A First-timer and a Fanatic do it up Delux Style - Some pics included! Update 6/16!

[shuckn]

Hello again all!! So today for lunch, we're having Yak & Yeti in Disney's Animal Kingdom! Haha. This was a must do for us because Andy really likes Asian food, and it did not disappoint! It was rainy in Animal Kingdom that day, and I thought for sure that we would have to wait a while for our table, but we were seated about 10 minutes after we got there (which was about the exact time our reservation was scheduled for!) For starters, Andy got this delicious Bloody Mary...

And I did a nice glass of Chardonnay. Although I am typically not a Bloody Mary drinker (not the biggest fan of tomato juice), I actually found this one to be very tasty! It had a little extra spice to it which made it more unique than your average bloody mary.

We got a great seat by the window which allowed us to "people watch" during our meal...always a favorite of mine to do in Disney! And to go with our people watching was a nice order of the Pork Egg Rolls with a Chili Plum dipping sauce and the Thai Chili Chicken Wings...

Both of which were DELICIOUS! The wings were boneless, and typically we're not a big fan of boneless wings, but they were deep fried to the perfect crispiness and the glaze was too delicious to deny! The Pork Egg Rolls themselves tasted just like your average egg roll, but combined with the chili plum sauce created a whole new edible experience! I'm used to dipping my egg rolls in sweet and sour, and it was amazing how having a new sauce to dip them in drastically changed the flavor and experience!

For my entree I got the MalAsian Seafood Curry and Andy ordered the Stir-Fried Beef & Broccoli...


The Beef and Broccoli was EXCELLENT, and I'm actually very disappointed that I did not order it for my dish. The Seafood Curry was good, but not what I was expecting. I knew I was taking a risk with it because I'm not the biggest fan of scallops, and that was one of the dishes main ingredients. I also went with a heavier dish, and I probably would have been more satisfied if I had gone with something more appropriate for lunch. By no means was the dish ill-prepared, I decided that it just wasn't for me.

Between the delicious appetizers, which I couldn't stop eating for the life of me, and the GIANT plates of food that came for our main dish, we were WAYYYY to stuffed for desert...so I guess all you desert lovers will just have to wait for another review to get your fix!

Next up....Le Cellier!

 

[princess aleya]

Great reviews so far, can't wait to hear more.

 

[klacey1]

Subscribing! Can't wait for more!

 

[KatMark]

I'm here....now back to read and catch up.

 

[shuckn]

Tonight for dinner we have a spot at the extremely coveted Canadian restaurant Le Cellier! After researching my ADR's for several months before our trip, I was a little nervous about dining at Le Cellier. It had just recently been changed to a 2TS restaurant and most people's consensus was that it wasn't worth the money if paying out of pocket or the credits if using the dining plan. But ever since I had first gone to World Showcase I had wanted the chance to eat in that gorgeous castle, so I took a chance!

Our reservation was for 9:35pm and we clearly over estimated the time it would take to get from our resort to Epcot, because we got there at 9:15! (whoops!) We attempted to check in, but the hostess said they were very busy that night and told us to come back closer to our reservation time and then she would check us in. She was nice about it, but you could tell that she felt awkward telling us to come back. However, we didn't mind one bit! We knew we were early and expected to have to wait!

This was the view from our seat. I wish the picture would've turned out a little better, but the lighting was so odd I couldn't get my camera to snap one clearly. However, the environment was just so cool I couldn't resist trying!


Our server was EXTREMELY knowledgeable about the whole menu and very confident in answering all questions we had for her. She not only knew the ins and outs of the food menu, but helped both Andy and I choose our alcoholic beverage for the evening (the glass of wine she suggested for me was outstanding!)

For starters, Andy chose the Le Cellier Lobster Chopped Salad per the server's recommendation. She had said that she's never had a customer order it and not finish it, and that most of the time they wanted to lick their plates clean, and boy was she right! I'm pretty sure that Andy still dreams about that salad! When looking through pictures after the trip, he saw the one I took of it and almost started drooling!

It came with Egg, Tomato, Lobster, Avocado, Mixed Greens, and some sort of Dijon mustard. Literally...he was in love with it.

For my appetizer, I couldn't resist trying their Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup made with Moosehead beer. I've had "beer cheese" soup, as I call it, at other restaurants, but this one was especially good. It was quite a bit thicker than I'm used to, almost the consistency of a gravy, but I think this was due to the fact that instead of just topping the soup with bits of bacon, they actually mixed it throughout. This soup was an appetizer after my own heart...beer, cheese, bacon...I love them all and mixed together they were even better!


For Andy's entree, he went with the much talked about Mushroom Filet, and now we understand why it's their signature dish! I don't even like mushrooms and it was delicious!


For my entree I went with the Canadian "Prime" New York Strip, which came with these AMAZING potatoes! When my dish came I almost wish I hadn't ordered that amazing beer cheese soup because there was not a chance I could've finished all that amazing food!


