Eating like we're going to prison - June 2024

[Robber Baron]

My wife and I spent a couple weeks in southern Florida in June. On June 22 we checked into AKL Kidani for 6 nites and proceeded to eat and drink like we are going to prison.

Our first stop was NOMAD LOUNGE



Tiffins is one of our favorite restaurants and we tried Nomad Lounge for the first time in Nov of 2022.

We checked into the walk up list at about 11:00 asking for an outside table. There were no tables available outside so they sat us in the back room behind the bar. When they seated us there was only one other table occupied, when we left the room was about full.

We love the bread service there, my wife doesn't like one of the breads, I think it's a cheese bread, because it has kind of an elastic y texture to it. Luckily I like it so I ate all of that one. I forgot to take a pic, so, here's a bread pic from a previous trip.



I like the unusual drinks here and I'm a little lame because I find things I like and always order them again and again. This time I branched out and had a Snow Leopard. Very nice and refreshing. The pineapple and black olives went very well with it.



I must have been ignoring my wife that day because I have no idea what she ate, but I had the sliders with Yucca fries. I love these fries and if they had a side order of just them, I'd have been all over it.



Nomad Lounge has become one of our faves and we'll be back.

$104.27

Next up - Summer House on the Lake.

 

[mickey916]

Love your title! Happy to follow along.

 

[Robber Baron]

Summer House on the Lake



We had reserved this thru Open Table, we'd heard good things about this place and wanted to try it.

We checked in to a very busy restaurant at about 6:30 and there would be a wait. We went to the back bar and it was jammed so we went to the front bar, all the tables were full. There was a family of 4 sitting at the bar with an empty stool next to them that was holding one of the kids backpacks. I asked the kid to move her backpack and she seemed very put out by it. I didn't care. My wife sat there and after a few minutes someone left the bar a number of seats down and a very nice guy picked up the stool and started carrying it over for me to sit. I thanked him profusely but told him I'd rather stand. I'm frequently a bar stander. I got a beer and she got a wine and we had about a 20 minute wait for our table.

I had the Chicken Breast Pillard, whatever that is. It kind of looked like a Milanese. It was fine. My wife had Rigatoni that was also fine. It seemed like we may have had an appetizer that I don't remember, I'm pretty sure it was fine.





I'm not sure what the tab was, I must have put it on a CC and not the Magic Band.

This place was probably a one off for us. Like I say, everything was fine. Nothing really stood out, I couldn't really tell if they had any kind of specialty or not, they had a hellacious jumble of different menu items. It reminded me of one of the old fern bars from the 80's.

One thing that WAS a stand out for us here was the Cookie Bar. I got an Oatmeal Scotchie that was great and lasted me a couple days. I'm not a HUGE cookie person but I do enjoy a cookie every once in a while. I have looked at pictures of the Gideon's cookies and they are a hard no for me. They all look like they are inside out, with half cooked chocolate chips on the outside. To review, Summer house cookie bar: yeah. Gideon's Cookies: Nah

 

[Robber Baron]

Friar's Nook - Magic Kingdom

We aren't HUGE breakfast people, except sometimes on vacation. We used to like breakfast at the Plaza in MK, having a full breakfast in that side sunroom was a great place to start the day, but that's history. Another favorite used to be the French Toast Loaf at the Main Street Bakery, but alas, that's only a memory too. I remember one time in the past I got a cinnamon roll somewhere back in Fantasyland that was the driest most arrid breakfast pastry I've ever had.

We walked by Friar's Nook and I saw Sausage & Gravy Tots on the menu and I just had to try it. I make a pretty mean biscuits & sausage gravy and the sub of tots for biscuits intrigued me.



This will be a regular for me. The gravy was excellent and the tots had just the right amount of crisp. I had to be held back from choking back a second order.

This was about $6 and well worth it.

 

[Robber Baron]

Columbia Harbor House

We've always liked the Columbia Harbor House. To us, food at MK has always been pretty much a barren wasteland. We usually leave MK and go elsewhere if we're hungry.

We had a LL coming up for Haunted Mansion in about an hour, so we figured CHH would be easy.

