got only gluten free options and not dairy free. This is an important note because previously the seasoned rice contained dairy (cheese).When we went this time, all special diets options, including gluten free only dishes contain white rice. The seasoned rice is now gone. I'm wondering if they changed vendors or products and the seasoned rice now contains gluten. It's a good thing there's plenty of fixins to make the rice bowls tasty no matter what kind of rice they serve.I did ask to speak to a manager on this visit, and I asked for toppings from the fixins bar to be brought from the kitchen. This is to help avoid cross-contamination from gluten. The manager told me this was no problem and offered to bring me all the fixins.As you can see from the photo, I ordered the Chicken Rice Bowl. It was listed as both gluten free and dairy free. I only indicated gluten as a special dietary need, so I was given all the toppings you see in the photo plus cheese and sour cream -- which I gave to my brother, as I try limit my dairy consumption.Of the toppings, my favorite has to be the roasted corn salsa, but I was also glad to see some fresh limes along with the other toppings. This added a nice fresh flavor to the rice bowl. The rice bowls are a solid option, and they are so filling. This is really true if you add a lot of fixins to your dish. The fixins really do make it too, so be sure not to miss out!
Overall
I always find Pecos Bill's to be a solid option for lunch and dinner at the Magic Kingdom. It's a great quick service spot that offers a lot of options for special dietary needs. Plus, the food is filling and plentiful. It's a regular on my Magic Kingdom quick service list and a restaurant I tend to visit again and again. Plus, at the time this post is being published, annual passholders get 20% off their meal, which makes it pretty affordable too!Have you been to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe? What do you think of their options?
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom
*This dining experience took place in March 2017.
Dinner at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
When it comes to quick service options at the Magic Kingdom, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe and Columbia Harbour House have long been my two favorite spots. Pecos Bill's has always offered burgers and the famous fixins' bar, but over the past year or so, they restaurant has changed its offerings from burgers and fries to more Tex-Mex inspired options. On a recent visit, we checked them out for dinner. I've become a fan of their rice bowls, so it was nice to grab a solid meal in between riding attractions.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Pecos Bill's is bustling. It seems like it's always busy in here, which sort of goes well with the Frontierland theme of a nearby saloon or watering hole. The seating in here is ample, but usually pretty full. I do love that the interior of the building looks like you're outside. There's lots to look at when you explore the restaurant, and my favorite room has to be the one to your immediate left when you enter the seating area (pictured below). If you go further into the restaurant, you'll actually wind up in the seating area for Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland, since they are technically right beside each other.
The Food
When it come to Pecos Bill's, it's all about the rice bowls. Pecos Bill's does have an allergy-friendly menu, and you can also speak to a manager about special diets options. In fact, when I ordered, I asked to speak to a manager so that I could make sure I got fixins' from the fixins' bar from the back of the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination. The manager I spoke with was happy to oblige, and I was able to pick and choose the fixins' I preferred. The process to get my meal took about 10 minutes or so, which wasn't too bad.
I ordered the Chicken Rice Bowl. Because I'm reintroducing dairy back into my diet, I did not ask for white rice, which is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. The regular seasoned rice contains dairy (cheese) in it. If you have an allergy or want to avoid dairy, do make sure to ask for white rice when you order your rice bowl.My rice bowl came with seasoned rice, black beans, and chicken. On the side, I received several very generous portions of fixins'. I got guacamole, cheese (which I use sparingly), regular salsa, and corn salsa. You can also get other toppings like jalapenos, salsa verde, and sour cream -- depending on your special dietary need. My favorite topping has to be the corn salsa. It's ridiculously good.Overall, the rice bowl was good. It's not the best I've ever had, but compared to some of the other quick service options in the Magic Kingdom, it's a pretty good option. Plus, it's super filling. If you add enough toppings, you can easily split them with your family.On a site note, someone asked me about the Secret Nachos Rio Grande Challenge at Pecos Bill's and if you could get it gluten free. At first the manager told me yes. Then she said no. She mentioned the chips were safe. Then said they weren't. And, she also noted that the ground beef would need to be swapped. With this in mind, I'd say proceed with caution if you're interested in the nachos. Of course, I wasn't getting them so I didn't ask to see the ingredients list which would have helped a lot. For me, I'm sticking to the rice bowls for now!
Overall
Pecos Bill's always hits the spot when I visit there. If you are looking for a solid quick service meal that's filling, Pecos Bill's is definitely a place to go to. Plus, those fixins' from the back make a perfect addition to the rice bowl.Have you been to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe? What did you think of the rice bowls and other options there?
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom
*This dining experience took place in Fall 2015. Note: Pecos Bill's menu has changed yet again, and burrito bowls are only available upon request at the time this post was published. 
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe, a quick service location in Disney's Magic Kingdom, has seen some changes to its menu in 2015 and 2016. Originally a burger and fries kind of restaurant, in 2015, Pecos Bill's switched up its menu and began offering rice bowls. You can check out the allergy friendly menu from February 2016, but note that the menu has changed since then.When I visited, I was able to get a rice bowl with chicken, beans, and plain white rice. The chicken does contain dairy, so do check with the restaurant when dining here for ingredients. I have been re-introducing a bit of dairy back into my diet, so I decided to try the chicken burrito bowl.
While waiting, I had to laugh because not only did I get "the boot" on my receipt to show that I had a special dietary need but I also had the cast member Jessy. Loved the Toy Story reference (although I'm sure it was completely incidental).
