Abby's Summer Solo Dining Soirée - Completed 8/28!
- Thread starter cbg1027
- Start date
I_heart_Tinkerbell
Mouseketeer
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Oh my you are so tempting me to try Citricos on my next trip!!!! I have never been there
6 weeks and counting for me. Was just planning on CS and 1 special sit down and it just my be there
Great review so far
6 weeks and counting for me. Was just planning on CS and 1 special sit down and it just my be there
Great review so far
TanzUnited99
DIS Veteran
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Yay on getting a walk up at Boma and having a great breakfast! 
cbg1027
Florida Girl
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We will have to arrange a DISmeet! And ITA about short trips! Of course, a short trip is probably easier for me since I don't have to deal with flying.
Great review
The food at Boma breakfast looks great, especially the goat cheese and chive eggs. We need to plan a stay at AKL sometime, because otherwise I just couldn't motivate myself to get there early in the morning
I'm with you - I don't usually like to eat breakfast at a resort unless I'm staying there. I'd usually rather try to make RD!
Oh boy, I have to get to Citricos some time, your food looks yummy
Yes, you must try Citricos! It's the best!
I think Citricos would be a great choice for your one special sit down.
Yay on getting a walk up at Boma and having a great breakfast!
I do love being able to do a walk-up! Especially when the food is good.
cbg1027
Florida Girl
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After my breakfast at Boma, I still made RD at AK. After a busy morning, I was finally hungry enough for lunch around 1pm. I have been saying that I would try a CS in AK for my last three trips, but I just can't ever seem to pass up a chance to eat at Yak n Yeti!
I didn't have an ADR, so I figured if the wait was too long, then I'd try a CS. I asked the hostess how long the wait would be and she said at least 20-30 minutes, but that you can order to full menu at the bar. I went and took a look and there were several empty seats, so Yak n Yeti for lunch it was!
The bartender was quick to greet me and take a drink order. It was so hot out I couldn't fathom anything but water though.
I always have to start with an appetizer of Wok Fried Green Beans, served with Thai Chili Dipping Sauce:
These come in two sizes - the appetizer portion, which I think is designed for two people to share, and the side item portion, which is what I have in the photo.
The Green Beans were good as usual - crispy on the outside, and cooked but still had a slight green bean crunch on the inside. Add some of the sweet and semi-spicy dipping sauce and you're in for a treat. No, it's not very Asian, but it is very tasty.
I saw another guests at the bar with a bottle of Sriacha hot sauce and thought it was a great idea, so I asked for one too and added it to the sweet chili sauce for more kick.
I love the Ribs and Seafood Curry at Yak n Yeti, but I felt like something lighter, so I went with the Lettuce Cups, which come with seasoned minced chicken, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, cilantro, and maple tamarind sauce.
You assemble the cups yourself, so it's an interactive entree. I like that aspect because I could put the exact portions of each item I wanted in the roll ups. A bit of the chicken, each of the veggies, sauce and a dash of Sriacha made for some very yummy lettuce cups. The lettuce was very crisp and fresh, as were the bean sprouts. The carrots weren't dried out, nor was the chicken, and a sprig of cilantro in each cup added a nice bite. A light and fun meal!
The desserts at Yak n Yeti never really entice me, and I was quite full anyway, so I ended my meal with the lettuce cups.
I think Yak n Yeti is a great place to dine when you're in AK. The atmosphere is fun, the decor is really neat, service is always good if not great, and most importantly, the food is always fresh and tasty. It's not AMAZING, but I always look forward to going there, and they have yet to disappoint me.
Grade: A
I didn't have an ADR, so I figured if the wait was too long, then I'd try a CS. I asked the hostess how long the wait would be and she said at least 20-30 minutes, but that you can order to full menu at the bar. I went and took a look and there were several empty seats, so Yak n Yeti for lunch it was!
The bartender was quick to greet me and take a drink order. It was so hot out I couldn't fathom anything but water though.
I always have to start with an appetizer of Wok Fried Green Beans, served with Thai Chili Dipping Sauce:
These come in two sizes - the appetizer portion, which I think is designed for two people to share, and the side item portion, which is what I have in the photo.
