Fine dining lovers or "food snobs" please read!

[mdhkitten]

Ok, here's the deal..........my friend and I are going to WDW in May and we have had the opportunity to try many of the nicer restaurants in the past. We were hoping to dine at two of them on this trip, and make at least one a restaurant that we haven't tried in the past. Please keep in mind that my friend is referred to by his friends as a "food snob", so he really likes fine dining or at least good food. The food is definitely the most important thing.

Here are some that we've tried:

California Grill
Jiko
Victoria & Albert's
Flying Fish


We're interested in either trying Citrico's or Artist Point. I know that the ambience at AP isn't the best, but is the food really good? We may do both if people say that they are worth it. If you enjoy fine dining and are a "food snob" like he is, then please help me out! Even if you're not a "food snob", I'm begging, please! Please also know that we really can't do restaurants like Narcoosee's (sp?) or any major seafood restaurant because we don't eat shellfish. Any help is GREATLY appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[threeboysmom]

I'd definitely go with Citricos!! LOVED it!! We have plans to dine there again in May. But I heard they just went through chef change, so the menu may not be the same. I won't know until May! I'm not sure about Artist Point because I've never been there.

 

[patsal]

We love Artist Point we usually do our meal with the wine pairings. Each time we've dined there we have had great service, excellent food and delightful wines. I can't tell you anything about Citricos since we've never tried it.

 

[byoung]

If you like steak go to Shula's Steak House at the Dolphin Hotel

 

[sleepydog25]

Here's another vote for AP. Not sure why anyone would consider the ambience at AP to be lacking, though. No, it's not the absolute nicest atmosphere in which I've ever dined, but it's still quite lovely and enjoyable, especially if you can get a window table. AP ranks along side some of the nicer places I've patronized in terms of food and service.

Though I'd never consider myself a "food snob" (my roots are Southern home cooking), I traveled enough in my 21 years in the Air Force to dine at some superb restaurants--from NYC, to D.C., to L.A., and even to three and four-star places in Alaska. The appetizer selections are very good, especially the smoky portobello bisque. Any one of their salads is a good choice, as well. As for entrees, the salmon and buffalo are the two most talked about entrees on this board, and both are excellent. Of the two, I prefer the buffalo just because I tend to select beef alternatives such as venison, buffalo, elk, duck, and lamb. Desserts, though good, are their weakest area. Still, the berry cobbler is quite scrumptious, and the French press coffee presented at the table is some of the best coffee on site.

The service is just as exemplary. Our servers' knowledge of the wine list has always been good, and their suggestions for pairing the wines have been spot on. Further, there is a wine flight you can purchase which is a nice option. Once, my wife and I couldn't quite decide which wines to have with the flight option, so the server brought out a bottle of each wine in question and served us samples in order for us to better make up our minds. It is such thoughtfulness that keeps us coming back. . .along with the tremendous food, of course.

 

[__disneygirl]

OO, I vote for Le Cellier. Excellent food. Try the filet.

 

[SueEllen]

Have you considered Todd English's Blue Zoo at the Dolphin? That would be an excellent choice as would Citricos.

I have not tried AP at the WL yet personally.

Sue Ellen

 

[DoomBuggyBabe]

Here's another vote for Artist Point! DH and I love the food and atmosphere there. The cedar-plank salmon is lovely. We're also had the Penn Cove mussels, smoky portobello soup and buffalo, among other things. All very, very good.
Enjoy,
Q

 

[majortom]

I am an adult and this did and still does apply to me!-98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't, copy & paste this into your signature

This statistic is just wrong. According to the Office National Drug Control Policy fewer than 45% have ever tried Marijuana. Here is the study.

I would try Todd English's Blue Zoo. If you are willing to go off property, I would consider Emeril's Tchoup Chop or the Kitchen Table at Emeril's Orlando.

/carmi

 

[java]

We are reformed food snobs- we had children so we need to be more flexible these days...But we both really enjoyed AP. The salmon was perfectly cooked(not overdone like most restaurants) And I rather liked the rustic atmosphere- not romantic by a long shot - but still not horrible.
Citricos was one that we thought was just ok but that was before the chef change(I believe Narcoossee and Citricos switched chefs or something like that) I just looked at their menu and we may try that this summer the menu seems a bit ambitious but maybe worth trying again.
My Mom just recently returned and gave Shulus an ok rating- not great not awful(I think she was just mad they made her buy her baked potato- al la carte. )
What about the Bistro de Paris in EPCOT? That is a good place for a food snob I think. It is the restaurant in the back and upstairs. We really enjoyed it although we won't go with our kids now. Now I don't know if this a romantic friend or just a friend friend. But France at night in EPCOT is a very romantic place- the music the lighting oooh laa laa

 

[Leota]

I am definately a Food Lover, I would say a Reformed Food Snob (like Java said, kids & time do that to you. Although DS grew up Gourmand & has become quite the Foodie himself) -

Background - I began my training in a 4 Star French Restaurant, trained in Classical French Cuisine. I worked in several Classical & Noveau Cusine establishments, finishing my restaurant career as a Pastry Chef at a Cuisine Du Marche restaurant under a Chef who trained in France.(This Chef trained several Star Chefs, one of which has a show on the Food Network & was a co-worker of mine) Food was My Life.... I taught vegetarian cooking at a local Ashram for 2 years. (I am no longer vegetarian tho)

Fast Forward to having a child & now working for DH in his business part-time (non-food related) The only way to use my Training & my Passion is at Home. I have branched out vastly from Classical French, but I still prefer to cook Du Marche, or Of the Market, using the Freshest, Healthiest, Cleanest foods possible.

