Join us in celebrating our 25th Anniversary...DeLuxe Style! SURPRISE FINALE
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jabead
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- Sep 22, 2000
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Hi Jill, glad you're still reading! I checked BBVD's concert schedule on their website, but sadly no concerts are scheduled here in Illinois
. But at least I'll be able to listen their cds, as I ordered both their Christmas and Live cds for DH for Christmas. I'll have to check out the movie Swingers as well. Hopefully it's still available for rent.
jabead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2000
- Messages
- 7,371
Once again I feel the need to give you some background information before proceeding with this review, so please bear with me 
. We have only been to California Grill once before and that was I think four years ago. Although our daughter loved her sushi and I loved my filet, DS got a terrible steak (from the Kids menu) there which he still remembers to this day as the worst steak he has ever had. And then there was the noise, which I must admit it was quite loud as we were eating there during prime fireworks viewing time. I remember that we were seated in the middle of the main dining room, and it was packed with people
including many tired and unhappy children. After we had finished our appetizers, our entrees were taking so long in coming that the manager stopped by our table to apologize and offer a palate cleansing sorbet to hold us over. Anyway, from that point on, DH would use California Grill as a prime example of an overpriced, deafeningly-loud Disney restaurant to which he would never return.
Okay, now jump ahead to July 2010, when Im choosing the restaurants for this anniversary celebration trip. I had been reading so many good reviews on California Grill here on the DIS, those involving special occasions like anniversaries seemed especially wonderful. And so with some apprehension about DHs reaction, I went ahead and made a reservation at California Grill. After all, what could be more romantic than the two of us looking out at Cinderellas castle (all aglow with its beautiful Holiday lights) while dining on delicious food? He couldnt possibly object to this, could he??? Ahhhhh, well Ill just have to hope he is in a really good mood that day.
Okay, now jump ahead to Friday, November 12th. I thought my prayers had been answered, as we had had a really great day with a surprisingly good (and quiet) lunch at Le Cellier, a very interesting wine seminar with some good wines to taste, Happy Hour at La Cava, and an outstanding show by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. DH was in a great mood so I thought we were all set for what I hoped to be a great dinner at California Grill or at least better than our last experience there. But our mood soon changed when we were hit by the dreaded Disney curse (or whatever the opposite of Pixie Dust is), otherwise known as the Disney bus transportation system.
We were partially to blame though in that we couldnt tear ourselves away from the BBVD show, so didnt get back to our room to change for dinner as early as we should have. We left our room at 6:30 and headed to the bus stop at the Boardwalk (I had originally intended to leave by 6:00 or 6:15 at the very latest for our 7:40 ADR). We found there were many people at the bus stop, all of them waiting for the bus to MK. Most of them seemed to be going to the MVMCP which started at 7:00 and they had already been waiting there for 10 15 minutes. So based on the premise that buses arrive every 20 minutes or so, we thought we had it made
a MK bus should be arriving any minute now, right? Wrong! 
Its now almost 7:00 and there has been 2 buses come and gone for Animal Kingdom (wait, are they even still open at that time??? 
) and 2 buses for DTD, without one person getting off or on at our stop. Each time a wrong bus pulled up to our stop, I asked DH if we could take a taxi to the Contemporary. Each time I got more or less the same response
no way Im paying for a taxi when the bus is free, especially to go to that restaurant etc., etc.
you get the picture 
. My dreams of a perfect evening to end our (up to now) perfect day were quickly fading. Calls were made from the bus stop phone, only to be told, The bus is on its way and Should be there any minute now. By 7:10, things were getting really ugly. People were missing out on their valuable MVMCP time and they were MAD! 
As for me, thoughts were running through my head that we would miss our reservation time, be turned away from California Grill, and wind up using our Deluxe Dining Plan credits having dinner at the Contempo Café. But then
what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer ( just kidding 
, although at this point it seemed more likely that we could hitch a ride with Santa, on his way to the MVMCP parade, than take a bus to MK). In fact, though, a MK bus finally did arrive, our group cheered 
but now the problem was that only a few people got off so its still full of people (obviously all guests of the Swan & Dolphin Resorts). Our rather large group started boarding the bus, which of course is SRO. We were toward the end of the line, as most of the people ahead of us were already waiting at the bus stop when we arrived. Before squeezing ourselves into an already overfull bus, we asked how long it would take for us to get to MK. The driver replied that with two stops (as the Swan and Dolphin resorts are two separate stops) it would take at least 20 minutes. So looking at my watch (about 7:20 by now), I quickly calculated that our ETA at MK would be 7:40 at the earliest and then we would still either have to walk (or more likely, run) to the Contemporary from the MK bus stop or wait for the next monorail to take us there. I made one last plea to DH and to my surprise he told the driver we would take a cab there. Conveniently, there was a taxi sitting just a few steps away from the bus stop (isnt he the smart one? ) and we jumped in. Less than 20 minutes (and $15) later we were standing at the second floor check-in desk for California Grill. It was 7:40, the exact time of our reservation. 
So will our dinner tonight go well enough to change DHs mind about California Grill? Will it be worth the hassle with the bus and the $15 cab fare? Youll have to keep reading to find out.
Dinner at CALIFORNIA GRILL
When checking in at the 2nd floor desk, I asked if it would be possible to wait for a table by the window. They noted our request and handed us a pager before we proceeded onto the elevator which took us up to the 15th floor to the restaurant. We were still looking for a place to sit down, when our pager went off. Wow, that was fast. The host sat us in a smaller room, to the right of the main dining room (not the Wine room which is on the other side). I later asked our server the name of the room and was told, but for the life of me I cant remember it now. Can anyone tell me the name, because its driving me crazy trying to remember it? Anyway, our table (covered with Mickey confetti) was right next to the window and had a perfect view of the castle. Whether it was from happiness or just the relief from the stress that had been building inside me over the last hour, but tears came to my eyes. I again had hope that my dream of a perfect evening could be possible. 
Okay, now for what you are all here for the food. We first decided to order a glass of wine, to help us to further de-stress. I noticed that Conundrum was listed under the Interesting Whites and Rose category of the wine menu. I remembered reading about this wine in dining reviews here on the DIS and wanted to try it. In case you are not familiar with it, Conundrum is a California white wine that's made from a blend of five different white grapes. If you like white wine that is light and fruity, but not overly-sweet than I highly recommend this one. In fact, I liked this wine so much that I ended up ordering it again the next night at Narcoossees. DH couldnt decide which wine to order so asked our server for her recommendation. Based on what he planned to order for his appetizer/entree, she recommended an Italian red wine (listed under the Interesting Reds category) called NegroAmaro. He doesnt really remember much about this wine other than it went well with his entree and appetizer, which was the surprise order of this meal. I had planned to order a flatbread for my appetizer, so I was hoping that DH would order the Goat Cheese Ravioli (the other appetizer I wanted to try). But DH surprised me completely by ordering sushi. He asked our server, Dawn, for her sushi recommendation for beginners like us. She recommended either the California roll (Jumbo lump crab with avocado and cucumber) or the Spicy Kazan roll (Crab, shrimp, bay scallops, tuna and fireball sauce). Now, I could have sworn that he got the California but our receipt says Spicy Kazan. So perhaps one of you can tell me what he had by looking at the picture?
??? Sushi Roll
Whichever it was, we both thought it was pretty good. DH was so proud of himself for ordering sushi that he took a picture of it with his cell phone and sent it to our DD, the sushi lover of our family. She was quite impressed with her father and a little jealous too. Anyway, although the sushi was good, my appetizer choice was even better Triple Cheese Flatbread with Pecorino, Asiago, and Provolone cheeses, Sun-dried Tomato and Arugula Pesto. Oh my gosh, this was soooo good!!! Sorry Via Napoli but you just lost the title of having the, Best Pizza/Flatbread Ive Ever Had at Disney World.
Triple Cheese Flatbread
Our meal was off to an excellent start. Would the excellence continue with our entrees? Im happy to say the answer was YES! For my entrée, I of course chose the Oak-fired Filet of Beef served with Dauphinoise Potatoes with Smoked Bacon, Ginger-scented Carrots, and Teriyaki Barbecue. My filet was again perfectly cooked to medium-well as ordered and was both tender and flavorful, although it was not quite as good as my Yachtsman filet. The Dauphinoise potatoes were like scalloped potatoes and were tasty, but again not as good as the mashed potatoes that were served with my filet at Yachtsman Steakhouse.
Oak-fired Filet of Beef and Dauphinoise Potatoes
As I had predicted, DH ordered the Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Goat Cheese Polenta, Roasted Mushrooms, Zinfandel Glaze, and Sage. I forgot to taste this, but DH said he really enjoyed this; perhaps even more than the pork tenderloin we were served at Kent Rathbuns culinary demo so this must have been really good because Kent Rathbuns pork dish was delicious.
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Goat Cheese Polenta
So far our meal has been perfect can it possibly get any better than this??? Well, yes it can, because at 9:30 we had a perfect view of the fireworks Holiday Wishes. And IMHO, this version of the Magic Kingdom fireworks is the best. I took a few pictures, but not having a very good camera, they dont do this fireworks show justice so I wont post them. Needless to say, I again became teary eyed Im such a sucker for this kind of stuff.
Our dessert was then brought to our table. We were pretty full so ordered just one to share Valrhona Chocolate Cake - Warm Chocolate Cake with Molten Center, Marshmallow, and Peanut Butter Gelato. I absolutely loved this dessert! I have heard that they frequently change the flavor of the gelato/ice cream served with it, but I cant imagine any flavor going better with chocolate than peanut butter???
Valrhona Chocolate Cake and Peanut Butter Gelato
For our second dessert, our server, Dawn, offered to box up an assortment of fruit for us to take with us. We shared this for breakfast the next morning and it was delicious bananas, strawberries, apples, oranges, blueberries, etc. Although Ive seen pictures of this appetizer from the Kids menu, this portion seemed much larger. On our receipt it says Market Fruit, so maybe its an adult version of the kids appetizer? So, if like us, you are just too full for dessert here, keep this option in mind.
