Here's where we plan to eat-- any duds? Opinions plz!

[greylen]

So, FDH and I loooooooooove EATING so picking out WDW restaurants and calculating how to use all the DDP credits was one of the first things I pounced on in the planning process! I didn't get so anal as to pick out QS and snacks just yet (our trip is Dec 2012, lol), but here's where we plan to do table service:

V&A Chef’s Table~ one of the big indulgences for our honeymoon~ hope hope hope I can get an ADR for this-- or at least QVR or Chef's Table menu in regular dining room
Crystal Palace~ character breakfast-- no kids, so not many character meals, but just had do to one just to say we did-- CP seemed like the best food and easiest ADR, plus POOH!!!
California Grille~ dinner
Boma~ dinner
Sci-Fi Dine-In~ lunch
50’s Primetime~ dinner
Chefs de France~ dinner
Tokyo Dining~ dinner
Raglan Road~ dinner
Sanaa~ dinner

Outside WDW:
Three Broomsticks at WWHP~ lunch~ honestly don't care if they serve dog food, I'm eating there, LOL!
Bubba Gump or Margaritaville in Universal CityWalk~ for dinner the day of WWHP trip

Is anything on this list over-hyped, skippable, or otherwise not worth it? I've seen generally favorable reviews for most of these, but a few make more than one appearance on the "I'll never go back there again" thread too......
If you've panned one of these what would be a better place? Am I missing any quintessential places in my list??

Thanks y'all!

 

[cigar95]

Not a fan of Margaritaville, but I don't hate it, either.

I've heard very good things about the new Churrascaria at the Latin Quarter at City Walk, but haven't eaten there yet. (Looking forward to February!) If you love meat, this may be an option. (It's better reviewed than Texas de Brazil, just a couple miles away.)

You have plenty of time before your trip to read reviews, it sounds like!

No problem with your WDW places, though you'll probably get some nay-sayers for Sci-Fi. (I say eat there once for the atmosphere, even if the food is just all right.)

 

[aengus]

looks like a fantastic plan.

If pooh didn't seem to thrill you I would swap crystal for chef Mickey's.

Side note: Bubba gump and margarittaville are lots of fun, I think you'll both enjoy either

 

[Nadjalu]

For me I would NEVER do V&A, but that is me. Just can't see spending that kind of money on 1 meal. But to each his own.

As for the rest here is how they break down for me.

California Grille~ dinner: This is a good one

Boma~ dinner: Absolutely would not go back again. Everything has cinnamon in it...including the meats, soups and sides.

Sci-Fi Dine-In~ lunch: Ok, enjoyed it, but once is enough.

50’s Primetime~ dinner: This is another good one.

Chefs de France~ dinner: Haven't been but would love to go.

Tokyo Dining~ dinner: Never been doesn't interest me.

Raglan Road~ dinner: Haven't been here either.

Sanaa~ dinner: Not for me.

Now Crystal Palace I love!! It is a favorite. For breakfast or dinner.

 

[Peepster]

Oh, don't let anyone talk you out of Vic & Al's!!!! Especially on your honeymoon! Is so special and soooo good. It took me almost 10 years to get my better half there and now we both are fans.

And, if you like food, do NOT go to Chef Mickey's! Chef Mickey's is great for character interaction but I certainly wouldn't recommend it for the food. And having been there more than once I think we're reasonable judges.

Crystal Palace, on the other hand, has some individuality in the menu and we quite like the breakfasts and lunches. (Dinners are okay, too, just a lot like the lunches for more money.) It's always on our list of "to do's".

And, before anyone throws flames my way, I absolutely acknowledge that we all have different tastes. It's YOU who will have to decide what you like best. But that's why we're all here...so we can offer differing opinions to confuse the heck out of you

Personally I think you've made great choices! Have a wonderful time!

Auntie Peep

 

[Poppin Fresh]

V&A Chef’s Table~ one of the big indulgences for our honeymoon~ hope hope hope I can get an ADR for this-- or at least QVR or Chef's Table menu in regular dining room
Crystal Palace~ character breakfast-- no kids, so not many character meals, but just had do to one just to say we did-- CP seemed like the best food and easiest ADR, plus POOH!!!
California Grille~ dinner
Boma~ dinner
Sci-Fi Dine-In~ lunch
50’s Primetime~ dinner
Chefs de France~ dinner
Tokyo Dining~ dinner
Raglan Road~ dinner
Sanaa~ dinner

California Grill was fantastic - great food, the best we've ever had at WDW.
Sci-Fi Dine-In and 50's Primetime were great for the atmosphere, but I wouldn't go just for the food.
Raglan Road - excellent
Sanaa - didn't impress

 

[coltsfanatic]

Over the course of planning WDW vacations, I have read many dining reviews and dined in several locations (they're addictive aren't they??!!).

