Garden Grill - Worth Going?

[Main Street Matilda]

With all the offerings over in the World Showcase, I've just never been interested in going to Garden Grill. However, during our last trip, my DS saw the characters, thought it looked fun and insisted that he wanted to try it on our next trip. Since it looks like we're going to WDW this October, I have to start making dining decisions ... Is Garden Grill worth it?

We'll probably be on the dining plan, so the cost isn't the issue - I'm thinking more in terms of the food and the overall atmosphere of the restaurant. We like the characters, but that's not necessarily a selling point for us.

 

[leeholmes1]

Garden Grill is one of my favorites. I agree there are a lot of options in Epcot but every couple of years we have to get over there. The characters don't dance around like Chef Mickey's it's much more laid back, but the food is grown right there in the green house and it tastes so fresh. We are taking my in-laws for the first time in October and we will be eating there again.

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

Love, love, love the Garden Grill.

If you can make it work in your schedule, I'd also recommend the "Behind the Seeds" tour through the greenhouse. It's a fascinating look into that pavilion.

I miss the days of the Annual Passholder lounge up above the restaurant...

 

[Main Street Matilda]

Love, love, love the Garden Grill.

If you can make it work in your schedule, I'd also recommend the "Behind the Seeds" tour through the greenhouse. It's a fascinating look into that pavilion.

I miss the days of the Annual Passholder lounge up above the restaurant...

We've wanted to do "Behind the Seeds" forever, but never got around to it. My parents are both the children of farmers and so they are soooo into "Living with the Land."

 

[BebopBaloo]

Yes, it is worth it. The atmosphere is neat, as the restaurant rotates very very slowly. So, your scenery changes. You can see part of the Living with the Land ride. The character interaction is fantastic. They take their time meeting with you. Dale even sat down with our dd.
If you get a booth on the lower level, you will find it very quiet and relaxed. The service was excellent. The food was quite good and as others have stated, very fresh. It was also, very plentiful. We stuffed ourselves without really trying.

(As a note about the restaurant rotating..if you normally get motion sickness ..you will probably still be okay. I get carsick if the car is moving very slowly for any period of time. The restaurant moving slowly was not noticeable to me.)

 

[LORI522]

We love Garden Grill. I think you get the best interaction of any of the character meals, and the food is much better than at the buffets. We went on the last night of our December trip and it was the highlight of our vacation.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

We really enjoyed Garden Grill! Characters took their time at our table and were really up for some kidding around. Food was pretty good too, no complaints. More in my review - link below.

 

[DrMomof3]

My kids love Garden Grill. We ate there in August and they are still talking about it! I thought the food was fine - not outstanding but edible. The character interaction was fantastic!

Amanda

 

[Zarabear]

Two thumbs up for the Garden Grill. My son selected that as his birthday dinner so he could see Chip and Dale and they did NOT disappoint.

The food was fantastic, and they are very accommodating. (No one in my family touches fish, and they omitted it from the platter. ) They brought out extra of anything we asked for and no one went away hungry.

Just make sure to get a dining reservation, we saw SO many people turned away and the wait was the longest we had all week. (in September) even with a reservation so be prepared.

Play fighting with 'crayon swords' with one of the chipmunks.

He says he wants to go back at least twice next trip, we all loved the food and interactions.

~Zara

 

[CathieArms]

Meh - it was okay, but it's not something we have to do again.

The food was okay. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but not something that really appealed to us. The character interaction, however, was really good.

 

[ZoZo]

Meh - it was okay, but it's not something we have to do again.

The food was okay. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but not something that really appealed to us. The character interaction, however, was really good.

I agree, my experience was that the food was okay, but not great. Maybe I need to give it another try, based on these reviews!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I think some of the problems people have with the food is that it's very simple compared to other places at Disney. I enjoyed it, it had a fresh kind of home spun feel to it (the food). It wasn't the absolute best meal I've ever had, but certainly not the worst. I like that the restaurant isn't huge, and the character interaction is great. My only negative is that I could feel the rotation. Let me say that I have a balance issue and I truly think that's why I was so sensitive to it. I was also facing backwards so that might have had something to do with it too. The friend I was with is prone to motion sickness and the rotation didn't bother her. I'd definitely try it again, just facing the other way!

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Yes, it is worth it. The atmosphere is neat, as the restaurant rotates very very slowly. So, your scenery changes. You can see part of the Living with the Land ride. The character interaction is fantastic. They take their time meeting with you. Dale even sat down with our dd.
If you get a booth on the lower level, you will find it very quiet and relaxed. The service was excellent. The food was quite good and as others have stated, very fresh. It was also, very plentiful. We stuffed ourselves without really trying.

(As a note about the restaurant rotating..if you normally get motion sickness ..you will probably still be okay. I get carsick if the car is moving very slowly for any period of time. The restaurant moving slowly was not noticeable to me.)

Could you please explain the "levels" - and seating? Never been there and would like to know a little bit more about it for our ADR this coming Aug.
Thanks!

 

[LoveMMC]

Totally agree- best character interaction and not a fan of the food at all.
But we are planning on going back just to see characters play 1:1 with our DD. Chef Mickey - was disappointed with the characters after having great Garden Grill experience.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

If you look at pics of the restaurant you'll see upper and lower seating. Imagine 2 concentric circles of seating, the smaller one being raised up a little. The lower seating area is large due to its "circle" being larger, the upper area is around the kind of central structure. There's a couple sets of stairs that lead up the 2nd tier, but its literally only like 3 or 4 steps up.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/02/23/guest-review-garden-grill-restaurant/

If you look at the first pic here, you'll see the restaurant from the front. The booths you see are the first tier, where Pluto is is the second tier.

There's no different in experience and one section isn't better or more expensive than the other. Just saying in case anyone misinterprets my use of the word tier, it's not like the dinner shows.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thank you, Lock ShockBarrel for that prompt and informative reply.
BTW - LOVE your quote about "The way to a man's heart...."!!

 

[MicheinMA]

We love Garden Grill and have eaten here during our last 2 trips. The character interaction is some of the best we have encountered. As far as the food goes, we've found it to be very good. I think another posted mentioned it's not fancy food-and I 100% agree, which is why we enjoy it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings of Garden Grill:
. . . food price value: C-
. . . food quality: C
. . . food quantity per serving: A
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: B
. . . eatery atmosphere: B-
. . . eatery convenience: C
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff helpfulness: C
. . . character interaction: C

NOTE: The eatery revolves within The Land pavilion. Portions
of the spin include scenes from the boat ride. The food is plentiful,
but just above average. The characters only include Mickey, Pluto
and Chip-n-Dale. To dine with the characters it will suffice, but the
Quick Service area of Sunshine Seasons within The Land is a great
alternative if characters are not important.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

LOVE the "scale" of your reviews, RustyScupper. Thanks!
We're planning on taking the grandkids here this Aug.