}, 999999 ); add_action( 'wp_footer', function() { ?>

Worth the Price? We Tried the 15 Most Expensive Festival of the Arts Foods

by | Jan 19, 2021 | EPCOT, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Food, Walt Disney World News

These are the most expensive Festival of the Arts Foods… and which ones you can skip.

While we love the Food Studio booths at EPCOT during the Festival of the Arts, we have to be practical here—those little plates can get pricy. 

If you’re like me, you have a few high-end dishes you’re committed to buying on your festival day, and the others are skipped. But how do you know which new foods should be the chosen ones?

Here are all 15 of the most expensive sample-sized Festival of the Arts dishes.

We are covering every food offering priced over $8.00, listed by price.

You think $8.00 is expensive for a snack? They get MORE expensive the further down you scroll.

15 Most Expensive Festival of the Arts Foods

The famous creamy brie bread bowl in France almost hit this list, priced at $8.00, and we’ll just go ahead and go on record to say that both in portion and taste, it is worth it.

Want to go on a gourmet tour with this list? If you purchased all 15 of the foods below at the fest, the total would be $151.50. Let’s see which we can skip…

1. Warm Brown Sugar-stuffed Pretzel; $8.25

EPCOT Festival of the Arts 2021 Refreshment Outpost Brown Sugar Pretzel 03 Blanken

Brown Sugar Pretzel. Photo by Rain Blanken

Served with Banana Soft-serve Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce

Location: Refreshment Outpost

Portion: Great portion size here, enough to share with the group.

Taste: For those with a sweet tooth, this is going to hit the spot. The brown sugar inside, coupled with the chocolate sauce and ice cream make this one a satisfying treat.

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — portion and taste come together for a wonderfully warm treat you won’t regret spending the cash on.

2. Beef Wellington; $8.25

Beef Wellington at the 2021 EPCOT Festival of the Arts

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Mushroom Duxelle, Prosciutto, and Puff Pastry with Red Wine Demi-Glace and Fennel Cream

Location: America Pavilion (The Artist’s Table)

Portion: We would expect this dish to be a bit pricier, actually, if it is indeed made from a beef tenderloin fillet.

Those are some of the most expensive cuts on the cow, accounting for filet mignon and beef wellington. We’re dubious as to what cut of beef is in this, but regardless, the portion is still a bit meh for the price.

Taste: The vegetables were a delight, but not enough to outshine the sheer mediocrity of the beef. It was overdone, and again, we’re not sure this is a great representation of what beef Wellington should taste like.

The puff pastry, to its credit, was done well, but we can get a croissant at Joffrey’s for that purpose.

Worth the Price? ❌ NO — we had high hopes for this one, but it’s never going to be what we want it to be. 

3. Sushi Donut; $8.25

EPCOT Festival of the Arts Japan Sushi Donut Rain Blanken

EPCOT Festival of the Arts Japan Sushi Donut. Photo by Rain Blanken

Donut-shaped Sushi featuring Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp, Cucumber and Sesame Seed over a decorated plate of Wasabi Aïoli, Sriracha and Eel Sauce

Location: Japan Pavilion (Goshiki)

Portion: Think of this as a regular sushi roll, just curled up into a donut. With the salmon, tuna, and shrimp layered on, this portion is comparable to a sushi roll you’d purchase in a restaurant.

I checked the menu for my local Florida sushi restaurant, and they charged $9.00 for 2 pieces of tuna, 2 pieces of salmon, and a California roll, so this isn’t a bad price for inside a theme park.

Taste: Sushi-lovers know it’s all about the rice. The sweetness of the rice vinegar and sugar is here. All of the toppings were fresh, with crispy vegetables.

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — this is even a great intro dish to those that haven’t tried sushi before.

4. Prime Steak Tartare; $8.50

2021 Festival of the Arts Painters Palate Prime Steak Tartare Woodward

Prime Steak Tartare at The Painter’s Palate. Photo by Paige Woodward

[New] Prime Steak Tartare with Pickled Vegetables, Parsley Salad, Béarnaise Anglaise and Sous Vide Quail Egg

Location: The Painter’s Palate (In the World Showplace building)

Portion: This is a fair portion, even split between two people. There’s just enough to eat with the two slices of bread. It’s one of the most expensive Festival of the Arts foods, but the portion feels right here when weighed against the quality of the food.