The Green Beans were good as usual - crispy on the outside, and cooked but still had a slight green bean crunch on the inside. Add some of the sweet and semi-spicy dipping sauce and you're in for a treat. No, it's not very Asian, but it is very tasty.
I saw another guests at the bar with a bottle of Sriacha hot sauce and thought it was a great idea, so I asked for one too and added it to the sweet chili sauce for more kick. I love the Ribs and Seafood Curry at Yak n Yeti, but I felt like something lighter, so I went with the Lettuce Cups, which come with seasoned minced chicken, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, cilantro, and maple tamarind sauce.
You assemble the cups yourself, so it's an interactive entree. I like that aspect because I could put the exact portions of each item I wanted in the roll ups. A bit of the chicken, each of the veggies, sauce and a dash of Sriacha made for some very yummy lettuce cups. The lettuce was very crisp and fresh, as were the bean sprouts. The carrots weren't dried out, nor was the chicken, and a sprig of cilantro in each cup added a nice bite. A light and fun meal!
The desserts at Yak n Yeti never really entice me, and I was quite full anyway, so I ended my meal with the lettuce cups.
I think Yak n Yeti is a great place to dine when you're in AK. The atmosphere is fun, the decor is really neat, service is always good if not great, and most importantly, the food is always fresh and tasty. It's not AMAZING, but I always look forward to going there, and they have yet to disappoint me.
Grade: A
Disneyfreak616
DIS Veteran
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Yak and Yeti looks like a great solo meal! Your apps looks lovely and definitely filling!
NHTikiBeckie
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I love your reviews! I wish I knew you in real life, I have a feeling we would get along!
TanzUnited99
DIS Veteran
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- Aug 27, 2010
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I remember reading your last Y&Y review and it making me want to try it - now I want to try it even more! Maybe one day...
cbg1027
Florida Girl
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- Aug 21, 2009
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Yak and Yeti looks like a great solo meal! Your apps looks lovely and definitely filling!
It was a good meal.
Glad to hear Y&Y was good! Unfortunately, for us it was subpar at best our last time there which was a direct contrast to our first time there.
Aw that's too bad Kat. Wish it could have been better for you
Aw thanks!
Guess you'll just have to go back to WDW.
cbg1027
Florida Girl
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- Aug 21, 2009
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After a very hot day in AK, I went back to my room at AKV Jambo to take a nap. Well my little nap turned in to a big nap and I slept right through my ADR at Flying Fish. Woops.
It was getting late and I didn't want to take a chance on there being a long wait at Flying Fish, so I decided to try a walk-up at Jiko and if the wait was too long for me, I'd just go to The Mara.
I checked in at Jiko and as with my other walk-ups this trip, lucked out and was seated right away! I opted to sit at the counter so I could watch the Chefs in action but that plan was quickly dashed by the man at the counter who reeked of cigarette smoke.
I ran back to the hostess and asked to be moved away from the counter, which wasn't a problem.
I was then seated at a two top looking out the window side of the restaurant, with no stinky people nearby that I could smell.
My server for the evening was Paula and she greeted me promptly and took my drink order (Coke).
I was having a really hard time decided what I wanted that evening. In the meantime, Paula came back with an Amuse Bouche to start the meal with:
Quinoa Salad with Yogurt
This was just ok, somewhat plain. It wasn't bad, but it tasted like something I could easily make at home, so it didn't wow me. It was just Quinoa with some veggies and light dressing and a dollop of yogurt on top.
On her next visit (no, I still didn't know what I wanted to order), Paula brought me the Jiko Bread Basket, which has a honey wheat and another more savory type of bread, along with Tandoori Butter:
It's not my favorite bread, but it was good and nice to have something else to munch on while I was trying to make up my mind! I love the beaded baskets they serve it in though.
On Paula's third return visit, I finally put an order in. For an appetizer, I went with the Creamy Spring Onion Soup with Caramelized Paneer Cheese and Pickled Shallots:
This was served with the cheese and shallots alone in the bowl, and then the soup was poured from a pitcher.
The soup was absolutely outstanding. The onions has clearly been cooked for a long time before going in to the pureed soup, so this had a really sweet caramelized onion flavor in a light cream base. It wasn't super heavy like some cream-based soups and the texture so was silky. I really loved the addition of the paneer cheese, which soaked up the soup's flavor, and the tart pickled shallots to provide a sweet and sour symphony in the mouth.
