Describe the worst dining experince in Orlando..

[iluvtot]

Experience, food, or both?

Offsite, on our first trip, (10 years ago) we were recommended to go to Poderosa. We had to choose our main course from photos on the wall, and pay before we sat down. The buffet was a mess, yet we were surrounded by people that had their plates piled high with buffet food; and it smelt awful! I had to take DD out because I thought she was going to be ill. We sat in the car, and the others followed us out without eating a thing. Reckon that's why you have to pay before! We went to Burger King on the way back to the hotel!
Onsite has to be the restuarant in Mexico. The service was fine, but the food was foul! (and we all like mexican) Cost a small fortune aswell; the most expensive marguritas we have ever had!(at least they were good!)

Jules x

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Oh and not the restaurant's fault, but at Bob Evans a poor little boy was being physically sick right from his table to the bathroom where he managed to hit my leg (slightly ).

Hard to sit back down and enjoy a meal.

Servers were all looking at each other wondering where to start.

Poor child I felt terrible for him - mum was so apologetic.

 

[wayneg]

I quietly told him if he didn't I would drag him out and smash his face into the wall.
David

Remind me not to touch anything of yours when we cruise next year.

 

[chipndalefan]

Offsite Sizzler on the US192

I ate here on my first trip in 2001 and the food was delicious. I had malibu chicken which was fab. The next time we went was last year (I suddenly got nostalgc when we were driving past LOL!) I ordered the malibu chicken, only to find the breaded chicken breast had been replaced by a cheap minced breaded chicken shape. We didn't even touch the buffet, it was crawling with flies!!!!!

Onsite Sci-Fi diner

We have eaten here many times and it was great, though last years trip was poor. We had a ADR and selected a car at the front desk. We waited around 30 mins for our table, despite arriving 20 mins before the ADR. Others came in after us and were seated before us. When we were shown to our table we had been allocated a regular table at the back rather than a car. We complained to the waitress who advised she could not do anything and we would have to go to the front desk again, though we would have to wait at least 30 mins as they were busy! This P'd me off as the restaurant was half empty, and we were sat next to an empty car. We decided to stick with the allocated table as this would be quicker. Big mistake. The service was soooo slow (probably because we complained) The empty table next to us was occupied, served their starter before us, and received much quicker service. Obviously no tip was left.

 

[daipp]

Remind me not to touch anything of yours when we cruise next year.

Thing is, my DW was crying because she knew I was about to do it as well so that didn't help matters!!

David

 

[2Tiggies]

Remind me not to touch anything of yours when we cruise next year.

No wonder the bloke wasn't there the following year. He obviously didn't want to play games with his medical insurance and life & disability cover.

 

[kevin harrison]

Golden Corrall is where a server stole my wifes bag with my camera and lenses. While we were waiting for the police I saw him carry a Tesco carrier bag to his car (there were two in the bag).
I followed him back inside and asked him to come outside. When he refused, I quietly told him if he didn't I would drag him out and smash his face into the wall.

He started crying and begged me not to tell the manager. We went outside to his car and gave me everything back. I went looking for him last year for the hell of it but he has moved to a different location.

David

Why on earth didn't you tell the manager once you got your stuff back? He would have just done it again to someone else?

 

[Pegasus928]

Onsite - 9 Dragons Epcot.
The food itself was great - but when I stuck my chopsticks in my noodles to help DD cut some of her food up the server came running up to our table screaming about how it is bad luck and meant that one of our party was going to die Kind of put a downer on the rest of the day.

Offsite - Ci-Ci's Pizza
Terrible food, terrible atmosphere and left feeling in need of shower. Most of the tables around us were full of really big (and I'm not exactly small myself ) people, and I mean entire families of them, that had a lookout for when they brought new pizzas out. It was then a race between them and tghe family next to them as to who would get there first. Most of the time one of them went up and just took everything that was there and brought it back for the rest of the family.
In the end we decided that the food really wasn't worth fighting for so just sat back and enjoyed the show

 

[torsie24]

the server came running up to our table screaming about how it is bad luck and meant that one of our party was going to die Kind of put a downer on the rest of the day.

Agreed that it wasn't a very hapy thing to do, but it actually made me LOL!

They are very superstitious.

