Best Food in the Park

pointperson's avatar

Where can the best food be found in the park. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Where is the best sitdown and wheres the best walkup?

Thanks for the help in advance. : )

Last edited by pointperson,

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Kevinj's avatar

I've been going to CP for all of my 31 years and still haven't figured out the answer to any of your questions. But places I regularly hit would include:

1. The gourmet pretzel nearest Corkscrew

2. Frozen Custard in FT


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Well, I never eat three full meals in one day at the park because of prices, but I have eaten all of them over time. Too bad some places aren't around any more, some good things have disappeared. :)

I'm not sure why you're asking about breakfast, but if you're staying at Breakers I would recommend going to TGIF. If you absolutely must spend the money on breakfast in the park (seriously, stop at McDonalds or Burger King on your way in) and aren't staying at a resort property, then Donut Time has great donuts, rolls, muffins, and cookies. The muffins really are pretty good, I probably had way too many last year.

The best sit down place on the peninsula is either Famous Dave's or your car (I'm trying to help you save a bit of money here, you'll want to). Surprisingly enough, the prices at Famous Dave's aren't really any different from any other steak or rib place. In my experience, the food has always been outstanding, though the speed of the service can be hit or miss. My personal recommendation is the Texas Beef Brisket or the Rib Tips. If you don't want to go outside the park gates, Game Day Grill has some fairly decent food at the usual insanely inflated prices you would expect at Cedar Point. Be warned, it will get crowded really quick if there is a big sports event happening.

I'm not sure if you would consider it a sit down or a walk up (its honestly your choice with this), but Panda Express is in my opinion, the best deal on food in the park. The prices aren't outrageous IMO considering that you get quite a bit and it will fill you up for most of the day (usually have mine around 2 or 3 pm).

My favorite walkup service stand would have to be Gristmill Refreshments. Its over next to the Gristmill at the edge of Frontier Town/Trail, and the burgers there are I think the better ones in the park. I didn't see them last year, but they have served some very large and very good BBQ turkey legs in the past as well.

In the way of dessert style snacking, my favorite place for funnel cakes is from Toot Sweets right before you go through the MF tunnel, and I love a milk shake from Coasters

Whatever you do though, avoid Midway Market! But I'll let Jugga tell you about that. ;)


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pointperson's avatar

Yeah I know, I've been going for a few about 5yrs now and still can't find a good place. I always stop at the stand when you cross over the RR coming from Gemini, that place has the best fries(IMO)

Now that I have a platinum pass I'll be heading to the park more and I would more then likely eat more meals in the park. So I was looking for some suggestions on where some of the better/exceptional food is in the park in the opinion of Pointbuzzers. Since I've been on pointbuzz for a few yrs now, I've heard alot of complaints about the food and the prices but never heard anything about where to find the better food in the park.

^thanks I think I'll try to hit that place in Frontier for a burger. I was talking about breakfast because I will be getting to CP earlier and I like to have a small breakfast at around 10 or so. I will most likly not eat 3 meals in the park in one day but I was just wondering because over time I probably will.

Last edited by pointperson,

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GAM man 68's avatar

Los Gatos is my personal favorite.


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Famous Daves.....get catfish sticks dipped in every type of BBQ sauce that's out on the table, and .....pig out!

hahahahahahahehehehehehe. You did not use the words "best food"and cedar point in the same topic, did you? I think I threw up in my mouth a bit. My best sugestion is to stop at the Olive Garden on rt250 first and fill up, than go to the park, and on the way home pick something up.

Your mom is to fat to ride TTD.'s avatar

The fries place by Gemini. Those are the best!


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TTD 120mph's avatar

Those who know me know I frequent Panda Express. And I've become spoiled by the ones around my house cause for the price of a panda bowl and drink at CP, I can get a 2 entree meal with eggroll and a medium drink (which is huge for a medium)for even less at the one I go to.


I also like to stop by Famous Daves, TGI Fridays, and the all you can eat Pizza Parlor in Hotel Breakers.

Last edited by TTD 120mph,

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KYJoe's avatar

Famous Dave's
Happy Friar
Macho Nacho at Los Gatos

I like Famous Dave's, Game Day Grille, Johnny Rockets, The Roundup (next to Maverick), and the Dippin Dot stands.

BlueStreak64 said:

I'm not sure why you're asking about breakfast, but if you're staying at Breakers I would recommend going to TGIF.

TGI Friday's no longer serves breakfast. It ended in either 2006 or 2007 if I remember correctly. The former breakfast buffet at TGI Friday's has been replaced by the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet in the Coffee Shop off the main lobby. Pretty much the same food, just new location.

The Breakwater Cafe next to Sandcastle Suites and Camper Village also serves a wonderful breakfast. If you stay at Castaway Bay, try Mango Mike's.

As far as best sit-down restaurant, it is a toss up between TGI Friday's and Famous Dave's, although I think Famous Dave's squeaks by as my personal favorite for their BBQ chicken and desserts. Both are very good values when you consider that you are getting a full cooked to order meal with side dishes (and air conditioning and free refills!) for only $2-4 more than a burger basket in the park.

