Luv2Roam
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2000
Okay -- thought I would post as I was treated to a test meal at La Hacienda.
Very nice building. Great location. Long over due.
And any place with A/C wins me over instantly.
Strawberry/lime lemonade to drink. Did not taste any lime. But I think it was mentioned it was in there. However it was very tasty and refreshing, esp on a hot, humid FL sunny day.
As with most Mexican restaurants, chips and some salsa were brought to the table. There were two different salsas. One to me had a BBQ flavor.
But I think it was made with some sort of roasted peppers. I think that was the BBQ I was tasting. I was with two others, and they did not seem to think the same as I. (However I am at the end of a cold and my taste buds may still be a bit off.)
One salsa was red (the "BBQ") and the other green.
I would not consider either hot/spicy. Of course that would depend on the individual.
Started off with Botana -- A sampling (of 3) items: Chicken Tostada, Chilorio sope (Marinated pork) and cheese empanada.
All three were good. But the cheese empanada ---
. Of course hot cheese with any kind of dough around it is always a good thing in my book.
The other two were also very good. But the cheese was my favorite.
The other two each had a base of black beans. I am not a fan of black beans. But theirs were good. I actually really liked them.
Each of the three appys were just a small tostada. Maybe like 3" across or so. ($9.95)
Rather than a regular entree, I again had a sampling of three different entrees. (The appy is a regular on the menu. The entree sampling is not.)
I had a sampling of Flank Steak (Strips sliced fairly thin. Not too thin. Not thick. Good size actually.) The flank steak is called Arrachera on the menu.
Arrachera -- Flank steak with spring onions, tamal, cactus leaves and beans. ($25.95)
Just listing what the menu reads. Although I did not have all that and not the regular portion.
I am not a steak person, and always want mine WELL done. This was not pink to medium. I just gave my pink piece away. 
But what I had was good.
I also had one Taco de Camarones (fried shrimp taco).
It was a flour tortilla, which seemed very fresh. I am sure they make their own, which makes all the difference in the world. If they don't, they have a good supplier.
There were three shrimp on the tortilla, with some purple cabbage and a little (and I mean LITTLE) drizzle of a green sauce. Which by the menu must have been chipotle-lime aioli.
It was good. But made me realize I could easily make this at home. Gave me a good idea to do so.
Then there was a side that looked like a lot of green and red peppers julienned. I am not a pepper person, so sorry to say did not even try it. (Although I am wondering if that was cactus leaves in with the peppers. )
Another side was mostly corn, and some red peppers (I think) and something white in smallish balls.
Thinking it was cheese I went for that! Although I like corn a lot too. It was pretty good. Esp for a side. (Nice change of pace.) Although I do not think it was cheese. Did not have a lot of flavor (the white balls).
For dessert, I have to say was "okay". I don;t think I would ever order it. However I did not get what is listed on the menu. (The menu has 4 desserts listed.)
What is on the menu, that I had, is:
Tamal de Dulce: Sweet tamal filled with guava, topped with strawberry coulis. ($7.95)
The servers said it was so good.
If there was any guava in mine, it was so sparse I missed it entirely.
It kind of reminded me of a lady finger (but not quite) with that light, foamy strawberry whipping sauce that Kona Cafe puts in a cup on the side of their Tonga Toast. Then a dollop of (whipped?) cream and a little sliver of fresh strawberry on top. The cream was not really formed. But not foam either.
Reminded me of strawberry shortcake without the actual berries.
Guava would have made it much better. Not that it was bad. Just not as I expected. However this dessert was nice as it was not heavy.
As with almost all WDW restaurants, it was noisy. And it wasn't like anyone was particularly loud. Just noisy like Chefs de France and most any other Disney restaurant.
I think this restaurant will be VERY popular with the Illuminations crowd.
And I am very happy to see another good restaurant in World Showcase.
La Hacienda offers quite a variety of margaritas too, along with tequila (and tequila flights) beer and wine.
6 appetizers (Prices range from $6.95 - $12.50 each.)
2 offerings that serve 2 people ($49.95 each)
5 entrees (Prices range from $22.95 - $25.95 each.)
4 desserts (Prices range from $6.25 - $7.95 each. Only one -- ice cream -- is $6.25. The others are $7.95.)