Taste: It’s cold meat and a quail egg… what’s not to love? But seriously, even if the description of this dish makes you raise a brow, we suggest you tap into the adventurous spirit that brought you to the festival in the first place.

The saltiness of the meat was complemented well by the sauce, and the quail egg was creamy and delightful.

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — these kinds of adventurous and little-seen foods are what we love about EPCOT fests.

5. Chilled Seafood Cocktail; $8.50

Chilled Seafood Cocktail at the 2021 EPCOT Festival of the Arts

Photo by Tina Chiu

Chilled Seafood Cocktail with Octopus, Scallops, Shrimp, Black Garlic Aïoli, Tomato-Coconut Sauce, and Serrano-Lime Oil

Location: Vibrante & Vívido (Between Morocco and France)

Portion: With two pieces of each sea creature, this is one you could share just with one person. With a variety of sauces and garnishes to work through, there’s just enough variety to call this an OK portion.

Taste: Our reporter, Tina Chiu, stopped by the booth to give this one a try. Unfortunately, the octopus was a bit chewy.

This is a big strike for us—octopus doesn’t pop up on the menu often, so when it does, you want it to be just right. Check out Tina’s full booth review…

Worth the Price? ❌ NO — a lower price point could have excused the chewy octopus, but at the going rate, that chewy bite will leave you disappointed. Even if the octopus were replaced with scallops, this would be worth it.

[x_button shape=“pill” size=”jumbo” float=“none” href=”https://www.wdw-magazine.com/2021-epcot-festival-of-the-arts-food-booth-menus-and-food-photos/” title=“MenuButton” target=“blank” info=“none” info_place=“top” info_trigger=“hover”]See ALL of the 2021 Festival of the Arts Booth Menus[/x_button]

6. Old Shanghai Shi Zi Tou: $8.50

Shi Zi Tou at the 2021 EPCOT Festival of the Arts

Photo by Tina Chiu

[New]  Pork and Water Chestnut Meatballs served with Taro Root

Location: China (The Painted Panda)

Portion: Our reporter, Tina Chiu, was pleasantly surprised by the size of the meatball on this dish! This made it quite hearty for the price.

Taste: Tina gave this one a rave review. She likened it to the cooking her mother would make. Is there any better compliment? See her full review of the China booth…

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — a large portion on that meatball and outstanding flavor should move this one to your must-try list.

7. Wild Mushroom Risotto; $9.25

Festival-of-the-Arts-Masterpiece-Kitchen-Mushroom-Risotto-Lazar

Wild Mushroom Risotto at Festival of the Arts. Photo by Tatjana Lazar

Wild Mushroom Risotto with Aged Parmesan, Truffle Shavings, and Zinfandel Reduction

Location: Canada (The Masterpiece Kitchen)

Portion: We’d like to see a little more for the price, but this little bowl is enough to at least give everyone in your group a taste.

Taste: If you haven’t heard about the Mushroom Risotto before this festival, then you’ll likely be telling everyone else you know about it after you’ve had a taste.

This is NOT one of the artfully plated dishes at this fest, but trust us, the beauty is on the inside.

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — I don’t like mushrooms and even I eat this every year.

8. Plant-based Bratwurst; $9.50

Festival-of-the-Arts-Refreshment-Outpost-Bratwurst Tatjana Lazar

Plant-based Bratwurst at the Refreshment Outpost. Photo by Tatjana Lazar

A Brat with Spicy Turmeric Aïoli, Coffee Barbecue Jackfruit, and Slaw

Location: Refreshment Outpost

Portion: Is “too much” a portion option? If you’re looking to fill up for the day, this is it.

Taste: Our Communications Director, Tatjana Lazar, tried this brat and loved it, “I was surprised at how much it tasted like an actual meat-based bratwurst. My husband, an avid meat-eater, even said it tasted just like the real thing.”

