My wife and at least one of my two daughters would eat at Chefs every visit if possible. It is refined but very approachable. Last time we went, we sat next to a couple of guys who were finishing up their dessert and they just kept going on and on and on about how wonderful both the meal and the service were. We have been four or five times at this point, and we've never left disappointed.
On the flip side, Biergarten has recently become a favorite, too. My wife got sick there as a little girl (through no fault of the restaurant) and had been avoiding it for years. We were going to Epcot with some friends and somehow ended up agreeing to eat there. Our girls (9 and 12 at the time) absolutely loved it and actually asked why we had been hiding Biergarten from them their whole lives. We have since been back, as my wife also realized she enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere.
As an arrival day meal, I would be tempted to hit Biergarten, if only for the more festive nature of it -- to sort of get you in the Disney mood. Buffet has lots of options (not just sausages and kraut), so 17 year old daughter would find something she likes and, if the 14 year old boy is like most, he could do some serious damage at this buffet! Of course, my wife would send you directly to Chefs. Either place is a good choice in our minds.
