Bottom of the Barrel restaurants

[FoggyToad]

I was just reading a post about not making ADR's and getting stuck with the bottom of the barrel restaurants at WDW. Being the inquisitive type, I'm wondering now what everyone considers a "bottom of the barrel" restaurant at Disney is and why?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Plaza at MK - It is really a table service sandwich and dessert shop.

Nine Dragons at Epcot - "Middle America" style Chinese Food at hghly inflated prices.

Yacht Club Galley - A couple of steps above a Denny's and no real theming.

 

[septbaby]

Cmon Chesire tell us what you Really think! lol

 

[dqpowell]

Speaking strictly in terms of food quality (ignoring theming, etc):

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
Shutters at Old Port Royale
Tony's Town Square Restaurant
Cap'n Jack's

Ironically, both Sci-Fi and Tony's Town Square can be difficult to get ADRs for - they're popular despite the lackluster food.

David

 

[amery]

My vote would be Mama Melrose based on service, food seleciton and quality or rather lack thereof.

 

[teentoddlermom]

Love the Plaza!
They never have had walk-up's when I've been there. Always had an ADR and glad we did!
Try the club sandwiches!

 

[Ragetti]

I ate at the Plaza our last trip. While it definitely felt more "low-end" than some of the other TS restaurants, the food quality was good, service was prompt and courteous, and we left satisfied. Was the BEST use of our DDP TS credits? Maybe not, but the day we went was a "floater" and we were happy to get the ADR and satisfied with the experience.

 

[Colleen27]

I was just reading a post about not making ADR's and getting stuck with the bottom of the barrel restaurants at WDW. Being the inquisitive type, I'm wondering now what everyone considers a "bottom of the barrel" restaurant at Disney is and why?

What comes to mind for me are the TS places in inconvenient locations. Especially at MK, the park restaurants weren't accepting walk-ins when we were there during free dining '05, and neither were most of the restaurants on the monorail according to a few people we talked to during the trip. But the restaurant at our resort (Boatwrights at POR) was never busy. The food is good there, but who wants to make the trip all the way to POR for a meal on a park day if they aren't staying there? Similarly, for our short-notice August trip, the first time I called I couldn't get anything on the monorail line for the night we'll be at the P&PP. If you want to eat at TS restaurants that are in the middle of the action, especially in the MK area, ADRs are a must.

 

[blondemom]

I think if everyone responds to this, all of the restaurants will be considered bottom of the barrel! It's a very personal question. For example, we had one very good dining experience at Liberty Tree Tavern and two very terrible ones. That is considered one of our "never do again" restaurants. Granted, we could have just had bad luck twice. And to our one bad experience, there are probably 100 people with great experiences. It is my opinion that certain things feel "recycled" at WDW: All the burgers taste identical (unless you use Pecos Bill's fixing bar), all the hot dogs are the same, all the waffles, eggs, bacon is the same. So, if I'm not a fan of Casey's hot dogs, chances are I won't like them at the Liberty Inn. My kids were not loving the chicken nuggets in the kids meal. Too bad for them that 80% of the dining establishments we went to had the same ones. I'll venture a step further and throw on my flame-resistant suit and say that the overall quality of the food has been slipping. There are some gems among the generic, but that, too, is an individual opinion. I spent days reading through all the menus. I chose what I thought would be best for my family. You know yourself best. If you want to eat at the Sci Fi Dine In - what the heck - go for it! My family has never had a bad meal there - it wasn't the most memorable, but it didn't flat out stink either!

 

[crisi]

I think some of the best restaurants are the ones you can still occationally walk into - signature dining tends to be easier to get into last minute (not always, and certainly not California Grill at fireworks time). The hotel restaurants are easier (Concourse Steakhouse). Some of the unusual choices (Marrakesh - which we really like). Popular does not always equal quality - in theming or in food (we like Sci Fi for the theming, and for the adult milk shakes. We like Le Cellier and think its a good value - but the theming isn't anything special and you can get the same quality of steak at a thousand Outbacks in the U.S., and beer cheese soup pretty much at any diner in Wisconsin.)

 

[englishrose47]

I agree Sci Fi isn't the top for food, but their milkshakes, onionrings and the dip appie were awesome ,the themimg is wonderful and worth the visit!!

 

[Soubrette]

(knock on wood) I've never had a meal at WDW that I considered "bottom of the barrel." I had a yucky brownie once from Starring Rolls...I've had a mediocre hamburger at the parks...I've over-paid for food (but who hasn't), but for a theme park, I think WDW does pretty well.

 

[xipetotec]

I was just reading a post about not making ADR's and getting stuck with the bottom of the barrel restaurants at WDW. Being the inquisitive type, I'm wondering now what everyone considers a "bottom of the barrel" restaurant at Disney is and why?

As others have mentioned, everyone will have a different opinion here and it's hard to make your own decision based on that. For example, without being there, I heard the podcast folks give the Yatch Club Galley a shining review, but then Ceshire gave it a horrible one.

That being said, it is the theme of the thread, so FOR ME, Tony's Town Square was a huge dissapointment. Food wise, Sci-Fi Dine-In was "okay" at best, but at least there, the theming was fun. I was also dissapointed with Tangierine Cafe in Morocco at Epcot.

 

[jimmiej]

We're not picky eaters at all. We've always found the WDW restaurants to be fine if not excellent. That being said, we ate at Yakitori House in '05 & didn't like it. However, the Unofficial Guide gives it a good rating. That's the only unsatisfying meal I can remember at WDW. IOW, it's all personal opinion.

 

[tigger536]

MK - the Plaza
Epcot - Nine Dragons
MGM - Mama Melrose, Hollywood and Vine

TS at any moderate resort (sorry, just IMHO, please don't flame!)

Captain Jacks at DTD

Yacht Club Galley

 

[sammyteach]

We didnt really enjoy Mama Melrose

 

[lordhavemercy]

....ok, now we thoroughly enjoyed Tony's and the Sci-Fi....now the 50's ....I wouldn't buy a main-course....rather "normal"...but, I would go for the atmosphere and a dessert. We also enjoyed Epcot's Nine Dragons also...very good....excellent service...beautiful decor and lovely atmosphere. The only restaurant we just couldn't get into was Morocco's main restaurant ...and I can't remember the name....Just couldn't get into the couscous....However...the decor and the atmosphere is just "over-the-top" experientially ....that alone is worth the visit....and it's a good "give-it-a-try" restaurant....

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Hollywood & Vine -- we just didn't like the food. Although the service was good, the meal left us less than satisfied -- and it's a buffet!

 

[TJA]

We've tried Yacht Club Galley several times and just can't find anything we enjoy. So that is last on our list when we stay over in the Epcot resorts.

Parks -- Mama Melrose at MGM. We've tried this restaurant at least 4x and simply cannot find something we like. We really WANT to like this restaurant too. So......when we're at MGM, Mama Melrose is last on our list.

 

[warpdarkmatter]

don't forget planet hollywood. I think alot of use made the mistake of eating there