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- Mar 7, 2010
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It's been a while since I've provided a food review (after a poor experience at CA Grill), but I feel compelled after having to adjust my diet due to a recent medical concern of high blood sugar (borderline diabetes). One adjustment is eating a bit more protein and far less sugar for me. For my wife, she needs to avoid gluten (not because of diabetes), but can tolerate small amounts. Finally, our 5 y.o. child is trying to make sense of Mommy avoiding pizza and Daddy avoiding ice cream & Coca-Cola.
Since there were changes to our travel plans due to snow in New York, we had extra time in Orlando to stock up on groceries at the local Whole Foods before our stay at a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) 1-br Villa that comes with a complete kitchen. We may not have saved much money buying all the organics and the like, but it certainly gave me a chance to eat something without having to dash to a breakfast reservation (ADR) to manage my medical needs. Needless to say, the only breakfast foods we had were in our room and I'll be skipping any play-by-play of how to cook scrambled eggs and the benefits of Icelandic Skyr.
Anyway, y'all wanna' know what we ate from Disney:
Snacks. Popcorn & pretzels are seemingly everywhere and are typical snacks for my family (see, my wife will eat some gluten). And I'd like to apologize for suggesting in a recent comment that Disney food is not too salty - the popcorn is almost always too salty. I witnessed on multiple occasions that Cast Members were simply pouring an unmeasured amount into the cup with the un-popped corn. My child complained of burning lips more than once. I only now recall a similar experience at Disney on a prior vacation.
But we seemingly noticed the continuing movement towards healthier whole food options and even gluten-free packaged foods throughout the Parks. Every time we stumbled upon pretzels & popcorn, we were just as likely to stumble upon a cart with just gluten-free items, whole or cut fruit. This is a good thing.
Ice Cream. I was typically denied Mickey-on-a-Stick as a child, so I am happy to indulge my child and my inner-child. But given my need to be more careful, I was far more selective in where I consumed these calories. Disney ice cream quality varies and I have some very real preferences. For instance, Ed'y is served at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, a soft-serve at Sunshine Tree Terrace is far different, and so too is Dole Whip (although, not ice cream) is available nearby too. And this is just the Magic Kingdom.
My preferences: Fountain inside Dolphin serves hand-dipped artisanal ice cream - my third choice. L'Artisan des Glaces in France is my next choice because the creamier gelato (pistachio for me) can be fully enjoyed in smaller quantities...and I can grab a glass of Champagne inside Vins des Chefs. But my personal ice cream favorite is Ghirardelli at Downtown Disney with chocolate combinations that would make Willy Wonka blush with envy; I took two pills after enjoying my shake topped with glorious fresh whipped cream.
Qwik Service. Disney gets a well deserved bad reputation for lousy hamburgers and a few other typical fast food choices. That might change if/when Shake Shack opens in Downtown Disney (I lived around the corner from the original in Madison Square Park, NYC). So it is with pleasure that I have been enjoying healthier portions that are increasingly available - like the now ubiquitous chicken Caesar that can be found as both a salad or in a wrap or even a lovely bowl of greens topped with salmon at ABC Commissary. Other favorites include entree salads at Tamu Tamu (with a Dole Whip chaser), the newly improved Fried Chicken Waffle with cole slaw and arugula at Sleepy Hollow, the BBQ Slaw Dog at Casey's Corner topped with Pulled Pork, and even the Quinoa salads and/or Roasted Vegetables that take top billing over frozen pizza at many of the Resort Pool Qwik Service spots.
Which leads me to a comment that I know will start chatter - Disney Qwik Service meals are a better value than many Table Service and/or Signature meals. Said a different way - you get more of what you pay for with a $9 Qwik Service meal than many of the $40 entrees at Signatures. And truth be told, a self-described food snob is suggesting this. Just to give an indication to my snobbery - I ran into Chef Jose Andres at La Nouba. Would you know who he is or what he looks like? I am more a groupie to Chefs than musicians or Hollywood entertainers.
Seriously - as the quality of salads with protein has gone up, while the quality of chicken nuggets and hamburgers have stayed at the same crumby quality, eating a Qwik Service bowl of greens is no worse than an uncooked bowl of greens for more money....while the quality of Table Service & Signatures continue to be hit or miss.
