Just Back! Our Reviews (Long)

[WeLoveDisney]

Just back from a long weekend at AKL concierge. The food at the concierge was very good, and also a lot of it. We ate breakfast and had dinner appetizers at the concierge every day.

We're fortunate to travel to WDW several times a year, and really enjoy the restaurants. Since we were only there for a few days this last trip, we tried to pack in all our favorites. Here are our opinions / reviews on what else we ate:

Day 1 - Lunch. The Mara.
After being awake since 4AM (in part because of an early flight, but mostly due to our excitement of returning to WDW!), we checked in to AKL at 2 and promptly headed down to the Mara to find something to eat. We've stayed previously at AKL and have eaten here before and we were pleased as we always are. DH has a bacon double cheeseburger and I had the BBQ chicken pizza. For some reason the service here, even the cashiers, are always very friendly! Grade: B

Day 1 - Dinner. Jiko
Jiko is one of our favorite restaurants in "The World". DH had some type of fish wrapped in parchment paper. He really liked it, although I tried it and didnt care for the seasonings. It had some type of red/green peppers on it and I'm not a big fan of that, but he is and proclaimed it a winner. I had the monkfish in tomato butter sauce, and it was wonderful. We passed on desserts having been too full from appetizers, wine and cheese at the concierge before dinner. Grade: A+

Day 2 - Lunch. Kona Cafe
We also love to have lunch here in the Poly. DH had the Asian noodle bowl (more like a soup). It had thin strips of beef, lots of fresh veggies, and asian noodles in a Vietnamese-type broth. It came with a hot chili sauce and lime that you could add to taste. We both really enjoyed it. I had pasta with mushrooms in a lemon cream sauce. It was good but really filling and I couldnt finish it. I knew it would be, but I am a huge mushroom fan and couldnt resist all the different varieties in the dish. It was delicious. Kona also displays all of their desserts, very tempting but there was no way we could even split one being stuffed from our lunch. (We remembered the Koko puffs from last year - sort of cream puffs with chocolate and they were very good.). Grade: A

Day 2 - Dinner. Narcoosee
For some reason, we always have to wait an extraordinary amount of time here, even with a PS. Apparently we're not the only ones as a lot of people were complaining and the manager was having to calm down people. (My theory is that the MK fireworks were starting in 30 minutes and other patrons were dragging out their meal as long as they could to wait for the view). I wasnt very hungry, so I had a bowl of the squash and crab soup as my meal, and DH had sea bass on risotto. Both were very good, but the service was rushed and the atmosphere at check didnt create a nice relaxing meal. Grade: A for food, C for service.

Day 3 - Lunch. Bongo's
We were shopping in DTD and stopped in for some lunch. It was our first time here. It was OK, not great. We both had cuban sandwhiches and having lived in S Florida for 10 years with lots of great Cuban restaurants it was disappointing. But, it was a cool and refreshing break on a hot day. Grade: C

Day 3 - Dinner. Cafe San Angel (Mexican Pavillion) Epcot.
We had lunch here last trip and really enjoyed it so decided to give it a try for dinner. We had a wonderful view as our table was right on the railing near the volcano. I had the ceviche appetizer as my meal, and it was as good and fresh as any ceviche I had on vacation on beach at Mexico. DH had some type of sampler platter which he enjoyed, too. Grade: B+

Day 4 - We slept in and had a big breakfast at the concierge, so skipped lunch this day.

Day 4 - Dinner. Flying Fish
Another one of our favorite restaurants, and it didnt disappoint us. DH had the potato crusted snapper in red wine and creamy leek sauce; I had the goat cheese and roasted beet salad followed by the soup for my entree. The salad was wonderful, but the soup (creamy ramp, which is an onion-type veggie) was a little bland. Still, I had so many great meals here I still give it an A+.

 

[pennyplanner]

Thank you for your great reviews. Love those details AND your choice of restaurants!

penny

 

[Claudia2002]

Hi

Thanks for your report! We'll be staying at the AKL in August.
If you have some time, can you write up about the offerings at the AKL concierge?

Thanks again!

Claudia

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Sounds great - nice review on Jiko I've yet to dine here or Narcoosee's. Thanks again

 

[Uncleromulus]

Enjoyed the reviews. Narcoosee's does seem to suffer (similar to the CG) from it's own location. And you are right--many "linger" over the meal so their own timing is just right for the fireworks.
How long did you wait?

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for sharing - great reviews!!!

 

[Krissalee]

Thanks for the reviews. You dined at 2 of my favorite restaurants - Flying Fish and Jiko!

 

[WeLoveDisney]

Uncle Romulus,
At Narcoossee, we waited about 35-40 minutes for our table. They used to have seating outside on the porch where you could sit and wait, but it wasnt there this time, so the restaurant entrance was crowded with about 15 other people waiting, and many more at the bar.

 

[WeLoveDisney]

Claudia2002,
The offerings at the AKL concierge were much more plentiful than those we had at the GF RPC last year.

Breakfast: Hot oatmeal with and without brown sugar, pastries, bagels, muffins, cereal, fresh fruit.

Afternoon snacks: mixed nuts, pretzels, sunflower seeds, dried fruit.

Tea time: (never made it, but the brochure said tea sandwiches, scones, biscuits, cookies)

Cocktail time (5-7): wines, cheeses, crackers, each night they had 2-3 different hot items, including meatballs, salmon, chicken skewers, and ribs. They also had a kids section with PB&J, goldfish, and chicken nuggets.

Desserts (8-10) cordials and mini desserts from Boma and Jiko

Beverages: All day they had 3 different cold beverages: iced tea, lemonade, and African smooth (a fruit drink made of honey, papaya, lemon, and yogurt - I think). Also a small refrigerator of bottled water, milk, juice and soda, as well as teas and hot chocolate.

Also, many people have written about he awesome cappucino maker and it is really neat! With one button you can make an espresso, latte, or cappucino (all regualr or decaf). We improvised and made iced lattes by adding the espresso to milk and ice in a tall glass.

 

[patsal]

Thank you for sharing such detailed reviews. Sorry that your Narcoossee's experience was poor.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks for the great reviews. Jiko is one of our favorite restaurants at WDW, we try to eat here on every visit. There Beef Tenderloin with Macroni & Cheese is great. It is the best Macroni & Cheese i had ever had.

 

[Claudia2002]

Thanks for the details on the AKL concierge! That espresso machine and I are going to become close friends!

Claudia

 

[Jen D]

Thanks for all the reviews! Almost every one of these restaurants are on my list; I like your choices!

 

[LAWalz23]

Thanks for the reviews! AKL concierge sounds really nice.

 

[BCV23]

Wonderful reviews. We enjoy Narcoossee's but usually go on the early side. After reading your review I think we'll stick to that!

I agree that Mara has really friendly service. When I stayed there a couple of nights in March the manager was manning a cashier in the early am (I think he said someone had called in sick) and he was so friendly. I imagine his manner carries over to the rest of the CMs.