Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge
*This dining experience took place in December 2017.
Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe
Whispering Canyon Cafe is a table service restaurant located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort that is known for good food and fun hijinks. If you enjoy the charm of 50's Prime Time Cafe's servers, you'll love Whispering Canyon Cafe where if you ask for ketchup, you're bound to get more than you bargained for. Recently, my family enjoyed a meal here during the holiday season. It's been 2 years since my last dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe, so I was looking forward to a some good BBQ.
Atmosphere
Whispering Canyon Cafe definitely has a rustic charm to it. Unlike the rest of the lodge and restaurants, like Artist Point, Whispering Canyon Cafe features bright colors in its decor.
From the moment you see the sign, you know you're in for a rootin' tootin' good time!
We visited during the holiday season. And, one of the things I loved most were the holiday decorations. Even the wreaths had a bit of that rustic decor incorporated into them.
As you can see, Whispering Canyon Cafe features chairs and tables with lots of art on them. Watch out for those antics! During your meal, big and little kiddos can take a spin around the restaurant on wooden horses.
We loved that the restaurant included some holiday decor to it, which made for an even more festive experience. You'll also notice that there are a lot of big tables in Whispering Canyon Cafe. We definitely noticed a lot of larger parties (including our group) dining there.
The Food
Whispering Canyon Cafe has two claims to fame: The BBQ skillets and the server antics. Usually when you dine here, you are given a card that says you want to either participate in the antics or just watch. We didn't get that option. So, our server was all antics all the time. I definitely don't mind antics, except when special dietary needs are concerned.When I mentioned that I have celiac disease, my server said, "I don't care," and it took me a bit to get her to bring the chef to the table. While I know this was part of the schtick (and even the chef got into the antics), I still was a little off put by that. Usually, the servers break character when it comes to discussing special dietary needs. I've been to Whispering Canyon Cafe enough times that I wasn't too fazed by it. But, I could see how this might be off-putting. So, just be aware that this could happen on your visit. Whispering Canyon Cafe does have an allergy-friendly dinner menu that you can look at too, which helps.
Up first, I was brought the Whispering Canyon Cafe allergy-friendly cornbread with Earth Balance vegan buttery spread. The cornbread is made to be gluten free, dairy free, and fairly allergy friendly. And, it's delicious! Made with Namaste Vanilla Cake Mix as the base, if you love a more cake like cornbread with a hint of sweetness, this is your cornbread. My family actually prefers this version too.Don't forget to ask your server for more too, if you only get one piece. I could eat this cornbread just about any day.
I ended up getting the All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet meal which also comes with Family-style Mixed Greens tossed in an Apple Vinaigrette Dressing. This dish is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. You can make it dairy free by omitting the cheese in this dish.This was a really nice salad with bright, fresh flavors. The apple slices in it were nice -- though they were a tad grainy. The blue cheese added a nice rich tang to the salad. Overall, I think the salad is really nice both with and without the cheese. And, I really enjoy the fresh fruit in it too.
Once we finished with our salad and cornbread, the table was brought out a giant skillet to share. I ended up getting my own skillet on the side, but the main All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet meal is actually safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies, as is. It comes with Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Glazed Chicken, Oak-smoked Beef, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans.My family loves this skillet and everyone really enjoyed it. Brandon said the mashed potatoes were really delicious too.
I didn't want the mashed potatoes for my entree and asked if I could get roasted potatoes (which are gluten free and dairy free) instead. So, I was brought my own mini All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet meal. It came with Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Glazed Chicken, Oak-smoked Beef, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Roasted Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans. This dish is safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Milk, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies with the potato modification.The is such a hearty meal. I have to say that the oak-smoked beef was probably my favorite of the proteins, then the pulled pork. But, they were all really good. The only thing on the skillet I don't really love are the Baked Beans. They just seem like they should cook a bit longer, and I don't love the BBQ flavor in them all that much. Still, for this meal it's a huge portion with lots of great bold flavors.
I was also served a huge plate of roasted potatoes on the side. And, they were delicious. Both Brandon and I ate these and were wowed by the nice roasted flavor on them. I would definitely ask for these again.
Overall
Whispering Canyon Cafe is a fun and charming restaurant to visit. The food is always plentiful and tasty, and the atmosphere makes it even better. If experiencing some hijinks during your meal is not your thing, Whispering Canyon Cafe may not be for you. But, if you don't mind a bit of silly fun throughout your meal, it's a great option for guests who enjoy a good barbecue meal.Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What did you think of your experience dining there?