Boardwalk Resort Area/ Downtown Disney Dining Help

[Princess Polamalu]

ADR's done but a few dining choices not selected. DS(7) and I traveling just the two of us in May.

Here are my concerns:

-An open day with no parks planned....thinking of spending the day between Boardwalk and Downtown Disney....which offer better lunch options as opposed dinner. (I guess the question really is should I have lunch at Boardwalk and dinner at DD or vice versa?)

-Lunch ADR already scheduled at Captains Grill on a different day.....(a little nervous about this lunch based on reviews)

-Dinner planned at Fultons Crab House on a different day....(no interest in TRex, Planet Hollywood, or Rainforest Cafe based on reviews)

-Any thoughts on Kouzzina....Is a dinner worth it?

-Any insight on HOB Gospel Brunch....have scheduled it just wanted some first hand information.

 

[TDC Nala]

I hesitate to base too much on reviews - especially reviews on a public message board. Pick the restaurants based on the menus that sound good to you, go, and make your own decision regarding the quality.

 

[Missytara]

I have to agree with Nala; but I will bite.

Kouzzina's has gotten some pretty raw reviews, but quite frankly it was my favorite meal all week last year. We had a fabulous time, a fabulous (adorable) server, and we loved watching the hustle and bustle of the kitchen.

You will be blown away by Fulton's Crab House - I have never had a bad meal there and the service is top-notch. The only problem I had was last year we had planned to stroll over to Ghiradelli's for dessert, but Fulton's desserts were soooooooo good, we ended up having dessert there.

We had to save Ghiradelli's for another night.....

 

[TDC Nala]

I liked Kouzzina too - the food (service wasn't all that great) and it gets ripped on the boards - another reason why I don't put stock in reviews. If the food sounds good to you, give it a try.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Dinner at Fultons or Flying Fish, you cannot go wrong with either place...they are both incredible

 

[Connears]

We ate at Kouzzina for NYE 2009 and really loved it. Have also eaten at Captain Grill NYE 2008 and had a great meal there also. Like others have said, there will be good and bad reviews for all restaurants. Our next venture will be Flying Fish next xmas week. Have also enjoyed Portobello at DTD, but that was a few years ago and not sure how it is now.

Connears

 

[Princess Polamalu]

First thank you to everyone for the replies. I understand what you guys are saying as far as not basing everything off of the reviews however additional reasons I am not interested in TRex and the likes are that fact that they are chains. You pretty much know what you are getting with a chain restaurant and the atmosphere doesnt justify my family and I having dinner there thats all. My son might enjoy looking in the gift shops or something but I dont feel that he would appreciate the overall experience.

Back to Kouzzina......I really want to try this place. I am a food network junkie and I just love Kat Kora. Im always so excited when she is chosen as the Iron Chef to compete. Ive read the menus but for those of you that have been there what would you recommend??? Are the kids menus standard Disney fare?

Also I have always wanted to give Flying Fish a try but with Artist Point, Cali Grill, LeCellier, and Fultons scheduled I am not pressed to have another signature type meal. However I would not be against it either.

And finally whats ESPN Club like these days. I was last there 10 years ago and cant remember a thing. Is it some place that would work for an afternoon sandwich and maybe a drink?? Is there still and arcade? What are the wait times generally like? Are you still unable to make ADR's? Thanks again to everyone for the assistance.

 

[Missytara]

I liked Kouzzina too - the food (service wasn't all that great) and it gets ripped on the boards - another reason why I don't put stock in reviews. If the food sounds good to you, give it a try.

I tell you; I took two friends that work at the local watering hole where I eat out all the time, and we still talk about that meal.

I had the pastitsio and it was absolutely the neatest thing I had ever tasted before. I loved the salad with lemon viniagrette and spicy cashews. The loukoumades dessert was fantastic - service wonderful. We just swooned over our server all night long.

Good times!

 

[tink&stitchsmom]

Your 7 year old son might like lunch or dinner at T-Rex in DTD. DD was 6 last fall and she loved it. The food was good, and the portions were really big.

 

[Missytara]

Back to Kouzzina......I really want to try this place. I am a food network junkie and I just love Kat Kora. Im always so excited when she is chosen as the Iron Chef to compete. Ive read the menus but for those of you that have been there what would you recommend??? Are the kids menus standard Disney fare?

Check out the menus at allearsnet. The kids menu has a few standards, but pretty interesting ones too. The child at the table next to us had what looked like a beef and macaroni dish, but nicely presented and it had fresh veggies and a fruit salad. He also made his own dessert pizza. It was really cute!!!

My friends had the Cinnamon Stewed Chicken and the Slow-cooked Lamb Shank. Both completely finished their plates, after downing two appetizers that they shared - the Kouzzina Spreads and the Brick oven bread. I had the pastitsio. It is the greek version of lasanga - my stepmother is italian and she said this version sounded awesome. It was cinnamon stewed ground beef, in a bechamel cream sauce, with a layer of bucatini pasta (it was like linguini, but tubular). It had baked mozzerella on top.

I had the fried donuts drizzled in warm honey (loukoumades), and my two friends had the baklava with pistashcio sorbet and the chocolate budina cake - basically a torte cake with a warm chocolate center. She got a side of warm chocolate, which I used to dip the donuts in.... hmmmmm. Thank goodness we had time to walk around afterwards! We were stuffed to the gills.

 

[princessjennie]

Since you are a Food Network fan you will probably enjoy the opportunity to visit Kouzzina. The food is unique compared to a lot of the other options. Someone in another thread suggested that we go to YouTube for a sampling of videos from the Gospel Brunch at HOB as we were also considering going.

 

[TDC Nala]

My mother and I both had the Kouzzina whole fish (they served a red snapper) and it was awesome.