Indulge A Little - Feb 2014 Report - Updated Victoria & Albert's 3/2

[Dis_Yoda]

Have read a few negative comments about Yachtsman lately so was seriously worried about my decision to take my daughter for her 21st Birthday dinner there next month. Your dishes look great, though, so I am going to stick with my decision and hope for the best

Yachtsman always seems to get a mixed review around these boards. I'm sure your daughter's 21st birthday will be great. Are you going to go to Jellyrolls after?

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Victoria Falls

When we returned back to the hotel, we decided to get a cocktail from the bar.

I had a Victoria Mist which is a tart and fruity drink. My husband had a Pina Colada.


After our drinks, we got some snacks from the lounge which were nice.

​

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Pecos Bill's

Originally our lunch was supposed to be at The Plaza. The night before my husband looked at the menu and decided he really didn't care to eat there. We were still going to go to Magic Kingdom but were going to eat whereever we were near when we got hungry.

I ended up hungry early around 10:30AM and we still had some time before our Thunder Mountain Fastpass+ so we went into Pecos Bill's to get me some food. I went with what I always do - The Taco Salad

(Photo is from July 2010 as I apparently forgot to take a new one)

Of Disney Fast Food, this is one of my favorite go tos.

My husband didn't eat as he was going to just wait to get back to AKL to get some snacks from the lounge prior to our dinner that evening.​

 

[Dis_Yoda]

California Grill

This dinner did not start off well. Our reservation was for 5:50PM & I had IPO make us the reservation when it opened up for reservations months ago. When I went to check in, we were told we don't have a reservation under our name. I had the IPO reservation list they give you at check in and showed it to the lady at the podium. They typed in the number and it showed the reservation was cancelled months ago and actually under another person's name.

Say what?

The lady at the podium kept saying there is no way to let us in as the restaurant is completely booked. I wasn't going to take no for an answer as IPO had made this reservation for me, I never cancelled it and this was my anniversary trip and I had my paper from IPO showing we had done nothing wrong. Due to my insistence, she brought us up to talk to the floor manager to explain the 'situation' where it also was an ordeal as they had 'no open tables'

Not going to work for me as my husband and I didn't do anything wrong here.

Eventually the floor manager made it right and got us a two top by the window. It shouldn't have been as much of an issue as it was making us feel like we did something wrong when it was IPO that messed up or a system glitch or something. And for a 'sold out' restaurant, they had about 7 tables empty the entire 2 hours we were there with some waiters only having 2 tables in their sections.

Not a really relaxing start to the meal was it?

At least it got better after that.

We both ordered some wine for our meals.

We started with sharing a flatbread: BBQ Pork with Cheese and Apples

I loved this flatbread. The flavors reminded me of the flatbread Jiko used to have with chicken. It was perfect to split.

My husband had the chicken for his meal.

It was crispy where it should be and moist where it should be as well.

I decided on getting two appetizers for my meal instead of an entree.

I went with my old time favorite here: Crispy Rock Shrimp Salad w/ Wasabi Dressing

and

Pork Belly Sushi

I should have just gotten the salad as this was too much food and I wasn't a huge fan of the pork belly sushi. The pork belly didn't seem to be cooked enough to be tender. My salad made me happy though.

For dessert, I ordered a Scotch & the Sundae Sampler

Where can you go wrong with that?

The sundae sampler had changed since the last time we were here & I feel it was for the better.

A strawberry sundae. I really didn't enjoy this one but I gave it to my husband and finished it.

This was a chocolate peanut butter sundae. So good!

This was a reverse root beer float with root beer ice cream and cream soda. Overall this was my favorite as I love cream soda.

My husband went with the Chocolate Pudding Cake

It was pretty much a home made KitKat. My husband finished it but it was really rich.

The food definitely redeemed itself from the visit we had in October. I learned to not trust IPO to make reservations for me anymore.

​

 

[RGirl]

Really enjoying your reviews!

I have always been a fan of Boma for dinner (despite not generally loving buffets), but I definitely agree that it is not very relaxing at all!

The Les Chefs food looks very good (although under-cooked onions in french onion soup seems totally ridiculous!); too bad service was less than stellar. We have never tried this place!

The ice cream treats look and sound divine. I am just kicking myself that I forgot that they had added this place when we were there in August.

Mmmm - love your choices at YSH. Wish I was there right now….

Isn’t Victoria Falls such a nice place to get a drink and relax? Love it!

I was anxious to read your CG review. Man, there have been some REALLY negative ones since the refurb. I cannot believe the reservation situation!!! That is insanity - they know that mistakes happen in their system, I can’t believe they gave you such a hard time about getting a table when you had your reservation list with you! Thank goodness the meal was actually good, and your dessert is adorable and looks so tasty!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Really enjoying your reviews!

I have always been a fan of Boma for dinner (despite not generally loving buffets), but I definitely agree that it is not very relaxing at all!