 

[Ann B]

Sci-fi diner
The food was horrible. It was so dark that you could not see what you were eating. I had a burger and just knew that it was floating in something wet - oil, grease, blood from the burger? Who knows, I certainly didn't! It was disgutsing. The worst meal ever! It is a shame as we had been looking forward to this for so long. I also hated not being able to talk to the children during our meal as they were sitting with their backs to us.
This was years ago and I can still remember it vividly.

 

[tttessa]

Denny's near the 27 end of the 192 - server kept going on and on and on about how pay was poor and they relied on tips and how the last "English" folks didn't leave any tip at all..... I wonder why??? Food was great, but we didn't go back.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

For service - Hooters.

We thought it would be a bit of fun to try this place out (big fans of the film 'Big Daddy') but how wrong we were, firstly we out of all the lovely looking smiling waitresses we got one who had a face like thunder and secoundly, she had an attitude to suit! She was just rude and really didn't want to be there, neither did we after that experience!

For food - Planet Hollywood.

I ordered the chicken fajitas thinking I would recieve some nice spicy chicken to put in my wraps. I remember looking at the chicken we it was served to me thinking that looks strange. Upon eating the chicken, which was cold, all I could taste was herbs and it did not taste nice. I asked the waitress what the hell this was supposed to be and all she could say was that's how the cook them here! I still feel ill thinking about it now!

 

[darthtatty]

For us it was the California Grill.
Our Adr was on the last night of our holiday, was the only night we could get. We had originally wanted to book our wedding meal there but were told they didnt take wedding bookings. Imagine our surprise when we got there and there was a wedding party there. Although to be honest if didnt bother us as we'd already had our wedding meal at Citricos and it was amazing.xx
the whole restaurant was in chaos, it was so noisy with kids running about everywhere. yes i expect children as WDW but at a high priced restaurant thought it may have been more civilised.
we had to wait ages to be seated, over an hour-about 1hour 15/25.
our server was so slow and basically miserable, when she finally came to see us about 25mins after being seated she told us if we wanted desserts we'd have to order them now as the kitchen would we closed when we'd want to order them.
now youd think our ADR time was late but it was about 7pm.
I think we spent over 4 hours at our meal-the server was so slow. Im not sure why we stuck it out we are very patient people and i guess nothing really phases us. Although our 4 year old was nearly asleep at the table.
Another thing- I hated watching wishes from there. There was no music and it was weird watching them from the distance in silence. I felt it spoiled the end of the holiday for us.
Food wise it was ok, we're not fussy eaters but did find it difficult to find anything we liked. I wasnt impressed with the food, it was ok but was expecting so much more.
we had fun drawing on the paper table cloths they had- from what i remember we wrote the times of everything on there eg ADR, seated, drinks, main meal, desserts etc wished i took a pic so i could remember the times-although i think i wrote them in my Diary.
No tip for her

we stay at the Contemporary so its a shame for us. Husband never wants to go back- As he says "they had their chance"

 

[donalduck]

My two have both had really good reviews by everyone else

Offsite - Outback Steakhouse at Formosa Gardens Boulevard - food was OK but as soon as server knew we weren't buying alcohol (and therefore increasing our bill) he practically ignored us but was fawning over another British family who were drinking.

Onsite - Crystal Palace buffet breakfast - almost total lack of characters for the whole 50 minutes that we were eating. We had to hang around after we had finished eating to see anyone apart from Piglet who was stationed in the buffet area.

In both cases the food was good but we were disappointed with our experiences.

You should give Crystal Palace another shot. I have been there about 4 times and I never had that problem. In fact they came around after there little parade quiet a number of times.

 

[donalduck]

I would say Golden Corrall, worst place ive eaten, not just in Florida but anywhere in my life, food all over the floor, plastic plates, the food wasnt awful, it was edable....but would never step through there doors again

It had to be just that one in FL. The GC where I live is very good.

 

[donalduck]

Mine is Planet Hollywood. The food is was awful. It was early in the evening about 5 and inside they had the dam music up so loud that I couldn't even hear my self talk. I will never go back there again long as I live.

 

[wayneg]

It had to be just that one in FL. The GC where I live is very good.

My guess is its the one at LBV, its not the best of places. DW hates the place, always looks as though it needs a good clean and the smell outside is disgusting but thats a problem outside a lot of restaurants like GC and Ponderosa where they have a lot of waste in the Floridian heat.

