Good food at a reasonable price???

[lojo]

I've been having a great time reading loads of trip reports (not just the recent ones), but a recurring theme seems to be expensive, only just acceptable food. I don't mind paying higher prices if the quality is good, but even the restaurants that get pretty good ratings seem to get most of their brownie points from the setting, atmosphere or characters. I know places like DLP have a captive audience and can basically charge what they like but there must be some good food there somewhere, surely? To give an example of what I mean - our whole family love Italian food and usually it is easy to find really delicious pizzas and pasta that doesn't break the bank. Some of the descriptions of the Italian food in DLP (not only in DISBoards) have included words such as 'greasy', 'bland', 'congealed', 'dry', 'boring', and I have yet to find a four person family meal listed at less than around €80. Dublin has a reputation for being expensive but eight of us had lunch there last week for just under €120 (and that included a couple of glasses of wine each, two desserts, three coffees and two cocktails).

Any suggestions from all you foodies out there - where do we go for good quality food? It doesn't have to be fancy (although we'll take that too), just yummy and good value.

Oh, and while I remember, do they stop you bringing refreshments in with you? Also, I read (admittedly in an out-of-date guidebook) that it's okay to sit at the tables outside the restaurants even if you don't buy anything - is this still the case?

Tks
Lucy

PS Have a Dreamy time tsandas

 

[R.S.Winters]

I've never been stopped from taking refreshments into the parks. As for sitting at tables to eat - well I wouldn't do itside a restaurant or in the Disney Village, but in the parks if there are tables outside then sure I can't see the problem.
As for the food, well, tbh I personally don;t think any of the food at DLP is THAT great. The two restaurants in the Sequioa Lodge normally do not disappoint - but the steak can be a bit on the tough and red side lol.
Maybe try a more international restaurant like Planet Hollywood, McDonalds or Rainforest Cafe - their standards are the same world over - if you have eaten in any of these places before and you like them, then you be more or less be gauranteed the same standard.
Other than that it really is just pot luck on where you decide to eat and what kind of food you like!
I personally like the SL's restaurants, Billy Bob's, Hyperion, Rainforest, Planet Hollywood and a couple of other places I can't remember right now lol.
I would NOT recommend Toad Hall...
Hope that helps a bit...

D.

 

[lojo]

As for the food, well, tbh I personally don;t think any of the food at DLP is THAT great.

Isn't that a real shame? When so much effort has been put into making the park a place of 'magic', it's a pity that quality control doesn't aim a bit higher. Obviously, everyone has different standards and tastes but even the reviewers that love what they've eaten tend to drop in a few 'ifs and buts'.

Maybe try a more international restaurant like Planet Hollywood, McDonalds or Rainforest Cafe - their standards are the same world over - if you have eaten in any of these places before and you like them, then you be more or less be gauranteed the same standard.

You're probably right, but I love trying new places and kinda want to have a unique experience for my first DLP trip. Maybe younger people don't have this problem, but the more places I go, the more they all blend together in my memory, and going to unique restaurants each trip helps to sort it all out (oh dear God, what will I be like when I get really old - I'm 'only' 44).

Thanks for the feedback Dan - appreciate it. Gonna just try out sitting at a few tables and see if we get chased (depending on who chases that might be fun actually).

Lucy

 

[jillrobinson]

We've had some very nice table service meals and the price is comparable to what I would expect to pay at similar establishments in the UK, in fact the only disappointment was at Auberge de Cendrillon, mine was due to wrong menu choice - my fault and the boys had undercooked burgers, not uncommon I've since found out, since burgers can be served as steaks, raw, medium etc.
My particular favourites would be
Blue Lagoon (super food, setting and service)
Planet Hollywood (huge meals, upbeat atmosphere, photographer a bit of a pain)
Cafe Mickey (characters, fantastic food and service)
Beaver Creek Tavern (SL) (fixed price very good value for money (my steak was cooked to perfection and wasn't tough, luck of the drawer) large starter and dessert selection.
Annette's Diner (Very good value, huge meals and fun atmosphere)

We haven't yet tried Walts, but it's one that almost always gets fabulous reviews, as do the restaurants at NPB and NY hotels, You don't have to be staying in them to eat there.

As far as buffets go, we've enjoyed ours at both
Plaza Gardens (set price buffet no characters)
Lucky Nugget (set price with characters)

For the best hotdogs in the Park I'd recommend Casey's Corner, where a set menu of giant hotdog, fries, chocolate brownie and soft drink will cost you 11 euros, I don't think that's unreasonable.
As far as the counterservice restaurants go, the food is on par with what you get in this country (although I've never seen anything like the variety of food offered) as is the price, although I think Legoland must hold the record for hoiking up prices to a captive audience. BTW Given reviews I've read I'd avoid McDonald's at all costs.

 

[obscure]

Being veggie we were severely limited by where we could find food that suited our tastes.

We had lovely meals at the rainforest cafe & king Ludwigs castle at Disney (nothing I'd recommend from inside the parks themselves though unfortunately).

We also had some fabulous galettes from a restaurant over the road from the RER station at Val D'Europe.

