Garden Grill Ruined

[DisneyDotty]

I had read and was also told by a CM that is was still all you can eat. They said that you could order as many entrees as you would like and not just have to pick one. Did they let you know this when you went? We were thinking of going there on our December trip. Personally we were never thrilled with the old menu and are looking forward to trying it now.

We went in June and our server (who was quite busy, therefore service was S-L-O-W) never told us about ordering more than one entree.
We were disappointed with the food, service, and the revolving restaurant made my DH nauseous! (How, I don't know--it was very slow moving!)
We did see Chip and Dale, Goofy and Mickey.
I wouldn't return.

 

[Sherlee]

We loved it! I have to admit, though, that we never tried the "old" GG. We went for the first time in June and thought the food was great. I could not decide between the chicken or fish and when I asked our server for a recommendation, he brought both! (The fish had some of the best sauce I have ever had). He did the same for my DD with her kids choices. The characters were very interactive and came by 2-3 times.

 

[danjoan14]

How was the chicken? I was wondering if it tasted plain. Reason being, my DW is a picky eater.

 

[okapi]

MY DH loves the "boring" plant ride and every other time we were doing the plant tour - I wonder if that's back now that they've reopened.
the first time me and DH went ther in 1980s the Garden Grill is where we had Breakfast every morning - it was great - then they took it out and replaced in w/ CMs and it was never the same.
So did they bring back a regular Breakfast menu? We'd like to see EPCOT w/ a real sit down breakfast place esp. since hubby is LOW-CARB.

 

[LiteBrite]

I'm really disappointed at the menu change for the GG - it used to be one of our favorites, but I can't see us going back now. However, I have to disagree about the "boring" boat ride. My whole family loves it. I also really like the change to the food court. I never liked it before, but we ate there on the 4th of July, and it was much better than I expected it to be. I had some of the best cream of mushroom soup I've ever had!

LiteBrite

 

[patsal]

We found Garden Grill to be our biggest disappontment. We have always enjoyed meals at the GG and though we heard about the changes took it with a grain of salt. Well, were we ever disappointed. Nothing on the menu our 13 yr old would eat, He setteled for the steak but really ate littel of it. I had the ravioli--Literally three ravioli and not big just average sized two bite ravioli swimming in what tasted like tomato juice. DD had chicken fingers I think really can't mess those up. DH had fish looked good, but portion was small. They started out with breadsticks and didn't offer seconds just took the plates away. Dessert sounded good, but it really was disappointing--canned pineapple chunks (more like tidbits),stale poundcake, and the chocolate fondue tasted like hot fudge sauce thinned with hershey syrup. NEVER AGAIN! The manager walked around asking how things were. We voiced our negative opinion very nicely and he came up with some insane excuse lilke we wanted to go upscale. Steak is on the menu everyone likes steak. Hello, no! He didn't want to really listen to anything that wasn't raving about it and brushed us off. Character interaction was wonderful as always, the revolving was slowed down as well. Didn't even make it halfway around while eating at a liesurely pace.
Unless they change the menu back I will not return and that is a shame since it has always been a favorite. I'm sure many will be disappointed in it.

 

[DaisynDonald]

Garden Grill was always our favorite, but with the new menu change we won't be going back.
We LOVE the boat ride!!

 

[muffy0110]

I always liked it-will not return

 

[Kaycee]

We love the Living with the Land boat ride, and I was very pleased with the changes that were made at Sunshine Seasons food court. Before the changes, we couldn't find anything there to eat and ended up at Electric Umbrella. But now Sunshine Seasons is one of my favorite WDW counter service restaurants!

We haven't tried GG since the menu changes, but I'm sorry to hear that so many are having bad dining experiences there. I normally like to try restaurants for ourselves regardless of reviews because some of our favorite restaurants often get negative reviews. But when virtually all the reviews are negative, as they are for GG, I think I'll stay away.

 

[becka]

Count me in as another who is really disappointed with the new GG. GG used to be one of the first places I would book when we had a trip and as usual for this trip I immediately added it to my Epcot schedule....then I saw the menu. The menu did not look very good to us and after seeing all of the negative reviews we have definitely decided to take it out of our plan. We loved the food at GG and the character interaction there was always the best. I hate to see them change something that was so good.

 

[MickeysMommy]

I am completely disappointed as well with the "new" GG. We found this in 2000 and we loved it. However, we won't be going back with this "new" menu. From what I have seen from the pictures some folks here on the DIS took - it looks awful. I hope Disney realizes the mistake they made and will bring back the old GG. However, I don't see that happening.

 

[pamouselover]

I have always wanted to eat at GG. I looked at the new menu and it didn't interest us either. It is not good for my DH and DS. So we canceled our AR for there, and make a AR for 1900 park fair. I did not want to be dissapointed and not like the food.

 

[Jo-Jo21]

GG was always a must do for us - loved the food and the character interaction was always great - I am so sad that they changed things!

 

[dicdover]

I ate here years ago. Back before the characters and the all-you-can eat. You ordered off the menu and the food was great. Had a good T-bone Steak and the best chicken noddle soup I've ever had. The vegatables were fresh and in keeping with the theme. With the scenery, it was a good place to relax and enjoy the view.
Flank steak instead of T-bone. Not a move in the right direction IMHO.

 

[Gagebre]

food is not more upscale. I think they took the stove and ovens out and replaced them with microwaves. The food tastes like precooked, frozen and warmed up before serving. I also had to try it for myself to believe it. They always seemed to take pride that some of the food in the restaurant was taken from their gardens in land so why go to preprepared tasting food? I am also disappointed about the counter service area since we also always ate there during our trips to Epcot.

 

[tinker*dust]

Although we never ate at the Garden Grill before the change, I thought this was our worst meal. My kids and I didn't care for any of the food and the characters were hurried. My DD got in trouble for touching Pluto's tounge. Will never go there again!!!

 

[utey]

Didn't eat in the Garden Grill this trip but I also had some rock hard mashed potatoes in the Land at Sunshine Seaons last week.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I just had to add that I am so glad that I am not the only one that feels this way about the "new" Garden Grill. We ate there on my birthday in May of this year and last year and could not believe the difference. My twins and I share the same birthday and I was hoping to start a tradition about going there on our birthdays but that will definately change! I agree with the OP about the quality of the food. It really did go downhill from last year.