Best food in the park?

TwistedWicker77 said:
The employee cafeteria is called the Best Day Bistro. I didn't know they allowed guests to get food there.

Well, the topic is best food in the park, not best food for guests!

^ Yeah when I created this topic, I was trying to get everyone's opinion about the food the general public gets on a daily basis and whether it's good or it just plain sucks?

Just a quick note. I didn't create this topic, I just brought it back.

Has anyone gone to Midway Market Buffet this season? I went prob 2-3 yrs. ago and it wasn't all that good. I was wondering if it has improved since then. When I went there last time there was a crappy salad bar, hamburgers and hot dogs, a few sides and a kids area. And a dessert island. There used to be mashed potatoes, gravy and fried chicken, which was what I liked, I was hoping those items were back in the buffet.

Mashed potatoes, gravy, and fried chicken are back. Had it on Saturday.

I had the Macho Nachos from Los Gatos tonight and they were really good.

^ They looked good except for the Olives. Yuck!

Pete said:

You mean like every other entertainment venue in that country that marks up food, like stadiums, movie theaters, concert halls, amusement parks, ski resorts, etc? I guess you need to go to a 4 star restaurant to get 4 star food at 4 star prices, not an amusement park. That way you can feel "entitled" that you got what you paid for.

I was just at my local movie theater tonight and their food prices made Cedar Point's look cheap. It was over $5 for a drink there. I can get a drink from Freestyle at CP for less.

I am curious, Knoebels seems to always be voted best amusement park food on one of those award sites, maybe it's the Golden Ticket. I haven't been there to compare, has anyone else had Knoebels' food selections and how is it compared to CP's variety, pricing, and quality?

Any place that puts neapolitan ice cream between 2 Belgian Waffles is A-OK with me.

They honestly really do have good food. Cesari's Pizza is actually my least favorite thing there. Everyone raves about it, but it's just OK - especially during PPP.

Yeah, I had their pizza a couple times and just thought it was okay as well.

One thing I've learned about any pizza recommendation throughout my life is to expect nothing until I try it myself. So many "best pizza you will ever eat!" recommendations have lead me to something I felt was average at best. It's clear that tastes vary and that people's criteria in judging good pizza differ greatly.

I'm not talking about Knoebels now, but the pizza places that disappoint me most are those that pile toppings as high as possible on what tastes like frozen crust with bland sauce. Some people just love that. But sorry, I think too many toppings can ruin a pizza and that no amount can cover up something that is otherwise mediocre. Plus, I don't want to eat my pizza with a shovel. ;)

Not to bring up another park on here, but everyone on here swears up and down that Kennywood has the best fries of any amusement park in the United States. When I tried them a couple years ago, I thought they tasted alright, If anything they were similar to the fries at Cedar Point.

Kennywood gets bonus points for allowing me to watch a potato be cleaned, sliced, fried and delvered to me as french fries. Pretty much can't get fresher than that.

Although I believe to do it right, the sliced potatoes should soak in water for awhile before frying, not really a cook though so I may be off on that. But, I've had Potato Patch fries also and I don't know what the big deal is. They were OK, but I like my fries just with salt and not loaded with toppings. CP fresh cut fries are a better product in my opinion, actually I find them to be right at the top of the list of fries I like.

They would be the same if Kennywood nicked-and-dimed you on toppings and charged a lot more, I suppose. :)

Indeed, Pete, properly made french fries are sliced then soaked in cold water for at least an hour, 3 hours is ideal. This helps to remove starch and keeps the final product from being gummy or gluey. Then they are drained and blotted dry on paper towels. Next they are fried in batches at 300 degrees for 4 to 5 minutes until cooked through but still soft, not brown. Then they are drained again on paper towels and allowed to cool somewhat. Next the oil is cranked up to 400 degrees and the fries go back in, once again in batches, and refried at the higher temp until they reach the desired level of crispness and brownness. Sprinkled with sea salt and you have the perfect fries- crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside.

I doubt either park is going to that kind of trouble, but each puts out some mighty tasty fries. I have always given the edge to Cedar Point, though. I like cheese and ketchup on mine if there's no mayonnaise around.

Man, those Potato Patch fries with brown gravy are where it's at, though!

Never thought of trying brown gravy on my fries, but next time I go to Kennywood, I'll have to remember to do that. Anyhow, how are the fries at Chickie's and Pete's? I have yet to have the crab fries there.

The Chickie's and Pete's fries are average fries with fairly good seasoning on them. I wouldn't go out of my way to try them.

I went to 2 good places in the park today. I went to Mr. Potato and got the homemade fries platinum deal. 2 fries and 2 drinks for 8 bucks is a steal. I had the chili cheese fries while my friend ate the regular fries. Those chili cheese fries were really good.

And I went to Engine Company 3 and got a waffle cone. Really good ice cream there. Right next to Los Gatos in Frontiertown.