We revisited Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to try the Zagora Cafe Double Cheeseburger. Is this the pro move to start your theme park day for those using the All-Day Dining Plan?

When planning a full day of coaster riding and animal encounters at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, grabbing a early lunch before the midday crowds arrive is crucial. Located near the front entrance, Zagora Cafe remains one of the primary quick-service hubs for guests entering the park.

In our previous coverage of this dining spot, we noted how Zagora Cafe at Busch Gardens improves with operational updates. However, we have also explored mixed menu items in our Zagora Cafe grilled chicken sandwich review and evaluated value in our breakdown of whether the Zagora Cafe double cheeseburger is worth $20.99. On our most recent trip, we returned to evaluate the current state of service, food quality, and menu strategies.

Morning Operations and the Zagora Cafe Double Cheeseburger Mobile Kiosk Hack

If you are looking to eat early, Zagora Cafe is essentially your only dining option open before 11:00 a.m., officially opening its doors at 10:30 a.m. Historically, this location was notorious for late openings that threw off morning dining plans. Thanks to the rollout of self-service mobile ordering kiosks, that operational headache appears to be officially solved.

Ordering via the mobile kiosk speeds up the process, but it requires careful attention:

• Customizing Toppings: To get lettuce, tomato, and pickles on your burger, you must explicitly select them on the kiosk display screen.
• Hidden Settings: Most guests will not be informed of this step and might miss it entirely during checkout.
• Ambassador Knowledge: Even many Busch Gardens ambassadors are unaware of this quirk in the ordering system.

During our latest visit, paying attention to the screen paid off. Selecting the produce options ensured our burger arrived topped with lettuce, tomato, and pickles directly on the bun, rather than served as a side item as we have experienced on previous trips.

Evaluating the Zagora Cafe Double Cheeseburger

Ordering the double bacon cheeseburger here is a genuine pro move for park visitors…assuming you are using the All-Day Dining Plan. While burgers and sandwiches across the park, except those at Dragon Fire Grill, are covered under the All-Day Dining Plan without an upcharge, starting your day at Zagora Cafe maximizes your dining pass value right out of the gate.

Past visits left us skeptical due to missing ingredients, specifically bacon that never made it onto the plate. On this adventure, our order took a bit longer to arrive, but the delay was because they were preparing fresh bacon.

Also, of note, the Zagora Cafe Double Cheeseburger costs a dollar more now at $21.99. It does come with fries. However, it does not require an upcharge, unlike the version at Dragon Fire Grill. By the way, despite the online menu, Dragon Fire Grill has not offered “Mexican” in a long time. Okay, back to the Zagora Cafe Double Cheeseburger review

The Flavor and Build

• The Meat & Cheese: You receive two seasoned patties layered with two slices of cheese and two bacon strips. While the bacon and cheese fall somewhat below average theme park standards, the entree is undeniably filling.
• The Produce: The lettuce, tomato, and pickles were fresh and crisp, providing a great contrast to the savory patties.
• The Bun: The bun remains the weakest link, failing to hold the heavy double burger together cleanly. However, this time, it showed improvement.

Given that Zagora Cafe focuses on classic American quick-service fare, stick to the burger. We do not recommend the grilled chicken sandwich or the chicken tenders, making the Zagora Cafe double cheeseburger your safest choice. Out of pocket, the burger feels overpriced, but as an initial stop on the All Day Dining Plan, it serves as a hearty start to your day.

Outdoor Dining Alert: Watch the Wildlife

If you choose to sit in the outdoor patio area, stay alert. The local bird population was noticeably more aggressive during our latest visit. These birds will actively attempt to steal food directly off your table if left unattended. While park ambassadors are quick to assist and shoo them away, expect the local wildlife to show no manners around open trays! Trust us, we lost an entire burger once!

Dessert Review: Pumpkin Cheesecake

Using the All Day Dining Plan allowed us to select an accompanying side dish, leading us to try the seasonal Pumpkin Cheesecake. We expect this to be around until the holiday season.

Feature	Details
Price	$8.99 (Lower than standard cake slices in the park)
Presentation	Plated slice topped with a dollop of whipped cream
Flavor Profile	Dense, straight pumpkin flavor
Best Suited For	Pure pumpkin lovers (Not pumpkin spice fans)

Priced at $8.99, this dessert is slightly more affordable than typical cake slices found throughout Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The flavor profile delivers real, bold pumpkin rather than traditional pumpkin pie or sweet pumpkin spice seasoning. The whipped topping provides a light, sweet balance to the dense filling. If you are looking strictly for pumpkin spice, this dessert might disappoint, but it delivers an authentic pumpkin flavor as advertised.

We See Improvement in the Zagora Cafe Double Cheeseburger

With improved morning opening reliability via mobile ordering kiosks, Zagora Cafe is a dependable first stop for theme park dining. While the burger bun and cheese quality leave room for improvement, the double bacon cheeseburger remains the best meal option at this location when utilizing a dining plan. Pair it with a careful kiosk ordering strategy and a slice of pumpkin cheesecake for a satisfying meal. Remember this is not fine dining. Expect a decent theme park burger. Also, keep an eye on your food when dining at Zagora Cafe.

For more theme park dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Eastern Time. Additionally, we sometimes post bonus theme park dining reviews. As always, eat like you mean it!

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