Anywhere You have Eaten That You Know You Won't Go Back?

[MEM]

The ABC Commissary gets my vote for the worst food -- inedible, and that's saying something. The atmosphere was very pleasant and I was optimistic. The lo mein tasted like really bad canned Chun King. The chicken and fish nuggets tasted refried to the point of petrification. My DH asked me not to make a scene and so I didn't. But I had to take my kids elsewhere to fill their bellies! We ended up at Pizza Planet where we felt the pizza was fine for fastfood. The counter service pizza seems to be standardized throughout WDW and I found it quite acceptable. Hot, fast, fresh and filling. However, during our most recent visit in November 2002, we stopped into Pizza Planet since we had always found it reliable and there was a pervasive vomit smell. "Vomitrocious" as DH said. That left such a negative impression that I don't think we'll be back. We ended up at Sci Fi Dine In and my kids loved the atmosphere -- basically that is what you are paying for. The movies, the glowing icecubes, etc. The food was just okay, but the cookies and cream shake was one of the best shakes I've ever had.

Each restaurant SEEMS to have its strengths and we need to focus on them. My DH ordered the prime rib at CRT, which it is known for, and it was fabulous. Just to be different, I ordered the jumbo shrimp and they were awful. I never take my own advice so now I let DH order for me and it works out fine.

BTW, we loved both Le Cellier and Ohana. Le Cellier is known for its beef so we all ordered some version of that and were very happy. The service style at Ohana actually got my son interested in trying what was on those big skewers.

 

[UKDEB]

I can't believe that, in 80 posts, no-one has mentioned Pizzafari at AK (someone will no doubt correct me here - I don't have the energy to read them all again ).

I'm not a huge fan of counter eateries, but this one is something else! We left our untouched meal on the table in protest, although I doubt it had any impact on anyone.

I normally have a rule to give every restaurant a second chance, but in the case of Pizzafari I shall be making an exception!

 

[kamgen]

Reading this thread has really made me wonder! After over 12 trips in the last three years, and we ONLY eat on property, I can' say there is a place I would NEVER go again (except Pinochio's Haus....YUCKY) and most of the ones that people mention here, we liked.
For example:
LeCellier: Great service, great choice for lunch...the soup and breadsticks alone are worth a visit
Tonys: Dinner was okay, but we liked it for lunch....
Whispering Canyone: great food and service and the atmosphere is so much fun!
Planet Hollywood: we liked our visit there and the service was good too.
50's PT: LOVE this place....so much fun!
Nine Dragons: my dh loves the hot and sour soup there

Our favorites include: BOMA, Ohana and WCC.

So, I guess that is why they offer all of these different choices!
Kamy

 

[GlennandAnn]

We would never, ever, ever return to Whispering Canyon. We ate there last summer when we stayed at WL, and we ordered the family style BBQ thingie. The atmosphere was OK- we went at an odd time, so there was none of the horsie racing or hollering going on that usually happens there. The service was so-so. I remember feeling like if we weren't there our waitress would have been on a break, and she would have rather been on that break. The food was NOT GOOD!!!! It was really, really dry and yucky.

 

[Dana49]

Okay, here's the running count through this post:

Planet Hollywood - 11

Sci-Fi Dinner Theater – 10

Tony’s – 9

Chef Mickey’s - 7
Whispering Canyon - 7

50’s Prime Time Café - 6
Rainforest Café - 6

Alfredo’s - 5
Coral Reef - 5
San Angel Inn - 5

ABC Commissary - 4
Brown Derby - 4
Liberty Tree Tavern - 4

Artist Point - 3
Chefs de France - 3
Cinderella’s Royal Table - 3
Flying Fish - 3
Hollywood and Vine - 3
Le Cellier - 3

American Adventure - 2
Biergarten - 2
Cantina de San Angel - 2
Dole Whip Stand - 2
Restaurant Marrakesh - 2
Nine Dragons - 2
Pinnochio Village Haus - 2
Pizza Planet - 2
Restaurant Akershus - 2
Rose and Crown - 2
Yachtsman Steakhouse - 2

Beaches and Cream
Boatwright’s
Bongo’s (my choice)
Cape May Dinner Buffet
Columbia Harbor House
Electric Umbrella
ESPN Club
Food Quest
Fulton’s
Ice Cream Social
Maya Grill
‘Ohana
Palio
Pizzafari
Spoodle’s
Yakitori House

Very interesting!

