It is Such A Shame

[TheRustyScupper]

It is such a shame that for big bucks, signature meals are so mediocre.

1) I have long said that we patronize only five TS eateries at WDW.
2) Jiko is not one of them, so I was challenged to try Jiko, again.
3) We did.
4) My opinion has not changed.

5) The meal "ticket" price was $200 (including wine)
6) WIFE - Chicken
. . . beans were absolutely perfectly prepared, crisp and delicious
. . . chicken was on the dry side, not ugly but terribly average
. . . cassava was tasty, but not smooth and had very huge chunks
7) SELF - Halibut
. . . veggies were overcooked droopy
. . . sauce was tasty, but overshadowed rather than complimented the fish
. . . fish was overcooked, dry and rubbery
8) Servers
. . . slightly average, as the server did ask about our meal
. . . did not take time to really explain the menu items
. . . was more concerned about getting orders quickly and turning tables
. . . we usually order appy, then order entrée, then order dessert
. . . this allows us to stretch the meal and enjoy the ambiance
. . . we are also not fond of different folks delivering the food ("runners")
. . . we believe this is the server's job, not someone who "flings" the food
. . . and we should not have to be asked "now, who had the chicken?"
. . . food runners are OK only when a table actually has two attendants
9) Hostess and Greeters
. . . we did not accept the table assigned to us
. . . this seemed to upset the hostess
. . . but, we do not sit by server stations or at main aisles
. . . dishes rattling behind us and people crossing do not go with expensive meals

I stand by my PERSONAL opinion of acceptable restaurants at WDW.
The only sit-down restaurants we patronize at WDW are,
. . . Bistro de Paris
. . . Citricos
. . . Shula's Steakhouse
. . . Il Mulino
. . . Victoria & Albert's

NOTE: The comment may be made that I should have sent our meals back. If it were not for the fact that we didn't pay for the meal, we would have.

 

[OKW Lover]

Thanks for the update, and will be looking forward to the next "challenge" to your list.

 

[Mom of 2 Wife of 1]

It is such a shame that for big bucks, signature meals are so mediocre.

1) I have long said that we patronize only five TS eateries at WDW.
2) Jiko is not one of them, so I was challenged to try Jiko, again.
3) We did.
4) My opinion has not changed.

5) The meal "ticket" price was $200 (including wine)
6) WIFE - Chicken
. . . beans were absolutely perfectly prepared, crisp and delicious
. . . chicken was on the dry side, not ugly but terribly average
. . . cassava was tasty, but not smooth and had very huge chunks
7) SELF - Halibut
. . . veggies were overcooked droopy
. . . sauce was tasty, but overshadowed rather than complimented the fish
. . . fish was overcooked, dry and rubbery
8) Servers
. . . slightly average, as the server did ask about our meal
. . . did not take time to really explain the menu items
. . . was more concerned about getting orders quickly and turning tables
. . . we usually order appy, then order entrée, then order dessert
. . . this allows us to stretch the meal and enjoy the ambiance
. . . we are also not fond of different folks delivering the food ("runners")
. . . we believe this is the server's job, not someone who "flings" the food
. . . and we should not have to be asked "now, who had the chicken?"
. . . food runners are OK only when a table actually has two attendants
9) Hostess and Greeters
. . . we did not accept the table assigned to us
. . . this seemed to upset the hostess
. . . but, we do not sit by server stations or at main aisles
. . . dishes rattling behind us and people crossing do not go with expensive meals

I stand by my PERSONAL opinion of acceptable restaurants at WDW.
The only sit-down restaurants we patronize at WDW are,
. . . Bistro de Paris
. . . Citricos
. . . Shula's Steakhouse
. . . Il Mulino
. . . Victoria & Albert's

NOTE: The comment may be made that I should have sent our meals back. If it were not for the fact that we didn't pay for the meal, we would have.

1) Oh, Rusty, we all know that you hate everything Disney. Why do you insist on trolling these boards and inciting arguments based on your personal opinions?
2) Of course you paid for the meal. You're only saying otherwise to make it seem like you didn't give Disney any of your money. Nice try -- not buyin' it.
3) The other five restaurants you listed all give a percentage to Disney, so no matter how hard you try to not give Disney your money, they get it.
4) Only poor customers receive poor customer service. If you were truly unhappy with your meal, you would have spoken with a manager, sent everything back, etc. etc. By doing none of the above, and coming on this board to complain/incite, you have done nothing to better the situation.
5) Here endeth the lesson.
6)

 

[Planogirl]

1) Oh, Rusty, we all know that you hate everything Disney. Why do you insist on trolling these boards and inciting arguments based on your personal opinions?
2) Of course you paid for the meal. You're only saying otherwise to make it seem like you didn't give Disney any of your money. Nice try -- not buyin' it.
3) The other five restaurants you listed all give a percentage to Disney, so no matter how hard you try to not give Disney your money, they get it.
4) Only poor customers receive poor customer service. If you were truly unhappy with your meal, you would have spoken with a manager, sent everything back, etc. etc. By doing none of the above, and coming on this board to complain/incite, you have done nothing to better the situation.
5) Here endeth the lesson.
6)

I'll only say "Wow!" and add that your comment 3) doesn't make sense to me. Can you explain it?

