Erikarate
married her prince
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2001
- Messages
- 608
RECAP...
The players:
Me, DH, DD 9, DS 7.
Where we stayed:
4 days at Portofino Bay Concierge(Universal Studios), 9 days at BoardWalk Villas 9 (1 BR unit)
Rating Scale:
10- everything perfect...food, service, atmosphere (very rare)
9- excellent, almost perfect
7-8- very good, overall great experience
5-6- mediocre, might not return
3-4- bad, not returning
1-2- should close this place down!!!
Monday, July 12
We slept in a little this day. Rather than trying to do an early opening we decided to do MGM and shoot for a 9am arrival. Unfortunately we didn't get there until 9:45 or so. I had a feeling this was a mistake...I was right. It was very very crowded. We ended up just riding R & R and left. Breakfast this day was bagels that we purchased from Goodings (see Part III). We wanted to save our appetite for dinner...
Dinner, California Grill
We visit CG every time we come to WDW. It is by far our favorite restaurant. The food is consistently excellent, though service varies, mostly depending on the personality of the server (some are more engaging and personal then others). A recent change in "operations" at CG requires that you check-in on the 2nd floor. When your table is ready they escort you to the top floor where CG is located. I inquired about why they made the change and they said that the lobby upstairs was getting crowded and that is was effecting diners experience.
We had a 5:40 PS, so we had no wait at all. We were brought upstairs and seated at the window overlooking Magic Kingdom.
DH and I do not hold back at this place. We order more than enough food as we like to sample things from the ever-changing menu.
Generally we start with a flatbread. This time we ordered the smoked salmon with chive creme fraiche and capers. Delicious as usual, plentiful amounts of fish, buttery texture. Also for those who have been here before, they no longer serve, at least this evening they didn't, the foccacia bread with the peppered olive oil. It was sourdough or something. I was glad anyway, because I tend to eat the foccacia and then am too full by the time my entree comes!
We weretold from our server that the number one woman sushi chef in the world was visiting this evening. DH and I usually get sushi anyway, but were excited by the news. I didn't get too "adventurous" however and ordered a California roll. DH had the Snake in the grass which has eel, shrimp, and avocado with an eel sauce. Both were perfection.
DH was somehow able to fit in an order of mussels. I can't remember how they were prepared...I think thai-style curry.
For our entrees I had the Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Polenta, Cremini Mushrooms, and Zinfandel Glaze. This is one of their signature dishes. The pork is cooked slightly under well and is quite tender. The polenta is creamy and tastes like it may have cheese in it. DH had the soft shell crab. I cannot remember how this was prepared. He rated it a very good, but has had better dishes at CG. DD had chicken with green beans and mashed. DS had mac and cheese.
For dessert, DH and I split a Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake with Molten Center and White Chocolate Ice Cream. DD had ice cream and DS had the kids "sushi" plate (gummy fish and rice krispy treats).
Our waiter was attentive, but an unmemorable personality.
After dinner we walked out on the observation deck and then did some shopping on the fourth floor. We love the contemporary!
Overall rating: 9 - Excellent food, good service.
8 more days left and a lot of typing. I'll do my best to review them soon...
Still to come:
Grand Adventures in Cooking
Pecos Bill
Electric Umbrella
Yachtsman
The players:
Me, DH, DD 9, DS 7.
Where we stayed:
4 days at Portofino Bay Concierge(Universal Studios), 9 days at BoardWalk Villas 9 (1 BR unit)
Rating Scale:
10- everything perfect...food, service, atmosphere (very rare)
9- excellent, almost perfect
7-8- very good, overall great experience
5-6- mediocre, might not return
3-4- bad, not returning
1-2- should close this place down!!!
Monday, July 12
We slept in a little this day. Rather than trying to do an early opening we decided to do MGM and shoot for a 9am arrival. Unfortunately we didn't get there until 9:45 or so. I had a feeling this was a mistake...I was right. It was very very crowded. We ended up just riding R & R and left. Breakfast this day was bagels that we purchased from Goodings (see Part III). We wanted to save our appetite for dinner...
Dinner, California Grill
We visit CG every time we come to WDW. It is by far our favorite restaurant. The food is consistently excellent, though service varies, mostly depending on the personality of the server (some are more engaging and personal then others). A recent change in "operations" at CG requires that you check-in on the 2nd floor. When your table is ready they escort you to the top floor where CG is located. I inquired about why they made the change and they said that the lobby upstairs was getting crowded and that is was effecting diners experience.
We had a 5:40 PS, so we had no wait at all. We were brought upstairs and seated at the window overlooking Magic Kingdom.
DH and I do not hold back at this place. We order more than enough food as we like to sample things from the ever-changing menu.
Generally we start with a flatbread. This time we ordered the smoked salmon with chive creme fraiche and capers. Delicious as usual, plentiful amounts of fish, buttery texture. Also for those who have been here before, they no longer serve, at least this evening they didn't, the foccacia bread with the peppered olive oil. It was sourdough or something. I was glad anyway, because I tend to eat the foccacia and then am too full by the time my entree comes!
We weretold from our server that the number one woman sushi chef in the world was visiting this evening. DH and I usually get sushi anyway, but were excited by the news. I didn't get too "adventurous" however and ordered a California roll. DH had the Snake in the grass which has eel, shrimp, and avocado with an eel sauce. Both were perfection.
DH was somehow able to fit in an order of mussels. I can't remember how they were prepared...I think thai-style curry.
For our entrees I had the Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Polenta, Cremini Mushrooms, and Zinfandel Glaze. This is one of their signature dishes. The pork is cooked slightly under well and is quite tender. The polenta is creamy and tastes like it may have cheese in it. DH had the soft shell crab. I cannot remember how this was prepared. He rated it a very good, but has had better dishes at CG. DD had chicken with green beans and mashed. DS had mac and cheese.
For dessert, DH and I split a Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake with Molten Center and White Chocolate Ice Cream. DD had ice cream and DS had the kids "sushi" plate (gummy fish and rice krispy treats).
Our waiter was attentive, but an unmemorable personality.
After dinner we walked out on the observation deck and then did some shopping on the fourth floor. We love the contemporary!
Overall rating: 9 - Excellent food, good service.
8 more days left and a lot of typing. I'll do my best to review them soon...
Still to come:
Grand Adventures in Cooking
Pecos Bill
Electric Umbrella
Yachtsman
.