We went in shortly after opening and the crowds weren't there yet. We sat upstairs in the overpass so we could see the hot, sweaty crowds suffering below us.



My wife had shrimp skewers and green beans and I had chicken fingers. Everything was great as usual.

$27.14

 

[mort1331]

Summer House on the Lake

View attachment 878618

We had reserved this thru Open Table, we'd heard good things about this place and wanted to try it.

We checked in to a very busy restaurant at about 6:30 and there would be a wait. We went to the back bar and it was jammed so we went to the front bar, all the tables were full. There was a family of 4 sitting at the bar with an empty stool next to them that was holding one of the kids backpacks. I asked the kid to move her backpack and she seemed very put out by it. I didn't care. My wife sat there and after a few minutes someone left the bar a number of seats down and a very nice guy picked up the stool and started carrying it over for me to sit. I thanked him profusely but told him I'd rather stand. I'm frequently a bar stander. I got a beer and she got a wine and we had about a 20 minute wait for our table.

I had the Chicken Breast Pillard, whatever that is. It kind of looked like a Milanese. It was fine. My wife had Rigatoni that was also fine. It seemed like we may have had an appetizer that I don't remember, I'm pretty sure it was fine.

View attachment 878620

View attachment 878621

I'm not sure what the tab was, I must have put it on a CC and not the Magic Band.

This place was probably a one off for us. Like I say, everything was fine. Nothing really stood out, I couldn't really tell if they had any kind of specialty or not, they had a hellacious jumble of different menu items. It reminded me of one of the old fen bars from the 80's.

One thing that WAS a stand out for us here was the Cookie Bar. I got an Oatmeal Scotchie that was great and lasted me a couple days. I'm not a HUGE cookie person but I do enjoy a cookie every once in a while. I have looked at pictures of the Gideon's cookies and they are a hard no for me. They all look like they are inside out, with half cooked chocolate chips on the outside. To review, Summer house cookie bar: yeah. Gideon's Cookies: Nah

Must try the Gideons,,,,We did both to compare,,,,Summer House price for the cookies is the same price,,,but only worth half the price....Gideons is very good,,,not sure I would wait 30mins or more for them,,,but much better than SH

 

[Robber Baron]

Topolino's

This is one place I've been looking forward to. First time. Last trip we had a QS lunch at Primo Piatto and that's now one of my favorite QS places.

We took a bus from AKL to Hollywood Studios and took the skyliner to Riviera. I always like being early so we can relax in the lounge for one or two. My wife ordered a wine while I had a beer, IPA I think.

There were a couple middle aged ladies at the bar whooping it up and having a good old time. I think they were trying everything on the drink menu.



I always take a coaster at lounges I go to and have a good sized collection. I went to put my coaster in my pocket and the bartender told me I don't want to take a used one and handed me a small stack of new ones.

Bar tab - $33.22

It was time to be seated for dinner and we got the table back in the glass corner. Probably the best spot and view in the restaurant. Steven was our waiter and we couldn't have asked for better service. I put in an employee compliment email after.

We started with the Ricotta appetizer.



This is about the prettiest appetizer you'll find anywhere. Steven told us it's the number 1 ordered app. That wheat looking bread is the bomb, we ate our share of bread that night. I did find out I'm just not a big Ricotta person. I'm glad we tried it, I'm sure it was great, IF you are a big ricotta fan, it just wasn't to our liking.

Even though I'm a big meat and potatoes guy I always knew I wanted to have pasta here. That's what they're famous for, right? I had the Rigatoni and it was awesome. I've never been a big mushroom fan and frequently ask for them to be held, I'm glad I ordered this dish the way the chef intended. 10 out of 10 for me.



My wife had the Sole and it was soooo good. It was cooked perfectly and the capers and lemon were just right. I will have this next time we go there.



We told Steven to pick a dessert for us and suprise us. I can't remember what this is called, but, it was like some type of deconstructed something or other and it was out of this world.




Topolino's was a huge hit for us and we will definitely be back.

$193.46

 

[Robber Baron]

VIA NAPOLI



We like Via Napoli, been there maybe half a dozen times. I made an ADR for lunch this day but then decided we had too many ADR's and we should really try somewhere we haven't been so I cancelled it. After changing my mind and wanting it back we couldn't get it.

