Dining Reviews 12/7 - 12/18, Updated 1/20 - Completed
- Thread starter disneyfav4ever
- Start date
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
Looks like I'm halfway through my TS reviews since Blue Zoo was number nine, and I ate at seventeen TS restaurants. It would have been twenty-two restaurants, but, and I feel I have to mention this, I started feeling worse instead of better, and started skipping ADRs. Usually I would cancel, but it was usually a last minute decision to not force myself to get through a meal, and I would just rather stay in bed, or go to bed. And there are some I really regret skipping.
I ate at Blue Zoo, and Chefs de France on day five of my trip. And through that I had made it to every ADR. Here was my plan for the next seven days and what I did and did not make it to. I only bothered to explain the ones I skipped, since the others will get full reviews.
Day Six
B - Crystal Palace
L - Grand Floridian Cafe, skipped, still on my list of to-dos
D - Ohana, skipped, I wasn't the least bit hungry, and knew I would hardly eat anything. I'd been here in 2005, and have it on my list for this fall.
Day 7
L - Teppanyaki, skipped, didn't want to get out of bed
D - Le Cellier
Day 8
L - Kona Cafe
D - Artist Point
Day 9
B - Donald's Breakfastasouras, skipped, once again, didn't want to get out of bed. Second time I had an ADR here, (I had one in 2005 as well,) that I missed. Still on my to-do list, but is not on my list for this fall.
D - Brown Derby
Day 10
L - Garden Grill
D - Rose & Crown
Day 11
L - Mama Melrose's
D - Flying Fish, skipped, and the one I feel really horrible about skipping. I had really, really wanted to try this place, and this is my #1 must-do this fall. I just felt so horrible this afternoon, that I couldn't go. As a matter of fact between lunch, (where I hardly ate a thing,) and the next morning I didn't eat a thing.
So Crystal Palace review is coming up next.
I ate at Blue Zoo, and Chefs de France on day five of my trip. And through that I had made it to every ADR. Here was my plan for the next seven days and what I did and did not make it to. I only bothered to explain the ones I skipped, since the others will get full reviews.
Day Six
B - Crystal Palace
L - Grand Floridian Cafe, skipped, still on my list of to-dos
D - Ohana, skipped, I wasn't the least bit hungry, and knew I would hardly eat anything. I'd been here in 2005, and have it on my list for this fall.
Day 7
L - Teppanyaki, skipped, didn't want to get out of bed
D - Le Cellier
Day 8
L - Kona Cafe
D - Artist Point
Day 9
B - Donald's Breakfastasouras, skipped, once again, didn't want to get out of bed. Second time I had an ADR here, (I had one in 2005 as well,) that I missed. Still on my to-do list, but is not on my list for this fall.
D - Brown Derby
Day 10
L - Garden Grill
D - Rose & Crown
Day 11
L - Mama Melrose's
D - Flying Fish, skipped, and the one I feel really horrible about skipping. I had really, really wanted to try this place, and this is my #1 must-do this fall. I just felt so horrible this afternoon, that I couldn't go. As a matter of fact between lunch, (where I hardly ate a thing,) and the next morning I didn't eat a thing.
So Crystal Palace review is coming up next.
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
After another looong night, I somehow still managed to be on time for my 8:05ADR. This was planned to be my day of eating, with ADRs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but as like I said in my last post, I only made it to breakfast.
I really wasn't that hungry, but I loved the breakfast I had there last year, and I hadn't seen Pooh and the gang yet this year, and I have a thing for Eeyore, so I had to go.
I was let into MK about 7:50, so was able to take a few pictures of Main Street and the castle, though this being the second time I've done an before park-opening ADR I'm starting to have an abundance of empty Main Street and uncrowded castle pictures.
I was seated at 8:10, on the opposite side of the restaurant I had been on last year, in the circular booth thing. I'm sure those of you who have been there before will know what I'm talking about.
I don't have my server's name written down in my journal, but I'm pretty sure I still have the reciept tucked in my Pass Porter, so I'll add that when I dig that up.
My server advised me that the characters would be starting on the opposite end of the room, and even that wouldn't be for a few minutes, so I had time to go up to the buffet.
I started with a plateful of breakfast goodies.
I had a piece of sausage, and two pieces of bacon. They were good but nothing special. I would also like to take a moment to say I never eat like this at home, my breakfast at home usually consists of diet coke. I know, breakfast of champions. So bacon, and all the other fatty delicous foods I eat are a once-a-year treat.
I also had a piece of breakfast pizza, which I also had last year and loved, this year, it was good, but I think I liked last years better. I'm not sure why. I also had some potato casserole, which was way too salty, last year the potatoes were too peppery. It seems like Crystal Palace can't get the seasoning right on potatoes. Though I didn't mind the overly-peppery potatoes last year I don't like things that are overly salty. There was however also roasted potatoes with onions, (the red-skinned ones,) that were perfectly cooked, and very good. And I finally tried the puffed french toast, which somehow I missed last year. I thought it tasted like funnel cake. That was very good as well, though I was only able to eat one piece of it.