Table Service. Spice Road Table was on our must-dine list this vacation. Well-seasoned food works for us. We enjoy Marakesh (although it can be noisy) & Sanaa, and enjoyed our visit to Spice Table. My child loves rack of lamb and the chops she received here were eaten with her normal gusto. My wife helped out a little bit, but we focused on the perfect Fried Calamari (my kid ate some of these too, go figure), Mussels Tagine that were lip-smacking good, and the enjoyable, yet de classe, Baby (not mentioned) Spicy Shrimp. Since well-seasoned food is not for every palate, this is a less crowded spot (like Tutto Gusto Wine Bar) that offers small 'tapas-style' that will appeal to self-described foodies. Sure, the lamb was expensive, but small plates were very tasty and did not feel badly valued at about $10/plate - we'll be back.
Hit or miss is our experience at Cinderella's Royal Table. We typically go for lunch, so we have always started with a mixed plate with salads, cheese, and/or vegetables. As you might have guessed, this works for my family, but I can understand how some people find this starter course to be a little bit of nothing. Entrees seem to follow a similar path with a Beef Tenderloin Salad that included more than described on the menu, but which was devoid of much beef, and a Chicken Breast that left me snagging a nugget or two extra from my child. On the other hand, the White & Dark Chocolate 'Clock' dessert was sinfully good.
Wave. Convenient for departure day from our DVC Resort and the crunchy-granola menu descriptions should appeal to my family. But a $19 build-your-own Grass-fed burger is just too expensive. My wife had an entree salad that was far too small. And the child had a 'grey meat' hamburger that was on par with a school cafeteria. Were it not for the convenience and a fantastic Server, I'd complain a bit more.
House of Blues - VooDoo Shrimp is yummy, but the Jambalaya was horrible. There are two versions of Jambalaya - one with or one without tomato. The version here is with tomato, but it is not supposed to be sauced or soupy like I was served. Frankly, it tasted as if the rice was warmed with the same sweet marinara sauce that is served over pasta for the children. Also, the smoked sausage had no taste of smoke (see cornish hen @ Artist Point for comparison). Jambalaya is supposed to be a marriage of flavors in rice, the one at HoBlues was anything but. Next time I go to La Nouba, I'll stick with the huge portion of delicious fried chicken.....and those VooDoo Shrimp with corn bread.
Signature(s). Time and time again we are disappointed with Disney Signatures. In a nutshell, the food is far too hit or miss for the cost. So instead of being disappointed after a Signature, we had already decided to focus far less on these experiences. Our goal was to enjoy our favorites (blueZoo & Il Mulino) and try something new that was somewhat convenient to Bay Lake / Contemporary instead of feeling compelled to dine at CA Grill. Artist Point fit the description.
First of all, our child enjoys the 'Camps' (childcare) that are located throughout Disney Resorts and that give parents the opportunity to enjoy an adult meal without children. We are partial to the free one at Dolphin, but other locations are in Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club, and Polynesian. So, given the fact that we had never eaten at Artist Point, it is only a short and intimate boat ride away from Contemporary to Wilderness, and that there was a Camp for the kid(s), Artist Point was a no-brainer for this trip.
We had never been to Wilderness Lodge and found the atmosphere akin to our impressions at Animal Kingdom Lodge - extremely well themed. So we were surprised at the more sterile feeling inside the Signature restaurant, Artist Point.
Our expectations were a bit higher here given that the restaurant is not known to be as busy as many of the other Signatures and came with a more solid history of preparing excellent food. The Mussel appetizer was well prepared, but I wonder if the Riesling reduction might have tasted better with less garlic. For $14, the Onion Tart I was served should have been an individual tart, not a slice from a longer strudel-type pastry; this certainly might have been more hot, not the barely warmed version that was served. The perfectly cedar cooked Salmon was presented and served from aboard its' plank as a stark reminder that the fish takes center stage with this signature dish. The Smoked Cornish Hen is intended to be eaten by hand to remove the delicate meat from their bones, but might have been better served with a finger bowl or something to remove the smell of fireplace from your hands before trying dessert. Now the disappointment - dessert. Maybe we should have stuck with the Cobbler, because the salted Ice Cream served along side the Chocolate Ganache Cake garnished with Amarena Cherries (I use in my Bourbon) & Macaroon should have been delicious. The ice cream had more salt than the butter that was dotted with Black Salt and the Chocolate Cake had none of the silky texture one expects from a ganache, but was far more like a brownie that could be made with the help of any box from your grocery store. My wife loves macaroons, but not this tasteless one. I think we're done with Disney Dining Signatures.
