Dining Reviews 2/12 - 2/15

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm back from my short birthday trip, but, what great meals I had! Even though I didn't do any resort-signature restaurants there wasn't anything I ate that was bad. I had mentioned when I made all of my ADRs, that I would be celebrating my birthday, so if I got anything special, great, but I wasn't going to the restaurants for "free" stuff.

I'll be posting the following reviews in the next day or two, and will be adding pictures as soon as I get them downloaded. Reviews to be included; Liberty Tree Tavern, dinner, Cinderella's Royal Table, dinner for my birthday, Akershus, breakfast, Brown Derby, Fantasmic dinner, and, Crystal Palace, breakfast. I also have a few small reviews from Flame Tree BBQ, Pinocchio's Village Haus, and All Star Movies food court.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

On my first night at Disney, I had a 4:30 dinner reservation for Liberty Tree Tavern. I had an early reservation for two reasons, one, restaurants are usually less crowded then, and I'm seated sooner, (I almost always book early dinners,) and two, I was going to the Princess and Pirate Party that night, and wanted to be done eating in plenty of time for that.

I was very hungry, as the only thing I had eaten all day was a breakfast sandwich at McDonalds at 6:00 AM. I had planned on eating lunch at All Star Movies, or grabbing something at MK when I arrived, but after a few hours delay, it was almost 2:00 when I got to All Stars, so skipped eating, since I knew I'd be doing an all-you-can-eat for dinner. So, like I said, I was very hungry.

I usually do Boma on my first night, but due to only having four days, had to skip Boma. I should've booked five days, and then could of eaten at Boma and Le Cellier. As much as I enjoy the signature restaurants, and the gourmet foods they offer, I was looking foward to the comfort Thanksgiving foods of Liberty Tree Tavern. When I'm hungry I want a meal, and this seemed like just the spot. Besides, I wanted to get to MK right away.

I arrived at LTT early, at 4:15, and was seated immediatly. My server, was Will, and he was very friendly. He'd asked me if I'd been there before, which I had, for lunch, and he went over the menu, explaining how the meal was family style, and that dessert, although not printed on the menu, was also included, so to save room for that.

This meal was much better paced then some of the other family-style meals I've been too. Which doesn't bother me, really, but this one seemed much more relaxed, which was nice, and considering I'd been traveling all day, made it even nicer.

I recieved the rolls and butter first, along with my diet coke. (Picture coming soon.) The rolls were good, they were warm, and filling.

After I'd had a roll, I was given a large plate of salad, which I could of made a whole meal out of. There was lots of lettuce, a mix of iceburg and spring mix. I wasn't expecting spring mix here, so was pleasantly suprised. It was topped with lots of veggies, though I picked off the onions. (I don't care for raw onions or peppers, though I'll eat them cooked.) The strawberry vinagrette was good, and there was lots on the salad. Luckily, I like lots of dressing, though any more would of been pushing it.

I ate more then half the salad, and then stopped, knowing I had lots more food coming that I wanted to be able to eat.

My salad plate was cleared, and I was served my plate of meats and sides. There was steak, ham, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and macaroni and cheese. As well as a huge amount of gravy.

What to eat first? It's a good thing I was hungry!

I'm going to review the foods in the order I liked them, from worst to best.

I have a theory that I follow, to save the best for last. And, reading too many reviews, decided to save the steak for last. What a dissapointment! It was dry, and had no flavor, as well as being to well done. I like my meat rare, or at least medium.

While, the turkey was better then the steak, I thought it was kind of dry as well, and didn't have much flavor either.

Okay, the ham's next. Though it was better then the turkey, and the steak, and had a good flavor, and wasn't dried out. It wasn't anything special.

The green beans had lots of garlic in them. Lots, and lots, of garlic. I love garlic, so this wasn't a problem. But, there was lots of garlic. Even though I liked them, I'm not a big veggie eater, and had already eaten lots of salad, I didn't eat much of them.

The macaroni and cheese was good, it was Stouffer's, which I have at home a lot. It tasted better then the ones I've had at home, more creamy, less watery, but it was definatly Stouffer's. Maybe it tasted better since I was in Disney?

The mashed potatoes were great, I was expecting something instant and mediocore. But these tasted great, very creamy.