As I was eating that I was visited by Tigger and Piglet, and one of the character handlers offered to take my picture for me with them. After being visited by those two, Eeyore and Pooh were just getting to the side of the restaurant I was on, when they, (the characters,) all took a break, so I went up to the buffet for a second plate of food.
I had a helping of breakfast lasagna, which was less sweet then the one I had last year, even though it had the same kinds of fruit, blueberries and bananas, so I'm not sure why this one was different. I liked it better less-sweet though, since last time it was too sweet to eat more then a few bites.
I also had a honey-berry mini-muffin, I think that's what it was called, but I'm not sure, and some vegetable fritata, which was all right, I didn't eat it all. I can be kind of picky about eggs, and usually won't eat them out since I need them prepared a certain way, and usually they're either to runny or dried out or there's something wrong with them that I won't eat them. I usually load mine, (when I make them at home,) with cheese, so it's more cheesy then eggy. For whatever reason though, I do love quiche. Not that that has anything to do with breakfast, but it's kind of ironic that I'm that picky about eggs, and that we have quiche at home a few times a month. I also had some more of the red-skinned potatoes that I had on my first plate.
My server, who I checked, his name was Michael-Jay, had left me the bill right after I had been seated, so I just had to give him my DDE card, and have him revise the bill.
After I had finished eating I would have left, but I still hadn't seen Pooh and Eeyore. Had it been anyone other then Eeyore, I would have just left, and not bothered to see them, but I had to wait, and see Eeyore. Then right after I saw him, Pooh was only two tables away, so I waited, and saw him too.
I still really like Crystal Palace, and am going to try and get an ADR here for the last morning of my Feb trip.
I really wasn't that hungry, but I loved the breakfast I had there last year, and I hadn't seen Pooh and the gang yet this year, and I have a thing for Eeyore, so I had to go.
I was let into MK about 7:50, so was able to take a few pictures of Main Street and the castle, though this being the second time I've done an before park-opening ADR I'm starting to have an abundance of empty Main Street and uncrowded castle pictures.
I was seated at 8:10, on the opposite side of the restaurant I had been on last year, in the circular booth thing. I'm sure those of you who have been there before will know what I'm talking about.
I don't have my server's name written down in my journal, but I'm pretty sure I still have the reciept tucked in my Pass Porter, so I'll add that when I dig that up.
My server advised me that the characters would be starting on the opposite end of the room, and even that wouldn't be for a few minutes, so I had time to go up to the buffet.
I started with a plateful of breakfast goodies.
I had a piece of sausage, and two pieces of bacon. They were good but nothing special. I would also like to take a moment to say I never eat like this at home, my breakfast at home usually consists of diet coke. I know, breakfast of champions. So bacon, and all the other fatty delicous foods I eat are a once-a-year treat.
I also had a piece of breakfast pizza, which I also had last year and loved, this year, it was good, but I think I liked last years better. I'm not sure why. I also had some potato casserole, which was way too salty, last year the potatoes were too peppery. It seems like Crystal Palace can't get the seasoning right on potatoes. Though I didn't mind the overly-peppery potatoes last year I don't like things that are overly salty. There was however also roasted potatoes with onions, (the red-skinned ones,) that were perfectly cooked, and very good. And I finally tried the puffed french toast, which somehow I missed last year. I thought it tasted like funnel cake. That was very good as well, though I was only able to eat one piece of it.
As I was eating that I was visited by Tigger and Piglet, and one of the character handlers offered to take my picture for me with them. After being visited by those two, Eeyore and Pooh were just getting to the side of the restaurant I was on, when they, (the characters,) all took a break, so I went up to the buffet for a second plate of food.
I had a helping of breakfast lasagna, which was less sweet then the one I had last year, even though it had the same kinds of fruit, blueberries and bananas, so I'm not sure why this one was different. I liked it better less-sweet though, since last time it was too sweet to eat more then a few bites.
I also had a honey-berry mini-muffin, I think that's what it was called, but I'm not sure, and some vegetable fritata, which was all right, I didn't eat it all. I can be kind of picky about eggs, and usually won't eat them out since I need them prepared a certain way, and usually they're either to runny or dried out or there's something wrong with them that I won't eat them. I usually load mine, (when I make them at home,) with cheese, so it's more cheesy then eggy. For whatever reason though, I do love quiche. Not that that has anything to do with breakfast, but it's kind of ironic that I'm that picky about eggs, and that we have quiche at home a few times a month. I also had some more of the red-skinned potatoes that I had on my first plate.
