Best Suprise and Biggest Disappoinment?

[Kata]

I am wondering what retaurant you have tried that you didn't expect to enjoy as much as you did and what what didn't meet your expectations?
I really enjoyed Concourse Steakhouse alot and I am looking forward to dining there at atleast one more time before they close. I also decided to try Spoodles on the spur of the moment and payed OOP even though I was on the dining plan. I wasn't happy with my steak and didn't eat much of it,but my waiter didn't even ask how I liked my meal,he just took away my plate. This was the worst WDW dining choice I have made.Please share your WDW dining highs and lows.
Thanks!!!!!!!!

 

[lynninpa]

Knowing little about Raglan Road, we made ADRs for there on our last trip. What a wonderful surprise! The food, the service and the atmposhere were all great! So much, in fact, we ate there twice that trip.
Our biggest disappointment was Chefs de France. Although the atmopshere was great and the sevice was very good, the food, except for the flatbread, was horrid. Cold, tinny tasting and the the lamb was mostly gristle. The seafood dishes were cold, bland and dry.

 

[Joanna71985]

Ones that I have tried and been pleasently surprised with have been CRT lunch and LTT dinner. I had done breakfast once and then tried to book it again for my birthday 3 years ago. They didn't have breakfast but did have lunch (this was right around the time when they just started doing lunch as a character meal). It was great. I absolutely loved the food. And I now have done it 3 years in a row. Same goes for LTT. I had never done it before when my friend invited me to go with her. I had so much fun that I now do it at least once every trip.

One that I tried but was not too impressed with was P&D breakfast. The interaction was good, but not too happy with the food. I am considering doing the lunch to see if it is any better.

 

[simonkodousek]

Surprised: Le Cellier

Even with all the bad reviews of this restaurant, I still chose Le Cellier for lunch in July. I was plesantly surprised by an excellent waiter (Patrick), quick service, and good food. However, the portions were very small. I ordered the 5 oz. filet mignon and knew what I was getting into, but I was shocked that there was only a very small amount of parmesan mashed potatoes.

Shocked:

Definately Biergarten. We had an excellent lunch there in 2004, but I was shocked by how bad it was. Most of the food was cold and bland, and some was not getting refilled. Worse yet, our waitress completely ignored us for the entire meal. She came by once and asked how we were. I asked for a refill of Diet Coke. She took my mug but never came back. Next, I saw her talking to the matire'd (sp?).

 

[LAinSEA]

First let me state that I am not usually impressed by buffets and actually avoid them when I can, but my parents, sis and nieces booked the Fantasmic package at Hollywood & Vine for us in August. We were among the first tables seated for dinner and it was fabulous! Great choices, interesting selections (the green mussels and endive salad were excellent!) All the food was hot, fresh, re-stocked quickly and the place was kept spotlessly clean (my pet peeve about buffets). Overall, I was impressed! --the restroom shared with Primetime was kind of scarey...at what age should young men be allowed to use the men's restroom anyway...these boy's looked almost old enough to shave!

Sunshine Seasons was also fabulous! Great choices, original food from a counter-service place! All I can say is WOW!

Disappointment: Ohana--the food was actually very good, but the meal was so rushed and all the food landed at once that we couldn't enjoy it course-by-course. If things had not been so rushed I know my parents wouldn't have been so disappointed--it, along with Whispering Canyon is a favorite they wanted to share with everyone.

Rainforest Cafe--Downtown Disney. I guess I am just picky; but I really do like my salad greens crisp and cold! and I haven't been to any Rainforest that seems to understand this concept...cold salad, cold plate!

 

[KatMark]

Surprise -- LeCellier -- did not think we would like it and it has become our favorite

Disappointment -- 3-way tie -- Boatrights (Dinner), Hollywood & Vine (Dinner) and Brown Derby. We had awful meals at all three; Hollywood & Vine was very dirty and they ran out of food and took forever to replenish; Brown Derby -- food was terrible and the server had no idea how to answer any of our questions about any of the items we ordered

 

[Fast Pass]

Biggest let down- Tutto Italia- The food is awful and the service was slow. Not to mention it is very, very, overpriced!
Biggest Suprise- Coral Reef- I have heard how nasty the food and the service was but I had wonderful food and fantastic service. The waitress was there the minute we needed anything. We actually tipped more than what she would have received on the dining plan gratuity system.

 

[Colleen27]

Best surprise: Grand Floridian Cafe, Aug '07. We were disappointed that the Cinderella dinner was held here instead of 1900 Park Fare, because we loved 1900PF the last time we were there, but this ended up being *so* much better! The food was amazing, and the restaurant is really cute.

Most disappointing: San Angel Inn, Oct 05. I love Mexican food, but I guess I'm spoiled by the excellent, authentic, quick, cheap Mexican place that I frequent in Detroit, because San Angel just didn't meet my expectations. The food was okay, but the menu didn't impress me, and the service was VERY slow. The atmosphere was the only redeeming quality - the kids loved eating "under the pyramid".