The stuffing was very good as well, though a little more mushy and processed then I like, it was still my favorite. It had a very good flavor.

I debated with myself weather to have second helpings of stuffing, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese, but I was already pretty full, and still had to get through dessert. Besides, think about all the carbs!

I was given a very reasonable serving of apple cobbler, with a scoop of ice cream. Will said he'd bring out more, if I wanted, but what I was given was quite enough after everything else.

Overall, I really enjoyed my meal, and I was glad to be able to fill up after not eating all day. I think it's comparable to Garden Grill's meal, with a few differences, LTT is colonial themed, GG is farming themed. The menu is very similar, with LTT having ham, and GG having catfish, the vegetables are different, GG has lots of different kinds, LTT just has green beans. I liked the meats more at GG, but the sides more at LTT. If I had to pick one, I'd probably pick LTT. It's like at Thanksgiving, I never eat a lot of turkey, I always fill up on stuffing and mashed potatoes.

I would return, but it's not a must do. I'm glad I went though, since I'd been meaning to try that one for awhile now.

 

[englishrose47]

Thanks for the review have 4p.m adr there in May, What was the dessert?

 

[dawgfan]

Thanks for the review.

 

[momofdbsdc]

Thanks for the review! I am contemplating on whether to eat here or CP on our upcoming trip!

Kim
momofdbsdca

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Thanks for the review! I am contemplating on whether to eat here or CP on our upcoming trip!

I'm also going to be reviewing CP, though I've never eaten any meal other then breakfast there.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

For my birthday dinner, I wanted to eat in Cinderella's Castle. I'd eaten there twice before, once, when I was younger, and had breakfast there with my whole family, which was a party of twelve, and then, more recently, in 2005, for lunch, but I'd never had dinner there before, and was anxious to try it.

I'd read reviews saying how great dinner in the castle is, and also, just as many bad, at best mediocre, reviews.

This was my experience;

CRT starts serving dinner at 4:00, my ADR was for 4:10, but I checked in early at 4:00.

There was a couple behind me, who were going to see if they could get in with no reservation, and I thought to myself, good luck with that. I was suprised, that they were able to get in. So, if you don't have an ADR, and you go to a restaurant right as it opens, you may have a chance.

After I checked in, I stood in line for a few minutes to see Cinderella, who I'd skipped meeting the day before, since I knew I'd see her tonight. (I ended up seeing her the next day too in Epcot.) She wished me a happy birthday, and then I was able to go upstairs immediatly.

As soon as I got up to the dining room, (and it is awhile up,) the hostess upstairs, wished me happy birthday, and gave me one of those plastic wands that are usually just for children. I was happy I got one, even though it is really not that great as far as wands go, it was really cute that I got one, and I'm one of those sentimental people who will never get rid of it.

I was led to a table, to the right of the restaurant, by the window, so I had a good view of Fantasyland. My table had been decorated with confetti. The confetti was beautiful, in the shapes of the castle, and Cinderella's coach. It was so pretty, in fact, that I saved some to use for scrapbooks.

I don't remember my servers name. I usually have the names on the reciepts, but since it was already pre-paid, there was no reciept, so I don't know what his name was. He was good though. Also, tip is included with the pre-pay, right? I hope I didn't jip the guy his tip.

I started with my usual diet coke, and some pretzel rolls. They were good, but not quite as good as the pretzel bread at Le Cellier. They were pretty close though, and I really liked the honey-dijon butter that came with them, very tasty.

For those of you who don't know, CRT is now a pre-fixed meal, that includes a choice of any appetizer, entree, and dessert on the menu. (It also includes the picture with Cinderella in the lobby, but I'll get to that later.)

There were only three appetizers to choose from, the menu is kind of limited, but most of the choices sounded appetizing. There was a soup, a salad, and a spring roll. I choose the soup.

The soup, which was a crab and corn chowder, was very good. It was topped with a sour cream-chive swirl, and was just so spicy. Very thick. I love crab, and while there were no huge lump pieces, there was plenty of crab in it.

For my entree, I had the prime rib, which came with au gratin potatoes and au jus sauce. The prime rib, which I had requested medium, came out what I consider Disney-medium, which is more medium rare. It was good, a little fatty along the edges, but nothing terrible. The potatoes were great, but it was a very small portion of potatoes.