My server, who I checked, his name was Michael-Jay, had left me the bill right after I had been seated, so I just had to give him my DDE card, and have him revise the bill.
After I had finished eating I would have left, but I still hadn't seen Pooh and Eeyore. Had it been anyone other then Eeyore, I would have just left, and not bothered to see them, but I had to wait, and see Eeyore. Then right after I saw him, Pooh was only two tables away, so I waited, and saw him too.
I still really like Crystal Palace, and am going to try and get an ADR here for the last morning of my Feb trip.
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
I'm sorry, I had to abruptly stop the writing of my Crystal Palace review last night, but it is now completed with pics. 
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
Update on Crystal Palace - I went ahead and booked breakfast there on the last day of my Feb trip, like I threatned to at the end of my CP review. I just can't imagine skipping it when I have a whole morning open, and was planning to go to MK that day anyway. I have a late, 5:00 PM, flight home, so I booked a late breakfast so I'll be able to go to the MK EMH that morning, have a late, 10:25 AM, breakfast, before having to go to the airport, around two-ish.
Also, I've been neglecting my trip report, so for the next few days I'm going to be focusing on that instead of my dining reviews. Le Cellier with the CP package is the next review coming.
Also, I've been neglecting my trip report, so for the next few days I'm going to be focusing on that instead of my dining reviews. Le Cellier with the CP package is the next review coming.
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
I had originally booked Le Cellier at 180 days out, or actually it was more like 186 days out, since I had been able to make ten days worth of ADRs on my call date. I then rebooked in August with the Candelight Processional package, since the last time I ate a full meal a la carte, (appetizer, entree, and dessert,) and it cost me just as much as the CP package did.
My ADR was for 5:00, and I was seated at 5:05. There was a lady at the door making sure everyone who entered had an ADR for that evening, so I'm assuming walk-ups were turned away.
My server for the evening was Patrick. He was good, and as quick as possible considering how busy the restaurant was. I usually get early ADR times in order to avoid crowded restaurants. But Le Cellier was filled despite the fact that it was only the early evening.
I felt better this evening than I had the last couple days. Maybe it was because I hadn't forced myself to go to the last few previous meals, and I was looking foward to being waited on again. My last sit-down meal had been breakfast at Crystal Palace the day before, and I had missed three ADRs inbetween.
Since I had the CP dinner package, I was entitled to an appetizer, entree, and dessert. I had been debating over the beef kabob and shrimp cocktail for an appetizer. I've had the cheddar cheese soup previously, and it's very good, so if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend the soup. But, I make it at home, and it's "almost" the same, and I wanted to try something new. Since I knew I was going to have steak for my entree, I decided to order the shrimp cocktail.
The shrimp cocktail on the menu is described as Asian. The idea of a non-traditional Asian shrimp cocktail intrigued me.
It was served in a bowl, with a set of chopsticks, like I would use them. I've attemped to use chopsticks before, and that has resulted in flying food. Thankfully, that's only been at home, where I had no one to embarass at my lack of chopstick skills except for myslef.
The shrimp was covered in a horseradish-chili sauce, on top of a wasabi coleslaw. It was very good. It was a little on the spicy side, though with the three ingrediants listed on the menu, horseradish, chili, and wasabi, it would have been shocking had it not been spicy. It wasn't so spicy however, that it was over-powering and inedible. The combination worked well together, and I ate all the shrimp, and a good portion of the coleslaw.
If you look on the bottom right corner of the bowl, on a piece of cabbage, there's a small dark spot. It looks like a hidden Mickey! Okay, I've been looking at my pictures waaay to closely.
For my entree I had the 14 oz New York strip steak. I'd been looking foward to this all week, since I had such a wonderful steak here last year, the maple-bbq filet mignon.
I had ordered it medium, knowing that Disney has a tendancy to cook steaks a little more on the rare side. One of the worst things you could do, in my opinion, is order a steak well-done. I never understood why people, (and there's some in my family,) want meat cooked so much that it gets to the point of being almost dried out. On the flip side I also have a friend who will just sear something off so only the very outer edge is cooked, and everything else is raw. That's a little too rare for me.
The steak was served with sauteed leeks, frise and roasted Yukon potatoes. It also had a veal demi-glace sauce. The sauce, went well with the steak. I did not however care for any of the other accompianments. The potatoes weren't seasoned at all, and were cold, and the other two just didn't taste right with the steak.
The steak itself was very good, and more medium-rare then medium, which is what I had expected. It being a fourteen ounce steak, was more then I could of ever eaten. But I did a pretty good job at it if I say so myself, and ate probably at least ten ounces of it.
Stupid me, I forgot to mention the bread.
The same bread is served, the pretzel, multi-grain, and sourdough. And I liked them just as much as I did last year, except I wished I had soup to dip the pretzel bread into. Next year, with the DDP and my DM, I think one of us will get the soup, to have it, and we can split our appetizers.
