Just Say No!...to the $12.00 Cannoli.

[Lewisc]

Yes, some restaurants that are expensive serve superior food. But, getting back to the original thought, what is it that makes a cannoli you can get for $1.50 @ a bakery, cost $12.00 (without tip) @a restaurant? How superior can it actually be, and what makes it superior? A cannoli is a cannoli....not much to improve upon. Simply charging an extraordinary price alone, doesn't make it superior, right? Is it possible that when restaurants charge such high prices, customers sometimes just think the food is superior?

The cannoli is probably over priced but to answer your question it could, but based on posts isn't be large enough to share. It could be 100% fresh. Possibly filled when you order but no earlier then the beginning of the meal. I don't think an Italian bakery sells a freshly filled cannoli for $1.50

I'm sure Disney gets top dollar in rent. A number of "foodies" complain about what they claim is the diminishing quality of restaurant food. The menu may be an example of what a Disney restaurant has to charge to provide quality, pay Disney rent and earn profit relative to costs.

This is a "temporary" restaurant. I'll agree with the posters who speculate the owner may be trying to see how much they can sell at different price points.

The prices are very high for a one credit restaurant.

All of the desserts seem to be priced a few dollars higher then I'd expect.

This company has some restaurants in NYC, including at least two in Rockefeller Center. The food is good but expensive.

The GF is rated 3* but is able to charge far more then was is typical for that class hotel. LOCATION.

Disney restaurants have been having us pay for LOCATION by lowering the quality of food. This restaurant is attempting to do it by charging more.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

On Deb's site, 80% of reviewers recommend this restaurant! The number of reviews is still low but it's good to see that some people like it. Someone even said it was the best meal they had at WDW. There's even a remark that the cannolis are excellent. So far, people like it.

 

[suzimar57]

i would LOVE to see a $12.00 cannoli!

and it had better be big enough to share....

i'm thinking as large as a loaf of italian bread, at least....

(and there also better be a bunch of waiters singing "cela luna mezzo mare", too!!!)

 

[mmcguire]

Sheesh! If I want good Italian, I will go to Maggiano's in Orlando. We can get a five course family style lunch for $15 a person -- just $3 more than a cannoli at Epcot!!

 

[DisneyLover75]

i would LOVE to see a $12.00 cannoli!

and it had better be big enough to share....

i'm thinking as large as a loaf of italian bread, at least....

(and there's also better be a bunch of waiters singing "luna mezzo mare", too!!!)

HAHAHAHA! But seriously, do the waiters sing? I've been to Italian restaurants where they do have musicians.. could be worth the money, then.

 

[workervr]

I have dined there and the cannoli is big enough for four.. easily.. It is quite good.. Also the anitpasto that is very expensive is what my family of four had for lunch.. its huge.. I thought them reasonable for the portion sizes and would dine there again

 

[DisneyLover75]

That's good to know..

But someone else posted about it and said they were normal size.. was it in this thread? Mustn't have been...

Or maybe I'm just losing my mind. LOL

 

[erikthewise]

Just put up a big banner that says "Dining Plan Only" and be done with it.

 

[workervr]

no its the same thread. I wish i had taken a picture.. We were there in Sept and it was outstanding.. a regular cannoli I know.. I live in chicago.. i know cannoli.. this was the size of two thick and two end to end.. exceptional presentation and the cream the best I have ever had.. Lots of pistachios.. Also the service was exceptional. the place was overstaffed the 25 buck antiopasto slection was the best antipasto I have ever had.. with some of the most exceptional cheeses I haave ever had.. All from itally along with varied olives.. some exqusite prochooto (sp?) bread artichocks.. etc. etc.. My kids had the fruit cups shared our Antipasto.. the gelato people are mentioning as too expensive is two scoops and huge...I dont know.. I may be used to chicago.. but I think while it may be perhaps a bit pricey the food is very very good and the service very very nice.

