Help me choose restaurants pleeeease!

[OregonMickeyLover]

We always allow for good dinners in our budget, and this time we want to try some restaurants that we haven't been to before, but some of them are the same kind of food, so I thought I would get some feedback from you all! In our family is Me (Mom,Wife), DH, and DD (10). So after looking at our list, here are the restaurants we are looking at:

Cajun/Southern Cuisine:
House of Blues or Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen?

Italian Cuisine:
Naples Ristorante or Bucca di Beppo?

Steak:
Steakhouse 55 or Blue Bayou?

We already know we are going to:

Carnation Cafe (traditional first meal in park)
Ariel's World of Color dinner
Tortilla Jo's
Pirate dinner

Thanks for any help!

Traci

 

[skiingfast]

HoB if you have the restaurant.com discount card. Otherwise Ralph Brennan.

Bucca Di Peppo, but are you ok driving there, and to your hotel to drop off left overs? If not Naples is really good and a very, very close second choice.

BB, the surf and turf is wonderful, I'm sure the stand alone filet minon is cooked perfect too. But that is you only choice for steak there. But if you've never been to BB it's something everyone should do once. If you need multiple cuts and a true classy steakhouse feel, make the walk to the DLH for Steakhouse 55.

 

[ConnieB]

We always allow for good dinners in our budget, and this time we want to try some restaurants that we haven't been to before, but some of them are the same kind of food, so I thought I would get some feedback from you all! In our family is Me (Mom,Wife), DH, and DD (10). So after looking at our list, here are the restaurants we are looking at:

Cajun/Southern Cuisine:
House of Blues or Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen?

Italian Cuisine:
Naples Ristorante or Bucca di Beppo?

Steak:
Steakhouse 55 or Blue Bayou?

We already know we are going to:

Carnation Cafe (traditional first meal in park)
Ariel's World of Color dinner
Tortilla Jo's
Pirate dinner

Thanks for any help!

Traci

I was less than impressed with HOB...yeah the coupon is good, but the service was poor and the food nothing special. Ralph B was much better food and service, but of course, no coupon.

Can't comment on the Italian because we've not been to either.

For steak...you listed Blue Bayou....they have a New York (lunch and dinner) and a Filet (dinner only) so I wouldn't really consider it a steak joint. Great ambience but not exactly a wide range of steaks. Steakhouse 55 has quite a few different types of steak. So if you're looking for Steak....definitely 55 over BB.

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Thanks you guys! We looked at the menu for BB, and because we are both filet steak people, and I love lobster, it might be what we choose. DD hasn't been there since she was old enough to remember, so it would be fun to go back for a nice dinner. If we wanted steaks other than a filet, then Steakhouse 55 would be better, but that is what we always order, so I think BB it is. And only 5 dollars more to get a filet with lobster (even if the filet is smaller), I can't pass that up

We looked at the HoB and RBJK menus, and found more that we liked on RBJK. I suppose if we were lucky enough to get a HoB gift card then we would have to try it.

Our family loves italian, especially me, so we don't mind taking a taxi to Buca di Beppo. I think that will be a last minute decision, but I will still make sure we have reservations at Naples just in case.

Keep the feedback comin' please!

Traci

 

[Daisybelle]

I second (or would it be 'third') the vote for Blue Bayou. It's a fun experience.

 

[skiingfast]

Our family loves italian, especially me, so we don't mind taking a taxi to Buca di Beppo. I think that will be a last minute decision, but I will still make sure we have reservations at Naples just in case.

If you are beyond spaghetti and meatballs I think Buca di Beppo is something to try.

Here's a menu to look over.
http://www.bucadibeppo.com/menu/index.aspx

 

[Dobie]

The Dobies really like Bucca di Beppo, and it is an easy taxi ride, but god you could die with all that food...

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

OMG what a yummy looking menu at Bucca's! I think I am sold, especially since I can get a coupon for something from there! I will be dreaming about italian food tonight now that I have seen the menu and pictures!

 

[skiingfast]

OMG what a yummy looking menu at Bucca's! I think I am sold, especially since I can get a coupon for something from there! I will be dreaming about italian food tonight now that I have seen the menu and pictures!

Like the Dobies said, you could die from all that food. For 3 people the smalls will be a big amount the larges a huge amount. So like I said plan to walk out with left overs in hand.

 

[becpee]

Ralph Brennan's! My DH still raves about that dinner two years later

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Well I guess it's a good thing our room will have a fridge and micro. for those yummy left overs

Thanks for the Ralph Brennans vote, I think that will be where we go!

So we will go to:

Blue Bayou
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
Bucca di Beppo
Tortilla Jo's
Ariel's Grotto for WOC
Pirate dinner
Carnation Cafe

Now I just need to wait until 8-29-11 to make PS phone call!