 

[Kay1]

I'm glad you didn't pay because $200 is a pretty expensive experiment. I have never tried Jiko but couldn't disagree more about food runners. I want my food delivered the minute it's placed in the window. I don't want it to sit there while my server is busy taking an order or standing in line at the bar.

Sorry you didn't like it but at least you gave it a shot.

 

[jenjersnap]

Mom of 2 Wife of 1, here is the thread that explains how Rusty got a comped meal at Jiko: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2581884

As to the review itself, well, I expected it would go like this. Seems to me like Jiko has issues, but, well ... I am glad I am not high maintenance. No one loves to sit near the kitchen or near aisles, but, in a full restaurant, someone has to.

 

[Tara]

To each their own - I had a positively excellent meal at Jiko just a couple of months ago and I'll happily return. I've never had anything but outstanding experiences at Jiko, California Grill and Citricos. Yachtsman Steakhouse is good but not as good as the others IME. I've dined at Shula's in other areas and find it to be no better than the others I've listed here (except maybe Yachtsman). They do very good steak, but that's it IME, and if I'm going on vacation, I'd prefer to get an experience I can't get anywhere else, so no chains, TYVM. I haven't tried bluezoo or IM, so I can't comment.

I'm curious as to why Victoria & Albert's doesn't make your list.

 

[illiram]

Please, please continue to stick with the restaurants that you enjoy, that way my easy-going family doesn't have to be exposed to the servers you've stressed out.

Bon Appetit!

 

[Cinderella94]

I'm glad I don't want to be a waitress.

 

[pumba]

please all remember that we all have LIKES AND DISLIKES......I am an easy going diner and usually the food I dislike is not because the food is not good but because it is not to my taste......

Please remember that "he" is offering an opinion that is his

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Thanks for the review Scupper. Sorry you're being demonized by the 'pixie dusters'.

All reviews have to be taken with a grain of salt as they are not yours but Rusty has had valid opinions, stated directly around here for a long time and I (which will be no surprise to anyone) am glad he keeps beating the drum.

 

[eliza61]

Thanks for the review Rusty, I like hearing the good, the bad and the ugly to any place I go. I was rope into try Le Cellier 3X's based on all the "Best steak I've ever had reviews" I constantly read here on the boards.

I hope you also fire off a nicely worded (doesn't mean rude) email to the mouse. I always do.

I totally agree with you. very few restaurants in the world I go to. The money I save off site more than pays for my rental car and the food is much better.

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

It is such a shame that for big bucks, signature meals are so mediocre.

1) I have long said that we patronize only five TS eateries at WDW.
2) Jiko is not one of them, so I was challenged to try Jiko, again.
3) We did.
4) My opinion has not changed.

5) The meal "ticket" price was $200 (including wine)
6) WIFE - Chicken
. . . beans were absolutely perfectly prepared, crisp and delicious
. . . chicken was on the dry side, not ugly but terribly average
. . . cassava was tasty, but not smooth and had very huge chunks
7) SELF - Halibut
. . . veggies were overcooked droopy
. . . sauce was tasty, but overshadowed rather than complimented the fish
. . . fish was overcooked, dry and rubbery
8) Servers
. . . slightly average, as the server did ask about our meal
. . . did not take time to really explain the menu items
. . . was more concerned about getting orders quickly and turning tables
. . . we usually order appy, then order entrée, then order dessert
. . . this allows us to stretch the meal and enjoy the ambiance
. . . we are also not fond of different folks delivering the food ("runners")
. . . we believe this is the server's job, not someone who "flings" the food
. . . and we should not have to be asked "now, who had the chicken?"
. . . food runners are OK only when a table actually has two attendants
9) Hostess and Greeters
. . . we did not accept the table assigned to us
. . . this seemed to upset the hostess
. . . but, we do not sit by server stations or at main aisles
. . . dishes rattling behind us and people crossing do not go with expensive meals

I stand by my PERSONAL opinion of acceptable restaurants at WDW.
The only sit-down restaurants we patronize at WDW are,
. . . Bistro de Paris
. . . Citricos
. . . Shula's Steakhouse
. . . Il Mulino
. . . Victoria & Albert's

NOTE: The comment may be made that I should have sent our meals back. If it were not for the fact that we didn't pay for the meal, we would have.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I would have to agree that your experience at this restaurant does not sound like a restaurant that would deserve a "Signature" status. It sounds like a visit to any chain style overpriced italian restaurant or steakhouse.

