Best Restaurant for a Young Couple?

[SpartanMouse]

So, I'm planning a wdw trip with my bf this Spring, and he's pretty new to Disney. I'm the DIS "expert" of the two of us, but in terms of restaurants, I could use some suggestions. (I've always been a fan of the turkey leg )

Basically, I'm looking for a good date place. (Maybe he'll propose? just kidding) Disney must have tons of them, any suggestions??

THANKS!


(Young = 20s, hah, in case of ambiguity)

 

[N10CJT]

For me, it's California Grill. Really good sushi (from a NYC bred sushi snob), or a fine menu with interesting items. Great wine list. Beautiful setting, and you can go out on the observation deck (or stay in your seats) to watch Wishes, which is very special from there.
Obviously Victoria & Albert's is a great idea if you can bear the cost (I've never had occasion to dine there, unfortunately). Hey, if he's going to propose, it's likely to be there.
Yauchtsman Steakhouse is also good for steak lovers. We had really good lobster bisque there (Northeasterners here that are saying this!), and chateubriand (for two) which was also quite good. I thought the atmosphere was really nice, as well, though not as romantic as California Grill. Others may disagree, however, as it is much, much quieter.... I just think the moment on the deck with the fireworks is really special.
Jiko can also be romantic, particularly if you get a table by the window. If you go in the early evening, you can walk around the savannah's observation decks and watch the animals, then go in for some fantastic food and an amazing and completely reasonable wine list (the largest list of South African wines in the country). Unfortunately we arrived well after dark, exhausted and a bit damp from Kali River Rapids, so the mood wasn't altogether set for romance!
I've also heard Narcoosee's is really nice, as well, though I've never eaten there.
Have fun!

 

[gismo1554]

If you're looking for in a park Chef De France is nice as its kinda quiet and if you get a window table its nice

i would say somewhere like Citricos is good or perhaps Flying Fish Cafe. Never eaten at either but heard good things about both. I love Yachtsman Steakhouse.

 

[engle]

What about a Cinderella's Royal Table...for any meal! You could have some character interaction...which for a young guy is usually hokie but with all those princesses would be fun!! My DH had a ball there! He liked the food too! Plus, dining in the castle is fun and has an edge of romance even though there are lots of kids.

My other suggestion would be V&A but that is WAY the other extreme. VERY expensive but VERY romantic and perfect for a date like this. You gotta be a foodie somewhat and be willing to spend time and money. It's a 3 hour dinner and a $300 drop of cash...easy.

 

[yitbos96bb]

So, I'm planning a wdw trip with my bf this Spring, and he's pretty new to Disney. I'm the DIS "expert" of the two of us, but in terms of restaurants, I could use some suggestions. (I've always been a fan of the turkey leg )

Basically, I'm looking for a good date place. (Maybe he'll propose? just kidding) Disney must have tons of them, any suggestions??

THANKS!


(Young = 20s, hah, in case of ambiguity)

I'd go with Cali Grill, Artist Point, Le Cellier, Citricos, Narcoosee's, or Jiko would all be very nice. Of those, Cali and Jiko would be my top picks for you.

If you don't mind spending the money... Victoria and Alberts is by far the most intimate and romantic on property... but the food is gourmet which some people don't care for or have the palatte for, and expensive... I think its $125 per person and $50 per person for the wine pairing.

 

[yitbos96bb]

What about a Cinderella's Royal Table...for any meal! You could have some character interaction...which for a young guy is usually hokie but with all those princesses would be fun!! My DH had a ball there! He liked the food too! Plus, dining in the castle is fun and has an edge of romance even though there are lots of kids.

My other suggestion would be V&A but that is WAY the other extreme. VERY expensive but VERY romantic and perfect for a date like this. You gotta be a foodie somewhat and be willing to spend time and money. It's a 3 hour dinner and a $300 drop of cash...easy.

I'm not sure a character dinner surrounded by young kids is ideal for a date place. Fun to go, sure... but not as a date place... which I would take by her post that she is looking for more romantic.

 

[yitbos96bb]

If you're looking for in a park Chef De France is nice as its kinda quiet and if you get a window table its nice

i would say somewhere like Citricos is good or perhaps Flying Fish Cafe. Never eaten at either but heard good things about both. I love Yachtsman Steakhouse.

I forgot about Les Chefs.. I always find it noisy, but not a bad place... maybe Bistro de Paris... Better food, IMHO and quieter.. but of course more expensive.

 

[SpartanMouse]

How far in advance do I have to make reservations for Cali grill?

 

[sarcasticblonde]

My DF and I are 24/25 respectively and in our last two trips to WDW we have eaten at the following "nice" date restaurants:

Jiko (AK Lodge)
California Grill (Contemporary)
bluezoo (Dolphin)

All three were very cozy...and the food at all three were delicious! They all also have great ambiance, wine and service.

Of course, at California Grill and Jiko, we ran into small, fussy children (hey, it's Disney World) but bluezoo was child free. That was nice too.