As if these two wonderful desserts werent enough, Dawn also boxed up this piece of chocolate cake for our Anniversary. Believe it not, this picture was taken two days later when we finally took it out of our refrigerator because we were switching resorts. And the best part is, it tasted even better than it looked!
Two day old Chocolate Anniversary Cake
So I am very pleased to tell you that this dinner did in fact change DHs opinion of California Grill. From the beginning, when we were seated by the window with a castle view in a room that was much quieter than what we had previously experienced in the main dining room, throughout our delicious meal (all three courses, plus wine), to the end of watching Holiday Wishes from our table, this meal was perfect. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention our server, Dawn. Again, from beginning to end, Dawn went above and beyond to make this a truly special experience for us. Also, I might add, not one but two restaurant managers visited our table to check to see if everything was to our satisfaction. In our six Signature dinners, this was the only one where we experienced this kind of service. Once my DH makes up his mind about a restaurant, he rarely if ever changes his opinion. So kudos to Dawn and the rest of the CG staff thanks to you, I will get to dine at California Grill again! I just wish it was going to be sooner.
I'll just add a couple of things here in case you are interested. At 2 1/2 hours (maybe a bit longer) this was our longest dinner of the trip. This seems like a long time for a meal, but at the time it seemed perfect...no long lags between courses, etc. The other thing I wanted to add is that our return trip to the Boardwalk after dinner went smoothly. We immediately boarded the monorail (no wait time), got off at the last stop (which was MK), walked to the bus stop and waited in a short line for the shared bus (BW, Swan & Dolphin). In just a few minutes a bus arrived and we were seated (gotta love it when you actually get seats on the bus) for the short drive to the Boardwalk (the first bus stop).
Now ...so as not to ruin the surprise, I've placed my summary info here at the end for this meal.
Highlights Decorated table and cake for anniversary, Conundrum wine, Flatbread, Pork Tenderloin, Valrhona Chocolate cake, Excellent service, Relatively quiet surroundings, Window table of great view of fireworks
Disappointments None I can think of
Would we Return? Definitely!
And finally for the numbers...
Total cost of meal (not including wine and tip) - $142.98 (or $35.75 per Dining Plan credit)
And so I can do a DDP vs. TIW Cost Comparison at the end...
Total cost of meal (not including wine and tip) if we had used my Tables in Wonderland discount of 20% instead of the DDP - $114.38
4 DeLuxe Dining Plan Credits used, 11 Remaining
NEXT UP: Lunch at San Angel Inn
. We have only been to California Grill once before and that was I think four years ago. Although our daughter loved her sushi and I loved my filet, DS got a terrible steak (from the Kids menu) there which he still remembers to this day as the worst steak he has ever had. And then there was the noise, which I must admit it was quite loud as we were eating there during prime fireworks viewing time. I remember that we were seated in the middle of the main dining room, and it was packed with people
including many tired and unhappy children. After we had finished our appetizers, our entrees were taking so long in coming that the manager stopped by our table to apologize and offer a palate cleansing sorbet to hold us over. Anyway, from that point on, DH would use California Grill as a prime example of an overpriced, deafeningly-loud Disney restaurant to which he would never return. Okay, now jump ahead to July 2010, when Im choosing the restaurants for this anniversary celebration trip. I had been reading so many good reviews on California Grill here on the DIS, those involving special occasions like anniversaries seemed especially wonderful. And so with some apprehension about DHs reaction, I went ahead and made a reservation at California Grill. After all, what could be more romantic than the two of us looking out at Cinderellas castle (all aglow with its beautiful Holiday lights) while dining on delicious food? He couldnt possibly object to this, could he??? Ahhhhh, well Ill just have to hope he is in a really good mood that day.
Okay, now jump ahead to Friday, November 12th. I thought my prayers had been answered, as we had had a really great day with a surprisingly good (and quiet) lunch at Le Cellier, a very interesting wine seminar with some good wines to taste, Happy Hour at La Cava, and an outstanding show by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. DH was in a great mood so I thought we were all set for what I hoped to be a great dinner at California Grill or at least better than our last experience there. But our mood soon changed when we were hit by the dreaded Disney curse (or whatever the opposite of Pixie Dust is), otherwise known as the Disney bus transportation system.
We were partially to blame though in that we couldnt tear ourselves away from the BBVD show, so didnt get back to our room to change for dinner as early as we should have. We left our room at 6:30 and headed to the bus stop at the Boardwalk (I had originally intended to leave by 6:00 or 6:15 at the very latest for our 7:40 ADR). We found there were many people at the bus stop, all of them waiting for the bus to MK. Most of them seemed to be going to the MVMCP which started at 7:00 and they had already been waiting there for 10 15 minutes. So based on the premise that buses arrive every 20 minutes or so, we thought we had it made
a MK bus should be arriving any minute now, right? Wrong!
Its now almost 7:00 and there has been 2 buses come and gone for Animal Kingdom (wait, are they even still open at that time??? ) and 2 buses for DTD, without one person getting off or on at our stop. Each time a wrong bus pulled up to our stop, I asked DH if we could take a taxi to the Contemporary. Each time I got more or less the same response
no way Im paying for a taxi when the bus is free, especially to go to that restaurant etc., etc.
you get the picture . My dreams of a perfect evening to end our (up to now) perfect day were quickly fading. Calls were made from the bus stop phone, only to be told, The bus is on its way and Should be there any minute now. By 7:10, things were getting really ugly. People were missing out on their valuable MVMCP time and they were MAD! As for me, thoughts were running through my head that we would miss our reservation time, be turned away from California Grill, and wind up using our Deluxe Dining Plan credits having dinner at the Contempo Café. But then
what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer ( just kidding , although at this point it seemed more likely that we could hitch a ride with Santa, on his way to the MVMCP parade, than take a bus to MK). In fact, though, a MK bus finally did arrive, our group cheered
but now the problem was that only a few people got off so its still full of people (obviously all guests of the Swan & Dolphin Resorts). Our rather large group started boarding the bus, which of course is SRO. We were toward the end of the line, as most of the people ahead of us were already waiting at the bus stop when we arrived. Before squeezing ourselves into an already overfull bus, we asked how long it would take for us to get to MK. The driver replied that with two stops (as the Swan and Dolphin resorts are two separate stops) it would take at least 20 minutes. So looking at my watch (about 7:20 by now), I quickly calculated that our ETA at MK would be 7:40 at the earliest and then we would still either have to walk (or more likely, run) to the Contemporary from the MK bus stop or wait for the next monorail to take us there. I made one last plea to DH and to my surprise he told the driver we would take a cab there. Conveniently, there was a taxi sitting just a few steps away from the bus stop (isnt he the smart one? ) and we jumped in. Less than 20 minutes (and $15) later we were standing at the second floor check-in desk for California Grill. It was 7:40, the exact time of our reservation. So will our dinner tonight go well enough to change DHs mind about California Grill? Will it be worth the hassle with the bus and the $15 cab fare? Youll have to keep reading to find out.
Dinner at CALIFORNIA GRILL
When checking in at the 2nd floor desk, I asked if it would be possible to wait for a table by the window. They noted our request and handed us a pager before we proceeded onto the elevator which took us up to the 15th floor to the restaurant. We were still looking for a place to sit down, when our pager went off. Wow, that was fast. The host sat us in a smaller room, to the right of the main dining room (not the Wine room which is on the other side). I later asked our server the name of the room and was told, but for the life of me I cant remember it now. Can anyone tell me the name, because its driving me crazy trying to remember it?
Anyway, our table (covered with Mickey confetti) was right next to the window and had a perfect view of the castle. Whether it was from happiness or just the relief from the stress that had been building inside me over the last hour, but tears came to my eyes. I again had hope that my dream of a perfect evening could be possible. Okay, now for what you are all here for the food. We first decided to order a glass of wine, to help us to further de-stress. I noticed that Conundrum was listed under the Interesting Whites and Rose category of the wine menu. I remembered reading about this wine in dining reviews here on the DIS and wanted to try it. In case you are not familiar with it, Conundrum is a California white wine that's made from a blend of five different white grapes. If you like white wine that is light and fruity, but not overly-sweet than I highly recommend this one. In fact, I liked this wine so much that I ended up ordering it again the next night at Narcoossees. DH couldnt decide which wine to order so asked our server for her recommendation. Based on what he planned to order for his appetizer/entree, she recommended an Italian red wine (listed under the Interesting Reds category) called NegroAmaro. He doesnt really remember much about this wine other than it went well with his entree and appetizer, which was the surprise order of this meal. I had planned to order a flatbread for my appetizer, so I was hoping that DH would order the Goat Cheese Ravioli (the other appetizer I wanted to try). But DH surprised me completely by ordering sushi. He asked our server, Dawn, for her sushi recommendation for beginners like us. She recommended either the California roll (Jumbo lump crab with avocado and cucumber) or the Spicy Kazan roll (Crab, shrimp, bay scallops, tuna and fireball sauce). Now, I could have sworn that he got the California but our receipt says Spicy Kazan. So perhaps one of you can tell me what he had by looking at the picture?
??? Sushi Roll
Whichever it was, we both thought it was pretty good. DH was so proud of himself for ordering sushi that he took a picture of it with his cell phone and sent it to our DD, the sushi lover of our family. She was quite impressed with her father and a little jealous too. Anyway, although the sushi was good, my appetizer choice was even better Triple Cheese Flatbread with Pecorino, Asiago, and Provolone cheeses, Sun-dried Tomato and Arugula Pesto. Oh my gosh, this was soooo good!!! Sorry Via Napoli but you just lost the title of having the, Best Pizza/Flatbread Ive Ever Had at Disney World.
