Just Back : Dining Reviews (Thumbs down for Tchoup chop)

[Paul Samanant]

Just returned from 6 Nights at USF/Disney. Here is the dininng review:

1) Tchop Chop. Contrary to numerous reviews, this restaraunt was an extreme disappointment. Before departure, we saw the thing on TV about this place so it prompted us to go there. First, I will say that the RPH is a beautiful resort, and that Tchop Chop is beautifully decorrated restaurant. It looks chic, trendy, colorful, has a nice lily pool in the center. The menu looks fantastic as well, but this is where it ended for us. We started off with their specialty drink. $20 for 2 people. We received a fruit juice blend with little alcohol. Our appetizers (mussels and dumplings) arrived cold. The dumplings are no differrent than if you got them from your local fast food chinese chain.

The fish I ordered was tasteless except for a salty after-taste. The miso soup we ordered arrived cold and was not good. My kids did not touch their meals. The burger was awful. My wife's pork was OK according to her, but she did not eat very much of it. All in all, a major disappointment, especially at the prices. For those that haven't been, I reccomend that you judge for yourself since I have seen good reviews of this place. And yes - we like asian, ethnic, spicy, indian, carribean food - it was not the excess of spice that detracted.

We have been to the Palm. This is a very good restaurant. We do think it is in the mold of all the great chop houses such as mortons, Shula's, Ruth Chris' as well as all the other Palms - Great steaks and seafood at big prices.

This time, we went over to the PBH to dine at Delfino's. It was very expensive, but we think that the food was excellent - what you expect to receive for the price you pay. It is in our opinion that this was one the the best restaurants we have dined at while in Orlando.

We also ate at Jiko's at the AKL. This was also exceptional although not as good as Delfinos.

To summarize, 6 visit's worth, following are ratings for higher-end restaurants at WDW/USF (not including buffets):

The very best:
1) Delfino
2) California Grill
3) Jiko

Excellent
Palm
Flying Fish

Very Good
Chefs De France
Hollywood Brown Derby
Mythos
Siam Orchid (Universal Drive)
Ming Court (International Drive

Good
Teppenyaki (Epcot)
Marrakesh

Lousy/Overated
Tchop Shop

 

[Dazzler]

Perhaps you ordered the wrong food from the menu. You ordered Mussels and dumplings for appetizers - then fish again for a main course - after shell fish - your palette would still have that taste in your mouth and probably didn't mix too well with another serving of a different type of fish. Again - pork is also not a very good choice after mussels unless accompanied with a rich sauce! The children would have been better having a plate of noodles and a special fried rice with perhaps a sweet dish to accompany - like sweet&sour chicken, or even some spare ribs. Most kids love them! Young children also like sesame prawn and shredded chicken. They probably were sick of burgers and ready for a change!!! Glad you had nice meals in the others - especially Mythos....that's one I am really looking forward to going to!

 

[kellymonaghan]

Sorry you didn't enjoy "Tchop Shop" (love that moniker!). But you're not a lone voice crying in the wilderness. The Orlando Sentinel's food critic was downbeat, too.

Although, I must say, it sounds like you were there on an extremely off night.

I think you're dead on accurate on Delfino and Jiko -- two of Orlando's truly excelptional eateries!

 

[Prince Eric1]

Sorry you didn't like it, but I still can't wait to go back.

 

[highlander447]

Got me worried now as I have planned a special meal there for march might change to Delfinos now

 

[Paul Samanant]

Dining can be like art. To each his/her own. That is why I think that every one should always try things out for themselves. Now if you don't have time to try them all, and need to make that one single moment a special one, then it is tougher. I would say that if you had a group party/festive event, then the decor/liveliness of the place will mitigate the risk. If your event is to the level of couple/anniversary/proposal/romantic, then the CG with the lighting/piped fireworks is less risky. Also Delfino with the italian themed village/water view + strolling musician is a safe bet for couples.

As to the poster that suggested we ordered the wrong combination of things, I'll accept that they had an off night, or that we simply did not like food that others enjoy. I don't accept the argument that the food was bad because it was repetitive in theme. We very often go to seafood restaurants, and have seafood for every course it is ALL good. Same with Chinese, Italian, or themed cuisines. Our kids will always order kids foods, and they know it - and we know it when the burger is hard/tasteless/stale bread/ or the pasta is mushy and tasteless and the chicken hard. We eat at a lot of sushi/Japanese restaurants, so we know good miso soup from bad. We know weak drinks when we taste them. The only thing consistent about our meal were that most items were not to our liking (including the ones we started out with). They may be for others, but not us.

 

[highlander447]

Thanks for the honest review and while I accept u can get bad service on an off night i think bad food is unacceptable tell me Delfinos is for couple but do they have a kids menu and how extensive is Delfinos menu I looked on magical journeys and the menu looks pretty small

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

So sorry you had a bad experience! We thought Tchoup Chop was good, not fabulous, except for one thing - the mussles! They were really, really, good. And we live on the East Coast and get fresh seafood all the time. Those tiny mussles were so sweet and tasty, we raved about them. The rest of the meal was just ok, not bad, not excellent either. As for the price, perhaps because we are from the east coast, but it was no more expensive than any other restuarant we go to. Thanks for the reviews!

 

[Paul Samanant]

I don't know if they have a kids menu. Maybe you should just ask. We usually take our kids (10 mo, 5 yrs, 10 ys) everywhere we go (including the Palm, California Grill, Jikos, Flying Fish etc.) . We did not this time, because we had our Nanny down with us to watch them.

Usually at upscale places that have no kids menu, we always ask for pasta and that seems to be safe. They are well behaved, and we usually all dress somewhat nice at those establishments. (And they are always usually complimented for behaviour and welcome back).

Delfno is definately more upscale, quiet, and romantic. (Jackets reccomended, but no one I saw had one on). Noisy kids would stand out, so that may decide for you. As for the menu, it was not the same one that we have seen posted, or available for viewing at the concierge of the HRH. It was excellent though.

 

[highlander447]

Thanks for the info

 

[SpideyHulk24]

Thank you for the honest review!