You'll definitely have a make a stop at Flo's V8 Café if you're in Cars Land and it's chow time. This Route 66-inspired diner sports plenty of seating--which is a good thing--and if the weather's nice, you can even enjoy your meal outdoors and watch the Radiator Springs Racers cars zoom down the dusty hills. Of course, if it's a blazing hot day, take advantage of the cool AC and dine indoors!
Flo's has a revamped menu since I last visited. I only went to this café twice--once for breakfast and once for dinner--but I enjoyed my meals both times. And, both times weren't especially crowded, providing an all-around winning experience.
The prices may seem a little higher than you'd find at some of the other DCA dining spots, but then again, this is a larger quick-service spot that includes a lot of seating (kind of comparable to Disneyland's Tomorrowland Terrace), as opposed to just a walk-up window.
I didn't get the chance to try everything I wanted to at Flo's, but here's what I would recommend (and yes, they take the AP discount):
"Veggie Tater Bake": At first, I was so adamant about NOT getting this dish because of one reason--it included cauliflower. But my boyfriend pointed out that this dish contained many of the elements that I loved in a casserole--mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese--and I would just have to put up with the roasted veggies and I would be fine. Plus, it came with your choice of a side--I wanted the "Radiator Pasta Salad"--and dinner roll (not sure if the updated menu allows you to choose a side, because the online version now says this entrée comes with a side of fresh fruits). I decided to trust that my BF knew me quite well and ordered the dish ... and I'm so glad I did! The roasted veggies were finely chopped and I didn't even really taste the cauliflower at all. I enjoyed the roll, and the casserole itself sported a melted, cheesy top layer, which was savory and delicious. But I think the "Radiator Pasta Salad" was the highlight of my meal -- the pasta was in the form of racecar shapes, and the pasta salad was plain (not too many veggies, olives or other things in it), which is just the way I prefer my pasta salad. This side dish was one of my favorite components of this entrée.
"Brioche French Toast": During my breakfast trip to Flo's--which was pretty early because we took advantage of that "Magic Morning Hour" where you can get in before the rest of the public--I opted for the sweet-and-savory French toast dish. It featured fresh-baked French toast that was topped with banana chunks and salted caramel sauce. While I do love a good French toast, I probably wouldn't order this again ... the boyfriend ate the bananas (since the only bananas I usually eat are ones that are coated in chocolate), but the salted caramel drizzle was a tad too salty for my liking. I was glad to have given the French toast a try, but during my next breakfast venture at Flo's, I'd probably stick with the traditional "American Breakfast," which comes with scrambled eggs, a biscuit, breakfast potatoes and bacon.
"Turkey Dip": This is one of the newer menu items that didn't debut until after my AP expired. This sandwich features a potato roll and consists of Provolone cheese and turkey au jus, and it's served with the "Radiator Pasta Salad." I do like Provolone and turkey, so this seems like it would be a great lunch entrée.
"Flo's Signature Chocolate Mud Pie-O-Rama": I never had the chance to try one of the petite pies here when it came to dessert, but this is the one I would have chosen. These housemade treats resembled a mini lava cake to me (sans the ice cream), and I'm sure I would have enjoyed the sweet, fresh-out-of-the-oven treat.
"Flo's Classic Chocolate Shake": Likewise, I didn't get a chance to try any of the shakes at Flo's, but I think it's cute how they come topped with "road gravel," which I would assume to be OREO cookie bits or something similar. I would be down to try one of the chocolate or vanilla shakes (but probably chocolate, since that's my favorite). read more