Advice pls -- dinner w/kids in Italy or China or UK?

[Mainebound]

Hi all,

We want to try something NEW at Epcot for dinner this year. We are experienced veterans of all the other restaurants, but have never been to these (ok, full disclosure, have been to R&C for beer...). I keep reading that service at Alfredo is poor, that food at 9 Dragons is like anything I could get at home, and that the Rose and Crown is nothing special. Is the situation that bleak?

Seeing Illuminations is not an issue for us (so no reason to favor R&C). We do have 4 and 6 year old boys.

Need your help ASAP! I have been amazed at how hard it has been to get into restaurants for our May trip. I thought early May was a SLOWER time, but I just tried and failed to get ADRs for Le Cellier and Jiko for dinner!

Any quick advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Harambe]

We are trying Italy for the first time this year. It seemed to be some place that everyone in my family (even the kids) can find something to eat.

Good luck!

 

[robinb]

I would recommend Italy. We ate there in August and were pleasntly surprised! I loved the Alfredo and the kids gobbled up the pasta with red sauce.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

We loved Teppanyaki, even my ultra-picky DS15 and nearly-vegetarian DD17 discovered much that they were happy with there...plus the entertainment factor of the chef.

 

[c&m]

My DDs (ages 6 and 9) loved Teppanyaki as well and the noodle restaurant (forgot the name) next door to it in Japan.

 

[Cookie Princess]

I would select Alfredo's. We have never had a bad meal here.

 

[TLinden16]

I had a great meal at Alfredo's back in January, and I thought the service was just fine. I had the best lasanga I've ever had there.

I am a big fan of Nine Dragons. I think their food is excellent, and I usually wind up going there at least once or twice a trip. You won't find traditional Americanized Chinese food there (i.e. no chicken fingers and spare ribs). You find dishes like General Tso's Chicken (my favorite), and Sweet and Sour Pork.

 

[maggiew]

What kind of food do your kids like? Mine loved chinese food at that age, but some do not.

We didn't really enjoy our food at R&C, but it wasn't so bad that I won't give it another chance some day. Our view for Illuminations was nice.

We had a great time at Alfredos, but for lunch. The food was good. The service wasn't bad, just not great. It wasn't crowded when we went at lunch.

We haven't been to Nine Dragons yet, but we have an ADR for July.

Personally I would look at the menus and see which place had something that all of you would eat. If they all do, just pick the one _you_ want the most .

Maggie

 

[Mainebound]

We loved Teppanyaki, even my ultra-picky DS15 and nearly-vegetarian DD17 discovered much that they were happy with there...plus the entertainment factor of the chef.

Thanks! Good to hear, we have an ADR for Teppanyaki another night. But, if memory serves, Japan and China are actually not the same country.

 

[dixiedizfan]

I was very underwhelmed with Rose & Crown's food. Very bland-tasting; my kids (teens now) still remind me not to make ADRs there.

 

[Luthien]

We ate at R&C for the first time the first night of our trip this past December and I must say we were all pleasantly surprised. We thought that the food was very good (I had the puff pastry and DH had the Guiness beef stew, but he especially liked the beer sampler ). My three kids (DS11, DD6 & DD4) enjoyed it as well. The atmosphere was very nice and the service was excellent. Everyone agreed that R&C will stay on the "keeper" list for next trip.

Cheers-
~Luthien

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Thanks! Good to hear, we have an ADR for Teppanyaki another night. But, if memory serves, Japan and China are actually not the same country.

No, I wasn't suggesting they were , but giving you another Epcot option, letting you know the choices weren't all that "bleak". Glad to hear you plan to try Teppanyaki, though.
Edited to add: OOPS, didn't see that you had tried all the others...my mistake!

 

[Mainebound]

These are very helpful tips! Think we are going to go with Alfredo, but, you all know how we DISers are... we make our minds up like our beds -- anew every day! LOL!