by Brian Szaks & Eric Sandigo
Welcome to InPark Eats. Each column will highlight a new or popular restaurant within an amusement facility. Today’s park guest seeks as much thrill in their dining as they find on their favorite rides. New and renovated restaurants offer a unique and clean atmosphere along with their serving of special cuisine. Offering regionally specific items on the menu or ones that compliment the theme can enhance the excitement of an area. This makes dining in a park a culinary adventure, a departure from the norm.
Featured in this issue is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s newest culinary addition, Zambia Smokehouse. Nestled in the shadows beneath trees and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s newest thrill ride, SheiKra, the Zambia Smokehouse allures park guests with the aroma of oak and hickory burning barbeque. A different approach to the common look of the park’s restaurants, Zambia Smokehouse is heavily themed architecturally. Appearing to be the converted ruins somewhere in the jungles of Africa, guests are welcomed to the restaurant by entering a high domed structure that is shared with the coaster. Immediately ones eyes are directed to the flames of the open kitchen at the end of a hall. Adorning the sides of the entry hall are fresh vegetables and breads in baskets that employees replace daily, giving the sense of an African marketplace. Menus boards are located above the serving area, similar to any other fast food fare. At this time, guests choose their dessert, then beverage, and finally their entrée (cleverly encouraging guests to choose a dessert before they see the size of the entrée). The entrees themselves range from barbeque ribs, chicken, salmon, and sandwiches. The portions are quite large and include the obligatory side of fries and a dinner roll.
Zambia Smokehouse offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor seating is nestled beneath trees and beside ancient columns, more prominently beneath the soaring SheiKra.
After ordering their half-chicken meal served with black beans, yellow rice and a roll, it was easy to tell that this was going to be a hearty meal. The portions of chicken were quite large and well worth the price. Upon first bite the savory wood-smoked aroma permeated my taste buds. The smoked spicings gave the meat enough flavor that purchasing the “dippin” barbeque sauce was unnecessary.
Their slow-cooking method also made the meat tender and juicy. Black beans and rice were a welcomed change to the gratuitous side of fries, which are also available as a side option.
My travel partner ordered the sampler platter that included ribs, pork, chicken, fries and a roll. The food was literally falling off his plate it was piled on so high. Although we were a little disappointed that the park was charging extra for “dippin’ sauce” that seemed to be nothing more than standard BBQ sauce, the ribs were anything but disappointing. It was hard to believe that anything from a theme park counter service could taste this good. On the other side of the spectrum, the chicken, although tasty, was a bit too greasy. The amount of napkins used to keep his hands dry went against the “conservation” theme that the parks claim.
Our opinion of Zambia Smokehouse is that the food is excellent, very filling, and worth the cost. To add to the wonderful flavor is the great atmosphere of their outside seating area. If you are visiting Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, definitely make it a point to try their newest dining experience, Zambia Smokehouse.