Triple Cheese Flatbread
Our meal was off to an excellent start. Would the excellence continue with our entrees? Im happy to say the answer was YES! For my entrée, I of course chose the Oak-fired Filet of Beef served with Dauphinoise Potatoes with Smoked Bacon, Ginger-scented Carrots, and Teriyaki Barbecue. My filet was again perfectly cooked to medium-well as ordered and was both tender and flavorful, although it was not quite as good as my Yachtsman filet. The Dauphinoise potatoes were like scalloped potatoes and were tasty, but again not as good as the mashed potatoes that were served with my filet at Yachtsman Steakhouse.
Oak-fired Filet of Beef and Dauphinoise Potatoes
As I had predicted, DH ordered the Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Goat Cheese Polenta, Roasted Mushrooms, Zinfandel Glaze, and Sage. I forgot to taste this, but DH said he really enjoyed this; perhaps even more than the pork tenderloin we were served at Kent Rathbuns culinary demo so this must have been really good because Kent Rathbuns pork dish was delicious.
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Goat Cheese Polenta
So far our meal has been perfect can it possibly get any better than this??? Well, yes it can, because at 9:30 we had a perfect view of the fireworks Holiday Wishes. And IMHO, this version of the Magic Kingdom fireworks is the best. I took a few pictures, but not having a very good camera, they dont do this fireworks show justice so I wont post them. Needless to say, I again became teary eyed Im such a sucker for this kind of stuff.
Our dessert was then brought to our table. We were pretty full so ordered just one to share Valrhona Chocolate Cake - Warm Chocolate Cake with Molten Center, Marshmallow, and Peanut Butter Gelato. I absolutely loved this dessert! I have heard that they frequently change the flavor of the gelato/ice cream served with it, but I cant imagine any flavor going better with chocolate than peanut butter???
Valrhona Chocolate Cake and Peanut Butter Gelato
For our second dessert, our server, Dawn, offered to box up an assortment of fruit for us to take with us. We shared this for breakfast the next morning and it was delicious bananas, strawberries, apples, oranges, blueberries, etc. Although Ive seen pictures of this appetizer from the Kids menu, this portion seemed much larger. On our receipt it says Market Fruit, so maybe its an adult version of the kids appetizer? So, if like us, you are just too full for dessert here, keep this option in mind.
As if these two wonderful desserts werent enough, Dawn also boxed up this piece of chocolate cake for our Anniversary. Believe it not, this picture was taken two days later when we finally took it out of our refrigerator because we were switching resorts. And the best part is, it tasted even better than it looked!
Two day old Chocolate Anniversary Cake
So I am very pleased to tell you that this dinner did in fact change DHs opinion of California Grill. From the beginning, when we were seated by the window with a castle view in a room that was much quieter than what we had previously experienced in the main dining room, throughout our delicious meal (all three courses, plus wine), to the end of watching Holiday Wishes from our table, this meal was perfect. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention our server, Dawn. Again, from beginning to end, Dawn went above and beyond to make this a truly special experience for us. Also, I might add, not one but two restaurant managers visited our table to check to see if everything was to our satisfaction. In our six Signature dinners, this was the only one where we experienced this kind of service. Once my DH makes up his mind about a restaurant, he rarely if ever changes his opinion. So kudos to Dawn and the rest of the CG staff thanks to you, I will get to dine at California Grill again! I just wish it was going to be sooner.
I'll just add a couple of things here in case you are interested. At 2 1/2 hours (maybe a bit longer) this was our longest dinner of the trip. This seems like a long time for a meal, but at the time it seemed perfect...no long lags between courses, etc. The other thing I wanted to add is that our return trip to the Boardwalk after dinner went smoothly. We immediately boarded the monorail (no wait time), got off at the last stop (which was MK), walked to the bus stop and waited in a short line for the shared bus (BW, Swan & Dolphin). In just a few minutes a bus arrived and we were seated (gotta love it when you actually get seats on the bus) for the short drive to the Boardwalk (the first bus stop).
Now ...so as not to ruin the surprise, I've placed my summary info here at the end for this meal.
Highlights Decorated table and cake for anniversary, Conundrum wine, Flatbread, Pork Tenderloin, Valrhona Chocolate cake, Excellent service, Relatively quiet surroundings, Window table of great view of fireworks
Disappointments None I can think of
Would we Return? Definitely!
And finally for the numbers...
Total cost of meal (not including wine and tip) - $142.98 (or $35.75 per Dining Plan credit)
And so I can do a DDP vs. TIW Cost Comparison at the end...
Total cost of meal (not including wine and tip) if we had used my Tables in Wonderland discount of 20% instead of the DDP - $114.38
4 DeLuxe Dining Plan Credits used, 11 Remaining
NEXT UP: Lunch at San Angel Inn
auntfrannie
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2001
- Messages
- 2,259
Wonderful reviews! Thanks so much for taking the time to post them. I hope someone comes along to identify the mystery sushi roll because it looks quite tasty! I'll be dining at the CA Grill in April and am looking forward to trying their sushi.
amandadisney
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2010
- Messages
- 93
It's so nice that they boxed up extra desserts for your anniversary! What a great Disney gesture!
jabead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2000
- Messages
- 7,371
Thanks for reading! I hope you both have great dinners at California Grill. I'll look forward to reading your reviews.
wyonative78
Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2007
- Messages
- 207
We love Jasper's! The food you had at his demonstration is very similar to what is served in his restaurant. Fantastic food and service in an upscale, but comfortable atmosphere. Their blue cheese potato chips are to die for and my DH says their ribs are some of the best he's ever had - and he's had a lot of ribs in his day! I usually get a steak and it is perfect every time. You'll love it!
jabead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2000
- Messages
- 7,371
We love Jasper's! The food you had at his demonstration is very similar to what is served in his restaurant. Fantastic food and service in an upscale, but comfortable atmosphere. Their blue cheese potato chips are to die for and my DH says their ribs are some of the best he's ever had - and he's had a lot of ribs in his day! I usually get a steak and it is perfect every time. You'll love it!
DH and DS love ribs and I love steak and blue cheese so Jasper's sounds perfect for us. I can't wait to try it! Thanks for the info and thanks for reading.
jabead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2000
- Messages
- 7,371
And yet again I must give you some background information before beginning my review of San Angel Inn. My very first visit to Disney World was in 1984 when I went there with my DH (actually we were not yet married, but newly engaged then). I recall entering Epcot Future World for the first time and discovering the kiosks where dining reservations could be made for meals to be eaten that very same day. Ahhhh yes, those were the good old days when you didnt have to choose where you wanted to dine six months in advance. Does anyone remember those days? But then again, I guess the planning is half the fun of a Disney trip
at least for me it is. Anyway, we chose to dine at San Angel Inn for lunch and then Bistro de Paris for dinner. So being our first meal at Disney World, San Angel Inn will always have a special place in my heart. 
When we started taking family trips 10 years ago, we almost always included SAI in our dining plans. It became a family favorite, but not because of the food (which was okay, but not really authentic Mexican food
just the usual tacos, nachos, etc.). No, it was more for sentimental reasons (for DH and I) and for the cool atmosphere (for the kids). Well, and for me
the frozen strawberry margaritas, too. That was until our lunch here on our last trip in March. The menu had been completely revised. Gone were the nachos, and instead they had delicious tostadas
both the crab and chicken. My usual, the chicken tacos, had been replaced by much more interesting and authentic entrees. Our whole meal, from appetizers to dessert, was delicious
one of the best of our trip. And the service was great here as well. We had seven people (with 6 of us on the Deluxe dining plan but on two different rooms and one paying OOP) for which we ordered only five meals. We also ordered alcoholic beverages for which I used my TIW for the discount. Our server handled the sharing of meals and the splitting of our meal into four different bills flawlessly and with a smile on his face. We began to see SAI in a new light after this meal
as a restaurant that actually had good, authentic Mexican food and good service as well. So of course, when planning our dining for our anniversary trip, I had to include
Lunch at SAN ANGEL INN
Highlights: Food, Frozen Strawberry Margarita, and Dos Equis beer
Disappointments: Everything else
Would we return?: Probably
Unfortunately, things began to go wrong from the very beginning, when we checked in at SAI. The host working at the podium barely looked up to acknowledge my existence when I gave him my name. None of the usual questions Are you on the Dining Plan?, Are you celebrating anything? etc. Nothing, just a nod and a pager handed over with no explanation. Very different from the enthusiastic response that he had just had to the beautiful, young Latina woman that had checked in before me. I know enough Spanish to know he was having a very friendly conversation with this woman asking her everything except what resort she was staying in.
Not a good start for us, but I guess understandable. So with pager in hand we took a seat on the bench nearby the podium. And here we sat, and sat, and sat
meanwhile, not only was the lovely Latina and her group seated but several parties who had checked in after us. DH then decided to do a little reconnaissance stroll around the outside perimeter of the restaurant to find out if they actually had no available tables for a party of two. When he discovered there were several empty tables, we again approached the podium. This time there was a hostess checking in guests. She couldnt find our name in the system
apparently we had somehow been lost??? No apology was made, just a casual
It should just be a few minutes for a table. So we sat back down and in a few minutes our pager went off. We were taken to a table with a lovely view of
............ the bathrooms!?!?! 
Yes, after passing empty tables in the main dining room on the way, they tried to seat us in this small separate area, only large enough for a few tables (which were all empty, btw). You know, the one you walk through on the way to the bathrooms. Now we werent expecting to be seated right by the river (as we know these tables are for larger parties) but this table
Seriously??? DH took one look at my unhappy face and told the hostess that we would prefer to continue to wait for a table in the main dining room. With an irritated look on her face she handed the pager back to us and told us to go back to the waiting area. Then we saw her talking to a gentleman, who I assume was the manager. Unfortunately we were not close enough to hear what she told him and Im not very good at reading lips
especially when they are speaking Spanish. He then came over to us and said he would show us to our table. This time our table was the very first one as you descend the stairs into the dining room. To one side of this small table for two was the stairway and the pathway in which all the servers took from the kitchen to the other side of the dining room (aka as the human freeway). Then on the other side, literally inches away, was an empty table for four, at which a party of 2 was soon after seated. Thankfully they sat at the two sides that were the furthest from our table; otherwise we could have easily shared food from each others plates. We quickly surmised though that we shouldnt dare ask for a different table again, as our next table might not be closer to the river
it might be in the river! 
