Bistro Paris, Citricos, Blue Zoo, Il Mulino - Opinions?

[scootert]

We haven't been to WDW in 5 years and need some feedback. Our favorite restaurants in the past have been Jiko, Brown Derby and California Grill. It sounds like CG has become inconsistent which is very sad and we've taken it off our "must do" list.

We've decided against the dining plan this trip -- want to keep our options open and perhaps visit some places not on the plan.

With that in mind, anyone have recent experiences or opinions on Bistro de Paris, Citricos, Blue Zoo, and Il Mulino? TIA

 

[redzinner]

Enjoy your trip!
I can really only comment on Il Mulino. Our most recent visit was in December.
We love the authentic Italian food, the fabulous wine list and mostly the wonderful service.
You can order half plates of the pasta but there is a nice variety of meats on the menu. The staff is 'wine' educated so they can help in choosing a wine. We also love the lounge area if we don't want a large meal.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Hope this helps . . .


1) We prefer
. . . fine food
. . . excellent service
. . . innovative dishes with flair
. . . overall great value
. . . relaxed and soothing dining atmosphere
. . . behaved and somewhat quiet patrons

2) The only sit-down restaurants we patronize at WDW are
. . . Bistro de Paris
. . . Citricos
. . . Shula's Steakhouse
. . . Il Mulino
. . . Victoria & Albert's

 

[Pakey]

Outside of V&A, blue zoo is my favorite WDW restaurant. Il Mulino would be 3rd, Citricos would be 5th.

I have not been to Bistro in the past 12 months. We have dined there many times prior to that and have always had nice meals and very good service.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Hope this helps . . .


1) We prefer
. . . fine food
. . . excellent service
. . . innovative dishes with flair
. . . overall great value
. . . relaxed and soothing dining atmosphere
. . . behaved and somewhat quiet patrons

2) The only sit-down restaurants we patronize at WDW are
. . . Bistro de Paris
. . . Citricos
. . . Shula's Steakhouse
. . . Il Mulino
. . . Victoria & Albert's

Rusty, do you not like seafood or has Bluezoo offended you somehow. IMO, they and Shula's are easily the best restaurants on property (V&A's excluded).

 

[baler31]

This year we have frequented BlueZoo, Citricos, and Shula's they were all excellent. We are not overly fond of Bistro but it is more menu pref. rather than quality. We also have enjoyed The Wave this year.

 

[Dolce27]

I ate at Citricos last month and had a very good butternut squash soup. I thought the food was very good but I was a little let down by the chocolate banana tart. But I think that was due to having too high expectations after hearing all of the wonderful reviews about it here on the DIS - that and also by the time you reach dessert that's a lot of food! I've read excellent reviews of Blue Zoo and it's on my list to try. One of my favorite restaurants, that you haven't mentioned, is Flying Fish over at the Boardwalk Inn. I've had two really good experiences there.

 

[BLTLDZ]

Bistro Paris, Citricos, Blue Zoo, Il Mulino

Bistro: Ate here in december on our honeymoon...didn't really care for it.
Citricos: LOVE it. Must do every trip. Consistently good food & good service
Blue Zoo: Another LOVE. YUMMY
Il Mulino, I cannot comment on, but we are eating here in may

Hope this helps!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Rusty, do you not like seafood or has Bluezoo offended you somehow. IMO, they and Shula's are easily the best restaurants on property (V&A's excluded).

