Help me choose a third "country" to eat dinner!

[bangzoom6877]

A friend of mine returned from WDW and I asked her about Tutto Italia. We have been debating going there for dinner on our next trip, but I have been so skeptical (being an Italian from NYC). She knows my taste and I waited to see what she said. She told me that, while it was good, it was also disappointing compared to the Italian restaurants where we eat, and the food we make at home of course (I never expect that at a restaurant!). So we decided we definitely will not go there.

We are definitely returning to Biergarten one night for dinner, and also going to Chefs de France another night for dinner. We will have a third day at Epcot, so we need another dinner. We would like to try another country but most of them look so good! One possibility is lunch at Akershus instead of dinner, because my sister and her girls will be going there along with my parents. I am not sure about that one because I have boys and it is a princess meal and we are already eating at the castle one night in MK. But if the food is really good there and it is not too "girly" for my boys, we would go there. They don't dislike the princesses (they like the movies Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, and they like princess Jasmine from Aladdin), but I'm just not sure.

We definitely don't want to eat in China. We have great Japanese food here and go to the hibachi with the boys here, so Japan may not be anything too great to us. My friend raved about San Angel Inn, and the dinner menu there looks great to us so that is a possibility. I also looked at Rose and Crown and it looked great. And Marrakesh also looks wonderful, although we will be eating lunch one day at Tangierine Cafe. But still, the menu looks more unique and different. I also looked at Coral Reef's dinner menu, and I think the boys would enjoy watching the fish there, they are really into that. The menu looks OK, DH is not so into fish but they have steak and pork tenderloin, both of which he loves, so that would work. I can't help but think though, that in Epcot, we should be eating in another "country" and not in Future World.

Any opinions please? Any other restaurants I missed that are gems?

 

[dulluth]

We have always enjoyed the San Angel, so you could try that. Just got back two days ago and had eaten at Coral Reef this time. I had the Mahi Mahi, and it was an excellent meal, but the atmosphere was somewhat drab to me. Oh, the bread and sweet butter was awesome, too. Good luck with your decision!

 

[bookbabe626]

Since you've got boys and they're stuck doing princess stuff at other meals, maybe you could do Garden Grill so they could meet Chip & Dale?

 

[bangzoom6877]

Since you've got boys and they're stuck doing princess stuff at other meals, maybe you could do Garden Grill so they could meet Chip & Dale?

I thought about Garden Grill, but how is the food there? Like I said, we'd prefer to eat in one of the countries, but if this is a great character experience and the food is really good, we will consider it. Also, is it weird eating in a revolving restaurant? It seems kind of cool, but we never experienced that before, so I'm curious.

 

[Lynn5700]

Tutto is really good though. Have you ever been to Le Cellier?

I'm telling you the steak at Coral Reef is awesome!! So flavorful! I love it.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Tutto is really good though. Have you ever been to Le Cellier?

I'm telling you the steak at Coral Reef is awesome!! So flavorful! I love it.

Never been to Le Cellier, but not sure about it. It seems to be the most overhyped WDW restaurant. I know people say the cheddar cheese soup and the pretzek bread are awesome, but I can't see myself going to a steakhouse for the soup and the bread.

I'm glad to hear the steak at Coral Reef is good. DH likes steak but is not so into fish. He loves shellfish, but Coral Reef seems to have regular fish, not shellfish entrees at dinner. He would rather have meat than fish, that's for sure!

Tutto Italia is not going to happen.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Actually, my suggestion would be for Tutto (it was one of our Top 3 best meals at WDW...ever), but since you'd rather not go there my next choice would be either Le Cellier or the San Angel Inn. We love both of them. Oh, and Restaurant Marrakesh is also wonderful and they offer entertainment (belly dancer and Moroccan instrumental trio). The restaurant is beautiful and the food has always been excellent.

 

[princessmom29]

Coming for someone who was raised on good seafood, Coral Reef is really, really good. W just loved it as the presentation was completely different. The steak was quite good as well. DD loved the aquariums and we really enjoyed the atmosphere. it was all in all a superb meal.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

Regarding the questions about the Garden Grill, the revolving is kind of cool. It's not fast enough that it's going to make you sick or anything, and it adds an interesting element. I like the food there very much. As I understand it, much of it comes from the greenhouses right on property, which I think is neat. I like the way it is served family style, and I find it to be tasty. Also, it's some of the best character interaction you can find. We always have fun there, and have been going since 1992.

I do miss the breakfast they used to have! It was fantastic, with great biscuits and strawberries and cream. Mmmm...

 

[bangzoom6877]

Regarding the questions about the Garden Grill, the revolving is kind of cool. It's not fast enough that it's going to make you sick or anything, and it adds an interesting element. I like the food there very much. As I understand it, much of it comes from the greenhouses right on property, which I think is neat. I like the way it is served family style, and I find it to be tasty. Also, it's some of the best character interaction you can find. We always have fun there, and have been going since 1992.

