ISO reassurance re: Yachtsman Steakhouse

[Bay in TN]

Considering the negative thread just posted today, I'm worrying again.

My son will celebrate his 14th birthday during our Sept/Oct trip. I asked him where he wanted to dine that evening, and he perused a list of restaurants, checked some menus, thought about it carefully (as is his wont), and returned with the answer, "I want to eat dinner at the Yachtsman Steakhouse."

I'm sure his first requirement is "steak." He's a guy. All you have to do to command his rapt attention is to utter the magic word, "Beef." This works even when I've been asking repeatedly whether he cleaned his room for the last hour.

I think he may also have chosen the Yachtsman over Le Cellier or (my favorite) the Concourse Steakhouse, because the Yachtsman is in our resort. (OK, technically it's at the Yacht Club, but hey, that's closer than Le Cellier.) Either he's really considerate and doesn't want us to have to get in the car to drive to the Contemp, *or* he just wants the steak to be that much closer to his mouth. Not sure which. Could be the latter. Probably is the latter. Hmmmmmm.

Now -- even though Woodrow's wishes are simple ("beef" and "nearby beef"), my requirements are a little more complex. I want him to have an unbelievably fabulous chunk of nearby beef. My husband and I had already decided that this birthday fete would be *off* the DDP, because the restaurant would require 2 TS credits per person. Hey, man, the kid only has one 14th birthday in his life. The least we can do is pop for the meal, right? Besides, that frees up a TS credit for some other TS meal.

So what I want to know is this:
- Will Yachtsman be so disappointing that it isn't worth the money?
- Would we be smarter going to the Concourse? (That's my favorite steakhouse at WDW, anyway, and the men in my family haven't even been there yet.)
- Do you just love the Yachtsman, top to bottom, without reservation?

I understand that every restaurant has off days. We once visited Flying Fish and had a perfectly awful dinner with terrible service. Bad service happens sometimes. I would just prefer that it not happen when it's a kid's birthday *and* we're paying full-price for it.

Thank you in advance for any reassurance you can offer!

--Bay

 

[bellelinus]

I just had a filet at Yachtsman about 2 weeks ago -- it's good, but I wouldn't characterize it as "great." However, I don't think the steaks at Concourse are that good at all, although I like their burgers. I would go with Yachtsman over Concourse. The best steak I have had in Orlando is at the Palm at Hard Rock Hotel, but I have heard that Shula's at the Dolphin is very good.

 

[msteddom]

I have fond memories of the Yachtsman Steakhouse as "the restaurant that saved our vacation"

I was at the Yacht Club with my two aunts and their children, a total of four cousins ranging in age from 14-7. One set of kids was being really unruly, so much so that their mother was about 5 minutes away from packing up and going home. Instead we happened to walk by the Yachtsman, when she says "I need a restaurant that has tablecloths tonight!" So instead of going home we all had a lovely meal at the Yachtsman. The kids were perfectly behave, the service was wonderful and the food was quite good.

So please don't have any reservations about eating there. You son chose a wonderful place. Don't second guess him!


Melissa

 

[Peter Pirate]

If you want a better catagory steakhouse right near by try
Shula's. It's a bit more expensive but not a lot...Check the menus & see. The guys might like the clubby football theme!

 

[Aimeedyan]

This always happens when someone posts a negative exp. Someone else gets upset and worries about their dining choices and lots of people flock to defend the restaurant.

Bottom line is that you won't have the same exp as me nor will anyone else. There is not one restaurant in the world that everyone loves or everyone hates. If your son chose that one for his birthday, GO! Have a great time, enjoy your family, and let him have his choice. If you are disappointed in your meal, you know better for next time that Yachtsman is not for you. We've never had a bad meal at Disney World - yachtsman included.

JMHO.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[mtdevine615]

I agree with Aimeedyan everyones experience will be different. I don't care for YSH but other people love it. My steak was so bad you could see the whip marks from the jockey. I like Shula's but a lot of people think it's over rated. Bottom line if your DS wants to go there then that's where I'd go. I'm sure you'll have a great time. Don't worry to much about what other people think, unless everyone is saying it's bad.

 

[CamColt]

We have gotten lucky and have had 3 amazing meals at YSH. Everything from the rolls with garlic, right through to dessert has been delicious. But as always, thats just my experience, and any restaurant can have a good or bad day. I know I have had a couple bad dining experiences at restuarants people rave about here. But I always say everyone should try whatever interests them and form their own opinions.

With that said, I think Peter Pirate has a good point...the atmosphere of Shulas may be more to your DS's liking. I haven't dined there, but peeked in and I hope to try it by the end of the year.

 

[jenrose66]

I really enjoy the Yachtsmen Steakhouse. I have eatent here twice in the last two years (once per trip) and was never disappointed. I thought the steak was very good, it was always cooked just like we ordered it. I have had the filet mignon both times, my husband had prime rib once and I think he had something else the first time, but I don't remember. He loved his meal too. I also like the appetizers, we have had clams, a tomoato mozzerella salad, and some type of asparagus. I also enjoyed their sides of mushrooms and spinach. The creme brulee for desert is also delicious. If you get a table near the window by the pool area the view is very nice. I think the restaurant is tastefully decorated and the servers were always very nice. With that said, it is very expensive (at least I think so), but it's worth trying. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I would let them know ahead of time that it is your son's 14th birthday and that he specifically requested that this be the restaurant he has his birthday dinner at.

I agree with Peter Pirate, Shula's is far superior, but your son asked for the Yachtsman and I would go with what he asked for.

 

[bicker]

Shula's is the best, by far. Yachtsman Steakhouse is second place, though, so that's some consolation. If beef-for-beef's sake is the metric, then you can choose from any number of lesser choices, like Concourse Steakhouse, Le Cellier, Maya Grill, and even Gullivers.

 

[lvloopingbag]

We enjoyed the YSH so much on our December trip we ate there twice!

 

[MinnieMe67]

We also enjoy the YSH and try to dine there once a trip. It is expensive, but in our experience, the food had been very good and the service excellent. Whatever you decide, enjoy and Happy Birthday to your son!

 

[Nagle]

This always happens when someone posts a negative exp. Someone else gets upset and worries about their dining choices and lots of people flock to defend the restaurant.

Bottom line is that you won't have the same exp as me nor will anyone else. There is not one restaurant in the world that everyone loves or everyone hates. If your son chose that one for his birthday, GO! Have a great time, enjoy your family, and let him have his choice. If you are disappointed in your meal, you know better for next time that Yachtsman is not for you. We've never had a bad meal at Disney World - yachtsman included.

JMHO.

Enjoy your trip!

Great answer.

John

 

[randyl]

Having been to both Yachtsman and Shula's several times, I would have to say Shula's (although Yachtsman is very good). Shula's is more like a "true" steakhouse. Clubby, ala carte, etc.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

We have eaten at the Yachtsman Steakhouse every single trip since they opened in 91. We have always had wonderful food and service. On our last trip, my DD's boyfriend said his steak had fallen of God's grill right onto his plate.

Before your meal, they serve the most womderful bread with roasted garlic and butter. I have to make myself stop eating it so I'll have room for my steak!

The tables by the windows are very nice. If you are there at 9, you can see just a little bit of Illuminations. The down side to the window tables is the people walking along the sidewalk stare at your food!

 

[glass slipper girl]

DH and I had a "date night dinner" at Yachtsman in December (as in kids to the kids club for the night) and we loved it. That was his one request for our September trip...must dine at Yachtsman.

Food was great, service was excellent and atmosphere lovely. A great evening out!