Ariels Grotto or Goofy's Kitchen?

[mechurchlady]

I like the food and the menu as it is easy to read and follow plus offers dishes that appeal to many different people. There are religious groups that do not eat red meat or are vegetarian as well as people who medically cannot eat certain meats and the vegetarians. It is a simple menu for the kitchen also. The sides can be made in bulk and the chefs only have to do special diet stuff and make the entree. No making sandwiches which are time consuming.

cooking lesson
Bilbao sausage - From the city of Bilbao, located in the Basque area of Spain.
Normally it is naturally air-dried and contains paprika for the red color, garlic and spices.

 

[laadidaa]

Hello,

Please can you more experienced Disniers give me your top 5 reccommendations in regards to Ariel's Grotto and also advise (i know this sounds silly), but how to book? I would also like to know the location of the Grotto.

Thanks,
newbie

 

[mechurchlady]

Hello,

Please can you more experienced Disniers give me your top 5 reccommendations in regards to Ariel's Grotto and also advise (i know this sounds silly), but how to book? I would also like to know the location of the Grotto.

Thanks,
newbie

You call Disney Dining to reserve.
It is located in DCA and is on the boardwalk. It overlooks the Bay and is on the east side of the Boardwalk.

 

[pixiewings71]

Laurie wouldn't you be able to ask them for no sauce or sauce on the side and bring your own tartar? If that's what you wanted anyway.

I had the pasta dish....it was delicious!!!!!! I did not want to share it with my sweetie but I gave him a bite or two.

laadidaa the menu at AG doesn't have that many choices so it's hard to do a top 5. My tops picks would be the pasta, the ciopinno and the tri tip. But those are the only things I've tried off the new menu so that's why I went with those.

 

[BunnieGene]

Another question from an AG newby...do you request indoor vs outdoor seating when you make the ressie or when you check in? I have a reservation for our upcoming trip and wasn't asked for a preference...I don't mind paying extra for indoors if it's worth it being away from the construction...

 

[mechurchlady]

Laurie wouldn't you be able to ask them for no sauce or sauce on the side and bring your own tartar? If that's what you wanted anyway.

I had the pasta dish....it was delicious!!!!!! I did not want to share it with my sweetie but I gave him a bite or two.

laadidaa the menu at AG doesn't have that many choices so it's hard to do a top 5. My tops picks would be the pasta, the ciopinno and the tri tip. But those are the only things I've tried off the new menu so that's why I went with those.

Yep but I was laughing that they took a nice piece of meat and turned it into a sandwich then used "tangy sauce" instead of tartar sauce. I know what tartar sauce is but like what is tangy sauce? I heard of tangy tomatos and tangy barbecue but just wondering.

Yes. the chefs at Ariel are the best chefs at DLR except for Yamabuki which closed. They will talk with the guest and customize the menu for the guest who has food issues. I did the Ariel's Grotto with the divas then went back later that week for the tri tip again. I love using savories and herbs so when I got that tasty meat I was in heaven. Ariel's is like WDW as far as special diets goes. I love tartar sauce because of the pickle bits in it but am not supposed to eat it because of the eggs. It is a sensory thing with the pickle bits. I wish I was rich so I could eat there once a week.

 

[ballarinamom]

Another question from an AG newby...do you request indoor vs outdoor seating when you make the ressie or when you check in? I have a reservation for our upcoming trip and wasn't asked for a preference...I don't mind paying extra for indoors if it's worth it being away from the construction...

They should have asked you when you made your PS. It is and addtional $2 to sit inside. We had vouchers so it didn't matter. WE could sit in either place. We chose outside during our Thanksgiving trip. The lake was drained but we had not construction issues.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Anyone know how good the food is for dinner at GK? We've always done breakfast, and liked it. This will be the first time for dinner, so I'm kinda concerned on if we'll like the food or not!

 

[esc38372]

Another question from an AG newby...do you request indoor vs outdoor seating when you make the ressie or when you check in? I have a reservation for our upcoming trip and wasn't asked for a preference...I don't mind paying extra for indoors if it's worth it being away from the construction...

Indoor seating is much nicer, IMHO. You get more of an atmosphere feeling because AG's interior is decorated in an "under-the-sea" theme. Outside is the drained lagoon and less exciting.

When I made PS, the reservations person originally didn't ask me for inside/outside seating either. I asked her about that, and she told me she just automatically put me for inside seating since that's what most people prefer. If I were you, I would call back and make sure your PS is for inside seating. If you wait until check-in time and find that your PS is for outside seating, you may not be able to choose inside seating.

And yes, the vouchers are great--they cover the additional fees for inside seating too--highly recommended!

 

[BunnieGene]

Thank you ballerinamom and esc38372 ...I will call back today and request indoor seating

 

[californiamomof4grls]

I am so glad that I read this thread DH and I were just talking about how AG got bad "reviews" on here and we were thinking about canceling. BUT now I am going to give it a try it sounds like the have made some good changes! Now I am SO excited!! Wahoo! 17 days to go!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

Another question from an AG newby...do you request indoor vs outdoor seating when you make the ressie or when you check in? I have a reservation for our upcoming trip and wasn't asked for a preference...I don't mind paying extra for indoors if it's worth it being away from the construction...

Hmmm, I think you automatically get indoor when you make a PS. Every time we've had a PS we've had indoor, when we do walk up we get outside seating. Call to make sure tho.