The number of options seems standard in WDW restaurants currently.
Very nice building. Great location. Long over due.
And any place with A/C wins me over instantly.
Strawberry/lime lemonade to drink. Did not taste any lime. But I think it was mentioned it was in there. However it was very tasty and refreshing, esp on a hot, humid FL sunny day.
As with most Mexican restaurants, chips and some salsa were brought to the table. There were two different salsas. One to me had a BBQ flavor.
But I think it was made with some sort of roasted peppers. I think that was the BBQ I was tasting. I was with two others, and they did not seem to think the same as I. (However I am at the end of a cold and my taste buds may still be a bit off.)One salsa was red (the "BBQ") and the other green.
I would not consider either hot/spicy. Of course that would depend on the individual.
Started off with Botana -- A sampling (of 3) items: Chicken Tostada, Chilorio sope (Marinated pork) and cheese empanada.
All three were good. But the cheese empanada ---
. Of course hot cheese with any kind of dough around it is always a good thing in my book. The other two were also very good. But the cheese was my favorite.
The other two each had a base of black beans. I am not a fan of black beans. But theirs were good. I actually really liked them.
Each of the three appys were just a small tostada. Maybe like 3" across or so. ($9.95)
Rather than a regular entree, I again had a sampling of three different entrees. (The appy is a regular on the menu. The entree sampling is not.)
I had a sampling of Flank Steak (Strips sliced fairly thin. Not too thin. Not thick. Good size actually.) The flank steak is called Arrachera on the menu.
Arrachera -- Flank steak with spring onions, tamal, cactus leaves and beans. ($25.95)
Just listing what the menu reads. Although I did not have all that and not the regular portion.
I am not a steak person, and always want mine WELL done. This was not pink to medium. I just gave my pink piece away.
But what I had was good.
I also had one Taco de Camarones (fried shrimp taco).
It was a flour tortilla, which seemed very fresh. I am sure they make their own, which makes all the difference in the world. If they don't, they have a good supplier.
There were three shrimp on the tortilla, with some purple cabbage and a little (and I mean LITTLE) drizzle of a green sauce. Which by the menu must have been chipotle-lime aioli.
It was good. But made me realize I could easily make this at home. Gave me a good idea to do so.
Then there was a side that looked like a lot of green and red peppers julienned. I am not a pepper person, so sorry to say did not even try it. (Although I am wondering if that was cactus leaves in with the peppers.
)Another side was mostly corn, and some red peppers (I think) and something white in smallish balls.
Thinking it was cheese I went for that! Although I like corn a lot too. It was pretty good. Esp for a side. (Nice change of pace.) Although I do not think it was cheese. Did not have a lot of flavor (the white balls).For dessert, I have to say was "okay". I don;t think I would ever order it. However I did not get what is listed on the menu. (The menu has 4 desserts listed.)
What is on the menu, that I had, is:
Tamal de Dulce: Sweet tamal filled with guava, topped with strawberry coulis. ($7.95)
The servers said it was so good.
If there was any guava in mine, it was so sparse I missed it entirely.
It kind of reminded me of a lady finger (but not quite) with that light, foamy strawberry whipping sauce that Kona Cafe puts in a cup on the side of their Tonga Toast. Then a dollop of (whipped?) cream and a little sliver of fresh strawberry on top. The cream was not really formed. But not foam either.
Reminded me of strawberry shortcake without the actual berries.
Guava would have made it much better. Not that it was bad. Just not as I expected. However this dessert was nice as it was not heavy.
As with almost all WDW restaurants, it was noisy. And it wasn't like anyone was particularly loud. Just noisy like Chefs de France and most any other Disney restaurant.
I think this restaurant will be VERY popular with the Illuminations crowd.
And I am very happy to see another good restaurant in World Showcase.
La Hacienda offers quite a variety of margaritas too, along with tequila (and tequila flights) beer and wine.
6 appetizers (Prices range from $6.95 - $12.50 each.)
2 offerings that serve 2 people ($49.95 each)
5 entrees (Prices range from $22.95 - $25.95 each.)
4 desserts (Prices range from $6.25 - $7.95 each. Only one -- ice cream -- is $6.25. The others are $7.95.)
The number of options seems standard in WDW restaurants currently.