Then it was time for dessert. Which I really wasn't that hungry for. But it was included, and it's me, so skipping it was not an option. Along with dessert I decided to order a drink. I had the berries and cream tini.
It was a mix of stoli razberi vodka, chambord, and amarula cream. It really didn't have a huge berry taste, and actually, what I thought it tasted like was some kind of milky liquor. It wasn't bad though, and I really liked the chocolate rim, which I'm sure ended up all over my mouth.
For dessert, even though Patrick recommended the creme brulee, I had decided on the chocolate cake a long time ago.
It had changed since the Happiest Celebration on Earth, when it was a chocolate-orange concoction, and what I had been looking foward too. And it was now a chocolate on chocolate whiskey cake.
The cake was brushed with whiskey, and had a chocolate mousse filling. There was a small dish of tarragon-anglaise as well, to pour over the cake.
The cake was sooo good, and so rich, and very moist. I only ate about half of it. It was very chocolaty, and the first really chocolate dessert I believe I had all week. The tarragon-anglaise had just the slightest hint of tarragon, that could easily be missed if you weren't trying to find it. It's one of the best restaurant-made chocolate cakes I've ever had, and I hate comparing it to this, but comparable to Macaroni Grill's, which is an Italian restaurant chain.
I still love Le Cellier, except for my wallet. Both times I've eaten here it was $50+. Not that I'm complaining, both meals have been excellant. But, I'll be glad when I'm there next year, that I have the DDP for free, and that it won't cost me a cent.
My ADR was for 5:00, and I was seated at 5:05. There was a lady at the door making sure everyone who entered had an ADR for that evening, so I'm assuming walk-ups were turned away.
My server for the evening was Patrick. He was good, and as quick as possible considering how busy the restaurant was. I usually get early ADR times in order to avoid crowded restaurants. But Le Cellier was filled despite the fact that it was only the early evening.
I felt better this evening than I had the last couple days. Maybe it was because I hadn't forced myself to go to the last few previous meals, and I was looking foward to being waited on again. My last sit-down meal had been breakfast at Crystal Palace the day before, and I had missed three ADRs inbetween.
Since I had the CP dinner package, I was entitled to an appetizer, entree, and dessert. I had been debating over the beef kabob and shrimp cocktail for an appetizer. I've had the cheddar cheese soup previously, and it's very good, so if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend the soup. But, I make it at home, and it's "almost" the same, and I wanted to try something new. Since I knew I was going to have steak for my entree, I decided to order the shrimp cocktail.
The shrimp cocktail on the menu is described as Asian. The idea of a non-traditional Asian shrimp cocktail intrigued me.
It was served in a bowl, with a set of chopsticks, like I would use them. I've attemped to use chopsticks before, and that has resulted in flying food. Thankfully, that's only been at home, where I had no one to embarass at my lack of chopstick skills except for myslef.
The shrimp was covered in a horseradish-chili sauce, on top of a wasabi coleslaw. It was very good. It was a little on the spicy side, though with the three ingrediants listed on the menu, horseradish, chili, and wasabi, it would have been shocking had it not been spicy. It wasn't so spicy however, that it was over-powering and inedible. The combination worked well together, and I ate all the shrimp, and a good portion of the coleslaw.
If you look on the bottom right corner of the bowl, on a piece of cabbage, there's a small dark spot. It looks like a hidden Mickey! Okay, I've been looking at my pictures waaay to closely.
For my entree I had the 14 oz New York strip steak. I'd been looking foward to this all week, since I had such a wonderful steak here last year, the maple-bbq filet mignon.
I had ordered it medium, knowing that Disney has a tendancy to cook steaks a little more on the rare side. One of the worst things you could do, in my opinion, is order a steak well-done. I never understood why people, (and there's some in my family,) want meat cooked so much that it gets to the point of being almost dried out. On the flip side I also have a friend who will just sear something off so only the very outer edge is cooked, and everything else is raw. That's a little too rare for me.
The steak was served with sauteed leeks, frise and roasted Yukon potatoes. It also had a veal demi-glace sauce. The sauce, went well with the steak. I did not however care for any of the other accompianments. The potatoes weren't seasoned at all, and were cold, and the other two just didn't taste right with the steak.
The steak itself was very good, and more medium-rare then medium, which is what I had expected. It being a fourteen ounce steak, was more then I could of ever eaten. But I did a pretty good job at it if I say so myself, and ate probably at least ten ounces of it.
Stupid me, I forgot to mention the bread.
The same bread is served, the pretzel, multi-grain, and sourdough. And I liked them just as much as I did last year, except I wished I had soup to dip the pretzel bread into. Next year, with the DDP and my DM, I think one of us will get the soup, to have it, and we can split our appetizers.