We kind of felt like we had been so naughty in school that our teacher had had to refer us to the principal... and this was our punishment. So this is where we sat, but not for long as our meal took only about 30 minutes! Our server came to our table immediately to take our order. We explained that we wanted to share a meal, using only one DeLuxe Dining Plan credit. He didnt seem very happy about this but took our order
drinks, appetizer, and entrée all in this one quick visit. We each ordered a drink
a frozen strawberry margarita for me (of course) and a Dos Equis beer for DH. These were dropped off at our table very quickly, along with some chips and salsa. Throughout this meal, it seemed like our table was a mere speed bump on the human freeway that was located right next to us. Anyway, the margarita tasted as good as always. There did seem to be a little more tequila in this one than usual, of which I felt the effects during our walk back to the Boardwalk after lunch.
Frozen Strawberry Margarita, Dos Equis beer, Chips & Salsa
For our one appetizer, we ordered Tostados de Tinga - two fried corn tortillas topped with black beans, lettuce, onions, advocado, tomato marinated chicken, sour cream, and fresh cheese. These were very good, just as they were when we had them for the first time on our trip in March. The tostados were brought at the same time as our shared entrée, which was Pollo A Las Rajas - grilled chicken breast served over red peppers, onion strips, cream sauce, and fresh cheese. This is the same thing that I had ordered last time, and again this was quite good. Unfortunately, due to our surprise at the speed at which our meal was being served (especially when our appetizer was served with our entrée) we immediately started dividing them both up to share and began eating, without thinking about taking a picture. I think we got caught up in the feeling of being in a speed eating competition and we were in it to win! Consequently, only my tostado had not been touched yet when we finally remembered to stop and take this picture.
Tostados de Tinga (Oops, make that Tostado)
Before we had finished our entrée/appetizer, our server came to ask us if we wanted dessert. Since I already knew what I wanted, as it was here that I had my favorite dessert of our last trip, we went ahead and gave him our dessert order Moras con Cajeta - frozen white chocolate mousse with mixed seasonal berries and Mexican milk caramel. Mexican caramel is made from goat's milk and is quite delicious! Our dessert was quickly brought to our table along with the check.
Moras con Cajeta
Anyway, this dessert was still good, but not quite as good as I had remembered. This might have had something to do with the bad taste (of disappointment) that had developed it my mouth from this meal. Not from the food though the food was very good, just as it had been last time. The service, from beginning to end, was solely to blame. On our last trip we had one of our favorite meals at San Angel Inn, but sadly this time it was our least favorite. However, despite this disappointing meal, we will probably be back here again. Dining at San Angel Inn is a family tradition, and traditions are hard to break.
One possible explanation for the rapid decline in service (from March to November) at San Angel Inn is that all of their best hosts/servers/managers were transferred over to the new Mexican restaurant, La Hacienda. So, will the service that we receive at our upcoming dinner at La Hacienda be good, and therefore serve as further proof of my theory? Stay tuned to find out.
Oh, and as you may recall, I mentioned in my introduction to this Dining Report that we only had one big disappointment on this trip. So if you had guessed that it would be our lunch at San Angel Inn, then you were correct. Your prize is....
(just in case you get hungry while reading the rest of my dining reviews, as I hope you will )
And now for the numbers...
Total cost of meal (not including alcoholic beverages and tip) - $36.21 ($36.21 per Dining Plan credit, since we only used one)
And so I can do a DDP vs. TIW Cost Comparison at the end...
Total cost of meal (not including alcoholic beverages and tip) if we had used my Tables in Wonderland discount of 20% instead of the DDP - $28.97
1 DeLuxe Dining Plan Credit used, 10 Remaining
NEXT UP: Dinner at Narcoossees
Anyway, we chose to dine at San Angel Inn for lunch and then Bistro de Paris for dinner. So being our first meal at Disney World, San Angel Inn will always have a special place in my heart. When we started taking family trips 10 years ago, we almost always included SAI in our dining plans. It became a family favorite, but not because of the food (which was okay, but not really authentic Mexican food
just the usual tacos, nachos, etc.). No, it was more for sentimental reasons (for DH and I) and for the cool atmosphere (for the kids). Well, and for me
the frozen strawberry margaritas, too. That was until our lunch here on our last trip in March. The menu had been completely revised. Gone were the nachos, and instead they had delicious tostadas
both the crab and chicken. My usual, the chicken tacos, had been replaced by much more interesting and authentic entrees. Our whole meal, from appetizers to dessert, was delicious
one of the best of our trip. And the service was great here as well. We had seven people (with 6 of us on the Deluxe dining plan but on two different rooms and one paying OOP) for which we ordered only five meals. We also ordered alcoholic beverages for which I used my TIW for the discount. Our server handled the sharing of meals and the splitting of our meal into four different bills flawlessly and with a smile on his face. We began to see SAI in a new light after this meal
as a restaurant that actually had good, authentic Mexican food and good service as well. So of course, when planning our dining for our anniversary trip, I had to include
Lunch at SAN ANGEL INN
Highlights: Food, Frozen Strawberry Margarita, and Dos Equis beer
Disappointments: Everything else
Would we return?: Probably
Unfortunately, things began to go wrong from the very beginning, when we checked in at SAI. The host working at the podium barely looked up to acknowledge my existence when I gave him my name. None of the usual questions Are you on the Dining Plan?, Are you celebrating anything? etc. Nothing, just a nod and a pager handed over with no explanation. Very different from the enthusiastic response that he had just had to the beautiful, young Latina woman that had checked in before me. I know enough Spanish to know he was having a very friendly conversation with this woman asking her everything except what resort she was staying in.
Not a good start for us, but I guess understandable. So with pager in hand we took a seat on the bench nearby the podium. And here we sat, and sat, and sat
meanwhile, not only was the lovely Latina and her group seated but several parties who had checked in after us. DH then decided to do a little reconnaissance stroll around the outside perimeter of the restaurant to find out if they actually had no available tables for a party of two. When he discovered there were several empty tables, we again approached the podium. This time there was a hostess checking in guests. She couldnt find our name in the system
apparently we had somehow been lost??? No apology was made, just a casual
It should just be a few minutes for a table. So we sat back down and in a few minutes our pager went off. We were taken to a table with a lovely view of
............ the bathrooms!?!?! Yes, after passing empty tables in the main dining room on the way, they tried to seat us in this small separate area, only large enough for a few tables (which were all empty, btw). You know, the one you walk through on the way to the bathrooms. Now we werent expecting to be seated right by the river (as we know these tables are for larger parties) but this table
Seriously??? DH took one look at my unhappy face and told the hostess that we would prefer to continue to wait for a table in the main dining room. With an irritated look on her face she handed the pager back to us and told us to go back to the waiting area. Then we saw her talking to a gentleman, who I assume was the manager. Unfortunately we were not close enough to hear what she told him and Im not very good at reading lips
especially when they are speaking Spanish. He then came over to us and said he would show us to our table. This time our table was the very first one as you descend the stairs into the dining room. To one side of this small table for two was the stairway and the pathway in which all the servers took from the kitchen to the other side of the dining room (aka as the human freeway). Then on the other side, literally inches away, was an empty table for four, at which a party of 2 was soon after seated. Thankfully they sat at the two sides that were the furthest from our table; otherwise we could have easily shared food from each others plates. We quickly surmised though that we shouldnt dare ask for a different table again, as our next table might not be closer to the river
it might be in the river! We kind of felt like we had been so naughty in school that our teacher had had to refer us to the principal... and this was our punishment. So this is where we sat, but not for long as our meal took only about 30 minutes! Our server came to our table immediately to take our order. We explained that we wanted to share a meal, using only one DeLuxe Dining Plan credit. He didnt seem very happy about this but took our order
drinks, appetizer, and entrée all in this one quick visit. We each ordered a drink
a frozen strawberry margarita for me (of course) and a Dos Equis beer for DH. These were dropped off at our table very quickly, along with some chips and salsa. Throughout this meal, it seemed like our table was a mere speed bump on the human freeway that was located right next to us. Anyway, the margarita tasted as good as always. There did seem to be a little more tequila in this one than usual, of which I felt the effects during our walk back to the Boardwalk after lunch.
Frozen Strawberry Margarita, Dos Equis beer, Chips & Salsa
For our one appetizer, we ordered Tostados de Tinga - two fried corn tortillas topped with black beans, lettuce, onions, advocado, tomato marinated chicken, sour cream, and fresh cheese. These were very good, just as they were when we had them for the first time on our trip in March. The tostados were brought at the same time as our shared entrée, which was Pollo A Las Rajas - grilled chicken breast served over red peppers, onion strips, cream sauce, and fresh cheese. This is the same thing that I had ordered last time, and again this was quite good. Unfortunately, due to our surprise at the speed at which our meal was being served (especially when our appetizer was served with our entrée) we immediately started dividing them both up to share and began eating, without thinking about taking a picture. I think we got caught up in the feeling of being in a speed eating competition and we were in it to win!
Consequently, only my tostado had not been touched yet when we finally remembered to stop and take this picture.
Tostados de Tinga (Oops, make that Tostado
)Before we had finished our entrée/appetizer, our server came to ask us if we wanted dessert. Since I already knew what I wanted, as it was here that I had my favorite dessert of our last trip, we went ahead and gave him our dessert order Moras con Cajeta - frozen white chocolate mousse with mixed seasonal berries and Mexican milk caramel. Mexican caramel is made from goat's milk and is quite delicious! Our dessert was quickly brought to our table along with the check.
