I could go anywhere and here's what I chose

[Hatbox]

DH and I just got back from the first trip we planned ourselves. We've only been before with my family, who are very plain/picky eaters. As adventurous foodies, we were excited to eat wherever we wanted for the first time. Here's what we did:

• POLITE PIG: it was completely and solidly good, and we'd eat there again - but it wasn't the best bbq we've had this summer even. We ordered brisket and a ton of sides and it was all pretty good.

• AMORETTE'S: we got the Mickey Dome. It looks like art. It tastes like pointless.

• JIKO: It hurts me to say that I didn't completely love it. Though it was delicious and we loved the ambience, it just didn't live up to the price tag.
  • They were out of the boar tenderloin and it was replaced with pork. Maybe that's why it wasn't all that? It was good, but... I could make that home.
  • The elk really was good but, for $49, I feel like I paid for the experience of eating elk and liking it a lot but not really feeling like it's something I just have to go back and order again.
  • The wine pairings were excellent.
  • We don't remember dessert, so take that as you will.
  • The service was okay. We left asking ourselves why dinner took 100 minutes. We were looking forward to a leisurely luxury meal, but this felt like there was a lot of unnecessary air in the experience.

• PEPPER MARKET: DH really didn't want to eat here, but we were too tired to leave the resort and I heard too many bad things about Maya Grill. He ended up saying it was on par with the Three Broomsticks, which means a lot coming from him. (After his first bite, he said, "Okay, Disney. Stepping up the counter service!")

• RIX SPORTS BAR: some of the worst nachos I've ever had. We had to eat them with forks because they were so over-gloppy with that liquid cheese (and I like gloppy!). And so salty I could barely choke them down and gave up halfway through (and I like salty!). The nachos in the Pepper Market looked better.

• BE OUR GUEST: We pre-ordered our lunch here, which made it so easy to enjoy. We got the braised pork and the tuna nicoise and loved both. It's a cute place, but I can't imagine that cavernous dining room is a great dinner experience. We definitely won't pay to have a Signature dinner there, but will absolutely go back for lunch.

• SKIPPER CANTEEN: The crown jewel of our trip! I was nervous because there's such mixed reviews out there. I was worried the execution wouldn't live up, that it'd be "exotic" for the masses but dull to us and I was so pleased that it was actually very good. We'll eat here every time now.
  • We shared the cachapas and both got the whole fried fish, plus the house wines. Everything was great. They should make an entree version of the cachapas; I'd order it.
  • The fish was fresh and delicious (and fun!). The kimchi that comes alongside it is pretty good, too. It's weird that they serve so much sauce on the side: it's essentially a bowl of soy sauce, which is overkill with the kimchi.
  • The wine was totally fine. It could've been a $5 bottle for all I could tell, but at least it was a $5 bottle that I'd buy again.
  • DH did cartwheels over the Kungaloosh. The coconut bar was something I should've loved but found it totally meh.
  • Do they not serve bread anymore? I was looking forward to that but we didn't get any.

• TRADER SAM'S: Another delightful discovery! We had no idea what to expect - no one spoiled the surprise for us. So when we first walked in, DH wanted to leave ("Why is it so loud?). We're glad we stayed! We had a total blast and (all) the drinks were great. We kept trying to find time to go back but didn't make it. It'll be our first stop next time!

• NOMAD LOUNGE: we didn't have time for Tiffins, so I thought this would be a good way to get a little taste of it.
  • The poutine was really tasty - but don't get it if you don't love truffles. I do and even I was like woah that's a load of truffle. It was light on the sauce and even lighter on the cheese, which is kinda the point of poutine...
  • The honey coriander ribs were pretty good. Like the poutine, only order them if you really like coriander. Though I do appreciate that its described flavors were detectable, and not just like a cook whispered the word "coriander" to the ribs before they were brought out. The lime wedge they're served with really does brighten it and brings the dish together.
  • The cocktails (Annapurna Zing and Night Monkey) were far sweeter than we were expecting.
  • We were the only ones in there when we ordered, and yet the service was so slow. We waited more than ten minutes to get our check and by then there were still only three or four other parties in the place (with two servers).

Next time, we want to try Artist Point, Sanaa, and Homecoming. We didn't go to Epcot on this trip, but we're planning the next trip where we'll drink-and-nibble our way around the world!

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

We have very similar tastes!

Jiko- felt completely the same as you, and tried it twice. I wanted to love Jiko. The atmosphere is great, and the wine list fantastic. The food was pretty good but didn't blow me away and neither did the service. I may go back to enjoy a glass of wine in the lounge but will likely not return for a full meal

Be Our Guest- we go for lunch once or twice every trip. We've been at least 8 times and DH has consistently liked the tune nicoise each time. We will go back for future lunches, but have no interest in going for dinner.

