We are back at Liberty Inn, the Quick Service spot in The American Adventure in Epcot!

If you’re strolling around World Showcase and are on the hunt for some perfectly patriotic eats, Liberty Inn is your place. For a long time, offerings were pretty basic at this Counter Service location, which primarily features expected fare like burgers, chicken breast nuggets, and salads.

While that still holds true in most regards, it’s worth noting that Liberty Inn made some strides late last year towards providing a couple of options that reflect a greater array of American cuisine, including a few regional dishes like a Lousiana-Style Shrimp dish as well as Maryland Crab Cakes.

However, the menu has changed up once again, so we returned to scope out the situation and see what’s new, what’s gone, and how things are shaping up.

So, let’s step back into everyone’s favorite Publick Dining Room, Liberty Inn!

Atmosphere

Plenty of Epcot guests walk right past Liberty Inn, opting for the international flavors that World Showcase is best known for. And, truly, I can’t argue with them.

That said, there are also plenty of guests traveling with kiddos who may not be up to sampling “Baby’s First Beef Brewat Roll” (yummy though it is), and the familiar fare makes it so everyone in the party can typically find at least one thing that suits them on the menu. Plus, as the Showcase’s host Pavilion, it’s only fitting that there be an eatery dedicated to American favorites.

The centerpiece that is The American Adventure is beautiful with its reflection of colonial architecture, and Liberty Inn fits right in the surroundings.

Continuing on with the theme, flags of the original thirteen colonies adorn the pathway to the ordering area.

Colonial-era kitchenware and furniture give atmosphere to the ordering area itself.

The indoor dining room is bright and airy, thanks to lovely windows and white iron chairs that surround the round tables.

Due in part to large umbrellas offering plenty of shade, outdoor seating is also a fairly popular option here (you can  enjoy any items you may have grabbed from Fife and Drum Tavern here as well).

But we’re stepping back inside today, so let’s settle in to see what’s changed on the Liberty Inn menu… .

Eats

As anticipated, basic American fare continues to dominate the menu made up of burgers, sandwiches, and salads. However, there are a few new items including the All-American Burger (topped with Vermont Sharp Cheddar and smoked bacon), Fried Shrimp, and a twist on a typical Hot Dog (though, indeed, it is simply called “Hot Dog” on the menu).

Gone are the Surf and Turf Burger, Louisiana-Style Shrimp, and Maryland Crab Cakes (and, alas, the Old Bay Fries that accompanied them). But you can still get the New York Strip Steak meal.

Kids’ Meals follow suit, leaning towards burgers, mac and cheese, and pasta. Desserts include the Rocky Road Mousse Brownie and a Warm Peach Cobbler. Draft beer and wines complete the menu (with American selections, naturally).

A few “to-go” desserts and snacks now factor in as well.

I have to admit, I was somewhat bummed to see that the regional fare was no longer part of the scene, but that didn’t stop me from trying the new Fried Shrimp served with French Fries (which presumably has replaced the Louisiana-Style Shrimp dish).

I already miss the Old Bay Fries from the previous offerings, but thankfully this dish is served with Old Bay Coleslaw as well as spicy tartar sauce and cocktail sauce for the shrimp.

Honestly, I’d recommend asking for a side of the spicy tartar sauce even if you don’t order the shrimp. It makes a great, zingy dip for the fries! The cocktail sauce is standard.

The entree featured nine large pieces of shrimp. The breading was nice and crispy, and had good flavor. Overall I’d still say it’s fairly impressive, especially for a Counter Service option.

Again, the other side (along with the fries) is Old Bay Coleslaw. Old Bay is something of an acquired taste. Your opinion of it and exposure to it likely depend on your geographic location, with this seafood seasoning (made with spices such as paprika, dry mustard, and celery salt, among others) being especially popular in the mid-Atlantic region. Personally, I’d never tried it in a slaw; but it worked well with the basic mildly creamy dressing, and left me wondering why I’d never thought of it before.

Next up is the big dish with the simple name: the Hot Dog. You can get grapes as a side instead of the fries, but the fries are such a natural pairing that I couldn’t resist.

Liberty Inn has managed to further All-American-ize this All-American dish by topping it off with baked beans, bacon, and fried onion strings.

Those toppings were certainly generous, and I was definitely happy to see the size and sheer amount of crispy BACON pieces.

Though I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, the sweet-and-salty flavor of the traditional baked beans with the hot dog grew on me.

Not bad, Liberty Inn… not bad at all, actually! Now all you need to do is put some cheese on this thing and we’re 100% in business!

And, that’s the latest from Liberty Inn. So, what did we think?

Overall

I know I’ve mentioned it already, but I do think it’s a bit of a shame that they’ve done away with the few regional-based dishes at Liberty Inn. I get what they’re trying to do with the baked beans, Old Bay seasoning, and “southwest” salad; but I was of the opinion that they were headed towards the right track with the previous offerings.

Having said that, though, I enjoyed two new entrees. The quality of the Fried Shrimp in particular was quite good, and they’ve actually gone and created a somewhat memorable option (especially for older kids) with the twist on the Hot Dog. While I remain solidly in the club that will always prefer to taste the more unique offerings that exist all over World Showcase, this was definitely one of the better stops I’ve had at Liberty Inn.

Will you be trying one of the new items from Liberty Inn? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts!

Contributing to this post: AJ Wolfe, Tina F., Wendy P.