I do miss the breakfast they used to have! It was fantastic, with great biscuits and strawberries and cream. Mmmm...

Thank you for the information! This is a definite possibility for us. Maybe I will just let DH decide this one (although he is not picky as to where we eat, but he does love Chip & Dale!).

Are Mickey and Pluto still at Garden Grill?

 

[GBBTomorrow]

Thank you for the information! This is a definite possibility for us. Maybe I will just let DH decide this one (although he is not picky as to where we eat, but he does love Chip & Dale!).

Are Mickey and Pluto still at Garden Grill?

Yep: Mickey, Pluto, Chip & Dale. Mickey looks cute in his farmer clothes.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Yep: Mickey, Pluto, Chip & Dale. Mickey looks cute in his farmer clothes.

Sounds good! Definitely what we will do if we don't decide to dine in a third country! I like the idea of a second meal with Mickey (also going to Chef Mickey's for breakfast one morning). My kids both adore Mickey.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

We took my godsons, 5 and 3 at the time, to Garden Grill. What a hit! It was their favorite "Mickey meal" of the trip! Such great interaction. Mickey even made us scoot over and sat down right at our booth. Chip and Dale's hijinks were hysterical. Pluto ran and brought back a hostess to take a picture of our entire group with him, without any request from us! I've been back a few times since then, and I've never had a bad experience.

And I agree...Mickey is very, very cute in his farmer clothes...

 

[mygirltink]

I would do Rose & Crown for another country. We love to make a late ADR and watch Illuminations from there - it is the only country with their TS on the lagoon. For a non-country I would choose Coral Reef - the pork loin was excellent last year. We have ADRs there for this year.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I would do Rose & Crown for another country. We love to make a late ADR and watch Illuminations from there - it is the only country with their TS on the lagoon. For a non-country I would choose Coral Reef - the pork loin was excellent last year. We have ADRs there for this year.

Rose and Crown looks good because I absolutely love fish and chips. But I know I could get that at the CS location in UK at Epcot. Their menu also looks like they have some tasty desserts. DH is a huge fan of Bailey's Irish Cream and they have a Bailey's trifle. We'll see, I will show him the menu and ask him. I have a feeling though that he would probably rather go to the meal with Chip and Dale, since I can still get my fish and chips for lunch one day at Yorkshire! As far as your tip for a late ADR for Illuminations, we don't eat dinner that late because of the kids. They will be 3 and 5 when we go. We prefer to make a dinner ADR between 5 and 6, and 6:30 us the absolute latest I would make an ADR. This is just the best time for them to eat dinner, it is the time range we eat dinner at home so they are used to it. Definitely something I would consider though for when they are older and can handle it!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco. It is definitely not American but it is not really weird or spicy. And they have entertainment. The Belly Dancer might even ask your kids to dance with her.

 

[Dawn68PA]

We have eaten at both Akershus & Coral Reef and loved them both!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I would suggest Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco. It is definitely not American but it is not really weird or spicy. And they have entertainment. The Belly Dancer might even ask your kids to dance with her.

Sounds interesting! We like different kinds of food, different ethnicities, so something more "exotic" appeals to us. The kids are happy with any kids' menu in WDW as it caters to them.


I am still considering Garden Grill though. For those of you who have dined there, how is the food quality there? How would you compare the food quality to other WDW buffets? We have been to Crystal Palace and 1900 Park Fare (both for dinner), also to Biergarten and Boma for dinner (but these are more unique so I wouldn't compare), and to LTT at MK when it had characters (not buffet, but family-style). We enjoyed all of those meals (but DH thought 1900 Park Fare could have had more variety...but the quality was decent). I don't expect 5-star food at a buffet, but I still expect it to taste good...same thing at a family-style meal like Garden Grill. Are these the right expectations so we are not disappointed? Also, what is the children's dessert?

 

[I Love Thumper]

Rose & Crown is the only table service restaurant right on the lake, and if you time your dinner with Illuminations (request an outside table), then it's a truly wonderful experience. Make your ressies for about 7:15-7:30pm in that case. The food is decent...and the show really makes the evening. If you want to have a memorable dinner, I'd recommend this highly. (P.S. Even if you don't get seated at an outside table, you can leave your table inside and go out on the terrace and watch the show. Your server will work around your "absence" and can even have dessert waiting for you when you return if that's what you'd like.)

 

[amandelba]

Foodwise, I'd say Le Cellier is better than Tutto, especially for a New Yorker. The steaks are much better than the soup and breadsticks. I just ate at both last week. Feel free to look at my dining report.

Both DW and I both prefered Coral Reef to both Tutto and Le Cellier. How about strolling over the BW to try Kouzzina and you can taste Greece. I am looking forward to trying out this joint in October.