 

[profdsny]

After many many visits to Ohana, would not go back again. The list of items served has continued to shrink to only a few, some of the great starters have been replaced with boring, tasteless ones, and overall through the years the only time we ever had great service was the first time we went, not too many years after they opened this version. The food always overcompensated for poor service, but this last time, December, was the last. All things combined to make it a truly bad meal. Did I mention the terrible entertainer, who I suppose thankfully, didn't even bother to stop at our table?
Sci-Fi diner, simply because way overpriced. Pretty much the same with Prime-Time cafe.

Actually, there are many restaurants that we love more than would avoid. Tony's is close to the top of our list for must-dos.

 

[Deb & Bill]

#1 Never do again - Rainforest Cafe - foreign objects in the food, terrible service, long wait, too expensive for what we got.

#2 Big River Grille and Brewing Works - cold food (like in still frozen), rude hostess and wait staff, ruder still manager

Others that I have to stop and reconsider:

1900 Park Faire - wait staff ignores you if you don't have cute little kids or don't dress like you stay at GF. Food is very good, just don't like the servers who get you your beverages and clear your dishes away.

Chef Mickey's - dirty dining room and buffet. Wait staff, so-so. Fun atmosphere. Depends on where you sit - don't get stuck in the back area by the kitchen door.

Ones I continue to go to over and over:

Boma - great food, atmosphere and service

Plaza - outstanding food and good service

Boatwrights - very good food and pretty good service

Cinderella's Breakfast - love the food, atmosphere and characters

The ones I was wrong about:

PrimeTime: Indicated that we didn't want to play along, so we didn't. Pretty good food and good shakes.

Sci-Fi: Good sandwiches and drinks.

Olivia's: Had one bad meal there (preplated Thanksgiving dinner) and was not eager to go there again. But we did and had great meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Newer surprises:

House of Blues: Had a great late lunch there last time. Good food, no crowd (it was about 1:30).

Cape May Breakfast: Got there early and had a good breakfast, lots of choices, and fun characters.

 

[Dixie Luvr 98]

Two that I can't ever see us going back to:

Alfredo's--Pasta was a greasy, congealed mass Service was slow and inaccurate.

Planet Hollywood--Server sat at the next table and talked while we waited for the sweetner we were promised for our iced tea. Pasta dish was mushy and tasteless.

Two that I may try again mainly due to positive reviews on these boards:

Le Cellier--First time our steaks were dry and tough. Server was slow and slightly confused, but it was his first day so that's probably understandable. Bread and cheese soup were good.

San Angel Inn--Too dark and service bordered on rude. Food must not have been memorable because I can't even remember what I had

 

[Alice42]

I have never had a horrible dining experience at WDW, but the places that I probably won't eat at again are:

1) Boatwright's at POR (not that impressed)
2) Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe (place was messy when we ate there)
And of course there are many, many, many places that I eat at every time I am at WDW!

Different strokes for different folks!

 

[Planogirl]

I only have a few places that I would prefer to not eat at again. One is 50's Primetime Cafe only because the horseplay is not my thing and the other is the Sci Fi because I didn't particularly like the food I had and didn't really like looking at the back of a stranger's head the whole time either. But I don't hate these places so please don't add them to the list!

However, I LOVE Cape May, Boma, Akershus, Trails End, Columbia Harbour House and Hollywood & Vine. And good news for those who dislike Hollywood & Vine, they are about to discontinue breakfast and lunch.

 

[Beachangel]

Tony's and Le Cellier

 

[Dee & Greg]

I must have taken a "crabby pill" that day! Made it sound like I've never had a bad meal at WDW. But I do want to list a favorite that I haven't seen here... "Bongos!" We've had our best and worst meals at DTD... Best is Bongo's, worst is "House of Blues"... poor service, boring food.