A few suggestions:

We LOVED Crystal Palace for lunch (or dinner). I would do a nice breakfast at Kouzzina or your resort hotel instead.

Unless you're there for Raglan's night entertainment, I would instead choose WP-Dining Room or Paradiso 37.

Also, I would choose Jiko over Sanaa, for the atmosphere.

Have fun!!

 

[Pikezh638]

Crystal Palace~ character breakfast-- no kids, so not many character meals, but just had do to one just to say we did-- CP seemed like the best food and easiest ADR, plus POOH!!!
Sci-Fi Dine-In~ lunch
50’s Primetime~ dinner
Chefs de France~ dinner

Crystal Palace is great.
Sci-Fi you might want to do reservations. They usually fill up fast and the waits can be pretty rough. I got lucky last time and my dad and I got seated within 5 minutes, but the person to arrive right behind us had a 25 minute wait.
50's is great
Chefs is also very good. I would say try to arrange Chefs around firework show, so it starts around the time you finish dinner

 

[skier_pete]

We were so not impressed with Boma - and it was VERY VERY expensive if you are not on the dining plan. I would do Jiko before Boma, especially if not on the dining plan.

Now we absolutely loved Sanaa, California Grill, Sci Fi, Chef's De France. I don't know why Sci-Fi gets trashed...it's diner food...but very good diner food...very, very good reuben and fantastic oreo milkshake (which you can get for a drink on the DDP).

Crystal Palace is our favorite buffet for food - but not a big fan of the breakfast buffets, but that's a personal preference.

 

[cbg1027]

I love Crystal Palace, Cali Grill, 50's PT, and Sanaa, so very good picks there.

Boma is good. Not great, but worth the trip.

My big warning is Chefs de France. I think that place is awful and I will not return there. The food was like it was from a froze boxed dinner that they popped in the microwave and then put on china. The service was poor as well. I shudder to think that this dreck is what people are thinking is a good representation of French food.

If you want French food, try Bistro de Paris, upstairs from Chefs. It's more expensive, but worth the price. A much better experience.

 

[ncc1701]

First of congrats on your upcoming marriage
CP for breakfast is one of our favs.We did it on our honeymoon and every trip since Try for an ADR before the MK opens. You can get some good photos of Main Street & the Palace with hardly any people in the background.

A couple of year's ago we ate at Emeril's in Citywalk & had a great meal.
You might want to look into eating there for dinner rather than Bubba Gump or Margaritaville

We have only done Chefs for lunch but enjoyed it both times.

 

[goofyintoronto]

If pooh didn't seem to thrill you I would swap crystal for chef Mickey's.>>>I disagree. I would never ever suggest CMickeys's over Crystal P. CMickeys was awful when I went. Food quality and selection were awful. Atmosphere is also dreadful. The ONLY good thing about this place is the characters, they truly are amazing!! Crystal P is yummy, love the food, decore and characters.

Now we absolutely loved Sanaa, California Grill, Sci Fi, Chef's De France. I don't know why Sci-Fi gets trashed...it's diner food...but very good diner food...very, very good reuben and fantastic oreo milkshake (which you can get for a drink on the DDP).>>I AGREE! I dont know why Sci Fi gets trashed either, its not intended to be a gourmet restaurant, its a DINER! A drive in restaurant. Surely you cannot expect fancy steaks and such. For diner food, its pretty darn good. I had a really good slab of ribs there, not fatty, cooked perfectly. YUM! Burgers and shakes are also very delish. Love this place a lot!!!!!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Sorry i forgot to comment on the other restaurants! here it goes....

V&A Chef’s Table~ one of the big indulgences for our honeymoon~ hope hope hope I can get an ADR for this-- or at least QVR or Chef's Table menu in regular dining room>>>GREAT CHOICE for a honeymoon!

Crystal Palace~ character breakfast-- no kids, so not many character meals, but just had do to one just to say we did-- CP seemed like the best food and easiest ADR, plus POOH!!! >>>All meals here are good, love this place!

Sci-Fi Dine-In~ lunch >>>As mentioned before, I love SciFi!

50’s Primetime~ dinner >>>my meal here was so-so. But the experience itself was wonderful, very entertaining!

Tokyo Dining~ dinner >>have you thought about Teppan Edo instead? YUM!

Raglan Road~ dinner >>great food. Love it. I'd go while the dancers/band is playing.