 

[disneyholic family]

For us it was the California Grill.
Our Adr was on the last night of our holiday, was the only night we could get. We had originally wanted to book our wedding meal there but were told they didnt take wedding bookings. Imagine our surprise when we got there and there was a wedding party there. Although to be honest if didnt bother us as we'd already had our wedding meal at Citricos and it was amazing.xx
the whole restaurant was in chaos, it was so noisy with kids running about everywhere. yes i expect children as WDW but at a high priced restaurant thought it may have been more civilised.
we had to wait ages to be seated, over an hour-about 1hour 15/25.
our server was so slow and basically miserable, when she finally came to see us about 25mins after being seated she told us if we wanted desserts we'd have to order them now as the kitchen would we closed when we'd want to order them.
now youd think our ADR time was late but it was about 7pm.
I think we spent over 4 hours at our meal-the server was so slow. Im not sure why we stuck it out we are very patient people and i guess nothing really phases us. Although our 4 year old was nearly asleep at the table.
Another thing- I hated watching wishes from there. There was no music and it was weird watching them from the distance in silence. I felt it spoiled the end of the holiday for us.
Food wise it was ok, we're not fussy eaters but did find it difficult to find anything we liked. I wasnt impressed with the food, it was ok but was expecting so much more.
we had fun drawing on the paper table cloths they had- from what i remember we wrote the times of everything on there eg ADR, seated, drinks, main meal, desserts etc wished i took a pic so i could remember the times-although i think i wrote them in my Diary.
No tip for her

we stay at the Contemporary so its a shame for us. Husband never wants to go back- As he says "they had their chance"

CG for us too....it was many years ago, but we've never gone back....it was beyond atrocious....after that experience, we'd never give them a second chance...there are so many good restaurants why take a chance...

 

[VailaTigger]

In 4 trips, not really had much in the way of a bad meal. Which I think is pretty good! The choice for veggies seems to be getting better too, although I think the veggie choice is very often doubled up as the "healthy" choice, and sometimes I just want burger n fries! (Previous trips there have seen me hunting for a salad because I've just had too much stodge - burger, fries, pasta... opposite this last time.)

This last trip though, we didn't tip our waiter in T-Rex (DTD). We hated being sat in the Ice Cave bit, as it's so dark and strangely lit (either blue or red) that you can't see what you're eating. The waiter was unhelpful and sullen, they had very little in the way of choice for veggies, everyone else's plates were cleared from the table before I was done eating (HATE that, but it seems to be an American thing), and the waiter asked us what we wanted for desserts while I was still eating my entree! He was sent away with a flea in his ear and told to wait till I was done. When he came back we asked for the bill, paid it exactly and left. No tip.

Not sure I'd go to IHOP (Kissimmee) again. Food was fine, server was nice, but it was busy, and I felt REALLY rushed to vacate the table so they could seat someone else. Again I was still eating when all the other plates were cleared and the bill brought. Wasn't that clean either... Not really a bad meal, but just don't think we'll make a repeat visit.

I guess it's just your luck, because I've had lovely meals at places people have mentioned in this thread as being their worst!

 

[Becx N Gav]

Mine is Planet Hollywood. The food is was awful. It was early in the evening about 5 and inside they had the dam music up so loud that I couldn't even hear my self talk. I will never go back there again long as I live.

Oh yes the music in there I don't remember the food, maybe that is a good thing

This last trip though, we didn't tip our waiter in T-Rex (DTD). We hated being sat in the Ice Cave bit, as it's so dark and strangely lit (either blue or red) that you can't see what you're eating. The waiter was unhelpful and sullen, they had very little in the way of choice for veggies, everyone else's plates were cleared from the table before I was done eating (HATE that, but it seems to be an American thing), and the waiter asked us what we wanted for desserts while I was still eating my entree! He was sent away with a flea in his ear and told to wait till I was done. When he came back we asked for the bill, paid it exactly and left. No tip.

You are correct with them clearing the plates before everyone has finished, I personally think it's rude, but a lot of Americans I've mentioned it to prefer to have their dirty - empty - plates taken.

Also with the 'no tip' thing (this is not directed at anyone specifically) but it's apparently better to leave a dollar as the tip, it shows that you (as an English person) understand it is a tipped position but also infers that you believe that they only deserve a dollar. Thankfully we've never felt we had to show our dissatisfaction like that, we left a small tip for some meals where we didn't like the service but generally we leave 20%.