They open at 11:30, so about 11;20 we went over and sat outside waiting for them to open. They dragged the podium out at exactly 11:30 and started checking people in. I was maybe 5th or 6th in line and asked if they could take a walk up for 2. We were seated almost immediately.

I always eat the same thing here. Beer-Arancini-Pizza.

I make a better arancini at home, so, this is really me second favorite arancini.



The amount of cheese and the cook on the rice is always just right.

The service is usually quick here so this is one of those places where we order our drinks, after we get drinks we order appetizer, after we get appetizer we order entree. I just don't want everything all at once. Pizza today was cheese only and asked to put a tan on it, cook it a little crispier.




This is my favorite pizza on property and it was as good as always.

Had some kind of Italian beer, don't remember what, but it was good.



$120.11

 

[Robber Baron]

MARA

Tonight we went to the QS place at AKL Jambo, Mara. We had been there once before years ago when we stayed at Jambo House.

We took the shuttle from Kidani to Jambo, it pulled up just as we got out front and only took a couple minutes to get there.

It started raining as soon as we got there and the pool was closed. That meant maybe a lot more people than normal we in the Mara, but it wasn't that crowded.

The ordering and service here was pretty discombobulated. Plus there was only 1 cashier working so even after waiting quite a while for food, you then had to wait to check out.

My wife had a wine and some kind of bowl mixture type of thing that was actually served on a plate. To me it kind of looked like vomit but she said it was pretty good.



I had a beer and a bacon burger. In years and years and years of going to Disney I have had shockingly few QS burgers. There was nothing memorable about this. The only thing memorable about this place was the sound the chairs made on the floor when they were moved. The metal bottoms to the chairs and the hollow metal legs made an excruciating noise when they were pushed around. The person cleaning the room and constantly sliding chairs around must be immune to this sound. Honestly we had to stop talking when this noise happened.



But, the fries were decent.

$53.55

 

[Robber Baron]

Drinkwallah



Animal Kingdom is a place we've never had any breakfast food at.

However, I had seen some type of stuffed pancake thingy online somewhere and I had to find it and try it.

At Drinkwallah we found the Marshall's Famous Stuffed Pancake Sandwich. Sausage, guava jelly, egg & cheese.

This thing was a wonder of modern science. How do they do that? I loved this thing and I'll be back for more.





My wife got some Cinnamon Glazed Almonds as she wanted nothing to do with this science project.

$15.95

 

[Counting Stars]

Great title and great reports It so hard to branch out and order new items when you have have entrees that were really good- I have to push myself to do it. Really like your pizza adjustment for Via Napoli- and asked to put a tan on it, cook it a little crispier. Gonna try that one myself. Thanks for taking the time to share.

 

[Crazycanucks]

Love hearing people’s food and drink experiences. Nomad lounge is one of our favourite stops, but we have decided we should try something new on our upcoming October trip. Thanks for sharing your breakfast stop at Animal Kingdom. I like trying unusual items, so I might have to try this.

I am inspired to try a few of your other stops. Thanks so much.

 

[Robber Baron]

Geyser Point at Wilderness Lodge

From AK we took the bus to Wilderness lodge to try Geyser Point.

Nov of 2022 we stayed at Copper Creek and our studio was on the first floor and we were all the way at the end of the hall maybe 50 ft from Geyser Point and somehow never made it there.

This time we wanted to make sure to try it.




As soon as we got off the bus we joined the walk up list and were seated as soon as we walked to the restaurant.

Starting with a Michelob Ultra. Such a pretty spot for this restaurant.



There were ducks walking around the restaurant. A couple and their children were seated near us and she was deathly afraid of ducks and every time they came near she would get up to run and hide while her husband shooo'd and led them away.

My wife had some kind of chicken with noodles salad that she really liked. (Edited, wait a sec, I think that's salmon.)



I had a smoked turkey BLT that was really good and so were the homemade chips.



My plans were to try the Bison Burger, but, there was a last minute substitution which just means I'll have to go back.

Good drinks, good food, we are from NC and our stellar waiter is from the Outer Banks so we had some conversation in common.

We'll be back.

$103.47

 

[Robber Baron]

SANAA

Some time this afternoon there was a drink stop at SANAA.



Very nice, (small), bar with only about 4 seats. Nice spot with friendly bartenders.

There is also a good size table maybe seats 6 or 8, and a couple smaller tables in the bar where you can get food service from the regular menu if you want to eat there and can't get an ADR.

$12.38

 

[Robber Baron]

Chefs De France

We went to Chefs on our honeymoon and liked it so much we went back the next night.

We have eaten there on and off over the years, but, at this point we probably haven't been there in 7 or 8 years and were looking forward to it.

Once again from AKL we took a bus to HS and took the Skyliner to the International Gateway.

We were a few minutes early and were seated right away. The table next to us was seated just a minute after us. When the waiter came over we ordered a drink, the table next to us ordered entrees. The waiter walked to the kitchen and immediately walked back and served our neighbor their entrees. Pretty quick.

When they brought our drinks they asked if we wanted to order. My wife ordered a French Onion soup, her favorite soup. He asked if we wanted to order entrees we said we'd wait.

It wasn't 90 seconds before her soup was plopped in front of her,



After a couple spoonfuls she decided Campbell's is better and she didn't finish it.

When that was taken away we ordered our entrees.

Beef Bourguignon for me, Shrimp and scallops for her.







She got 3 shrimps and 2 scallops. The scallops were average and she described the shrimp as rubbery.

I don't know what the heck was up with my beef but it was awful. It tasted like I imagine dog food would taste, as a matter of fact it smelled like wet dog.

I noticed the lady next to me also had the beef and I'd guess she ate maybe 3 bites of it.

I ate a few bites of mine and I was done. I couldn't even fill up on the linguini because it was in a pool of that Alpo juice.

There was a couple sitting behind my wife that I just couldn't keep my eyes off because the husband was like a human garbage disposal. Everyone handed him their plates with food left over and he would finish them all off. I actually saw him licking out those little indentations on a escargot serving plate. Well, he also had the beef and that's the only thing on the table he didn't finish, ate less than half.

Nothing we ordered took more than a minute and a half to get to the table. They are really cranking out the dishes at this joint.

If we hadn't intentionally spaced out our dinner we would have been out of there in less than a half hour.

I've been going to Disney since I was in high school in 1971, this was the worst meal I've ever eaten on property and it's not real close.

We will not be returning.

$165.49

 

[Robber Baron]

After the Chefs debacle I stopped at Connections Eatery for a snack.

I'd seen online the liege waffles, every picture I've ever seen of them had a disc, candy I imagine, with the Orange Bird illustration on it and orange sprinkles around the edge.

The ones they had available to day were the Pride version. They are as good as advertised and I see more of them in my future.



$4.46

 

[Robber Baron]

Today we took the bus to Early Entry at Hollywood Studios.

Rode Mickeys Runaway Railway then Smuggler's Run and that left me right where I wanted to be:

Ronto Roasters

I mobile ordrerd 2 Ronto Morning Wraps.



I like these darn it. My wife is not big on hot doggy, sausagey things so she didn't fully appreciate this breakfast of champions.

I can't find a record of what I paid for these, being mobile order I bet I used Apple Pay. These items on the menu are $12.79 each. Would have been a better deal if they had both been eaten.

 

[Nohal]

Great reviews and pictures. Thanks for posting

 

[jillt2ph]

We walked by Friar's Nook and I saw Sausage & Gravy Tots on the menu and I just had to try it. I make a pretty mean biscuits & sausage gravy and the sub of tots for biscuits intrigued me.

View attachment 878624

This will be a regular for me. The gravy was excellent and the tots had just the right amount of crisp. I had to be held back from choking back a second order.

This was about $6 and well worth it.

I agree! I had this in May and i loved it.

 

[Counting Stars]

So sorry that your dinner at Chefs' De France was disappointing. We have always loved that restaurant, but haven't been since Covid. We have been at some other TS restaurants however that were surprisingly disappointing. Food tasted like it had been sitting way too long in warmers, causing me to wonder how far in advance many of the menu items are being prepared.... Thanks for sharing your experiences