Insanely good food?

[ilovemickeymost]

DH & I will be having a night out during our upcoming trip (no children - yeah). We've decided to splurge since we haven't done anything special for our anniversary in the last 3 years. We use to go away for the entire weekend & stay @ B&Bs. So, now I need some help deciding where to make reservations. I've considered Party for the Senses & then there all the restaraunts on property that I haven't tried b/c it wouldn't be fun w/ the kids. So, which would you pick? It doesn't have to be super romantic, but the food needs to be insanely good. I want to talk about it years later. I want my husband to fall in love w/ WDW & want to come back just to eat there again. (I know high hopes & wishful thinking) So if its a restaraunt, which one, why, & what's on the menu that you love? Thanks for all your help. FYI - We went on the Disney Cruise 2004 & we still talk about the chocolate souflee & the scallops & steak we had.

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

Concourse Steak House in the Contemporary was my favorite until it closed. Hands down the best steak I ever had at WDW. So, I had to find another. I searched and tried several new ones. But of all, Kona has to be my favorite. I had the "Beef Teriyaki - 10-oz sirloin strip, grilled with pineapple teriyaki glaze, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, and stir-fried broccoli florets". DW had "Slow-Roasted Prime Rib - Served with mashed potatoes, and stir-fried broccoli florets." Both of us agreed it has replaced CSH. It's a must for every visit now.

 

[BriarRosie]

The best restaurant on property is Victoria and Albert's. It's definitely a place you'd want to go for a special anniversary. No other restaurant can compare itself as fine dining except this place.

There are other upscale restaurants around WDW, but this is a notch above the rest.

Men wear either suits or sport jackets since jackets are required, and ladies tend to wear anything from cocktail dresses, formal dresses, or even dressy pantsuits. Anything meant for "black-tie optional" tends to be the norm.

I did a review from October if you want to see the menu items and what I actually ate. Just click the Nosh link in my signature and then the link to the Victoria and Albert's post.

And I only figured I'd suggest this place because you're already considering spending similar money on Party for the Senses.

 

[ilovemickeymost]

Concourse Steak House in the Contemporary was my favorite until it closed. Hands down the best steak I ever had at WDW. So, I had to find another. I searched and tried several new ones. But of all, Kona has to be my favorite. I had the "Beef Teriyaki - 10-oz sirloin strip, grilled with pineapple teriyaki glaze, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, and stir-fried broccoli florets". DW had "Slow-Roasted Prime Rib - Served with mashed potatoes, and stir-fried broccoli florets." Both of us agreed it has replaced CSH. It's a must for every visit now.

That's good to know. I'm drooling over the pic of the steak. DH will love it. This is a place we planned to take the kids w/us. Do you think the atmosphere would be okay for kids?

 

[ilovemickeymost]

Briar Rosie - I was considering V&A, but wasn't sure if you were paying more for the atmosphere or if the food was THAT good. I think you answered the question for me. I'll check out your report. Would you pick V&A over Party for the Senses? Fancy isn't necessary, just really great food.

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

That's good to know. I'm drooling over the pic of the steak. DH will love it. This is a place we planned to take the kids w/us. Do you think the atmosphere would be okay for kids?

Definitely ok for kids. Mine were 6 and 7 at the time. Also, for the kids at Kona:

 

[leelip1982]

Jeicko at AKL has really good steak with a romantic setting. Also you could try victoria and alberts (very expensive) at the gf. Flying fish cafe is ok. But for a really gooooooooooood steak hands down jeicko

 

[let'sgo]

I wanted DH to love Disney so I booked Narcoossee's because he wanted Maine lobster. To this day he still talks about it. And the dessert tray was a work of art. I asked if we could go back to Disney this year and he said no until I told him they were offering free dining. Then he said he wanted to go back to Narcoossee's. So if you like lobster, this is the place to go.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

That's good to know. I'm drooling over the pic of the steak. DH will love it. This is a place we planned to take the kids w/us. Do you think the atmosphere would be okay for kids?

I wouldn't put Kona in the "insanely good food" category. It's ok, but not even close to "insanely good." As for atmosphere, well, it has none. It's basically big room, open to the lobby.

If V&A's isn't in your budget, I think the most interesting/creative menus are at Jiko and Flying Fish Cafe'.