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — especially for very hungry vegans.

9. Trio de Macarons; $9.50

Macarons at the 2021 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

An assortment of 3 House-made Macarons in a Gift Box

Location: France (L’Art de la Cuisine Française)

Portion: The price works out to about $3.50 per macaron. Checking into my local Le Macaron shop here in Florida, their macarons are typically about $2.50 when you’re buying six at a time. Factor in the fact that you’re standing in a theme park, and $3.50 each seems about right.

Taste: Soft where they need to be, crisp where they should be. Lots of flavor, so if you are all about eating macarons, these are a good sampling.

If you haven’t tried macarons before, then paying a premium inside EPCOT might color your experience… macarons are not a super-sweet dessert.

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — but only if you are a true macaron-lover. Otherwise, you might be left feeling like they were pricy.

10. Lobster Poutine; $10.50

Festival-of-the-Arts-Refreshment-Port-Lobster-Poutine-de-la-Fe

Lobster Poutine at Festival of the arts. Photo by Julie de la Fe

[New] Lobster, Lobster Bisque Cheese Sauce, Pickled Jalapeños, and Citrus Cream

Location: Refreshment Port

Portion: This is one to share! We’re not sure that taste even factors in when you consider the hefty amount of fries and lobster offered on this dish. 

Taste: Our reporter, Julie de la Fe, gave these a try at the 2021 fest. She gave them a rave review… see her recommendations here.

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — one to share among seafood lovers.

[x_button shape=“pill” size=”jumbo” float=“none” href=”https://www.wdw-magazine.com/2021-epcot-festival-of-the-arts-food-booth-menus-and-food-photos/” title=“MenuButton” target=“blank” info=“none” info_place=“top” info_trigger=“hover”]See ALL of the 2021 Festival of the Arts Booth Menus[/x_button]

11. Sichuan Red Hot Mala Shrimp; $10.50

Sichuan Red Hot Mala Shrimp at the 2021 EPCOT Festival of the Arts

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

[New] Warm spicy shrimp served over cold noodles.

Location: China (The Painted Panda)

Portion: Depending on how hungry you are, this could be a snack for two, or just one!

The noodles add some heartiness to the dish, so if you’re hungry and don’t feel like sharing, this one could fill you up for a walk around World Showcase.

Taste: Our reporter, Tina Chiu, tried this dish and loved the sweetness and spiciness, balanced with the cold noodles. See her full review of the China booth…

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — especially for those that like to experiment with cold/hot food combos.

12. Bomboloni; $11.00

Festival-of-the-Arts-Italy-Bomboloni-de-la-Fe

Bomboloni at Festival of the Arts. Photo by Julie de la Fe

[New] Cream-filled Italian Doughnut with Raspberry Sauce and Powdered Sugar

Location: Italy (L’Arte di Mangiare)

Portion: Priced at $11.00 these little cuties are about $3.60 each.

Not a great portion for the price, so if you’re sharing with two other people, this one is for tasting-purposes only. 

Taste: Our reporter, Julie de la Fe, loved that these little guys weren’t too sweet. She liked the sauce, but not enough to excuse the price tag. See her full review of the Italy booth…

Worth the Price? ❌ NO — it’s a portion issue. Two more donuts would have changed our minds.

13. Arancini; $12.00

Festival-of-the-Arts-Italy-Arancini-de-la-Fe

Arancini at Festival of the Arts. Photo by Julie de la Fe

[New]  Sweet Sausage fried Risotto Balls with Pomodoro Sauce

Location: Italy (L’Arte di Mangiare)

Portion: Priced at $12, that’s $3.00 per deliciously fried ball. We suggest sharing these with only one other person.

They’re fried, so they are a heavy food to indulge in on your own (gotta leave some room for the rest of the festival snacks!)

Taste: Our reporter, Julie de la Fe, loved these. They are akin to those served at Via Napoli, so you know they are delicious. The difference is the sausage tucked inside.  See her full review of the Italy booth…

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — it’s fried food, need we say more? But seriously, the smallish portion is balanced by the must-experience taste. Take our twelve bucks, Disney.

