Just back...we ate and ate and ate! PART 2

[skuttle]

DH and I just returned from a wonderful week at WDW. The first half of our trip was just us...the second half of the trip was us and DH's high school band (he's the percussion instructor). The first half of the trip we ate well...second half was mostly breakfast at the hotel (offsite) and counter service. Here's our reviews from the second half of the trip:

DAY 5:
Electic Umbrella Lunch. This was okay counter service. I had a hot dog...I was craving a hot dog so I enjoyed it! DH had the grilled chicken deluxe sandwich and didn't really care for it.

Garden Grill Dinner. This was really good. It took us a while to get used to the rotation...we were okay if we didn't look at the inside wall. The characters were wonderful...chip was hilarious! The food was really good...we were surprised. I think we both enjoyed it more than expected. I loved the strawberry shortcake for dessert...DH doesn't like strawberry shortcake, so he had the dirt and worms. I'd eat here again.

DAY 6:
Pecos Bill Lunch. I think we both enjoyed this even though it was counter service. The toppings bar was neat.

Cosmic Rays Dinner. We tried to eat dinner around 6ish (park closed at 7) and lots of places were already closed. We really wanted a sandwich, but the sandwich part of Cosmic Rays was closed. DH had another burger and I had a chicken sandwich. We didn't really enjoy it...counter service twice in one day is just too much for us!

DAY 7:

Pizza Planet Lunch. This was a nice break from burgers and fries! The pizza was better than expected and the side salad was a welcome change from french fries!

San Angel Inn Dinner. We really enjoyed San Angel a few years ago so decided to try it again. We both enjoyed it...it wasn't the best meal of the trip, but it was still really good. We both had the plato mexicano. We were both stuffed by the time we left! I still find that the tables are too close together...but the food is really good.

DAY 8:

Flame Tree BBQ Lunch. DH and I really enjoyed this! Great counter service. I had the chicken sandwich and DH had ribs. We both enjoyed it. We ate on one of the lower levels near the water...it was so beautiful and peaceful! I could have sat there all day.

California Grill Dinner. We decided to splurge for the last meal of our trip. We started our honeymoon in 2000 with dinner here, so it holds great memories for us. We called earlier in the morning to make a last minute PS...the earliest we could get was 9:15pm. We arrived around 9:10pm and were told the wait would be 30-45 minutes! Thankfully we only had to wait about 15 minutes. We were seated in a back room which was much quieter than the main dining room. The food was just as good as we remembered! We started with the portobello and spinach flatbread which was wonderful!! If you don't like mushrooms, stay away from this! It was covered in mushrooms...very little spinach. For our entrees, we both had the pork tenderloin since we enjoyed it so much in 2000. It was VERY VERY good! Both of us pushed aside the mushrooms, though, after eating the flatbread! LOL! For dessert, we ordered the chocolate bread pudding. DH said it was a close call, but said Jiko's bread pudding was still number one w/ California Grill's coming in at a close second.

 

[Krissalee]

More great reviews - thanks! I am really hungry now - time for breakfast!

 

[slp87]

Thanks again! We were hoping to try Flame Tree last year, but it was closed. I hope it's open next year!!

 

[cd&kids]

Good reviews...sounds like you had fun! Glad to hear about Ohana's...we're trying it for the first time on our next trip...and Columbia Harbour House for lunch as well.
We were also thinking of California Grill for an end-of-vacation splurge. Did you find it much more expensive than a regular meal (which is expensive enough!)?
Funny...we were also thinking of Garden Grill. I know they are totally different restaurants and hard to compare, but of the two "Grills", which would you pick if you could only have one?
Thanks,

 

[tkyes]

We didn't really enjoy it...counter service twice in one day is just too much for us!

Well aren't we a food snob!

I'm just kidding - I would have to agree with you. It is so nice to sit down at least once during the day and eat a relaxed meal.

Everything sounds great!


tamie

 

[skuttle]

Tamie: LOL! Actually, the day we had counter service twice was the worst since we were very limited at MK since almost everything was closed...all they had left were burgers and chicken....nothing different.

California Grill was one of our more expensive meals. I think we spent around $80...that includes tip but no drinks. It is well worth the money, though!!

As for the two grils, I'd w/o a doubt pick Cali grill! California grill is MUCH better than Garden Grill. They are really two different to compare. Garden grill, IMO, falls more into a category w/ places like 50's primetime, other character buffets, etc. Garden grill was very good, but just not in the same league as Cali grill.

 

[Beanie]

More great reviews!! Thanks so much for posting them, Skuttle!

 

[Princesstimes2]

Garden Grill sounds really good. I hope we can try it one day. Thanks for your reviews.

 

[mom_rules]

It never occurred to me that Garden Grill rotating might cause a problem. Would it really effect someone who gets motion sick badly?

 

[skuttle]

Hmmm...I'm not sure. I don't really get motion sickness...simulator rides make me sick, but that's about it.

The rotation is really slow...I think the CM said it takes about 50-60 minutes to make one full rotation. Looking out didn't bother us, but if we looked at the sunflower wall, that made us feel a little funny b/c we could tell we were moving. Kinda like when you ride in a car...if you look out you feel like you're moving slower and if you look down at the road you feel like you're moving really fast. We did get used to it and it wasn't a problem.

 

[anne60]

My husband is very sensitive to motion sickness, he almost hurled on TofT, just made it to the bathrooms!! He CANNOT ride in the back seat of any car without getting sick. Anyway, the Garden Grill does not bother him at all. We have always been seated on the "upper" level (not in a booth), and it has never been a problem.

 

[mom_rules]

Thanks guys! anne60-DS is exactly like your DH.

 

[Erikarate]

Thanks for the reviews. California Grille is one of our most favorite restaurants in the world!!!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I am going to surprise my wife on her birthday in Sept. by taking her to the California grill. It will be our first time eating here and she has wanted to eat here on previous trips but we just never have. So it was great to read your review.