Has anyone tried the Garden Grill @ EPCOT?

[chipper10]

We are going to try the Garden Grill since theyhave Mickey. Has anyone been there before? What did you think?

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

I've never been there, but I've always wanted to try it. I've heard really good reviews about it.

Good luck!

 

[princessdi]

We ate there in April08. The food was great and it was neat how the whole seating area (restaurant) went in a circular motion. While going in circular motion you see part of the land but the scenes are very vague. Like a dusky mountain or desert. The downs were very little like the circular movemetn was so slow. Nothing really bad to say we will be eating there again in Dec08.

 

[Belle4mygrl]

We love the food and the atmosphere. Since we are a family of 5 we have always been seated on the bottom tier and it feels like we are alone. The restaurant is very quiet and relaxing and the characters have made it to our table at least twice. BUT we will not make it back this September, we would if it was not for the service. The servers we have had were not attentive and we had to hunt them down to get refills, extra napkins, check, etc. so we didn't want to experience that again. I am sure it was a one time only but TWICE.

Have fun. I hope your dining experience is magical.

 

[Quiksilvr]

I enjoyed Garden Grill a lot more about ten years ago. I went last year on my honeymoon and the food wasn't as good as I remembered. It was still good, but not as good. The characters were great though; we had a lot of awesome interaction. It was a lot of fun. We'll still be going back.

 

[2crazy4disney]

We love the food and the atmosphere. Since we are a family of 5 we have always been seated on the bottom tier and it feels like we are alone. The restaurant is very quiet and relaxing and the characters have made it to our table at least twice. BUT we will not make it back this September, we would if it was not for the service. The servers we have had were not attentive and we had to hunt them down to get refills, extra napkins, check, etc. so we didn't want to experience that again. I am sure it was a one time only but TWICE.

Have fun. I hope your dining experience is magical.

We went in August 2006, we liked the food and atmosphere. It was different to be in motion thoroughout your meal. At least the scenery was different. We are also a party of five and were seated on the bottom level. I didn't even get to see what it was like in the upper levels. I think the kitchen was on the upper level, not sure though. I would try it at least once. They serve you family style and characters do make around to your tables a few times.

 

[sherabby]

We loved it too! I think it was one of my son's favorites and we are heading back again this July.

 

[Sandrella]

We love the Garden Grill. Great food and love the characters.

 

[Disneyof3]

We ate here in March for lunch and the food and the character atmosphere was excellent. It wasn't loud but nice. Unfortunately my DH gets motion sickness and because of the restaurant rotating very slowly, we can't go here anymore.

 

[iluvpluto27]

I really liked it. The food was fine, not outstanding but good enough. However I thought the character interaction was fantastic, they really spent a lot of time with each table. We went for a late lunch so it was quite quiet, and not crazy loud like some other character meals can be.

 

[liz2d2]

We went last September. The characters are great but we weren't too impressed by the food. We were a lot less impressed by the service -- our server disappeared a number of times. I doubt we'll go back anytime soon.

 

[Disney Ron]

We went last September. The characters are great but we weren't too impressed by the food. We were a lot less impressed by the service -- our server disappeared a number of times. I doubt we'll go back anytime soon.

Same experience for us. It was declared the worst meal of our Dec.2007 trip by the whole family.

 

[bizneydizney]

We went to the Garden Grill last July. It was probably one of our favorite character interactions. Chip and Dale were tormenting DH by putting rolls and napkins in his drink. Very amusing! The food was fine. I wouldn't say it was great. It was served family style which for our group of 5 worked wonderfully. Everyone got what they wanted. We already made an ADR for our trip in August. We enjoyed it!

 

[Alice28]

I see differences on what is for dessert- is it the berry puff pastry, or is it chocolate fondue with different things to dip? I'll be eating there in 8 days.

 

[danielle782001]

Loved the character interaction, loved that it was not a buffet, found the food to be very fresh tasting, kids loved the make-your-own cupcakes...

We are simple eaters...Very picky in fact...They served foods our entire family could eat....Our server was very good....

By the way, I suffer from terrible motion sickness and I had no problem with the place rotating...It goes so slow that I think it is fine for most people...I feel bad about the post that the family cannot go back because of motion sickness...But I think most people should not worry about it.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I didn't read the responses, so sorry for repeats.

I love the Garden Grill. It's a revolving restaurant that takes you through the scenes of Living With the Land. If I'm going with someone who hasn't been on LWTL, I try to make sure they get to ride the ride first. I think you appreciate the restaurant more that way...but, that's me.

On a typical visit, you're seated in the rainforest section and proceed through the others. When the meal is over, you're back to the beginning where the restaurant is open to the Land pavillion.

One time they started us in the Farm section and we ended up chowing down while going through the open section. I didn't like that much. If they do that to me again, I'll ask to wait until something opens in the open area or the rainforest area.

The characters are great and will pose for pics, do autographs - same deal as anywhere else.

I like the food a lot. The chicken is good. The potatos are wonderful. The green beans are sometimes great and sometimes THE BEST GREEN BEANS ON THE PLANET. I didn't even know green beans could taste that good until I ate there. I once asked for (and received) a whole plate of green beans. I ate one chicken leg, maybe a tablespoon of potatoes and a gazillion green beans. So good!!

Dessert is not as yummy as it used to be. The pastry can be dry, not much filling and they've gotten pretty skimpy with the berries. Last time it was just strawberries and only a wee bit. Blech. I used to rave about this - no more.

The servers are usually pretty good. All they have to do is bring you drinks and food and refill as necessary. It is pretty hard to screw that up, but now and again you get one who manages to do it.

Still and all, I give Garden Grill a big thumbs up. Or two.

 

[jamesmommy]

We are going to try the Garden Grill since theyhave Mickey. Has anyone been there before? What did you think?

We ate there in January 08, then went back again on June 1st, 08 for our anniversary, we really liked it there. Both times we have had very attentive waiters and chefs (DS has food allergies). My son loves the revolving aspect, since he can view the various parts of Living with the Land, which is one of his fave Disney attractions. When we were there this Sunday though, it was broken and not revolving.

This time, the buffet consisted of roasted chicken, flank steak, catfish, a tasty mashed potato thingy, and green beans, cornbread and biscuits. Dessert was a strawberry puffed pastry which both DH and I found quite tasty. The characters were at our table 3 times each, all 4 of them. There was Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale, and they all were great!

 

[Princess_Melanie]

This is a fantastic thread - I'm so pleased we've switched our ADR from LTT to here

Question - what are the potatoes like? The menu says potato casserole? Is it cheesy or creamy?

I have a cheese allergy that's the reason I ask - are Disney good about providing something like plain potatoes or fries if neccessary? Shall I ask them in advance of our reservation? TIA!!

 

[JoePa4Ever]

We went last September. The characters are great but we weren't too impressed by the food. We were a lot less impressed by the service -- our server disappeared a number of times. I doubt we'll go back anytime soon.

We also went this past Sept & we had the exact same experience as you.

 

[linzbear]

This is a fantastic thread - I'm so pleased we've switched our ADR from LTT to here

Question - what are the potatoes like? The menu says potato casserole? Is it cheesy or creamy?

I have a cheese allergy that's the reason I ask - are Disney good about providing something like plain potatoes or fries if neccessary? Shall I ask them in advance of our reservation? TIA!!

They are very cheesy.

Call back and make sure they put a note on your ADR that says "cheese allergy"
If you do that, then the chef will know ahead of time to make something for you! If you don't tell them ahead of time, they may not have anything on hand