Citricos' disappoints....

[peabody58]

Still making our way around all the TS eateries using TIW, and Citricos was on the list for our April trip. For a GF restaurant, DW and I were under whelmed and most likely will not return. In hindsight, we should have just spent the extra $$ for another V&A dining experience.

- When we arrived the place was totally empty, yet they tried to seat us right next to the food prep area / highest traffic zone. We declined and after 5 minutes of standing like lost puppies, they finally sat us at a window. We shared our feedback with the GM, and he was surprised because he said their standing policy is to always seat at the window first.

- Our entrees arrived on cold plates. My filet cooled off quickly and was luke warm at best. We would have complained to our waitress, but she disappeared for the rest of the meal. Our dinner drinks remained unfilled which was a bit aggravating since I really wanted my Black Russian fix. The other servers seemed uninterested in helping us, even when we asked about our missing server. The GM offered to comp my filet as he was shocked that our plates were not preheated. I asked if the meat was pre-cooked, and he assured me it wasn't. I am skeptical about that since my medium filet was not hot at all. We declined his comp offer - it wasn't that bad that I couldn't eat it. We just wanted to provide constructive timely feedback so the Disney and GF standard's could be maintained.

- Overall, the food was ok, but not IMO worth the $$$. We certainly missed our CG and Jiko dining experiences.

Hoping we just experienced an off night at Citricos. Fortunately, we have a lot more options to choose from for our Sept split stay trip.

 

[sleepydog25]

Still making our way around all the TS eateries using TIW, and Citricos was on the list for our April trip. For a GF restaurant, DW and I were under whelmed and most likely will not return. In hindsight, we should have just spent the extra $$ for another V&A dining experience.

- When we arrived the place was totally empty, yet they tried to seat us right next to the food prep area / highest traffic zone. We declined and after 5 minutes of standing like lost puppies, they finally sat us at a window. We shared our feedback with the GM, and he was surprised because he said their standing policy is to always seat at the window first.

- Our entrees arrived on cold plates. My filet cooled off quickly and was luke warm at best. We would have complained to our waitress, but she disappeared for the rest of the meal. Our dinner drinks remained unfilled which was a bit aggravating since I really wanted my Black Russian fix. The other servers seemed uninterested in helping us, even when we asked about our missing server. The GM offered to comp my filet as he was shocked that our plates were not preheated. I asked if the meat was pre-cooked, and he assured me it wasn't. I am skeptical about that since my medium filet was not hot at all. We declined his comp offer - it wasn't that bad that I couldn't eat it. We just wanted to provide constructive timely feedback so the Disney and GF standard's could be maintained.

- Overall, the food was ok, but not IMO worth the $$$. We certainly missed our CG and Jiko dining experiences.

Hoping we just experienced an off night at Citricos. Fortunately, we have a lot more options to choose from for our Sept split stay trip.

Both my DF and I have had similar experiences on separate trips. For mine, our small party arrived just under 10 minutes before the restaurant opened as we had an ADR for the first seating. There were two CMs at the booth arranging menus, straightening papers, etc., and I approached just to check-in. Neither CM acknowledged my presence, though I was a mere three feet away. After several minutes, I walked back over to my party. Two minutes later, one of the CMs finally looked my direction and signaled us over. He was a bit aloof but seated us promptly after checking for my name. I found it off-putting to be ignored like that; just a simple "hi, we'll be with you in a few minutes" would have been sufficient. No matter, we decided.

Though the first party there, like you, we were seated at a table close to the food prep area and near a high traffic zone as it turns out. We didn't bother to ask to be seated elsewhere, however. Our server came over, introduced himself, and proceeded to address us in a manner that reminded me of a heavy-handed salesperson with pretensions as a gourmand. It was uncomfortable, but taken alone, not a serious issue. Much like you, once we had our food, our server mostly disappeared. I did flag him down to send back my filet as I had ordered it medium to medium-rare but it came still cold and not even seared to rare status. He seemed irritated but immediately took it back. . .and kept it for more than 20 minutes. I urged the others to eat, and they had finished their meals (and here I must mention their meals were mostly prepared correctly) by the time my steak came back. The kitchen had replaced my first filet with a new one, yet it was also extremely rare and cold. I didn't complain since everyone else's meals were acceptable, and I managed to cut a few slices off one end that were medium rare.