Sadie

 

[hildasmuriel]

We've eaten quite a few times in the Silver Spur and never been disappointed. Whilst it is not fine dining, it is a very nice steakhouse.
I second the vote for Annette's as reasonable priced and tasty American-diner meals.
It is true though - you wouldn't visit DLRP for the dining experience!

 

[kevankiki]

Another huge vote for Annette's here too!

I didn't suggest it before because I thought the OP was looking for pizza and/or pasta

 

[lojo]

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Kevankiki is right, I did refer to pizza/pasta. This is because there are a couple veggies in our group and pizza/pasta outlets tend to cover all the likes and wants for everyone. For some reason the vegetarian pasta option offered in non-Italian restaurants always seems to be bland and boring so we try to head for the specialists for a bit more variety and flavour.

It's interesting that several of you (and loads of other posts) recommend Annettes for value. It was Mike's trip report that first scared the bejesus out of me, when he quoted €80 for four portions of burger, fries and drinks. Admittedly, they look pretty good in his pics, but to me €20 for one course of everyday food is expensive.

An additional question - any Asian food on offer that you would recommend?

Thanks again
Lucy

 

[kevankiki]

Ooooooh, can I just add that my DD is a vegetarian, and she reckons the vegeburger at Annette's is the best she's had anywhere!

Might just sway you to give it a try, we can't wait to go there again on 21st March 2008, got it all planned!

 

[obscure]

Can I just add that we found the cheese pasta dishes at Disney very very overpowering. The main taste was (strong) goats cheese. Neither of my children ate the kids pasta and I struggled as it was so strong too. The adults was the same.

We are all veggie so many places just had that option for the kids unfortunately.

We had the best food of the trip in Rainforest Cafe & King Ludwigs Castle (I had veggie burger in both - but they were totally different, the one in the castle being a potato rosti topped with loads of veg in a batch, and the rainforest cafe was a soya based burger served with loads of (v nice!) fries and coleslaw). I'd highly recommend either places as a vegetarian.

Cafe Mickey had a noodle dish that DH said was ok. All the other main meals had fish in them. I just had a starter (mushroom soup) in cafe mickey.,

The only veggie stuff we found in the parks were 4 cheese pizza (which was ok but thick base rather than italian style which I prefer), roasted veg with tomatos in a batch, ommelette buger or cheese & mushroom toastie thing (which would have been yummy if freshly prepared but not so great from a self serve place where its been sat for a while IMO!)

HTH on the veggie front!
Sadie

 

[obscure]

oh just to add - if you want to try the caste & the rainforest cafe then goto the rainforest cafe first as you get a 20% off voucher for the castle with your receipt

 

[pigby]

Ooooooh, can I just add that my DD is a vegetarian, and she reckons the vegeburger at Annette's is the best she's had anywhere!

Might just sway you to give it a try, we can't wait to go there again on 21st March 2008, got it all planned!

Just what I needed to know - my DD is vegetarian and I knwo she wouldn't like the cheese pasta dishes mentioned by obscure. Is the veggie burger soya based (ie something that will be familiar to her) - not good at trying new things, my dd. The Annettes menu looks great for myself and DH.

 

[R.S.Winters]

oh yea i forgot about annettes... thats nice too lol

 

[lojo]

Thanks guys, the veggie recommendations are great, especially as the veggie option is often a token gesture and rarely competes with the rest of a menu in terms of appeal.

I had considered the Rainforest Cafe, mainly because I think it would really appeal to the kids, and King Ludwigs Castle because I love Austrian/German food, hoping for Kaiserschmarrn!

All this talk of food is making me hungry

Lucy

 

[kevankiki]

Is the veggie burger soya based (ie something that will be familiar to her) - not good at trying new things, my dd. The Annettes menu looks great for myself and DH.

No, sorry, it's not. It's more like bits of veg in a kind of patty shape, if that makes sense. Maybe that's what makes it so yummy though, I can imagine soya based burgers being not so nice myself (but then I'm a carnivore )

 

[TandCmum]

we have just got back and due to it being off peak season a lot of the quick service restaurants weren't even open but we always get consistently nice food at cowboy cookout, but everywhere else was dire and expensive. I think the fast food options in the studios need to be severly re-evaluated.

As for sit down meals we really enjoy rainforest cafe (they do nice pasta dishes), were dissapointed at planet hollywood last time we went and have enjoyed buffets at lucky nugget saloon and plaza gardens. I would love to try blue lagoon and walts but unfortunatly the rest of my family are picky eaters so didn't fancy any of the dishes.

It is pretty expensive though and we averaged around 90 euros for a sit down meal and 30 euros for a fast food meal

 

[DebIreland]

oh just to add - if you want to try the caste & the rainforest cafe then goto the rainforest cafe first as you get a 20% off voucher for the castle with your receipt

What a great tip!!! Thank you!

Ooooooh, can I just add that my DD is a vegetarian, and she reckons the vegeburger at Annette's is the best she's had anywhere!

Excellent!!!

I'm storing all this info for our trip!!