 

[Dawn68PA]

We haven't been to many signature restaurants but I'll never forget our time at Artist Point. Absolutely beautiful and the food was delish!

 

[engle]

The ONLY place where the food is insanely good is V&A. Yes, it is good at other places and hit or miss even at some signatures...but INSANELY, EVERY TIME....V&A. You will NOT be disappointed!!!

 

[sshaw10060]

My wife and I are serious foodies and had a 6 day trip in January with no children that focused on fine dining. Here are the places I would recommend, just don't look at the bills. It is easier on the heart.

1. V&A: Elegant and pricey with food to match. It is one of the 2 or 3 four diamond restaurants in the state.

2. BlueZoo: Todd English's restaurant in the Dolphin. Somewhat load, but the food is amazing.

3. Shulas Steakhouse: Also in the dolphin. Hands down best steak on property

4. Flying Fish: We ate here for the first time recently and had an amazing experience. Ask for Bob. He was the best waiter we have ever had.

5. Jiko: I honestly think it has slipped a little lately, probably due to its popularity and the need to turn tables, but definitely worthwhile.

6. Narcooses: Good solid food with a great view

7. California Grill: Good (not great) food with an amazing view. We like to sit at the counter and talk to the chefs.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

For really great food V&A is the best choice.

Party for the Senses is chaotic and the food is mass produced.

(And SShaw has a slight error, V&A has an AAA Rating of Five Diamonds and is one of only 54 restaurants in the entire country with that level of rating.)

 

[Pakey]

Insanely good food. The only place that fits that description is V&A. Runners up would be Bistro de Paris and bluezoo.

 

[Tricia1972]

Jumping on the V&A bandwagon. It's the only restaurant on property that has insanely good food.

Jiko has good food, but I agree with the PP that it's starting to slip a little. It's a great meal on property, but it's not something that you can't easily get for the same price off of property. V&A is a class all of its own.

 

[missminniemouse]

Victoria & Alberts is the only place that I can say has "insanely good food." I've had the good fortune to dine there 3 times and each time was incredible! You know how you think that something couldn't possibly live up to the memory you have of it, because the memory is always better than the actual event? And how you think you'll be disappointed going back to a place at a later date? That is certainly not the case at V&A. The food was outstanding each time and the service was top notch. I can't wait to go back! The last time we were there we had the wine pairings along with our meals. That was also a wonderful accompaniment. We normally don't drink that much at a meal, but decided that if anyplace would pair wines properly with the food, it would be here. We weren't disappointed.

The only other restaurant that would come remotely close in my mind is the Bistro de Paris. We have dined there twice and had wonderful meals and great service both time. It is certainly more quiet and upscale than the other restaurants in EPCOT because of its upstairs location. The first time we were there I had a steak that I swear was 2 inches thick and was so tender I could cut it with my fork. Don't remember what I had the second time, but I know it was very good.

 

[crisi]

I've never had insanely good food at Disney. I've had good food. We haven't eaten at V&As or BlueZoo though - or Bistro. I am, however a food snob married to a food snob.

We have eaten at:

Flying Fish - once very good, many times good. Never insanely good.

Jiko - I didn't like what I ordered at all, my husband liked his steak a lot

California Grill - our meal here was great, but not insanely good (the cheese plate was insanely good that night), too many other people have been disapponted

Shulas - decent, very good steak, but honestly, sort of disappointing.

Artists Point - several times very good, never insanely good

Narcoosees - years ago (like fifteen) very good, last time (like seven years ago) good.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Agree with the other posters, only V$A (not a typo )has insanely good food.

Others that are very good (but you can have misstep):

Yachtsman
Bistro de Paris
Narcoosee's
Il Mulino

 

[kbmaggs]

If you want insanely good food AND a unique experience, go for the Chef's table at V & A's..... you get tastings of everything that leaves the kitchen, and interacting with the kitchen staff (you can do that as little or as much as you like) makes for a wonderful evening.

 

[ElizabethB]

On property, in our experience, the only place with "insanely good food" is V&A.

Other very good spots: Jiko (only if you go late) and California Grill (but only after the fireworks are over). Citrico's is good, too. Shula's is great for steaks. We haven't tried Blue Zoo. We also love Bice, but it's at Universal, not WDW.