Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Beyond the Tree of Life and just before Dinoland USA, the smell of barbecue permeates the air of Disney's Animal Kingdom. The aroma comes from Flame Tree Barbecue, a brightly decorated counter service restaurant where guests can choose from a variety of fresh foods and down home barbecue.

Upon your approach, Flame Tree Barbecue is a group of cash registers in front of a large counter with several lines for diners to wait to place their orders. Service is quick. The menus are posted above the counter, so diners can make their selections before they arrive at the registers. Once your order is placed, you continue to the counter to pick up your meal. Within minutes the food is ready to go and after a quick stop at the first condiment station, you are on your way to your table.

Seating appears at first to be nonexistent. Yet once you wander down the paths located to the left of the restaurant, you will find many different groupings of shaded seating areas with tables of various sizes. Views from the seating areas may include the river, exotic foliage, or even a postcard perfect view of Animal Kingdom's newest rollercoaster, Expedition Everest. Several seating areas offer condiments, napkins and flatware, saving a trip back to the counter for more supplies.

The menu is not large, but varied enough to suit most guests looking for a good, fast and filling meal that goes beyond the usual theme park chicken tenders and cheeseburgers. The barbecue items the restaurant is named for include ribs and chicken, and shredded pork and beef sandwiches. The rub used on all the meat items is sweet and smoky, with a slight peppery flavor from chili powder and black pepper. The condiments offer a spicy version of their tomato based sweet barbecue sauce, and a tamer version with less kick. All barbecue items are offered with baked beans and the ribs and chicken also include a corn muffin. The meat is all hot and fresh and has the tenderness and smoky flavor of good barbecue.

Days in Orlando are hot, however, and not everyone is up for a heavy barbecue meal. For those diners, Flame Tree offers some lighter cold items. The smoked turkey sandwich is served on a whole wheat bun, in the spirit of the healthier options Disney is leaning towards. The sandwich is large and filling, but a bit on the dry side. Dipping it in the honey mustard dressing served alongside does help, but if you don't like that flavor, you may find this item a bit lacking. The salad offering comes with slices of barbecued chicken breast, diced tomatoes and a light balsamic dressing. A large seasoned flatbread adds some crunch to this otherwise ordinary salad. For a sweet touch, the last cold offering is a large fruit and yogurt platter. The fruit is very fresh and light and is a great departure from the typical melon assortment most Disney fruit cups include.

Side items at Flame Tree include delicious but greasy battered onion rings, French fries, and coleslaw. For your beverage selection, Disney World serves Coca Cola products so your options include Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and Minute Maid Lemonade. Flame Tree Barbecue also offers beer and wine options for those looking for a more adult refreshment.

Dessert rounds out the menu with offerings of key lime pie, frozen lemonade and chocolate cake. The key lime pie is an actual slice served on a plate which contrasts with the prepackaged chocolate cake. The pie is tart and sweet and is an ideal finish to any outdoor meal.

As with all Disney restaurants, counter service and table service, Flame Tree offers several items for children. Entrees are a choice between a hot dog and baked chicken wings and each diner can select two of the available sides: grapes, applesauce, carrots or Jell-O. French fries can be substituted at guest request. A child size beverage in included in the $4.50 price tag.

Adult entrees range from $5.00 to $9.00, with a full entrée, drink and dessert running about $12.00 per person. Flame Tree Barbecue does accept the Disney Dining Experience card, saving card holders 20% off their bill and Flame Tree is also a participating counter service restaurant on the Disney Dining Plan. A delicious oasis in Animal Kingdom's active park, this is a great place to catch a quick meal that goes beyond the ordinary.