Bongo's Cuban Cafe?

[afcgirl]

We are getting in one night early and staying at a DD hotel for that night (the Hilton) before moving to WL. We plan on visiting DD that night and want to have a decent meal. Has anyone eaten at Bongo's? Do you need reservations? Will it be okay for tired and cranky people after a long drive?

In the alternative, has anyone eaten at Wolfgang Puck Express (in case we feel like a quick bite versus sitting down)? Any other suggestions for DD?

Thanks in advance.

 

[smilingmouse]

I've eaten there before, and I really enjoyed my dinner. My one complaint was that the restaurant was pretty loud...no sure if that will be a problem for your DD. FWIW, my favorite DTD restauraunt it is the Earl of Sandwich..YUM!

Have a great trip

 

[dtuleya]

I haven't personally, but a good friend has and she said she will never eat there again. Cold food and bad service are the reasons she gave me.

 

[*~ellagirlsmama~*]

I ate there once. We had adr's, but I am not sure if they were necessary. I would make them just in case. I don't know if this is still the case (I went in 2004) but I could not make the adr's through Disney- it had to be done through Bongos directly.
The food was *ok* not bad not good. A little pricey for Cuban food and as a pp said it is very loud. BUT - they had fabulous drinks and the decor was great and I believe they often have live music.
I like House of Blues, if you dont mind spicy. The cornbread is so good and so is the strip steak.
Hope this helped a bit!

 

[Lizzybee]

We ate at Bongo's in 2003 and loved it. We had planned to go back for Spring Break 2005, but it didn't work out. My parents and kids had me walk ahead and try to get a table, but you couldn't get a table for 5 unless all 5 were there. So my dad got crabby about it and we ended up eating elsewhere. It was good food when we did eat there though. I had the bistek empanada with moros y cristianos and platanos (breaded steak with black beans and rice and fried plantains). It was really good.

 

[Lostgirlz]

I was also curious about bongos, and thought well if we don't do the sit down we can grab something to take to the room at the express and eat it at our hotel AKL. Where I am from Hawaii which is overpriced on everything anyway lol we have wolfgang pucks express, but not his full on dining room place like spagos (sp) they have one on Maui but not on the island I am on. I want to try wolfgangs as I have not tried it before, but lets face it he is a world known chef, but since we have one of his expresses here I keep thinking I should just skip it and go here sometime and then try something we don't have here. Bongos looks like they have good food even at the express window, but is it really any good? I am always leary on celeb owned dining joints cause sometimes they just base it off their status and not whether the food is good and worthy. Any opinions would be great on this as I could very well be wrong. I also have to agree being from the south originally House of Blues is a good place it can be a bit noisy cause it is a bar/club/dining venue, but for southern food Dan Ackroid (sp) does a good job with his House Of Blues. I would suggest going and if you want some fun look at their website and see what bands maybe playing there at the time of your visit. it is usually 18-21 and up and there usually is a door fee to get into the band things, but not the dining. Sometimes they get Big named groups there and I don't mean up and coming although they sometimes get those to. I know bb king was at the one in New Orleans when me and a friend went down for my birthday since I am from louisiana originally. have fun.....

:::::isneymoon here we come::::::::

 

[afcgirl]

Thanks for the responses. It sounds like maybe more of a scene than what I am looking for after a long drive. I think we will try Earl of Sandwich or Wolfgang Puck Express.

 

[dansyr]

afcgirl,

Honestly, it depends on what time you are getting in. I've eaten at Bongos, WP's and HOB and I think they honestly don't get real noisy til alittle later on in the evening. BTW, all 3 are great. If you are thinking about WP's, try it for lunch one day. The place is usually pretty quiet then.

 

[bassoon2]

I absolutely was NOT impressed by Bongos. It LOOKED nice inside, but the food was ho hum just okay.
Why not stop at Wolfgang Puck Cafe? They have a LARGE menu.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We like Bongo's. We just stopped eating there once they stopped accepting the DDE discount. There are many other places with good food that honor the DDE.

 

[afcgirl]

I absolutely was NOT impressed by Bongos. It LOOKED nice inside, but the food was ho hum just okay.
Why not stop at Wolfgang Puck Cafe? They have a LARGE menu.

Actually, we are eating at WPC on our last day at WDW (on the DDP)!

Our first night we do not get to use the DDP, since we don't check into WL until the following day. So whatever we choose will be OOP.

Thanks for the help.

 

[rkujay]

Bongo's is definately NOT authentic Cuban food. I ate the piece of pork that was apparently too tough to make a football out of. I'd rather suggest Fultons. Seafood menu. If you don't know what to order when in central Florida, order Grouper. Caught locally and always fresh.

 

[pkp]

Bongos is not very good. The one in Miami is better, but I would not eat at either again. Not authentic and just nor that great.

 

[aclov]

I went in May with two friends and we were all disappointed with the food and service. We had hoped to hear some music but there was a private event during Gay Days so they were kinda rushing people out. They do take reservations. I probably won't go back.

 

[cseca]

Surprisingly enough I really liked the dish I ordered from Bongos.
I had the fried fish with rice and fried plaintains... very yummy...
Be careful of the mojito, I think they poured half the cup with liquour... again very yummy... potent but yummy...

 

[elvistaco1]

We ate there the first night of our first trip to WDW four years ago. We sat outside on the patio and had Mojitos (I had never had one; now they are everywhere) and Cuban sandwiches. Very good way to relax, do some people-watching, and get in the vacation mood.