Garden Grove - horrible

[twinz]

We just returned home from a week at WDW and as a surprise to our friend and her kids we took them to the Garden Grill restaurant...what a let down. The food was COLD, the selection sucked for a buffet and there were 2 characters there. The restaurant was practically empty, and now I can see why. The characters were awesome and their "handler" was great too. The wait staff was friendly but the food...hugh disappointment. I can see why it was easy to get a reservation.


Sorry you guys are correct...It was the Garden Grove at the Swan. Sorry about that.

 

[disneyag]

How sad! We used to love that restaurant when the kids were little. It's a buffet now???

 

[RMulieri]

is it buffet? Last I checked it was Family Style all you care to eat

 

[maxiesmom]

We ate there in March, and had a great meal. The food was very good, and we saw the characters multiple times. They even danced with one of my nieces.

The Garden Grill is NOT a buffet. The food is served family style, where everything is pre-plated. Were you disappointed in the food, or are you maybe confused on the name of the restaurant?

 

[helloirishkitty]

That's so sad! We were there on the 1st, it's family style, all you care to eat. It's not a buffet, and we saw all four characters more than once, in fact, they asked us if we saw everyone more than once.

 

[tluvstink]

Were you by any chance at the Garden Grove in the Swan Hotel?

 

[steeners81]

I was just at the garden grill 3 weeks ago and the food was served family style not buffet. We met all 4 characters and found the food to be delicious and came out warm.

Are you sure your talking about the right restaurant because garden grill is not "easy" to get a reservation for? Nor is it empty any time we have gone past there.

If it was garden grill ( or actually any restaurant) and the food was cold I hope you spoke to someone about it.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

Were you by any chance at the Garden Grove in the Swan Hotel?

My thought too. Sounds like the Garden Grove, not the Garden Grill.

 

[gwynne]

My thought too. Sounds like the Garden Grove, not the Garden Grill.

Has to be Swan. Hope OP comes back and makes the correction.
Garden Grill in Epcot is not a buffet. It is not an easy reservation to get, either.

 

[pixarmom]

I agree with previous posters - OP may be referring to Garden Grove instead of Garden Grill. As others have mentioned, Garden Grill is not a buffet - it's a family style restaurant. It's usually quite busy and it's relatively difficult to get a reservation. And I haven't seen "handlers" for the characters at Garden Grill. Our most recent Garden Grill meal was in April of this year and it was still family style and still quite good. Garden Grill is our arrival night tradition for longer trips (didn't go last weekend - just a short visit) and we always see all four characters (Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale) at least once but usually twice during our meal.

 

[mlittig]

I ate at the Garden Grill in Epcot in April for the first time and loved it I also saw the characters more than once

 

[BNukem]

Just ate there a couple days ago, food is still served family style and was very good. Restaurant was busy but servers were very good. And there are still 4 characters there (Mickey,Chip,Dale &Pluto)

 

[buzzrelly]

I've been saying the same thing about GG for years...so disgusting! We went in 2006 and would never eat there again. I don't understand how so many people on these boards seem to love it so much, but to each his own I guess. I would never recommend this place to anyone.

 

[Meredisney]

I've been saying the same thing about GG for years...so disgusting! We went in 2006 and would never eat there again. I don't understand how so many people on these boards seem to love it so much, but to each his own I guess. I would never recommend this place to anyone.

Same here and I am talking about Garden Grill in EPCOT! BLEH

 

[Fantasmiss]

I know! Only the first time we were there the CMs were horribly rude too. We've only ever experience that twice in WDW, the other time was that snooty guy at CRT, but he was lovely in comparison

Oh yeah and I was talking about GARDEN GRILL, EPCOT.

(I wrote this before the title of this thread was changed to "Garden Grove".)

 

[rachel09985]

Same here and I am talking about Garden Grill in EPCOT! BLEH

I feel the same way!!!!! The food is nasty. I truly only liked the mickey mousse dessert and mashed potatoes. The restaurant is dingy and ugly. Character interaction was good though!

 

[maxiesmom]

I feel the same way!!!!! The food is nasty. I truly only liked the mickey mousse dessert and mashed potatoes. The restaurant is dingy and ugly. Character interaction was good though!

Mickey mousse dessert??? How long ago did you eat there?

And I think it is kind of funny that people complain about a meal they had at a restaurant 6 years ago. Every restaurant can have an off night. I don't think any restaurant, even one in WDW, would stay open for 6 years if the food was consistently bad.

 

[rachel09985]

Mickey mousse dessert??? How long ago did you eat there?

And I think it is kind of funny that people complain about a meal they had at a restaurant 6 years ago. Every restaurant can have an off night. I don't think any restaurant, even one in WDW, would stay open for 6 years if the food was consistently bad.

It was in December 2011. I think they just switched to these red velvet cake ladybugs for kids!!

To be honest, i think we didn't like the food because we just weren't that hungry. I think your level of hungriness makes a HUGE impact on the perceived taste of the food.

 

[Sunnywho]

We were there in Aug 2011 and the dessert was a blueberry buckle cobbler and for the kids pretend dirt cup with gummy worms.
We always go to Garden Grill! It is the best of the character meals for our needs.
Definitely think the OP was talking about Garden Grove from the description.

 

[Cinderella1122]

I ate at Garden Grill for the first time last December. I loved it so much that I made a ressie for this December.