If you don't want to go outside the gate, I'd probably give it to Game Day Grille for the atmosphere, servince and menu, but the pizza at Joe Cool Cafe is pretty good as well.

If you want something a little more upscale for dinner, try either Bay Harbor (seafood) or Tomo (hibachi/sushi).

Best in-park quick service would be a toss up between Chick-fil-a and Panda Express, although I also like the in-park chicken fingers and fried chicken sandwiches with some BBQ sauce. And obviously staples like the classic Cedar Point fresh-cut french fries, elephant ears, gourmet pretzels (the fresh made ones across from the sky ride), and Cedar Point fudge are a must.

Vince982's avatar

My first choice used to be Coasters. The burgers were decent and it was a pretty central location. Now I always eat my meal at Panda Express. I've never had a bad meal there. The food had always been fresh and service is quick. It's also nice to sit and watch and hear Millennium Force trains wizz by while you eat. Plus it's shady in the summer so you can get out of the heat. As for snacks I enjoy custard or elephant ears. I will never eat at Chik-fil-a again. I just really don't like it. I tried it a couple of years ago when it opened and hated it. Last year I gave it another try and still hated so won't go back. I really do like the mints they have though.


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GAM man 68 said:
Los Gatos is my personal favorite.

I agree $7.98 for Macho Nachos is not too shabby and that is the GUEST price, it is decent and will make you full, it is the same price you pay on the appitizer menu in restauraunts.

I would recomend Famous Dave's it is fairly cheap and it is good, get the Devil's Spit sauce if you like spicy BBQ Sauce.

I would even recemend, The Midway Market, It is an All you can eat Buffet for $15, I don't know if they still do a cheaper lunch price, I have not ate there since I was a pass holder in 06.

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I honestly can't remember the last time I ate "in" the park besides Happy Friar every once and while. IMO it all sucks, 15 minutes for a corndog?

Famous Dave's by far has the best food, I frequent the one here in Toledo quite often. While I do like Fridays a lot too, every time I go there it takes entirely to long for the food to come. This has been happening for a good 6-7 years including the summer I worked at the park. We went at least once a week then.

ALTHOUGH, if we're going to the bar, (which is often, especially during OSU football season) Fridays wins. Better draft selection and quicker bartenders, not to mention the patio.


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I think Fridays is too over priced, personaly the biggest rip in the park, and the Pizza hut Express in Breakers too.


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The best food in the park is located in the picnic shelters near the main entrance. You can make breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can eat what ever you bring. You can bring small propane grills, and cook some of the best food at reasonable cost.


Diane

djDaemon's avatar

If you think Fridays is overpriced, then you've probably never been to one off the peninsula. Most of the time, you only pay a couple/few extra bucks per person, which isn't unreasonable. Plus, the food is reliably acceptable. In my opinion, its one of the best values "in" the park.

That said, we've all but stopped paying for food in the park. Sure, we'll have the occasional guilty pleasure snack or whatever (and due to quality slippage, those occurences are become more rare each visit), but we flatly refuse to pay top dollar for food that doesn't even warrant bottom dollar (whatever that means). We bring our own lunch, and for dinner will usually hit Fridays on-Point, or slip into Sandusky for something instead.

Last edited by djDaemon,

Brandon

JuggaLotus's avatar

There's only 3 places that I'll stop with any sort of regularity: Gourmet Pretzel (by Scrambler), Happy Friar and Panda Express.

I like pretzels and the gourmet ones are awesome.

Panda, though expensive, does a good job on energy recharge, is not too bad priced (for in the park anyway) and its quick. Since they aren't making stuff as its ordered, you don't have to wait more than 2-3 minutes if they've just emptied a tray of food for the replacement.

Occastionally I'll grab an elephant ear or something if it happens to sound like a good idea, but you're almost always looking at a wait. Especially at closing, because everyone is milling up towards the front waiting for others and those things smell so damn good.

I've been to Johnny Rockets and Coasters, both are slow and a waste of time. Famous Dave's is good, but if you go during meal time, you can be looking at an hour wait just to get a table, so its not always good if you're in a rush. Friday's is usually halfway decent, but can have the same problem as FDs.

And before I forget Midway Market. TAER IT DOWN!!!!!


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John

My family has been going to the park ever since I can remember! I am 20 years old now, and over the years these places have become our favorites:

  • Happy Friar
  • Enginehouse Custard
  • Los Gatos- MACHO NACHOS ARE FANTASTIC! They are reasonably priced, and are a nice size. My boyfriend and I normally split one. My parents normally split one as well.
  • Chuck Wagon Pizza
  • Stockade Refreshments
  • Famous Daves
  • I also enjoy the french fries that are on the Main Midway (I think its called Hot Potato)
  • Anything that I see that I "think" I might want to try (Funnel Cakes, Elephant Ears, Dippin Dots, Caramel Apples, Lemon Ice, etc)

Last edited by Candice,

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