DlxDP w/ CL Kicked Our Butts! See us expand before your eyes! 1/19 All Finished!

[mcrabeck]

Enjoying your reviews- looks like some more great restaurants coming up yet!

 

[emmysmommy]

The restaurant was colonial themed (obviously) and the wait staff was dressed in revolutionary period costumes. This would be one of my least favorite places to work in Disney World just based on the costume. (I realize not everyone can be Cinderella!) The tights on the men were – hmmm interesting and those Betsy Ross caps on the women sure were not hugely attractive! But hey, they did a great job waiting on the hungry masses.

A mug of a nice cold Diet Coke!

I ordered the fried cheese, again based on recommendations from Disboarders. My DD ordered the same appetizer. I REALLY liked these puppies. The marinara sauce was pretty tasty as well. They give you some cheese “logs” and some cheese "nuggets". I liked the nuggets better - yummy cheesey goodness. I only ate about 3 or 4 of them since they were enough for a meal and I definitely wanted to get to my entrée and dessert!

For my entrée I ordered the Tri-Corner sandwich (roast beef and swiss with slaw, horseradish cream spread, and arugula on multi grain bread) with French fries. I really, really, really, liked my sandwich and fries. The sandwich had so much flavor with the horseradish spread and the spicy arugula. The fries were the best that I had all trip.

My DD ordered the New England Pot Roast. I had a bite of Em’s pot roast and it was pretty good. (Not as good as my dad’s since that is his specialty but hey, not everyone can compete with a Midwestern farm boy!)

Again, these are large portions so I only ate less than half of my sandwich since I HAD to make room for the ooey gooey toffee cake.

It was more like a big moist chocolate chip cookie with toffee pieces. I ordered the ice-cream on the side since I’m not a big ice-cream lover but I have to say…. I LOVED this dessert. I actually LOVED this meal. Em ordered the apple tart.

She liked it…I had a taste and it was good. My dessert kicked the apple tart’s butt …. I’m just saying….

The bill for the meal was $59.78 – not too bad for a table service meal in the MK. We had 12 deluxe dining credits remaining.

Up Next: California Grill

 

[bluejasmine]

Great reviews! Can't wait for more

 

[Kathy Z]

Fantastic reviews and photos! I agree with you that the macadamia nut pancakes with pineapple topping and butter are the best thing on the Kona breakfast menu! I was afraid that I might go down in flames when I first mentioned that the Tonga Toast did not appeal to me at all. But then I was surprised to hear that a lot of people are like you and I and prefer the pancakes. Kona Cafe is a great TS place with 3 strong contenders (the Big Kahuna being the third) for favorite breakfast entrees for Polynesian Resort and other guests.

 

[vinotinto]

Ok, I found the menu picture for Tutto. It's not a great photo (sorry for the flash spot) but hopefully you can read the selections.

Thank you! We're keeping this ADR. No more second-guessing!

Awesome reviews and pics! We have many ADRs for places you are reviewing. Looking forward to the rest

 

[butiflfeet]

Great start! Looking forward to your Cali Grill review!

 

[dixonsontour]

Great reviews and thank you for the tutto menu - just got to decide between the fish and canneloni now.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

joining in...great reviews so far and can't wait to read more yummy reviews.

 

[photobob]

The pot roast at LTT doesn't look like nearly the amount I got in my two trips in 2008. It looks good but not nearly as substancial, also in 08 it was covered in crispy fried onions.

 

[TigerKat]

Signing on, great so far!

 

[lizzyb]

Great reviews so far!

 

[emmysmommy]

Great start! Looking forward to your Cali Grill review!

And I'm looking forward to sharing about Cali Grill!! Thanks for joining!

Great reviews and thank you for the tutto menu - just got to decide between the fish and canneloni now.

No problemo! [sneak peek... the canneloni was delish!]

joining in...great reviews so far and can't wait to read more yummy reviews.

And yummy reviews you will get!! And some snack reviews and some concierge club reviews....and anything else that is food related!

The pot roast at LTT doesn't look like nearly the amount I got in my two trips in 2008. It looks good but not nearly as substancial, also in 08 it was covered in crispy fried onions.

Hey, we were ripped off!! No crispy fried onions?? That's it, I'm writing a letter. [this is supposed to be my arrrgh face!]

Signing on, great so far!

Why thank you!

Great reviews so far!

And thank YOU!

Ok folks, I had to go back to work today after having 3 weeks off [blech!] so bear with me while I get my photos in order and get started on Cali Grill.

 

[emmysmommy]

We had an 8:50 dinner reservation to coincide with the 10pm Wishes fireworks show and it worked out perfectly!

We checked in with the California Grill hostess on the 2nd floor of the Contemporary about 20 minutes before our reservation. We were given a pager which went off almost immediately. We did get a quick picture before we were taken in the elevator to the 15th floor.

We were seated at a wonderful table for 2 next to the window. They had even thrown some Mickey-fetti on the table for the "celebration" occasion.

Our server, Michael, was amazing and lived up to every expectation for a Signature dining experience. The pace of the meal was perfect for the various courses and we enjoyed watching the fireworks show on the terrace between the entrée and dessert courses.