Traci

 

[cyclenut]

Well I guess it's a good thing our room will have a fridge and micro. for those yummy left overs

Thanks for the Ralph Brennans vote, I think that will be where we go!

So we will go to:

Blue Bayou
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
Bucca di Beppo
Tortilla Jo's
Ariel's Grotto for WOC
Pirate dinner
Carnation Cafe

Now I just need to wait until 8-29-11 to make PS phone call!

Traci

Those are excellent choices. Just remember that at Bucca, everything is served "family style". Most entrees are made to serve 3-4, so you won't need more than 2 entrees and even then you'll bring home leftovers. This is not the kind of place where everyone orders their own "meal".

 

[rentayenta]

We always allow for good dinners in our budget, and this time we want to try some restaurants that we haven't been to before, but some of them are the same kind of food, so I thought I would get some feedback from you all! In our family is Me (Mom,Wife), DH, and DD (10). So after looking at our list, here are the restaurants we are looking at:

Cajun/Southern Cuisine:
House of Blues or Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen?

Italian Cuisine:
Naples Ristorante or Bucca di Beppo?

Steak:
Steakhouse 55 or Blue Bayou?

We already know we are going to:

Carnation Cafe (traditional first meal in park)
Ariel's World of Color dinner
Tortilla Jo's
Pirate dinner

Thanks for any help!

Traci

Here are my opinions from the places your considering.

~ Not a big HOB fans for food. I'd do Ralph Brennan's.

~ Haven't been to Naples in years but the food was good, huge portions, but the service was shotty. We love Bucca near our home. That's a tough choice. I'd rather eat in DTD but Bucca is only like 2 miles away. Either way, you can't go wrong but I'm leaning towards Bucca.

~ Blue Bayou if you haven't been before for sheer location. Make sure you are the first lunch seating to insure a table by the water; to me, even being one row away from the water and it loses it's magic.

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Jenny, so is that what I ask for when I call to make PS at Blue Bayou (first lunch seating and a table by the water)? Will they note in the reservation that you want a table by the water or is it first come first serve?

As for Buca, at first the family style made me nervous because the three of us don't always agree, but after looking at the menu, there are enough things on it that we all like, so I don't think it will be a problem. And having leftovers will be a bonus!

Sounds like everyone so far prefers Ralph Brennans over HoB, so that's where we'll go.

Mousesavers recommended going to the "Patinagroup" website (they own several different restaurants such as Naples, Tortilla Jo's, etc.) and so I did. If you sign-up for the birthday club, they send you either a $30 or $50 coupon and you choose the restaurant you want to go to. The coupon says for example, if you spend $xxx then subtract $30 from your total. And you have I believe 60 days from the date to use it. Because we are going for our birthdays, I did it, but you don't have to go right on it. I will post the link in a new thread.

Traci

 

[Daisybelle]

When I made our BB reservations at the 60 day mark, I requested a waterside table and the rep said that the first 12 (or 15) who request reservations at 11:30 are automatically assigned to the waterside table. As long as we show up on time we get it.

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Yay! That's good to know. So I need to make sure I call on exactly 60 days in advance of the day we are wanting to eat there. But now I'm thinking of a problem...If we are planning to be there from 10/29 to 11/5, do I have to wait until I am 60 days out from 11/5 in order to make them all at once, or do I need to call back each day? Will they let me make the PS on 8-29 for our entire trip, or only for that one day, because then I would be technically calling early for the other dates? Understand ?

Traci

 

[Daisybelle]

It's to the day. So even if your trip starts on 10/29, you'll have to wait until your 60 days out from the day you are planning on having a reservation to make the call. That being said, I don't think you have to stress too much about places filling up fast. I just made a reservation yesterday for Ariels at 30 days out when I could have called at 60 and had no trouble getting the time I wanted. And that's for the middle of summer. But if you want a specific section, such as the waterside table, then I'd try for the 60 days just to be safe.

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Thanks Shawna! I will probably figure out our Blue Bayou day, and call on the 60 days from then, and make the rest. Because some of the rest. are in DTD, I'm not sure which I can book through Disney or call directly, so I will have to check into that also. Thanks for the help!

Traci

 

[DizNee Luver]

Cajun/Southern Cuisine:
House of Blues or Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen?


Thanks for any help!

Traci

We really enjoyed our dinner at the House of Blues.....until we ate at Cafe Orleans in DL. Cafe Orleans was hands down better for this cuisine.

Then this last trip was got to have dinner at Ralph Brennans.....oh my goodness....it was heaven!!! (but expensive) If you do decide to go here.....leave room for the Banana's Fosters for 2. They cook them up tableside........it was soooooooooo good!!!

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Laurie, we will have to do the banana' fosters because I make a pretty mean one myself, so DH always wants to compare. I'm sure RBJK will be much better just because of the flames I could just have that be my dinner!

Thanks for the picture too!

Traci