E
erikthewise
Guest
Reviews from my Halloween weekend "business" trip to WDW (just me)
10/31 Dinner: Hollywood & Vine, MGM 5:15
I signed up for a Fantasmic Dinner package at H&V. The package part turned out to be a bust as Fantasmic was only 2/3 full that night...
H&V was not at all crowded at the time I ate.
It is a similar operation to Crystal Palace, but no characters at dinner.
While there is plenty of good food here, the selections didn't seem to have quite the variety, inspiration and execution of those at Crystal Palace. There were some interesting choices, such as an Asian Cole Slaw, but most were fairly pedestrian. There were at least three dishes involving seafood, and a couple or three vegetarian choices (in addition to the salad bar). Pineapple upside-down cake and strawberry shortcake were the main dessert choices, plus the usual soft-serve ice cream.
I wouldn't hesitate to go back if it were $15, but at the actual price of $20 I would look for alternatives. It was a good meal, and I don't at all regret giving it a try.
Service was good and enthusiastic, but it IS a buffet!
There is really no atmosphere here to speak of, aside from the barely noticeable decor.
Food: B-, Value: C, Atmosphere: D, Service: B
11/01 Dinner: Liberty Tree Tavern, MK 5:30
This was a pre-Halloween Party (MNNSHP) dinner. I was surprised at the number of people who just showed up and put their name on the list. I suspect most or all them got in anyway, but they probably would have been out of luck the previous night.
I was the first person called to be seated! "... from the Territory of Ohio", a nice touch. (Ohio did not become a state until 1803.)
The atmosphere and the service were excellent. The colonial theme is played out in full and in good taste. My server treated me like an honored guest. The characters did not slight me in the least, in spite of being a single male sitting in the corner by himself with no camera or autograph book. They were all "in costume", Chip as Spiderman, Dale as Batman, Minnie as Betsy Ross, Goofy as Zorro, and Pluto as a pumpkin. (The "costumes" were minimal so as not to be confusing.)
The food was plentiful and ... well, just nothing special. It's a traditional Thanksgiving feast with salad, rolls, roast beef, turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatos, gravy, macaroni & cheese, and some chopped vegetables including butternut squash. It's served "family style" meaning that the various dishes come on separate plates and you serve yourself. However this is downright silly for someone dining alone and led to the food cooling off more quickly than it should. I would have preferred it to come preplated.
I found myself comparing the food to Garden Grill, and Garden Grill won nearly every item. Better salad, better bread, better meat, better vegetables at Garden Grill. The stuffing at LTT was dry and not very tasty, the mashed potatos were bland and turned into playdoh when they cooled. I felt forced to use the gravy (which I don't usually do) to add sufficient moisture to the food. This restaurant has so much potential that I desperately want to believe I just caught a random mediocre meal. I'd like to go back and try it again some time.
I should mention they did serve a dessert which was not on the printed menu. My server said it was experimental. She called it "Boston Cream" and I assumed "pie", but it was actually a cake. Not bad, and certainly better than nothing! But I said I would have preferred if it were actually Boston Cream Pie.
Food: C, Value: C-, Atmosphere: A-, Service: A-
11/02 Lunch, House of Blues, Downtown Disney 11:00
I took a one-hour break from my conference at the Hilton for a quick lunch at House of Blues. (There was a talk at noon I wanted to hear.) I was there when they opened, and for about 15 minutes I was the only customer in the restaurant. I just got a burger and fries. Nothing to complain about other than the cost ($10). If you don't mind putting down a ten for a burger this is a fine place to have lunch. You won't find better music for lunch anywhere! But Beaches & Cream is a better value.
Food: B, Value: C, Atmosphere: B+, Service: B
Bonus Review!
11/02 Dessert, Ghirardelli's, Downtown Disney 10:30 PM
After spending some time at Pleasure Island, I ran into a friend from the confeerence and we went to Ghirardelli's (god I hope it' spelled right but I'm too tired to look it up) for a sundae. I got a Very Berry Sundae but could have kicked myself for not getting a hot fudge! What was I thinking! Nevertheless it was delicious of course. Don't pass up this opportunity.
