Just for the experience

[Withacy]

I'm taking my best friend to WDW in December - it's her 1st trip, and my 11th. I've already taken both of her children - my godchildren - on seperate trips. We're celebrating 30 years of friendship (we met our first day in college).

As I make arrangements for this trip, the thing that she's most excited about is eating out. The restaurants. So I got the Deluxe Dining plan (just paid the extra on the free dining). Eating out is not something she gets to do very often (money's tight) - and when she does, it's something like Bob Evans. Neither of us are REMOTELY foodies. She's from a big, loud (in a good way) Irish family. Silly & fun actually works for us.

She LOVES seafood - especially shellfish (and scallops are her favorite).

I've been to quite a few WDW restaurants over the years, but mostly the ones that are kid-friendly. Which is ok for us too.

Anyway, other than Narcoossee's, I've steared away from the signature dining, because she's worried about feeling out of her depth - we just want to relax and have fun. I've made most of our ADRs, but I find I'm still moving things around (and having surprisingly FEW problems getting ADRs for mid-December)

So what do you think - laid back (LOUD is actually fine), fun, possibly seafood options (even if it's just crabcake or shrimp pasta)? Also taking selection recommendations.

Thanks!

 

[Quin]

Check out all the menus, either from the link on this site and/or over at AllEars. Don't just limit yourself to the parks; look at the TS options at all the resorts too.

Cape May at the Beach/Yacht Club has a non-character seafood buffet dinner. And at the Coral Reef in Epcot you can eat surrounded by fish! But really, just about every restaurant has 1-2 fish items on it. You can have African-prepared fish at Boma, Louisiana-style at Boatwrights, or Carribean at Shutters. The possibilities are endless!

 

[Withacy]

I've got Cape May - I saw that sea-food buffet, and hoped for the best - is it any good? (And I'm not talking sophisticate palate - more edible, good mix, etc.)

Also have Boma's (I love their stews). Raglan Road, twice (I'm looking forward to trying "It's Not Bleedin' Chowder!"). I have an app with all the menus. But those are just words, until I try them.

I've been to Coral Reef a couple times (the kids love it) - we haven't fit it in yet on this trip.

 

[Coconuts]

I would suggest Flying Fish. There's also Kouzzina, Captain's Grille, Cape May Cafe, Big River Grille, or the Wave. Good luck.

 

[harpinjean]

Check out the menus on allears.net. If you want seafood, there is Coral Reef in Epcot and I'm sure they have seafood at Teppan Edo, also in Epcot. Crystal Palace has steamed peel and eat shrimp on their buffet. DH and I enjoyed eating at all these places. We have gone to Crystal Palace without our kids and still enjoyed the interaction with Pooh and friends.

 

[Withacy]

Crystal Palace I know - my personal tradition is to always go to the MK my first day, and CP is always my first meal.

I made an ADR for Teppan Edo, because it looks like fun - but have no clue what to expect. Like I mentioned above, I have an app for my iPhone with all the menus - but that can only tell me what they serve, not what's worth getting, and if it's a fun place.

Kouzzina, Flying Fish & Wave all sound a little trendy/high-brow/new-agey for me, but what do I know? Are these comfortable places for a couple middle-aged ladies who would be hard-pressed to identify a salad fork, and for whom a wine list might as well be written in chinese?

 

[FireDancer]

Check out all the menus here and here and see what jumps out. I would recommend doing both Boma dinner and The Wave.

Boma is a great buffet full of toned down African foods. Each time I have been there one of the main dishes was a nut crusted salmon. If you are coffee drinkers I think their press pot is the best coffee at WDW.

The Wave has a sustainable fish of the day. I have only eaten there once but loved the restaurant and it has now become the only other must do restaurant on property for me (in addition to Boma). The fist was tuna steak when I was there and was very good.

 

[Withacy]

I've been to Boma 3 times, and we'll be going there. I love their stews, and the salmon was good.

Wave sounds kind of trendy or "foody" to me. But if someone who doesn't know their palate from a pallet says it's good, we might try it.

And my friend is mostly a fan of the shellfish side of seafood more than the swimming side (sustainable or otherwise).

