by Ray Keating
Review
DisneyBizJournal.com
October 12, 2023
How about some Romulan ale in Ten Forward?
For those of you who have no idea what I’m referencing, it’s from Star Trek. In Star Trek: The Next Generation, Ten Forward is a bar/lounge on the U.S.S. Enterprise-D. Meanwhile, Romulan ale is a strong, blue-colored alcoholic beverage courtesy of the Romulans, and illegal in the Federation during Star Trek: The Original Series.
Yes, I’m a Star Trek nerd (Trekker? Trekkie?). But what does any of this possibly have to do with a visit to the Space 220 Restaurant at EPCOT? Last time I checked, Disney didn’t buy Star Trek. Well, give me a second.
Let’s back up a bit first. I managed to grab a reservation at Space 220 on the night of October 11. Actually, it was a reservation for the Space 220 Lounge.
Upon entering the building, the décor is stark, clean sci-fi. A Disney cast member takes your name, and eventually you get in line to enter the next space elevator car to take you 220 miles into the sky and into space. The ride is a key part of the experience, and it’s fun as you look down at a receding EPCOT and then Earth.
The doors open and you’re escorted into the restaurant, which features large, panoramic views of space and the Earth. Various ships occasionally and slowly journey by, as do various astronauts out for space walks.
It's as if an Imagineer looked at the Coral Reef Restaurant, with its large windows looking into a massive aquarium, and said, “Hey, let’s do this in space.” It works, generally. I have to say, though, that I actually expected more from the view – not that Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing should streak by (Wouldn’t that be cool? And yes, now I’m bringing in Star Wars) – but there should be … well … more going on out there in space while diners are eating.
As for the inside restaurant, this is where Star Trek’s Ten Forward comes in. The feel and look of Ten Forward is unmistakable – at least it was to me and my fellow diner. The carpeting, the bar area, the chairs, the windows, the view – yeah, this is Ten Forward. I know that this wasn’t Disney’s intent, but one wonders if an Imagineer (perhaps the same one thinking Coral Reef) happened to be a Trekkie and slipped one by the Walt Disney World execs. Either way, I enjoyed the feel of drinking and eating in Ten Forward. Yes, yes, Space 220, I know.
Now, let’s get to the food. After all, this is a restaurant. Since we were lounge dwellers – it’s all the same room, by the way, with the same views – our menu was more limited. But each dish we tried was quite good.
The Braised Beef Tostada ($18.00) came on tortilla chips, and was accompanied by saffron pickled onions, avocado crema and shredded lettuce. The beef was shredded, tender and had a pot-roast-like taste. There also was a hint of citrus, and the crunchy chip bed made for a nice presentation.
The Charred Octopus ($20.00) came with chimichurri and garlic aioli, and a pile of smoked paprika chips. This turned out to be a welcome surprise. The octopus wasn’t chewy, and instead, with the charring, it almost had a BBQ, smoky steak taste.
And the Chicken on Waffle ($18.00) was a combination of fried chicken, smoked bacon, spiced coleslaw and maple glaze. I don’t have a great deal of experience with chicken and waffles, but this was very tasty. The chicken was a major upgrade from standard chicken fingers – tender, thick and nicely breaded. The waffle, maple and coleslaw all managed to combine into an enjoyable mix.
But the best dish was the Hoisin Pork Belly ($16.00), which was braised pork belly, with a smoky rainbow chard and golden raising agrodolce. I’m not a pork fan, so my enjoyment is saying something. The pork belly included the “good” fat and was incredibly flavorful, especially with the sweetness combined with the crunchy bed.
As for desserts, we ordered two. The Carrot Cake Callisto ($14.00) made a great first impression, with a sponge-like cake and a certain lightness to the icing. Unfortunately, the dish left a regrettable aftertaste that didn’t want to go away. And given that I’m a big fan of carrot cake, this resulted in some dining sadness.
Fortunately, the Chocolate Cheesecake ($14.00) swept away my carrot cake blues. The whipped chocolate ganache, chocolate sauce and white chocolate crunchy pearls were delicious. They seemed to burst with chocolate flavor. Plus, the dish was topped by large, thin, dark chocolate sails, if you will, that also were delightful. Yes, chocolate heaven among the stars.
Finally, let’s talk drinks. The non-alcoholic Solar Flare ($14.00) is very grapefruit-y, with a balance of some sweetness. It ranked as reliably refreshing.
But it was the Galaxy Spritz ($17.00), a combination of Lagoon Bay Aperitif, Lychee Liqueur, lemon juice and Prosecco, that completed the Star Trek story for the meal. It’s a floral, sipping beverage – not too sweet but also not possessing a heavy alcohol bite. But it is blue. Yes, just like Romulan ale.
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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.
The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? (Keating is a Disney shareholder.)
Consider books by Ray Keating, including…
• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. There are 18 books in the series now.
• Order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle editions and paperbacks via Amazon here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist at Amazon.com.
• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel is at Amazon.
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