Rose and Crown & Illuminations

[Boardwalk III]

Hi all,

Going as empty-nesters for first time in April with another couple. I have always wanted to eat outside at Rose and Crown for Illuminations viewing. Assuming Illuminations is @ 9pm, what time should I make the rservation for? And how do I go about requesting outside table with a view (and how likely that I can get one?!) Am planning to make reservations this week so all advice would be appreciated! Do not mind waiting for a good table but do need to know how far in advance to arrive prior to reserved time.

Thanks

[aksivers]

We booked our ressie 45 minutes prior to the show...not sure if that was ok but thought it would give us enough time. Also, the night we are going Illuminations is earlier 8pm but that's January.

[Jozymouse]

hi!
Earlier this month, we had a 7:30pm ADR at Rose&Crown but only got seated at 7:50pm and managed to get our appetizer and main meal before 9pm. Then our server asked us if we would like to have our dessert after the show and what we would like. We then went outside to the viewing area at 9pm (since our table was inside) and came back in and our dessert was waiting for us at the table. It worked out perfectly!!!!

Basically, if you plan to have a 3 course meal, you probalby wont be done before the show but they continue serving after the show, so its all good

[crisi]

About 30% of the tables are outside. R&C won't take requests for outside (everyone would request them) and generally won't let you wait for outside (or everyone would wait). They do let people dining inside the restaurant out on the patio for the show.

Our experience is that service is slow and they seat late, even long before Illuminations. I'd try for a reservation around 7:30. I'd think your chances of getting seated with a reservation after 8:00 before Illuminations starts would be significantly smaller than 100%.

[Boardwalk III]

Thanks everyone - I was thinking 7:30 so sounds like that make sense.

[Manda]

When we were there last week, the hostess was asking people if they preferred inside or outside and that they would attempt to meet requests. We didn't put in a request at all, but got the most ideal Illuminations watching spot ever. Our reservation was at 7 and I hadn't intended to stay there through the show, but once I saw our table, I asked the hostess if we could stay there until Illuminations if we ordered a lot and tipped well. She told me that we could stay as long as wanted even if we only ordered a Coke and didn't tip at all.

Anyway, getting there at 7, we had to stretch quite a bit and order multiple courses to fill up 2 hours. I'd shoot for 7:30 - we were seated quickly, but food didn't come out all that promptly. I think if you showed up closer to 8, you might still be in the middle of eating your main course when the show started.