Chickie & Pete’s

It was just announced that Chickie & Pete’s won’t be returning this year. I’ll miss the crab fries, but I’m curious to see what will go in the restaurant’s place.

Probably nothing. Just cram more people into the existing eateries so everyone is "comfortably crowded."

We made at least 20 trips to the park last year, I can't remember a single time it was open. I don't think the remaining places will have any problem handling the "overflow".

With new & efficient high volume places like Grand Pavilion, Farmhouse, BackBeatQue, etc., and renovated smaller eateries like French Quarter and Happy Friar, I would imagine the park has more dining capacity than ever.

Couldn't agree with you more, Brandon. The new venues run more efficiently than most (if not all) of the full-services restaurants at the park. I'm looking forward to the renovated Happy Friar location. I've passed on fries many times over the past several seasons because of the long lines/slow service that I've encountered when I have stood in line.

Agreed, I see a lot more fries in my future this season.

Here are my thoughts about the new Happy Friar:

What the park has lost in ride operation efficiency they have more than made up for in food service efficiency. I'd argue the current high volume setup at Farmhouse, Grand Pavilion, et al. is more efficient than even Disney and Universal quick service food spots.

Bring back the Silver Dollar Cafe!

The funny thing is, the style of the newer high-capacity locations is right out of the Busch/SeaWorld playbook (though their quality has been in decline ever since private equity took over). Some of the former Paramount locations had something similar, too. I think if you're spending a day at a park, a big air conditioned place with good food and desserts is a total ideal over a bunch of places that have one or two low-quality things.

The good thing about Silver Dollar was the view of Mill Race. They thoughtfully put a big window on the back wall of the dining room and you could sit there and watch people on the ride go by in their logs. But it was about the only thing good there. Oh, for a while they served breakfast. Oh, and there was a bar…
I wonder if that window is still there?

No love for Game Day Grille or Frankie Murru's Spaghetti House? I missed out on them. Anyone's memory good enough to recall something worth bringing back from those eras?

Maybe it's time for Hooters to finally come to CP

:)