The Liberty Inn, one of Epcot’s biggest let-downs
Perhaps it is that Americans are perceived as not having their own cuisine. I mean we are guilty of it ourselves. We flock to the Chinese place down the street for take-out, the Italian joint in the city for dinner, the Mexican place for lunch, or even the Irish pub for a drink. But the United States does have a rich history of great food, and that is why it stuns me that among the gastronomical delight called the World Showcase Imagineers never bothered to create a headliner American restaurant.
Instead what we got is nothing but a glorified fast-food joint boringly named the Liberty Inn. Yes, we do have a great legacy of cuisine in this country, whether it escaped Imagineers in the early 1980’s or not. But the one culinary legacy of this culture that makes American chefs wear paper bags on their heads when among their international peers is fast-food.
We could have had a premier New England seafood house, serving Maine lobster, scallops or haddock along with maple syrup desserts among other delicacies. Imagineers could have chosen to offer guests a butt-kicking Southern barbecue, or even an adventurous Louisiana Creole establishment. Sure all of these things have their roots in European creations, but that in itself if essentially American. Instead, Disney gave us the same chicken strips and hamburgers one can get all over Walt Disney World packaged in a dull, cavernous building that calls to mind a gymnasium before any traditional American cultural reflection.
So since this is a review of the Liberty Inn, let me put it this way. Among all the international delights and amazing tastes that surround the World Showcase and fill you with temptations from all over the world, the American pavilion offers nothing to even consider. Many Epcot purists have a hard time finding even the smallest mistake in the original incarnation of this park, but I think we can all admit a mistake was made here. The Liberty Inn is total disappointment in every regard, and in its own unintended way it slaps the American culinary world right in the face.
We urge you to discuss this more and leave your comment below, or feel free to come over to the Disney News Network Forums where we discuss this and many other topics in the Mouse Extra Forums.
Matt said,
September 12, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
Whenever I eat here, I always feel like it’s a letdown because all around me are great (well most of them are great) ethnic restaurants but I’m having the same burger you can get at Cosmic Rays.
Tom Corless said,
September 12, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
And I hate to say it, but Cosmic Rays and all the other fast food eateries are a lot cleaner and more well kept. The condiment bars in that place are always dirty.
Tom said,
September 12, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
The American Pavillion as a whole is a disappointment. The movie is good, not great but pavvilion really falls short in showcasing anying in particular.
The first dozen trips to Epcot, I didn’t even realize that there was a quick service resturant at the pavillion.
WDW could have done a reqional flavors type of theming.
Luke Manning said,
September 13, 2007 @ 1:15 am
While it’s not my favorite fast food restaurant, it is ok. I went there once on my last visit at about 10.30pm to get some fries. It appeared open, but wasn’t. But then a chef came up to me & said “what did you want?” And I said just some fries, & he gave it to me, for free.
That is a true sample of Disney magic. And it happened at this restaurant.
I have not been to many of the World Showcase restaurants, so I don’t have much to say. I’ve only been to Le Celier, San Angel Inn, Lotus Blossom Cafe, & this.
Jon said,
September 13, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
I’m confused by these pavilions. Are they supposed to represent the present or the past? If they are going to do this American colonial theme, should they serve period food? How about some dang corn! Couldn’t be more American than that.
Raidermatt said,
September 14, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
I’ve said it before…. a quality BBQ place would be a beautiful fit here, for so many reasons.
Mike said,
September 16, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
Cosmic Rays is great
I agree with RaiderMatt, BBQ would be a good idea.