While I was eating my prime rib, a cast member came around with the picture packages. It was like a high school flashback of getting class photos, I always worried mine wouldn't be that good. But, this turned out very nicely. It was a full body shot, which I love, since that got all of Cinderella's dress in. I love the dresses and other outfits the characters wear. It came in a cute little folder, which had a small blurb about eating in the castle, and a picture of Cinderella on. There was also a beautiful pic of the castle that I'm glad to have. If you're wondering, there is one 6x8 of each the castle, and Cinderella, and then four 4x6's of Cinderella. If it hadn't been included, I would of been very tempted to but it.

For dessert, (which there are also only three options,) I had the chocolate mousse cake. Since it was my birthday, I figured I should have cake, and besides, I'd already had the blueberry buckle the last time I ate there.

When I was served my dessert, Suzy and Perla came out, and the "show" started. First, the mice walked around the room, stopping for pictures, (no autographs,) then after they'd all had their pictures taken, the Fairy Godmother came out as well. I don't remember exactly what she said, something about dreams coming true. She "forgets" that she's supposed to acknowledge celebratory events, birthdays, anniversaries, etc, until the mice remind her. It was cute.

I was brought out a small cake then, about the size of a cupcake. I made a wish, (which did come true, I always wish for something that usually will actually happen,) and blew out the candle.

So then I had two cakes, the chocolate mousse cake, which was the better of the two. It had a nice creamy filling, as well as some raspberry sauce, which made it very nice. And the mini-birthday cake, which was cute, but didn't taste all that great. Not that I'm complaining, it was a really cute little cake. The cake was just kind of dry, and the icing was that hard fondant stuff, that I don't really care for.

Since I had pre-paid way back in August, I could leave as soon as I was done eating without worrying about the bill. That felt nice, and almost felt as though it were free, since I paid it off so long ago. I think I'm going to enjoy having the DDP and not paying for anything next trip.

So CRT is a good meal, especially if you're celebrating a special occasion. I also really liked lunch there when I had it, (back in 2005.) I know CRT is not an every-trip restaurant for me, but I'd go back again. Probably if I have another birthday trip, (which I am definatly considering for 2009.) If it was for food alone, although it was good, it's not worth eating there again when there's so many other places I enjoy just as much.

 

[Warmwinds]

Hurry, don't leave us hanging...

 

[Minniespal]

Excellent

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Akershus - Princess Storybook Breakfast

I'd eaten at Akershus once before, for lunch. I'd been under-impressed with the food, most of which just wasn't to my liking. But, I do enjoy princess meals, and had decided to give breakfast a try.

I had a 10:10 ADR, and had been at Epcot at opening at 9:00, so had been able to ride Soarin, and stop at Character Connection before breakfast. I walked to Norway a few minutes before 10:00, which, since WS wasn't open yet was almost completely deserted. I should have taken pictures.

I also loved the music they were playing. Usually the music is the country's music, but I guess since the only people walking through then were going to a Princess meal, they were playing Beauty and the Beast music, except without the words.

There was a few minutes wait to check-in, during which some lady was complaining that she had a reservation, and she shouldn't have to wait.

When I did check-in, I was called immediatly, to have my picture taken with Belle. I was still wearing my birthday button and pins, which Belle commented on.

When I was seated, (at the same table I had the last time I'd been there, I don't think they have a lot of two-top tables there,) I was greeted by my server. He also noted my birthday, and I told him it had been the day before. He asked me if I wanted the hot skillet right away, or if I wanted to start with just the cold buffet. I choose to just start with the cold buffet, and he went to get me a diet coke.

Akershus is no longer completely family-style. There is now a buffet with fruit, cheese and pastries, and the eggs, meats, and potatoes are the only things served family-style.

I helped myself to some cantaloupe, honey dew, pineapple, and a strawbery, and some pastries. The fruit, was not the greatest. Most of it seemed like it was not very ripe, or at least the melons did. I have no complaints about the pineapple or the strawberry.

I had three different pastries. A cheese danish, a muffin, and what I'm assuming was the caramel-cinnamon roll I've heard so much about. The cheese danish was very good, but the muffin was kind of dry. The caramel-cinnamon roll was good, but I really prefer them warmed. It did have a rather large amount of filling that I'm not used to in cinnamon rolls.

