Appetizers as entrees

[shocker]

Hello all,

For a long time I have loved using the combo appetizer at Restaurant Marrakesh as my meal. It offers 3 things to try and is a nice sized meal.

EDIT: I also have eaten a flatbread at Mama Melrose as a meal.

I was recently looking at the appetizer offerings at Skipper Canteen and wondering if I could do the same. Then I began wondering if my fellow diser's had some places where they liked to do this too.

Sooooo, here we go. I'm looking to make a list of appetizers that could make a whole meal. A few rules though:

1) The total price has to remain under $20 (before tax and tip).
2) You can order 1 or multiple apps to make up the meal (but must meet #1 above).
3) It has to be equivalent to an actual meal. No "I ate 3 bites and was stuffed" reviews here, please.
4) It should be a rounded meal (notice I didn't say WELL rounded) but still rounded. I don't consider sitting down to eat an entire plate of one thing a meal (i.e. just a basket of chicken wings or a plate full of egg rolls). There has to be some depth to the meal.

We are paying OOP with TiW, but this is not being used as a "budget" method or because we can't eat a whole meal. Just trying to see if there are other great places to do this besides Marrakesh.

TIA and can't wait to hear what you think.

 

[starousse]

Last time I went to Le Cellier I wasn't in the mood for a big steak so I got a bowl of the cheese soup and an order of the poutine. Between the heaviness of the soup and all the pretzel rolls, I was stuffed. That was about $18.

 

[Pygoplites]

I think your $20 limit is a bit too low given that many apps are more than $10 each; $25 would open it up a lot.

A few favorites:
Yak & Yeti dim sum basket (15.99) and won ton soup (5.49)
Skipper Canteen, Shu Mai and Shiriki noodle salad (11.00 ea)
Brown Derby App size Cobb salad and soup (11.00 ea)
Morimoto Asia, anything on the $8 lounge menu, especially the sliders and/or $12-$13 sushi rolls.
Sanaa bread service with all 9 accompaniments (15.00) and salad sampler (9.00). Really too much food for one, but sooo good.
Jiko, wild boar tenderloin (19.00). I add a Jiko salad, but that brings the bill over 30.00.
Chef's de France, Alsace tarte (12.99) and lobster bisque or onion soup (8.99)

 

[sharonabe]

Thanks for the idea! I hadn't perused the apps in a while, and it was fun to go to see what I might order with your restrictions. Confession: a couple of these are $21, but hoping for a little grace there.

Skippers: we actually did this on our last trip for a date night. My choice is CACHAPAS with any of the other apps, but you have to try the cachapas. One of the very best apps I've ever had anywhere. We did not care for the noodle salad, but the falafel and hot and sour soup were both good too.

La Hacienda: Pork Empanadas or Gorditas with either the corn soup or the house salad

Coral Reef: Calamari, Seafood Salad, or Seasonal salad with either lobster bisque or seasonal soup (I think this is one that goes just over your $20)

50s: Grandpa's crabcake with either chicken noodle soup or the wedge salad.

 

[amyecpa]

This is not all that rounded, but the ahi tuna nachos ($16 or so) at Yak and Yeti are amazing and huge.

 

[quandrea]

Yak and Yeti has lettuce roll ups that are lovely. Meat, veggies, a nice sauce. Very healthy meal.

 

[shocker]

Last time I went to Le Cellier I wasn't in the mood for a big steak so I got a bowl of the cheese soup and an order of the poutine. Between the heaviness of the soup and all the pretzel rolls, I was stuffed. That was about $18.

Yummmm, I like this idea. A cup of cheese soup followed up by a maple creme brulee puts me in at $20. I also see they have a Maine lobster mac-n-cheese for $18. Wonder if that could make a whole meal, especially a lunch idea?

 

[shocker]

I think your $20 limit is a bit too low given that many apps are more than $10 each; $25 would open it up a lot.

A few favorites:
Yak & Yeti dim sum basket (15.99) and won ton soup (5.49)
Skipper Canteen, Shu Mai and Shiriki noodle salad (11.00 ea)
Brown Derby App size Cobb salad and soup (11.00 ea)
Morimoto Asia, anything on the $8 lounge menu, especially the sliders and/or $12-$13 sushi rolls.
Sanaa bread service with all 9 accompaniments (15.00) and salad sampler (9.00). Really too much food for one, but sooo good.
Jiko, wild boar tenderloin (19.00). I add a Jiko salad, but that brings the bill over 30.00.
Chef's de France, Alsace tarte (12.99) and lobster bisque or onion soup (8.99)

I love the AKL suggestions. I went and looked at photos of the dishes and they look totally doable.