 

[LaurenT]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I would have to agree that your experience at this restaurant does not sound like a restaurant that would deserve a "Signature" status. It sounds like a visit to any chain style overpriced italian restaurant or steakhouse.

If I had read this review and had not been to this restaurant myself, I may have come to the same conclusion, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at Jiko. Perhaps the quality of the food has deteriorated since the new chef took over, but there were 6 of us and we were all impressed (and 3 of the 6 are food snobs). The waitress spent considerable time discussing the different menu options and took us through the South African wines - my experience with South African wines was limited to Sauvignon Blanc.
So, Rusty Scupper, I am sorry to hear your evening was not more enjoyable, and for my own selfish reasons, I hope your dissatisfaction is due more to you having a narrow view of what makes a signature meal and less to do with Jiko coming to a point where they are resting on their reputation instead of continuing to build one....I do hope that when I dine there again I will not be sorely disappointed!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

If I had read this review and had not been to this restaurant myself, I may have come to the same conclusion, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at Jiko. Perhaps the quality of the food has deteriorated since the new chef took over, but there were 6 of us and we were all impressed (and 3 of the 6 are food snobs). The waitress spent considerable time discussing the different menu options and took us through the South African wines - my experience with South African wines was limited to Sauvignon Blanc.
So, Rusty Scupper, I am sorry to hear your evening was not more enjoyable, and for my own selfish reasons, I hope your dissatisfaction is due more to you having a narrow view of what makes a signature meal and less to do with Jiko coming to a point where they are resting on their reputation instead of continuing to build one....I do hope that when I dine there again I will not be sorely disappointed!

I really enjoyed my meal when I ate there about a month ago, so I hope it was just an off night too.

 

[Mom of 2 Wife of 1]

I do hope that when I dine there again I will not be sorely disappointed!

Don't worry, you won't be.

There are some people in this world who only see the glass half-empty, and they receive from this world exactly what they deserve.

 

[Planogirl]

To each their own - I had a positively excellent meal at Jiko just a couple of months ago and I'll happily return. I've never had anything but outstanding experiences at Jiko, California Grill and Citricos. Yachtsman Steakhouse is good but not as good as the others IME. I've dined at Shula's in other areas and find it to be no better than the others I've listed here (except maybe Yachtsman). They do very good steak, but that's it IME, and if I'm going on vacation, I'd prefer to get an experience I can't get anywhere else, so no chains, TYVM. I haven't tried bluezoo or IM, so I can't comment.

I'm curious as to why Victoria & Albert's doesn't make your list.

He said:

I stand by my PERSONAL opinion of acceptable restaurants at WDW.
The only sit-down restaurants we patronize at WDW are,
. . . Bistro de Paris
. . . Citricos
. . . Shula's Steakhouse
. . . Il Mulino
. . . Victoria & Albert's

So V&A's is there.

I keep seeing such mixed reviews for California Grill! I'm just going to have to break down and try it.

 

[WheelCEO]

1. you
2. need
3. to
4. get
5. out
6. more

 

[BriarRosie]

I'm not surprised you didn't like Jiko because I thought you might have had a predetermined prejudice against it. I think your table preferences and complaints about food runners put you in the "pickier than the average guest" category.

I would have been interested in finding out if you tried the wild boar appetizer I had, if you would have found it as good as I did, but I guess we'll never know.

Since I went to both Jiko and Il Mulino within the past week and a half, and Shula's in July, I felt I had equally enjoyable meals at all of those places. I think Jiko did deserve to be among the signature places. But to each his (or her) own.

My biggest disappointment was a chef's tasting menu at Flying Fish, but it was a combination of the menu and that I wasn't feeling completely well.

 

[marivaid]

I think your table preferences and complaints about food runners put you in the "pickier than the average guest" category.

I had another category in mind...

1) Reviews like this make me glad I am not part of Disney's food service employees.
2) It also makes me glad to be part of the "masses" who actually enjoy our time at regular WDW eateries.
3) I couldn't care less where people choose to spend their money.
4) But you are giving "advice" to guests who most likely do not have the same standards as you,and you are keeping them away from an experience they would enjoy.
5) How tiring it must be to constantly be nitpicking.
6) Maybe part of the reason why you did not enjoy your dinner was that it hurt to sit...