Victoria and Alberts: Crazy Fear

[LiloH]

Hello!

I just booked a reservation at the Poly to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary in June. (Yay!) We are thinking of sending our kids for an evening at the Neverland Club so we can have a grown-up dinner with no shouting, food throwing or sun/heat/exhaustion related meltdowns.
DH really wants to go to Victoria and Alberts and I totally do too but I am sort of, kind of afraid of it. No one who knows me would guess it based upon our habits but I am a closet picky-eater.

DH and I work in a major metropolitan area and eat in all sorts of trendy and fancy restaurants for lunches and the occasional child-free dinner. However, they all have large menus and I can order whatever I feel like and avoid the long list of things I prefer not to eat which includes: mushrooms, most kinds of seafood, any meat from animals I think are cute (bunnies, lambs etc) and a million other little things.

I have this idea that everything at V&A is super fancy and I am going to end up with caviar-coated foie gras and rabbit sausage with morel mushroom ragout as my only options. I will then spend the entire evening picking at my $200 dinner and be looking for a snack immediately after.

Are there options that I will be able to select from and have a great experience? Just so I am clear, I LOVE great quality food prepared excellently and presented with superb service. I just like to be able to pick what I want and have it fit within my pretty narrow box of acceptable options.

Am I completely off-base? What kind of experiences has everyone else had there?

Thanks for your help!

 

[DEA]

They have sample menus online at victoria-alberts.com, if you want to take a look at that. They do have a fish course, so if you don't like seafood, you may need to speak to your server about swapping things out. I recall speaking with someone before our reservation regarding food allergies and strong dislikes. You could also get something in there ahead of time regarding your concerns. They do vegetarian menus that are very well-regarded, from what I've heard, and swapping something all-veg for a fish course seems reasonable. As long as it doesn't involve mushrooms, of course.

It is a very fancy restaurant, and the service and preparation are top-notch. They want you to have an excellent dining experience, and are going to work with you to make that happen. If there's something you don't want, let them know, and they will be able to work around you. They are going to need your list of animals that you find cute, for instance. You are not going to get stuck, but please do advocate for yourself before anyone starts cooking for you, just to help them get you food that you will be overjoyed to eat.

 

[disnmooner2013]

Hello!

I just booked a reservation at the Poly to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary in June. (Yay!) We are thinking of sending our kids for an evening at the Neverland Club so we can have a grown-up dinner with no shouting, food throwing or sun/heat/exhaustion related meltdowns.
DH really wants to go to Victoria and Alberts and I totally do too but I am sort of, kind of afraid of it. No one who knows me would guess it based upon our habits but I am a closet picky-eater.

DH and I work in a major metropolitan area and eat in all sorts of trendy and fancy restaurants for lunches and the occasional child-free dinner. However, they all have large menus and I can order whatever I feel like and avoid the long list of things I prefer not to eat which includes: mushrooms, most kinds of seafood, any meat from animals I think are cute (bunnies, lambs etc) and a million other little things.

I have this idea that everything at V&A is super fancy and I am going to end up with caviar-coated foie gras and rabbit sausage with morel mushroom ragout as my only options. I will then spend the entire evening picking at my $200 dinner and be looking for a snack immediately after.

Are there options that I will be able to select from and have a great experience? Just so I am clear, I LOVE great quality food prepared excellently and presented with superb service. I just like to be able to pick what I want and have it fit within my pretty narrow box of acceptable options.

Am I completely off-base? What kind of experiences has everyone else had there?

Thanks for your help!

LiloH I am surprising my wife to be for our honeymoon with a dinner at V&A Chefs Table on June 9. When are you going to be in Disney World? If it is after that, you can PM me to remind me and I will let you know what the menu is and our thoughts of the experience if you want.

 

[jedijill]

You will get a call about a week ahead of time and they will ask you about allergies or dislikes/preferences. I know they can tweak the menu a bit. I am a picky eater to but I decided before my first visit that I would try anything once knowing that its probably prepared the best I would ever had that dish and I can tell you I was not disappointed! I'm anxiously awaiting visit #3 in May (2 previous visits to V&A and one to Remy on the Fantasy) and can't wait to try Chef Hunnel's creations!

There are choices for each course in the main dining room (I think you get everything in the Queen's Room) and I guarantee you will find something you like.

Jill in CO

 

[disnmooner2013]

You will get a call about a week ahead of time and they will ask you about allergies or dislikes/preferences. I know they can tweak the menu a bit. I am a picky eater to but I decided before my first visit that I would try anything once knowing that its probably prepared the best I would ever had that dish and I can tell you I was not disappointed! I'm anxiously awaiting visit #3 in May (2 previous visits to V&A and one to Remy on the Fantasy) and can't wait to try Chef Hunnel's creations!

There are choices for each course in the main dining room (I think you get everything in the Queen's Room) and I guarantee you will find something you like.

Jill in CO

Jedijill can you please after your visit to V&A in May post what the menu was for your visit and what you thought?

 

[jedijill]

Jedijill can you please after your visit to V&A in May post what the menu was for your visit and what you thought?

Sure thing! I would recommend reading through the big V&A thread her too as well as ehagerty's fantastic reviews. I read through both before taking the plunge and booking my first reservation. There are many other great reviews (Search tip..Google Disboards V&A) that are worth reading as well.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2231469

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=29654691

HTH

Jill in Co

 

[Cheshire Figment]

At a recent visit I was with three relatives, each of whom had different food allergies and/or dislikes. Each person's menu was different and did not include anything on it that they were either allergic to or did not want to eat.

