The Wave

[Matrinka]

Last night, I was able to eat at Disney's new restaurant, The Wave. Disappointing is the best way to sum up the entire experience.

The atmosphere was pleasant. Apparently, Disney swapped some wavy ceiling tiles from the Soarin' attraction to compliment the decor. The inside was pretty, but felt like a vast amount of decorations were lost in shipping. There were not many people in The Wave last night... but the acoustics are poor. I had to strain to hear people at my own table - but screaming children sitting on the other side of the room sounded like they were right next door.

The food was a mixed bag. Disney wanted an organic menu. While this sounds like a good idea, it leave the menu with only about 8 different entrees for you to select from. You can order a chicken pot pie (which comes in a cute crock pot complete with bones sticking out from the top). Two different steaks - both were extremely tasty. Lamb, which I won't eat. Selected "sustainable" fish of the day, that a family walking out let us know was terrible. The citrus and avacado salad was disgusting. They managed to make a concoction of soggy oranges, hard avacado, and bitter dressing.

All the servers have come from different restaurants. Ours came from the closed Concourse Steak House. She was horrible. Although she only had 3 tables, we were left to ourselves often. When asked about getting a steak knife for my meat, I was told that I "had one." As if I was a moron - who doesn't expect your butter knife to double as a meat-cutting machine? We had to ask, repeatedly, for water.

The experience was made MUCH better by our neighboring table. Once that started mocking the restaurant, the food, and service outloud to us, we realized that The Wave has a lot of potential that wasn't lived up to. Hopefully, they'll work things out. Maybe they'll get more menu choices or drop the organic twist.

It was sad to see Disney TURNING PEOPLE AWAY last night from coming in to eat - but there were only about 6 tables being occupied at a 7pm dining time. Sad, sad, sad.

[Belle5]

Thanks for posting your experience. Hopefully, things will improve. I will keep a watchful eye on the reviews. We do have an upcoming ADR there.

[MickeyNicki]

Most restaurants get off to a rocky start, hopefully it will get better

[SnwflkCts]

Bones sticking out of the pot pie??? :eek:

Thanks for the review. It will be interesting to see how the restaurant either improves ... or doesn't!

[Northern_Julie]

[QUOTE=Matrinka;25567118]

All the servers have come from different restaurants. Ours came from the closed Concourse Steak House. She was horrible. Although she only had 3 tables, we were left to ourselves often. When asked about getting a steak knife for my meat, I was told that I "had one." As if I was a moron - who doesn't expect your butter knife to double as a meat-cutting machine? We had to ask, repeatedly, for water.

QUOTE]

She came from the former steak house and didn't grasp the concept of steak knife!!! Sounds like a painful expierance.

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for your review and I hopefully service will get better since they just opened, so give it some time.

[Teresa Pitman]

You mentioned that there were "only" eight entree choices - but that seems to be a typical number of options for Disney restaurants (as well as for many of the non-Disney restaurants I've been to). I don't think that has anything to do with it being organic foods.

The review on allearsnet is much more positive, so maybe you hit a bad night?

Teresa

[suzimar57]

i'm laughing here, imagining those "bones" sticking out of the chicken pot pie....

[MemoryMakers2669]

It sounds like most of the food you had was very good?

[Tir na nOg]

Wow, sounds like they need to work out a lot of kinks. I do hope to read of better service and food in a few weeks. Thanks for the review.

[Belle5]

The review on allearsnet is much more positive, so maybe you hit a bad night?

Teresa

Could you post a link to the allearsnet.com review? I have looked all over that site and can't find it. I can only find where they talk about what the Wave is supposed to be like. I haven't found where someone actually dined there yesterday. Thanks!

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Could you post a link to the allearsnet.com review? I have looked all over that site and can't find it. I can only find where they talk about what the Wave is supposed to be like. I haven't found where someone actually dined there yesterday. Thanks!Here you go. http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2008/06/the_wave_at_disneys_contempora.html

[SassyLassy]

Thanks for the review! Hopefully they will work out their kinks.