Then it was time for dessert. Which I really wasn't that hungry for. But it was included, and it's me, so skipping it was not an option. Along with dessert I decided to order a drink. I had the berries and cream tini.
It was a mix of stoli razberi vodka, chambord, and amarula cream. It really didn't have a huge berry taste, and actually, what I thought it tasted like was some kind of milky liquor. It wasn't bad though, and I really liked the chocolate rim, which I'm sure ended up all over my mouth.
For dessert, even though Patrick recommended the creme brulee, I had decided on the chocolate cake a long time ago.
It had changed since the Happiest Celebration on Earth, when it was a chocolate-orange concoction, and what I had been looking foward too. And it was now a chocolate on chocolate whiskey cake.
The cake was brushed with whiskey, and had a chocolate mousse filling. There was a small dish of tarragon-anglaise as well, to pour over the cake.
The cake was sooo good, and so rich, and very moist. I only ate about half of it. It was very chocolaty, and the first really chocolate dessert I believe I had all week. The tarragon-anglaise had just the slightest hint of tarragon, that could easily be missed if you weren't trying to find it. It's one of the best restaurant-made chocolate cakes I've ever had, and I hate comparing it to this, but comparable to Macaroni Grill's, which is an Italian restaurant chain.
I still love Le Cellier, except for my wallet. Both times I've eaten here it was $50+. Not that I'm complaining, both meals have been excellant. But, I'll be glad when I'm there next year, that I have the DDP for free, and that it won't cost me a cent.
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
Okay, just to make sure I'm not crazy. Does anyone else see the hidden Mickey in the shrimp cocktail? Specific location of hidden Mickey described in the review, right under the pic.
SassyLassy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2006
- Messages
- 595
well, now that I look at it yes! your good! I totally didnt even thinking of looking at the FOOD for hm's! lol
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
I know! I had taken two pics of the shrimp, and was trying to decide which one to post, and then I saw the Mickey, and knew that I had to post this one. LOL.
Laurafoster
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2005
- Messages
- 4,911
Wow great review! and pics...makes me hungry lol!!
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
I felt better this morning, and was able to be at MK for EMH morning, right at opening 8:00 AM. But, I was definatly ready for a break, so I was glad I had a nice sit-down lunch planned.
My ADR was for 12:00, and I had checked-in at about 11:50, with only two other groups ahead of me. So I had ten minutes until Kona opened, so I looked at the menu, staying right near the entrance.
Promptly at 12:00, they started seating tables. Thinking I was going to be one of the first ones seated, given I was one of the first ones there, and had the earliest possible ADR time, I waited. . . and waited. The waiting area had gotten somewhat crowded, and filled about 1/3 of the restaurant, seated ahead of me.
Now I know that waits are usual, but I had been there early, and most of the people being seated had gotten there after me. It was about half an hour after I checked in that the one hostess lady realized I had not yet been seated. I don't know if it was a computer problem, or what, but I did not get seated for awhile.
When I did get seated, it was in a corner, near a huge party of about twenty people in front of me, and only empty tables behind me. It wasn't a bad table, but I did feel out of place.
I also think I recognized the waitress I had there last year that I hadn't cared for, and had seemed snippy.
So, so far, I was not really enjoying my meal. Luckily, things only got better from this point on.
My waitress for lunch, was Fatima, who I was happy with. She wasn't spectacular, or went out of her way for anything, but I always had a full glass, and served quickly, and not snippy like that other waitress, who was on the other side of the restaurant.
Since I had missed eating at Ohana two nights before, I ordered the sticky wings, since I assumed they would be almost the same as Ohana's. I also ordered a bowl of seafood chowder, since I've heard many good thing about it, and I do like soup.
I was served the seafood chowder first.
This was good. It had lots of big chunks of seafood, and was very hearty. Except, my local grocery store has a seafood chowder, and I actually prefer the grocery store's. Not that this wasn't good, it was, I've just had better.
After I had finished my soup, I was seved the chicken wings. They came with a small salad.
These chicken wings are very similar to the ones at Ohana, though I don't think they're exactly the same. I think Ohana's may of been a little bit sweeter, (and also a little bit messier, LOL.) I ate all of them though, as neatly as possible, and not knawing on the bones, like I will when I'm at home. LOL, again. There was mustard and sesame seeds on the wings, but neither was really noticeable.
As far as the salad goes, I didn't eat it. There was no dressing on it, and I can't eat dry lettuce. Why would they serve a salad with no dressing?
For dessert, I had the caramel-banana creme brulee. I had wanted to try this since the first time I ate at Kona, but had the chocolate lava cake then. (There are too many desserts I want to try at Kona, except it looks like they just removed a bunch, going from the updated Jan 2007 one on All Ears.)
This was good, but not memorable. There was just the slightest banana flavor, though there was a good amount of banana slices on top. I definatly preferred the lava cake last year.