For our next trip in October '08 we are going to hit up Narcoosees, Flying Fish Cafe and possibly Citricos.

 

[heatherlynn444]

my DH and I love Narcoossees, GF cafe, and coral reef the best! have fun!

 

[N10CJT]

If you're looking for in a park Chef De France is nice as its kinda quiet and if you get a window table its nice

i would say somewhere like Citricos is good or perhaps Flying Fish Cafe. Never eaten at either but heard good things about both. I love Yachtsman Steakhouse.

Good point. Though Bistro de Paris upstairs might be better. Quieter, etc.

Citroco's I haven't been to. I thought Flying Fish had great food, but there were issues that probably make it potentially unsuited for a date. Here's what I wrote about it a few days ago:

I had dinner at Flying Fish a week and a half ago.
The food was fantastic. The snapper was very tasty, my girlfriend loved her scallops, and I found the calamari to be really well done (light and crispy, full of flavor, one of the better preparations of this I've had).
The space could be nice, but I thought they tried to pack too many people in. Our party had 5 people, and were seated at a table for 4. I had to sit on the edge, with one of the convenience stations over my left shoulder. I was crowded (fortunately I didn't want wine that night, otherwise I don't know how we'd have managed), and it was really invasive to have servers clanking water pitchers next to my ear around all night. For the type of establishment it is and the prices they charge, I thought this was a poor way to be treated.
Our server was decent, though, and the service was generally well spaced and efficient. Though at one time I needed a refill on my water glass for a noticable time, which made me quip about the difficulties in transporting water across so vast an area without having the ice melt....
As a final note, I'll mention that they really need to lock the door to the candy store. When it rains, dozens of people cut through the shops and into the restaurant, and many decide to wait out the weather at this, the end of the line. The waiting area is very small as it is, and it's somewhat unpleasant to have crowds of damp people pushing their way through, and even more so to have people shoulder-to-shoulder in a confluence of table-waiting and weather-waiting!
Still, this is one place I'd go back to. Considering the situation, this speaks to the quality of the food I ate there.......

 

[N10CJT]

How far in advance do I have to make reservations for Cali grill?

Well, I don't know what it's like during the spring, but it is pretty popular. I'd go ahead and make them now.... you can always change them in the weeks ahead if you find that you'd prefer a different day. Just make sure to find out the specific time of the fireworks for that night so that you are certain to be up there at that time.

 

[Sandi]

How far in advance do I have to make reservations for Cali grill?

Hey fellow Spartan --- If you're going during Spring Break time, make your reservation NOW!!!! California Grill is very popular and the best times (around fireworks time) are snapped up at the 180 day mark.

I also like Narcoose's, Artist Point, and Jiko for a date dinner.

These are all pretty expensive restaurants, but they are absolutely wonderful.

 

[Disneychix]

Narcoosees and Artist Point for romance. Yachtsmans for a very very good steak. Blue Zoo because it's generally kid free and very cool.

 

[JMD]

California Grill

 

[mintyamy]

My BF and I are going in 29 days to be exact. We also are a young couple, 21 and 22. We have picked Concousre Steakhouse, Rose and Crown, 50's prime time, Cap'n Jacks, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Hoop De Doo. We stayed away from character meals, (except Liberty tree,we live the food), there are usually a lot of kids. And we definitely are staying away from Cinderellas Royal Table. It's not worth 2 table service credits with kids swinging their swords around. Just review menus and eat where you'll like the food, and for us, drinks. lol. Have fun!!

 

[SpartanMouse]

Ha, actually, when I mentioned possibly planning a nice dinner, he said "No characters please."

 

[yitbos96bb]

My BF and I are going in 29 days to be exact. We also are a young couple, 21 and 22. We have picked Concousre Steakhouse, Rose and Crown, 50's prime time, Cap'n Jacks, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Hoop De Doo. We stayed away from character meals, (except Liberty tree,we live the food), there are usually a lot of kids. And we definitely are staying away from Cinderellas Royal Table. It's not worth 2 table service credits with kids swinging their swords around. Just review menus and eat where you'll like the food, and for us, drinks. lol. Have fun!!

Based on Experience, if you have an issue with the shorties, you might want to re-think Hoop De Doo... It's been a few years, but I remember that being pretty heavy on the kids and families.

 

[yitbos96bb]

How far in advance do I have to make reservations for Cali grill?

I'd call at 180 and ask for Fireworks time... Then try and get a seat by the window... IT is AWESOME. We love Cali and go everytime.

 

[jonestavern]

We like the Brown Derby, especially if you favor a martini!

We enjoyed a long lunch there just 2 weeks ago and the food is super.
The waitstaff was attentive & the menu varied.
The room was not crowded (I second that for Flying Fish, which, speaking of fish, I thought everyone was packed in there like sardines!)
At the Brown Derby, DH & I were seated in one of the many curved 'leather' banquettes, which just was so cozy. The meal was not hurried and our server, Ashley, was excellent.
We do make ADRs for 'off' times, either at opening or after the meal rushes.


Jean