[Corinne]

The food was a mixed bag. Disney wanted an organic menu. While this sounds like a good idea, it leave the menu with only about 8 different entrees for you to select from. You can order a chicken pot pie (which comes in a cute crock pot complete with bones sticking out from the top). Two different steaks - both were extremely tasty. Lamb, which I won't eat. Selected "sustainable" fish of the day, that a family walking out let us know was terrible.

Eek! Sorry you had a bad experience. Chicken bones coming out of the pot pie??

We have an ADR on July 4th and I was thinking of ordering one of the steaks or the chicken pot pie. I was also wondering what the deal is with the term sustainable fish. Seems like an odd choice of words. Anyway, hopefully it will get better.

[quixoticvalue]

I doubt chicken bones were coming out of the pot pie.

Sorry.

[Pumbaa_]

i am stuck on the bone thing too. All i can picture is chicken leg bones sticking out, lol :rotfl2:

[Uncleromulus]

Would note that the ALLEARS review was just salads and not any of the main entrees. And tho I'm not a major fan of flank stak and pot pie, the place looks pretty nice and the organic beers do hold an interest. Reminding myself this isn't a Signature restaurant, I'll wait on more reviews before we decide if we ever want to dine there.

[tarheelmjfan]

I read the Allears review & it doesn't exactly look like a glowing review to me. :confused3 They did seem to love the decor, except for the wood-grain laminate. One person didn't like their appy at all & switched with the other. The other appy salad was good. The Spice-crusted Chicken Salad was deemed excellent. The other salad entree wasn't what they expected or what was described on the menu. Other than that, they enjoyed it. They were happy with the desserts.

It sounded to me like the reviewer was trying very hard to be positive. They definitely didn't blast the place, but they only used one word "excellent" that you would hope to see in a truly good review. A really positive review doesn't usually contain words like "good", "except for", "not as described" (more than once). Yes, "good" can be very positive, but in this case it came off as more like mediocre. Sounds to me like the Wave needs work. It did just open, so I'll give it the benefit of doubt. I do wonder how well the concept will take off. We're very disappointed in the "dumbing down" of WDW menus to satisfy the masses. I can't help but wonder how many people who won't eat authentic or gourmet actually care about organic.

[tressa]

We had lunch on 6/8. I read the review on AllEars and was suprised. Not the same experience as ours.

The positives - the service is wonderful. the desserts are great.

Negatives - The entrees are overpriced even by Disney standards. And the food is just ok.

I don't mind paying for a great meal, Brown Derby comes to mind, but this is not one of those meals.

My son had the Fish dish, $20.99. He said it was good, again not great, but was still hungry.

My husband had the burger. The burger itself was small and he said it was alright. Kona makes a better buger.

The desserts are great. A little sample of 3 items.

We may try again after it works out some of the bugs. But I wouldn't recommend it to any of my friends right now, sorry!

[Corinne]

Sounds to me like the Wave needs work. It did just open, so I'll give it the benefit of doubt. I do wonder how well the concept will take off. We're very disappointed in the "dumbing down" of WDW menus to satisfy the masses.

I too, have become very disappointed with the menus many changes. "Dumbing down" is a nice way to put it! I know many will disagree with me, but I truly believe the "free" dining has a lot to do with it. Even when it is not "free" the DDP was NEVER as popular as it is now.

[Poohbear123]

I too, have become very disappointed with the menus many changes. "Dumbing down" is a nice way to put it! I know many will disagree with me, but I truly believe the "free" dining has a lot to do with it. Even when it is not "free" the DDP was NEVER as popular as it is now.

Yes, I agree about the "free dining" too, but I am never on the Free Dining plan, so it won't be an option for me.:confused3

[timmac]

Did anyone notice the author speaking about the "best salad in WDW" being at LTT? While I can't say I've ever tried it, I can't recall LTT being cited as having the best salad by anyone else (on this board). So, that kind of puts the opinion of the reviewer in a bit of perspective.

Another thing, as Kevin (from the podcast) always points out, a review is just a one-time snapshot of the service/experience/quality. Almost by definition, a single review can't possibly reveal problems with inconsistency. I'd say that's even more true in a restaurant's infancy, when kinks are being worked out as the pieces fall into place. As Kevin also says though, once you're being charged full price, you have a right to expect full quality.