After that, we never saw our server again until the check came. Meanwhile, our water and tea glasses sat empty until a young server came by who we politely asked if he could find our server for refills and dessert. He wound up helping us with both and brought us coffee, as well. The coffee came well before our desserts arrived, so when they did, we asked for more coffee. . .which never came. We finished our desserts and no one had come back to refill our cups. I have a distinct image of a smudge of drying coffee in the bottom of my white cup. lol However, our server finally did make an appearance when the bill was due. I'm not one to make a fuss over a meal, and in truth, it hadn't been an unmitigated disaster, just not an experience worthy of any eatery, much less a signature restaurant. In retrospect, finding a manager and relaying our experience was called for.

The finishing coda to this meal is that hours later, I was violently ill, as sick as I have ever been in my life. I have no proof, obviously, that Citrico's was the cause, but given it was almost assuredly food poisoning, and other items I had eaten during the day had been shared with others who didn't get sick, the logical conclusion is obvious. It's fair to say, Citrico's is not on my "to do again" list.

 

[brertoad]

Both my DF and I have had similar experiences on separate trips. For mine, our small party arrived just under 10 minutes before the restaurant opened as we had an ADR for the first seating. There were two CMs at the booth arranging menus, straightening papers, etc., and I approached just to check-in. Neither CM acknowledged my presence, though I was a mere three feet away. After several minutes, I walked back over to my party. Two minutes later, one of the CMs finally looked my direction and signaled us over. He was a bit aloof but seated us promptly after checking for my name. I found it off-putting to be ignored like that; just a simple "hi, we'll be with you in a few minutes" would have been sufficient. No matter, we decided.

Though the first party there, like you, we were seated at a table close to the food prep area and near a high traffic zone as it turns out. We didn't bother to ask to be seated elsewhere, however. Our server came over, introduced himself, and proceeded to address us in a manner that reminded me of a heavy-handed salesperson with pretensions as a gourmand. It was uncomfortable, but taken alone, not a serious issue. Much like you, once we had our food, our server mostly disappeared. I did flag him down to send back my filet as I had ordered it medium to medium-rare but it came still cold and not even seared to rare status. He seemed irritated but immediately took it back. . .and kept it for more than 20 minutes. I urged the others to eat, and they had finished their meals (and here I must mention their meals were mostly prepared correctly) by the time my steak came back. The kitchen had replaced my first filet with a new one, yet it was also extremely rare and cold. I didn't complain since everyone else's meals were acceptable, and I managed to cut a few slices off one end that were medium rare.

After that, we never saw our server again until the check came. Meanwhile, our water and tea glasses sat empty until a young server came by who we politely asked if he could find our server for refills and dessert. He wound up helping us with both and brought us coffee, as well. The coffee came well before our desserts arrived, so when they did, we asked for more coffee. . .which never came. We finished our desserts and no one had come back to refill our cups. I have a distinct image of a smudge of drying coffee in the bottom of my white cup. lol However, our server finally did make an appearance when the bill was due. I'm not one to make a fuss over a meal, and in truth, it hadn't been an unmitigated disaster, just not an experience worthy of any eatery, much less a signature restaurant. In retrospect, finding a manager and relaying our experience was called for.

The finishing coda to this meal is that hours later, I was violently ill, as sick as I have ever been in my life. I have no proof, obviously, that Citrico's was the cause, but given it was almost assuredly food poisoning, and other items I had eaten during the day had been shared with others who didn't get sick, the logical conclusion is obvious. It's fair to say, Citrico's is not on my "to do again" list.

