Any AK and MGM Dining Suggestions?

[UBSHANG]

I would greatly appreciate any restaurants suggestions or dining experiences that could help me choose from some of the better counter and table service restaurants in Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios.

 

[Jrabbit910]

hhhmmmmmmm.... Imo: MGM needs more table service meals... Its hard to find a really good one but the two that we enjoyed the most were the SciFi and the Primetime Cafe... both "entertaining" but enjoyable for what they had. Also the brown derby I hear is good but we didnt go because I didnt find anything on the menu that I liked. We hated Momma melrose and heard that the toy story counter service was just as good....

As for the AK... check out Tusker House.. not bad at all but the Rainforest cafe thats there is great too.. nothing like the one that they put in a mall around our way!

 

[disnut8]

You picked the two parks with the worst food situations, in my opinion.

Other than Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom, there really isn't any table service places except for the breakfast buffet at Donald's Breakfastasorus. Decent counter service is at Tusker House and our favorite, Flame Tree BBQ. But we usually grab a soft pretzel to share and that's about it at Animal Kingdom.

MGM has table service but we limit ourselves to lunches at either the Sci Fi (our favorite but can only be done every few years because the film clips get old after a while - and that's no pun intended) or the 50s Prime Time (which depends on your server and your willingness to put up with the antics). We might give Mama Melrose a chance in a future trip. Others have had positive comments about Brown Derby but like jrabbit910, we can't find anything on the menu we'd go out of our way for. The counter service is not that great - the usual theme park stuff. The Flatbread Grill has some alternatives. Here, we really limit ourselves to soft pretzels.

 

[UBSHANG]

...the Sci Fi (our favorite...) or the 50s Prime Time...

I asked for suggestions about "some of the better" dining options, not some of the worst...

 

[hockeybabe]

Are you on the dining plan?

MGM is lacking in the "better" TS situations. You might consider taking a break out of the parks for a good TS at one of the boardwalk resorts or at Epcot if you have a PH. As far as CS, Pizza Planet is ok, and you could easily split a pizza/salad combo. If on the dining plan, we liked ABC Commisary better, the fish and chips were good, it seems pretty quiet and is indoor a/c seating. I haven't been to Backlot Express, but it seems to get better reviews than ABC.

AK, Tusker House gets far better reviews than the other CS's there. They will be opening a TS restaurant there, asian inspired, I think in the early summer, if I remember correctly. The only TS there is Rainforest Cafe. This is a park that I would consider doing a TS at a resort or again, in Epcot if you have a PH. The park closes earlier than the others, at 5 or 6 most nights, so it is easy to wait till after visiting the park to eat TS.

Have you checked out the menus at allearsnet.com yet? That may be the best place to start, then start a thread on the restaurant you think you might want to visit for some first hand experiences.

 

[Tikitoi]

MGM: Sci Fi, Hollywood & Vine good choices. AK: Rainforest and Donalds Breakfast, if you want breakfast.

 

[buzzboys]

We hate at the new character breakfast at H&V this past Oct and it was very good. Of course we went with DS 4 and DS 10 months so Jo Jo and Little Einsteins were a must for us.
We also enjoy the backlot express for cs

We also ate at the Flame Tree for the first time this last trip and we all enjoyed it. We usually leave AK since it closes early anyway and use that time to eat at a resort ts

 

[java]

First off AK has the best counter service of all the parks imho- Tusker House at lunch is yummy!! (Half a chicken- with mashed potatoes green beans yummy yummy!) And everyone raves about Flame Tree although we have never eaten there.
Mgm is a tougher one. We have had good meals when we stick to the basic cheeseburger/ fries/shake route at the SCI FI
and if you like fried chicken- the 50's is the place to go.
We have not been to the Brown Derby in years- but it was good the last time we went-

 

[Super 27]

At AK, the only table service there is Rainforest Cafe, and it's not bad. It's definitely better than the one near my home in Chicago, but still nothing super to write home about... Tusker House is probably the best for counter service; overall their food is actually quite good.

As far as MGM, the Sci-Fi Drive in is OK. Mama Melrose is basically on the level of Olive Garden, although it's been very inconsistent when I've been there. On the same trip I went two times and had the exact same entree. Once it was delicious; the second time it was awful, so who knows... Brown Derby is good, but their menu is a bit more gourmet/exotic...

 

[puddleduck]

MGM - Sci Fi Dine in for lunch. get the burger fries and a shake, you'll need a wheelbarrow and a very helpful friend when leaving.
AK - Flametree BBQ yes it really is that good. We liked Raintree, the food is good and it is VERY Raintree but it's not on the dining plan if thats a consideration.

 

[leafette]

Tusker and Pizzafari are fine at AK. There's not much at MGM.

 

[byoung]

Boma's at AKL-----Moma melrose at MGM.

 

[Eventer98]

The only two places we ate there were TSPP in MGM and RC in AK. We loved both!!

 

[UBSHANG]

At AK, the only table service there is Rainforest Cafe, and it's not bad. It's definitely better than the one near my home in Chicago, but still nothing super to write home about... .

Thanks for your advice Super27. I have eaten at the Rainforest Cafe in Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. Illinois many times. Are there any significant differences between the two restaurants in regards to the atmosphere, menu selections and food quality?

 

[Tess'smom]

I would greatly appreciate any restaurants suggestions or dining experiences that could help me choose from some of the better counter and table service restaurants in Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios.

In MGM, 50's Prime time Cafe is a lot of fun. The food is average, but the atmosphere makes up for the food. At AK we have given up on eating a TS there. We hop a bus and in five minutes we are at AK Lodge and can eat at Boma's or Jiko.

 

[PooohBear]

I asked for suggestions about "some of the better" dining options, not some of the worst...

That was kind of rude!

Sci-Fi and Prime Time are not some of the worst choices for dining either !

Thanks for your advice Super27. I have eaten at the Rainforest Cafe in Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. Illinois many times. Are there any significant differences between the two restaurants in regards to the atmosphere, menu selections and food quality?

I have eaten at the Schaumburg & Downtown locations and the food has never been as good as the AK location, I don't know why, but it's just better in Florida

 

[akrake]

IMO, Tusker house in AK is wonderful...pizzafari is gross (not much selection) and so is flaming tree (ugh).

MGM: ABC has something for everyone for CS...we also like scifi (sometimes) and brown derby.....if you want buffet....Hollywood & vine is fun.

 

[UBSHANG]

That was kind of rude!

Sci-Fi and Prime Time are not some of the worst choices for dining either !

My original post simply asked for "some of the better" dining options at MGM. Some diners may actually enjoy Sci-Fi and 50's Prime Time, but those restaurants are not some of the better dining options at MGM.