Unbelievable: A Bad Jiko revew

[Peter Pirate]

Just back and I had the chance to eat at one of our two favorite WDW restaurants, Jiko. Unfortunately, for the first time, it was not too great.

First, we had a 7:50 PS. Checked in at 7:40 and weren't seated until just before 8:00 despite the fact that at least a half dozen other two patron tables (as were we) were filled ahead of us (all of which checked in after us). Okay, it's not the end of the world...

I'm not a wine guy yet (although I aspire to be) and Jiko has always been such a great place to discuss choices and usually get a sample of choices recommended to accompany my choice. This time our server recommended one wine (the most expensive in the catagory and that was it)...I ordered a margarita...Starting to get a little more annoyed.

But all is not lost yet, I still got to look forward to the food. Because I was travelling with my older daughter and not the more adventerous younger one, we weren't able to have the duck and pork firecracker so we settled for the sampler and while not as good as the firecracker, it was very good.

The entree was the biggee though. My mouth had been watering for a replay of the seared scallops that I'd had a month or so ago, so my decision was easy. Too bad. They were bland at best and there were only four. Edible yes, but great? Not a chance. A saving grace was the pork tenderloin that my daughter had. It was very good, especially the charred portions.

Note: I complained to the guest services manager about my wait and he apologized and said he'd look into it and get back to me. He didn't.

Summary: Jiko isn't off my list by any stretch, but the place isn't perfect and can suffer a bad night. Sadly, I happened to hit one.
pirate:

[KNWVIKING]

..... now only four scallops. Truely the Apocolyps is apon us. Only kidding Pete.

We've never eaten at Jikos and it's always on our "to do" list, but for some odd reason we never get there. I've reviewed the menu several times and get hungrier each time I do.

Hopefully this was that "once in a lifetime" bad experience.

[wildernesslodgelover]

I really hate when that happens at a favorite restaurant. I mean...you KNOW Jiko is great, but after having a bad experience...and with so many restauarnts to try...you feel silly returning to a place that gave you bad service and not so hot food.

I went to Artist's Point a few years ago and was NOT impressed. But I hear so many great things about it, I may have to give it another try.

Now, imagine that night at Jiko was your FIRST night ever there...would you return? Probably not. Fortunately you KNOW they can do better and were probably just having an off night. Sorry that happened to you!

[Kaycee]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience at Jiko. As Wildernesslodgelover said, at least you know that this is a very good restaurant that was just having an off night. Unfortunately, there were probably several people there for the first time that night who had similar experiences and plan to never go back. I think that's one of the benefits of having a forum like this. Any restaurant can have a bad night, but if the overwhelming majority of reviews are good, maybe someone who had a bad experience on their first visit will give it another chance.

[Cass]

Hi there, sorry your meals was not the greatest..

I don't understand your complaint about seating though... you arrived at 7:40pm and were seated just before 8pm? your PS was for 7:50pm? so... that is what, a 5 minute delay?

[Peter Pirate]

Great thoughts & I agree WLLover, that is why I always give the WDW restaurants at least two tries. It would be very bad to hit one of these on an off day or perhaps just an off meal or off waiter and think this is the norm.

FF was our favorite for a long time and even there we had some less than perfect experiences but we knew they were abberations and always returned to stellar results plus the staff (at FF & CG) ALWAYS strive to please us (something that didn't happen at JIKO this trip).

Now our faves are Artist Point (give it another try...I love the buffalo steak), Cal. Grill & Jiko, with 'Ohana, Boma and FF making the second tier although we still haven't tried any of the GC restaurants (UncleR keeps recommending so I know I'll have to try them).

Vike, while it's true thatthe four scallop comment sounds silly (4 jumbos are usually enoughh) the fact is that the accompanyment, usually so good, was also average at best, making an acceptably good appetizer the best part of the meal!

Oh, one other minor thing, they never brought us bread...Again, normally not a big issue, but with the entree failing as it did I think some good, home made bread would have been nice.

pirate:

[Peter Pirate]

Oops, sorry Cass and thanks for pointing it out. We had a 7:50 PS, arrived at 7:40 and were not seated until 8:30.

Again, whilethe delay was a little long, the problem was in that so many other tables for two came in after and were seated first. I can't think of an explanation.
pirate:

[gina2000]

We had a long wait to be seated in early December, also. We sat down at the bar, though, and had a nice glass of wine. I have to say, we really had a wonderful experience there. I'm not crazy about the duck and pork firecracker, though. Too much like a jazzed up eggroll. CG also offers something like that and I felt the same way after having it.

What is it about scallops and portions? Every time I go out and order jumbo scallops, I always feel a bit ripped off. I love seafood but have tended to stay away from shellfish for that very reason.....

[Docsknotinn]

Four scallops ! That's a expensive appetizer. I tend to shy away from the shellfish at the resorts. Even though Scallops are my favorite more than once I've seen run of the mill Sea scallops billed as Jumbos.

[Muffy]

Sorry about that crappy meal. I appreciate you commenting about it as we may pass on Jiko this time.

[Peter Pirate]

Muffy, I'm certainly not suggesting this is the norm at Jiko, because based on most reviews (including ALL of my previous ones) it isn't.

I think I happened to get a run of bad luck (a lost PS perhaps, a waiter not happy about working that night maybe and an average meal when I was expecting perfection).

The chef (formerly of AP & CG) is top notch and the sevice is generally impeccable and up to this point there had been very few reports of any substandard circumstances at Jiko. My decision to post this was to merely point out that they are human too, but if this is the start of a trend, we will be able to hear about here!

