It was almost 9:00 PM when we left DTD.
The big question was whether or not we were hungry for more food. And if so, did we really want a full meal? This is the beauty of the QSDP or for that matter, planning an evening for a CS credit on the
DDP. With input from DS, it was clear that we could eat a meal, especially with the prospect of hitting the pool that night a definite part of the plan to close out such a hot day. So, where?
We knew that we could have eaten at WPE again, but we were ready for a change of scenery. The idea of the food court at ASSp wasn't appealing. The idea that hit home was to stop at Coronado Springs Resort and eat at the often debated (at least here on the Dis) Pepper Market.
I was very excited to eat at the Pepper Market. My impressions of it were that because CSR is a convention hotel, the Pepper Market was more upscale than a typical food court. The available menus seemed to bear witness to the fact. I had often wondered if staying at CSR with a QSDP wouldn't be one of the sweetest deals ever. Also, years and years ago, DH actually went to a convention at CSR, not that he had clear memories of his stay, but he had the impression of liking the resort. I wanted to see it for myself.
The guard at the gate saw our Disney parking and resort key and thought we were guests at CSR. He said "Welcome home," which was a lovely sentiment that I remembered from WL the previous year, that we hadn't heard at ASSp. Parking was easy.
It was now fully dark. I couldn't really see the grounds and get a feel for the exterior of the resort. As we went walking through the lobby area and down the corridor to the restaurants, the wall of windows across the back was like a wall of black mirrors. It was impossible to see outside.
Walking into CSR was like walking into an outside area. Mentally, you understand that you are INSIDE, but the design, the high ceilings, the flooring, the decor, are all designed to make you feel like you are still OUTSIDE.
Please note: I admit I did not take any of these photos. (I forgot my camera in the car, and just didn't feel like going back out to get it.) I found them online. My thanks to all of the photographers that took them
This fountain is in the lobby area when you enter CSR. Several rooms and corridors branch out from this kind of courtyard feeling room. The destinations are written in the arches above. You can see the corridor that eventually leads to the Pepper Market:
The Pepper Market is surrounded by rod iron fencing, which is kind of an odd prison-like look from the outside. Walking down the corridor, you actually encounter the exit side of the restaurant first. The lady is standing at the exit. If you look through the gates, you can see the cashiers sitting on the tall yellow chairs. Beyond the cashiers are the tables. Beyond the tables is the market area, where the food stations are.
Keep walking on the right side of this view to get to the entrance. Greet the host, or hostess, with a smile. Tell her how many are in your party and answer appropriately to the question about whether or not you have been to Pepper Market before. Your host, or hostess, will seat your party, hand out menus, explain the methodology of the restaurant, and tell you the name of your server. Not your typical CS at ALL. She will leave cards on your table, one for each member of your party.
The table seating area is beyond unique for a food court. Designed to resemble an outdoor courtyard or patio area, there are several umbrellas and awnings. The beverage station is hidden inside a building in the middle of the table area.
Your server will come greet you. He, or she, will take your drink order and bring your drinks to your table. They will note your drink order on one of the cards left at the table by the host/hostess. If you have refillable mugs, your server will fill them for you. There was not a self service area here at Pepper Market that I could see. You will notice that it is quite clear (the all caps, bolded letters stand out on the menu) explaining that gratuity is NOT covered under any dining plan. Your server may be so bold as to say this to you as well.
You will have time to look over the menu, which details the different food stations and what is available at each station. The food stations are all clustered together. In appearance, they give the impression of several food carts covered with awnings which together give the feel of an outdoor faire or farmer's market. Walking around the area, like other food courts, you have a chance to see many of the food offerings being made for other guests or on display under glass.
Because every member of your party can have their own card, every member of your party can go to any food station independently to order what they want. When you order, your card is stamped with what you ordered. Unlike other food courts, where a cashier separates the food stations from the table seating, at Pepper Market, paying for your meal occurs at the end of your meal. Since you have already eaten your food, a cashier can't look at your tray and ring up what you are carrying, instead, you carry a card to the cashier that records what you ate.
This food court is no different than any other in that, if members of your party go to different food stations, your food may be ready at different times. You may not all be eating at the exact same time. A major plus though, is that rather than having to wait around for everyone to get their food, so you can all pay together, if your food is ready, you can just go back to your table and eat it while it's hot.
