It's time to give back - dining reviews from our anniversary trip!

[lcznc]

Since I have learned so much from the DIS, I felt it was my duty to report back on our recent trip (5/17 - 5/21) celebrating our 5 year anniversary. I'll try and not be too long winded - but that is sometimes hard for me to accomplish

A little background - it was just DH and I. Left the kids at home (and before you you all gasp in horror at our apparent cruelty, we will be taking our oldest DD on her first trip to the world in October) and enjoyed 5 days of eating and drinking our way around the world. I thought I had it all planned perfectly, but as they say, they best laid plans...

5/17:
Lunch at the ABC Commisary-Well this was about as unmemorable as it gets. I equate this to just putting cheap gas in the tank. We were hot, hungry and tired. I had the burger (YUCK) and DH had the fish and chips. I'm not sure you could pay me to go back there.

Dinner was supposed to be at the Brown Derby, but I had originally scheduled the ADR for 8:00 pm and there was no way we were either going to hang at MGM that long or go to go back to hotel and then come back to the park. So I called up Disney Dining to see if we could get into Citricos. Well that was totally booked but Narcossees (sp??) was available so we decided to go for it even though the reviews have been somewhat mixed. Let me say that the atmosphere was delightful. We ordered one of our favorite bottles of wine and just took in the scenery. When we finally got around to ordering dinner, I got the seared tuna and a ceasar salad and DH got the halibut. Now we live in coastal NC so we are a little leary of ordering seafood when we travel since we enjoy great fresh fish at home on a regular basis, but I am pleased to report that we both enjoyed our meal. That is until we got the bill (note we were NOT on the dining plan). Did I think that the price was worth the meal? Probably not, but hey it was our first night in the world and we were just so excited to be there...

5/18
Lunch at Alfredo's - Now I know that this place gets a lot of flack, but I've got to tell you that both times we have eaten here my DH and I have loved it. We did not have an ADR - just walked up and were seated right away. We split the buffalo mozzarela and tomato salad (I forget what it's called) and my DH had the spaghetti and meatballs. We each enjoyed a glass of Pinot Grigio. It was perfect - no complaints whatsoever. Would definitely go again.

Dinner at Le Cellier - I have to tell you all that I had kind of set my expectations somewhat low. I mean I have eaten at some of the best steak houses in the country so how good could LC be? Well, both my DH and I were pleasantly surprised. Service was pretty good (not great but pretty good) and the food was excellent. My DH started with the cheese soup (which I of couse sampled) and OMG!!!!!!!!! Yum!!!!!!!!!! Worth the trip to the restaurant in and of itself. I had the maple glazed filet w/ cream cheese mashed potatoes and DH had the mushroom risotto filet. Both were cooked perfectly (Med rare). Our waiter recommended a Canadian wine for us to try which we really enjoyed and added to the overall experience. I completely understand why this is such a popular restaurant especially at 1 dining credit on the dining plan.

I've got two more days to review but this is getting a little long. Next up: Casey's Corner, CG, Flame Tree, & ESPN

 

[swankybeth]

Great reviews so far, looking forward to more.

 

[disneyfans4ever]

Thanks for the reviews...can't wait to read the rest!

 

[lcznc]

So here is part two:

5/19 (OUR ANNIVERSARY):
Lunch at Casey's Corner - Well what can you say about hot dogs? But I have to say these were pretty darn good. We were able to get a table outside and watch parts of Cinderellabration. DH actually got both a hot dog and corn dog nuggets. I cannot imagine what his cholesterol looks like


Dinner at CG - Well this was about perfect in every way. We had an ADR for 8:00 pm and wishes was scheduled for 9:00. We requested a window table (mentioned it was our anniversay) and we were blessed with a great table. We started w/ the mushroom, goat cheese and carmelized onion flatbread (my Dh cannot understand why it is not called pizza) and it was delicious. DH had the filet and I went with the pork tenderloin. OMG was the pork unbelieveable. The filet was good but the pork was unbelieveable. We split the asparagras and it too was great. When Wishes began, the lights dimmed, and the music pipped in. That alone was worth the dinner even if the food had been sub-par. It was a great way to celebrate five wonderful years together.

5/20
Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ - I had read pretty good things about this place and thought it might be a good place to stop for lunch. Well, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I am from SE NC and do not know what I was doing eating BBQ in FL (I mean everyone knows that NC has the best BBQ right? ) Now maybe I could have gotten past the sub par BBQ put when we went to sit down outside and were surrounded my rabid ducks staring at us and willing us to drop a morsel of food, my reslove left me. I was almost completely undone by the families who were calling out to the ducks with pieces of their lunch and thinking it was so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!! Note to all families w/ small children - feeding the ducks should be reserved to lakes and ponds NOT lunch tables. I think DH and I had about three bites before losing our appetites. The ducks definitely won that battle...

Dinner at ESPN - let me just say that this was our last night and we had orignially scheduled an ADR for Jiko for that evening. But at about 3:00 that afternoon, my DH informed me that he was just over the fine dining thing for this trip and that we should just wing it at the Boardwalk for dinner. So off to the Boardwalk we go and go by Spoodles which had availability but didn't really look good to us. But it was the day of the Preakness so we headed to ESPN for drinks and bar food and it didn't disappoint. I won't even rate the food-you can find it at any sports bar in America but we had a ball and it was a fun way to wind down the trip.

It was a great trip and one that we won't get to do again for a while (our next trip is pretty much all character meals). Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks agains for everything-this was such a great resource to me while I was planning!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this report. You answered one of my questions. I made ADR's far in advance for our Sept/Oct trip and had been hoping that there would be some wiggle room as I cannot hardly figure out what I want to eat tomorrow let alone four months from now. I am greatly relieved.

We are of a like mind too in that I am more interested in eating what we feel like rather than getting the most bang for our buck.

Slightly Goofy

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoying reading your reviews ~ Can't wait for more.

 

[fizz13]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Me and DH are doing pretty much what you did when we go in August, without the kids and then taking our kids in October. really looking forward to some fine dining. Wonder if your Dh has a point though, that all the fine dining I have planned may be too much of a good thing. Now I know the antidote is a lazy session at ESPN
Claire xx

 

[gshumaker]

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[ufgator]

Thanks for the reviews!

 

[3princesses4us]

Thanks for the reviews. I would never gasp by the way at the thought of leaving the kids because we did it too! Except we were celebrating 10 years and left 3 little girls at home (including a baby)
Congrats on the 5 years together! I wish we had been as smart and gone to the California Grill. I didn't find the DIS until AFTER we got back from that trip. I'm much smarter now...

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks for the great reviews. You ate at some of our favorites like Le Cellier & California Grill so it was nice to see you enjoyed them both. I had the Pork Tenderloin at CG last year also and it was fantastic. The pork and creamy polenta are so good together. We also enjoyed lunch at Alfredo's on our last trip too.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Glad to see that you posted your reviews. I enjoyed reading them!!

 

[MeggerasMa]

Thanks for taking the time to post your reviews. And remember, a great marriage is a terrific base for raising a healthy family! Congratulations on your anniversary.

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

Thanks for the great reviews!

 

[01Sweetpea]

Great reviews!!!

I keep hinting to DH that next year I'll be 40 (gulp) AND we'll be married 5 years and an ALONE trip to WDW would be a great way to celebrate.

 

[magicmouse2]

Excellent reviews thankyou.