Here is my restaurant report - just back from Jiko, Boma, Le Cellier, and others.....

[JLS]

We just got back from a 6-day trip on Disney property (as well as 2 days at the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal). I did a lot of research on restaurants before the trip, and based on recommendations mostly from this board, we ate at the following:

Le Cellier (dinner)
Boma (dinner)
Jiko (dinner)
Beaches and Cream (lunch & dessert)
Mara (lunch)
'Ohana (dinner)
Pepper Market at Coronado Springs (dinner)
Roaring Forks at Wilderness Lodge (dinner and breakfast)
Big River Brewery (lunch)
Sci Fi Dine In Theatre (lunch)

Without question, the top two places we ate were Jiko and Boma. Boma was so good that we wanted to eat there a second night - the whole buffet is just wonderful. I will make it a point to eat there every time I am at WDW from now on. Plan on being there for 2 hours or so in order to savor the food - if you rush, you will fill up too quickly and miss out. The desserts were AMAZING! I loved the soups too, and the flank steak and sauces were particularly good.

At Jiko, I got the lamb shank with the cous cous - DELICIOUS!! My husband had the monkfish. ONly disappointment was that his came out a bit less hot than he would have liked, but we did not send it back. No room for dessert! We had the appetizer sampler plate which was delicious - I really recommend that. Also had an excellent Reisling from South Africa. I would absolutely go back there - probably will make it a point to go back.

We were happy with our meal at Le Cellier, although the atmosphere is nothing special. I liked the Cheddar Cheese soup, and we shared the mussels which were very good. I had the halibut which was tasty. My husband had the Le Cellier fillet with the mushroom risotto, which was VERY rich, but good. But, my husband's steak, which was ordered medium well, came out literally RARE. So we sent it back and the server just said "OK" as if we had asked for another fork or something. She never apologized for the issue. We shared my meal and then shared his when it came back. So not great service, but overall a good food experience. I would go back there, but wouldn't make it a priority.

We liked 'Ohana, but got there very late so were a bit rushed. The appetizers were a bit greasy for me. The meats were excellent. I would go there again. We got a great table facing the lagoon, from which we could have seen fireworks.

Had excellent bugers and onion rings at Beaches and Cream, and of course, good sundaes. Used a connections voucher which was a great value there, including the sundae.

Enjoyed Sci Fi - very friendly service and we both had good sandwiches on very fresh bread (I had the smoked turkey). I would go back there. Get a PS for this place if you want to go! At 11:30, it was PACKED with a huge line waiting to eat.

Had a quick and casual lunch at Mara. Had to wait awhile for the Sugar Cane chicken and didn't think it was anything special. An OK option for a casual lunch. Good german chocolate cake.

The Big River brewery at the Boardwalk is a good place for lunch or dinner, we have found. They have good beer and consistently good sandwich-type fare. Nothing I would go out of my way for, but a good choice and its nice to eat outside there.

We happened upon Coronado Springs and decided to share an entree at the Pepper Market while walking around the resort. We had a very good chicken enchilada with excellent salsa and beans and rice. I would definitely eat there again as a casual place if I was nearby.

We stayed our last three nights at WLVillas, so we ate dinner and breakfast at Roaring Forks. Had very good tomato basil soup there. But the options are pretty limited. Only would plan a "meal" there if I didn't have other options available. They serve until 11 p.m., and you can refill your mug until midnight.

Feel free to email me with questions!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for sharing - sounds as if you had a fab time!!!

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Your Boma tip is a very good one about planning to be there for 2 hours - You really do need to savour ALL the foods there.

I still haven't tried Jiko's I hope to be there in December for dinner.

service at Le Cellier I find is so hit and miss but I love that soup and have to keep going back to this restaurant for that reason alone

I'd be interested to know where you ate at Universal?

