Garden Grill for Lunch or Chef Mickey's for Dinner?

[hlbrink]

We are only planning on one character meal while at Disney. I have it narrowed down to Garden Grill for lunch or Chef Mickey's for dinner. They both look great and I just can't decide. I've read good and bad things about both -- please help!

1. Where does the food quality appear to consistently be "better"?
2. If we choose GG, will it take a long time to get "seconds" of a dish we like?
3. Does one restaurant appear to do a better job with seating you at your reserved time?
4. Will we fare better all-around if we do lunch at GG (early?)

I can't believe how much I am agonizing over this. DH thinks I am nuts

TIA!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Where does the food quality appear to consistently be "better"?
. . . I think both have good quality.

2. If we choose GG, will it take a long time to get "seconds" of a dish we like?
. . . service is good
. . . don't worry much about wait-time

3. Does one restaurant appear to do a better job with seating you at your reserved time?
. . . I find GG is pretty much on-time for ADR's

4. Will we fare better all-around if we do lunch at GG (early?)
. . . tough question
. . . they are such different eating/dining experiences
. . . either choice woulod be good

 

[tigergrad]

I highly recommend Garden Grill. The food was well prepared. We had a late lunch (3:00 I think). My kids are older (11 & 16 last summer) but really enjoyed the experience. We gad ADRs for Chef Mickey's and was late by 10 minutes (monorail trouble) and was told we could not be accomodated.The CM was very rude. This left a "bad taste" in my mouth.

 

[megthewonderful]

We love the Garden Grill and we always do lunch there around 11:30ish. No problems with waiting time anad the food quality is good.

 

[kimis]

I say do both!

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

Love Garden Grill! Always a must do. It's fun, smaller, the characters never feel rushed, food is great, will always bring out seconds very soon after asking for them.

 

[jujashmom]

Garden Grill is one of my family's favorites...and if I had to chose one...it would be this one!

 

[fireman17]

It depends on your situation. We have three children, soon to be four and we have always done Chef Mickey's just for our family tardition. So if you have young children I would recommend Chef Mickey's the food is great including the prime rib.
If you don't have young children I would recommend GG we had a wonderful meal there on our Dec. 06 trip matter of fact it was so good we didn't realize that we had been there for two hours. We never felt that we were rushed to eat and our server was fantastic bringing us our food as soon as he saw we needed more.
But, if I had to choose I would do bith it would be well worth it.

 

[Disney Ron]

We do not care for the food at either. I can say the character interaction was better at GG.

My only advice is avoid buffets at all cost, to many germs around WDW. Good feature about GG is family style.

Mrs. Disney Ron

 

[carmiedog]

Garden Grill. It's hard doing buffet with kids that young. Plus, Garden Grill is much quieter and the character interaction is superb. The only downside is you don't get the fab five characters. We had Mickey, Pluto, Chip, & Dale. But the interaction with them - especially Chip & Dale! they colored with my kids and sat on the floor and played games with them - more than makes up for it.

 

[tinkandpan]

While i am not a huge fan of the food at the garden grill- i will say if you are going to do one character meal, the interaction here can't be beat. They will actually spend some time with you- in fact you will probably see them multiple times before the meal is over. GG did take a long time to get refills of food which was hard with our two year old. That's why I personally prefer the buffets (but i know many who prefer having it brough to you).

 

[S.Poppins]

We have eaten at dinner at Chef Mickey's and it was pretty good. The characters came around 3 different times and the place was full. The food was ok, but not memorable. I have heard their breakfast is better. I have several friends who love the Garden Grill.

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

It depends on your situation. We have three children, soon to be four and we have always done Chef Mickey's just for our family tardition. So if you have young children I would recommend Chef Mickey's the food is great including the prime rib.
If you don't have young children I would recommend GG we had a wonderful meal there on our Dec. 06 trip matter of fact it was so good we didn't realize that we had been there for two hours. We never felt that we were rushed to eat and our server was fantastic bringing us our food as soon as he saw we needed more.
But, if I had to choose I would do bith it would be well worth it.

My daughter was 18 months the first time she went, 2 1/2 the second, 3 1/2 the third, will be 5 our next trip along with her 15 month old brother. I think GG is entertaining and a great place for the little ones.