 

[skier_pete]

Also agree do NOT switch Crystal Palace for Chef Mickey's. While I am not sure of the validity of doing either of these on a honeymoon, I would never choose CM -> loud, poorly designed, cafeteria quality food. The worst buffet of the bunch, whereas CP has better food and a much nicer atmosphere (though still lots of kids). It also has the advantage of being IN the park. Please, don't go for Chef Mickey's, even with the Mickey gang there. If you really want to meet the Mickey gang - check out the character connection @ Epcot. All 5 at once!

 

[derricksonb]

Congratulations on the upcoming nuptuals and I think your choices are pretty solid.

Crystal Palace~ character breakfast- Kids or no kids my wife and I eat here at least once everytime we visit WDW.
Boma~ Fanatastic choice. The seasoning is not to everyones liking, but it is quite different and my DW's fave.
Sci-Fi Dine-In~ Solid choice for a lunch restaurant at HS.
50’s Primetime~ Not my first choice if using the DDP, but we have eaten there and it's a fun atmosphere. Our waitress reminded me of Flo from Mel's Diner.
Chefs de France~ Fantastic restaurant and atmosphere.

 

[janabananas]

V&A Chef’s Table~ one of the big indulgences for our honeymoon~ hope hope hope I can get an ADR for this-- or at least QVR or Chef's Table menu in regular dining room
I want to do V&A for my honeymoon too (whenever that may be) but I agree do not let anyone talk you out of it if you really want to experience it.

Boma~ dinner
We are trying this in September, I wanted to try something different. Will give a report when I come back

Sci-Fi Dine-In~ lunch
I had a blast when I went here. It was a fun experience. If you hope for gourmet food, you will not get it. But the 'diner' type food is yummy.

Chefs de France~ dinner
I went once, and will never go again. The service was not very good, and the food nothing to write home about. I felt I could have made something better at home... other then the creme brulee.

Tokyo Dining~ dinner
Trying this for the first time. I got my ADR just before Illuminations. Hopefully we will get some pixie dust and get a window seat.

Outside WDW:
I have only had a sit down dinner at Pastamore in City Walk and I really enjoyed it. My must is always getting a Cinnabon!

Is anything on this list over-hyped, skippable, or otherwise not worth it? I've seen generally favorable reviews for most of these, but a few make more than one appearance on the "I'll never go back there again" thread too......
If you've panned one of these what would be a better place? Am I missing any quintessential places in my list??

Thanks y'all!

My main advice on figuring out food options is research. Find the menus and check them out. Identify if there will be anything that whets your appetite. And also do not cancel an ADR if you are interested in a place because of one bad review. If there is a consistant bad review, then I would question and do more research. Good luck!!

 

[tinkgurl]

V&A Chef’s Table~ I hope you can get an ADR for this! How fun and yummy it sounds from the TR's I've read.

Crystal Palace~ This was our worst meal last trip. Yes, I know it's buffet food, but it wasn't that great. The characters were slow moving around the restaurant and hardly spent any time at any table. There was hardly any interaction. I guess it just depends on who's "friends" with Pooh and his friends that day. I'd change this breakfast for breakfast at Kona!

California Grille~ Another good choice! Try and time your ADR so you can watch Wishes.

Boma~ This is a fun place to eat. Plus, AKL is beautiful to explore!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

First off, congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

Secondly, you sound like me...we too are going Dec 2012 and I cant even book my package for another 11 days, but I have so many little details already worked out in my head...ie, where we will eat

V&A sounds wonderful. I hope to eat there someday!
CP is great! The character interaction is wonderful. I agree, being in the park before opening is the way to go if you can get your ADR for that time.
50's PT & Sci Fi...these are both on my list for our next trip. Seem like fun experiences.

 

[Edgehopper]

On our engagement trip, FDW and I did a lot of the same restaurants:

CP breakfast--I think it's one of the best character meals for adults. Good choice.

Chefs de France dinner--very good, get the apple crepes. Ours was marred by the realization after FDW had the French onion soup that onions seem to be a migraine trigger for her

50s Prime Time dinner--excellent, a lot of fun.

Sci Fi lunch--good choice, possibly a pay out of pocket on the regular dining plan. Good burgers, and a tip, while chili cheese fries aren't on the menu, they will put them together for you

Raglan Road dinner--excellent choice, my favorite of our meals (FDW's was Tutto Italia). I really liked the steak and the Dalkey Duo.

I might suggest that Boma and Sanaa are a little similar, and you might add in Yak n Yeti in place of one of them. Hoop Dee Doo is also a very fun choice, and as a honeymooning couple, you will be singled out by the performers

 

[Edgehopper]

Also, with CP either go very early so you get into the park before it opens, or go late when it's quieted down a bit (also, you might be able to grab some food off the lunch buffet when they start switching mid-meal)