Just reading about Disney restaurants makes me want to go back today!!

 

[bliss4us]

Never ever again: Rainforest Cafe. Blech.

Wretched service, lukewarm food, and on and on and on...

But I absolutely adore 50's Prime Time Cafe - we had a fabulous time there during our last trip! We're also fond of Boma, Tempura Kiku, and Liberty Tree Tavern.

Daisy

 

[CynJ]

I think some of the issues with the restaurants may have to do with how busy they are maybe? And the time of year?

My mom and I went to Le Cellier and LOVED it! But then again we went in February 2002 and there were no lines no waiting!

The only absolutely horrid meal we had was at Tusker House in AK - we ate a quick lunch there splitting a wrap and it was inedible!! Totally nasty. And we waited in line for 35mins for it too. Will not go back there!

For comparision we ate at:
Cindys
Coral Sea (mom loved the alligator sausage)
Le Cellier
Marrakesh (our absolute favorite!)
Nine Dragons
Rosie's All American
Garden Grill (this had good food and great fun!)
All Star Movies (breakfast every day and one dinner)
Snacks at the Land

Other then Tusker House we didn't have any bad food experiences and really enjoyed all of them.

 

[profdsny]

Interesting how small things can make a difference. We were at Tony's, getting very good service, and half way through the meal another couple was seated at the table directly behind us. This apparently was another waiter's station, because there was almost no service or attention to them for a good 5-10 minutes. Our wait came out, saw they were not being taken care of, approached them and said that it wasn't his table, he would get the waiter, but could he take a drink order in the mean time? He did, then went off, and came back with the drinks before their waiter ever came out. They had at this point gone almost 15 minutes without being really approached. Had it not been for our waiter, their experience would proably be 180 degrees different then ours. Still, I doubt that they would say that there experience was as good as ours, and might well list it as a place not to return to.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Would probably not go back:


Yachtsman Steakhouse - it was just overpriced for the quality of the meat served.

Would definitely go back to :

Le Cellier - Love it !
The counter service area at Dixie Landings - just watching that water wheel relaxes me soooooo.....
Brown Derby - love their Filet .
Crystal Palace breakfast
Columbia Harbor House
and - of course - BOMA

I think Boma, translated into english means :

~~~~
I tried this [ don't know what it's called ] ...
I tried that [ don't know what it's called ] ...
I tried the other thing [ don't know what it's called ] ...
and Zebra Domes !

 

[miko]

The good/bad part about WDW dining is that menus and treatments are often changed. I have not had such a bad experience that I would never go back to any restaurant. Since I am in area frequently on business (at least once a month), I often eat at WDW facilities. I like Citrico's and recently have enjoyed some good experiences at Captain Jacks which I had avoided for a while. Fulton's seems to be the most inconsistent with all Boardwalk restaurants close behind.
Again, service and quality varies from time to time but most WDW restaurants are not too bad considering the range of guests they have to satisfy.

 

[CindyKansas]

I can think of two: 50's Primetime Cafe and the California Grill. We had PS for California Grill and still had to wait for 45 minutes to get seated and it was so LOUD we could not have a conversation at our own table. It was the longest meal of my life. The food was okay, but I liked Yachtman Steak House better.

 

[Swan]

I can not say that I would not go back, because I am willing to try one more time. Our worse experience was at Ohana's for dinner. Our waiter was terrible we had to keep asking for food and refills on our tea. We were ignored due to a large party of people. I hope our next expense there is better because if it is not we will never go back.

 

[Erikarate]

Would never go back to:

Tony's
Boma (sorry, but my experience was HORRIBLE)
Planet Hollywood
Rose and Crown
Liberty Tree
Ice Cream Social
Crystal Palace (MIGHT go back, just ok food)

BTW we love:

Le Cellier
California Grille (favorite)
Artist Point
Jiko
'Ohana
Citricos
Grand Floridian Cafe
Wolfgang Puck
Donalds Breakfastosaurus
Beaches and Cream!!