Excavator’s Taters

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I have nothing but good things to say about this place after this weekend! The food was great, but the customer service was also awesome. My partner requested no chives (she can't do Alliums ), and there was a slip up and they were added. They were very apologetic and made sure she got fresh fries and a generous serving. Really great folks.
 
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Anyone have insight on when this will open this year? I've yet to try it and after reading all these great reviews and going back to read the original kdfans.com article, I'm hungry for some fries.
 
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At the park today (Sunday), Excavator’s Taters is now open for the season. So @bwick29, if you haven't gone already...

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What's interesting is that the restaurant has new new menu items. Most of the fries are still there. But it seems a number of the hot dog baskets have moved over from Dogwood's Grille - which goes along with what I've recently heard, in that Dogwood's Grille is now permanently closed.

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outhikn said:
What's interesting is that the restaurant has new new menu items. Most of the fries are still there. But it seems a number of the hot dog baskets have moved over from Dogwood's Grille - which goes along with what I've recently heard, in that Dogwood's Grille is now permanently closed.
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Oh yeah, those hotdogs were added right around when Haunt started back in 2022.

Looks like the poutine is gone this year from the menu! That was my absolute favorite item from that menu 👎

Edit: Clarification that the hot dogs were on the menu around haunt 2022.
 
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That BBQ Dog looks kinda good too. I just worry it comes out looking like a budget knock-off of the picture, lol.


Looks like I'm going to finally get some taters!!!!
Excited Friday GIF by SpongeBob SquarePants
 
outhikn said:
At the park today (Sunday), Excavator’s Taters is now open for the season. So @bwick29, if you haven't gone already...

View attachment 28959

What's interesting is that the restaurant has new new menu items. Most of the fries are still there. But it seems a number of the hot dog baskets have moved over from Dogwood's Grille - which goes along with what I've recently heard, in that Dogwood's Grille is now permanently closed.

View attachment 28960
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The vegan brat is now at Excavator's Taters? This is good to know. I thought with the closing of Dogwood's Grille it was just gone. I'm definitely getting that on Sunday. Well... assuming you can still get grilled onions and peppers....
 
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bwick29 said:
That BBQ Dog looks kinda good too. I just worry it comes out looking like a budget knock-off of the picture, lol.


Looks like I'm going to finally get some taters!!!!
Excited Friday GIF by SpongeBob SquarePants
Click to expand...
Ive gotten the BBQ dog at dogwood Grille before, It's pretty tasty and messy. It's exactly what it says: hot dog with pulled pork, coleslaw, bbq sauce, and cheddar cheese. And now it comes with those fresh cut fries!
 
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Do they have cheese fries? No meat. As you can probably tell from above, meat would not be what I'd want. I mean I'm sure they will do that if you ask for it, but if it's not on the menu then I'm going to be paying for meat and getting nothing for it.
 
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Slightly out of date:

kdfans.com

Comprehensive Review of Kings Dominion's Excavator's Taters - KDFans

After several interruptions, including a last minute decision to run our Juke Box Diner review first, the opening of Outpost Cafe (review coming soon), and the start of Grand Carnivale, Zachary and I are finally back to share our thoughts from our April visit to Kings Dominion’s new French fry...
kdfans.com kdfans.com
 
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Nicole said:
Slightly out of date:

kdfans.com

Comprehensive Review of Kings Dominion's Excavator's Taters - KDFans

After several interruptions, including a last minute decision to run our Juke Box Diner review first, the opening of Outpost Cafe (review coming soon), and the start of Grand Carnivale, Zachary and I are finally back to share our thoughts from our April visit to Kings Dominion’s new French fry...
kdfans.com kdfans.com
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That's too bad. I'll still try it, though, since they have the vegan brat. Do they have vinegar for the fries or other such things (old bay)?
 
Excavator’s Taters was open today! With some more changes to the menu, hot dogs and corn dogs are gone from the menu!
They now have a corn dog nugget basket, and the same two fry choices (loaded pork and chili-cheese), plus a side of plain fries as an option still.
 
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Does anyone know why this is such a hit-or-miss location when it comes to it actually being open?

With this being a food offering that's unique from everything else in the park, smack in the middle of JungleX, and a cheap food cost item (potato), you'd think it would be open significantly more.
 
bwick29 said:
Does anyone know why this is such a hit-or-miss location when it comes to it actually being open?

With this being a food offering that's unique from everything else in the park, smack in the middle of JungleX, and a cheap food cost item (potato), you'd think it would be open significantly more.
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My guess is the same reason Jungle Market Eatery also tends to be closed or closes early—staffing. Excavators Tators may not look like a large place but I think I’ve seen them need a minimum of 3 people to operate. And given a lot of people don’t really want to do F&B, let alone at a theme park where there’s a lot more options to look at, they have to make do with what they have. I think the reason we see Jungle Market close early or not open is because the menu isn’t all that different from Jukebox Diner (from what I remember), which doesn’t have to compete with a restaurant that’s about 100 feet away. And the said restaurant they’re “competing” with having one of the best menus in the park… yeah.
TLDR: staffing, and similar menu offered elsewhere.
 
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Coasternerd said:
My guess is the same reason Jungle Market Eatery also tends to be closed or closes early—staffing. Excavators Tators may not look like a large place but I think I’ve seen them need a minimum of 3 people to operate. And given a lot of people don’t really want to do F&B, let alone at a theme park where there’s a lot more options to look at, they have to make do with what they have. I think the reason we see Jungle Market close early or not open is because the menu isn’t all that different from Jukebox Diner (from what I remember), which doesn’t have to compete with a restaurant that’s about 100 feet away. And the said restaurant they’re “competing” with having one of the best menus in the park… yeah.
TLDR: staffing, and similar menu offered elsewhere.
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Jungle Market makes complete sense for every reason you mentioned. I'm surprised they open it at all most times I see it.

Excavator's Tators are unique in the park, delicious, a reasonable value for guests, a high margin for KD, and are a themed shop in a high traffic location. I guess it must be that they need 3 to open?

Oh and they are lightyears better than the stupid Boardwalk Fries everyone buys. Fight me.
 
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I don't hate Boardwalk Fries but I also don't get the hype for them either so I wouldn't shed a tear if they got rid of them. Definitely not worth the price for them.
 
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