 

[marivaid]

Best Surprise : Nine Dragons. Booked it because I couldn't think of anything else, and it was one of our best meals of the week. Quiet, not rushed, very good food and beautiful restaurant.

Biggest Disappointment : 'Ohana dinner for the exact same reasons that someone else posted earlier... mostly being very rushed.

 

[DisMN]

Best Surprise: Alfredo's. We had avoided it for 5+ years because of all the bad reviews. Finally tried it and LOVED it. The service could be spotty here but the 4 meals we had at various hours of the day were ALL wonderfully prepared and very very good.

Biggest Disappointment: Don't really have one. Whatever a restaurant lacks in food quality is usually made up with fabulous atmosphere or personality......although Le Cellier used to be good, but our last few meals here have been somewhat disappointing. Food quality and prep seems to be down here but we seemed to notice that at ALL the places we ate at last January.

 

[DawnA401]

Biggest Disappointment

Alfredo's I am glad it is gone, I hope the new Italian place is better. The service was fine but the pasta was YUCK.

 

[themilesfamily]

Best Surprise:

1) The Rose & Crown -- I booked it because my husband's family is all from Great Britain and I knew he'd be into it -- but it wasn't a meal I was super-looking forward to. It ended up being a great surprise because they put us out on the patio for Illuminations and we had the BEST view of the fireworks while eating our dessert. Good fish & chips -- lots of beer. Fun.

2) Garden Grill -- I booked this solely for the convenience/location -- ended up LOVING the character meal -- great character interaction. Chip & Dale, Minnie & Farmer Mickey were awesome. It was a relaxing meal, watching the Land ride scenery. After a long morning at the parks, the thunderstorm & water sound from the Land ride about put me to sleep. Very comfy.

Biggest Disappointment:

None yet.

 

[SnowWitch]

June 2007

Biggest surprise......OHANA, my teenagers loved the food here. When items started arriving at a very fast pace I politelt requested for them to slow it down. Fromt hat point forward we were aksed if we were ready for the next round or needed extra. We booked it because we were staying at the Poly but were quite surprised we enjoyed it.

Biggest Let Down.....Coral Reef. We had great experiences during last years trip with Coral Reef. Not so this year, the cook got happy with the salt shaker and we waited over an hour past our adr. I can handle 30 minutes but an hour is just excessive.

 

[monkey11375]

Surprise: Prime Time Cafe. First time I went, I didn't really know very much about the theming, I was just told "you have to go" and I thought it was so much fun. Not to mention the food (ESPECIALLY the desserts) was really good. Prime Time and Biergarten are my must-dos every trip.

Disappointment: Sci-fi Drive-in. It was fun to sit in the "car" and all, but watching movie previews for an hour while eating fast food didn't really work for me. I'd say the Lotus Blossom in Epcot Chine, as well, but it's not a disappointment when you have no expectations going in.

 

[tortoni]

Best Surprise: Tony's Town Square. After reading a lot of bad reviews, we tried it anyway. We really enjoyed our lunch and had great service.

Biggest Disappointment. Spoodles had been our favorite for years. But after two bad dinners (both food and service) and one awful breakfast (batter in center of waffles not cooked), we sadly have given up.

 

[mickaholic4077]

Best surprise: Marrakesh;it was delicious!!

Biggest disappointment:Le Cellier-the portions were miniscule. Thank God we were on the free dining plan at the time.

 

[Pakey]

Best surprise: BOMA. DH and I do not do buffets but decided to try it based on reviews. Now it's a must-do every trip.

Biggest disappointment: Artist Pointe. It's not that it was bad but we didn't think it lived up to the hype.

 

[GoofyKidd]

We just returned last night and our best surprise was the one spontaneous meal we had-Concourse Steakhouse in the Contemporary. Fantastic Teriyaki wings and ribeye!

Biggest disappointment-Mama Melrose. Small portions, very DRY pasta, kids meals looked awful, no big surprise they didn't want to eat them.

 

[SplashMountainMama]

Biggest Surprise - 'Ohana - I had heard a lot of negative comments about the new menu last year, but we can't wait to go back again.

Biggest Disappointment - Whispering Canyon Cafe - we got a dud for a server and missed out on all of the antics. The let-down was partially our own fault as we had set such high expectations for how fun it was going to be. Food was also nothing special.

 

[DisneyLover75]

Biggest Surprise: Concourse Steakhouse! It was wonderful, from first course to the last. Service was great and food was as near to perfect as I've ever had! We're planning to go twice during this upcoming trip. I'll be really sorry to see it go.

Biggest Disappointment: Was the closing of Alfredo's. Soon to be followed by the closing of Concourse. Very irritating. They were my two favorite restaurants of all time.

It is to weep.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying watching everyone's replies.