calling all foodies--advice please!

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I live in Philadelphia now, and Parc is one of my favorite casual restaurants!

Jiko. Used to be great. Flavors have been toned dowb for the masses. Not worth it anymore.

Ironic that you say that - only recently has Jiko added really authentic dishes to its menu. IMO the removal of the steak with mac n' cheese is a huge step forward. Jiko is one of the places I would recommend, for interesting, relatively authentic African flavors.

The signatures that disappoint me most have to be Flying Fish, Citricos, and Yachtsman. Yachtsman has big steak portions but doesn't really compare to Ruth's Chris, which you can find almost anywhere. Citricos has very tame, Americanized food but it is presented beautifully. Flying Fish has never wowed us (and I love seafood), but we're planning on giving it another chance next month (along with Yachtsman).

I would definitely recommend Artist Point, California Grill, and Hollywood Brown Derby. Artist Point has an interesting, seasonally inspired menu. I'd say the AP menu changes more than the typical signature restaurant, which is nice. It always has great meat and seafood options, including their signature buffalo and salmon. California Grill offers sushi, flatbreads, and amazing appetizers. Their entrees aren't the most outstanding (steak with barbecue sauce?) but still good. Brown Derby is one of my favorites. The Cobb salad is always satisfying, and the grouper with golden beets, celery, leeks, and lobster beurre blanc was delicious.

I don't think anything at Disney compares to some of the top restaurants in Philly, New York, or Boston, except maybe V&A's and I've never been yet. Most of the food at Disney isn't creative or inspiring, but the signatures are your best best for more interesting dishes.

 

[elbodans]

I live in Philadelphia now, and Parc is one of my favorite casual restaurants!


Ironic that you say that - only recently has Jiko added really authentic dishes to its menu. IMO the removal of the steak with mac n' cheese is a huge step forward. Jiko is one of the places I would recommend, for interesting, relatively authentic African flavors.

The signatures that disappoint me most have to be Flying Fish, Citricos, and Yachtsman. Yachtsman has big steak portions but doesn't really compare to Ruth's Chris, which you can find almost anywhere. Citricos has very tame, Americanized food but it is presented beautifully. Flying Fish has never wowed us (and I love seafood), but we're planning on giving it another chance next month (along with Yachtsman).

I would definitely recommend Artist Point, California Grill, and Hollywood Brown Derby. Artist Point has an interesting, seasonally inspired menu. I'd say the AP menu changes more than the typical signature restaurant, which is nice. It always has great meat and seafood options, including their signature buffalo and salmon. California Grill offers sushi, flatbreads, and amazing appetizers. Their entrees aren't the most outstanding (steak with barbecue sauce?) but still good. Brown Derby is one of my favorites. The Cobb salad is always satisfying, and the grouper with golden beets, celery, leeks, and lobster beurre blanc was delicious.

I don't think anything at Disney compares to some of the top restaurants in Philly, New York, or Boston, except maybe V&A's and I've never been yet. Most of the food at Disney isn't creative or inspiring, but the signatures are your best best for more interesting dishes.

i'm sincerely hoping jiko is good, as it is part of our safari tour on our first night. we booked the tour because my mom is excited about the safari, and i'm excited about dinner. though i'm torn, as i'm hoping for authentic, but i know my mom isn't. so...ideally there will be something for her, too. we're not ordering from the menu (alas) but will be served family style...my fingers are crossed.

i ate at hollywood brown derby and artist point on my last trip, and i'd definitely recommend them both. i ordered poorly at artist point, but more than made up for said order at brown derby. we'll be doing california grill on our next trip, in less than three weeks!

it's really too bad that disney doesn't offer up the kind of dining one finds in major metro areas, but then again, that's why we will continue to vacation in major metro areas in addition to disney...so really, i'm GLAD they don't.

