Best Buffets in the World .

[MarkinNM]

Ok fellow DIS’ers, sorry if this has been talked about before, but we are going in Sept with FD and am wondering what in your humble opinions are the BEST buffet for

1) Best Food
2) Best Service
3) Funest time
4) Best overall experience
5) Worst Food/worst experience (thanks vcgirl925)

Please be as detailed as you want, I want some ideas on where to eat and why, thanks for your help!!!


Forgot to mention that my kids are 12(son) & 16(daughter), son eats non-stop, daughter can be a picky eater at times but is very open to try new things!

 

[vcgirl925]

First I'll let you know which buffets we've done.

Boma (Dinner)
Crystal Palace (Breakfast)
1900 Park Fare (Breakfast)
Chef Mickey's (Breakfast)
Hollywood and Vine (Lunch)
Garden Grill - Family style no buffet (Dinner)
Mickey's Backyard BBQ

Out of those i would say:

1) Best Food

Boma! No question, no competition. Food was delicious, huge variety, and very very fresh.

2) Best Service

Well it's all buffet, so there really isn't much of service. All they do is remove your plates. So as for service it's all the same, IMO.

3) Funnest time

Out of the character meals Mickey's BBQ was the best time. Food was GREAT, Show was good, Character interaction was good. We also enjoyed all the other Character meals except garden grill.
4) Best overall experience

We loved Boma and it will be a staple for us each time we go.

****

5) Worst Food/worst experience

Garden Grill...food inedible and character interaction was just so/so.

 

[MarkinNM]

I keep hearing about Boma, what kind of food was it??

 

[chalee94]

I keep hearing about Boma, what kind of food was it??

i haven't tried the other buffets (not since norway at epcot over a decade ago) but i would recommend boma also. as for the type of food:

Boma is a family restaurant serving breakfast and dinner. It will capture the essence of vibrant life in the African marketplace. This family-fun buffet restaurant provides guests the ability to savor the African experience, which has multicultural influences. The restaurant showcases an exhibit kitchen, wood-burning grill and rotisserie.

The dinner menu changes daily. This listing gives you an idea of the types of foods, over 60 items offered.

African Breads

Mixed Field Greens:
Mango Vinaigrette, Paw Paw Vinaigrette,
Chili Cilantro Vinaigrette, Balsamic Vinaigrette
Potato Salad
Fresh Fruit

Pasta Salad
Watermelon Rind Salad
Kool Slaai
Chicken Salad with Chili Cilantro
Moroccan Seafood Salad - Couscous, mussels, scallops and shrimp

Avocado, Grapefruit, Papaya, Curry Cucumber Salad, Spinach and Beet Salad

Macaroni and Cheese
Saffron Rice

African Soups and Stews:
Chicken Corn Porridge
Smoked Tomato Soup

Sweet Potato Pancakes
Vegetable Lentil Kofta
Pap
Braised Greens
FuFu
Potatoes with Afritude

Durban Spiced Roasted Chicken
Malabu Pepper Steak

Grilled Seafood

Wood Roasted Meats

Vegetable Skewers
Chicken Pepper Pot
Coconut Curried Chicken Soup
Curried Coconut Seafood Stew
Couscous Marrakesh

Chicken Tenders
Spaghetti and Meatballs

Wonderful Dessert Buffet including:
Zebra Domes
Simba Paw Prints

 

[WALTSAGOD]

Whispering Canyon

Good food with LOTS of funny and intertaining activity.

 

[littlemarmalade]

Same here. My best buffet pick would be at Boma, not only for breakfast and lunch, but dinner as well.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I think we've eaten at every Disney buffet, and all family style spots ('Ohana, WC, Garden Grill, Liberty Tree Tavern) except the Swan and Dolphin offerings. Oh, and Tusker House, since its transition from CS.

Boma is our very favorite, without question. See a theme emerging here?

I haven't had a bad experience at any of them. Not a one. The last time we went to Hollywood & Vine, it wasn't awful, or really even bad, but it did have sort of a "bulk loading" feel. It was OK, 'nuttin special.

One visit to Chef Mickey's a while back was just a tad off ... I think the bus staff was on strike, because tables, floors, and the buffet area were a mess. Some of that due to kids running wild, methinks.

