Captain's Grille for dinner?

[PaDisneyCouple]

My sister and family are going to WDW in a few weeks and staying at Boardwalk. They have ADR at Captain's Grille for the evening that they arrive. It has been a long time since we have had dinner there and can definitely think of better places to eat. Should I try to get them to switch to somewhere else? I don't think they will be going to a park that day. I have not talked to them about this (saw it on their MDE) but I suspect with 2 adults and 3 kids (pre-teen and teen boys) they want to stay at that price point. They will not have the dining plan.

Thanks!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Captain's Grille is currently under refurb and operating in the interim out of the "Ariel's" space in the Beach Club (next to Martha's Vineyard lounge) with what I *think* may be a more limited menu (saw something about no crab legs). I've heard pretty good things about it generally but haven't really heard any mid-refurb reports. Also on Boardwalk are ESPN, Big River Grille and Trattoria del Forno. In Swan/Dolphin some very good but pricier options but also The Fountain, which I'd compare to Beaches and Cream (burgers and shakes).

Arrival day always tough in terms of energy to do things into the evening but Disney Springs is a non-park option with lots of choices across price points.

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

Thanks. I was wondering if it was in refurb right now. Now I'm convinced, I'll try to get them to switch. They have Trattoria a few days later, but I'll recommend they switch. I was thinking maybe Il Mulino, but i'll have to see how the prices compare. Or Fountain.

 

[rosiebean]

Honestly, I'd keep the ADR at Captain's Grille. It's considered in recent years to be a hidden gem in the BWI/YC/BC, area and based on that reputation, my extended family booked a latish ADR (8:30 pm) there last November. Our meal was fantastic, one of our highlights (only California Grill was better) Everything we had was top notch, not just the food but including wine and mixed drinks. Despite it being the late part of the dinner shift, service was excellent as well. The crowd in the dining room went from full to almost empty while we were there, but we never felt rushed to leave, and our server was extremely attentive to our needs. We would eat there again without a second thought, even in their temporary space in BC. Unless the chef or wait staff has changed, I can't see a temporary move causing the quality of food or service to decline since last December. Perhaps a look on Yelp or Tripadvisor would help find more recent reviews. But we found the food there excellent (and, as we were staying at BC, having such a quality restaurant so close to our resort the night half of our party arrived was a nice option).

We ate at the Fountain the same trip, at about the same time...8:30 pm. After experiencing both, I would never send anyone to the Fountain over Captain's Grille (except maybe my worse enemy). The food at the Fountain was ok...at best. We mostly had burgers, and frankly, they were about the quality of QS burgers but at a higher price. Drinks were ok...when they finally came out. Shakes were very good, so maybe it's worth going there to get ice cream. But what made this a "never again" place for us was the abysmal service. It was the worst we've ever experienced at a WDW area restaurant (think, waiting for almost half an hour for half of the table's drinks to arrive...in a restaurant over half empty...with no explanation or apology whatsoever for the delays that continued throughout our meal). Our party wanted to spend money there, but the slow service turned us off (a few in our party actually left to find grab and go food). It was a stark difference to our experience at CG.

Also, maybe your sister looked at the menus of places near BWI when deciding on an arrival night ADR and just decided she liked the look of the one at CG . My siblings travel with me to WDW a lot, but they travel on 'solo' trips (i.e., with just their family rather than extended) as well...and unless they ask of my advice (as I'm considered the family Disney expert), I tend to ignore their ADR plans.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I would consider the Crews Cup next to the yachtsman steakhouse. they have a nice menu, casual atmosphere and (imo) much better food than both the fountain and captains grill.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Captain's Grille is slated to close forever at end of September, to be replaced by a new restaurant with different name, menu, and décor. I think y'all are lucky to have this last chance to dine at Captain's Grille, even in the temporary location. I was a fan and I would keep the reservation. For that matter, I'd keep the whole restaurant, not that anyone asked my opinion before they decided to replace it, oh well.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Captain's Grille has good food, but it's not really a very exciting dining experience. Are they into sports at all? ESPN Club is right on the Boardwalk and, according to DS9, is a must-do (LOL!). They don't take reservations, but unless there is a huge sporting event being broadcast, it's a pretty easy walk-up. It will price out about the same as Capt. Grille, possibly less. Big River Grille is on the Boardwalk as well, but the food isn't great IMHO. Il Mulino will most likely be pricier than Capt. Grille, but it's very good. The Fountain's food isn't great, IMHO. If they are looking for better entrees (lamb, steak, etc.), Capt. Grille is probably the way to go, honestly. In terms of WDW dining (excluding the pricier, but great restaurants at Swolphin), Capt. Grille and Trattoria are the better casual restaurants in the EP resort area.

 

[JerseyJanice]

If they don't have the Disney Dining Plan, but they do have a AAA membership, I recommend the Garden Grove at the Swan on Friday or Saturday for their Seafood Sensation buffet.

