Have any restaurants improved in the last two years?

[scubamouse]

We're headed back to WDW in August after 2 years away. We have ADRs for Jiko, FF and CG - three favorites, along with WCC and Artist Point. We've shyed away from the 1 TS restaurant thinking they weren't all that great.

Have any of the restaurants really improved over the last two years to the point where we should add them? I'm thinking of places like Ohana and Coral Reef and the like which have had pretty mixed to weak reviews.

 

[scubamouse]

*bump*

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi Scubamouse!

Ok, this is TOTALLY my humble opinion.

Went to Jiko once in 2005. LOVED IT. Went again in May 2010. Was not thrilled. Not bad, just not as good as we remember it.

Went to CG once in 2004. LOVED IT. Went again in 2008. Disappointed. I will say that some people whose opinion I really respect have dined there recently and really really loved it, so maybe it has gotten better, or it was just an off night when we were there last.

Have been to FF 4 times over the past 5 years. Always makes us happy.

Ate at Artist Point in 2004. Loved it, but haven't dined there again, heard some negative reviews recently. That doesn't mean anything, though, really.

WCC is really not in the same category as the others mentioned so far. Good basic stuff. We prefer breakfast to dinner, but only when staying at the WL, not willing to travel for it.

I have not dined at Coral Reef.

Dined at Ohana once, a few years ago. Pretty good, but haven't been in a rush to get back. I prefer the Kona Cafe at the Poly, although the ambiance is not that great.

We have dined at Blue Zoo 4 times. First 2 were AWESOME. The third time was really bad...service and food. We shied away for awhile, but after hearing some recent good reviews, we gave it another try for our wedding anniversary and were blown away. It was great.

(just realized...you are on the dining plan? I don't think you can eat at BZ with that.)

Citricos at the GF is another restaurant that gets stellar reviews. We dined there once in 2003, and it was wonderful, just have not been back there for some reason.

Have a great trip!

 

[AirGoofy]

We just got back last week at Flying Fish was really bad. The appetizers were good - mussels for me and crab cake for DW; however, the rest of the meal was downhill. I ordered the scallops and risotto. Some of the scallops were underdone, and the risotto was overpowering. DW ordered the cobia and shrimp. The cobia was good but the shrimp were rubbery. I had the peach creme brulee which was filled with small, hard, chopped peaches. Now, we did eat at Jikos and it was great!! Oak grilled Filet, flatbread, and pistachio creme brule, which was excellent. What a difference between the two restaurants and two desserts. Since we stayed at AKL, we even had complimentary bowl of cauliflower soup, which was excellent as well. We will go to Jikos again but not back to Flying Fish.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Isn't it awful how there can be so many mixed reviews?

DISCLAIMER: I have not been to FF in a little over a year. We have always loved it, though!

Airgoofy-We also had that soup...it was INCREDIBLE. I also liked my ostrich filet (it was an app, I also had the beet salad) but DH's short ribs were bland, the Chef's Flatbread was not impressive, and the mussels were...like....mushy.

My dirty martinis were AWESOME, I gotta say!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

While I wasn't impressed with 'Ohana's breakfast (June 2006), we really enjoyed dinner (July 2009).

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I haven't seen any improvement in the Disney restaurants, actually quite the opppsite. Right now at Disney the restaurants that IMO are getting raves are at other resorts, like Todd English's Blue Zoo, Citricos, Il Mulano, yes they are expensive but the food, the quality and the special preparations make them worth the price.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I haven't seen any improvement in the Disney restaurants, actually quite the opppsite. Right now at Disney the restaurants that IMO are getting raves are at other resorts, like Todd English's Blue Zoo, Citricos, Il Mulano, yes they are expensive but the food, the quality and the special preparations make them worth the price.

Hi Beasley...we are kind of "neighbors!""

Citricos is WDW...isn't it? At the GF?

 

[TDC Nala]

The only ones I can think of right now where I believe the food quality and selection have actually improved (as opposed to declining or maintaining) are Big River Grill and Bluezoo. (Neither are operated by Disney and Bluezoo is not on the dining plan.)

I also very much like Sanaa but it is too new to put in the "improved' category.

 

[BLTLDZ]

Hi Scubamouse!