As much as my family enjoys the relative value from the Qwik Service meals (other than hamburgers) that we find are getting better at Disney, we are increasingly disappointed at the declining value received at nearly every Signature experience outside of Swan & Dolphin (and Victoria & Albert). For our next vacation, I hope to review at least one restaurant in the newly opened Four Seasons.
Until we dine again.
Have a happy & healthy New Year!!
Since there were changes to our travel plans due to snow in New York, we had extra time in Orlando to stock up on groceries at the local Whole Foods before our stay at a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) 1-br Villa that comes with a complete kitchen. We may not have saved much money buying all the organics and the like, but it certainly gave me a chance to eat something without having to dash to a breakfast reservation (ADR) to manage my medical needs. Needless to say, the only breakfast foods we had were in our room and I'll be skipping any play-by-play of how to cook scrambled eggs and the benefits of Icelandic Skyr.
Anyway, y'all wanna' know what we ate from Disney:
Snacks. Popcorn & pretzels are seemingly everywhere and are typical snacks for my family (see, my wife will eat some gluten). And I'd like to apologize for suggesting in a recent comment that Disney food is not too salty - the popcorn is almost always too salty. I witnessed on multiple occasions that Cast Members were simply pouring an unmeasured amount into the cup with the un-popped corn. My child complained of burning lips more than once. I only now recall a similar experience at Disney on a prior vacation.
But we seemingly noticed the continuing movement towards healthier whole food options and even gluten-free packaged foods throughout the Parks. Every time we stumbled upon pretzels & popcorn, we were just as likely to stumble upon a cart with just gluten-free items, whole or cut fruit. This is a good thing.
Ice Cream. I was typically denied Mickey-on-a-Stick as a child, so I am happy to indulge my child and my inner-child. But given my need to be more careful, I was far more selective in where I consumed these calories. Disney ice cream quality varies and I have some very real preferences. For instance, Ed'y is served at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, a soft-serve at Sunshine Tree Terrace is far different, and so too is Dole Whip (although, not ice cream) is available nearby too. And this is just the Magic Kingdom.
My preferences: Fountain inside Dolphin serves hand-dipped artisanal ice cream - my third choice. L'Artisan des Glaces in France is my next choice because the creamier gelato (pistachio for me) can be fully enjoyed in smaller quantities...and I can grab a glass of Champagne inside Vins des Chefs. But my personal ice cream favorite is Ghirardelli at Downtown Disney with chocolate combinations that would make Willy Wonka blush with envy; I took two pills after enjoying my shake topped with glorious fresh whipped cream.
Qwik Service. Disney gets a well deserved bad reputation for lousy hamburgers and a few other typical fast food choices. That might change if/when Shake Shack opens in Downtown Disney (I lived around the corner from the original in Madison Square Park, NYC). So it is with pleasure that I have been enjoying healthier portions that are increasingly available - like the now ubiquitous chicken Caesar that can be found as both a salad or in a wrap or even a lovely bowl of greens topped with salmon at ABC Commissary. Other favorites include entree salads at Tamu Tamu (with a Dole Whip chaser), the newly improved Fried Chicken Waffle with cole slaw and arugula at Sleepy Hollow, the BBQ Slaw Dog at Casey's Corner topped with Pulled Pork, and even the Quinoa salads and/or Roasted Vegetables that take top billing over frozen pizza at many of the Resort Pool Qwik Service spots.
Which leads me to a comment that I know will start chatter - Disney Qwik Service meals are a better value than many Table Service and/or Signature meals. Said a different way - you get more of what you pay for with a $9 Qwik Service meal than many of the $40 entrees at Signatures. And truth be told, a self-described food snob is suggesting this. Just to give an indication to my snobbery - I ran into Chef Jose Andres at La Nouba. Would you know who he is or what he looks like? I am more a groupie to Chefs than musicians or Hollywood entertainers.
Seriously - as the quality of salads with protein has gone up, while the quality of chicken nuggets and hamburgers have stayed at the same crumby quality, eating a Qwik Service bowl of greens is no worse than an uncooked bowl of greens for more money....while the quality of Table Service & Signatures continue to be hit or miss.
Table Service. Spice Road Table was on our must-dine list this vacation. Well-seasoned food works for us. We enjoy Marakesh (although it can be noisy) & Sanaa, and enjoyed our visit to Spice Table. My child loves rack of lamb and the chops she received here were eaten with her normal gusto. My wife helped out a little bit, but we focused on the perfect Fried Calamari (my kid ate some of these too, go figure), Mussels Tagine that were lip-smacking good, and the enjoyable, yet de classe, Baby (not mentioned) Spicy Shrimp. Since well-seasoned food is not for every palate, this is a less crowded spot (like Tutto Gusto Wine Bar) that offers small 'tapas-style' that will appeal to self-described foodies. Sure, the lamb was expensive, but small plates were very tasty and did not feel badly valued at about $10/plate - we'll be back.