 

[Quin]

Shrimp & scallops at Kona Cafe
'Ohana includes grilled shrimp on skewers delivered to your table.
Trails End buffet, which is a very 'down-home' atmosphere, includes pee & eat shrimp.
Seafood Diavalo pasta at Tony's in MK
Seafood Curry or Steak & Shrimp at Yak&Yeti in AK
Shrimp & Scallop pasta at Big River Grille at the BW
Linguini with Shrimp at the Turf Club

 

[Dax]

Shrimp & scallops at Kona Cafe
'Ohana includes grilled shrimp on skewers delivered to your table.
Trails End buffet, which is a very 'down-home' atmosphere, includes pee & eat shrimp. Seafood Diavalo pasta at Tony's in MK
Seafood Curry or Steak & Shrimp at Yak&Yeti in AK
Shrimp & Scallop pasta at Big River Grille at the BW
Linguini with Shrimp at the Turf Club

LOL, Im sorry, that made me giggle...

I dont have any suggestions, but maybe try some non-seafood places too, there is more to the world besides seafood...

Rose and Crown I hear is very good...this is next on my places to eat in Disney..

 

[Quin]

EEEEK!

More caffeine. I definitely need more caffeine.


To the OP: I have not tried most of these dishes myself, but hopefully some other posters can give you better advice about them - they are just examples to show the availability. I did eat at Trails End a number of years ago; very basic/straightforward. I love 'Ohana and would not think it is too "fancy"; much less so than any of the Signature restaurants (hard to be fancy when kids are rolling coconuts around on the floor and doing the limbo!).

 

[Withacy]

OK, here's some of the restaurants I've made ADRs for (I'll put a smiley by the ones I've tried before):

Crystal Palace
Raglan Road
Teppan Edo
Rose & Crown Pub
Yak & Yeti
Ohana
Tony's Town Square
Narcoossee's
50's Prime Time Cafe
Sci Fi Drive In
Biergarten
Les Chefs de France
1900 Park Fare
Boma
Akershus
San Angel Inn
Mama Melrose
Cape May Cafe
Whispering Canyon Cafe

Any thoughts?

 

[Pakey]

I think the best scallops are at bluezoo but since it's not on the dining plan, the second best is Flying Fish on the Boardwalk. The food here is much better than at Narcoosees. FF is on the loud side because it has an open kitchen and the decor is playful.

 

[karrit2000]

I had something similar to this one that is listed on the Chefs De France menu posted on All Ears:

Brochette de fruits de mer aux herbes - sauteed scallops, mahi mahi, and black tiger shrimp served with Mediterranean herb coulis, grilled tomato and black pearl rice

When I got it it didn't come with the Mahi mahi but it was delicious. I love Shrimp & Scallops too better than the other items like Salmon & Talapia.

I also had an appetizer at Hollywood Brown Derby that was a large Scallop. The one they have on the current menu posted on All Ears is prepared different than the one I had but it was wonderful.

Also the Counter Service at Raglan Road at DTD is called Cooke's. They have wonderful fried fish, shrimp, scallops, etc.

As others have said most of the restaurants have a few seafood items on the menu so there are many options. I enjoy the Cape May Seafood Buffet.

 

[bluejasmine]

Oh wow DxDDP the choices are endless! Since she loves seafood I say Narcosee for the lobster, Flying Fish, Cape May.

Nine Dragon and Yak & Yeti have good steak and shrimp..

For the experience plus I like the food you should take her to Ohana, Coral Reef and a charachter meal maybe CRT or Chef Mickey breakfast oh and speaking of breakfast youu got to do Boma for breakfast not only is it good but you can check out the AKL! Have fun!

 

[starrysky]

Fultons is really good, DH loves shellfish as well and he raved over this place, don't think its on the DDP though but we paid oop and were more than happy with the quality and service.

 

[Withacy]

The one OOP I know we have to do - I already made the ADR - is a late night dessert at T-Rex (and if you've been there, you can probably guess what we're going for). Plus, I just want her to see the place. Talk about over the top! (And I mean that in a good way...)