Columbia Harbor House - huge disappointment

[freshmanjs]

I got super sick from CHH on my last trip. My daughter was sick from it previously. I used to like the upstairs section like everyone else and the tuna sammie, but ughhhh...no more

How could you possibly know what made you sick? Finding the source of food borne illness is very very difficult even with professional and a ton of resources.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

There's a difference between saying; if you are at MK looking for QS then CHH is a good bet vs. you have to go to MK and eat at CHH.

I get the salmon and then head upstairs to people watch, and there are no other QS I want to eat lunch or supper at MK... so, I'd always recommend it in a thread asking for recommendations. lol

The recommendations in the thread I linked mentioned "love", "delish", "amazing", and "great food." That makes it sound like something that should be really good instead of Cosmic Ray's with fish dishes and a less hectic atmosphere haha.

I sometimes think people should add some nuance to their recommendations because I'd rather eat at Five Guys or Potbelly than any QS in the MK. It's generally acceptable food but nothing to write home about.

 

[bigbabyblues]

If you ordered battered and fried chicken tenders or fish and fries....well, yeah, it is going to be similar to the places you mentioned.

We get the salmon, couscous and broccoli, and it is pretty good for theme park food. DS likes the tuna salad sandwich.

 

[Mome Rath]

The recommendations in the thread I linked mentioned "love", "delish", "amazing", and "great food." That makes it sound like something that should be really good instead of Cosmic Ray's with fish dishes and a less hectic atmosphere haha.

I just reread the whole thread; and this is why Dis is so handy. There are several people who loved it, several who liked it, and several who didn't (see the "cat food" comment, as well as those saying to avoid the fried dishes), and add on top of that many recommends for other QS restaurants. I also saw many mentions that the food is fine, and it's a great place for air conditioning and to head upstairs. All-in-all, if someone read the thread they'd get a pretty fair view of CHH, IMO.

I sometimes think people should add some nuance to their recommendations because I'd rather eat at Five Guys or Potbelly than any QS in the MK. It's generally acceptable food but nothing to write home about.

Well, yeah, there are lots of fast food, or fast casual places that do better food than almost any QS at WDW... however, if someone is in a park and asking for a park restaurant recommendation, then you're limited to that park. And, we all know that food likes and dislikes lean heavily on subjective reactions. Case in point, there are lots of people that actually like McD's food, and I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.

 

[Figment Mom]

CHH had never been on my radar as a place to try. Then on the 8th and last day of my solo trip this past July (and 3rd MK day) I was scrolling through the app looking at menus and trying to decide where to eat lunch.

Usually seafood on a hot July day in Orlando is not appealing to me but I decided to give it a try.

I ordered the lobster roll and hush puppies and enjoyed every last morsel.

I only wish I had known about the upstairs seating, although I had a perfectly adequate table downstairs.

 

[Disneylover99]

I just reread the whole thread; and this is why Dis is so handy. There are several people who loved it, several who liked it, and several who didn't (see the "cat food" comment, as well as those saying to avoid the fried dishes), and add on top of that many recommends for other QS restaurants. I also saw many mentions that the food is fine, and it's a great place for air conditioning and to head upstairs. All-in-all, if someone read the thread they'd get a pretty fair view of CHH, IMO.

Yeah, I agree. I reread that thread too. Lots of recommendations for Pecos Bill as well as other MK eateries.

 

[B-Ride]

I’ve not heard of anyone being infatuated by CHH.

I’ve not heard of anyone being infatuated by CHH.

I beg to disagree. My family is totally infatuated by CHH. We eat there at least once per trip sometimes twice. Sure the upstairs cool seating is one of the reasons but we find the food a welcome change from the typical burger fare.

 

[Disneylover99]

I beg to disagree. My family is totally infatuated by CHH. We eat there at least once per trip sometimes twice. Sure the upstairs cool seating is one of the reasons but we find the food a welcome change from the typical burger fare.

Infatuation is intense but short lived. It comes on strong but fizzles out quickly.
I think what you describe is admiration and a loyal friendship.

 

[B-Ride]

Infatuation is intense but short lived. It comes on strong but fizzles out quickly.
I think what you describe is admiration and a loyal friendship.

Once again I have to disagree. I have been absolutely infatuated with my wonderful wife for 40+ years.

 

[Disneylover99]

Once again I have to disagree. I have been absolutely infatuated with my wonderful wife for 40+ years.

It sounds like you love her.

 

[scionchigirl]

Ive been certified in food sanitation for 25 years and have a cottage food biz,my sis and her DIL are both RNs and one of my friends is a doctor, so Im familiar with how food borne illness works. The timing led back to CHH (it could have been another wdw eatery, of course,but the time frame was 100% wdw eatery)Ive never made anyone sick with food Ive prepared and it was the only time I was sick in 6 trips.Do you think Im an idiot or just Disney couldnt possibly serve tainted/off temp/spoiled food?Not that I care, but you quoted my post, so...

 

[freshmanjs]

Since food borne illness timelines are normally 6-72 hours, there is no way you can tie it to a specific meal. I didn't comment on Disney or your intelligence at all, so you are WAY out on a limb there. Based on your own post, it's clear that you don't know that CHH made you sick. It is also possible to get something like norovirus without any eatery doing anything wrong. You can get it by touching a doorknob that a sick person touched.

 

[JennP78]

Like others have said, it's great for what it is - theme park QS. I wouldn't necessarily rave about it the same way if it were a local neighborhood joint. When you're "help captive" in a theme park it's all relative.

 

[WEDWDW]

CHH Lunch upstairs on "The Bridge" looking out at either Liberty Square or Fantasyland is one of our trip Traditions.

 

[gharter]

While Pecos Bill is our goto QS lunch at MK, we have never had bad food at CHH the many times we have eaten there.
Is the food amazing? No, but its good for what it is - QS at a theme park.

 

[Micca]

We've probably been to CHH almost every trip for 40+ years, It's the only MK QS we'll eat at. I like Long John Silver's...what can I say?

 

[clm10308]

I like Long John Silver’s.

 

[soccermom54]

DH and I alternate between Pecos Bills and Columbia House. At Columbia House, DH always enjoys the salmon and I get the salad with chicken on top. Both are consistently good, we love sitting on the 2nd floor and the ac is a very welcome relief.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I like Long John Silver’s.

Me too!!

 

[alltwelve]

Reading all the comments about Long John Silver's is making me really want to eat there- its been decades since I've been to LJS and now I want some of those chicken planks with hush puppies and the little crunchy batter pieces!!!