Pecos Bill's also has a fixins' bar, which looked amazing with a variety of salsas, gaucamole, and other toppings for my rice bowl, but because there is a huge risk of cross contamination there, I asked the manager if I could get some fixins' from the back of the kitchen. The manager brought me: mild salsa, pico de gallo, salsa verde, corn salsa, banana peppers, cheese, and guacamole. That's a lot!The great thing is that I could mix and match what I wanted, and I had so many toppings that there was no way I was running out. The toppings definitely helped make this rice bowl more filling and tasty, as it was served with plain white rice, semi-bland black beans, and plain chicken.Pecos Bill's menu now has fajita platters which would be very similar to the rice bowl above, as well as a taco burger and some other options. Be sure to check with a manager when you go to ensure you get safe rice (the cilantro rice contains both dairy and gluten) and fixins' from the back of the kitchen.Have you been to Pecos Bill's since the menu has changed? What did you get when you dined there?
Pecos Bill's -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom
*This dining experience took place in June 2013.
Howdy partners! This here is the wildest meal in the wilderness! Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe proves to be a rootin' tootin' good time, every time I visit it, and the food isn't bad either. On this particular visit, my family and I stopped by Pecos Bill's for lunch. Known for it's burgers and fries, this restaurant offers quality Angus burgers and a variety of other sandwiches. Many of you know that I'm not really a beef eater (I eat about 1 or 2 hamburgers a year and that's about it), so I headed here hoping to grab a chicken sandwich.
We arrived at Pecos Bill's around 1 p.m., which on a June afternoon was still particularly busy. In looking at the menu, I noticed it wasn't a very big one. Items include:
- BBQ Pork Sandwich
- 1/3lb Angus Cheeseburger
- 1/3lb Deluxe Angus Cheeseburger
- Veggie Burger
- Chicken Sandwich
- Taco Salad
When I arrived at the cash register station, I asked for a manager and the CM paged one. When the manager arrived, we went over the allergy ingredients book. I really wanted a chicken sandwich but the manager said that the chicken sandwiches were taking a really long time to prepare and would probably take 10-20 minutes longer than the other sandwiches. Wow, that's a little crazy! Does everyone want chicken sandwiches?! Feeling saucy, I decided to get a burger. One of the big reasons I did this was because I noticed that the beef appears to be locally sourced (from Lakeland, FL which is about 30 minutes away). That always is an important thing for me, especially since I don't eat beef much. I noticed that they had Udi's buns, and the manager confirmed that this was the case. Is it me or is Udi's making a comeback? I still think they should carry both options (one that is egg free like GNI) for guests who have multiple allergies, but am personally glad to see Udi's buns back. I also got french fries which are made in a dedicated fryer. You can also get pre-packaged carrots and grapes.I also asked if I could have some condiments from the back and toppings from the back. If you have never been to Pecos Bill's before, there is actually a toppings bar that is out front that people can use to get lettuce, grilled onions and mushrooms, cheese sauce, etc. However, as a gluten free/dairy free person, you would be best to steer clear of this area. It's a free-for-all and often heavily cross-contaminated. If you're interested in certain items, just as the manager and they will bring you some from the back that are safe. Some managers may offer to grill onions and peppers for you and others might not. On this particular occasion I was offered raw onion (which I don't mind). I also got shredded lettuce and pickles. You can also find lots of pre-packaged ketchup (Heinz), mayo and mustard available (I also steer clear of the self serve condiments).
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| Toppings bar in all of its cross contamination glory--stay far away partners! |
Once I completed my order, the manager gave me a pager and they stamped my receipt with a boot...ha, they literally gave me the boot!! (ok, sorry the western humor was too tempting) Then he told me to meet him near the fireplace when the pager went off. I will note that it did take a bit to prepare. Also, one important thing to consider. They monitor seating at Pecos Bill's. You need to be with your party when you find your seats. That can be a little tricky when you have dietary needs. We ended up having my family go find seats and I waited in the main area and then found them once I got my food. The staff were actually very helpful with this. Just something to keep in mind if you have a hungry group.
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| I got the boot! |
Once my food arrived, I headed over to meet the family. First thing I noticed was that they were very generous with the toppings. That was nice! The hamburger itself was a little thin looking for a 1/3lb burger. It could have been a little bit bigger if you ask me. The bacon was the typical "stringy" bacon you get at Disney. I'm sort of used to it, so it wasn't a big deal. I added a little ketchup, mayo and mustard to the burger and topped with the extra toppings. Yum!! Taste wise, the burger was actually good. I didn't find it overly greasy at all. It was a little on the dry side, but not bad. The extra fat from the bacon and the accompaniments helped. The fries were nothing special. Same fries you get anywhere else. But still good. I mean, where else can you get french fries?! I was very excited to see the Udi's bun. It's just plain tasty and it makes the hamburger, if you ask me.
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| Extra toppings--not from the topping bar! |
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| Burger and fries--yeehaw! |
Overall, I thought the meal wasn't bad. The burger had a nice grill flavor and was probably one of the better quick service burgers around. My family who isn't GF/DF all really enjoyed them. My one gripe is that they don't really have great vegetarian options (a veggie burger does not count as a variety!) or options in general. It really is a burgers and fries joint. If you're looking for locations that have more varied options, check out Cosmic Rays or Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom. But, if you want a burger and fries, this is the place to go!I'd give this a 7 out of 10 for this trip.