[Disney8704]

I think the OP meant bones sticking out on top of the crockpot. Like a decorative lid. Not real bones sticking out of the pot pie itself.

[freesone]

Kevin Yee at Miceage.com had a positive review in his post yesterday.

It's only been open since Saturday night, hopefully in time they will fix any problems.

[MemoryMakers2669]

You can order a chicken pot pie (which comes in a cute crock pot complete with bones sticking out from the top). .

I think the OP meant bones sticking out on top of the crockpot. Like a decorative lid. Not real bones sticking out of the pot pie itself.

I think you are right! I didn't read it that way in the beginning either, but makes sense~

[DisneyDeeva]

Kevin Yee at Miceage.com had a positive review in his post yesterday.

It's only been open since Saturday night, hopefully in time they will fix any problems.

I can't find his review - can you post a link?

[BriarRosie]

[QUOTE=Matrinka;25567118]

All the servers have come from different restaurants. Ours came from the closed Concourse Steak House. She was horrible. Although she only had 3 tables, we were left to ourselves often. When asked about getting a steak knife for my meat, I was told that I "had one." As if I was a moron - who doesn't expect your butter knife to double as a meat-cutting machine? We had to ask, repeatedly, for water.

QUOTE]

She came from the former steak house and didn't grasp the concept of steak knife!!! Sounds like a painful expierance.

Well, maybe it's a Contemporary Resort thing. I remember another reviewer complaining that his server at the California Grill balked at being asked for a steak knife simply because the meat should be tender enough without one.

Although the Wave server sounds like an idiot for not knowing what a steak knife looks like. ;)

[kelleigh1]

I think the OP meant bones sticking out on top of the crockpot. Like a decorative lid. Not real bones sticking out of the pot pie itself.

That's what I take it to mean too.

[lborne]

I was also wondering what the deal is with the term sustainable fish. Seems like an odd choice of words.

Basically it means farm raised fish, or fish that are caught at rates lower than they can reproduce.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_seafood

[Corinne]

Basically it means farm raised fish, or fish that are caught at rates lower than they can reproduce.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_seafood

Thanks for posting~I actually looked it up myself after I posted because I knew it had to MEAN something! lol!

[freesone]

I can't find his review - can you post a link?

Here is the link. His review is on page 2.

http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky061008b.htm

[freesone]

i am stuck on the bone thing too. All i can picture is chicken leg bones sticking out, lol :rotfl2:

Laughingplace.com has pictures of most of the meals posted. They are definitely real chicken bones sticking out.

[Matrinka]

I was at the Wave on opening night. I probably won't be going back for anything other than drinks. My dinner was good, but for the price, I'd rather go elsewhere. My salad was unedible - the two people I was dining with wouldn't eat it after the first bite either - and we all like artichokes and citrus. The steak was good, but I credit that to former steakhouse chefs cooking it.

As for the bones: the chicken pot pie comes in a crockpot, not the traditional microwave crust. Yes, there are BONES sticking out the top. Here is an image:

laughingplace.com/files/guide/wdw/dining/00427//big/A99-0052.JPG

It saddened me to see Disney using cheaper cuts of meat in their pot pie (for the price we spent). You'd think that they could at least spring for chicken breast, rather than a drumstick and whatever other piece was put in there. Even with time, I can't think of why this restaurant is worth a second visit. It was too expensive for the taste of the food, even if it was "good." It wasn't great.

[teruterubouzu]

Sorry you had a not so great experience.

That photo makes the "pot pie" look really good. Yum. I'm not always a fan of chicken on the bone, but that is the best sort of chicken to use when you're preparing something like this.

[NC State]

Thanks for the picture of the chicken pot pie. I was planning on ordering this on Sept 8th. Now I think we may just go to another place to eat.