The Les Chefs food looks very good (although under-cooked onions in french onion soup seems totally ridiculous!); too bad service was less than stellar. We have never tried this place!

The ice cream treats look and sound divine. I am just kicking myself that I forgot that they had added this place when we were there in August.

Mmmm - love your choices at YSH. Wish I was there right now….

Isn’t Victoria Falls such a nice place to get a drink and relax? Love it!

I was anxious to read your CG review. Man, there have been some REALLY negative ones since the refurb. I cannot believe the reservation situation!!! That is insanity - they know that mistakes happen in their system, I can’t believe they gave you such a hard time about getting a table when you had your reservation list with you! Thank goodness the meal was actually good, and your dessert is adorable and looks so tasty!

I can see why some people would enjoy Boma but I think we just enjoy being too relaxed during meals while on vacation.

We never stray much from what we ordered at Chefs because we like what we get so much.

I don't think my husband will let me forget that ice cream place is there. His favorite part of us staying at BWV during Star Wars Weekends? Being able to walk to France for Ice Cream every night. He has mentioned this more than once.

I can't believe we got such a hard time either. It wasn't even that I had the reservation number written on my own paper - it was the printed list that AKL gave me! Obviously I couldn't have faked that. I'm glad the food was good as well as we didn't have the best meal this past October but it seems they have been getting their stuff together more now.

 

[Linda67]

What a frustrating situation with your reservation. I hate it when you are made to feel like it is your fault
At least you enjoyed your dinner
We loved CG on our last trip and like you stuck with apps and sushi
I love the look of the little root beer float

 

[wilma-bride]

How annoying that there was a mistake with your reservation. I have read a couple of incidents like this recently and I really feel like Disney should just find you a table, even if it means you might have a little wait (rather than make a fuss), especially when it was obvious that it wasn't an error on your part.

Still, when you eventually got seated, it seems as though the food was pretty good. I'm with you on the pork belly, though. It really needs to be cooked so it's good and tender and all the fat has rendered nicely.

I am so pleased to see some positive reviews of CG at last though as it was getting a really bad rap when it first reopened.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

What a frustrating situation with your reservation. I hate it when you are made to feel like it is your fault
At least you enjoyed your dinner
We loved CG on our last trip and like you stuck with apps and sushi
I love the look of the little root beer float

I know! I'm glad dinner was good too or California Grill would have been written off for a couple years. I find their apps and sushi to be much more exciting for me than an entree that seems to be about the same no matter where you go.

How annoying that there was a mistake with your reservation. I have read a couple of incidents like this recently and I really feel like Disney should just find you a table, even if it means you might have a little wait (rather than make a fuss), especially when it was obvious that it wasn't an error on your part.

Still, when you eventually got seated, it seems as though the food was pretty good. I'm with you on the pork belly, though. It really needs to be cooked so it's good and tender and all the fat has rendered nicely.

I am so pleased to see some positive reviews of CG at last though as it was getting a really bad rap when it first reopened.

I agree with how they should deal with it if they were truly on top of their customer service; unfortunately it seems overall some areas aren't as top notch as they used to be. I still love Disney but it isn't always as magical as it used to be.

I love me some pork belly when done right. I'm glad you agree with me!

I'm happy the food and service improved so much from October. I guess they finally got their groove back after the negative feedback after their opening.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

The Mara

Yes, originally this was supposed to be at Yak & Yeti but when we realized that Animal Kingdom opened at 8AM, we knew we wouldn't have enough to keep us entertained in the park for 4 hours. In fact, we were able to walk on all 4 attractions that we really wanted to do and get out of the park in about an hour (safari, everest, tough to be a bug, dinosaur) and we were able to change our Fastpass+ to Hollywood Studios to enjoy Star Tours & Toy Story Mania.

We ended up getting a light lunch back at the hotel after walking the two parks so we could relax before our meal at V&A that evening.

I had the Pepperoni Flatbread while my husband had a Bacon Cheeseburger

Both of these dishes were just ok. Disney has made improvements in their pizza department since moving more towards flatbreads than that old gross pizza they had but nothing crave worthy. My husband's bread fell apart but such are Disney's buns nowadays at QS.

We skipped desserts as we grabbed some snacks from the lounge for some sweetness.


​

 

[tweetylori]

Very much enjoying your report and pics!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Very much enjoying your report and pics!

Thanks for reading along.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Victoria & Albert’s

Our meal this evening was for a 5PM reservation. We arrived shortly before and waited in the outside area by the Citricos check in desk until they officially opened. We were placed at a table for two on the outside portion of the restaurant with a view of the harpist.

We reviewed the menu and were given the presentation by our waiters of all the selections for the evening. I ended up going with the wine pairing for the meal with my husband stealing a sip of some. We debated on some different menu items as we were torn on some courses as even some of the vegetarian options sounded good but we shortly came to some decisions and placed our orders.

