THE ENTREES There ’ s definitely a southern angle to the menu at Crystal Palace : Fried chicken , candied pecans , and grits are all over the menu . Southern cooking always has strong flavors and a certain homemade , stick-to-your-ribs , comforting feeling . In general , we were very impressed with the entrees ; they both had good strong flavors and excellent presentation .
The plated entrees and table service do give Crystal Palace a more elevated feel than the previous buffet incarnation . But don ’ t worry : It ’ s still relaxed and casual inside , a perfect place to catch your breath in the AC during a long Magic Kingdom day .
The Brown Sugar-glazed , Bone-In Pork Chop was a very satisfying dish . The chop was still nice and juicy , and the spicedapple reduction added beautiful warm notes to the flavor profile . The baked sweet potato with honey butter was great and made the meal feel substantial .
It ’ s a pretty classic culinary technique to offset a salty , meaty cut of protein with a sweet contrast , but this may be too sweet for some . There ’ s brown sugar glaze , honey butter , sweet potato , and candied pecans all on one plate .
The pork chop ( above ) and the fried cauliflower entrees ( below ).
PHOTOS BY JEFF CHIU
The Southern-fried Cauliflower was the unexpected standout of the two dishes . Not only is this a tasty vegetarian entree , but it is also suitable for guests with egg , fish / shellfish , milk , and peanut / tree nut allergies .
I try to make a point of highlighting plant-based or allergy-friendly dishes in these columns because I know that for guests with dietary restrictions , making dining plans and navigating menus can be stressful . I want to reassure you that Disney is quite accommodating , and you will find lots of great options to suit your needs . If you have specific dietary concerns , you should always let your server know ; Disney is well versed in common allergies and dietary concerns , and you will often be able to talk directly with the chef .
The fried cauliflower looks exactly like a delicious golden-brown piece of Crispy-fried Chicken and tastes almost as good . I ’ m an omnivore myself with no allergy or dietary restrictions , and if I had to choose one , I would probably opt for the actual southern fried chicken , but this fried cauliflower is excellent .