Both of the steaks were cooked to perfect temperature, and the sides included with them perfectly complemented the meat. Andy refused to let any steak go to waste, so he ended up not only finishing his steak, but then about half of mine!!!

By the time we were finished eating, the restaurant had technically closed, and our server started taking a little longer than we would've liked. She still had a couple of tables and was trying to get her closing work done at the same time, so we could tell she was a little stressed. We appreciated the break in between our entrees and placing our desert orders, but it took quite a while for our deserts to come out. On any other day, I probably would've been irritated, but we were so fat and happy from the delicious steaks and appetizers and our drinks that nothing could've dampened our mood!

For my desert I ordered the Trio of Chocolate and Andy ordered the Canadian Maple Creme Brulee. Both of these were delicious, but we were so stuffed from dinner that we were barely able to eat them! And sadly, because the deserts took so long to come out, part of mine had melted. But as said before...nothing could've dampened our mood at this meal!




So all in all, even with the slight lapse in service towards the end of the meal, Andy and I were both in agreement that this was one of our favorite restaurants so far. The food was cooked to perfection, our server knew the answer to everything we had to ask her, and then environment was awesome! We will definitely be going back on future trips!

Next up, Grand Floridian Cafe for breakfast!

 

[shenaniganzz]

Subbing!

Glad to hear you liked CSR - that is where we are staying in September!

We're also eating at a few of the places you are, so excited for the rest of your reviews!

Glad to hear you liked Le Cellier for dinner, despite the 2 TS. We are having dinner here one night as well.

 

[lizzyb]

I'm in! Great reviews so far.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Loving your reviews so far. I'm so happy to see you enjoyed the food at your Le Cellier dinner. After not being a fan of the place for many years, I was highly impressed by the new dinner offerings. I completely agree that the lobster chopped salad was delicious!

 

[bluejasmine]

Enjoying the review.. That salad at LC looks very good!

 

[KatMark]

Okay...all caught up. Everything looks so good. I'm glad you enjoyed Yak & Yeti -- we are going back in September for the first time since 2008 and can't wait.

 

[ThePrincess&TheJohn]

Wow, really enjoying your reviews! Looks like a great vacation! Good to see a great review of LeCellier. Looking forward to more

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Great reviews so far!

 

[Tink rules]

Joinin in!!

 

[shuckn]

Hello all! I'm back again! Sorry it's taken me so long to get the next post up...but at least it's allowing me to stretch out my Disney memories even longer!

For breakfast on Saturday morning we headed to Grand Floridian Cafe. I had thought about booking 1900 Park Fare, but didn't know how Andy would take to too many character meals so I decided to book something a little more suited for adults. Our server was very nice and spent a lot of time chit chatting with us about her move down to Florida from Michigan (where we're from!) and how she felt it was the best choice she's ever made, especially for the increase in temperature! Although the food was good, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was nice, I'm actually disappointed that I didn't book the character breakfast...

For his meal Andy had a traditional Ham & Cheese omelet...


And I had an traditional American breakfast...


As I previously mentioned, although the food was good, it by far was the worst meal of the trip. I'm sure this also had something to do with the fact that we were EXTREMELY spoiled for breakfast, seeing as our first morning meal of the vacation was at Boma... Nothing was wrong with how it was prepared, it was just too "average" for Disney. I felt like I could've gotten the same meal back at home. There wasn't near the variety offered at the Disney breakfast buffets, and no entertainment like at the character meals. Maybe if it was the limited menu combined with a character meat and greet I would've been more apt to return on another visit, but next time I will definitely be choosing something more satisfying and entertaining!

 

[vettegirl]

Great reviews so far. We had the best lunch at Tutto Italia a few weeks ago. Great review. Can't wait to hear more, and I am Boma is sounding like a good choice for November.

 

[sjs314]

DH and I really enjoy our breakfasts when on vacation and will take a buffet even if it is a character meal over a average sit down plate breakfast like you said the GF Cafe is like something you would eat on a Saturday morning at a back home restaurant good but nothing special.
I had to laugh when I read you say you didn't know how Andy would take too many character meals for being why you did not book 1900 Park Fare.

I have three booked for our October trip, Cape May just cause we are staying at BC, Crystal Palace and Akershus both because of the early park entry. Feed them they will gladly go

 

[sjs314]

Great to read your review of Le Cellier, I have an ADR for dinner there in October and wondered if I should have made it for lunch instead but now I am glad I did not change it. I did change ours from 7pm to 8:20 so it was also nice to see you had a late ADR time and your meal was still good. I am more excited now about our ADR for Le Cellier.

I am behind so reading backwards ergo my post of Le Cellier after GF Cafe.

 

[Tinker12]

I'm in! Catching up on your reviews! Looking forward to the rest!

 

[ilovepete]

Loving your reviews!

 

[psupple]

I actually like GF Cafe for breakfast... my go to is Eggs Benedict and a fruity "adult beverage". Thanks for the reviews so far!