Skipper Canteen- we went here as a last minute reservation this past June and LOVED it, as did our 9 and 12 year olds. We had the cachapas as well and tried to recreate the recipe as soon as we got home because they were so good.

Trader Sams- Love the atmosphere. So fun!

Hope you get to try Sanaa and like it- its one of our favorites for sure!!!

 

[tbholc81]

We went to Sanaa a couple weeks ago. It was fantastic, one of the best meals we’ve had at WDW.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Great rundown thanks for sharing!

 

[leebee]

We really enjoyed the Nomad Lounge. We went around 1pm, sat at the bar, had drinks, ordered chicken satay and chick pea fritters. Food was delicious, service and the bartenders were great, and the drinks were terrific. We liked it so much we went for a drink later that evening, after walking through Pandora but waiting for RoL. Bartenders not only remembered us but remembered what we were drinking. We think of Nomad Lounge as our new "secret" place~

 

[gharter]

Sounds like a great trip.
We love Jiko. I have read recent reviews that were not as great. We are going back in October, hope its still as good.
Polite Pig - much better than expected. We really enjoyed it.
Pepper Market - has been a few years I've eaten there, but thought it was average at best.
Skipper Canteen we love this place. A must do at MK.
Trader Sams first time there and loved it. Will go back. the bartenders were awesome!
Nomad Lounge - a must stop every trip to AK. Weather allowing, we love sitting by the river. Great wine list.

 

[Hatbox]

Jiko- felt completely the same as you, and tried it twice. I wanted to love Jiko. The atmosphere is great, and the wine list fantastic. The food was pretty good but didn't blow me away and neither did the service. I may go back to enjoy a glass of wine in the lounge but will likely not return for a full meal

Hope you get to try Sanaa and like it- its one of our favorites for sure!!!

We went to Sanaa a couple weeks ago. It was fantastic, one of the best meals we’ve had at WDW.

I thought maybe I was crazy for not going crazy over Jiko. We'll definitely try Sanaa next time - it sounds like maybe it's the kind of meal we'd love at a price point that doesn't jack up our expectations so high that we can't love it.

 

[Hatbox]

We really enjoyed the Nomad Lounge. We went around 1pm, sat at the bar, had drinks, ordered chicken satay and chick pea fritters. Food was delicious, service and the bartenders were great, and the drinks were terrific. We liked it so much we went for a drink later that evening, after walking through Pandora but waiting for RoL. Bartenders not only remembered us but remembered what we were drinking. We think of Nomad Lounge as our new "secret" place~

We'll give it another shot! Maybe before dinner at Tiffins next time. The chickpea fritters sounded tempting - I'll go back for those, and a slightly harder drink than the Night Monkey ;-)

 

[Hatbox]

We love Jiko. I have read recent reviews that were not as great. We are going back in October, hope its still as good.
Polite Pig - much better than expected. We really enjoyed it.
Pepper Market - has been a few years I've eaten there, but thought it was average at best.
Skipper Canteen we love this place. A must do at MK.

Maybe Jiko just didn't reach me somehow. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts in October!
What was your favorite at Polite Pig? Our food was all lukewarm, so it may have just been an off-day.
Oh, Pepper Market's nothing special - but whenever counter service doesn't suck, we're impressed.
I hope Skipper Canteen stays true to itself and doesn't slowly get reinvented to be blander and blander. This and Cali Grill are the only places DH has liked enough to request repeat visits.

 

[cadien]

I've been going back and forth on trying to fit in a stop at Nomad Lounge. Those ribs definitely sound in the plus column. Not the first time I've heard that warning about the drinks in AK. Will have to choose carefully.

 

[clutter]

We loved Nomad. It was so hot the two days we stopped in. My dd had an ale there she loved. Maybe it was the Kungaloosh? I can't remember. I can't remember the drinks we had, but they were all pretty yummy. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the weather....

We only had food the second time we were there. I want to say we had the poutine and some cauliflower off of the sides at Tiffins.

We also enjoyed BOG for dinner more than I expected.

 

[Hatbox]

We only had food the second time we were there. I want to say we had the poutine and some cauliflower off of the sides at Tiffins.

HOLD UP. You can order off the Tiffins menu at Nomad?!

 

[armerida]

HOLD UP. You can order off the Tiffins menu at Nomad?!

You can order any of the Tiffins appetizers or "enhancements" at Nomad, but not the entrees (at least not when we were there at the beginning of this month). The Tiffins peach and burrata salad was awesome, as were Nomad's ribs and churros.

 

[clutter]

HOLD UP. You can order off the Tiffins menu at Nomad?!

Only the small plates on Nomad's menu (which include a number of Tiffin's appetizers) and the 'enhancements.' No entrees.

But our trip tended to be more about appetizers and sides than entrees most places that we went.