Moras con Cajeta
Anyway, this dessert was still good, but not quite as good as I had remembered. This might have had something to do with the bad taste (of disappointment) that had developed it my mouth from this meal. Not from the food though the food was very good, just as it had been last time. The service, from beginning to end, was solely to blame. On our last trip we had one of our favorite meals at San Angel Inn, but sadly this time it was our least favorite. However, despite this disappointing meal, we will probably be back here again. Dining at San Angel Inn is a family tradition, and traditions are hard to break.
One possible explanation for the rapid decline in service (from March to November) at San Angel Inn is that all of their best hosts/servers/managers were transferred over to the new Mexican restaurant, La Hacienda. So, will the service that we receive at our upcoming dinner at La Hacienda be good, and therefore serve as further proof of my theory? Stay tuned to find out. Oh, and as you may recall, I mentioned in my introduction to this Dining Report that we only had one big disappointment on this trip. So if you had guessed that it would be our lunch at San Angel Inn, then you were correct. Your prize is....
(just in case you get hungry while reading the rest of my dining reviews, as I hope you will )And now for the numbers...
Total cost of meal (not including alcoholic beverages and tip) - $36.21 ($36.21 per Dining Plan credit, since we only used one)
And so I can do a DDP vs. TIW Cost Comparison at the end...
Total cost of meal (not including alcoholic beverages and tip) if we had used my Tables in Wonderland discount of 20% instead of the DDP - $28.97
1 DeLuxe Dining Plan Credit used, 10 Remaining
NEXT UP: Dinner at Narcoossees
mandibc11
Living in Wonderland, married to the Mad Hatter, w
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2007
- Messages
- 218
It's funny, but I have this strange issue with table placement at restaurants! If I'm seated in a bad spot, it just throws off the entire experience for me (and what is eating out if not an event?)
All that to say, they should know that NO ONE wants to sit by the bathrooms, especially when there are plenty of empty tables. But don't let it deter you, you're paying to be there, afterall!
All that to say, they should know that NO ONE wants to sit by the bathrooms, especially when there are plenty of empty tables. But don't let it deter you, you're paying to be there, afterall!
jabead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2000
- Messages
- 7,371
I hear what you're saying and totally agree! Luckily this was the only time out of our 12 sit-downs meals on this trip that we were given a bad table...well, I guess it happened twice actually but both times were at the same restaurant.
Anyway, thanks for reading Amanda!
jabead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2000
- Messages
- 7,371
Okay, I guess you know the routine by now. Background info first, then the actual review. Sorry. Anyway, we have been to Narcoossees a few times before. Since DH had previously banned California Grill from our dining schedule, this seemed like the next best alternative for dining with a view of Cinderellas castle. Yes, it was still pretty noisy there, but it never seemed quite as bad as our first dinner at California Grill. On our family trip last March, DD really wanted to try the lobster here, as she loves lobster almost as much as she loves sushi. So since we were on the Deluxe Dining Plan for the first few days of that trip, I decided to go for it. This was the only Signature meal of that trip, well unless you count breakfast at Cinderellas castle that is (but I dont ). Anyway, our meal here in March was our second favorite of that trip, even better than the one we had at San Angel Inn. The six of us ordered a variety of entrees including the Filet Mignon, Surf and Turf, and Chicken Breast, in addition to DDs Whole Maine Lobster and all were very good. I also loved both my appetizer, Shrimp & Crab Chowder, and my dessert, the Almond-crusted Cheesecake. In addition to very good food, we also had excellent service
second only to that at Coral Reef. So when planning this trip, I had to include a return visit for
.
Dinner at NARCOOSSEE'S
Highlights: Table by the window, Menus, decorated table, and complimentary champagne for our anniversary, Shrimp & Crab Chowder, Almond-crusted cheesecake, and Good service
Disappointments: Surf & Turf wasnt as good as Id remembered
Would we return?: Probably
We had learned our lesson regarding the Disney buses the hard way on the previous night, so this time we left our room by 7:00 for our 8:25 reservation. To our surprise, we only had a short wait at the Boardwalk bus stop before a Magic Kingdom bus arrived. We boarded the crowded bus, again it was SRO, and road it to the MK bus stop, but not before first stopping at both the Swan and Dolphin resorts. From the bus stop, we walked towards the boat dock
hoping to catch the small boat that runs between Magic Kingdom and both the Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts, as this boat docks at the Grand Floridian right next to Narcoossees. However, just as we approached the dock, the boat pulled away. Since there is only this one small boat that makes this trip between the two resorts and MK (as far as I know anyway ), we knew it would be a long time before it returned to Magic Kingdom. Therefore, we continued to walk up the ramp to the Resort Monorail platform where we waited a while for the next monorail. Then after stops at the Contemporary, Transportation & Ticket Center, and Polynesian, we finally arrived at the Grand Floridian. However our journey was not quite yet over as we then had to walk down the stairs, across the lobby, out the doors of the main building and down the path to the waterfront, where Narcoossees is located. We checked in at the podium at 8:25 (the exact time of our reservation), which was almost 1 ½ hours after leaving our room at the Boardwalk. Im telling you all these details, so that anyone who is dining here for the first time will know that the journey to get this restaurant can be quite time-consuming (especially if using Disney transportation) and you should therefore allow plenty of time. Okay, lesson over. 
Now back to Narcoossees. I asked the friendly CM at the check-in podium if we could wait for a table by the window. She replied very nicely that we were welcome to wait, however during the fireworks our view would probably be blocked by other diners standing on the deck. We were already aware of this because that is what happened during our last visit when we were lucky enough to be seated at a window table. But since we had already had a perfect view of the fireworks from our table last night at California Grill, this wasnt a big deal to us. I still wanted to be able to look at the beautiful castle while we ate our dinner, so chose to wait for a window table. And waited we did for a very long time, as it was Saturday night and the restaurant was very busy. From reading their reviews, I believe that both MickeyNicki (aka Nicki and her husband, Todd) and ChefMickey123 (aka Jared and his fiancée, Kelly) were also dining there on this evening. Were any other DISers at Narcoossees on Nov. 13th? Anyway, after about a 45 minute wait, we were rewarded with a table right next to the window with a great view of Cinderellas castle. Our table was decorated with Mickey confetti and we were presented with Anniversary menus along with a Narcoossees envelope in which to take them home (btw, this was the only restaurant that gave us an envelope, which I thought was a nice idea). We also used the envelope to take home some of the confetti, to use in a scrapbook that I hope to make someday. Our server then stopped by our table to introduce herself and offer us complimentary glasses of champagne to celebrate our anniversary, which we gladly accepted. Before she returned with this, the Electric Water Pageant show began (I think this was at 9:15) on the lake right in front of us, so we had a perfect view. This is a cute light/music show that everyone should see at least once
weve seen it too many times to count, but I still enjoy it. Anyway, in case you have never seen it, it performs every night (weather permitting) at each of the five Magic Kingdom area resorts plus sometimes by the waterfront outside of Magic Kingdom.
Okay, now on to the good stuff the food. I ordered the exact same meal (appetizer, entrée, and dessert) that I did last time. After all, if it aint broke, dont fix it, right? So for my appetizer I again had the Shrimp and Crab Chowder with Dill Crème Fraiche, Chives, and Narcoosees Oyster Crackers. Just like last time, this was creamy and delicious, and filled with bits of shrimp and crab. And the oyster crackers that come with the chowder are quite tasty as well. I so wanted to lick the bowl clean! Oh and speaking of the bowl, look how odd the soup bowls are here
they are huge, however the part that actually holds the soup is quite small and shallow. Which is too bad, because I would have loved a bigger serving of that chowder.
Shrimp and Crab Chowder
BTW, I also ordered a glass of Conundrum wine when I saw it on the wine menu here. Yes, I know that makes two nights in row, but it is just so darn good that I couldnt resist doing a repeat. Btw, this wine went just as well with my chowder as it had with my flatbread at California Grill.
DH chose the Butternut Squash-Tomato Bisque with Crème Fraiche and Pumpernickel Croutons for his appetizer. I didnt try this, but his comment was that although it was a little different, it was pretty good. However, after tasting my chowder, he admitted that mine was the better choice
Butternut Squash-Tomato Bisque
For our entrees we both ordered the Surf & Turf, the same as we had had last time. Now I had previously thought I would get the Grilled Filet Mignon here, but I had already had steak three times on this trip so I decided the Surf & Turf would be a good compromise. DH had intended to try the Whole Maine Lobster but after seeing it served at a nearby table he thought it looked like way more food than he could eat that night. So he too ended up getting the Surf & Turf. In case you are not familiar with it, the Surf & Turf at Narcoossees includes a Lobster Tail and two small pieces (or medallions) of Filet Mignon with a caramelized onion demi-glace. Anyway, to be honest with you, I didnt enjoy this entrée as much as last time. Ive only had lobster a few times in my life so I am far from being an expert, but the lobster tail seemed pretty good to me the best part of this dish. Of course, dipped in the warm, melted butter that comes with it, just about anything would taste pretty good to me. Although there was nothing wrong with the filet, I just couldnt make myself eat more than a few bites of one of the two medallions. Sadly, even though I love steak (especially filet mignon), at this point I think I had reached my maximum steak quota for the week. As for the accompaniments, last time potatoes au gratin (that I didnt like) and broccolini were served with the Surf & Turf. This time the au gratin had been replaced by Duchess potatoes, which were a version of whipped potatoes that I didnt care for at all. IMHO, these potatoes were not worth the calories and so I didnt bother eating more than one bite of them.
Surf & Turf with Duchess potatoes and Broccolini
My dessert however was well-worth every single one of its (no doubt, many) calories. Just like last time (I know Im in a rut here, sorry) I had the Almond-crusted cheesecake with lambert cherry sauce. The cheesecake alone is wonderfully sweet and creamy, but then when you cover it in delicious, crunchy almonds and add a dollop of cherry sauce and whipped cream
well its dessert perfection.