Knowing that this would be one of the few, if the ONLY, places where we could eat steak on our trip (eating at CS locations), my family all opted to order steak. There was a short lived debate between getting a steak based Mexican meal versus the full on NY Strip offered at the grill. In the end, we all ordered the NY Strip. There is a REAL grill at the grill station. The kind with fire and grates (not a griddle). We like our meat juicy and decidedly pink. We all ordered medium temperature steaks. We were told to come back in 12 minutes. My engineer DH looked at his phone and announced that we would be back at 9:26 PM. We decided to wait at our table.
I nearly ran over the lady standing behind me as I turned to head back to the table. After apologizing and making a crack about not seeing my reverse lights, we laughed and moved on.
Promptly at 9:25 PM, we headed back over to the grill. Upon arrival, we sensed the tension in the air as there was some commotion. A lady unfamiliar with the process (not that my own first-timer self was a pro) was having problems because she couldn't decide who should be in front of who. Whose steaks were on the grill. And was she being treated fairly and securing her rightful place in line. Who were you after?
This was compounded by a second CM that kept asking people which temperature they had ordered for their steaks.
Now I'm not shy. I looked around and announced that I knew I was in front of the woman that I almost plowed over, to which we shared another chuckle because the collision really wasn't that bad. And I had been told to return here to pick up my order at 9:26, so I had no idea where else in line I was, except that I was back where I was supposed to be. Please note, as blunt as I sound as I write this, I was just as factual with the irritating woman that was trying to overly control the situation. She was very surprised that I had a time schedule and knew when my food would be ready, because she hadn't been told that.
So here's a tid bit. If you go to the Pepper Market to get some yummy steaks, ask how many minutes (about) that will take. It may be helpful.
And as to the yummy steaks...DH and I both opted for mashed potatoes and grilled veggies. I DID take this picture with my cell phone:
The steaks were prefectly prepared. If you are thinking that the one edge looks pretty fatty, then you observe correctly. This is the nature of the NY Strip cut of meat. I haven't EVER purchased one myself without the rind of fat around the edge. Don't be put off by it. Cut it off and eat the meat.
Our server offered us steak sauce. We declined. The mashed potatoes were AWESOME. I LOVE mashed potatoes. These had the skins on, so were rustic, buttery yummy goodness. The grilled veggies were hit and miss. Nice flavor, however, some of the squashes were a little over done for my taste, in that they got a little mushy in the middle. Not bad, because they held their shape, but squash isn't my favorite (although grilled is one of my favorite preparations for it) to begin with, so I can be hard to please there. The peppers were great. DS only had fries for a side dish. They were tasty.
It was nice to eat with silverware and plates. We didn't have a steak knife, and I don't know if there was one available (none was offered), but the steak was so tender, we could cut it with the butter knife.
We decided to ask for our dessert to go. I'm sorry I didn't take a picture. DS ate his later that night. DH and I ate ours for breakfast the next day. Anyway, DH and DS both ordered the chocolate mousse cake. This was chocolate cake (a little over an inch high), covered with a layer of chocolate mousse (about half the size of the cake), covered with a thin chocolate layer which could have just been powder. I ordered the strawberry shortcake. My dessert was okay, but the chocolate mousse cake? YUM YUM YUM. Light and fluffy. I wished that I had ordered it instead.
The Pepper Market is not so wonderful that I would go out of my way to get there. Especially if I were relying on Disney transportation. Honestly, even if I had my own car, I would not go out of my way to go there. HOWEVER, if you are staying at any of the All Star Resorts, and are driving, you will pass by CSR on the way back to the resort from everywhere on property except the Animal Kingdom and possibly Blizzard Beach (which I think may be on the same road but right between CSR and All Stars. It is SO worth it to stop into CSR to eat at Pepper Market for something different on the QSDP.
Based on online prices (which jive with my memory) our before tax and 10% service charge (which was included on the QSDP) was $58.08.
. But then when we thought about making ADRs, it was like 
I am still large but Barnun and Bailey have quit sending me employment applications. I am near to being able to buy clothes from the OTHER side of the store. Some folks might fear a size 18 but I am so looking forward to it. I know that you will do just fine on the cruise. The secret, which I wish I had learned much sooner, is to not deny yourself totally, find a plan that you can live with (for life) and if you falter just get right back on and NEVER, NEVER give up. 
Depending on how the bills are rung up, for the purposes of business, the service charge may just show up as a food expense, which means that a separate gratuity could be paid for my companies. My company had an 18% tipping policy, where that was the expected standard. If you wanted to tip more, then that would be an OOP expense as far as the company was concerned. Could just be another way to try to get money. Not to be like that, but seriously, I thought it was a ridiculous thing.
