How bad is San Angel Inn?

[nyislandersprincess]

I'm going on a trip with some friends in June, and one of my friends LOVES San Angel Inn and asked for a meal there, so we have a dinner ADR.

My family used to really like it, but we haven't been there in years partially because of poor service and also because we've just found other restaurants in World Showcase we prefer. Now, however, I'm also seeing a lot of negative reviews about the food. I try not to read too much into reviews, because a lot of my personal favorites in WDW don't always get the best ones, but San Angel really doesn't seem to be very popular.

Any recent experiences with San Angel?

 

[Disneylover99]

We love San Angel.
It's consistently the best service and some of the best food we've eaten at Disney.

 

[amberpi]

The atmosphere is worth it and so are the drinks and I've never had an issue with the food, but I understand its way toned down in the spice level, but its WDW. I think its an excellent place for a larger group. I really enjoy their tequila flights, but only because I can't handle the sugar in their very tasty margs.

 

[adisneyaunt]

The atmosphere is great, the drinks were good but the food imho is too limited on options, not adequate portion sizes and overpriced for the offering, so we choose elsewhere
I personally enjoy Morrocco!
Enjoy wherever u eat!

 

[MSPeeler]

We have a reservation there (for 7- 3 kids, 4 adults), hoping for the best and a good view of the water ride. Can we request a seat by the water??

 

[jwfla422]

We like it as well. Of course there are mixed reviews about every restaurant (almost) and those that get perfect scores, well may not be as great as you think

@MSPeeler I'm sure you can request a seat by the ride, may be a little bit of a longer wait or try to check in earlier.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

My family's opinion: atmosphere is cute and food is just so-so. We've been a couple of times - no immediate plans to return. We'd prefer the Hacienda.

 

[nyislandersprincess]

Thanks for all the feedback so far, guys! It's very helpful. I actually don't handle spice all that great (which is okay because I should avoid it for dietary reasons anyway) so I'm actually glad to hear it's a little more bland than what you might expect! And I have always loved the interior of the restaurant, so that if anything will totally make this worth it.

Another question: we will be on the regular Dining Plan (the one with 1 QS and 1 TS per night) and are having lunch that afternoon at BOG. I tend to eat smaller meals, so if I get to dinner and I'm not super hungry, are you able to order let's say something off the appetizer portion of the menu for your meal? I love quesadillas and would be perfectly content to have that for dinner, especially if I'm not starving after lunch.

 

[jdisnut]

I know the reviews are mixed, but we've always liked San Angel Inn, and not just for the atmosphere. Nobody will mistake the food for the Mexican fare you'll find in the Southwestern United States, Southern California, Texas or actual Mexico, but we've always been happy with the offerings. The setting pushes it over the edge for us to make it worth visiting every once in a while.

 

[carlandellie31]

In my experience from a few years ago, restaurants would not let me order an app as an entree on the dining plan. But you could order an app, just pay for it, and save that meal credit for later.

 

[Sweettears]

Not bad at all One of my favorites. We eat there every trip. I was just there a week ago and had a great experience.

 

[kbwright]

It was probably our least favorite place that we ate on our last trip. The food was ok ( but mom and pop Mexican place we have at home is better - and the fact I can say that living in MA is scary) but the service was awful. The waiter was all over the place, forgot what we ordered and had to come back and take the order 3 times. I would go there again but my husband won't!

 

[gillep]

DH and I like to go to San Angel for the drinks (margaritas and tequila flights) and soup (Sopa Azteca) both are really good. I am not a huge fan of the other food there but it isn't bad. We have never had poor service either.

 

[rg35]

Disney has such a large churn and rotation of CMs at restaurants that I would never rule a place out just because of bad service on one visit. There's really no reason to think that one bad server means you'll get another one the next time.

In any case, the food at San Angel is good (although we do think Hacienda is better), but we (including kids) really enjoy the atmosphere of San Angel and the food is sold enough.

 

[Hopefully]

Thanks for all the feedback so far, guys! It's very helpful. I actually don't handle spice all that great (which is okay because I should avoid it for dietary reasons anyway) so I'm actually glad to hear it's a little more bland than what you might expect! And I have always loved the interior of the restaurant, so that if anything will totally make this worth it.

Another question: we will be on the regular Dining Plan (the one with 1 QS and 1 TS per night) and are having lunch that afternoon at BOG. I tend to eat smaller meals, so if I get to dinner and I'm not super hungry, are you able to order let's say something off the appetizer portion of the menu for your meal? I love quesadillas and would be perfectly content to have that for dinner, especially if I'm not starving after lunch.

It was my very favorite meal of all last trip. I loved the Pollo a la Rojas
You certainly can order what you want. However, an appetizer will not be covered on the DDP

 

[cigar95]

The SAI made a noticeable turn for the better when La Hacienda opened across the promenade in 2010. Since then, I've only eaten there a handful of times but they are definitely better than the pre-2010 meals I had there.
The two restaurants represent different regions of Mexico, so their menus figure to be different, and they are.

 

[edk35]

We have eaten there several times over the years and we like it better the past few years too.

 

[Tom P.]

The podcast team did a review of San Angel Inn last year, if you're interested in what they have to say. I'm afraid to say that @WebmasterJohn, @DisneyKevin, and @Teleclashter were not very impressed. It's only one experience at one point in time, but I always like their reviews.

 

[rosiebean]

I really liked our visit to SAI two years ago, as did my extended family (including two in our party who had been before and were unimpressed and only came to lunch with us as it was a family event). While the seating was close together, the restaurant was really nice overall...we had plenty of light (more than enough to see our menu and food), even though the atmosphere is dark. The drinks were great. The a/c was fabulous. Service was good (not stellar). Meal quality was excellent.

Some reviews (from friends of mine) are, IMO, negative because the reviewer goes to SAI expecting typical "Tex Mex", and instead they get a much more authentic menu (i.e., I've heard complains such as "why isn't the cheese appetizer they serve more like the standard queso I get at my local tex mex place??? I can get queso in a jar that's better than this!!!" While my party enjoyed the same appetizer despite the fact it wasn't typical Tex Mex queso dip). Some negative reviews are from people who do enjoy all kinds of Mexican fare, from Tex Mex to very authentic, regionalized menus, but they simply don't like SAI. But I really enjoyed it, as did my family...and the atmosphere is really, really impressive.

 

[CAS239]

It's one of the best restaurants we've eaten at in WS. Number 1 would be Via Napoli in Italy

The food was great and our waiter was amazing