Happy eating wherever you decide!

[cascadecupcake]

We were at Jiko in November. The food was incredible, but a little hard to enjoy with the fruit flies buzzing EVERYWHERE around us. I've had those at home and know they can be hard to get rid of, just didn't expect them to join us for our $150 meal on vacation! :rolleyes:

[jennymouse]

Sorry about the bad experience, Peter Pirate. We'll be there in three weeks to do a follow up inspection to make sure all is well.

[Cass]

Oops, sorry Cass and thanks for pointing it out. We had a 7:50 PS, arrived at 7:40 and were not seated until 8:30.



Well that makes a difference! I would be annoyed too

[Rafikifan]

I hate to hear that Peter. It is never good to have a disappointing meal, but when it's one of your favorites and you know how good it CAN be it makes it more disheartening. Consistency doesn't exist at too many restaurants anymore it seems.

[Uncleromulus]

Pirate:
Yikes!! Sounds like they slipped up in several aspects that night. I hope that it was simply an off night but as you say, we'll soon see based upon further reviews.

[Tinkerbelle739]

It wasnt just the night he was there unless it was the first week of November!
Our service was so terrible that we complained not once but 3 times! The manager was just as horrible as the service. When we returned home I emailed WDW. I was emailed several times explaining that it was being investigated.
This week, I received a phone message from Lynn at WDW executive offices stating that the matter had been turned over to the Manager of the AKL and that he found my complaints to be vaild. We are receiving a certified letter and $40 Disney Dollars this week according to Lynn. I was not at all impressed with Jiko or the staff. It may be years before I return.

[The4OfUs]

I'm not a wine guy yet (although I aspire to be) and Jiko has always been such a great place to discuss choices and usually get a sample of choices recommended to accompany my choice. This time our server recommended one wine (the most expensive in the catagory and that was it)...I ordered a margarita...Starting to get a little more annoyed.


Can you expand on this - I'm reading it that you ask for recommendations for a wine pairing to go with your choice of entrees, and in the past they have brought 'samples' of the various wines for you to taste prior to making your selection? And they didn't this time, which was a source of annoyance for you?

Is that expected/common in this particular restaurant, or in WDW 'upper scale' sitdown restaurants in general?

I've never heard of a restaurant doing this, and my husband is a professional chef - that's why I'm curious. :D Perhaps with a 'house wine', but I guess I'd never expect them to open a bottle of the higher tier wines for me to sample - although I'd LOVE it if they did! *grin* If you say this is 'normal', I'm going to have to make another PS! LOL!

[Peter Pirate]

I'm not sure how to answer, but on my previous visit to Jiko I told my server I was interested in accompanying wines but didn't know a lot about them, she suggested three or four and explained the merits of each, then left me to decide. Then she returned with three small samples. I liked one very well, one was OK and the other I didn't like (thankfully that was the most expensive). This exact same treatment also followed me to Artist Point, btw. Certainly they aren't uncorking the best bottles and these were undoubtedly house options, I'd guess.

So, I'm not sure if this is 'standard' or not and I certainly wasn't even expecting the samples, but usually I get a nice discussion of the merits and proper pairings. This is what was missing. I didn't know enough to make an educated pairing and this waiter didn't care at all.
pirate:

[The4OfUs]

Thanks for the clarification - I think that's a wonderful option that I have not seen offered anywhere, and I've been to alot of 'upscale' restaurants with DH. Maybe I need to stop letting him grab the wine list right away and see what the wait staff has to say! *grin* Think I'll get away with it? LOL!

Sounds like you got a waiter who either didn't have a clue about the pairings, or was simply not to be bothered going about it... :( Your attitude about giving a place more than one try is awesome, everyone can have a bad night once in a while!

[Uncleromulus]

I can add that every time we've dined a Jiko, they would offer samples of wines--either when Mrs. Uncleromulus was truly undecided, or when the server had a special recommendation to make. Should also add that at Jiko, several of the servers are also sommeliers.
I'm not sure if these wine taste offerings are just limited to certain "preselected" wines, or if the individual server has the ability to make the taste offerings as they see fit.

[ElizabethB]

We were at Jiko the second week in November. It was extremely crowded. We had an 8:30 PS and finally were seated at 9:30 p.m. For us, the food was as good as always, as was the service. However, we've decided that, since it is the only restaurant anywhere near AKL (other than the Boma buffet), it's not someplace we'll eat again when the hotel is crowded, as it apparently was that week. The atmosphere is just too crazed and rushed with too many people trying to get a meal as though it were the last outpost before leaving civilization. It's hard for the waiters to provide the niceties like several wine samples when every one of their tables is occupied and numerous people are waiting at least an hour to be seated.

[capnho]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. We went for dinner during Christmas week. We were seated promptly (actually a few minutes before our PS time!), had excellent service, and even got bread! :) It was one of the best meals we've ever had at WDW.

[Lesley]

The way you've described your previous wine experience is what I have also experienced. I don't pretend to have a clue about wine, but I do know that a good pairing can really make a meal. I love when the menu includes suggestions, but when it doesn't I generally ask for a recommendation. On our recent visit to the Cali Grill I was recommended a Pinot Noir and brought samples of two of them with a mention of their merits and differences.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience at Jiko. I have yet to get my dh to this restaurant though I've been wanting to try it since it opened (we only get a date night in WDW every other year!)...but I know I would feel awful if we had a bad experience like this after so many years of waiting and coaxing. He's a bit apprehensive about the menu.