Actually, I preferred my overall meal last year, minus the service. The soup and creme brulee were just average here. I will probably return here next year, for dinner with the DDP.
My ADR was for 12:00, and I had checked-in at about 11:50, with only two other groups ahead of me. So I had ten minutes until Kona opened, so I looked at the menu, staying right near the entrance.
Promptly at 12:00, they started seating tables. Thinking I was going to be one of the first ones seated, given I was one of the first ones there, and had the earliest possible ADR time, I waited. . . and waited. The waiting area had gotten somewhat crowded, and filled about 1/3 of the restaurant, seated ahead of me.
Now I know that waits are usual, but I had been there early, and most of the people being seated had gotten there after me. It was about half an hour after I checked in that the one hostess lady realized I had not yet been seated. I don't know if it was a computer problem, or what, but I did not get seated for awhile.
When I did get seated, it was in a corner, near a huge party of about twenty people in front of me, and only empty tables behind me. It wasn't a bad table, but I did feel out of place.
I also think I recognized the waitress I had there last year that I hadn't cared for, and had seemed snippy.
So, so far, I was not really enjoying my meal. Luckily, things only got better from this point on.
My waitress for lunch, was Fatima, who I was happy with. She wasn't spectacular, or went out of her way for anything, but I always had a full glass, and served quickly, and not snippy like that other waitress, who was on the other side of the restaurant.
Since I had missed eating at Ohana two nights before, I ordered the sticky wings, since I assumed they would be almost the same as Ohana's. I also ordered a bowl of seafood chowder, since I've heard many good thing about it, and I do like soup.
I was served the seafood chowder first.
This was good. It had lots of big chunks of seafood, and was very hearty. Except, my local grocery store has a seafood chowder, and I actually prefer the grocery store's. Not that this wasn't good, it was, I've just had better.
After I had finished my soup, I was seved the chicken wings. They came with a small salad.
These chicken wings are very similar to the ones at Ohana, though I don't think they're exactly the same. I think Ohana's may of been a little bit sweeter, (and also a little bit messier, LOL.) I ate all of them though, as neatly as possible, and not knawing on the bones, like I will when I'm at home. LOL, again. There was mustard and sesame seeds on the wings, but neither was really noticeable.
As far as the salad goes, I didn't eat it. There was no dressing on it, and I can't eat dry lettuce. Why would they serve a salad with no dressing?
For dessert, I had the caramel-banana creme brulee. I had wanted to try this since the first time I ate at Kona, but had the chocolate lava cake then. (There are too many desserts I want to try at Kona, except it looks like they just removed a bunch, going from the updated Jan 2007 one on All Ears.)
This was good, but not memorable. There was just the slightest banana flavor, though there was a good amount of banana slices on top. I definatly preferred the lava cake last year.
Actually, I preferred my overall meal last year, minus the service. The soup and creme brulee were just average here. I will probably return here next year, for dinner with the DDP.
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
I was sitting near a window, (at Kona,) so there's somewhat of a glare on the pics. It was a beautiful sunny day, but then there was a huge storm after dinner, go figure.
loveDmouse
Mickey was first
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2006
- Messages
- 2,667
Thanks for the review. 
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
The farther and farther we get into January, the more scratchy the details of my meals become. As a matter of fact I was just looking at the date, and realized that it was a month ago today that I ate at Artist Point, which is the next review coming.
I really thought I'd be finished writing my dining reviews by now, but I still have five more TS meals to review, I'm going to try and get my Artist Point review up today, as well as all the counter service reviews, though there's not many of them, since I mainly just got snacks at the CS locations, and took no pictures of anything.
The pictures were strictly limited to the TS meals, since I didn't want to drag my camera out. Of course now, I feel bad not having pics of the counter service food.
I also have less then a month now until I go to Disney again. And though I'll definatly, (I hope,) have my dining reviews done by then, I don't think I can say the same for my trip report. So when I come back next month I'll be working on two trip reports at once, as well as a new set of dining reviews. Those won't be nearly as long though since I'll only be there for four days, and only have five TS meals booked. But, I will, (hopefully,) have DBF with me, and be getting second opinions, as well as being able to try more things, since I'll have to taste his food too.
Anyway, I'm getting off topic, and instead of writing Artist Point's review, I'm starting to go into a pre-trip dining thing of next month. Artist Point is coming up.
I really thought I'd be finished writing my dining reviews by now, but I still have five more TS meals to review, I'm going to try and get my Artist Point review up today, as well as all the counter service reviews, though there's not many of them, since I mainly just got snacks at the CS locations, and took no pictures of anything.
The pictures were strictly limited to the TS meals, since I didn't want to drag my camera out. Of course now, I feel bad not having pics of the counter service food.