1) I do so love seafood.
2) I do believe Blue Zoo has good seafood.
3) But, I judge eateries on several strict criteria.
4) If Blue Zoo would improve/change a little, they would go on the list.
. . . I think $32-$45 pushes the envelope for fish
. . . especially when the service was not up-to-par for a superior eatery


NOTE: We pay $30-$35 for fish at Oceanaire on International Drive in Orlando. Although the price bumps the top-end for fish, the service and tablescapes are impeccable. So, this is on my list of non-Disney-Property eateries in the Orlando area.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

1) I do so love seafood.
2) I do believe Blue Zoo has good seafood.
3) But, I judge eateries on several strict criteria.
4) If Blue Zoo would improve/change a little, they would go on the list.
. . . I think $32-$45 pushes the envelope for fish
. . . especially when the service was not up-to-par for a superior eatery


NOTE: We pay $30-$35 for fish at Oceanaire on International Drive in Orlando. Although the price bumps the top-end for fish, the service and tablescapes are impeccable. So, this is on my list of non-Disney-Property eateries in the Orlando area.

Got it.I pretty agree with what you've said (which is why I asked) with the exception that we personally have never had poor service, as a matter of fact the service has been downright great with the exception of one time which was merely average. I do think the hostess's are generally not up to par though (more eye candy than substance).

 

[madalex]

Citricos, Il Mulino and bluezoo are all among my top 5 places at WDW. I have been to all of them several times and will be going back again during trips in Feb and April.

I have also been to Bistro several times. I'va always had a good experience, but the last time I was there in 2004, so I can't comment on how it has been recently.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

May want to try kouzzina as well,we enjoy it as much as we enjoy Jiko,Il Mulino etc...service/atmosphere is not quite fine dining but the menu is very nice.

Same feelings on fish as TheRusty scupper since I fish for a living half the year.

Bistro is our favorite in-park place for fine dining.....as it is the only one in the parks we consider fine dining

 

[scootert]

Thanks everyone -- so glad to get feedback. Another quick question -- is BlueZoo noisy?

 

[madalex]

Thanks everyone -- so glad to get feedback. Another quick question -- is BlueZoo noisy?

In my experience, no.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Agree. Most times no.

BUT--it (and Shula's and Il MUlino) are in convention/meeting hotels. Meaning that every now and then you COULD run across those restaurants full of expense account types, 10-15 to a table drinking and carrying on for all they're worth. That happened to us once at the Zoo, but every other time (and that's 8 or 9 other times) it's been just fine.

And I agree w/Pakey and Madalex-they are all good but it's been awhile since we did Bistro. We do Blue Zoo and Citrico's nearly every trip.

 

[scootert]

Thanks so much -- we really wanted to try something new this trip and break out of our "habits". Really appreciate the feedback.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . we personally have never had poor service . . .

. . . is BlueZoo noisy?

1) I have not received "poor" service at Blue Zoo.
2) But, it has usually been just at or above average.
3) For superior prices I expect superior service, not average.

4) As for noise, I have yet to see a noisy atmosphere.
5) That is one of my criteria for "environment" at good eateries.
6) If a noisy table does appear, managers should quiet the table.
7) When paying $50-$60 or more per person, serene should be key.

 

[tigger536]

Bistro: Had a bad experience here in September 2010. Service was poor and food was mediocre at best.

Citricos: Highly recommend.

Blue Zoo: Never been. I recommend flying fish very highly though.

Il Mulino: Would never go here in WDW because its a "chain" (of sorts) and we have one in our city. Would rather do something unique to WDW.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We ate at Citricos this past Nov and it was amazing, the food there is fantastic. I had the filet and DH had the short ribs...to die for!

Have not been to BlueZoo since 09 but it was a meal that knocked our socks off! Love love love Il Mulino so we are going back there a week from tomorrow and I cannot wait!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Scupper: You are right--serene should be the key.
Ordinarily.

But no restaurant manager in his right mind would even attempt to quiet a # of tables of 10-15 persons, all running up a huge bill on the expense account.
On those rare nights, the occasional diners (and the poor servers) have to put up with it, I'm afraid. Or maybe the diners can ask to be moved.

On the night I described, there WAS no place to move--every last table was full, most of them with those convention/company people. Nothing rowdy mind you--just a dull roar of conversation, punctuated by intermittent howls and squeals of laughter, etc

And to scootert: That only happened one time out of all the times we've been...