10/31 Dinner: Hollywood & Vine, MGM 5:15
I signed up for a Fantasmic Dinner package at H&V. The package part turned out to be a bust as Fantasmic was only 2/3 full that night...
H&V was not at all crowded at the time I ate.
It is a similar operation to Crystal Palace, but no characters at dinner.
While there is plenty of good food here, the selections didn't seem to have quite the variety, inspiration and execution of those at Crystal Palace. There were some interesting choices, such as an Asian Cole Slaw, but most were fairly pedestrian. There were at least three dishes involving seafood, and a couple or three vegetarian choices (in addition to the salad bar). Pineapple upside-down cake and strawberry shortcake were the main dessert choices, plus the usual soft-serve ice cream.
I wouldn't hesitate to go back if it were $15, but at the actual price of $20 I would look for alternatives. It was a good meal, and I don't at all regret giving it a try.
Service was good and enthusiastic, but it IS a buffet!
There is really no atmosphere here to speak of, aside from the barely noticeable decor.
Food: B-, Value: C, Atmosphere: D, Service: B
11/01 Dinner: Liberty Tree Tavern, MK 5:30
This was a pre-Halloween Party (MNNSHP) dinner. I was surprised at the number of people who just showed up and put their name on the list. I suspect most or all them got in anyway, but they probably would have been out of luck the previous night.
I was the first person called to be seated! "... from the Territory of Ohio", a nice touch. (Ohio did not become a state until 1803.)
The atmosphere and the service were excellent. The colonial theme is played out in full and in good taste. My server treated me like an honored guest. The characters did not slight me in the least, in spite of being a single male sitting in the corner by himself with no camera or autograph book. They were all "in costume", Chip as Spiderman, Dale as Batman, Minnie as Betsy Ross, Goofy as Zorro, and Pluto as a pumpkin. (The "costumes" were minimal so as not to be confusing.)
The food was plentiful and ... well, just nothing special. It's a traditional Thanksgiving feast with salad, rolls, roast beef, turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatos, gravy, macaroni & cheese, and some chopped vegetables including butternut squash. It's served "family style" meaning that the various dishes come on separate plates and you serve yourself. However this is downright silly for someone dining alone and led to the food cooling off more quickly than it should. I would have preferred it to come preplated.
I found myself comparing the food to Garden Grill, and Garden Grill won nearly every item. Better salad, better bread, better meat, better vegetables at Garden Grill. The stuffing at LTT was dry and not very tasty, the mashed potatos were bland and turned into playdoh when they cooled. I felt forced to use the gravy (which I don't usually do) to add sufficient moisture to the food. This restaurant has so much potential that I desperately want to believe I just caught a random mediocre meal. I'd like to go back and try it again some time.
I should mention they did serve a dessert which was not on the printed menu. My server said it was experimental. She called it "Boston Cream" and I assumed "pie", but it was actually a cake. Not bad, and certainly better than nothing! But I said I would have preferred if it were actually Boston Cream Pie.
Food: C, Value: C-, Atmosphere: A-, Service: A-
11/02 Lunch, House of Blues, Downtown Disney 11:00
I took a one-hour break from my conference at the Hilton for a quick lunch at House of Blues. (There was a talk at noon I wanted to hear.) I was there when they opened, and for about 15 minutes I was the only customer in the restaurant. I just got a burger and fries. Nothing to complain about other than the cost ($10). If you don't mind putting down a ten for a burger this is a fine place to have lunch. You won't find better music for lunch anywhere! But Beaches & Cream is a better value.
Food: B, Value: C, Atmosphere: B+, Service: B
Bonus Review!
11/02 Dessert, Ghirardelli's, Downtown Disney 10:30 PM
After spending some time at Pleasure Island, I ran into a friend from the confeerence and we went to Ghirardelli's (god I hope it' spelled right but I'm too tired to look it up) for a sundae. I got a Very Berry Sundae but could have kicked myself for not getting a hot fudge! What was I thinking! Nevertheless it was delicious of course. Don't pass up this opportunity.