I also have less then a month now until I go to Disney again. And though I'll definatly, (I hope,) have my dining reviews done by then, I don't think I can say the same for my trip report. So when I come back next month I'll be working on two trip reports at once, as well as a new set of dining reviews. Those won't be nearly as long though since I'll only be there for four days, and only have five TS meals booked. But, I will, (hopefully,) have DBF with me, and be getting second opinions, as well as being able to try more things, since I'll have to taste his food too.
Anyway, I'm getting off topic, and instead of writing Artist Point's review, I'm starting to go into a pre-trip dining thing of next month. Artist Point is coming up.
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
Argh, I just typed a few paragraphs of my Artist Point review, hit something, (don't know what,) and now that's gone, so I have to start over. . . or, I will start over as soon as I throw this computer out the window. Where's the smiley smashing the computer when I need it?
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
After the lunch I had at Kona, I went back to Pop to rest for the afternoon. I no longer felt like rushing around a theme park, but apparently my appetite was back. Yay for me, I can eat again.
After resting for a few hours I took the bus from Pop to MK, and just as soon as I arrived at MK, a bus arrived to go to Wilderness Lodge. Which is just as well, since I don't think the boats are the fastest option. I really didn't need to worry about time though, I arrived at Wilderness Lodge before 5:00.
Since my ADR wasn't until 5:30, and the restaurant didn't even open until then, I had quite a bit of time to kill. I was hungry, and thristy, so I went down to Roaring Forks. And even though I knew I wouldn't get anything to eat, since dinner was so close, I did want a soda.
Roaring Forks is a very pretty quick-service location. I think I'm going to have to stay at Wilderness Lodge sooner or later, it is a very pretty resort.
When I checked-in for dinner, it was still a few minutes early, but I was seated as soon as the restaurant opened, right at 5:30.
My server for dinner was Andres. He was fast, but not rushed. I've never felt rushed at a signature restaurant for that matter.
I was served bread, though I hadn't been enjoying bread the last few days, due to whatever it was I had caught. Well, that's not 100% true, I still managed to eat bunch of pretzel bread at Le Cellier the night before. But, ususually I'm a big bread eater, but not so much at the moment. I think something about the crust was bothering my throat, and made bread hard to eat.
Artist Point does have good bread though, and even better butter. This is the one place I would put the quality of butter over the quality of the bread, except maybe Citricos, since they have the citrus-infused butter, though that was extremely salty.
Note - I will be doing a best / worst list at the end of my reviews, for best / worst bread, soup, steak, etc. If anyone has any suggestions for categories, please let me know. Now, back to my review.
I started my meal with a salad, the fresh field greens.
I almost never order salads a la carte. I have no problem eating ones that come with my meal, but I'm not a big salad eater unless it has lots of toppings.
This salad, was topped with roasted beets, hazelnut gremolata, and blue cheese. It also had a blackberry vinaigrette dressing. It sounded really good, but I was pretty dissapointed with it.
It wasn't bad, it just wasn't to my liking that much. There were lots of greens, and a good amount of dressing, but not enough toppings, and like I said, I like lots of topping on my salad.
Heck, the salads I make at home sometimes have more toppings then lettuce.
Plus, all of the toppings were in little pieces, so it was very hard to tell what was what, especially with the cheese and the hazelnut stuff. For $8, there could of been more cheese. I really like blue cheese, and there was hardly any to be seen.
Also, the blackberry vinaigrette, and I'm not a huge fan of vinaigrettes, but I really liked the apple cider vinaigrette I had had here last year, was not blackberry tasting, or not strong tasting enough to pick up on, and I can usually taste things pretty well.
Okay, so the salad had been dissapointing. I could get over that. It was, after all, just a salad. I just hoped I would be pleased with my entree.
I splurged, and had ordered the buffalo sirlion steak since I had heard so many good things about it. I had ordered it medium well, which is more well done then I usually order things, but with me never have having had buffalo before, I felt it would be a safer option to get this a little more on the well done side.
This was, absolutly, one of the best things I ate all week. It was cooked perfectly, (Disney does cook things a little on the rare side,) and I ate the whole thing up.
I also loved the sweet potato-hazelnut gratin that came with it. I do love sweet potatoes. (Though when I got home my DM had made some sweet potato thing for me, and by then I was sick of them, LOL.) There was also onion jam on there that was a nice accompianment.
I was glad to be inside then, since it had started pouring, and I mean, it was pouring, when I was eating. It wasn't so much fun leaving the restaurant, going outside, and waiting for an MK bus in the rain.
Which I ended up doing, even though I could of post-poned that, and had dessert. But I was full by then, and there was nothing on the dessert menu that sounded like I had to have it, except for the coffee two ways, which I've had before, and highly reccommend, except that I knew I was already too full, and that was too rich, that I wouldn't of eaten more then a few bites.
After resting for a few hours I took the bus from Pop to MK, and just as soon as I arrived at MK, a bus arrived to go to Wilderness Lodge. Which is just as well, since I don't think the boats are the fastest option. I really didn't need to worry about time though, I arrived at Wilderness Lodge before 5:00.