But we like Bomas, of course, and Cape May Cafe would be in second. Next would be 1900 Park Faire and then Crystal Palace.

Funnest time? Not a buffet, but Whispering Canyon has always been a real hoot for us. Some folks report not having such a good time, but maybe that's due to an off night. And some people just don't like a heaping helping of antics served along with their meals.

 

[MickeyNicki]

1) Best Food Cape May Clambake and Boma breakfast
2) Best Service Boma
3) Funest time Beirgarten
4) Best overall experience Boma Breakfast
5) Worst Food/worst experience 1900 PF breakfast and dinner, Chef Mickeys dinner and H&V dinner

 

[MarkinNM]

WOW, looks like Boma's is a MUST followed by

Whispering Canyon Cafe, Ohana's and looks like Cape May Cafe is emerging here as a favorite.

Thanks for ALL of your suggestions and KEEP THEM COMING.

Also for you seasoned DIS’ers whom have partaken of the WDW food AND making ADR’s (BOTH new to me) do you make the ARD’s THEN adjust your park planning OR make your park plans then ADR’s second?

 

[Dreamfinder2]

WOW, looks like Boma's is a MUST followed by

Whispering Canyon Cafe, Ohana's and looks like Cape May Cafe is emerging here as a favorite.

Thanks for ALL of your suggestions and KEEP THEM COMING.

Also for you seasoned DIS’ers whom have partaken of the WDW food AND making ADR’s (BOTH new to me) do you make the ARD’s THEN adjust your park planning OR make your park plans then ADR’s second?

Well, here's our tact - we find out which parks have Extra Magic Hours and avoid those. Even if the current calendars aren't out 90 days out, there are historical trends to watch.

Second, I look at charts which explain parks typically have the heaviest attendance on the days we're visiting, and I avoid those parks. Usually, the EMH and attendance numbers match. You can find those charts on www.touringplans.com, a fun site. Some of the features are free; full-featured info is available for a small fee, or you can purchase "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" and access all the features, too. Highly recommended!!

Then, finally, I call and make my ADRs. I've never, ever not gotten what I wanted on the first try, but if I didn't get what I wanted, I'd have a backup for that same park ready.

Works for us, but I'm sure you'll hear from folks with other strategies.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Tusker House character breakfast is the best buffet we've tried.

 

[webprinter]

1) Best Food: Biergarten
2) Best Service Boma
3) Funest time Beirgarten
4) Best overall experience Biergarten
5) Worst Food/worst experience: Crystal Palace for DH Boma for me

We haven't really had a "bad" experience but breakfast at Cape May was cold. Crystal Palace was too "ordinary and not enough variety" for DH (he like meat and gravy) and I was not fond of the spices at Boma (a personal opinion as DH and DD loved the spices). We all three love the Biergarten.

DD has been to the Biergarten twice as a teenager once in Jr High and once in HS and enjoyed it both times. In fact, she requested to go there and is a picky eater.

 

[loonytoony]

Tusker House Breakfast has the best food, service and Characters

 

[GailT]

1900 Park Fare breakfast

 

[gigi729]

Our favorite buffets for dinner are Boma and Cape May Clambake definitely! Favorite breakfast is Crystal Palace, we do this every trip! The most fun buffet in our opinion is 1900 PF dinner with Cinderella. The step sisters are soooo funny! We loved the interaction, even our 10 yr old nephew who was not very into this dinner, had a good time. The worst buffet we had was H&V, definitely would not recommend, there are too many other good ones out there!

 

[katmittens]

Best Food - Cape May or Boma for dinner depending on you food preference.
Best Food - Boma for breakfast. Love the juice and food is always fresh.
Best Service - Have good and bad service at all buffets.
Most Fun - Chef Mickey's chararacters always around and the napkin twirl.
Worst Food - Crystal Palace.

 

[JennSaint]

Breakfast we like Tusker House and Boma.
Dinner we like Ohana's and Boma.
Whispering Canyon was alot of fun but we thought the food was just ok.

 

[vettegirl]

Biergarten is amazing!

 

[MarkinNM]

Please tell me more about Cape May ??

My family LOVES Seafood, is it that good?

 

[GovieMom]

Please tell me more about Cape May ??

My family LOVES Seafood, is it that good?

I would also like to hear what types of food are offered at the Cape May Clambake. Anyone ... ?