Almond-Crusted Cheesecake with lambert cherry sauce
For his dessert, DH wanted something a little lighter, as he had pretty much cleaned his entrée plate plus ate some of my filet. He therefore chose the Gelato Sampler with four flavors of gelato chocolate, raspberry, pistachio, and cappuccino. He liked all of the flavors except for the pistachio, which he said tasted rather odd. Although I cant comment, as I didnt taste it I was too busy eating every last crumb of my wonderful cheesecake.
Gelato Sampler
Oh, and I forgot to mention, that in between our entrées and desserts (which was at 10:00) the Wishes fireworks show began (the regular show, not Holiday Wishes this time). We had a great view for the first five minutes or so, but then as predicted, a couple came and stood in front of our window, blocking all but the fireworks that were higher in the sky. Now we too could have got up and gone outside (like many of the diners there), but we were content to stay right there and enjoy the piped-in music from the show and the obstructed view from the comfort of our table. In other words, we were too lazy!
So in summary, this was a pretty good meal foodwise, highlighted by the chowder and the cheesecake. It was served at a little faster pace than our previous four Signature dinners, lasting about 1 ½ hours (not counting the 45 min. wait for a window table). The service was good, but not as good as we received from Tom on our last visit. It seemed louder than the other Signature restaurants so far on this trip, but it also seemed more crowded so I guess the noise was to be expected. It would not be the noisiest restaurant at which we dine on this trip that one is yet to come. So, taking everything into account, this was a good dining experience. However, it was not quite good enough to be one of our favorites, like it had been on our last trip. Then again, it was our only Signature dinner last time, so the competition was much less. This time, with 6 Signature dinners, Narcoossees didnt quite measure up to some of the other restaurants.
And now for the numbers...
Total cost of meal (not including wine and tip) - $153.16 (or $38.29 per Dining Plan credit, which is the highest of all our Signature dinners)
And so I can do a DDP vs. TIW Cost Comparison at the end...
Total cost of meal (not including wine and tip) if we had used my Tables in Wonderland discount of 20% instead of the DDP - $131.21
4 DeLuxe Dining Plan Credits used, 6 Remaining
NEXT UP: Vine Connections Wine Seminar
Anyway, we have been to Narcoossees a few times before. Since DH had previously banned California Grill from our dining schedule, this seemed like the next best alternative for dining with a view of Cinderellas castle. Yes, it was still pretty noisy there, but it never seemed quite as bad as our first dinner at California Grill. On our family trip last March, DD really wanted to try the lobster here, as she loves lobster almost as much as she loves sushi. So since we were on the Deluxe Dining Plan for the first few days of that trip, I decided to go for it. This was the only Signature meal of that trip, well unless you count breakfast at Cinderellas castle that is (but I dont ). Anyway, our meal here in March was our second favorite of that trip, even better than the one we had at San Angel Inn. The six of us ordered a variety of entrees including the Filet Mignon, Surf and Turf, and Chicken Breast, in addition to DDs Whole Maine Lobster and all were very good. I also loved both my appetizer, Shrimp & Crab Chowder, and my dessert, the Almond-crusted Cheesecake. In addition to very good food, we also had excellent service
second only to that at Coral Reef. So when planning this trip, I had to include a return visit for
.Dinner at NARCOOSSEE'S
Highlights: Table by the window, Menus, decorated table, and complimentary champagne for our anniversary, Shrimp & Crab Chowder, Almond-crusted cheesecake, and Good service
Disappointments: Surf & Turf wasnt as good as Id remembered
Would we return?: Probably
We had learned our lesson regarding the Disney buses the hard way on the previous night, so this time we left our room by 7:00 for our 8:25 reservation. To our surprise, we only had a short wait at the Boardwalk bus stop before a Magic Kingdom bus arrived. We boarded the crowded bus, again it was SRO
, and road it to the MK bus stop, but not before first stopping at both the Swan and Dolphin resorts. From the bus stop, we walked towards the boat dock
hoping to catch the small boat that runs between Magic Kingdom and both the Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts, as this boat docks at the Grand Floridian right next to Narcoossees. However, just as we approached the dock, the boat pulled away. Since there is only this one small boat that makes this trip between the two resorts and MK (as far as I know anyway ), we knew it would be a long time before it returned to Magic Kingdom. Therefore, we continued to walk up the ramp to the Resort Monorail platform where we waited a while for the next monorail. Then after stops at the Contemporary, Transportation & Ticket Center, and Polynesian, we finally arrived at the Grand Floridian. However our journey was not quite yet over as we then had to walk down the stairs, across the lobby, out the doors of the main building and down the path to the waterfront, where Narcoossees is located. We checked in at the podium at 8:25 (the exact time of our reservation), which was almost 1 ½ hours after leaving our room at the Boardwalk. Im telling you all these details, so that anyone who is dining here for the first time will know that the journey to get this restaurant can be quite time-consuming (especially if using Disney transportation) and you should therefore allow plenty of time. Okay, lesson over. Now back to Narcoossees. I asked the friendly CM at the check-in podium if we could wait for a table by the window. She replied very nicely that we were welcome to wait, however during the fireworks our view would probably be blocked by other diners standing on the deck. We were already aware of this because that is what happened during our last visit when we were lucky enough to be seated at a window table. But since we had already had a perfect view of the fireworks from our table last night at California Grill, this wasnt a big deal to us. I still wanted to be able to look at the beautiful castle while we ate our dinner, so chose to wait for a window table. And waited we did for a very long time, as it was Saturday night and the restaurant was very busy. From reading their reviews, I believe that both MickeyNicki (aka Nicki and her husband, Todd) and ChefMickey123 (aka Jared and his fiancée, Kelly) were also dining there on this evening. Were any other DISers at Narcoossees on Nov. 13th? Anyway, after about a 45 minute wait, we were rewarded with a table right next to the window with a great view of Cinderellas castle. Our table was decorated with Mickey confetti and we were presented with Anniversary menus along with a Narcoossees envelope in which to take them home (btw, this was the only restaurant that gave us an envelope, which I thought was a nice idea). We also used the envelope to take home some of the confetti, to use in a scrapbook that I hope to make someday.
Our server then stopped by our table to introduce herself and offer us complimentary glasses of champagne to celebrate our anniversary, which we gladly accepted. Before she returned with this, the Electric Water Pageant show began (I think this was at 9:15) on the lake right in front of us, so we had a perfect view. This is a cute light/music show that everyone should see at least once
weve seen it too many times to count, but I still enjoy it. Anyway, in case you have never seen it, it performs every night (weather permitting) at each of the five Magic Kingdom area resorts plus sometimes by the waterfront outside of Magic Kingdom. Okay, now on to the good stuff the food. I ordered the exact same meal (appetizer, entrée, and dessert) that I did last time. After all, if it aint broke, dont fix it, right?
So for my appetizer I again had the Shrimp and Crab Chowder with Dill Crème Fraiche, Chives, and Narcoosees Oyster Crackers. Just like last time, this was creamy and delicious, and filled with bits of shrimp and crab. And the oyster crackers that come with the chowder are quite tasty as well. I so wanted to lick the bowl clean! Oh and speaking of the bowl, look how odd the soup bowls are here
they are huge, however the part that actually holds the soup is quite small and shallow. Which is too bad, because I would have loved a bigger serving of that chowder.
Shrimp and Crab Chowder
BTW, I also ordered a glass of Conundrum wine when I saw it on the wine menu here. Yes, I know that makes two nights in row, but it is just so darn good that I couldnt resist doing a repeat. Btw, this wine went just as well with my chowder as it had with my flatbread at California Grill.
DH chose the Butternut Squash-Tomato Bisque with Crème Fraiche and Pumpernickel Croutons for his appetizer. I didnt try this, but his comment was that although it was a little different, it was pretty good. However, after tasting my chowder, he admitted that mine was the better choice
Butternut Squash-Tomato Bisque
For our entrees we both ordered the Surf & Turf, the same as we had had last time. Now I had previously thought I would get the Grilled Filet Mignon here, but I had already had steak three times on this trip so I decided the Surf & Turf would be a good compromise. DH had intended to try the Whole Maine Lobster but after seeing it served at a nearby table he thought it looked like way more food than he could eat that night. So he too ended up getting the Surf & Turf. In case you are not familiar with it, the Surf & Turf at Narcoossees includes a Lobster Tail and two small pieces (or medallions) of Filet Mignon with a caramelized onion demi-glace. Anyway, to be honest with you, I didnt enjoy this entrée as much as last time. Ive only had lobster a few times in my life so I am far from being an expert, but the lobster tail seemed pretty good to me the best part of this dish. Of course, dipped in the warm, melted butter that comes with it, just about anything would taste pretty good to me.
Although there was nothing wrong with the filet, I just couldnt make myself eat more than a few bites of one of the two medallions. Sadly, even though I love steak (especially filet mignon), at this point I think I had reached my maximum steak quota for the week. As for the accompaniments, last time potatoes au gratin (that I didnt like) and broccolini were served with the Surf & Turf. This time the au gratin had been replaced by Duchess potatoes, which were a version of whipped potatoes that I didnt care for at all. IMHO, these potatoes were not worth the calories and so I didnt bother eating more than one bite of them.
Surf & Turf with Duchess potatoes and Broccolini
My dessert however was well-worth every single one of its (no doubt, many) calories. Just like last time (I know Im in a rut here, sorry
) I had the Almond-crusted cheesecake with lambert cherry sauce. The cheesecake alone is wonderfully sweet and creamy, but then when you cover it in delicious, crunchy almonds and add a dollop of cherry sauce and whipped cream
well its dessert perfection.
