Dining Reviews 12/7 - 12/18, Updated 1/20 - Completed

[disneyfav4ever]

Throughout my trip I used my DDE. This was my first trip with the DDE, and I have to say, it was worth it. While I spent $60 to purchase it, I was able to save $65, not a huge difference, but you have to take a few things into consideration.

1) I was sick. Had I not been sick, I would of, (probably,) also made it to Ohana, Grand Floridian Cafe, Breakfastasouras, and Flying Fish, all of which would have added to my savings.

2) The DDE is good through the end of Nov 2007, and I have two more trips before then. In Feb, I'm going to be able to use it for almost all of my planned meals, since I'm staying at All Star Movies, and the only park I'm probably going to be eating CS at is AK, and the CS restaurants there take the DDE. During my Sep-Oct trip I'll still have the DDE, but I'm also going to have the DDP, so I won't be using it so much. I'm a light drinker, out of the seventeen TS meals I did, I only had a drink at two of them. But, DM likes wine with dinner, and when we split meals we may get an extra appetizer or dessert, that we would be able to use the DDE on.

So getting the DDE was worth it. It has already more then paid for itself, if only by a few dollars, but as I said, two more trips.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

This will be a compiled list of all the restaurants tried in these reviews. There will be one best and one worst for each category, as well as honorable mentions where I see fit.

The categories to be included, and what my criteria is, are;

Check-InRated on how efficent the process was, and how quickly I was seated.
Waiting AreaBased mainly on themeing.
Table SettingWhat was on the table, or if special utensils were brought out based on what I ordered.
Service Based on friendliness and speed.

Food Catergories

Bread
Butter and / or dipping Oil Yes, bread and butter are seperate categories.
Appetizer Not including soups or salads, which are below.
Soup
Salad
Flatbread
Sandwich
Pasta
Fish / Seafood Dish
Chicken Dish
Red-Meat That is not steak.
Steak
Overall Entree
Drink
Best Dessert I really didn't sample enough desserts to do different categories for cakes, creme brulees, etc.

Buffet
Character Interaction
Restaurant Themeing
Restauarnt Atmosphere

They're all the categories I can think of for now, please let me know if there's anything else I could add. I'll be listing the winners, (and losers,) tomorrow.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Also, just as a note, best dishes that are not specific as entree or appetizer, i.e. best fish/seafood dish, could be either an entree or an appetizer.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

Thanks for the incredible reviews

 

[disneyfav4ever]

And the winners, and losers, are;

Check-In
Best - California Grill, was seated early, and there's that whole being escorted up in an elevator thing.
Worst - Kona, snafu with the computer kept me waiting.

Waiting Area
Best - Citricos, plenty of seating, and nice views.
Best - Honorable Mention - ABC Comissary, no, I didn't eat here, but I went in since I saw the Grey's Anatomy scrubs on display, and then also saw several Lost props.
Worst - Nine Dragons, for being too crowded

Table Setting
Best - Artist Point, since the unnessecary glasses were taken away, and I was served a steak knife after ordering.
Best - Honorable Mention - Citricos, since that's the only restaurant I've been to that I remember having my table decrumbed.
Worst - N/A

Service
Best - California Grill, server was great, I was served quickly, but not rushed, gave good opinions and suggestons.
Best - Honorable Mentions - LTT / Chefs de France / Blue Zoo
Worst - Jiko, too slow.

Food Catergories

Note - all the best / worst categories for food are based on taste. See reviews for the actual description of the food.

Bread
Best - Wolfgang Puck Cafe
Worst - Garden Grill

Butter and / or dipping Oil
Best - Tie - Citricos for butter, even if it was a little too salty, really liked the citrus-infusion, Wolfgang Puck Cafe for dipping oil, w/ balsamic vinaigrette.
Worst - Blue Zoo, did not care for the fennel-butter.

Appetizer
Best - Gateau of Crab at Citricos
Best - Honorable Mention - Sea Scallop at Blue Zoo, and Shrimp Cocktail at Le Cellier
Worst - N/A

Soup
Best - Butternut Squash Soup at Citricos
Best - Honorable Mention - Butternut Squash Soup at CA Grill
Worst - Butternut Squash Soup at Jiko, not horrible, but not nearly as good as others.

Salad
Really only had one salad, the field greens at Artist Point, therefore I'm going to eliminate the category.

Flatbread
Best - Tie - Fig at California Grill, and Coffee-BBQ-Chicken at Jiko
Worst - N/A

Sandwich
Best - Earl of Sandwhich's Original
Worst - N/A

Pasta
Best - Pumpkin Ravioli at Wolfgang Puck Cafe
Worst - N/A

Fish / Seafood Dish
Best - Gateau of Crab at Citricos, (also got best appetizer.)
Worst - N/A

Poultry Dish
Best - Honey-Sesame Chicken at Nine Dragons
Worst - Turkey at Garden Grill

Red-Meat
Best - Prime Rib at Boma
Worst - N/A

Steak
Best - Buffalo Steak at Artist Point
Best - Honorable Mentions - Steak at Garden Grill, really good for a family-style meal, and strip steak at Le Cellier.
Worst - N/A, I've never had less then above-average when it comes to steaks at Disney.

