Is it time to eat again already? A 40th B-Day week's worth of reviews.

[Karlzmom]

This is my 1st real attempt at a Dining Report, so bear with me. We just returned from a week at the World. The cast was:
Myself, celebrating my 40the B-day. I am post bariatric surgery and was pleased to celebrate a 75lb loss over the last year. I can only eat small portions and need my food rather moist.

DH, age 65 will try most foods, but can be a bit picky on quality.

DS5 is a picky eater, very little meat really only an occasional hot dog and bacon.

Over the course of the week we ate at the following restaurants:
TS:
Captains Grille
Grand Floridian Cafe [dinner]
Le Cellier
Beaches and Cream
Tusker House
Sanaa
Hollywood Brown Derby
Grand Floridian Cafe [breakfast]
Flying Fish [x2 dinners]
50's Prime Time
Sci-Fi Dine In
Rose & Crown

QS:
Columbia Harbour House
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe

Please come along while relive the good, the bad and the just plain ugly....

FIRST UP - Captain's Grille
We arrived at MCO around 3:30p, picked up our car and headed off to the World to begin our vacation. After checking into the Swan, we caught a friendship boat off to Epcot's IG to purchase our APs and TIW card. We enjoyed the leg stretch of walking back to the YC for our 1st ADR at the Captain's Grille.
DH ordered the Ribeye and stole a bit of my salad and dessert. The meat was nicely cut and flavorful, it arrived perfectly grilled to the ordered medium rare.
I ordered the 3 course set menu, selecting the Green Goddess Salad, the Crab Cakes and the key lime tart. I seriously considered ordering crab cakes for both the starter and the entree, as crab cakes and I get along pretty well. I decided to give the salad a try. In the end, I really only tried the single bite of salad, as I didnt' care for how it chewed. The flavor was good, but was too hard to break down. DH enjoyed the balance of my salad. The crab cakes were fantastic. Very fresh tasting and had a nice creaminess to them. I didn't detect any filler. I did have to ask for additional sauce, as the portion served didn't moisten enough for me. There were 3 small cakes, I was able to give one to DH to enjoy with his steak and still had more than enough satisfy me. The key lime tart was a pretty presentation, but not particularly note worthy.
DS ordered the hot dog, a salad starter and the kabob dessert. Mr. Picky ate without complaint.

Our final assessment was a solid meal that we would go back for again.

We headed back to Swan for a good nights sleep as the MK awaited in the morning. Next up - Columbia Harbour House.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Count me in!

 

[jmm476]

count me in too! I'm looking forward to seeing your thoughts on the Grand Floridian Cafe and Rose and Crown!

 

[Karlzmom]

Welcome aboard!

Columbia Harbor House:

After a good nights sleep, a rope drop at the MK and a full morning of park touring we returned to one of my favorite CS locations at the world, Coumbia Harbor House. Is there a more peaceful respite to the throng of the park than CHH? After confering briefly, I braved the short line to order and DH and DS went in search of the perfect table.

For lunch, DH wanted the Shrimp platter. It was lovely with nicely fried shrimps and included rather tasty coleslaw. While not the most healthy of veggie options, it was nice to have a bit of crunch in a week of all too many "soft" options. The shrimp were large and perfectly cooked. The breading was delcately seasoned, so you could actually still taste the shrimp and the ratio of breading to shrimp again let the shrimp shine. All around, it was a winner lunch.

DS ordered the kids Mac and Cheese with fries and grapes. The Mac was served very hot, infact it took a bit of stirring and waiting for it to cool to an appropriate temperature to eat. DS requested both salt and pepper once he was able to sample the Mac. I checked it, and it was a bit bland. The noodles were very soft, which is consistent with them being soaked in the cheese sauce for a prolonged period of tme. Very "canned" feeling. The fries were nicely crisped on the outside and tender still. The grapes were a disappointment. We found at multiple meals the grapes we starting to turn in the bag....with a few starting to rot and leak ick in the bag. DS did not eat any of the bag.

After much thought about the tuna sandwich, I ordered the fish platter. It was a cold and wet morning, and I decided that a bit of warm food sounded good. The fish was an adequate portion. I could only finish half of it. With ample tartar sauce available, I was able to make my meal moist enough. The fish was breaded a bit heavily for my taste, but was not greasy. Over all we all were pleased with lunch and headed back out to continue our tour.

