Ah, Rose and Crown Pub: an infamous stop at Epcot while drinking around the world. A well-traveled pub in Epcot for anyone wanting to stop in for a pint of Guinness. But did you know behind the pub is a cozy restaurant serving up some classic British pub food?
I certainly did, but with Yorkshire County Fish Shop literally next door, I wanted to sample some classic pub food that wasn’t fish and chips. However, with a bottle of malt vinegar seemingly on every table, it seems fish and chips is their most popular menu item. Of course, I had to be different.
But first, a small flight!
It seemed fitting to start dinner off with a sampling of UK beers. ($14.75)
Bombardier Amber – a good beer to start with and an instant favorite.
Harp Lager – was told it’s like Budweiser, so lighter and weaker. 4th place.
Old Speckled Hen English Pale Ale – good, but not a favorite. 3rd place.
Guinness Stout – much easier to drink than I was expecting. I thought this would be my least favorite, but became my second favorite in this flight.
More than just an egg.
The Scotch Egg ($15) is not just an egg. It is a hard-boiled egg, wrapped in sausage and then fried. Delicious and tasty, this common pub appetizer is a hit with everyone who isn’t a cardiologist. I certainly loved it! This is served with greens and a mustard dressing to pretend you’re still being healthy.
Shepherd’s Pie (actually it’s Cottage Pie)
While the menu lists this main course as Shepherd’s Pie ($27), the description includes ground beef, so this is technically Cottage Pie. Regardless of proper name, the flavors in this were out of this world. The ground beef was seasoned beautifully. The mashed potatoes on top were creamy and slightly toasted. While it may not look like a large portion, this serving was hefty and quite filling!
This is called what, again?
This I ordered off the menu. It used to be on the menu as a side dish but was removed. Luckily, you can still order it! This is Bubble and Squeak! Simply put, it’s a dish made of mashed potatoes and cabbage, mixed together and fried. This is often made to use up leftovers, so it’s very easy to throw together.
Don’t ask me why it’s called Bubble and Squeak, I’m just a Disney blogger, not a British historian. Regardless, while it was tasty and akin to a potato pancake, this was perhaps too many potatoes when combined with the above Shepherd’s Pie. While good, for carb’s sake I may pass on this next time.
British pudding.
Weird, this doesn’t look like Jell-O pudding. Them zany Brits and their names for things! For dessert, I chose Sticky Toffee Pudding ($9.50) as recommended to me by another guest. My goodness, was this delicious! Steamed Pudding ‘Cake’ served with Warm Vanilla Custard and Hot Butter-Rum Sauce. Having a cake texture and consistency, this was the perfect vessel to soak in the butter rum sauce it’s resting in. The vanilla custard in the center was quite nice. Overall, it’s a bit of a heavier dessert, but it’s rich and delicious!
Let’s talk Rose and Crown ambience.
As pictured earlier, Rose & Crown Dining Room feels more cozy than the pub at the front of the building. The plates along the top wall continued throughout the perimeter of the room. As I was seated in a corner booth, there was a cozy fireplace across from me.
Near the kitchen doors was a piano player who tickled the ivories playing a mix of 90s popular music along with Beatles hits. It was fun to listen and see how quickly one could identify the song being played. It was also fun to look around and see who else figured out the song and was grooving to it. I certainly wasn’t the only one!
My server was a delightful young lady, who did a very good job explaining menu items, communicating kitchen delays, and really seemed to vibe well with myself and the table next to me. She was fun and I really enjoyed being in her section.
Let’s wrap this up.
Okay, so overall, my experience dining at Rose and Crown was better than expected. The food was good, and exactly what I would expect to find in a pub/restaurant. Service was excellent and very enjoyable. Ambience was cozy and comforting, despite the hustle of service staff going in and out of the kitchen.
Would I return? Absolutely. Would I order the fish and chips next time? Most likely, yes. I can see an easy dinner of a beer, fish and chips, and sticky toffee pudding in my future at some point. If I return during a festival, I’ll definitely try to reserve a festival dining package so I can sit on the back patio to watch fireworks while enjoying said fish and chips.
Rose and Crown Dining Room is located in the UK pavilion of Disney’s Epcot. It is open for dinner from 4p-9p with the majority of menu prices ranging from $15-$34.99. Rose and Crown Dining Room does offer an Annual Pass and Disney Visa Cardholder discount. Reservations are recommended for the Dining Room. Reservations are not needed to access the Rose and Crown Pub at the front of the building.
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