Dining suggestions - cool places to try - Please :)

[nicki.momof3]

So we go to WDW 2 times a year and love the DDP. We love to try new things and this trip we would rather not go to the sit down resturants we have already been to.

A little background about us:
3 children (ages 6,7,8) this next trip.
We don't want to do any thing that is 2 credits or signature
We would rather not do buffets unless they are wonderful - please share if you love one.
We are looking for some advice on cool places to eat that we have never been.
We are not looking for chararacter meals - we have done a ton of them - unless it is great food and experience
We love dinner - we are not huge breakfast people.

I would love some expert advise for fellow DIS experts on some cool new places to try.

We are going at x-mas so we have time to plan

Here is a list of the places we have gone 1 or more times.Plaza
Crystal palace (2 times)
Wispering canyon (2 times)
Hoop de do review (2 times)
Big River grill
Chef Mickeys (2 times)
Cape May
CRT
Biegarten
Le Cellier
Rose and Crown
San Angel
Garden Grill
Akershaus (2 times)
50's Prime time
Sci-Fi
Tusker House (2 times)
T-Rex (2 times)
House of Blues

 

[crabbygal902]

I see that Teppan Edo isn't on your list. I really didn't want to go, thinking that it was going to be just like our local slice n' dice and that I was wasting a dining credit on something that was not special at all.

My DH chose it for his birthday meal a couple years ago. He thought it would keep our kids and our friends' kids entertained so that the adults could relax a little and not have to pop up and down a zillion time during dinner, like we so often do at the character buffets.

We had a fabulous time! The food was very good. It WAS a lot like our local Japanese restaurant, but it was a higher caliber of service and preparation. The staff were the nicest people I have encountered at Disney, and that is saying something. They made a huge deal over my husband and his birthday, making it very special.

I also don't see...and I can't believe it: 'Ohana! I know it takes some bashing here on these boards, but we have never had a bad experience here, and we go on every trip. Our last visit was about a month ago with 18 people, and it was the best yet. The highlights of 'Ohana: the leis, the coconut races for the kids, the Hawaiian entertainer, watching Wishes and listening to the piped-in music, the wontons, the bread pudding, the lapu lapus...can you tell I like the place?

Hope this helps!

 

[KristiLyn]

Definately agree with the pp, O'hana!!! Love it!! Definately worth it!!

 

[jen42002]

We have 4 kids the similar age as yours. We have also tried many of the restaurants on your list and are looking for something different as well. We also wanted to minimize buffets as it is too much work for me

Fellow DISer and friends have suggested the following to us:

Tutto Italia (I have been there myself but not with the kids, really enjoyed it)Teppan Edo (fun cooking show and good food - first time trying this one)
Chefs de France (time when Remy is there)
Captains Grille (first time for us)
Grand Floridian Cafe (first time for us)

We will be trying at least 3 of this list but I am not sure which

 

[crabbygal902]

Jen42002, you are so right about Chefs! We went in January and my 5 year old loved Remy. My husband and I loved eating grown-up food, so we were all happy...except for the 10 year old. He was too 'cool' for Remy.

 

[ThreeKMom]

We love Coral Reef it's always our first full day dinner - your kids will love the tank! We thought the NY strip was just as good as LeCellier!

We also did Les Chefs in France, we were a little nervous because we don't really like foods that are too fancy. The meal was very good, we had the filet, the sauce was a little peppery but not bad at all. I thought it was the best meal of the trip. The dining room is pretty and if you time it right you can see Remy! He was verycute and his handler was very entertaining! The wait staff sang happy birthday to my DD in french!

We thought that both of these were very cool and had good food!

 

[gigi1313]

teppan edo and 'ohana fan here too!

we also enjoyed our dinner at 1900 park fair, but it was more the characters than the food (stepmom and sis' were a howl!)...

we have also enjoyed dinner at the very underrated nine dragons... and mama melrose (esp FDP as it includes an appetizer on prixe fixe menu)...

last but not least, yak & yeti... we had a delicious dinner here when they first opened, and they continue to get positive reviews... if i could tear my kids away from donald's b'fast (their FAVORITE, although i'm not sure why! LOL) we'd definintely have dinner at Y&Y again!

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Kona... for any meal is great too!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

These suggestions are all great! But I would like to add the Wave at the Contemporary Resort. The food is wonderful and the atmosphere is lovely.

 

[Reese2]

Ohana and Yak & Yeti are our favs!!!

 

[jking6]

One more vote for Kona... I love this place!

 

[D!sneygirl89]

My family loves Teppan Edo! The last few times we have been there it is our first night stop We've never had a bad griller and the food is wonderful.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

We loved Kona's as well. Had lunch there. Food was great and the deserts were AWESOME! Coral Reef was also great. Kids loved that place as well, so did we.

 

[Shake]

Boma is a buffet but it is our favorite restaurant by far.

 

[OatsZoo]

I vote for Ohana for dinner, they serve family style and they have great kids entertainment. Musical instruments and dancing. You also get a lei to take home with you.

Also Coral Reef is fun too. Especially if you ask for a table next to the tank but you can see the tank anywhere you sit in the restaurant.

Liberty Tree Tavern in MK has the best food.

It is hard to do a non buffet, Disney loves their buffets.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I love all your suggestions:

I have a question:

Teppan Edo and Coral Reef look super fun for the kids but my concern is one of my kids is a very picky eater and does not eat anything on either of the kids menus.

Does anyone know if they will make a grilled cheese, hot dog, or butter and noodles if requested?

I noticed theat Ohana does have some alt. options for kids - love that.

 

[ThreeKMom]

I love all your suggestions:

I have a question:

Teppan Edo and Coral Reef look super fun for the kids but my concern is one of my kids is a very picky eater and does not eat anything on either of the kids menus.

Does anyone know if they will make a grilled cheese, hot dog, or butter and noodles if requested?

I noticed theat Ohana does have some alt. options for kids - love that.

I'm sure you can get buttered noodles at Coral Reef, my DD did in Nov. 2009!
I've always found that they are very helpful especially with little kids, and as long as they have the ingredients in house I'm sure they would do something as simple as noodles and butter at most restaurants!

BTW last year DD had the pizza at Coral Reef and actually ate it!

 

[mrmdisneyfl]

Love Ohana and Kona Cafe!

 

[gigi1313]

I love all your suggestions:

I have a question:

Teppan Edo and Coral Reef look super fun for the kids but my concern is one of my kids is a very picky eater and does not eat anything on either of the kids menus.

Does anyone know if they will make a grilled cheese, hot dog, or butter and noodles if requested?

I noticed theat Ohana does have some alt. options for kids - love that.

i'm not sure what alternate options TE has... plain rice? you may do what we used to do, bring a hot dog from a CS place w/us or let ds eat it just before we go... the nice thing about TE is even if your child doesn't eat, (s)he will be entertained!

 

[MJMcBride]

'ohana and Kona Cafe would be good

I agree with Teppan Edo and Coral Reef