Pollo Campero-Fresh A Peel Restaurant…Review

This brand new eatery, Pollo Campero-Fresh A Peel finally opened in the Vacated spot left by McDonalds in Downtown Disney on Friday, November 12^th. I am very happy, because McDonalds just never seemed to fit in with the superior Restaurants that Disney has on property. Disney’s efforts to offer more healthy choices in its food offerings are right on the mark with this new Restaurant. But before I begin the review, I had the opportunity to speak to Lou, Manager of Pollo Campero and get a little background on this new addition to Disney’s Restaurant arsenal.

POLLO CAMPERO

I asked Lou to tell me what Pollo is all about. Lou said…”It’s a joint venture, Pollo Campero-Fresh A Peel. The company was founded in 1971 in Guatemala. It was an immediate success and has been in the United States since 2002. He continued…”We feature Golden Fried Chicken, all the chicken is fresh, never frozen and hormone free. The herbs and seasonings are special for us. The chicken is injection marinated, and is made every 15 minutes. The restaurant offers traditional Latin flavors as well as Classic American. He added…”We have many healthy options with the Fresh A Peel brand; Salads crafted in house, all the dressings are made with less oil, hormone-free burgers and veggie burgers. All this for the more healthful initiatives Disney was striving to achieve”

I have to agree with Lou. There are free-standing stations (Grab and Go’s) where you can pick up fresh Pasta Salads, Couscous Salads, Fruit containers and all the salads are rotated, so you will always have different choices. You can also find fresh juices, water, teas and of course, your soft drinks. When you enter, you will find that even the décor and atmosphere feels fresh and clean. The restaurant is done over in bright and colorful pastels, white oak wood columns and beams greet you in the dining areas, it is light, bright and airy, and you feel if you are in the tropics.

ACROSS THE LOBBY

There is a wonderful outdoor dining area, with a Smoothie bar that servers both indoors and out. You can get beer, wine Zero calorie Iced tea, special Latin Drinks, such as Jamaican Horchata and Mango, Fresh lemonade, Yogurt and Italian cappuccinos and Lattes. So with all this talk about the choices, how was the food?

Joining me for lunch, my wife Donna, friends Joe and his daughter, Stephanie. Since there was such a broad selection, we decided to choose several items and share amongst ourselves. We got an order of the Fried and Grilled chicken, coleslaw, the fresh Salsa, the Campero rice and we all ordered the Sweet Plantains! And we had to try the fresh Pasta Salad. With the meal came several soft and warm tortillas. The chicken was just tender and moist, both the Fried and Grilled. And Lou stated that the chicken is not breaded, but coated. Unlike some fried chicken, there was no heavy breading to get in the way of the spices and chicken flavor. Our whole group gave it a 10! The Plantains were just marvelous. Not overly sweet and nice and firm, not mushy or overdone. They were addictive like potato chips! I loved the coleslaw, but the only negative if you will, Joe thought that it was a little too moist. The slaw had a hint of sweetness, and was a real treat. This fare is a major improvement over the previous tenant and I have a feeling that very soon, you might need reservations to dine here!

Pollo Campero offers breakfast also. You can get breakfast burritos, sandwiches and what Lou describes as a special “Better for You French Toast” which has among other things, Special “K” flakes in its recipe. And do not forget the fresh fruit, cereals and the Italian Coffee Bar!

In addition to the fresh choices and wonderful menu, we have to mention what’s for dessert! Here right in the restaurant is the “Babycakes NYC Bakery” Now this is no ordinary bakery, but it is a totally “Vegan” establishment. It is completely gluten, egg and soy free and uses no nuts in its recipes. And it is delicious! I never would have believed that Brownies, cookies, cupcakes and even doughnuts could taste this good without eggs, flour and milk.

ORDER UP

I got the whole story from General Manager Emily. BabyCakes was launched in 2005 in New York City. It was founded by Erin McKenna because of her food sensitivities and allergies. She could not find food items free of Wheat, Dairy and sugar which she was allergic to. So she decided to make her own, and after developing many recipes’ free of these ingredients, she decided to open a bakery for other people like her and it took off. She was approached by Pollo Campero to see if she wanted to open a bakery at Downtown Disney, in keeping with the healthy and nutritious menu Disney was after.

With goodies made with unrefined Sugar, Guava nectar and free from soy, gluten and dairy, it has become a big draw for the allergic community as well as Vegan. The taste is amazing, and non-allergic folks and non vegans will have no problem with these desserts! Much like drinking diet soda verses regular, there is a difference in taste of some items, but nothing that would be a deal breaker!

Right now the eatery takes DVC, (Disney Vacation Club) discounts, but not Tables in Wonderland nor the Disney Dining Plan. The restaurant opens for breakfast from 8:00am to 11:00am, and closes at 9:00pm for lunch and dinner. Judging by the steady flow of guests during our time there, the Disney Friendly staff and the wide menu choices, Pollo Campero-Fresh A Peel fills a much needed void here in Downtown Disney. What was needed; a more upscale, healthier menu with reasonable prices and kid-friendly. The answer is Pollo Campero-Fresh A Peel. I will be returning again for lunch…