As for the meal…. They start you with a basket of sourdough bread accompanied with a dish of soft butter sprinkled with sea salt. It was very good and I had to refrain from eating every slice.

For the appetizer, I ordered the “Chef’s Garden” flatbread that consisted of heirloom tomatoes with baby mozzarella, balsamic onion and micro basil. I liked the flatbread – I didn’t love it and I really expected more I think but I did eat all of the balsamic onion and mozzarella off the flatbread.

Em ordered the Bonsai sushi roll which was essentially a complete meal in itself. Way too large a portion for an appetizer in my opinion. But she did have a smile on her face when she was eating it so it must have been good.

As for the entrees, I ordered the crispy chicken based on a review that I had read. I was looking forward to the manchego cheese mashed potatoes as an accompaniment but they were not on the menu so I substituted “loaded” mashed potatoes and broccolini for the olive oil crushed potatoes and chorizo succotash. I liked my entrée but again, it wasn’t amazing and I certainly wouldn’t have paid the listed menu price had I not been on a dining plan.

Em ordered the herb grilled lamb chops with kiln-dried garbanzo beans. She really liked her entrée.

We had an amazing view of the Epcot fireworks in addition to the electrical storm that played out the window.

Shortly before 10:00 our waiter advised that we could proceed to the outside patio to view the Wishes fireworks. We had viewed the fireworks the evening before but this experience was unique due to the vast panoramic view. The music was piped in and the lights went low and the show began. It was my favorite fireworks experience of the trip.

When we returned to our table my napkin had been refolded all nice and I said, isn’t that nice that they gave us “dessert napkins”. Uhhh my daughter pointed out that it was my old napkin just refolded. Ok, I’ll go with that – look my lipstick marks on the fabric!!

For dessert I was craving crème brulee and apparently didn’t read the menu too closely because I (Em too) ordered the crème brulee and it was delivered but it was – ugh – brown! Oh no, chocolate crème brulee. I’m not a huge chocolate fan and less so when I am anticipating a traditional version of this dessert. I did try it and it tasted like chocolate pudding. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed. I actually liked the citrus “financier” whatever that is. It was like an orange flavored pound cake tidbit.

Our bill came to $144.84 and was 4 dining credits for the two of us. We had 8 dining credits remaining on our plan for this part of the trip.

Overall, I wasn’t impressed individually with any one dish (except perhaps the bread and butter!) but it was a great experience and I loved the wait team. We were done around 10:45 pm so it was about a 2 hour dining experience – including the fireworks show. Although it was not my favorite meal of the trip, I will say that the service, the ambiance, and the general atmosphere made it entirely worth the 2 dining credits each.

Next Up: 1900 Park Fare - Supercalifragalistic Breakfast

 

[ChristyWI]

Sounds wonderful...can't wait to read more!

 

[hillo]

Wow! I can't believe I saw you and your daughter at CA Grill! I noticed you both because you and your daughter reminded me of me and my mom. I thought that I would love to go to CA Grill all dressed up with just my mom. (My step-dad can be... odd... sometimes.) I actually have a (ok) pic of me that night, in case you happened to see me. We were on the same elevator after dinner - its a small world after all. I was with my mom and dad.

(I blurred out the guy in the back, because it was a very clear pic of him.)

 

[madcam]

Great reviews and pictures!! We will be dining at several of the places you did on your trip so I am happy to subscribe and read the rest of your reviews!! Thanks so much!!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Wow! I can't believe I saw you and your daughter at CA Grill! I noticed you both because you and your daughter reminded me of me and my mom. I thought that I would love to go to CA Grill all dressed up with just my mom. (My step-dad can be... odd... sometimes.) I actually have a (ok) pic of me that night, in case you happened to see me. We were on the same elevator after dinner - its a small world after all. I was with my mom and dad.

(I blurred out the guy in the back, because it was a very clear pic of him.)

That's so weird that the two of you were in the same elevator. I once was on the same bus as a DISer and didn't find out until after I got home.

 

[lizzyb]

CG is on my list of to do's. Hopefully when the kids are bigger DH and I can go there

 

[emmysmommy]

Wow! I can't believe I saw you and your daughter at CA Grill! I noticed you both because you and your daughter reminded me of me and my mom. I thought that I would love to go to CA Grill all dressed up with just my mom. (My step-dad can be... odd... sometimes.) I actually have a (ok) pic of me that night, in case you happened to see me. We were on the same elevator after dinner - its a small world after all. I was with my mom and dad.

(I blurred out the guy in the back, because it was a very clear pic of him.)

NO way!! How weird is that??? Well, I hope I wasn't picking my nose or anything when you saw us! I'm old so I don't really recall the elevator ride down but I know we had just posed for some photos that the staff in the lobby area on the 15th floor had taken... HOWEVER - I showed my daughter you photo (you are so pretty by the way!!) and she remembered you. I'll have to go back and look at my photos and see if I see you.

Oh, and I had videoed us walking from our table outside to the patio and back so you never know who will show up on tape!

You are right - it's a small world!!

Take care,

 

[emmysmommy]

I actually have a (ok) pic of me that night, in case you happened to see me. We were on the same elevator after dinner - its a small world after all. I was with my mom and dad.

You ARE in one of my photos!! At least part of you.

Were is a shocked emoticon??? We'll just go with this one