14. Charcuterie; $14.00

2021 Festival of the Arts Festival Favorites Charcuterie Woodward

Charcuterie board at Festival Favorites. Photo by Paige Woodward

Served with Meats and Cheeses featuring Nueske’s® Applewood Smoked Beef

Location: Festival Favorites (In the World Showplace building)

Portion: Pretty good for a charcuterie board… you really want a lot of variety and this board has the goods. This is what you call a sittin’ plate. Grab a glass of wine and pick at this plate while you people watch.

Taste: With so much to choose from, you’re likely to find something you love and something you pass off on someone else. The pate seems to be an acquired taste, but we loved the freshly-sliced cheeses and meats. 

Worth the Price? ✅ YES — it does exactly what a charcuterie board is meant to do. Lots of tastes to discover as you chill with a drink.

15. L’Aragosta; $15.00

Festival-of-the-Arts-Italy-LAragosta-de-la-Fe

L’Aragosta at Festival of the Arts. Photo by Julie de la Fe

[New] Lobster Ravioli with Vanilla-Saffron Cream Sauce and Shredded Chili Peppers

Location: Italy (L’Arte di Mangiare)

Portion: Here it is, the most expensive item at the 2021 Festival of the arts. When we break down the price, you’re looking at $5.00 per ravioli.

Taste: For the price and small portion, we were expecting to be blown away. However, our reporter, Julie de la Fe, was confused by the taste.

The vanilla saffron cream sauce was an odd pairing with the lobster filling for her, and the stringiness of the chili peppers made them difficult to navigate.  See her full review of the Italy booth…

Worth the Price? ❌ NO — for this price, with this small portion, this dish needed to hit it out of the park. It just falls short but may appeal to your tastes. Proceed with caution.

[x_button shape=“pill” size=”jumbo” float=“none” href=”https://www.wdw-magazine.com/2021-epcot-festival-of-the-arts-food-booth-menus-and-food-photos/” title=“MenuButton” target=“blank” info=“none” info_place=“top” info_trigger=“hover”]See ALL of the 2021 Festival of the Arts Booth Menus[/x_button]

Most Expensive Festival of the Arts Foods

While we’d love to eat everything at the fest at least once, we still have to budget for a pair of Figment ears.

Again, if you purchased all 15 of the foods below at the fest, it would cost you $151.50. 

It’s nice to know which ones might not be the best bet, right?


Enjoying our coverage of EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts? Consider signing up for our newsletter, so you never miss a beat, and head over to our Facebook page to tell us what booths YOU plan on stopping by on your next trip to EPCOT!


2021 The Painter’s Palate Booth Menu at the EPCOT Festival Of The Arts

2021 El Artista Hambriento Booth Menu at EPCOT Festival Of The Arts

sparkling heart Like what you just read? That tells us you’re the type who never misses a Hidden Mickey. Respect. sunglasses

Long-form content is getting rarer these days—more and more publications are going out of print or disappearing entirely. But we’re still here, a small crew of Disney fans making real, tangible magazines because they still matter to people like you. castle

If you want more deep dives, gorgeous photos, and little escapes to your happy place, you can snag an All-Access Membership for just $4.99/month.

Or, help us keep independent Disney print magazines alive by supporting us here .

Keeping the magic of print alive? That’s A+ Disney fan behavior. sparkles

Posts by Rain Blanken

epcot-clothing_creations-shop_chiu
Rain Blanken is a published author and leader in digital media. A DVC Member, WDW Annual Pass holder, and former Disney Vacation Planner, Rain would live inside Boma if they would just stop checking under the tables at night.
epcot-clothing_creations-shop_chiu

Authored by Rain Blanken

Rain Blanken is a published author and leader in digital media. A DVC Member, WDW Annual Pass holder, and former Disney Vacation Planner, Rain would live inside Boma if they would just stop checking under the tables at night.
Build Your Bundle
Pick a tier, then choose your issues. Add-ons unlock on Pick 4/5/6.
★★★★★
WDW Magazine Reader
WDW Magazine Reader
Verified Reader Compliment
Start A Membership