From good to bad or bad to good?

[Luv2Roam]

I am wondering if anyone has eaten at a WDW restaurant and thought it was BAD, then tried it again and thought it was GOOD.

And the same in reverse -- have you gone to a WDW restaurant and thought it was GOOD only to return later and thought ?

And what time frame differences were involved? And what made the difference between the visits?

We have eaten at LeCellier three times in just under two years. I would have to say our last visit about a month ago was the best of the three.
The first time was good. The second visit was okay. The third visit was GOOD.

 

[CarolynK]

Our first time at California Grill, we LOVED it. Everything went well - we were there during MK fireworks, we had great service, we liked the food. Overall, it was a great experience. So, of course we wanted to go back.
And about six months later, we did. The second visit was a totally different experience. I think that the waiter can make or break the meal, and this time we got a dud. He was just doing his job, and nothing more. We haven't been back since, and that was over a year and a half ago
We had the same kind of experience at Artist Pointe. We were looking around WL, and just decided spur of the moment to go to AP. We were pleasantly surprised; good service, good food, and a quiet place. A few months later, we went back. It was a very crowded night, and the waitress was weird.

We didn't really like Spoodles the first time, but we gave it another try, and now we go every trip. We love to order several appetizers (tapas) - it's fun to try lots of different foods and we don't seem to stuff ourselves as much as when we order an entree.

 

[hallie]

We have a hot/cold relationship with Alfredos-lol.

First trip on our honeymoon and it wasn't that good. Our waiter rushed us, the food was OK but the tables were so close together we felt like we were eating with the people next to us.

2nd trip we went 3 years later with a group of 11. It was a great meal! We had a table far of to the side and the service and fodd were wonderful. We stayed for so long that all of the sudden we looked around and realized we were the only ones left in the place! the staff never even glanced at us and when we realized it we apologized and they told us Oh no stay as long as you like! We left shortly after that though and as we walkedf out of Epcot it was empty.

3rd visit- 2 years later- We went with our DD and it was so so, very similiar to the first time.

I guess we'll only go there when were with a lot of people from now on-lol.

 

[CamColt]

Mama Melrose gets mixed reviews in our family. DH & I had eat there in 1995, 1998, and then in 2000 with my family. Obviously we liked it a lot to keep going back, but my family wasnt too thrilled with it. We did it on our first day for the FDP, and everything was rushed and no one was really too hungry then. Then we went back again in 2001 with my mother. She couldnt believe it was the same restaurant. It was her favorite meal of the trip!
However we went back again this past August and with the changed menu, we arent too thirlled with it anymore. The menu got a little too funky.

 

[Briar Wood]

We went to the Garden Grill in 1996 and had the best time! It was our favorite! They gave us little red cowboy hats, and it was so great with the waiter serving us in those cast iron pans and the floor revolving. It was so cool!

Jump cut to 2000: We're definately going back to this one....we get there, and,...no little red cowboy hats. Our waiter was very slow. We didn't really like the food. There was one piece of chicken and that's what we both wanted. We asked for more when he came "around"-- Get it, a-round? (The floor revolves around so you never know where he is--or where YOU are). He came back like TEN minutes later with more chicken.

He did bring a nice birthday cake for my DD. I told him I would like to share it with the tables around us. I thought he'd ask the people if they would like some birthday cake. Instead he told me, OK, go ahead. I wasn't going to ask them myself. The way the circular layout is, I'd have to get up and walk around to ask.

I accidentally tipped him less than 15%. I figured it out by his expression, so I went back and gave him another dollar.

We're not going back to Garden Grill this time around.

 

[mjackson]

CG is a favorite of mine, but I have had a rollercoaster ride of experienes there. We always go during the fireworks show. The food has always been great but the experience has been up and down. One time we waited an hour past our PS time, when most times it has been a 15 minute at most wait past PS time. Another time we were in the back room wine area and felt cut off from the restaraunt. Last time wonderful experience asked for a window table and got seated 15 minutes before the fireworks.

 

[jiminyfan]

We used to love this place, early 90's, but lately have been very disappointed when we actually gotten to eat there. Last two times, we walked out after sitting for 20 minutes and not even being recognized by the wait staff.

I hope the Chef change helps the food, but the wait staff in our opinion needs some serious improvement.

I think we are going to give it another shot in January. I hope it is a good visit this time.




Park Faire is another hot/cold place. Loved it two out of three times, but the off time was not even close to a good meal.

I agree that the wait-staff can make or break a meal.