While I was eating that food, I was presented with a Viking-hat shaped cookie, and a birthday card signed by all the princesses. And while I say all the princesses, that needs some interpretation. The signatures were from; Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Aurora, Mary Poppins, Mulan, Alice, and Pocahontas. I'd never heard of Alice or Pocahontas being there. I have heard of Esmeralda and Cinderella being there, rarely, but I have heard of them being there, so they "could" of signed the card too.

After finishing my fruit and pastries, which is already much more then I usually eat for breakfast, I was served the hot skillet, which in my case, was a hot plate. I'm glad to see Disney is finally doing one-person potions. When I ate at family-style restaurants in 2005, I recieved way too much food, and lots was wasted.

There were two pieces of sausage, six pieces of bacon, and a good helping of each potatoes and eggs.

I tried the eggs, just so I could have an opinion on them. I'm not a big egg eater, so I wasn't that crazy about them, but they weren't bad. The sausage and bacon were both good, but nothing special. I ate both pieces of sausage, and five pieces of the bacon. It's okay, I'm drinking diet coke, that gets rid of the calories.

Then there were the potatoes. OMG. They were so good. I finished what was served, which took up about a third of the plate, (picture coming,) and was served a whole other plate just of potatoes, which I ate most of.

I went and got the recipe off All Ears, since I'm planning on making my BF brunch this Sunday, and want to make these potatoes for him. And, looking at the ingredients, know that eating a whole plate made me gain about ten pounds. LOL. Cream sauce, cheese, things I usually try and stay away from.

While I was eating my hot plate, the "princesses" came around. Now I say "princesses" with the quotations, because, I'm sorry, but Mulan is not a princess. It's not that I don't like Mulan, I do, but she's not a princess.

The real princesses were Snow White, Jasmine, and Aurora, so there was a good selection of characters there. (Though when I ate lunch Ariel was in the lobby, and Belle was walking around instead of Mulan, so there was all actual princesses then.)

All of them were very nice, and told me happy birthday, etc. I've always had good interaction with characters here.

There were two tables next to me. One, with a family where a nice lady took my picture for me with every princess. And, one with two little boys. One was actually probably just a few months old, but one had to be two or three years old, and I would have assumed at a anti-princess age. But he loved them, LOL, and was giving them Valentines. (This was Valentine's Day, btw.) It was so cute. There was also a large group at the other side of the room, which I only have to mention, because at one point they guys at the table got really loud, and when I looked up Jasmine had just walked over.

Overall, I had a great meal. The service was terrific, and he got more then a 20% tip from me. The character interaction was great. And the food was good, the potatoes, exceptional.

I had, pre-trip, decided to not eat here with the DDP this fall. (Or at CP for that matter.) But, am going to do both as "gifts" to my DM, who has both her birthday, and Mother's Day before our trip, so I'll give her a meal for each trip, since I just have to include both now.

 

[MicheinMA]

Great reviews, Thanks!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

You'd think after pigging out, mostly on potatoes, at breakfast, I wouldn't even think about another sit-down meal this day. Of course, walking around a theme park all day, will get me hungry.

I arrived at Brown Derby right on time. My ADR was for 4:00, and I got over there right after a 3:30 showing of Voyage of the Little Mermaid which, for whatever reason had been stopped for awhile during the middle of the afternoon.

I was seated right away, and was greeted happy birthday by everyone, the hostess, the nice lady who seated me, and my server. Then that was the end of it. So, if you want to celebrate your birthday quietly, go to a signature restaurant, if you want a chance at more attention, go to a character meal.

But, I wasn't at Brown Derby to see if I could get free stuff. I was here for food. Food, that after two previous meals here, I expected to be excellant.

I was dining with the Fantasmic dinner package, which for me, is now a must-do for me at least once every trip, so I was going to get an appetizer, entree, and dessert for a set price, which I believe is going up in another month or so.

Note - One thing I enjoyed about this trip, which I'll get to reprise with the DDP in September, is not worrying about prices. Since all of my meals were pre-priced, all you can eat or my choice of each course, I got to order whatever I wanted. I'm even looking foward to September more since all of that food will be free, and I'll also be able to sample DM's meals, and try double as many items.

