ADR Signature Restaurant HELP!!!

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I need help!!! I have gone into hyper-ADR planning mode, and keep finding more and more places I want to eat in! Only 10 days until I can book!!!

I am pretty much sorted on one credit meals (we’re on the dining plan). Last year we did our first signature meal (at Cali Grill), loved it, so thought we would like to try two signature experiences this year.

We have decided on Yachtsman Steakhouse as one, as we really enjoyed our steak at Le Cellier last year and so want another really good steak meal.

For our second one I had decided on Citrico’s as – and this is where I was being ridiculous – I don’t like the look of the menu at Narcoossee’s (too fishy), and really want to have a meal at Grand Floridian. I don’t 100% love the menu there though and it seems ludicrous to waste two meal credits on a menu I’m not that keen on. So I need to fill the second slot!

Have been looking at menu’s this morning and I like the look of Brown Derby, Jiki, and Artists Point – they all have more of them that we would like than Narcoossees and Citrico’s do. So does anyone have any reviews please, of which way we should go?

Also any reviews of Yachtsman Steakhouse would be good as – if it’s nothing special – we could eat at Le Cellier again, and save our signature meal for one of the other three above!

Finally, I was going to try Mama Melrose as part of the Fantasmic package but have read some pretty bad reviews. Anyone been recently? I’m not desperate to see Fantasmic, if its really bad!

Thanks for any help you can give!!

 

[daisygirl902]

We loved Yachtsman last year when we went - it's the best meal we've ever had on Disney property to date! The steaks were phenomenal, as were the salads and desserts....I highly recommend keeping it.

I also liked Brown Derby, and am trying a few more on my next trip...I'm trying Flying Fish, and then for our 3 day "Disneymoon" we doing the deluxe dining plan so we're trying Artist Point, Cali Grille, and CRT.

 

[Brook1099]

I can speak for the Yachstmen and Narcosses.

My familys fav is Yachtsmen out of the 2. I order the filet/w augratin potatoes. Yummy, and I do LOVE the filetw/ mushroom risotto @ Lecellier.
We pay OOP for the yachtsmen so we do share app's and they are all good.
Desserts I dont have a fav or 1 that stands out. The waiters and waitresses are fabulous here. My kids absolutely love their mac and cheese and I have tried it it is good. and the puzzle dessert. We often eat here 2 times in our 2 week vacation.

Narcosses was a great atmosphere loved watching wishes from the porch area. The food was really good, I had the filet once again I love filet mignon. I am not really sure why we havent been back.

I do want to try Jiko's filetw/ mac cheese its looks scrumptious.
Good luck w/ your decision its tough making them I know!

 

[Pakey]

I have eaten at all of the signatures many times and this is the order in which I would rank them, based on an average over my visits.

1) Flying Fish
2) Citricos and Jiko (tied)
3) Ca Grill
4) Brown Derby
5) Yachtsman and Artist Point
6) Narcoosees

I think Flying Fish has the best overall menu combined with food quality. Citricos has a nicer (quieter) dining atmosphere and a pretty sophisticated food presentation but the menu doesn't change as often as I would like. Jiko is a beautiful restaurant and has amazing appetizers and soups; the entrees and desserts are a disappointment after eating the first courses. Ca Grill has the beautiful view and we enjoy sushi, the only signature that offers it (if it were not for the sushi, this restaurant would rank lower). Brown Derby had my favorite entree, the seared ahi, so it ranks 4th but it might move down the list as I hear the ahi was recently removed from the menu (but they still have great old fashioned cocktails. Yachtsman and Artist Point tie because they are both very heavy meals with a lot of red meat, not my cup of tea. Artist Point has a more interesting selection and if you go at sunset, the views out the windows are gorgeous. Yachtsman steaks are not the best I've ever had, in fact my last Ribeye there was almost inedible-too tough to even cut, but they have great desserts. If you are only going to order a filet, go to any of these restaurants as they all offer a filet. Last up is Narcoosees which is the signature I feel has suffered the most in the past decade with the onslaught of the dining plan popularity. We loved it 10 years ago, not so much anymore.

 

[E&K's Dad]

Yatchman Steakhouse is well worth the money or credits. I found the staff to be the most friendly and service oriented during out last trip. The steaks were great. The proximity to the International Gateway makes it a great stop on an Epcot day.

I also recommend Jiko for your second meal. The menu, while slightly exotic but still had a pretty basic feel (Chicken, Steaks, Beef Ribs, Fish. . . ). I believe this is the best meal I have ever had at WDW. Mix this with the amazing setting of being able to finish your meal and then stroll outside and walk along the savanna and its a perfect signature experience!

 

[SOnotLayuh]

Jiko is, by far, the best food to ever touch my mouth. Check out the link in my sig for my review, as well as tons of pics of the food we ordered! I'm not sure we can ever go to Disney without eating here again.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Have decided on Jiki, thanks - have never seen so many positive reviews of one place!!!!

 

[gillep]

you will be very happy with your choice. Of the 5 signature restaurants we tried Jiko was absolutely the best!!!!! Have an awesome time

For what it is worth DH and I had dinner at both yachtsman and Le Cellier and Yachtsman was far superior Le Cellier could not compare at all. We were on the deluxe plan and all three courses were very good we also got a side of the mushrooms which I could not stop eating they were so wonderful.

 

[jlk51496]

sorry crashing here....my DH loves steak houses and we prob wouldnt do it with a 2.99 yr old and a 1.5 yr old...if we were paying OOP....but since we have the DDP - would we be able to take our litle ones to the steak houses!?!?!
or is it discouraged!?!?

sorry again for the crash! also subbing for more ADR ideas!

 

[E&K's Dad]

sorry crashing here....my DH loves steak houses and we prob wouldnt do it with a 2.99 yr old and a 1.5 yr old...if we were paying OOP....but since we have the DDP - would we be able to take our litle ones to the steak houses!?!?!
or is it discouraged!?!?

sorry again for the crash! also subbing for more ADR ideas!

It's Disney. . .I wouldn't say taking your kids anywhere is discouraged unless there is a height limit or a specific age for a tour. We saw kids in every Signature restaurant we ate at during our most recent trip without our children. Having boys about the same age as your children I would stay away from the more quite restaurants only because if they acted out it would bother me. We found California Grill, the Yatshcman Steakhouse and Narcoosse's "busy" enough that we could take our children to but thought Jiko and Citricos would be too low key for them on our next trip. At the end of the day just go where you feel comfortable!

If you like Steakhouses don't forget Le Cellier in Canada at the WS. You will find many kids there.