They will customize the menu for you in advance and so each person will have choices that they should be willing and able to eat.

 

[poly princess]

Go for it!
My DH and I went to Victoria and Albert's during our honeymoon trip.
It was wonderful experience. Don't be afraid or nervous. When you call and book the dinner, they will ask you if you have any allergies or food you cannot eat. They also have a vegetarian menu. Each dining experience is different. I am not a big meat eater and thought they have a big selection to chose from.
Part of the experience is getting a menu with your name on it. I believe I still have mine. If you want to know what is on it, PM me and I can get out and scan it to you.

Go for it!
Poly

 

[bumbershoot]

....avoid the long list of things I prefer not to eat which includes: mushrooms, most kinds of seafood, any meat from animals I think are cute (bunnies, lambs etc) and a million other little things.

I have this idea that everything at V&A is super fancy and I am going to end up with caviar-coated foie gras and rabbit sausage with morel mushroom ragout as my only options.

I completely a totally sympathize and empathize with you, and I have dietary choices, opinions, and difficulties myself, so know this is without a bit of negativity.... that really made me giggle.

You will get a call about a week ahead of time and they will ask you about allergies or dislikes/preferences. I know they can tweak the menu a bit.

Wow, how cool is that?

 

[nat8199]

I am excited after reading this thread. I have a dream of DH doing a special trip and getting the premium plan for a few days so that he can rent a sail boat and I can do a few tours. Adding V&A to that would be amazing, but I was worried I would have to eat Bambi or Thumper. This is great news!!!

 

[LiloH]

Thank you all so much! I feel so much better now and will go for it.

Hey Dismooner, thanks for the offer but funny enough I think that is the exact same evening we will be there! We'll give you a wave if we see two newlyweds enjoying a lovely dinner.

Again, thanks for your thoughts. I knew the Disfolks would give me the straight scoop.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Be adventurous! The chance to go to V&A is rare so take it.

You will find something you like and if not WHO CARES! Its a meal without yelling children! That's a meal that pays for itself!!!

 

[JimmyV]

Yes, they will work with you. But in all honesty, if you are not prepared or willing to venture outside of your comfort zone, then I would opine that V&A simply is not for you. Can the kitchen prepare a menu that has no seafood, no mushrooms, no cute animals and no unique, luxury ingredients? Sure. But would you want to pay $200 for that meal? A large part of the enjoyment of going there is experiencing what the kitchen can do with items that you don't see or order every day. The meal is designed to be "out of the ordinary". And while you can work with the staff to bring the meal back into the realm of "ordinary", you have to question if it is worth it. The far better option is to go in with the attitude of jedijill and try whatever they prepare, taking into acccount allergies or other ethical issues, of course.

 

[wiigirl]

Be adventurous! The chance to go to V&A is rare so take it.

You will find something you like and if not WHO CARES! Its a meal without yelling children! That's a meal that pays for itself!!!

I agree...go for it!

 

[Uncleromulus]

I'm sort of in agreement with JimmyV. They will work with you but there is only so much they can do depending on what they have on hand. Unless you're willing to pay extra for steak, you won't be able to get that.

And ruling out most everything else, that just leaves pork. I can't remember ever seeing a poultry entree at V&A, tho duck and quail are often appetizers.

Just as an example, the last two meals we had at V&A had but 3 entree choices--veal, lamb, and pork.

BUt if you do go, I hope you enjoy it!!

 

[Duke&Tree]

DH and I are relatively adventurous eaters, but certainly not used to many of the items on the V&A menu. There were many things on the menu that I never thought I would like. Luckily, we had read enough reviews from people that said, "Trust the chef!" Despite having the same worry of possibly not enjoying the meal, we went for it. We both very, very much LOVED the food and the entire experience. If you're going to try something 'strange', try it here...it will be prepared the absolutely best way you will EVER be able to have it.

I never ever thought I would be able to eat lamb and rabbit. Sorry to say, they are WONDERFUL! (Are you able to get the wine pairing...might help in that aspect? LOL) I am not a fan of seafood, but my scallop was incredible! Give yourself a push to try some new things. There was SO much food...even if you end up not liking one course, you'll get plenty to eat.

Have a great time!

 

[alex9179]

And ruling out most everything else, that just leaves pork. I can't remember ever seeing a poultry entree at V&A, tho duck and quail are often appetizers.

I had chicken, Poulet Rouge Oscar, for my entree last Nov, so it is offered occasionally. It also made me realize that chicken can be exquisite! The stuff at the supermarket is barely a relative

I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. I despise beets, but ordered the beet carpaccio as one of my courses and it was delicious. Out of this world tasty. I figured, if anyone can show me the merits of a particular food it would be V&A's. I was right

 

[ZellyB]

I also had a chicken entree, so apparently sometimes they have it.

I'll merely echo other posters. We ate there for our anniversary and it was the best dining experience I've ever had. You have numerous choices so you will likely find something that sounds good to you. And, for sure, trust the chef. I tried several things I'd never had before and they were just delicious. Additionally, even if you get something you don't love, you get soooooo much food it won't hurt if you don't eat all of one course. I was so full by the end I couldn't even finish my dessert. But, seriously, there was not one thing I ate that wasn't mouthwateringly delicious.