Anyway, I was served a bread basket, which was the same as always. I've always thought the bread at Brown Derby was under-impressive, considering how much I've always liked the rest of the food there.

I'd had crab cakes as my appetizers the first two times I'd eaten at Brown Derby, so I wanted to try something other then a crab cake at this point, (though both of them had been very good.) For my appetizer I had the seared sea scallop with barbecued pork rib belly and corn relish. I'd had a similar appetizer in December at Blue Zoo, but I think I liked this one better. (They were both really good though.) I ate the scallop first, and then the bbq pork rib belly. As with the one I'd had at Blue Zoo, I prefered the meat over the scallop. Not that the scallop wasn't good, it was, but, I apparently prefer red meat over scallops. Though out of all the appetizers I've tried at Brown Derby, my favorite is the one I had during my first meal there, the sake-laced crab cake in 2005. (No longer on the menu.)

For my entree, I'd been planning on the duck, which I'd been worried that the menu might change, and I wouldn't be able to get it. It was still on the menu, but I didn't feel like poultry. I almost still ordered it anyway, but I changed my mind at the last second, and went for the filet mignon.

It's changed since All Ears last posted an update for Brown Derby, and now has a horseradish aoili, and some kind of the meat's reduction sauce, and comes with the best mashed potatoes, (which I had previously credited Le Cellier for having.) The filet itself was perfect, (and also tops Le Cellier's.) Wow, Le Cellier's getting a beating, (even though it is still one of my favorites,) and I didn't even eat there, LOL.

I am so happy I got the filet mignon, and, as with every entree I've had at Brown Derby, it was excellant.

When I ate at Brown Derby in December, I'd seen what I assumed was the banana dome coming out of the kitchen, so I'd wanted to get that for dessert this time. (Last time I had the only dissapointing thing I've ever had at Brown Derby, the tiramisu creme brulee for dessert, so it was time for dessert to redeem itself.)

So, what I had was the banana white chocolate toffee dome with buttered rum sauce. Usually, I avoid desserts with white chocolate in, (and to date, I've only had one other Disney-dessert with white chocolate, the chocolate wave at Coral Reef, (which, to be fair, is mainly dark chocolate, with a very small amount of white.)

This was so good. I couldn't taste the white chocolate, (which is probably because, to me, it has almost no taste,) and there was real chocolate on it too. The banana mousse part was very nice, like a very heavy whipped cream, and very tasty.

So, another great meal at Brown Derby, which is still right at the top of my must-do list. And, I was considering splitting a meal here with DM, that's not going to happen, I'll need my own. LOL.

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
Thanks for your reviews. I enjoyed reading them. We'll be going to PSB in August and am anxious to try it.

 

[brando5111]

Sorry - don't hate me - but....

it's whether not "weather" (as in if it's raining or not).

I hate doing this, but feel it's really important. My sister is currently working on her Doctorate - and still doesn’t know the correct way to write! So I know it's unfortunately a common issue!

-J

 

[dismom9761]

Thanks for doing the review. I especially enjoyed reading about the Princess Storybook Breakfast,that is a must do next time.

 

[brando5111]

Sorry - don't hate me - but....

it's whether not "weather" (as in if it's raining or not).

I hate doing this, but feel it's really important. My sister is currently working on her Doctorate - and still doesn’t know the correct way to write! So I know it's unfortunately a common issue!

-J

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Sorry - don't hate me - but....

it's whether not "weather" (as in if it's raining or not).

I hate doing this, but feel it's really important. My sister is currently working on her Doctorate - and still doesn’t know the correct way to write! So I know it's unfortunately a common issue!

-J

I always feel like correcting people to. I know I always mess up stuff like whether or weather, or to or too, etc. And I think I use to many commas, (,) sometimes, and have long-running sentances.

 

[Disneyolic]

Sorry - don't hate me - but....

it's whether not "weather" (as in if it's raining or not).

I hate doing this, but feel it's really important. My sister is currently working on her Doctorate - and still doesn’t know the correct way to write! So I know it's unfortunately a common issue!

-J

If you made an attempt to correct all the misspelled words in these threads, you'd go crazy! Sometimes I would love to correct people but would rather just let it be.

 

[ufgator]

Thanks for your reviews!

 

[sarah4770]

Looking forward to the rest of your reviews!