Jiko or bluezoo???

[shawy1269]

Ill be attending the Food and Wine Fest for 3 nights in October. I have ADRS for Via Napoli on the night we arrive, Jiko AND bluzoo for night two, and San Angel for our final night. Night two is our signature dining night and I would like to dine somewhere memorable. We are staying at the Dolphin, but I would like to see the AKL since I've never been there before. My gf is an interior design student and loves restaurants that appeal to all of the senses. Which Signature Dining Experience is right for us? Should we hold out for something else? Thanks DIS. Shawn.

 

[Pakey]

There's upscale dining and then there's Disney's version of upscale dining. Jiko is a nice restaurant but it's not in the same league as bluezoo.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you want to try both why not eat early at Jiko and then go to the lounge at Bluezoo and eat again?

 

[Leota]

Jiko is a great restaurant & we enjoyed the couple meals we've had there.

But, BlueZoo is an absolute must-do every trip since it opened. It's really outstanding. It has a really cool vibe to it that will probably appeal to your GF's interior design interests.

If you haven't done BlueZoo yet, I would do it.

Like Nala said, you can always do both. We've been known to have traveling dinners. We usually pick an area (monorail or Crescent Lake) But there's no reason you couldn't have drinks & apps at Jiko, then head back to your home resort & have entrees & desserts at BlueZoo.

 

[tony67]

There's upscale dining and then there's Disney's version of upscale dining. Jiko is a nice restaurant but it's not in the same league as bluezoo.

That sums it up quite well!

 

[Uncleromulus]

I would eat at the Blue Zoo, then do my sightseeing over at the AKL.

 

[tortoni]

We did both last trip and have also done Blue Zoo on prior trips. Depends on what you are looking for. I love the bar area of Blue Zoo for atmosphere. Good for a drink and snack. I think the restaurant feels a bit like a convention hall, and depending on what is going on at the Dolphin, may have quite a few business diners which gives it a different feel. Dinner there is very good, but not outstanding. Jiko is definitely Disney dining, i.e., there will be kids. We enjoyed it very much, although the dining room has several sections and some seemed more cozy than others. I think the food was just as good as BlueZoo, although there were definitely more meat dishes, while BlueZoo focuses more on fish, as I recall. Both are very good and you cannot go wrong. Like the OP suggested, maybe try both. I'd go to Jiko for dinner and then follow up with drinks and dessert at Blue Zoo.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Bluezoo!

 

[TifffanyD]

I've done both and just did bluezoo 3 days ago. I would pick Jiko. We just love it there. Bluezoo was nice, but it didn't over the top wow me. We ate at Il Mulino and it was fantastic so I was expecting even MORE from bluezoo. I would say the food was on par and the service at bluezoo was a little less than at Il Mulino. Still good just not as memorable. I had really high expectations for it tho.

I love Jiko... it makes me happy.

 

[shawy1269]

This is why I love these boards...so many good suggestions. OK, so it looks like if it were dinner only...DISers prefer bluezoo. If I were to split it up, it would be Jiko for dinner then bluezoo for cocktails and dessert...a def. possibility. I think im leaning towards dinner at bluezoo though. As far as the food goes, it might just be too much of a stretch at Jiko for my gf. Thanks for the valuable info. Anyone else who wants to weigh in is welcome!

 

[TifffanyD]

This is why I love these boards...so many good suggestions. OK, so it looks like if it were dinner only...DISers prefer bluezoo. If I were to split it up, it would be Jiko for dinner then bluezoo for cocktails and dessert...a def. possibility. I think im leaning towards dinner at bluezoo though. As far as the food goes, it might just be too much of a stretch at Jiko for my gf. Thanks for the valuable info. Anyone else who wants to weigh in is welcome!

There are $25 restaurant.com certificates for bluezoo, by the way. I believe there is a code out now for 80% off ... it's posted on the budget board. Or you can check retailmenot for the most current code

 

[shawy1269]

Yep, just printed a $25 GC for $2!!!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I thought Bluezoo was overrated. The food was okay, but the beer selection was poor, the service was lousy, we didn't care for the atmosphere, and it was over priced.
I have eaten at Jiko close to 20 times, and never had bad meal...

MG