Yep but I was laughing that they took a nice piece of meat and turned it into a sandwich then used "tangy sauce" instead of tartar sauce. I know what tartar sauce is but like what is tangy sauce? I heard of tangy tomatos and tangy barbecue but just wondering.

Yes. the chefs at Ariel are the best chefs at DLR except for Yamabuki which closed. They will talk with the guest and customize the menu for the guest who has food issues. I did the Ariel's Grotto with the divas then went back later that week for the tri tip again. I love using savories and herbs so when I got that tasty meat I was in heaven. Ariel's is like WDW as far as special diets goes. I love tartar sauce because of the pickle bits in it but am not supposed to eat it because of the eggs. It is a sensory thing with the pickle bits. I wish I was rich so I could eat there once a week.

Oh gotcha, I don't know what that might be and since I've never had that item off the menu I couldn't begin to tell you. LOL I don't like tartar sauce, even tho I love pickles I just don't like the taste of tartar sauce. lol I'm with you on the rich thing....I wish I could eat there every trip but nope, can't afford that one!

I am so glad that I read this thread DH and I were just talking about how AG got bad "reviews" on here and we were thinking about canceling. BUT now I am going to give it a try it sounds like the have made some good changes! Now I am SO excited!! Wahoo! 17 days to go!!!

Good, I hope you have a GREAT time there!

 

[BunnieGene]

Hmmm, I think you automatically get indoor when you make a PS. Every time we've had a PS we've had indoor, when we do walk up we get outside seating. Call to make sure tho.

You must be right pixiewings71; when I called yesterday I was told that we already have indoor seating

 

[Vala]

I am not a seafood lover but I must say that the pasta dish and the chicken breast dish look delicious from those descriptions! I think it makes sense that they serve several seafood dishes, however, given the location in DCA and given the 'under the sea' theme.

I did choose the chicken breast as entree last year and can confirm it tastes delicious too.

The food definitely improved since we went in 2007. My room mate actually said we'd go back next year and she'll cope with the princesses because the food was so good.

 

[ballarinamom]

Anyone know how good the food is for dinner at GK? We've always done breakfast, and liked it. This will be the first time for dinner, so I'm kinda concerned on if we'll like the food or not!

We prefer GK for dinner. We take the monorail over from DL. It's rather dim- not dark- and not too crazy. DH can have a beer and the prime rib is awesome!

 

[Sherry E]

I did choose the chicken breast as entree last year and can confirm it tastes delicious too.

The food definitely improved since we went in 2007. My room mate actually said we'd go back next year and she'll cope with the princesses because the food was so good.

I would be like your roommate! I have ZERO interest in Princesses - zilch! But if the food was REALLY good, then I would put up with them! Any other characters I will jump in pictures with - even furry ones or rare villains whose identities escape me. But an all-Princess meal seems like it would be agony to me! The only thing is, I would love to see the inside of the restaurant and the under the sea theme (especially since it was orginally Avalon Cove, which was based on Catalina Island, my other favorite SoCal destination!), and some of the food does sound quite tasty. Plus, I really like that location of the restaurant - especially when there is water to look out over. That doesn't mean I am going to skip going to Goofy's Kitchen next trip - no way - but I can add in other meals here and there, depending on which groups of people I am with!

 

[pixiewings71]

Sherry, next time you go just ask if you can see the interior. Tell them you don't want to eat, you just want to see what it looks like. I bet they'd let you in.

 

[Vala]

I would be like your roommate! I have ZERO interest in Princesses - zilch! But if the food was REALLY good, then I would put up with them! Any other characters I will jump in pictures with - even furry ones or rare villains whose identities escape me. But an all-Princess meal seems like it would be agony to me!

I wouldn't call it agony in my case. But I'm really not that keen on princesses either. But I like the Ariel movie, even if it's mainly due to the sidekicks. I guess curiosity got the better of me, at least the first time. The second time we went back because of the menu change and I wanted to check it out for a friend of mine, and also because I really liked the theme of the restaurant.

The only thing is, I would love to see the inside of the restaurant and the under the sea theme (especially since it was orginally Avalon Cove, which was based on Catalina Island, my other favorite SoCal destination!), and some of the food does sound quite tasty. Plus, I really like that location of the restaurant - especially when there is water to look out over. That doesn't mean I am going to skip going to Goofy's Kitchen next trip - no way - but I can add in other meals here and there, depending on which groups of people I am with!

I'm beginning to think I will have to get a car one day in November and kidnap you for a character meal.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We prefer GK for dinner. We take the monorail over from DL. It's rather dim- not dark- and not too crazy. DH can have a beer and the prime rib is awesome!

Good to hear, makes me feel better about our choice! Gotta love Prime rib too!

 

[Sherry E]

I wouldn't call it agony in my case. But I'm really not that keen on princesses either. But I like the Ariel movie, even if it's mainly due to the sidekicks. I guess curiosity got the better of me, at least the first time. The second time we went back because of the menu change and I wanted to check it out for a friend of mine, and also because I really liked the theme of the restaurant.

I'm beginning to think I will have to get a car one day in November and kidnap you for a character meal.

Well, at least I know we would be on the same page as far as Goofy's goes! But I am also curious to try Lilo and Stitch and Minnie and Friends. I have a feeling when my friends get out here in October, Minnie and her friends will be on the agenda so I can cross that one off the list!