Ok, this is TOTALLY my humble opinion.

Went to Jiko once in 2005. LOVED IT. Went again in May 2010. Was not thrilled. Not bad, just not as good as we remember it.

Went to CG once in 2004. LOVED IT. Went again in 2008. Disappointed. I will say that some people whose opinion I really respect have dined there recently and really really loved it, so maybe it has gotten better, or it was just an off night when we were there last.

Have been to FF 4 times over the past 5 years. Always makes us happy.

Ate at Artist Point in 2004. Loved it, but haven't dined there again, heard some negative reviews recently. That doesn't mean anything, though, really.

WCC is really not in the same category as the others mentioned so far. Good basic stuff. We prefer breakfast to dinner, but only when staying at the WL, not willing to travel for it.

I have not dined at Coral Reef.

Dined at Ohana once, a few years ago. Pretty good, but haven't been in a rush to get back. I prefer the Kona Cafe at the Poly, although the ambiance is not that great.

We have dined at Blue Zoo 4 times. First 2 were AWESOME. The third time was really bad...service and food. We shied away for awhile, but after hearing some recent good reviews, we gave it another try for our wedding anniversary and were blown away. It was great.

(just realized...you are on the dining plan? I don't think you can eat at BZ with that.)

Citricos at the GF is another restaurant that gets stellar reviews. We dined there once in 2003, and it was wonderful, just have not been back there for some reason.

Have a great trip!

Are we the same person?? LOL
First off, Citricos is AMAZING every time.
Cali grill: I LOVED it for years, then last year was VERY dissapointed, so we skipped it this past may...hoping december it is back to being great

Jiko first time was fantastic, second time last year, still great, but not as great.

Flying fish NEVER dissapoints.

Blue Zoo: LOVE it.

Did not care for Coral Reef at all in 2007, but willing to try again eventually.

LOVE LOVE LOVE AP.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Hi Beasley...we are kind of "neighbors!""

Citricos is WDW...isn't it? At the GF?

You'r near Ft. Lauderdale? Yes, it's at the GF. The menu is really different and offers a real variety. If you've never been it worth a try. They have good seafood too!

 

[Kay1]

I noticed a major improvement in the vegetarian entree at R & C, but the first time we tried it it had just been put on the menu. Better texture and flavor, and much better presentation - now the potatoes are piped on the dish rather than slopped.

Other than that, I haven't seen any improvements.

 

[Tiggr924]

I would consider checking out Citricos; we also love it!

We have taken WCC off our list. We have had a few bad experiences there, the food was awful and we won't return.

We are trying O'hana for the first time this summer.

 

[jlhill4444]

I think the Wave has imporved recently. We dinned there twice this year already and are planning on going back in Dec. It is only 1 TS and the food is really fresh and unique. Love it!

 

[scubamouse]

Where is the Wave?

We've been to Citricos twice. It's always a very nice meal but it hasn't ever wowed us. It should because it's always so good so I'm not sure why it doesn't click with us. Same for Narcoosees.

We're not on DP, we're staying offsite at Bonnet Creek.

 

[reiella]

Where is the Wave?

We've been to Citricos twice. It's always a very nice meal but it hasn't ever wowed us. It should because it's always so good so I'm not sure why it doesn't click with us. Same for Narcoosees.

We're not on DP, we're staying offsite at Bonnet Creek.

Wave is in the Contemporary. Look at the reviews for it first though, and gauge your party. From what I've read, the Wave doesn't tend to 'click' well with children.

 

[Snurk71]

Though some still don't like it or think it's not qaulity seafood or a real clambake, Cape May has to get a mention for improvement with the addition of the crab legs and lava cakes. We've always liked Cape May, but those are 2 definite addition/improvements over the past year.

 

[AirGoofy]

Isn't it awful how there can be so many mixed reviews? DISCLAIMER: I have not been to FF in a little over a year. We have always loved it, though!

Airgoofy-We also had that soup...it was INCREDIBLE. I also liked my ostrich filet (it was an app, I also had the beet salad) but DH's short ribs were bland, the Chef's Flatbread was not impressive, and the mussels were...like....mushy.

I was really surprised at FF because of the good reviews. But, the meal at Jiko made up for it.