Big River Grille or ESPN on the BW ?

[pooh2001]

We are looking for a quick place to eat on day 1.
We are not sure of our schedule, and do whatever on day 1.

Checking into the Dolphin around noon and want to use our Disney Gift Cards for our meals, so we must eat at WDW restuarants.

So for lunch on day 1, after we find out our room will not be ready till 3 or 4 pm, we want to do lunch. Or maybe we can get into our room and then do lunch around 1 or 2 pm.

The menu at the Big River Grill sounds great to our family, but no ADR's.
So does the ESPN menu, but on June23rd, our arrival date, there are many sports games, and we may not be able to get in. Again no ADR's available and we would not know our exact time to eat.

We like on the Big River Grille menu:
Big Brew Cheeseburger - 10-oz Choice aged ground sirloin, grilled to order and served with lettuce, tomato, and Kettle chips
and
Grilled Chicken Caesar - Marinated chicken served on a classic combination of romaine lettuce with creamy Caesar dressing.

We like on the ESPN menu:
Patriot Clam Chowder - Thick, Cream-based Chowder loaded with hearty clams and potatoes, accompanied with Oyster Crackers
and
Caesar Salad with Chicken - Classic Caesar Salad served with Garlic Croutons with chilled, Grilled Chicken Breast
and
The Angus Chuck Burger - topped with Cheddar and Bacon
and
Triple Play Turkey - and Brie Sandwich Turkey, Brie, Greens, and Cranberry Mayonnaise on Multigrain Bread

Could you tell me if Big River Grille is clean, nice tables & decent service ?In one of the guide books I own, it says Big River Grille has dirty floors. We would not like the place if the tables, chairs and floors smell foul and are dirty.
ALSO - What about ESPN ? How clean is it ?

Please advise.

 

[Robert P]

We are looking for a quick place to eat on day 1.
We are not sure of our schedule, and do whatever on day 1.

Checking into the Dolphin around noon and want to use our Disney Gift Cards for our meals, so we must eat at WDW restuarants.

So for lunch on day 1, after we find out our room will not be ready till 3 or 4 pm, we want to do lunch. Or maybe we can get into our room and then do lunch around 1 or 2 pm.

The menu at the Big River Grill sounds great to our family, but no ADR's.
So does the ESPN menu, but on June23rd, our arrival date, there are many sports games, and we may not be able to get in. Again no ADR's available and we would not know our exact time to eat.

We like on the Big River Grille menu:
Big Brew Cheeseburger - 10-oz Choice aged ground sirloin, grilled to order and served with lettuce, tomato, and Kettle chips
and
Grilled Chicken Caesar - Marinated chicken served on a classic combination of romaine lettuce with creamy Caesar dressing.

We like on the ESPN menu:
Patriot Clam Chowder - Thick, Cream-based Chowder loaded with hearty clams and potatoes, accompanied with Oyster Crackers
and
Caesar Salad with Chicken - Classic Caesar Salad served with Garlic Croutons with chilled, Grilled Chicken Breast
and
The Angus Chuck Burger - topped with Cheddar and Bacon
and
Triple Play Turkey - and Brie Sandwich Turkey, Brie, Greens, and Cranberry Mayonnaise on Multigrain Bread

Could you tell me if Big River Grille is clean, nice tables & decent service ?In one of the guide books I own, it says Big River Grille has dirty floors. We would not like the place if the tables, chairs and floors smell foul and are dirty.
ALSO - What about ESPN ? How clean is it ?

Please advise.

IMHO:

ESPN is 'cleaner', without the beer brewing smell that you get inside at BRG.
Also, between the two, we have found ESPN to have quicker service.

That said, we ate at BRG last trip, and were pleasantly surprised at the experience, and food (though we kept it simple with beer and burger). I'd say either is fine. Walking over from the S/D, when you clear Jellyrolls, look across to see if the line is out the door at ESPN. If so, stop by BRG and check for availability. That's what we ended up doing last trip, and were pleasantly surprised.

 

[vicb]

We ate at both last trip. I got sick after eating at ESPN and DS didn't feel well, we ate the same thing. So no more ESPN for me, just hard to make myself ever eat somewhere I got sick at (same goes for CrackerBarrels and a few local joints). We did have a good meal at BRG, nice table on the window on a chilly night in Feb. Food and service were good, place was clean. I will eat there again next trip.

 

[pooh2001]

So rthen it will be BRG - thank you for the reviews.

I found a phone # for them... 407-560-0253
Per another guide book it says BRG takes reservarions 24 hours or less in advance.
So we can call from our cell phone to see how busy BRG is, and maybe make a reservation, if we can get into our Dolphin room before lunch.

Thanks so much !

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have been to both locations and I would go with the ESPN Club because I personally liked their food a little bit more then Big River Grille.

In fact when it comes to the items you like from the ESPN Club their Patriot Clam Chowder and Angus Chuck Burger are some of my favorites.

In the end no matter which one you pick I am sure you will enjoy it a lot.