For an entree, I went with the Oak Grilled Filet Mignon with Hominy 'Risotto', Delta Asparagus, and Red Wine Reduction.
I had ordered the filet medium rare, but it came out more on the medium well side. I opted not to say anything because I didn't feel like waiting for them to fire another steak. In retrospect, I wish I had since medium rare wouldn't have taken too long.
Maybe it was how well the steak was cooked, but this just didn't do much for me. It tasted like something I could get at Outback or Longhorn - not bad, but a just ok steak, not worth $41 bucks.
I was happy enough though with my side items - the asparagus was perfectly cooked and very tasty and the hominy 'risotto' was good and very filling. It tasted a little like it had white cheddar in the mix with the flavor of grits, but a softer texture.
My motto at Disney is 'always save room for dessert' and tonight was no exception. I also didn't want to end my meal on a bad note, so I opted for 'One Last Cup' - Tanzanian Chocolate and Kenyan Coffee Mousse with Cinnamon Mascarpone, Nutty Chocolates, Tuille Cookie, and 'Hot Chocolate'.
I thought the presentation on this was really creative. How cool is that?
The mousse made up the cup, and the mascarpone the 'whipped cream', with a handle made from chocolate. The spoon is the tuille cookie, and, what I found most original, were the 'sugar cubes' made from nuts and chocolate.
The little white creamer had the 'hot chocolate' - basically a very thick and rich chocolate sauce. I poured some of the hot chocolate over the cup and dug in - this was rich, creamy, and intense. The mousse had a nice balance of coffee to chocolate flavor and the cinnamon mascarpone added a sweet spice. A really lovely dessert - but only for true chocolate lovers!
Overall, Jiko went down in my ratings a bit with the lackluster quinoa salad and steak, but I would still call it one of my favorites and look forward to returning.
Grade: A-
It was getting late and I didn't want to take a chance on there being a long wait at Flying Fish, so I decided to try a walk-up at Jiko and if the wait was too long for me, I'd just go to The Mara.
I checked in at Jiko and as with my other walk-ups this trip, lucked out and was seated right away! I opted to sit at the counter so I could watch the Chefs in action but that plan was quickly dashed by the man at the counter who reeked of cigarette smoke.
I ran back to the hostess and asked to be moved away from the counter, which wasn't a problem.
I was then seated at a two top looking out the window side of the restaurant, with no stinky people nearby that I could smell.
My server for the evening was Paula and she greeted me promptly and took my drink order (Coke).
I was having a really hard time decided what I wanted that evening. In the meantime, Paula came back with an Amuse Bouche to start the meal with:
Quinoa Salad with Yogurt
This was just ok, somewhat plain. It wasn't bad, but it tasted like something I could easily make at home, so it didn't wow me. It was just Quinoa with some veggies and light dressing and a dollop of yogurt on top.
On her next visit (no, I still didn't know what I wanted to order), Paula brought me the Jiko Bread Basket, which has a honey wheat and another more savory type of bread, along with Tandoori Butter:
It's not my favorite bread, but it was good and nice to have something else to munch on while I was trying to make up my mind! I love the beaded baskets they serve it in though.
On Paula's third return visit, I finally put an order in. For an appetizer, I went with the Creamy Spring Onion Soup with Caramelized Paneer Cheese and Pickled Shallots:
This was served with the cheese and shallots alone in the bowl, and then the soup was poured from a pitcher.
The soup was absolutely outstanding. The onions has clearly been cooked for a long time before going in to the pureed soup, so this had a really sweet caramelized onion flavor in a light cream base. It wasn't super heavy like some cream-based soups and the texture so was silky. I really loved the addition of the paneer cheese, which soaked up the soup's flavor, and the tart pickled shallots to provide a sweet and sour symphony in the mouth.
For an entree, I went with the Oak Grilled Filet Mignon with Hominy 'Risotto', Delta Asparagus, and Red Wine Reduction.
I had ordered the filet medium rare, but it came out more on the medium well side. I opted not to say anything because I didn't feel like waiting for them to fire another steak. In retrospect, I wish I had since medium rare wouldn't have taken too long.
