This was my first time dining at Tiffins, a restaurant which opened last May in the Discovery Island area of Animal Kingdom. Our reservation was for right at opening time of the restaurant (11:30) but we arrived a few minutes early so had to wait outside for them to unlock the door. Once inside and seated in the dining room I was amazed by the beautiful décor of this restaurant…
But I was also amazed at how empty this relatively new restaurant was during the entire time we were dining there. There was just my three dining companions…
Beth, Hunter & Paula
…plus me and just a few other tables were occupied in this big (by Disney theme park standards) restaurant. So at this point I was a little worried that their lack of customers might be the result of their food not being very good. Would my concern be justified? Read on to find out. 
Let’s begin with our beverages. I ordered a Specialty Cocktail…
Lamu Libation with Starr African Rum, Cruzan Banana Rum, Guava Puree, and Orange, Lime, and Pineapple Juices topped with Gosling’s 151 Rum
This was a very yummy “Rummy” drink! 
I love fruity drinks and rum is my alcohol of choice, so this cocktail was right up my alley.
Paula also got a “fancy” cocktail…
Jenn’s Tattoo with Ketel One Vodka and Watermelon, Hibiscus, and Lime Juices
She said, “This was similar to the Hangar Bar drink I had, but less sour though.”
Then we shared a few appetizers…
And a close-up…
Black-Eyed Pea Fritters with Zhough, Yogurt, Peppadew Purée
These were good, but I liked the fritters we would have the next day at Liberty Tree Tavern better.
Our other shared appetizer was the…
Tiffins Signature Bread Service with Pomegranate-Olive Oil, Harissa Yogurt, Black-Eyed Pea Hummus, Zhough Yogurt
I really enjoyed the naan bread with the hummus, but the other bread and dips were just okay. We all agreed that the bread service at Sanaa is better.
Now on to the main course…
As you can see from their menu, their entrees are not just African and Asian inspired (as I had previously thought), but there are also choices from South America and Europe. So unless you have your heart set on something from the other three continents of the world, you should be able to find something to order here.
However, instead of ordering from their regular menu we chose the “Taste of Tiffins” from their Lunch Menu (available from 11:30 – 3:30)…
For $28 you could choose two of the entrees listed. Beth and I shared these two…
Chermoula-rubbed Chicken with Dried Fruits, Olives, Couscous, and Harissa Yogurt
And a close-up…
72-Hour Beef Short Rib with Carrots and Chimichurri served with Jade Blend Rice (pictured in the background)
And another shot of just the short rib (which for some reason, refused to photograph well from any angle)…
Both of these entrees were very good. I probably liked the chicken a little more, just because it had a wider assortment of flavors with the olives, dried fruits, couscous, etc.
Paula and Hunter also shared the “Taste of Tiffins” lunch and chose the short rib for one of their entrees. Their other choice was this…
Masa and Pulled Pork Tamale served with Hominy Succotash and Red Mole Sauce
Hunter said, “The pulled tamale had interesting flavors, but tasty.”
Hunter also added regarding our Tiffins lunch, “They were more worried about my allergy issues than anything it seemed like. The new Disney allergy menus (which he received one of these here) are just way too confusing.”
NOTE: On his past WDW trips, Hunter’s various allergies meant a visit to the table by a chef at most of the table-service restaurants. On this trip though, more often than not, he was just handed a “one size fits all” Allergy menu and he was expected to determine what he could or could not have based on his own allergies. Unfortunately I didn’t think to take a photo of any of these special Allergy menus though, so you could see for yourself how they might be confusing for most people.
Overall, I would say our first visit to Tiffins was a success. While for me the appetizers weren’t anything special, my specialty cocktail and two entrée selections were very good. Since I want to try some different restaurants on my upcoming trip, I don’t plan to return to Tiffins when I’m at Animal Kingdom next week but I will try it again sometime. 
Taste of Disney 