Champagne to Start

Venison Amuse Bouche

We both started with a venison terrine. It was a light start for the meal & I was happy they have finally moved away from the 4 section amuse bouche they were doing a few years ago.

Bread #1: French Baguette
I could live off these things but I was good and only had 1.

Pintade Fermiere Verrine w/ Fuji Apple & Walnuts

Both of us had this for our first course. The poultry really paired well with the fuji apples and walnuts. In the jar was a puree of the meat with apples and was my favorite part of the dish.

Maine Diver Scallop w/ Cauliflower & Glace de Viande
My husband’s 2nd course. He usually doesn’t enjoy scallops but a well cooked diver scallop doesn’t follow those rules.

Loch Duart Salmon w/ Mushrooms & Porcini Sauce
My 2nd course. The salmon was well cooked and the mushrooms didn’t overpower the dish which made me happy.

Bread #2: Black Truffle Brioche & Black Truffle Butter

Berkshire Pork w/ Corn & Stone Ground Grits
My husband’s choice for his 3rd course. There were two types of pork on this dish both pork belly and pork tenderloin. This felt like an elevated version of the dish we had during the Le Cellier Signature Lunch last October.

Palmetto Farms Quail w/ Asian Pears, Serrano Ham Jus
This was my choice for the 3rd course. The quail was wrapped in serrano ham with hollandaise on top. Despite being a small dish, it was very rich so the portion was just enough.

Bread #3: Multigrain
I find this to be the weakest of the bread courses in terms of tastes but it works for where it is placed in the meal as it is hearty.

Australian Kobe-Style Beef w/ Oxtail Ravioli
My husband had this for his 4th course. We have had this dish many a time between visits to V&A or Remy with only the ‘side’ changing. My husband loves this dish as the beef is so tender it melts in your mouth. I ended up stealing the ravioli and really enjoying it more than the dish this used to come with the oxtail on top of potatoes.

Roasted Duck w/ Fennel & Leeks
For my 4th course, I wend with the duck. I love duck but I never really cook it at home. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare.

Roasted White Chocolate Gelato w/ Balsamic Glaze
Both us went with the gelato over the cheese selection. I like how this dish has changed over the years. The addition of the balsamic glaze heightens the flavors of the white chocolate.

Russian Earl Gray
I had selected some tea to have with our desserts. I love how it has moved to using the same device as they have been doing with coffee for years.

Grand Marnier Souffle
I went with this for my final course. It was perfectly done.

Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Souffle
My husband’s final course selection. Where can you go wrong with a chocolate souffle?

Friandises
We really were too stuffed at this point but we did enjoy our little treats. Our favorite is the sea salt caramel.

Overall the meal was great and much better than our last meal. The pacing was spot on as the meal took around 2.5 hours to complete. We finished up and headed back to AKL to finish packing and getting ready to leave the next day for home.
​

 

[vettegirl]

Lovely V&A review!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Linda67]

Thanks for the V&A review
We are trying it for the first time in June - we are sneaking in whilst the TiW discount is still available
I will be dining as a vegetarian so happy to hear that there was some good options

 

[Redislandgal]

Excellent info on V&A, thanks for the great pics and info. We are going in 3 weeks for the 1st time, so very excited.

 

[RGirl]

Oh, I enjoyed reading about your evening at V&A so very much. Everything looked and sounded delicious. It is my dream dining location - one day when my child is grown, we will go there together! For now, I can happily make do with the occasional meal at Remy on the Disney Fantasy - you know, every 2 or year years!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Lovely V&A review!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Thanks for enjoying!

Thanks for the V&A review
We are trying it for the first time in June - we are sneaking in whilst the TiW discount is still available
I will be dining as a vegetarian so happy to hear that there was some good options

You should love it for your first time! Its ashamed they are getting rid of the TiW discount there though.

Excellent info on V&A, thanks for the great pics and info. We are going in 3 weeks for the 1st time, so very excited.

Enjoy it! My first time was over 20 years ago now (& I'm only 27)

Oh, I enjoyed reading about your evening at V&A so very much. Everything looked and sounded delicious. It is my dream dining location - one day when my child is grown, we will go there together! For now, I can happily make do with the occasional meal at Remy on the Disney Fantasy - you know, every 2 or year years!

At least you are able to enjoy Remy on the cruises. I actually enjoy Remy more than V&A but the cost to get to enjoy Remy is a lot more seeing as I have to get on the cruise. Your daughter will love it once she is old enough!

 

[DVC Ashley]

That flat bread looks so yummy! Can't go wrong with bacon! Looks like a fun trip

 

[smile4stamps]

Wonderful Reviews! We contemplated having V&A's this trip to use the TiW discount for it but honestly don't know what restaurant we would bump to make room for it as we really want to dine at our other choices..

Also packing the suit for DH and a nice dress for myself also poses a few issues!

Maybe someday we will dine there again!