Maybe it was how well the steak was cooked, but this just didn't do much for me. It tasted like something I could get at Outback or Longhorn - not bad, but a just ok steak, not worth $41 bucks.
I was happy enough though with my side items - the asparagus was perfectly cooked and very tasty and the hominy 'risotto' was good and very filling. It tasted a little like it had white cheddar in the mix with the flavor of grits, but a softer texture.
My motto at Disney is 'always save room for dessert' and tonight was no exception. I also didn't want to end my meal on a bad note, so I opted for 'One Last Cup' - Tanzanian Chocolate and Kenyan Coffee Mousse with Cinnamon Mascarpone, Nutty Chocolates, Tuille Cookie, and 'Hot Chocolate'.
I thought the presentation on this was really creative. How cool is that?
The mousse made up the cup, and the mascarpone the 'whipped cream', with a handle made from chocolate. The spoon is the tuille cookie, and, what I found most original, were the 'sugar cubes' made from nuts and chocolate.
The little white creamer had the 'hot chocolate' - basically a very thick and rich chocolate sauce. I poured some of the hot chocolate over the cup and dug in - this was rich, creamy, and intense. The mousse had a nice balance of coffee to chocolate flavor and the cinnamon mascarpone added a sweet spice. A really lovely dessert - but only for true chocolate lovers!
Overall, Jiko went down in my ratings a bit with the lackluster quinoa salad and steak, but I would still call it one of my favorites and look forward to returning.
Grade: A-
TanzUnited99
DIS Veteran
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- Aug 27, 2010
- Messages
- 3,942
I agree in that the presentation of that dessert is very cool! Another great review and am glad you were able to be moved from the cigarette smoke smell 
Another great review and am glad you were able to be moved from the cigarette smoke smell bigal'sdaughter
Mouseketeer
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- Nov 8, 2010
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- 355
nice review! I am hopeful that on my upcoming trip if plans change I can score a walk up at Sanaa or Jiko...
DonaldDoleWhip
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- Aug 22, 2008
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- 3,608
Thanks for the great Jiko review, and sorry to hear about the filet. Despite the worsening reviews of it, I'm still tempted to try it (but the maize-crusted corvina also sounds great). I had that dessert in July and thought it was very fun and unique, with good flavors from the chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, and mascarpone.
Abby, you inspire me!
I am going onmy first solo trip this October and as much as I am sure that I will be fine and not lonely at all, reading your posts make feel better! I am doing the same things you did by going to all the restaurants my family will not eat at! I even went as far as getting the deluxe dining plan to simply be able to eat at all the places. Keep up the good posts and reviews!
I am going onmy first solo trip this October and as much as I am sure that I will be fine and not lonely at all, reading your posts make feel better! I am doing the same things you did by going to all the restaurants my family will not eat at! I even went as far as getting the deluxe dining plan to simply be able to eat at all the places. Keep up the good posts and reviews!
cbg1027
Florida Girl
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- Aug 21, 2009
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- 5,084
Same experience for me Kat - of the 5 entrees I've sampled there, this was the only 'just ok' one. All the others were excellent.
Great Jiko review
I love the presentation of the dessert
Thanks!
I agree in that the presentation of that dessert is very cool!
Thanks Tanz!
You can probably easily get a walk-up at Sanaa...they're not usually booked up.
I was considering the Corvina too...now I wish I had gone with it. Oh well...live and learn and then go back and eat some more.
Abby, you inspire me!
I am going onmy first solo trip this October and as much as I am sure that I will be fine and not lonely at all, reading your posts make feel better! I am doing the same things you did by going to all the restaurants my family will not eat at! I even went as far as getting the deluxe dining plan to simply be able to eat at all the places. Keep up the good posts and reviews!
Thanks Alison! I hope you have a great solo trip. Disney is an ideal location for a solo trip, I find it easier to strike up conversation with people there since everyone is usually in such a good mood and the CM's like to be chatty! Plus, it makes it easier to experience more attractions in less time.
I'm going Oct 26-30, probably solo again...when is your trip?
Schoolbread
Mouseketeer
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- Sep 12, 2010
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Joining in! Love a solo trip. The time by yourself is so refreshing and regenerating!
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