Thanks for the reviews they were great

 

[hdmichael]

Your reviews were great-- and my husband totally agrees with -- Jikos and Bomas are the best restaurants as far as food goes. He loves the steak at Jikos and those chocolate purses for dessert. Diane

 

[JLS]

Thanks for reading! For those who asked, here is where we ate at Universal:

Hard Rock Cafe (dinner)
Mythos at Islands of Adventure (lunch)
Emeril's Tchoup Chop (dinner)
Italian deli (not real name!) at Portofino Bay (lunch)


Overall comment on Royal Pacific Resort where we stayed at Univesral: its a very nice resort with a gorgeous lobby and lounge area and very nice, large pool - the rooms are not anything special, but they are fine. I wish they had balconies. This resort is a good value (we only paid $125 per night with the entertainment club discount) and I would definitely stay there again.

FOOD: Tchoup Chop is the new restaurant at Royal Pacific Resort. One tip: make advance reservations!! On a Thursday night, the place was packed. The atsosphere is great - very hip / trendy decor. The service is impeccable, too, in terms of the friendliness of the staff and the attention that they pay to your table. The restaurant is not as large as I expected though. Those waiting for tables cram into the nice, but small, bar area.
As a starter, I ordered the miso soup with Lobster. It was good, but a bit pricey for miso soup (with small "chunks" of lobster). My husband had the spring rolls with 3 different sauces - delicious! My husband had the Hawaiian Style dinner plate and I had the Mahi Mahi with the lobster risotto. My dinner was delicious - extremely filling. My husband's dinner was equally good, but unfortunately when it was served the first time, much of it was lukewarm to cold.... so he sent it back to have it heated more (we can't stand lukewarm food - that is usually the only reason I will send something back). They were so nice about it and they even took my plate away and kept it warm, and then brought both out at the same time. Very good service. We had the banana cream pie for dessert - very good, but not at all sweet. If you like the sweet variety pie, you may not like this.

Hard Rock Cafe at Citywalk: We had very good service and a good meal of fajitas. Not the best I have had, but OK. We got $5 off of our meal with the Orlando Magicard (a new promotion). Good drinks. This place serves late. It is VERY LOUD, though. We enjoyed the music, but it is not the place to go if you want to sit and talk.

Mythos at IOA: Had a great lunch here. Cool atmosphere and good service. Warning: Don't go in here if you are wet from a water ride - it is way over airconditioned and you will freeze! I had the wrap of the day which was a barbeque chicken wrap - very good. Can't remember what my husband had, but he liked it.... I started with the tortilla soup (delicious). My husband had the Lobster bisque, which was also good. The soup is pricey though, and they don't give you that much of it (but it was rich). I would definitely go to Mythos again - a very good break from the ordinary park fare. Our lunch was $40 though (no alcohol), so it is a bit $$.

Italian Deli at the Portofino Bay: Very nice lunch - excellent pizza. Two people can share a large. Liked the starter tomato basil salad, too. You can order inside and sit outside and enjoy the atmosphere.

--Jenn

 

[swankybeth]

Thanks for the reviews, I really enjoyed reading them. Now I especially am looking forward to going back to Boma!

 

[BCV23]

Thanks for all your reviews. Very much enjoyed them!

 

[SamSam]

Thanks for your great reviews, I really enjoyed reading them.
Jiko's and Boma's are 2 or our favorite's aNd reading about them makes me wish I was there!

 

[ditzy]

Great reviews, but let's try to keep Boma a secret.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Thanks for the Universal reviews JLS - I wondered if you'd managed to make it to Tchoup Chop - it does sound good there

 

[Eeyore2003]

Thanks for sharing, several are on my "to try" list for December!!!

 

[cpl100]

Quote: We got $5 off of our meal with the Orlando Magicard (a new promotion).

Do you just have to show your Orlando Magic card to get the discount? Thanks.

 

[LAWalz23]

Thanks for the reviews. Sounds like you had some nice meals at both WDW and Universal.