Wow, that is terrible. Sorry that you had gotten ill, it must have been the food. I've had food poisoning enough times to know , it's always something you ate, and it usually strikes suddenly, ranging from 30 minutes - 5 hours. My husband got food poisoning from a local restaurant where he was ill for about 4 days. I've had at least 5 incidents of severe food poisoning but never anything that lasted more than 24 hours, and plenty cases of mild food poisoning, where you get typically stomach pain etc. It's horrible to go through. DH and I had mild food poisoning from Portobello's so we won't go there again.

I appreciate your comments as well as the OP.

 

[sleepydog25]

Wow, that is terrible. Sorry that you had gotten ill, it must have been the food. I've had food poisoning enough times to know , it's always something you ate, and it usually strikes suddenly, ranging from 30 minutes - 5 hours. My husband got food poisoning from a local restaurant where he was ill for about 4 days. I've had at least 5 incidents of severe food poisoning but never anything that lasted more than 24 hours, and plenty cases of mild food poisoning, where you get typically stomach pain etc. It's horrible to go through. DH and I had mild food poisoning from Portobello's so we won't go there again.

I appreciate your comments as well as the OP.

I had never experienced a severe case of food poisoning before that trip to Citrico's, and I would never wish such an episode upon anyone. I'm fully aware that food poisoning can happen anywhere, so I don't automatically dock Citrico's extra points for it happening to me there, but on top of the poor service and my mediocre food, I am leery about returning.

 

[brertoad]

I had never experienced a severe case of food poisoning before that trip to Citrico's, and I would never wish such an episode upon anyone. I'm fully aware that food poisoning can happen anywhere, so I don't automatically dock Citrico's extra points for it happening to me there, but on top of the poor service and my mediocre food, I am leery about returning.

Yes, it can happen anywhere, unfortunately that is true. Considering the food and the service were terrible in your experience, I would feel the same way. It would be many years before I got over something like that, even after years I may not be willing to go back to any of the places I've got severe food poisoning from. One of our favorite restaurants locally gave me severe food poisoning, we used to eat there 1-2 times a week, and they probably wonder where the hell we've been for the last 6 months, and we've gone there for a few years. I had thought we should have told them about it, but figured they'd find out sooner or later, other people must have told them. I didn't want to debate them about how one ravioli made me so ill. Good thing we ordered appetizers that night, so I only ate one ravioli out of my dinner (there were maybe 7 raviolis). I expect I would have been in the hospital if I ate more than one of them. I had the left over in the fridge. I should have taken it to a lab and had it tested, if that is even possible. lol

 

[bleeps]

So interesting --

We tried Citricos a few years ago for the first time, and had many similar experiences.

We felt from the moment we checked in, and when our CM arrived, that we were being looked down upon (even though we dressed to *code*). Our server was condescending and just vaguely obnoxious -- assuming we didn't know what menu terms meant rather than asking if we had questions, etc. -- and then just abandoned us (no drink refills or check ins, had to flag someone down in order to place dessert orders, etc.).

Food wasn't great -- we honestly all felt that our lunch at Coral Reef the day before was better (and we generally love the signature places).

I'm always commenting on these boards that everyone's experiences differ, and that people apply high standards to WDW and all -- but we've never had the interest in going back to give Citricos another chance and it's just interesting to me that people continue to report experiences similar to ours. Does a little bit start to sound like the culture within that particular restaurant....

 

[AnnaS]

These reviews are worrying me. We booked for October - well my ds wanted to try it - I hope it's not as bad as I have read here. Will pass these comments on to him.

 

[TigerKat]

These reviews are worrying me. We booked for October - well my ds wanted to try it - I hope it's not as bad as I have read here. Will pass these comments on to him.

Don't worry! Citrico's is one of our favorite places and we try to go on every trip which is twice per year. We were just there in March and it was as wonderful as always!!!

 

[sleepydog25]

These reviews are worrying me. We booked for October - well my ds wanted to try it - I hope it's not as bad as I have read here. Will pass these comments on to him.

Every restaurant has its bad days, and until you try it, others opinions are just that. Good eats!

 

[gorkt]

I didn't have as bad an experience as some of you, but I found Citricos to be very overrated. The food was pretty bland and I did find the service rather overbearing.