Next up: Grand Floridian Cafe

 

[Karlzmom]

I'm going to combine our two visits to the GFC into a singe post for simplicity.

After a nice break back at the Swan, we returned to the MK area for dinner and some EMH during the Super Bowl.

We have previously had breakfast at the GFC, but had not sampled their dinner fare. I love the casual elegance of the restaurant, and was looking forward to trying the GFC burger! We were seated in a table in the center of the restaurant. There were families with small children, but somehow the carpets and drapes absorbed a great deal of the "family" noise making the atmosphere seem kid friendly without the "din" that so often surrounds you at Disney.

We were seated promptly. Our server Cydia appeared quickly and was extremely pleasant. We ordered the Buzz Punch for DS [the 1st of many during the trip] a glass of Casa Grand Pinot Noir for DH and an iced tea for me. As an aside, let me say the lighted Buzz or Tink on the kids punch makes a handy room night light if you forget yours at home! While we waited, sourdough rolls and current bread were served. Both were still warm. The spreadable temperature butter had a bit of sea salt on it - a nice touch.

I had to have the Grand Floridian Burger! It did not disappoint at all. The meat was of a high quality and cooked to a perfect medium. It was topped with enough slipper lobster tails that I was able to share with DH and still have more than enough. The asparagus was fresh and quite tender. The entire concoction was covered in a yummy horseradish-chive bernaise sauce which was mild but flavorful. I did ask for additional sauce to be brought, but there was enough for most people. The burger was served on a good roll that had been grilled, as the grills char lines were clearly visible on the underside of the lid and a lovely char smell lingered when I removed it to the side to enjoy my burger with fork and knife. Its a definate do again in my book!

DH ordered the shrimp penne pasta. He found it to be a bit heavy, but quite good. The dish was served with an ample portion of shrimp that was perfectly cooked. However, it was clear it was a "pasta" dish, not a "shrimp" dish. The bowl contained enough pasta to satisfy a hungry guy!

DS tried the cheese pizza. He again wanted a bit of salt and pepper, but then tucked into it without complaint.

For dessert, we shared the dessert sampler which contained four small portions of yummy desserts. The Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse was the favorite. Not too sweet, with a creamy texture and no cloying aftertaste. The lemon cheesecake had a few raspberries and was a clean bite. A small tiaramisu was lovely, and the key lime tart rounded out the plate. The presentation was delightful, with a small solid semisweet chocolate Mickey Mouse overseeing the plate. We found the statue an unexpected surprise! The perfect cap to a fine dinner. We will certainly be back to the GFC for dinner in future trips!


Breakfast at the GFC was on Thursday, for my Birthday. We made arrangements for DS to take the pirate cruise at the GF marina and then have a quiet brunch. We were again promptly seated. DH and I ordered coffee and mimosas. The mimosas were served with large strawberries as sidecars to the glasses. His was fresher than mine, as I had a bit of sqishy spot. We had time for a single sip, before the cellphone rang...the Marina calling to say the rain which we were watching increase outside the windows was forcing the cruise to cancel. I left to go collect DS while DS asked our server to set another place. DH reported she smiled and said it was not problem at all. By the time I arrived, a place setting was waiting for DS.

DS decided he wanted fried eggs, so the kids egg breakfast it was. The egg arrived nicely cooked, with the yolk broken as requested. The bacon was a bit of a disappointment, too thin and crisp for my taste but DS enjoyed it.

DH ordered the American breakfast. 2 eggs over medium, bacon and rye toast. DH commented the rye toast was good.

I was surprised to find the lobster eggs benedict had changed since our last visit. The 1st time I had it enjoyed the dish it was merely a twist on the classic, replacing the canadian bacon with a generous pile of slipper lobster tails. Now, the menu offered a "lobster bread pudding" under the eggs. After consultation with our server, I decided to give it a try. I found the flavor to be good, ith definate "lobster" flavor but missed the "feel" of the lobster meat. There were still a couple of lobster tails present, but nowhere near the lux feel of the "original" dish. I also found the bread pudding to be heavy and "clumpy", not a good option for me, so I really didn't eat much of it. Our server graciously asked if she could get me something else but I'd had enough to eat.