AAA gets 20% off which brings the price to about $30 per adult. The crabs legs there were fantastic last October. Big, meaty and easy to clean. Each person gets half of a stuffed lobster brought to the table with a basket of fried seafood that includes some beautiful butterflied shrimp.

The buffet has salmon, chicken and a carving station with prime rib where the chef cooks it to order on a hot stone. The mashed potatoes and green beans were fresh and homemade tasting.

IMHO for the price and food quality, this buffet is a hidden gem of WDW, and you even get characters, Pluto and Goofy.

 

[Princess Mulan]

Unfortunately we had one of our worst WDW dining experiences ever at Captain's Grille a little more than a year ago. We were lured there by the description of it being a hidden gem, but our entire experience was so bad that we swore we'd never eat there again. The dining room was loud and chaotic, our service was exceedingly slow, the portions were small, and the price was out of line for the forgettable quality. We left hungry and made a beeline to get dessert elsewhere.

On the other hand we've had nothing but good experiences at Trattoria and Flying Fish, so those would be my recommendations for dinner in the Boardwalk area.

 

[Dis703]

While there is nothing special about the ambiance, we have found the food at Captain's Grille to be really good and some of the best meals we've had at Disney. I'm not sure how the refurb has effected the menu, but I would be thrilled to have a chance to dine here again before they closed for good. I wouldn't change your ADR.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

In Captain's Grille's original location I was a major fan of its nautical-themed décor. The temporary location is ocean-themed and if I had a chance to experience it, I'd be all over that. While the breakfast buffet is no longer available, the dinner menu looks the same as the original location.

 

[Pirate Granny]

We had breakfast in the interim location, that said the decor was beautiful...food was OK, but then again it was breakfast and I had the oatmeal.

 

[Krista Joy]

We ate dinner there Nov 2016. It was one of my favourite meals during our 7 day stay and we ate at a TS every night (Ohana, TH, Cape May, Morimoto, Teppan Edo). Their crab cakes were so awesome, and my husband had a fantastic grouper special. I'm sad to hear it's closing in Sept.

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

But what made this a "never again" place for us was the abysmal service.

This was our experience also at Fountain. We went there looking to eat basic food and were not disappointed. However, just like you, the service was horrendous and there were probably 2 other tables besides us. We were going to get dessert but they lost that sale. Most of the time the waitress (or for that matter, all staff) were nowhere to be seen. Now that I know that others have had the same experience, I will not recommend it. They will probably go to ESPN or Big River Grille. I mentioned Swan/Dolphin but because they will be driving to WDW they really do not want to walk to those resorts (not going to try to convince them that it is a short walk, I'll respect their desire to eat at the Boardwalk (or Captain's Grille if they decide to keep the ADR).

Crews Cup

Thanks! I did not think of this. But no ADR and not much seating, correct?

 

[cluvsdisney]

Unfortunately we had one of our worst WDW dining experiences ever at Captain's Grille a little more than a year ago. We were lured there by the description of it being a hidden gem, but our entire experience was so bad that we swore we'd never eat there again. The dining room was loud and chaotic, our service was exceedingly slow, the portions were small, and the price was out of line for the forgettable quality. We left hungry and made a beeline to get dessert elsewhere.

On the other hand we've had nothing but good experiences at Trattoria and Flying Fish, so those would be my recommendations for dinner in the Boardwalk area.

I feel the same way...it was one of the worst tasting meals I've had in a restaurant.

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

If they don't have the Disney Dining Plan, but they do have a AAA membership, I recommend the Garden Grove at the Swan on Friday or Saturday for their Seafood Sensation buffet.

AAA gets 20% off which brings the price to about $30 per adult. The crabs legs there were fantastic last October. Big, meaty and easy to clean. Each person gets half of a stuffed lobster brought to the table with a basket of fried seafood that includes some beautiful butterflied shrimp.

The buffet has salmon, chicken and a carving station with prime rib where the chef cooks it to order on a hot stone. The mashed potatoes and green beans were fresh and homemade tasting.

IMHO for the price and food quality, this buffet is a hidden gem of WDW, and you even get characters, Pluto and Goofy.

OOOhh...I did not know this. Thanks!! I'll keep this in mind next time we are there! I'm not sure if they have AAA but I'll tell her.

 

[cluvsdisney]

This was our experience also at Fountain. We went there looking to eat basic food and were not disappointed. However, just like you, the service was horrendous and there were probably 2 other tables besides us. We were going to get dessert but they lost that sale. Most of the time the waitress (or for that matter, all staff) were nowhere to be seen. Now that I know that others have had the same experience, I will not recommend it. They will probably go to ESPN or Big River Grille. I mentioned Swan/Dolphin but because they will be driving to WDW they really do not want to walk to those resorts (not going to try to convince them that it is a short walk, I'll respect their desire to eat at the Boardwalk (or Captain's Grille if they decide to keep the ADR).



Thanks! I did not think of this. But no ADR and not much seating, correct?

That would be the drawback. I don't recall having a long wait for a table but it's one of those hit or miss situations.