Almond-Crusted Cheesecake with lambert cherry sauce
For his dessert, DH wanted something a little lighter, as he had pretty much cleaned his entrée plate plus ate some of my filet. He therefore chose the Gelato Sampler with four flavors of gelato chocolate, raspberry, pistachio, and cappuccino. He liked all of the flavors except for the pistachio, which he said tasted rather odd. Although I cant comment, as I didnt taste it I was too busy eating every last crumb of my wonderful cheesecake.
Gelato Sampler
Oh, and I forgot to mention, that in between our entrées and desserts (which was at 10:00) the Wishes fireworks show began (the regular show, not Holiday Wishes this time). We had a great view for the first five minutes or so, but then as predicted, a couple came and stood in front of our window, blocking all but the fireworks that were higher in the sky. Now we too could have got up and gone outside (like many of the diners there), but we were content to stay right there and enjoy the piped-in music from the show and the obstructed view from the comfort of our table. In other words, we were too lazy!
So in summary, this was a pretty good meal foodwise, highlighted by the chowder and the cheesecake. It was served at a little faster pace than our previous four Signature dinners, lasting about 1 ½ hours (not counting the 45 min. wait for a window table). The service was good, but not as good as we received from Tom on our last visit. It seemed louder than the other Signature restaurants so far on this trip, but it also seemed more crowded so I guess the noise was to be expected. It would not be the noisiest restaurant at which we dine on this trip that one is yet to come.
So, taking everything into account, this was a good dining experience. However, it was not quite good enough to be one of our favorites, like it had been on our last trip. Then again, it was our only Signature dinner last time, so the competition was much less. This time, with 6 Signature dinners, Narcoossees didnt quite measure up to some of the other restaurants. And now for the numbers...
Total cost of meal (not including wine and tip) - $153.16 (or $38.29 per Dining Plan credit, which is the highest of all our Signature dinners)
And so I can do a DDP vs. TIW Cost Comparison at the end...
Total cost of meal (not including wine and tip) if we had used my Tables in Wonderland discount of 20% instead of the DDP - $131.21
4 DeLuxe Dining Plan Credits used, 6 Remaining
NEXT UP: Vine Connections Wine Seminar
OurDogCisco
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 30, 2002
- Messages
- 4,004
Yum!!! I'm loving your reviews. I'm hoping we make it to our California Grill Reservation this year. Last time we were too tired to go the way the week was going so, I cancelled a few days ahead but this time I am planning for our arrival night. We are staying at BLT so, we won't have any excuses. I'm even going to pack some nice sun dresses in our carryon just in case the luggage doesn't arrive on time.
jabead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2000
- Messages
- 7,371
Sunday was our moving day, transferring from the Boardwalk Inn to the Polynesian. Originally I had planned to check out very early, check in at the Polynesian, have breakfast at Kona Café, and then go to Magic Kingdom for the morning. The primary reason for this plan was so I could finally try the Macadamia Nut Pancakes at Kona Café. Though we have stayed at the Polynesian several times, we have only had breakfast at Kona one time and that time I had the Tonga Toast. But sadly, DH doesnt like to get up early in the morning unless there is a really good reason to do so, and he doesnt consider eating breakfast at a sit-down restaurant at Disney World a good reason. Since I also wanted to try the French toast at the Grand Floridian Café the next morning before our KTTK tour, I decided I needed to pick my battles and choose just one. So, after careful consideration, I chose the French toast. This meant we had some time to kill between 11:00, when we had to be out of our room at the BWI, and our 1:25 lunch reservation at Coral Reef. So shortly before 11:00 we left our room, dropped off our luggage at the Bell Desk (for them to transfer to the Polynesian), and walked to Epcot to find something to do to fill our time. When looking at the F & W Festival schedule for the day (this was the 14th, the last day of the Festival), we noticed the Argentina wine seminar at noon. This seemed to be of interest to DH because he has a client that often travels to Argentina and has been singing its praises
the scenery, the food, and the wine. Therefore, DH, every so often, will mention that we should visit Argentina sometime. Well, this seminar sounded like a good and inexpensive way to learn a little about this country and its wine
plus it fit perfectly into our schedule.
VINE CONNECTIONS WINE SEMINAR
Presented by Nick Ramkowsky
This seminar was presented by Nick Ramkowsky, the co-founder of Vine Connections, a wine importing and national sales and marketing company headquartered in Sausalito, California. Vine Connections represents more than 42 wines from 12 different Argentine wineries, making it the largest single U.S. importer of fine Argentine wines.
Nick began the seminar by telling us a little bit about the country of Argentina and its wines. I was surprised to learn that Argentina is the worlds 5th largest wine producer, ranking only behind France, Italy, Spain, and the United States. The signature grape of Argentina is the Malbec, however many other varieties are grown throughout their seven winemaking regions. Some of these are common varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, to name a few. In addition, they grow varieties like Bonarda (used to make red wine) and Torrontes (white wine), which are more unique to this area. Nick told us about the wine producing region of Mendoza, where 80% of Argentinas wine is produced. Mendoza is located in western Argentina at the base of the Andes Mountains. The climate and soil in this area seems to be ideal for grape growing.
Nick Ramkowsky of Vine Connections
We were then able to taste wines from two of the 12 Argentine wineries which Vine Connections represents, Crios de Susana Balbo and La Posta, both from Mendoza. The first wine tasted (the white wine pictured on the left) was the Crios Torrontes. In my tasting notes for this wine, I noted that this was a fruity, yet dry white wine with flavors of peach, pear, and orange and that it was my favorite of the three wines. Nick also told us that this wine was made from Torrontes grapes grown in Cafayate/Salta, which apparently is the area where this variety grows best. He said that when purchasing Torrontes wine, you should look on the bottle to make sure that the grapes used came from this area. The second wine we tasted (pictured in the middle) was also from this same winery but it was a red wine, the Crios Malbec. My tasting notes for this one say it tasted like cherries and spice. The last wine was also a Malbec, but from a different winery, La Posta (Pizzella Family Vineyard). This again tasted of cherries and spice but also plum and maybe even a hint of dark chocolate. The La Posta Malbec seemed more full-bodied than the Crios one. I didnt really care for either of the Malbecs, but as I said before, I prefer white wines. However, DH liked them both and was happy to drink what was left of mine after finishing his own.
Crios Torrontes, Crios Malbec, and LaPosta Pizzella Malbec
So although Nick wasnt as entertaining as Jimmy Cefalo (from the MARTINI seminar) or as knowledgeable about wine making as David Munksgard (from the Iron Horse seminar), he was very enthusiastic about the country of Argentina and its wines.
NEXT UP: Coral Reef Lunch
Since I also wanted to try the French toast at the Grand Floridian Café the next morning before our KTTK tour, I decided I needed to pick my battles and choose just one. So, after careful consideration, I chose the French toast. This meant we had some time to kill between 11:00, when we had to be out of our room at the BWI, and our 1:25 lunch reservation at Coral Reef. So shortly before 11:00 we left our room, dropped off our luggage at the Bell Desk (for them to transfer to the Polynesian), and walked to Epcot to find something to do to fill our time. When looking at the F & W Festival schedule for the day (this was the 14th, the last day of the Festival), we noticed the Argentina wine seminar at noon. This seemed to be of interest to DH because he has a client that often travels to Argentina and has been singing its praises
the scenery, the food, and the wine. Therefore, DH, every so often, will mention that we should visit Argentina sometime. Well, this seminar sounded like a good and inexpensive way to learn a little about this country and its wine
plus it fit perfectly into our schedule. VINE CONNECTIONS WINE SEMINAR
Presented by Nick Ramkowsky
This seminar was presented by Nick Ramkowsky, the co-founder of Vine Connections, a wine importing and national sales and marketing company headquartered in Sausalito, California. Vine Connections represents more than 42 wines from 12 different Argentine wineries, making it the largest single U.S. importer of fine Argentine wines.
Nick began the seminar by telling us a little bit about the country of Argentina and its wines. I was surprised to learn that Argentina is the worlds 5th largest wine producer, ranking only behind France, Italy, Spain, and the United States. The signature grape of Argentina is the Malbec, however many other varieties are grown throughout their seven winemaking regions. Some of these are common varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, to name a few. In addition, they grow varieties like Bonarda (used to make red wine) and Torrontes (white wine), which are more unique to this area. Nick told us about the wine producing region of Mendoza, where 80% of Argentinas wine is produced. Mendoza is located in western Argentina at the base of the Andes Mountains. The climate and soil in this area seems to be ideal for grape growing.
Nick Ramkowsky of Vine Connections
We were then able to taste wines from two of the 12 Argentine wineries which Vine Connections represents, Crios de Susana Balbo and La Posta, both from Mendoza. The first wine tasted (the white wine pictured on the left) was the Crios Torrontes. In my tasting notes for this wine, I noted that this was a fruity, yet dry white wine with flavors of peach, pear, and orange and that it was my favorite of the three wines. Nick also told us that this wine was made from Torrontes grapes grown in Cafayate/Salta, which apparently is the area where this variety grows best. He said that when purchasing Torrontes wine, you should look on the bottle to make sure that the grapes used came from this area. The second wine we tasted (pictured in the middle) was also from this same winery but it was a red wine, the Crios Malbec. My tasting notes for this one say it tasted like cherries and spice. The last wine was also a Malbec, but from a different winery, La Posta (Pizzella Family Vineyard). This again tasted of cherries and spice but also plum and maybe even a hint of dark chocolate. The La Posta Malbec seemed more full-bodied than the Crios one. I didnt really care for either of the Malbecs, but as I said before, I prefer white wines. However, DH liked them both and was happy to drink what was left of mine after finishing his own.
Crios Torrontes, Crios Malbec, and LaPosta Pizzella Malbec
So although Nick wasnt as entertaining as Jimmy Cefalo (from the MARTINI seminar) or as knowledgeable about wine making as David Munksgard (from the Iron Horse seminar), he was very enthusiastic about the country of Argentina and its wines.