Hit or miss is our experience at Cinderella's Royal Table. We typically go for lunch, so we have always started with a mixed plate with salads, cheese, and/or vegetables. As you might have guessed, this works for my family, but I can understand how some people find this starter course to be a little bit of nothing. Entrees seem to follow a similar path with a Beef Tenderloin Salad that included more than described on the menu, but which was devoid of much beef, and a Chicken Breast that left me snagging a nugget or two extra from my child. On the other hand, the White & Dark Chocolate 'Clock' dessert was sinfully good.
Wave. Convenient for departure day from our DVC Resort and the crunchy-granola menu descriptions should appeal to my family. But a $19 build-your-own Grass-fed burger is just too expensive. My wife had an entree salad that was far too small. And the child had a 'grey meat' hamburger that was on par with a school cafeteria. Were it not for the convenience and a fantastic Server, I'd complain a bit more.
House of Blues - VooDoo Shrimp is yummy, but the Jambalaya was horrible. There are two versions of Jambalaya - one with or one without tomato. The version here is with tomato, but it is not supposed to be sauced or soupy like I was served. Frankly, it tasted as if the rice was warmed with the same sweet marinara sauce that is served over pasta for the children. Also, the smoked sausage had no taste of smoke (see cornish hen @ Artist Point for comparison). Jambalaya is supposed to be a marriage of flavors in rice, the one at HoBlues was anything but. Next time I go to La Nouba, I'll stick with the huge portion of delicious fried chicken.....and those VooDoo Shrimp with corn bread.
Signature(s). Time and time again we are disappointed with Disney Signatures. In a nutshell, the food is far too hit or miss for the cost. So instead of being disappointed after a Signature, we had already decided to focus far less on these experiences. Our goal was to enjoy our favorites (blueZoo & Il Mulino) and try something new that was somewhat convenient to Bay Lake / Contemporary instead of feeling compelled to dine at CA Grill. Artist Point fit the description.
First of all, our child enjoys the 'Camps' (childcare) that are located throughout Disney Resorts and that give parents the opportunity to enjoy an adult meal without children. We are partial to the free one at Dolphin, but other locations are in Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club, and Polynesian. So, given the fact that we had never eaten at Artist Point, it is only a short and intimate boat ride away from Contemporary to Wilderness, and that there was a Camp for the kid(s), Artist Point was a no-brainer for this trip.
We had never been to Wilderness Lodge and found the atmosphere akin to our impressions at Animal Kingdom Lodge - extremely well themed. So we were surprised at the more sterile feeling inside the Signature restaurant, Artist Point.
Our expectations were a bit higher here given that the restaurant is not known to be as busy as many of the other Signatures and came with a more solid history of preparing excellent food. The Mussel appetizer was well prepared, but I wonder if the Riesling reduction might have tasted better with less garlic. For $14, the Onion Tart I was served should have been an individual tart, not a slice from a longer strudel-type pastry; this certainly might have been more hot, not the barely warmed version that was served. The perfectly cedar cooked Salmon was presented and served from aboard its' plank as a stark reminder that the fish takes center stage with this signature dish. The Smoked Cornish Hen is intended to be eaten by hand to remove the delicate meat from their bones, but might have been better served with a finger bowl or something to remove the smell of fireplace from your hands before trying dessert. Now the disappointment - dessert. Maybe we should have stuck with the Cobbler, because the salted Ice Cream served along side the Chocolate Ganache Cake garnished with Amarena Cherries (I use in my Bourbon) & Macaroon should have been delicious. The ice cream had more salt than the butter that was dotted with Black Salt and the Chocolate Cake had none of the silky texture one expects from a ganache, but was far more like a brownie that could be made with the help of any box from your grocery store. My wife loves macaroons, but not this tasteless one. I think we're done with Disney Dining Signatures.
As much as my family enjoys the relative value from the Qwik Service meals (other than hamburgers) that we find are getting better at Disney, we are increasingly disappointed at the declining value received at nearly every Signature experience outside of Swan & Dolphin (and Victoria & Albert). For our next vacation, I hope to review at least one restaurant in the newly opened Four Seasons.
Until we dine again.
Have a happy & healthy New Year!!