Overall Entree
Best - Tie, Pumpkin Ravioli at Wolfgang Puck Cafe, and Buffalo Steak at Artist Point
Worst - N/A

Drink
Best - Zooberry Martini at Blue Zoo
Worst - Berries & Cream Tini at Le Cellier, but considering these are the only two drinks I had. . .

Best Dessert
Best - Banana-Butterscotch Buzz at CA Grill
Worst - Pumpkin Cheesecake at Citricos, and Walnut-Raisin Baklava at Jiko

Plate Presentation
Best - Pumpkin Cheesecake at Citricos, which suprisignly also was one of the worst taste-wise. Just proves looks aren't everything.
Best - Honorable Mention - Garden Grill, since it was the only family-style meal I've ever had that seemed to be portioned appropriatly.

Buffet
Best - Boma
Worst - N/A

Character Interaction
Best - Garden Grill
Worst - N/A

Restaurant Themeing
Best - Blue Zoo
Worst - N/A

Restauarnt Atmosphere
Best - Tie - Crystal Palace, Garden Grill, and CA Grill
Worst - Kona, for lack of theming

 

[Silly Girl]

WOW! I've so enjoyed reading your reviews. Thanks for all the great and insightful input. My DH and I will be in WDW the week of Feb 11 (no kids) and plan on trying many of the places you've reviewed. I'm looking forward to our eating adventure.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

WOW! I've so enjoyed reading your reviews. Thanks for all the great and insightful input. My DH and I will be in WDW the week of Feb 11 (no kids) and plan on trying many of the places you've reviewed. I'm looking forward to our eating adventure.

I'll be in Disney the same time as you, arriving on 2/12.

 

[DISNEYDUET]

Thank you very much for a wonderful review! I can't wait to here about your next trip. It will be here before you know it!

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Excellent reviews! I have to come back to read the last couple of pages...Great job! Thanks!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm so glad so many are enjoying the reviews. I've recieved so much help on the boards for my last two trips that I am happy to contribute this way to help others. I'm kind of sad that they're all done, but I am looking foward to being able to write more next month, and then again in Oct.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

For the poster who's trying to decide between Boma and Jiko, I have a review of each on this thread. Boma's is on page one, and Jiko's is on page three.

 

[Schucraig]

Thanks for the great reviews and pictures!

 

[memomuffin]

Thanks so much for the detailed reviews! It sounds like you and I have a lot of things in common - Disney and eating yummy food!!
Since you have been to Disney many times and have eaten at all the restaurants, would you mind if I ask a question. Of all of the Signature Restaurants (that are available on the DDP), what would you (or anyone that reads this) recommend as the NUMBER ONE restaurant to use 2 Table credits for (or okay, how about top 3)?
California Grill, Jiko, Citricos, Narcooses, Hollywood Brown Derby, Flying Fish Cafe, Artist Point, or the Yachtsman Steakhouse?
I have switched from California Grill, to Jiko, and now I'm at Yachtsman's Steakhouse (and that's mainly because I can't seem to get a ressie for Le Cellier and both my fiance and I are LOVE steak).
Just a quick note, we don't have any kids, we're just two big ones ourselves celebrating our 30th B-days!!
Thanks so much!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Thanks so much for the detailed reviews! It sounds like you and I have a lot of things in common - Disney and eating yummy food!!
Since you have been to Disney many times and have eaten at all the restaurants, would you mind if I ask a question. Of all of the Signature Restaurants (that are available on the DDP), what would you (or anyone that reads this) recommend as the NUMBER ONE restaurant to use 2 Table credits for (or okay, how about top 3)?
California Grill, Jiko, Citricos, Narcooses, Hollywood Brown Derby, Flying Fish Cafe, Artist Point, or the Yachtsman Steakhouse?
I have switched from California Grill, to Jiko, and now I'm at Yachtsman's Steakhouse (and that's mainly because I can't seem to get a ressie for Le Cellier and both my fiance and I are LOVE steak).
Just a quick note, we don't have any kids, we're just two big ones ourselves celebrating our 30th B-days!!
Thanks so much!

I've never eaten at Narcooses, Yachtsman Steakhouse, or Flying Fish, (though I am eating at Flying Fish next month, so expect my new reviews when I get back!) Between the rest of them I love the food at Brown Derby, but money-wise it's not the best use of credits, though I'm using the 2 credits there next month as well, since I do love the food there, and I have the DDP for free, so it's not like it's actually a bad use of credits.

I also really like California Grill and Artist Point. Citricos was good, but I was dissapointed with the service and dessert. Jiko I've been kind of dissapointed with both times I ate there.

 

[PrincessTiff]

Thank you for sharing.