NEXT UP: Coral Reef Lunch
jabead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2000
- Messages
- 7,371
Oh, you should most definitely not miss California Grill this time!
Loving your reviews - we have an ADR at Narcoossees on our next trip and we're really looking forward to it
Thanks for reading Linda!
And I hope you enjoy your dinner at Narcoossee's.
jabead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2000
- Messages
- 7,371
On our trip in 2008, we ate at Coral Reef for the first time in several years. Of the four of us who had lunch here, only one was really pleased with his meal. DS had the New York Strip Steak and loved it! He said it was one of the best steaks he had ever had, and hes had a lot of steaks in his relatively short life. So on our next trip, which wasnt until March of this year, he asked that we include Coral Reef in our dining plans. That time we had a late dinner here and four of the five of us had the steak and all thought it was delicious
the best of this trip which included several steaks ( at Le Cellier, Narcoossees, and Les Chefs de France, to name a few). It was also the restaurant where we had the best service
thanks to our friendly server, Blanca. And overall, it ended up being our favorite meal of that trip. As a result, I decided that on this trip we should have
.
Lunch at CORAL REEF
Highlights Pina Colava Smoothie, Appetizer for Two (except for the Lobster Soup), Lobster Ravioli, Grilled Mahi Mahi, Butterscotch Crème Brulee
Disappointments NOISY!!!
Would we Return? Probably, but for dinner (not for lunch)
Our lunch began with us being seated at a table in the top tier of the restaurant. This was not a problem, as we were there for the food more than anything else. The problem here, however, was the NOISE!!! This had to have been one of the loudest meals DH and I have ever endured. To give you an idea of how loud it was here, think of Chucky E. Cheese on steroids! I seem to recall that someone wrote in their review here recently that the noise level of this restaurant had something to do with the sound waves bouncing off the glass walls of the aquarium. This sounds like a logical explanation. But boy do those waves bounce off with a vengeance. We didnt experience this problem at our last meal here, but this was perhaps because we had a late dinner. There were a few less people, definitely less young children, and therefore less noise.
Ok, now on to the positive part of our meal the food. We first ordered our drinks, which were a Coke for DH and a Pina Colava Smoothie for me. I read somewhere that this consists of three parts pina colada and one part raspberry smoothie. I really like this drink and the great thing is that it is covered by the Dining Plan at Coral Reef, as your non-alcoholic beverage.
Pina Colava Smoothie
For our appetizers, we shared the Appetizers for Two, which includes two small Crab Cakes with Tropical Fruit Salsa Aioli, two Grilled Shrimp with Cucumber Salad, Barbecued Beef Tenderloin Skewer with Creamy Polenta, and two very small cups of Creamy Lobster Soup. We both really enjoyed this, except for the Lobster Soup which tasted rather odd...not how I remembered it from when I had it two years ago. Have they changed the recipe?
Anyway, this was a great way to try several of their appetizers. I wish more of the Disney restaurants offered something like this.
Appetizer for Two - Combination of Crab Cakes, Sea & Land, and Creamy Lobster Soup Appetizers
For his entrée, DH had the Lobster Ravioli topped with Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, and a Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese sauce. He liked this very much.
Lobster Ravioli
As for me, I was tempted to again get the New York Strip Steak, but then I saw something on the menu that caught my eye Grilled Mahi Mahi with Ragu of Rock Shrimp served on Jasmine Rice topped with Hearts of Palm. I was so glad that I ordered this because it was delicious!
Grilled Mahi Mahi served on Jasmine Rice
Next came dessert, which for DH was again gelato. He seemed to have gelato a lot on this trip for some reason. I didnt even know that he liked gelato. Anyway, this version was Almond Gelato with a Granola-Marshmallow Cookie, Peaches, and Passion Fruit Sauce. He didn't say much about it, but he ate it all so I think he like it.
Almond Gelato
For my dessert, I had the Butterscotch Crème Brulee topped with a strawberry and a chocolate-dipped biscotti. I had this the last time we were here and again this was quite good one of my favorite crème brulees at Disney World. Im not a big fan of butterscotch, but the butterscotch flavor is not dominant in this creme brulee. If you like creme brulee, this is one you should try.
Butterscotch Creme Brulee
So, although the food here was quite good, it was difficult to fully enjoy this meal due to the noise. It was so loud that it was difficult to carry on a conversation. In theory, the atmosphere of Coral Reef would seem to be relaxing, quiet, and potentially even romantic but in reality it is none of these at least not at lunch time. I would, however, still recommend eating here because of the good food. But have a late dinner rather than lunch
your ears will thank you for it.
And now for the numbers...
Total cost of meal (not including tip) - $96.21 (or $48.10 per Dining Plan credit) HIGHEST VALUE
And so I can do a DDP vs. TIW Cost Comparison at the end...
Total cost of meal (not including tip) if we had used my Tables in Wonderland discount of 20% instead of the DDP - $76.97
2 DeLuxe Dining Plan Credits used, 4 Remaining
NEXT UP: Citricos Dinner
So on our next trip, which wasnt until March of this year, he asked that we include Coral Reef in our dining plans. That time we had a late dinner here and four of the five of us had the steak and all thought it was delicious
the best of this trip which included several steaks ( at Le Cellier, Narcoossees, and Les Chefs de France, to name a few). It was also the restaurant where we had the best service
thanks to our friendly server, Blanca. And overall, it ended up being our favorite meal of that trip. As a result, I decided that on this trip we should have
.Lunch at CORAL REEF
Highlights Pina Colava Smoothie, Appetizer for Two (except for the Lobster Soup), Lobster Ravioli, Grilled Mahi Mahi, Butterscotch Crème Brulee
Disappointments NOISY!!!
Would we Return? Probably, but for dinner (not for lunch)
Our lunch began with us being seated at a table in the top tier of the restaurant. This was not a problem, as we were there for the food more than anything else. The problem here, however, was the NOISE!!!
This had to have been one of the loudest meals DH and I have ever endured. To give you an idea of how loud it was here, think of Chucky E. Cheese on steroids! I seem to recall that someone wrote in their review here recently that the noise level of this restaurant had something to do with the sound waves bouncing off the glass walls of the aquarium. This sounds like a logical explanation. But boy do those waves bounce off with a vengeance. We didnt experience this problem at our last meal here, but this was perhaps because we had a late dinner. There were a few less people, definitely less young children, and therefore less noise. Ok, now on to the positive part of our meal the food.
We first ordered our drinks, which were a Coke for DH and a Pina Colava Smoothie for me. I read somewhere that this consists of three parts pina colada and one part raspberry smoothie. I really like this drink and the great thing is that it is covered by the Dining Plan at Coral Reef, as your non-alcoholic beverage.
Pina Colava Smoothie
For our appetizers, we shared the Appetizers for Two, which includes two small Crab Cakes with Tropical Fruit Salsa Aioli, two Grilled Shrimp with Cucumber Salad, Barbecued Beef Tenderloin Skewer with Creamy Polenta, and two very small cups of Creamy Lobster Soup. We both really enjoyed this, except for the Lobster Soup which tasted rather odd...not how I remembered it from when I had it two years ago. Have they changed the recipe?
Anyway, this was a great way to try several of their appetizers. I wish more of the Disney restaurants offered something like this.
Appetizer for Two - Combination of Crab Cakes, Sea & Land, and Creamy Lobster Soup Appetizers
For his entrée, DH had the Lobster Ravioli topped with Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, and a Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese sauce. He liked this very much.
Lobster Ravioli
As for me, I was tempted to again get the New York Strip Steak, but then I saw something on the menu that caught my eye Grilled Mahi Mahi with Ragu of Rock Shrimp served on Jasmine Rice topped with Hearts of Palm. I was so glad that I ordered this because it was delicious!
Grilled Mahi Mahi served on Jasmine Rice
Next came dessert, which for DH was again gelato. He seemed to have gelato a lot on this trip for some reason. I didnt even know that he liked gelato.
Anyway, this version was Almond Gelato with a Granola-Marshmallow Cookie, Peaches, and Passion Fruit Sauce. He didn't say much about it, but he ate it all so I think he like it.
Almond Gelato
For my dessert, I had the Butterscotch Crème Brulee topped with a strawberry and a chocolate-dipped biscotti. I had this the last time we were here and again this was quite good one of my favorite crème brulees at Disney World. Im not a big fan of butterscotch, but the butterscotch flavor is not dominant in this creme brulee. If you like creme brulee, this is one you should try.
Butterscotch Creme Brulee
So, although the food here was quite good, it was difficult to fully enjoy this meal due to the noise. It was so loud that it was difficult to carry on a conversation. In theory, the atmosphere of Coral Reef would seem to be relaxing, quiet, and potentially even romantic but in reality it is none of these at least not at lunch time.
I would, however, still recommend eating here because of the good food. But have a late dinner rather than lunch
your ears will thank you for it. And now for the numbers...
Total cost of meal (not including tip) - $96.21 (or $48.10 per Dining Plan credit) HIGHEST VALUE
And so I can do a DDP vs. TIW Cost Comparison at the end...
Total cost of meal (not including tip) if we had used my Tables in Wonderland discount of 20% instead of the DDP - $76.97
2 DeLuxe Dining Plan Credits used, 4 Remaining
NEXT UP: Citricos Dinner
Pooh&OurHunny
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2007
- Messages
- 4,143
finally caught up. Amazing updates. We love Narcoossee's but did not get a change to eat there this December trip.
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FULL MENUS Revealed for 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival at Disney World
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Shopping Aboard Disney Cruise Line Is a Treasure Trove of Exclusive Finds
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Little Mermaid Musical at Walt Disney World to Join Lightning Lane Multi Pass
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Every Ride Isn't Magical: 5 Disney Attractions I'd Bulldoze
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Weird & Wacky Photos from Disney Parks' Past: Part V
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2025 Destination D23 Schedule Unveiled With No Disney Parks Panel
Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
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That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE
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