We were surprised to find the managment comped our mimosas to celebrate my birthday! A lovely touch.

I think the GFC is one of my favorite eating spots on property. Its frequently overlooked in favor of the ADR "hotspots" but the menu is solid with some interesting options. A bit lux in the flavors, but casual and family friendly. For me, its the perfect option for either breakfast or dinner and is certainly worth the trek over the the GF from another property or the park.

Next up: Le Cellier

 

[tluvstink]

Your reviews are great thanks for posting them I have to agree with your opinion of GFC; we really like it too!

Terri

 

[phabric]

I enjoyed reading your review. We will be going to some of your restaurants.

 

[pumba]

thanks so much for taking the time to post your reviews.....all of it sounds fantastic..

Thanks again

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

joining in...

 

[Karlzmom]

Sorry the reiews are coming a bit slower, back to work and all that .

We decided to give Le Cellier a try this trip. After reading all the hype and knowing about the frenzy for ADRs I felt like we had to give it a go if possible. We were able to snag a 12:00 ADR, so after a sleep in, and snagging TT fast passes for later we made our way over to Canada. After checking in, we had a couple of minutes to poke around the pavilion.

We were ushered in by a friendly young lady and shown to a table right before the fireplace. Granted, it was also right next to the kitchen door, but by strategically picking our chairs we were able to enjoy the ambience without much of a visual blight. As a side note, there was a large party of Disney mucky-mucks dining at the same time. The chef was out repeatedly explaining the dishes. We couldn't help but wonder if they were "test driving" the new menu.

Because it was lunch, we skipped appetizers. However, in a surprise move DS asked to have the cheese soup starter with his kids meal. This was very unusual for him, but we didn't complain as it let us sample a bit.
The bread was served warm. DS got a kick out of the little vase-like cups they served the sticks in. The pretzel bread was the big hit, particularly when dipped into the cheese soup. The soup was appropriately hot, but not scalding. The salt balance was correct and for a northern gal raised on Cheese Soup, I was duly impressed. I was only able to manage a small nibble due to my dietary issues, but found it to be a tasty option.

DS followed his soup with the cheese pizza. It wasn't the best of the week. In fact, he left most of it on the plate. DH tried a bite as we are always curious about DS tastes and likes/dislikes. DH stated the pizza was very bland and the crust left much to be desired. Shame, with the wonderful bread service that they couldn't come up with a better pizza crust. DS would have to wait until later in the week to get a really good crust.

DH and I both ordered the petit filets, medium rare. We left the dish as created, both opting for the risotto. The meat was nicely cut and trimmed. The entire filet was butter-tender and the flavor was out of this world. The mushrooms gave the dish a nice earthiness that is missing in most Disney food. Combined with the ambience, feasting on this dish made it easy to forget we were dining in the middle of a theme park! We were also impressed at the portion size, which was perfect. Enough to really satisify, but not an overwhelming pile of food.

We normally don't go for dessert at lunch, but we were curious about the options offered. After much discussion about the "Moose", the Chocolate on Chocolate Whiskey Cake and the Maple Brulee, we settled on the Moose [for DS entertainment] and the cake. The moose was the better option. It was not overly sweet, and did not leave any sort of "fake" aftertaste that can happen with chocolate desserts. I loved the creamy texture and it was the perfect bite, in my estimation. The cake was also a nice option, but was a weaker choice than the moose. The "Honey-Thyme Anglaise and a Chocolate-Vanilla Walnut Sauce" was merely a drizzle across the top and didn't add much to what otherwise was a pretty basic chocolate cake. I'd try the brulee next time.

Even paying OOP, I would go to Le Cellier again. I was worried that it was a hype-only spot, but it really delivered the goods!


Next up: Beaches and Cream

 

[chocolateMinnie]

great reviews - we loved Le Cellier - can't wait to see their menu, hoping for not too huge a change when they go to 2ts

 

[phabric]

Disney has a menu for Le Cellier under Where to Eat - Fine/Signature Dining list. We plan to eat there for the first time in August, I wonder if that is their new menu.