 

[JennyDrake]

Jiko
Artist Point
Tusker House (lunch or supper)
Kouzzina
Seasons Food court (soups)
Saana (with reservations) appetizers were excellent and original. Meal was "meh." Service was TERRIBLE and the place was slow. I am not a high demand patron, but the expereince was so bad I have no desire to return. Even asked the MANAGER for drink refills and still didn't get them....
Kona Cafe (dinner)
Wave:good with local "bent"- Service was very poor. With that said, I am trying again next month.

 

[arubio0801]

Im a big Foodie and I must say that I do love 50s Prime time and Sci-Fi dine there over the top themed but the is always good for us. I def wouldnt do the same thing twice IMO. Also Tusker House is very good as well. We always try different places and try not to go to the same places all the time. V&A is very good me and my husband agree thats the best food we've ever eaten. The resturants at AKL are very good we've been to Jiko and Boma and both were very good even with Boma being a buffet. We will be trying Sanna on our next trip. I hope you have a great trip and also make the ressies online and check late at night I see theres more times later in the night and also go to allears.net and look up the menus and see if anything interest you before making a ressie!

 

[EastonCat]

DEA has it right. A side trip to The Bull and the Bear at the Waldorf Astoria will also fit right in.

 

[TDC Nala]

Traditionally, Le Cellier is not for food snobs. It's for theme park guests who want something familiar. I have not yet tried the new "signature level" dinner though.

I do not recommend any of the buffets, and by that I mean none. Not even Boma. I do have friends in the Orlando area who still like Boma though.

I went to Jiko last year and the shrimp curry was actually spicy. That's tough to find at WDW, so I can't agree on total "dumbing down." I do know that sometime last year they changed head chefs again.

People are always dissing the food at DHS, but I really like Brown Derby. (I do not do the dining plan. A lot of the dissing of BD is because it costs 2 credits and many don't think it's worth it)

 

[elbodans]

Im a big Foodie and I must say that I do love 50s Prime time and Sci-Fi dine there over the top themed but the is always good for us. I def wouldnt do the same thing twice IMO. Also Tusker House is very good as well. We always try different places and try not to go to the same places all the time. V&A is very good me and my husband agree thats the best food we've ever eaten. The resturants at AKL are very good we've been to Jiko and Boma and both were very good even with Boma being a buffet. We will be trying Sanna on our next trip. I hope you have a great trip and also make the ressies online and check late at night I see theres more times later in the night and also go to allears.net and look up the menus and see if anything interest you before making a ressie!

i know--i kind of don't want to do the same thing twice, but i also kind of do want to take my mom to yak and yeti and brown derby--i love the theming at yak and yeti (and know she will, too) and i just plain love brown derby (plus it's the only good place to eat at DHS!)

Traditionally, Le Cellier is not for food snobs. It's for theme park guests who want something familiar. I have not yet tried the new "signature level" dinner though.

I do not recommend any of the buffets, and by that I mean none. Not even Boma. I do have friends in the Orlando area who still like Boma though.

I went to Jiko last year and the shrimp curry was actually spicy. That's tough to find at WDW, so I can't agree on total "dumbing down." I do know that sometime last year they changed head chefs again.

People are always dissing the food at DHS, but I really like Brown Derby. (I do not do the dining plan. A lot of the dissing of BD is because it costs 2 credits and many don't think it's worth it)

well then i'm not sad i can't get a reservation at le cellier!

i'm not a big buffet fan myself--ok, i hate buffets. i don't like the concept of eating all kinds of things that don't go together. like--spaghetti and crab legs and a fruit tart? all in one sitting? um...no thanks!

the curried shrimp soup at kona cafe was actually curry-y, which was surprising to me.

as for brown derby, i guess that's the benefit of not being on the dining plan. i don't have to feel as though it's 'not worth it'. and i didn't find the prices there too terrible, even for lunch (and i realize the lunch menu and dinner menu are exactly the same, prices and all.) i think my meal was around $35.