Since my ADR wasn't until 5:30, and the restaurant didn't even open until then, I had quite a bit of time to kill. I was hungry, and thristy, so I went down to Roaring Forks. And even though I knew I wouldn't get anything to eat, since dinner was so close, I did want a soda.
Roaring Forks is a very pretty quick-service location. I think I'm going to have to stay at Wilderness Lodge sooner or later, it is a very pretty resort.
When I checked-in for dinner, it was still a few minutes early, but I was seated as soon as the restaurant opened, right at 5:30.
My server for dinner was Andres. He was fast, but not rushed. I've never felt rushed at a signature restaurant for that matter.
I was served bread, though I hadn't been enjoying bread the last few days, due to whatever it was I had caught. Well, that's not 100% true, I still managed to eat bunch of pretzel bread at Le Cellier the night before. But, ususually I'm a big bread eater, but not so much at the moment. I think something about the crust was bothering my throat, and made bread hard to eat.
Artist Point does have good bread though, and even better butter. This is the one place I would put the quality of butter over the quality of the bread, except maybe Citricos, since they have the citrus-infused butter, though that was extremely salty.
Note - I will be doing a best / worst list at the end of my reviews, for best / worst bread, soup, steak, etc. If anyone has any suggestions for categories, please let me know. Now, back to my review.
I started my meal with a salad, the fresh field greens.
I almost never order salads a la carte. I have no problem eating ones that come with my meal, but I'm not a big salad eater unless it has lots of toppings.
This salad, was topped with roasted beets, hazelnut gremolata, and blue cheese. It also had a blackberry vinaigrette dressing. It sounded really good, but I was pretty dissapointed with it.
It wasn't bad, it just wasn't to my liking that much. There were lots of greens, and a good amount of dressing, but not enough toppings, and like I said, I like lots of topping on my salad.
Heck, the salads I make at home sometimes have more toppings then lettuce.
Plus, all of the toppings were in little pieces, so it was very hard to tell what was what, especially with the cheese and the hazelnut stuff. For $8, there could of been more cheese. I really like blue cheese, and there was hardly any to be seen.
Also, the blackberry vinaigrette, and I'm not a huge fan of vinaigrettes, but I really liked the apple cider vinaigrette I had had here last year, was not blackberry tasting, or not strong tasting enough to pick up on, and I can usually taste things pretty well.
Okay, so the salad had been dissapointing. I could get over that. It was, after all, just a salad. I just hoped I would be pleased with my entree.
I splurged, and had ordered the buffalo sirlion steak since I had heard so many good things about it. I had ordered it medium well, which is more well done then I usually order things, but with me never have having had buffalo before, I felt it would be a safer option to get this a little more on the well done side.
This was, absolutly, one of the best things I ate all week. It was cooked perfectly, (Disney does cook things a little on the rare side,) and I ate the whole thing up.
I also loved the sweet potato-hazelnut gratin that came with it. I do love sweet potatoes. (Though when I got home my DM had made some sweet potato thing for me, and by then I was sick of them, LOL.) There was also onion jam on there that was a nice accompianment.
I was glad to be inside then, since it had started pouring, and I mean, it was pouring, when I was eating. It wasn't so much fun leaving the restaurant, going outside, and waiting for an MK bus in the rain.
Which I ended up doing, even though I could of post-poned that, and had dessert. But I was full by then, and there was nothing on the dessert menu that sounded like I had to have it, except for the coffee two ways, which I've had before, and highly reccommend, except that I knew I was already too full, and that was too rich, that I wouldn't of eaten more then a few bites.
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,113
There Artist Point is done, and now all I have left is Brown Derby, Garden Grill, Rose and Crown, and Mama Melrose's. As well as the counter service snacks I had, a review of the DDE, and a best / worst of individual food items.
-
New 10 Year Anniversary Event at Morimoto Disney Springs
-
Halloween Decor Has Arrived at Disney's Magic Kingdom!
-
FULL MENUS Revealed for 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival at Disney World
-
Shopping Aboard Disney Cruise Line Is a Treasure Trove of Exclusive Finds
-
Little Mermaid Musical at Walt Disney World to Join Lightning Lane Multi Pass
-
Every Ride Isn't Magical: 5 Disney Attractions I'd Bulldoze
-
Weird & Wacky Photos from Disney Parks' Past: Part V
- Walt Disney World News
- Walt Disney World Articles
- Disney Cruise Line News
- Disneyland News
- General Disney News
- Universal Orlando News
New Posts
-
-
The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners & Lovers Group - 3.0- Latest: Mathmagicland
-
-
-
Another 2nd Use Year Question - For Mid April to Mid May Travel- Latest: AstroBlasters
Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE
