American Girl Bistro

[rramsr]

Anyone have thoughts/opinions? I'm thinking of taking my daughter but I want to make sure it will be worth it

Also, does the Today show have the American Girl sales during the year also or just at Christmas?

Thanks

 

[Crystal824]

I've not been to the Bistro so I can't answer that question, but I would like to see others responses because I am considering taking my daughter too.

I do believe the Today Show has other specials throughout the year on American Girl. I bought my daughter a Bitty Baby through one of their specials. I think that was in the spring, but I can't remember for sure. Watch the budget board because when one comes out, someone will post about it. You have to act fast because they go fast. Also, you might want to watch Zuilly. I got my daughter a My American Girl Doll on Zuilly just before Christmas with an extra outfit for $106.00 shipped.

 

[rramsr]

Thank you for the response.

I tried so hard in December to get one of the deals from the Today Show, it would show in my cart and when I went to check out it was gone

 

[SEA333]

Anyone have thoughts/opinions? I'm thinking of taking my daughter but I want to make sure it will be worth it

Also, does the Today show have the American Girl sales during the year also or just at Christmas?

Thanks

DD and I have been a few times for a meal, to the Chicago location. Once for a girl's day, and once for her birthday party with a few friends. We have visited the store without eating there more times than I can count.

My review:

Service: Everyone is seated at once, kind of like the main dining room on a cruise. The waitstaff are generally great at making the girls feel amazingly special. Each doll gets her own setting and high chair.

Décor: Beautiful - in Chicago, it's pink, black, and white, and really nicely done. It just FEELS good being there.

Cost: Extraordinarily pricy for what you get. But worth it for the ambiance and awe factor of your little girl at least once in her life.

Food: Meh. We went for a brunch service, and DD got the French toast and I got the veggie quiche. Every table gets a plate of mini-cinnamon rolls (and when I say mini, I mean you almost need tweezers to pick them up!). The French toast was cutely served stacked with butterfly-shaped butter and whipped cream, but at the end of they day, we still paid nearly $25 for what amounted to a few Gordons Frozen French Toast Sticks. My quiche was what you would expect - a basic wedge of egg casserole. I think I got a skewer of cut out fruit as well, that was basically 3 bite-sized pieces of mini-heart/flower shaped cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon. Dessert was a mini cup of some type of pudding.


For DD's birthday, we went for lunch and the girls pretty much all ordered either grilled cheese or mac and cheese. For 5 of us (myself and 4 eight-year-olds), it was close to $200.

When I say mini in the description, I mean MINI. Did I say this already? Brunch for two (a 7 year old and her mother) came to over $60, and I was as hungry leaving as I was going in. I get not wasting regular sized portions on little girls who won't eat a lot, but geesh. They should charge a kids price for the mini-meals, and give the adults regular sized portions for regular price.

What I loved the most: Every table had a little box of cards with "conversation starters". They were cute and fun to do with DD, and even more fun to do when we had her friends with us - I got to know them very well!

DD is 10 1/2, and we will not be going back again for a meal. She is pretty much already out of the American Girl phase - 3 dolls and a bunch of accessories later. It still comes up in her grade from time to time because two of her classmates (one is DD's best friend) are models for AG and have been in the catalogs and in-store pictures and wall hangings. The other girl just had another of her pics done in one of the large plexiglass wall-hanging images in the store. This means another trip back to the store to see the girls' images "in person"

Bottom Line: Do it at least once! But, IMO, once will be enough.

 

[scard192]

Anyone have thoughts/opinions? I'm thinking of taking my daughter but I want to make sure it will be worth it

Also, does the Today show have the American Girl sales during the year also or just at Christmas?

Thanks

we live about 5 minutes from and AG Store and have gone many times to the Bistro. The food was ok and service very nice but very expensive IMO. You do not say how old your daughter is. they have a 4 and under price and 5 and up is the same price - $16.50 the last time we went. Way too much money for 5-9 year olds. Wish they had like a "junior" meal price in between the kids and other price. My sister has a very picky 5 year old and will not spend $16.50 on a kid that will end up eating a few French fries at best.

 

[rramsr]

Thanks everyone, now I am torn whether to go or not. DD is 6

 

[SEA333]

Thanks everyone, now I am torn whether to go or not. DD is 6

I would go just once, and your DD is the perfect age for it - DD's first time was when she was 6 1/2 in first grade, and her b-day party was when she turned 8 in 2nd grade.

Especially if you do not live close to a store like we do. We can get there in under 30 minutes, even taking the train from our Chicago suburb it's still under 45 minutes tops. We are at the store, not partaking in the dining, several times a year. If our trip was a once in a lifetime thing, we would def do the whole dining experience.

Remember, you're going for the experience, not the food. Kind of like Disney Dining....LOL

 

[rramsr]

I would go just once, and your DD is the perfect age for it - DD's first time was when she was 6 1/2 in first grade, and her b-day party was when she turned 8 in 2nd grade.

Especially if you do not live close to a store like we do. We can get there in under 30 minutes, even taking the train from our Chicago suburb it's still under 45 minutes tops. We are at the store, not partaking in the dining, several times a year. If our trip was a once in a lifetime thing, we would def do the whole dining experience.

Remember, you're going for the experience, not the food. Kind of like Disney Dining....LOL

HaHa so true

 

[bear_mom]

We've gone twice, once for each dd's birthday. For us, it was worth it and if I had a younger dd, I would do it again.

 

[Gorechick]

Last year was an unprecedented year for American Girl items on sale through Jill's Steals and Deals and AG.com. Whether or not AG needs to move stock through offering these sales is dependent on quarterly earnings. If there are items that you want, keep an eye out for free shipping, $10 off $100 codes, and usually there is a late spring/early summer sale. AG moved ALOT of stock between September and December. I wouldn't count on waiting for the same types of sales if they now have stock to manageable levels.

 

[Lavaluma]

I think it's worth going for the experience, especially if your daughter loves AG. I am not into the dolls and I have two boys, but I enjoyed going with my sister and niece last year. We went to NYC for a girls weekend and spent half a day at the American Girl store. My niece, age 8, had a blast. She did not want to leave the store. We planned ahead to have lunch there, which really wasn't much more expensive than any of our other meals that weekend. I thought the atmosphere and service was excellent. My niece was so excited to be eating with her doll, that I even had fun and it was memorable for me.

 

[lehmaac]

When my daughter got her AG for her 7th birthday, we went to the MoA store. We had dessert with her new doll. It was a nice touch for a special day, but I'm not sure that I'd see value in a meal. And I'm saying this as someone who has been a huge AG fan for the past 25 years. The number of dolls offered continues to increase (as well as the limited time dolls), which drives surplus inventory, which drives the flash sales. AG used to have an annual warehouse sale where they sold the seconds, returns, discontinued items, etc. as a charity benefit, but I think that ended when Mattel bought the company.

 

[Lamping3]

As long as you are going to one of the larger locations and not one of their new "boutique" stores/bistro. I have gone to the Chicago location many times (I had a doll when I was younger...I'm 34 now btw). That store is amazing! Even since it has moved across the street it is sill magical for any lover of AG to visit. We took DD at 2.5 to Chicago and bought her Bitty Baby and ate in the cafe. I will agree with those above that it was a little pricey and the food was underwhelming but the experience was well worth it. I live just 25 minutes from the St Louis store and we took DD right after it opened...I think she was 4 or 5. I wasn't impressed. It is such a small store and the bistro is a few countertop seats plus 3 or 4 small tables. It doesn't have the magical WOW factor that the larger multilevel store has. We do go in anytime we are at that mall it's near but I wouldn't spend the money to eat there. We are planning a spring break trip to Chicago and I have already booked our lunch at AG my oldest is now 7 and I'm sure she will love it as well as my 3 yo DD.

 

[Gorechick]

When my daughter got her AG for her 7th birthday, we went to the MoA store. We had dessert with her new doll. It was a nice touch for a special day, but I'm not sure that I'd see value in a meal. And I'm saying this as someone who has been a huge AG fan for the past 25 years. The number of dolls offered continues to increase (as well as the limited time dolls), which drives surplus inventory, which drives the flash sales. AG used to have an annual warehouse sale where they sold the seconds, returns, discontinued items, etc. as a charity benefit, but I think that ended when Mattel bought the company.

They still do the warehouse sale of furniture, clothing and accessories and the Madison Children's museum benefit sale which us dolls, clothing, books, and accessories.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

We have been to the one in DC a few times and the one in Atlanta one time. I thought it was worth it. My daughter was very in AG stuff from age 4-10. It is a very unique experience and you have to realize in advance that you will pay more for that meal than you would for an average lunch...but its a special treat ...not something you do everyday. Once we just sat at the bar / counter and ordered deserts. That was fun...and we still got a similar experience and it cost a lot less. Even though she isnt into AG as much (she is now almost 12) she still wants to go to one of the big sores like Chicago or NY at some point no matter how old she is...its on our bucket list

I have photos if you'd like me to post them...

 

[nycdisneygal]

We have done it twice here in NYC. I think it is a great value--but then again I am used to NYC prices so this really doesnt seem bad at all. The food really is not great but it is a fun atmosphere. DD8 and I asked each other questions from the little conversation starters they give. She loved having her doll with her and getting a little cup and saucer for her. (and she is a girl who plays more with her trains than with dolls!).

 

[keiraliz]

I would go. Sure, the food is expensive, but I think it's worth the experience. My parents took me and my sister twice, once in Chicago and once in LA. Going to the bistro was part of our planned special trips to the stores, and those trips are memories I know I'm going to have for a lifetime. I still remember how well the staff treated us and how special they made us feel. Plus I got to bring my doll along! As a little girl, there was nothing more exciting than eating with my doll. If I have a daughter one day who loves American Girl just as much as I do (I still collect the dolls as an adult) and I have the opportunity to take her to the store, I would do the bistro in a heart beat.

 

[rramsr]

We have been to the one in DC a few times and the one in Atlanta one time. I thought it was worth it. My daughter was very in AG stuff from age 4-10. It is a very unique experience and you have to realize in advance that you will pay more for that meal than you would for an average lunch...but its a special treat ...not something you do everyday. Once we just sat at the bar / counter and ordered deserts. That was fun...and we still got a similar experience and it cost a lot less. Even though she isnt into AG as much (she is now almost 12) she still wants to go to one of the big sores like Chicago or NY at some point no matter how old she is...its on our bucket list

I have photos if you'd like me to post them...

That would be great if you could post pictures. If we decide to go it will be the one in MA which I'm sure is a smaller one. DD doesn't have an AG doll yet but she has been asking for one for a while

 

[Mom2KandK]

I think it's worth it to go at least once, for the experience. I wouldn't say that it was horribly expensive though. We recently ate in the bistro at the Orlando store. I think the most expensive entree on the menu was the salmon dish. I don't think it was more than $15.

The experience is fun. The dolls have seats to use at the table, and they bring out a doll sized plate and cup. I was surprised when they said that we could take those home with us. There is also a hair tie that they keep too. (It's used as a napkin ring.)

 

[ktlm]

I would say absolutely take her. The time to do those sort of things is very fleeting, and at age 6, you are getting to the end of it, so take advantage of every minute and enjoy it while you can. We have only been to the Dallas location. We have done it twice and enjoyed it both times. At least the times we have been there, which the last time was probably 2 years ago, in the Dallas location they did not seat everyone at once. It was just like a regular small restaurant. The food was a little expensive, but not overly so (I think they charge about $15 a person regardless of your menu choice, but that does include an appetizer- if I remember right dessert may have been additional, but I could have be wrong about that and if I'm wrong, then the price really isn't expensive at all. I remember DD had a chocolate mousse flower pot and it was adorable.), but it was good and we felt like the portion size was fine. DD loved having her doll at the table and the doll getting its own plate and cup. Again, it has been a while so things could have changed, but when we ate there the cup and plate were china and we did not get to take them home, nor did we have a take home napkin ring/hair tie. It could be things have changed, or that could be dependent on location.

DD was hugely into AG from age 2 (thanks to seeing a catalog we got after buying something for our older niece) to 7. Most of her friends got really into it by age 4. At age 8, she doesn't play with her AG stuff nearly as much. She still likes it and does play with it some as she is big on dolls, but most of the girls in her grade at school and her other friends her age are not interested in AG much at all anymore. Enjoy it while you can! Those couple of AG lunches were some special times that we fondly remember and do not regret!