Thanks for the idea! I hadn't perused the apps in a while, and it was fun to go to see what I might order with your restrictions. Confession: a couple of these are $21, but hoping for a little grace there.

Skippers: we actually did this on our last trip for a date night. My choice is CACHAPAS with any of the other apps, but you have to try the cachapas. One of the very best apps I've ever had anywhere. We did not care for the noodle salad, but the falafel and hot and sour soup were both good too.

La Hacienda: Pork Empanadas or Gorditas with either the corn soup or the house salad

Coral Reef: Calamari, Seafood Salad, or Seasonal salad with either lobster bisque or seasonal soup (I think this is one that goes just over your $20)

50s: Grandpa's crabcake with either chicken noodle soup or the wedge salad.

I looked at La Hacienda and loved the combination of mix-n-match within those four options to put me in at $20. The avocado on that salad should make it quite filling.

 

[sharonabe]

Yummmm, I like this idea. A cup of cheese soup followed up by a maple creme brulee puts me in at $20. I also see they have a Maine lobster mac-n-cheese for $18. Wonder if that could make a whole meal, especially a lunch idea?

The sides you see at most of the signature restaurants are meant to be shared, so I would think it could easily make a meal for one.

 

[shocker]

This is not all that rounded, but the ahi tuna nachos ($16 or so) at Yak and Yeti are amazing and huge.

Yak and Yeti has lettuce roll ups that are lovely. Meat, veggies, a nice sauce. Very healthy meal.

A few favorites:
Yak & Yeti dim sum basket (15.99) and won ton soup (5.49)

Got a couple nods for Yak & Yeti and I did have one of my best onsite meals when we used DDP. I could totally see ordering one of the bigger apps here such as the Dim Sum for 2, an order of Pork Egg Rolls, and a Fried Wontons dessert that could feed 2 people for under $40. Now, if I could just find someone else that's likes to share and sample apps for their meal.

I don't know, the Firecracker shrimp looks like a hefty portion size and match that up with a wonton soup, puts me in at $17 and lots of delectable choices.

 

[quandrea]

Yummmm, I like this idea. A cup of cheese soup followed up by a maple creme brulee puts me in at $20. I also see they have a Maine lobster mac-n-cheese for $18. Wonder if that could make a whole meal, especially a lunch idea?

That meal might actually get me into Le Cellier without having to remortgage the house.

 

[shocker]

Skippers: we actually did this on our last trip for a date night. My choice is CACHAPAS with any of the other apps, but you have to try the cachapas. One of the very best apps I've ever had anywhere. We did not care for the noodle salad, but the falafel and hot and sour soup were both good too.

Yes! This is what I was looking at when I got the idea to start this thread (see OP)! Haven't had them yet, but I've sure SEEN them.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

It was over your $20 limit, but last week I had a bowl of lobster bisque along with the crab cake appetizer at Coral Reef and was very happy with my meal. It was much better than I expected and I didn't feel like I had missed out on an entree.

 

[HopperFan]

We love to do this
as many of the appetizers are
more appealing than the entrees.

And we eat lighter and save some money.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

The bar/grill at Hurricane Hannah’s at Stormalong Bay Pool at the Beach Club: seared tuna appetizer (which is served on a bed of nicely dressed greens, Asian slaw) and a side of French fries.

TuneIn Lounge in Hollywood Studios: chicken noodle soup and iceburg wedge salad.

 

[Disney_Alli]

I don't remember the exact price point but in December I had the octopus and the crab cakes at Coral Reef for a delightful lunch

 

[starousse]

Yummmm, I like this idea. A cup of cheese soup followed up by a maple creme brulee puts me in at $20. I also see they have a Maine lobster mac-n-cheese for $18. Wonder if that could make a whole meal, especially a lunch idea?

Funny you say that. We're going back in August and Le Cellier is one of his must dos. I was thinking of doing the soup and mac and cheese.

 

[TinkTank01]

This is a great thread and I love the ideas! Sharing appetizers for meals gives you a chance to try more foods and is is much more flexible.

 

[shocker]

I don't remember the exact price point but in December I had the octopus and the crab cakes at Coral Reef for a delightful lunch

The name alone sounds expensive...$27.

Keep 'em comin' though, love hearing about your experiences.

 

[DisBuckMan]

We eat apps as meals all the time, simply because some of them look more appealing than the entrees at some restaurants, or we just may not be that hungry, etc....

We don't really pay attention to the price, though. We just order what we're in the mood to eat.