With that background in mind, I must say that I love Artist Point. It's a terrific choice. We have had consistently good food there. We have eaten there at least a dozen times. The Buffalo & the Ceder Planked Salmon are our favorites. As another poster said, their weak spot is desserts, tho.

My current favorite WDW restaurant in Todd English's BlueZoo. Perfection.

I can't comment on Citricos as we have never dined there.

I, personally, steer clear of the French Pavillion in Epcot for dinner. It is "Americanized", hence disappointing to me with my particular background. The exception to that is dessert. I love the pastries there.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I would try The Blue Zoo. From everything I've read here on the boards it would fit your friend perfectly. We are planning on trying it for ourselves on our upcomming trip.

 

[nliedel]

Major Foodie here. Blue Zoo has been getting so many wonderful reviews that I want to fly to Florida just to try it!

 

[Disbug]

I am another vote for Todd English's BlueZoo! It is fabulous! From the decor, to the service, to the food... prepare to be IMPRESSED!

Also, another option I have not seen listed is the upstairs dining room at Wolfgang Pucks. This is at downtown Disney and there is a dress code. You may even seen someone famous dining there!

 

[OKW Lover]

I've got to chime in on AP as well. I don't know where the OP got the feeling about the poor ambiance of this place - I've always found it very nice. And the dining experience has always been good for us - we've got at least 10 visits under our belts (pun intended). The food is great and we also enjoy the wine flights with the meal.

 

[wscato]

I would goto AP. The Buffalo Steak there is excellent and worth every penny.

 

[mjmcca]

I must admit I am not much of a foodie but AP is an excellent restaurant. It is a little rustic but that is the theme of the resort. The servers are wonderful. We went there last year for our wedding anniversary and it was marvelous. DH had the venison spring rolls and cedar planked salmon. I had a salad with pears walnuts and blue cheese (that it seems they have replaced with a salad with apples and white cheddar instead)and the pan seared scallops. The waiter recommended a wonderful wine to go with my meal.

 

[Amyrlin]

I don't think I would go to Citricos, I have heard, that the chefs at Narcosses and Citrico's have swapped resturants, that ouwl out me off.

V&A is a must for a foodie, Jiko is also good as it ia very different, agian, excellent chef. I weould also recommend AP.

 

[Sarnia]

I'd call myself a foodie rather than a food snob. DW and I like to eat, and in our travels of the world have sought out some fantastic restaurants. As we live in europe we follow the Michelin guide wherever we can, and have been to some amazing places.

First off, BlueZoo sounds fantastic from the reviews that i've read, but i've yet to try it.

AP has wonderful food. I know what you mean about the atmosphere, with such high ceilings and the wooden floor it does feel less intimate, but it's worth it. The Cedar Plank Salmon is the best Salmon dish that i've ever had.

Of the places that i've tried the one I would most highly recommend for fine dining is Bistro de Paris in Epcot (above Les Chefs de France). We've been there several times and it's always been amazing. It's modern french cooking at it's finest.

I know Leota said that she thinks that the French Pavillion in Epcot is 'Americanized', and her cooking credentials are very impressive. However I do completely disagree. We live on a small Island within sight of France, and visit regularly. We go to Paris, basically to eat, for at least a week every couple of years. On top of that my Wife lived in Paris for almost 6 years. We think that the French Pavillion is very authentic.

What is taught as classical French cuisine in an American cooking school isn't the definition of French food. You can have the same dish in 5 French restaurants in Paris and they will all be completely different. Each Chef interprets things his own way. French cooking has also evolved a lot, and while the methods and recipes taught as Classic French are still the basis for fine French cooking, they are far from the be all and end all.

 

[swankybeth]

Another food snob here!
Out of Artist Point or Citricos, I'd choose Artist Point. Our first visit to Citricos was amazing and our second was just run of the mill. Very disappointing considering we had enjoyed it so much the first time. Now if what another poster said about the chefs at Narcoosee's and Citricos swapping, I'd *definitely* steer clear. We had such an awful dining experience at Narcoossee's that even included the chef arguing with me if the scallops were good or not. Not somewhere I'm planning to return. But on the other hand, we had an excellent meal at Artist Point. Great food, service, and yes, even the atmosphere was nice!