[SnwflkCts]

Matrinka - Thanks for the pic of the chicken pot pie (bones and all!). Not as unappetizing as it sounded but not what I think of when I hear pot pie. Well, we shall wait and see how this restaurant pans out. Thanks again for the review. :thumbsup2

[Scotch]

Thanks for the reviews. I am considering whether to book this for our upcoming December trip. It is probably this vs. our old favorite the Kona Cafe. I'd love to read more reviews at more folks give the Wave a try to see if things don't improve. Otherwise for the price being charged I may just give this place a pass.

[freesone]

Thanks for the reviews. I am considering whether to book this for our upcoming December trip. It is probably this vs. our old favorite the Kona Cafe. I'd love to read more reviews at more folks give the Wave a try to see if things don't improve. Otherwise for the price being charged I may just give this place a pass.


If you listen to last week's podcast, Kevin did a very favorable review(he went for both dinner and lunch). It sounds good to me. I have an ADR for September and can't wait to try it.

[DisneyDeeva]

We have an ADR for breakfast the first Sunday in October. I'm intrigued by the menu and can't wait to give their version of Eggs Benedict a try!

[Corinne]

Thanks for the reviews. I am considering whether to book this for our upcoming December trip. It is probably this vs. our old favorite the Kona Cafe. I'd love to read more reviews at more folks give the Wave a try to see if things don't improve. Otherwise for the price being charged I may just give this place a pass.
I already switched our ressie from The Wave to Kona as soon as I read the reviews. Sorry, the crock pot was a cute presentation, but the chicken on the bone is odd, imo. Even when posters were discussing whether the bones were real or ON the crock pot made no sense to me....still doesn't.

[musicmom3]

Have a lunch rez for 2 and a dinner rez for 4 in September so will make sure to add our experiences when we return. The chicken pot pie is poorly named...it actually looks more like what you might get at a bistro rather than what I think of as a typical "pot pie." The bone doesn't bother me, but it would if I were expecting to see something that looked more like what you would get from Swanson's. Perception really does count for a lot, I believe. Disney, change the name!

[freesone]

Have a lunch rez for 2 and a dinner rez for 4 in September so will make sure to add our experiences when we return. The chicken pot pie is poorly named...it actually looks more like what you might get at a bistro rather than what I think of as a typical "pot pie." The bone doesn't bother me, but it would if I were expecting to see something that looked more like what you would get from Swanson's. Perception really does count for a lot, I believe. Disney, change the name!

I agree. That bone sticking does not make chicken pot pit look appetizing. A name change would good.:thumbsup2

[LVSWL]

We had breakfast there the day after they opened and it was one of the better meals of our trip. My son had the waffle, my husband had eggs and bacon and my other son had french toast. I had the granola with yogurt and fresh fruit. It was all incredible and the coffee was WONDERFUL. Cheap..no, but we didn't expect it to be. We are already planning to go back on our next trip.

[pink7420]

I recently had dinner at The Wave, about a week ago. My fiance and I really enjoyed it. We had crab nacho appetizer, fillet mignon with fingerling potatoes, and we each had 3 different mini desserts. We both loved the food and plan on going back there on our next trip. The fillet mignon and it's sauce were excellent and the desserts were awesome. Maybe I went on a better night, we also enjoyed the drinks, I had a really good dark chocolate martini.

[Minniespal]

Thanks for your review. Hopefully service will improve.

[LuvMickey36]

I recently had dinner at The Wave, about a week ago. My fiance and I really enjoyed it. We had crab nacho appetizer, fillet mignon with fingerling potatoes, and we each had 3 different mini desserts. We both loved the food and plan on going back there on our next trip. The fillet mignon and it's sauce were excellent and the desserts were awesome. Maybe I went on a better night, we also enjoyed the drinks, I had a really good dark chocolate martini.


Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!!! I have us booked in Sept. & have been on pins & needles trying to decide if I should keep it or not. Now that I have seen @ least a few good reviews, I think I will keep it. :thumbsup2

[jerseygal]

LVSWL, thanks for your glowing reviews about The Wave for breakfast!
One great review so far for breakfast!


Anyone else eat breakfast there lately???????????????????

Thanks for posting when someone does!!!!!!!!!!:goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes