Since we do most of our eating in Epcot, this review will be long!
Table Service Restaurants
Chefs de France dinner -- DH and me. First time at this restaurant. We got a wonderful table for two overlooking the street where all the entertainment is. Server Jeremy was great -- attentive, friendly and complimentary of DH's rusty French. DH started with the escargot, which I didn't go near. He said they were good. I had onion soup, which was wonderful. Topped with a piece of bread and lots of cheese, it was so filling that it and a small salad would be a perfect meal. For the main course, DH had lamb and I had chicken cordon bleu served with a large block of macaroni and cheese. DH said the lamb was good. My meal was good but not on the same level as the soup. It also was very heavy, and I didn't eat quite all of it. Since I had gotten the French menu (a really good deal), we had creme brulee for dessert. I was so full that I only ate a couple bites -- DH ate most of it. It was very good, especially the burnt sugar topping. We also both had the wine recommended with our meal. Bill was around $100.
Marrakesh lunch -- DH, 8-year-old and me. Both food and the wonderful mint ice tea was great as usual. We also enjoyed the belly dancer and musician. DH and DS danced, which was entertaining. DH ordered the lunch special, which was a beautiful salad served with beef brewat roll, chicken kebob and rice and an apple crepe dessert. He was pleased with it overall but wished he had gotten what I got. I can't remember what it was called, but I got a beef brewat roll, chicken bastilla, a beef kebob and vegetable couscous. Son got the kids' beef kebob with fries. The kids menu did not say that ice cream came with the meal, but he asked the server since it had last year. The server brought him some and did not charge us -- not sure if it actually comes with the meal or not, though. Bill was about $40 with AP discount.
Teppanyaki lunch -- All 5 of us, including two teens. This is my kids' favorite Disney restaurant, so we always eat there. We sat with a family of 3 who also was AP holders from North Carolina. Our cook was one we had had before, who is not terribly creative but polite and still fun to watch. We all had either steak or beef tenderloin and it was wonderful. Portions are generous -- we always do lunch instead of dinner here because the cost difference is a lot. As usual, I requested that my teens get the fresh fruit that comes with the kids' meal instead of salad. We think this restaurant is a lot better than the two Japanese steakhouses near our home, and it is no more expensive. Bill was around $75 with AP discount.
Akershaus dinner -- All 5 of us. We had a ps for lunch at this restaurant later in the week but opted for dinner after a huge rainstorm left us needing shelter. We have eaten here a number of times and were a little disappointed about the new set-up. Now, you get salads, cold fish, soup, bread, peel and eat shrimp, etc. from a buffet and order your entree. I always enjoy a couple of the salads and I really like the bread. I have never had a good soup at this restaurant, though. The one on the night we were there was especially bad -- looked like onion soup but purported to be seafood soup. Although the deal is that you can get as many different things as you want, our server didn't really encourage is to do that and to reorder or get something else, you have to wait awhile for it to be brought. DH and I both had enjoyed getting little dabs of exotic stuff like mashed rutabaga from the old buffet but didn't ask that it be brought to the table. Middle DS and I both chose the only thing on the menu we would have touched -- a crispy chicken breast over wild rice with cranberry syrup. DH had salmon. Youngest child had a hotdog from the kids' menu and asked for meatballs from the other one. Oldest teen ordered a grilled cheese from the kids' menu (he had not planned to eat at this restaurant). Everyone except me got dessert. Teens went next door to Kringla and got the chocolate cake and sweet pretzel -- we have had these many times and I cannot recommend them enough. Youngest ds had the troll cookie that you paint -- it no longer has cotton candy hair but was still a big treat. DH got a beautiful berry tart from the dessert tray. Overall, it was an enjoyable meal. Bill was around $100.
Counter Service
San Angel Cantina
Some of us ate there twice. Youngest ds and I got the kids' meal, which was a great value and very tasty. It includes a small burrito, chips and a drink for under $4. You do need to spend extra to get cheese sauce or guacomole for all those chips. My middle ds got nachos there twice and they were wonderful about putting exactly the ingredients he wanted and leaving off the others. DH got some kind of soft chicken taco plate, which he said was okay.
Sommerfest
DH had a brat and apple struedel. He said the brat was very good and he really liked the pastry. I tried the latter and it didn't do much for me -- I especially didn't like the runny vanilla sauce.
Snacks
Chocolate cake and sweet pretzels with almonds from the Kringla Bakery -- yum and moderately priced by Disney standards. I can't recommend these enough.
Baklava from Tangierine Cafe -- very, very good. DH also had a frozen strawberry drink there that he gave high marks.
Churros from San Angel Cantina -- wonderful fried cinnamon and sugar pastry. Highly recommended.
Ice cream from kiosk in France -- Middle ds is an ice cream fanatic, and he pronounced this good.
Kaki Gori -- fruit ice drinks at Japan are always refreshing.
I'll be happy to answer any questions.
Table Service Restaurants
Chefs de France dinner -- DH and me. First time at this restaurant. We got a wonderful table for two overlooking the street where all the entertainment is. Server Jeremy was great -- attentive, friendly and complimentary of DH's rusty French. DH started with the escargot, which I didn't go near. He said they were good. I had onion soup, which was wonderful. Topped with a piece of bread and lots of cheese, it was so filling that it and a small salad would be a perfect meal. For the main course, DH had lamb and I had chicken cordon bleu served with a large block of macaroni and cheese. DH said the lamb was good. My meal was good but not on the same level as the soup. It also was very heavy, and I didn't eat quite all of it. Since I had gotten the French menu (a really good deal), we had creme brulee for dessert. I was so full that I only ate a couple bites -- DH ate most of it. It was very good, especially the burnt sugar topping. We also both had the wine recommended with our meal. Bill was around $100.
Marrakesh lunch -- DH, 8-year-old and me. Both food and the wonderful mint ice tea was great as usual. We also enjoyed the belly dancer and musician. DH and DS danced, which was entertaining. DH ordered the lunch special, which was a beautiful salad served with beef brewat roll, chicken kebob and rice and an apple crepe dessert. He was pleased with it overall but wished he had gotten what I got. I can't remember what it was called, but I got a beef brewat roll, chicken bastilla, a beef kebob and vegetable couscous. Son got the kids' beef kebob with fries. The kids menu did not say that ice cream came with the meal, but he asked the server since it had last year. The server brought him some and did not charge us -- not sure if it actually comes with the meal or not, though. Bill was about $40 with AP discount.
Teppanyaki lunch -- All 5 of us, including two teens. This is my kids' favorite Disney restaurant, so we always eat there. We sat with a family of 3 who also was AP holders from North Carolina. Our cook was one we had had before, who is not terribly creative but polite and still fun to watch. We all had either steak or beef tenderloin and it was wonderful. Portions are generous -- we always do lunch instead of dinner here because the cost difference is a lot. As usual, I requested that my teens get the fresh fruit that comes with the kids' meal instead of salad. We think this restaurant is a lot better than the two Japanese steakhouses near our home, and it is no more expensive. Bill was around $75 with AP discount.
Akershaus dinner -- All 5 of us. We had a ps for lunch at this restaurant later in the week but opted for dinner after a huge rainstorm left us needing shelter. We have eaten here a number of times and were a little disappointed about the new set-up. Now, you get salads, cold fish, soup, bread, peel and eat shrimp, etc. from a buffet and order your entree. I always enjoy a couple of the salads and I really like the bread. I have never had a good soup at this restaurant, though. The one on the night we were there was especially bad -- looked like onion soup but purported to be seafood soup. Although the deal is that you can get as many different things as you want, our server didn't really encourage is to do that and to reorder or get something else, you have to wait awhile for it to be brought. DH and I both had enjoyed getting little dabs of exotic stuff like mashed rutabaga from the old buffet but didn't ask that it be brought to the table. Middle DS and I both chose the only thing on the menu we would have touched -- a crispy chicken breast over wild rice with cranberry syrup. DH had salmon. Youngest child had a hotdog from the kids' menu and asked for meatballs from the other one. Oldest teen ordered a grilled cheese from the kids' menu (he had not planned to eat at this restaurant). Everyone except me got dessert. Teens went next door to Kringla and got the chocolate cake and sweet pretzel -- we have had these many times and I cannot recommend them enough. Youngest ds had the troll cookie that you paint -- it no longer has cotton candy hair but was still a big treat. DH got a beautiful berry tart from the dessert tray. Overall, it was an enjoyable meal. Bill was around $100.
Counter Service
San Angel Cantina
Some of us ate there twice. Youngest ds and I got the kids' meal, which was a great value and very tasty. It includes a small burrito, chips and a drink for under $4. You do need to spend extra to get cheese sauce or guacomole for all those chips. My middle ds got nachos there twice and they were wonderful about putting exactly the ingredients he wanted and leaving off the others. DH got some kind of soft chicken taco plate, which he said was okay.
Sommerfest
DH had a brat and apple struedel. He said the brat was very good and he really liked the pastry. I tried the latter and it didn't do much for me -- I especially didn't like the runny vanilla sauce.
Snacks
Chocolate cake and sweet pretzels with almonds from the Kringla Bakery -- yum and moderately priced by Disney standards. I can't recommend these enough.
Baklava from Tangierine Cafe -- very, very good. DH also had a frozen strawberry drink there that he gave high marks.
Churros from San Angel Cantina -- wonderful fried cinnamon and sugar pastry. Highly recommended.
Ice cream from kiosk in France -- Middle ds is an ice cream fanatic, and he pronounced this good.
Kaki Gori -- fruit ice drinks at Japan are always refreshing.
I'll be happy to answer any questions.
I will have to give it a try next trip.
