A Semi-Solo September Dining Adventure TR Link Up! 10/21

[onelilspark]

Before lunch at the Magic Kingdom, I was really craving a little caffeine and sweetness. Obviously, since I was at Disney, a Diet Coke just wouldn't do.

So I used my handy dandy iPhone Disney Dining App and looked up where I could find a Frozen Coke.

I was told I could find it at the Liberty Square Market...so off I went. And I got there, and it wasn't on the menu board!

I gave up, and walked around back...lo and behold, there were the frozen drink machines! So I asked if they had them, and sure enough they did!

A beauty:

Really hit the spot. Usually I don't drink the full sugar coke (I rarely drink sodas really), but the sugar and cold really was a winning combo!

 

[onelilspark]

That last review was pretty short, so I'll just continue with this one!

After getting my Frozen Coke, I headed over to Columbia Harbor House. I was planning on trying one of the new menu items, but wound up with an old standby...

The Lighthouse sandwich!

The Lighthouse Sandwich is on "Toasted Multi-Grain Bread," and has hummus, broccoli slaw, & tomatoes.

The last time I got the sandwich was without tomatoes since Geoff was with me. This time, I got tomatoes, and I liked it better!

Time for a close up!

This was probably the only time (besides dinner) that I didn't feel like I had too much food. I mean, a sandwich and a bag of chips is a pretty standard portion.

You'll also notice the big cup on the tray, I got some ice water again to pour into my water bottle

I'm a big fan of this sandwich, and I love that it's not too heavy or fried. It's a good healthy choice

 

[jedijill]

Where did you find your Iphone Dining app?

Great review!

Jill in CO

 

[onelilspark]

Where did you find your Iphone Dining app?

Great review!

Jill in CO

It's called "Disney World Dining." It's got a fork & knife on the front with an outline of the castle.

 

[jedijill]

It's called "Disney World Dining." It's got a fork & knife on the front with an outline of the castle.

Thanks!

Jill in CO

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
I love your reviews!! Can't wait for more!

 

[onelilspark]

Hi
I love your reviews!! Can't wait for more!

Glad you're enjoying!

 

[onelilspark]

Later that afternoon I was craving something sweet and cold. Ice cream sounded great, so I headed over to the Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street.

The parade was about to start so I headed over to my favorite spot to sit and relax...the yellow umbrella area that's the smoking area. I don't smoke, but that area is usually quiet with no one around.

I took my Mint Chocolate Chip Sundae and found a table that provided me a view of the parade (sort of)

My parade view:

I enjoyed my treat, but once again, it was way too much food. I really needed someone to share this with!

I also had some duck friends that wouldn't leave me alone. That got a bit obnoxious. (I did not feed them.) I wound up watching a duck eat a frog. It was gross, but he was right in front of me. Needless to say, I stopped eating after that!

 

[KatMark]

Kelly, I am finally caught up (I had to get my TR and Dining Reviews started as my PTR reached the limit of pages almost).

Love the view you had eating your breakfast out on the balcony.

We didn't get to Columbia Harbor House when we were there and I really missed it. I tried Mary's (MaryAZ) Grey Goose Slush and she tried my Grand Mariner Slush...we both preferred our own.

That ice cream sundae looks heavenly; but your company--not so much.

 

[onelilspark]

That night, my parents came up to join me for dinner. I made ADRs for California Grill considering I was staying right there!

We walked over, checked-in, then were ushered up to the top floor to the restaurant. We had a small wait, so we went over to the bar and had some cocktails. Not too much longer, our pager went off and we were lead to our table.

We were off to the right and while we had a table in the center of the room, we had a nice view of the Magic Kingdom (it was Night of Joy that night, so no fireworks) and the Floridian as the sun set.

We ordered a bottle of wine and our appetizers, then our waitress (who was wonderful) started us off with some bread:

My Dad sneaking a piece:

I started with the Crab Stack:

I love crab, so this really was wonderful. Light and fresh, a true great start to the meal. The avocado added to that fresh taste. My only complaint is that there were peppers on it and they weren't listed on the menu. I *hate* peppers! So before I dug in, I picked off all the peppers!!

My Mom went with the Tomato Soup

She loves tomatoes (remember from my Memorial Day trip she got the Tomato salad at Flying Fish!) So this really hit the spot for her.

My Dad had the Peach Firecracker Salad:

Like mine, his was nice and fresh so he thought it was a great start to the meal.

For my entree, I had the Pork Tenderloin. Our waitress mentioned that the chef recommends it medium, so I ordered it like that as I trust chefs recommendations (I also love my steak pretty rare, so a little pink doesn't bother me unless it's chicken!)

This was served with a goat cheese polenta. It was fantastic. I mean, really, just excellent. The pork was melt in your mouth it was so tender. I would totally go back and order this!

My Mom got the Yellow-tail snapper:

She enjoyed it, so I asked how it compared to the snapper over at the Flying Fish. She said she would order the Flying Fish one over this...but she likes red snapper better than yellow snapper.

My Dad ordered the Veal.

He cleaned his plate.

Last, but not least, we had dessert.

I got the Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler

My Dad got the lemon trio

My Mom got a fork The desserts were wonderful! The cobbler was wonderfully tart and sweet, the perfect ending to a meal! Of course I couldn't finish it, so my Dad ate the rest as he couldn't let it go to waste!

Overall it was just a fantastic meal. The last time we were there was well over 5 years ago and we had just awful service and mediocre food, which is why we hadn't been back in so long. This meal more than made up for it. Now I need to try it again to see if it was fluke or not Our waitress was great too, really helped to pace the meal appropriately.

HOWEVER....as we were leaving and waiting for the elevator, there were 4 CMs standing around, including a manager. Not one said "have a great night." So that ended the evening on a bit of sour note. Not that it would prevent us from going back, but certainly worth noting.

 

[onelilspark]

Kelly, I am finally caught up (I had to get my TR and Dining Reviews started as my PTR reached the limit of pages almost).

Love the view you had eating your breakfast out on the balcony.

We didn't get to Columbia Harbor House when we were there and I really missed it. I tried Mary's (MaryAZ) Grey Goose Slush and she tried my Grand Mariner Slush...we both preferred our own.

That ice cream sundae looks heavenly; but your company--not so much.

Please forgive me for falling wayyy behind on your PTR/TR/DR...I'll have to hop over there now.

Making our seating chart has been eating away at all my free time

 

[KatMark]

Please forgive me for falling wayyy behind on your PTR/TR/DR...I'll have to hop over there now.

Making our seating chart has been eating away at all my free time

No apologies necessary; I can't believe the wedding is just three weeks away.

I have read so many great reviews of California Grill that I think that will be the first Signature we try (well, if you don't count Brown Derby back in 2007 which we did NOT like at all). Your pork looks wonderful and I am now drooling.

 

[janeapplemeadow]

Great review. I love the photos of the pork and goat cheese polenta. That is a fabulous dish. I dream of that when I am hungry. Californian grill really is a great place for dinner!. Looking forward to more of your reviews.

 

[jacksmom]

Great reviews!

 

[deenbrad]

I wound up watching a duck eat a frog. It was gross, but he was right in front of me. Needless to say, I stopped eating after that!

OMG! I definitely wouldn't be able to finish after that!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Glad you had a very good meal at California Grill - looking forward to reading more of your reviews.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

Your meal at California Grill looked really good. I would have picked off all the peppers on the crab dish as well.

 

[hstrickland]

Aren't you glad you tried CG again?! Your food looked wonderful!!! Especially the Lemon Trio...haven't tried that one, yet. Cali Grill is always a must-do for us...the atmosphere really can't be beat. So glad your service was exceptional. On your way out, you should have looked directly at the CMs and said, "Thanks for a wonderful evening!"....(with a smile, of course) perhaps that would have gotten their attention

 

[vettegirl]

I love the picture of the sundae with the castle in the background!

 

[onelilspark]

No apologies necessary; I can't believe the wedding is just three weeks away.

I have read so many great reviews of California Grill that I think that will be the first Signature we try (well, if you don't count Brown Derby back in 2007 which we did NOT like at all). Your pork looks wonderful and I am now drooling.

California Grill was really good. My favorite is still Citricos

Great review. I love the photos of the pork and goat cheese polenta. That is a fabulous dish. I dream of that when I am hungry. Californian grill really is a great place for dinner!. Looking forward to more of your reviews.

I had heard on the DIS that the pork dish was the way to go, I'm glad I listened

Great reviews!

Thanks!

OMG! I definitely wouldn't be able to finish after that!

It was totally gross!

Glad you had a very good meal at California Grill - looking forward to reading more of your reviews.

It's lunch time and I haven't eaten anything yet, I could go for CG again!

Your meal at California Grill looked really good. I would have picked off all the peppers on the crab dish as well.

I always seem to have to pick off peppers. If it's listed on the menu, I'll ask for no peppers, but it's never listed

Aren't you glad you tried CG again?! Your food looked wonderful!!! Especially the Lemon Trio...haven't tried that one, yet. Cali Grill is always a must-do for us...the atmosphere really can't be beat. So glad your service was exceptional. On your way out, you should have looked directly at the CMs and said, "Thanks for a wonderful evening!"....(with a smile, of course) perhaps that would have gotten their attention

I am glad I tried it again!

Hah! We should have said something to the CMs when we left!

I love the picture of the sundae with the castle in the background!

Thanks! It's one of my favorites from my trip...I think that means I have a food problem