 

[Lewisc]

Thank you. I didn't think the cannoli was equivalent to a $1 cannoli.

no its the same thread. I wish i had taken a picture.. We were there in Sept and it was outstanding.. a regular cannoli I know.. I live in chicago.. i know cannoli.. this was the size of two thick and two end to end.. exceptional presentation and the cream the best I have ever had.. Lots of pistachios.. Also the service was exceptional. the place was overstaffed the 25 buck antiopasto slection was the best antipasto I have ever had.. with some of the most exceptional cheeses I haave ever had.. All from itally along with varied olives.. some exqusite prochooto (sp?) bread artichocks.. etc. etc.. My kids had the fruit cups shared our Antipasto.. the gelato people are mentioning as too expensive is two scoops and huge...I dont know.. I may be used to chicago.. but I think while it may be perhaps a bit pricey the food is very very good and the service very very nice.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Sounds like the attack of the Giant Cannoli.

 

[Maggi May]

Kevin Klose reviewed Tutti Italia on this week's podcast and posted photos of the meal, including the infamous cannoli.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-podcast/photos/tutto/

The review was very mixed -- some dishes great, some dishes bland, and prices quite high.

If you've not listened the podcast, Kevin's dining review are great (and usually hilarious, too).

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-podcast/

 

[Uncleromulus]

Thanks for that link! Appears to be a couple of $6.00 cannolis-----

 

[bop28]

It looks like a couple of $1.50 cannolis..

 

[Minnesota!]

Ok - norwegian midwestern gal here - just WHAT IS A CANOLI???

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

it's an Italian pastry, with a sweet cheese cream in the middle of a cookie it most of the time has mini chocolate chips in the cream, or dried fruit or both............Did I explain that right? I think I did.

 

[dqpowell]

My cousin used to make the best cannoli I ever ate... a very old family recipe. He charged $1.50 each for them in the late 1980s/early 1990s, and they were small - certainly smaller than those in the photo in Kevin Klose's review. But people ate them up.

We'll be eating at Tutto Italia in December, and we'll try the cannoli. I'll report back then, but there's about zero chance they'll compare to my cousin's.

As for the rest of it... I'm sorry, but I don't understand what all the fuss is about. The prices are expensive... so you have three choices:

1. Eat there and pay OOP. That's the price to find out whether it's worth it or not.
2. Eat there on the 2007 DDP. What do you care what the prices are?
3. Eat there on the 2008 DDP, avoid the appetizers, and tip 10% instead of 20%.
4. Don't eat there

Those are the options...

David

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Thanks for the link to the podcast. (http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-podcast/) This was a great review!

I've gone ahead and made some notes to share from the audio review.

1. He liked the atmosphere and thought it was "luxurious".

2. Overall, he thought the restaurant was outrageously expensive, especially dessert.

3. Overall, it was a very authentic experience. But the entrees were much more Americanized which meant they were spice-less and bland. He had just spent time in Italy so he knows a bit about this.

4. Appetizers were "home runs". The Antipasto Misto was a lot of food which was fresh and delicious. The fresh mozarella was also a good size serving. He said that this was a good deal for Disney, in his opinion.

5. CMs seemed very interested in everybody having a wonderful experience. They were very accomodating. They willingingly gave everyone at the table samples of the soup. They also brought as much bread as they would like. They substituted a salad for spaghetti with marinara sauce for one of the entrees. They also brought them an extra dish of marinara. The only problems with service seemed to be a language barrier and not liking some of the little Italian customs like no ice in the water.

6. He found the children's menu very limited but then listed off a ton of options including four desserts.

7. Beverages were pricey but soft drinks are refillable.

8. He would definitely go back but says not to order the lasagna (while it's layered nicely with meat sauce it is flavourless, textureless and tiny), and the bucatini (which had a thicker noodle than expected, was very wet/saucy, with not a lot of flavour. For dessert, don't order the Cinnamon Ricotta Cheesecake. He said it was awful according to three of them but one in the party loved it.

7. The Chicken Cutlet Milanese was HUGE! It was a hit being tender and juicy and seared with a nice crust. He suggests ordering it as it is normally served, since the salad is integral to the dish.

8. Other hits included the salami bread in the bread basket. As well the $8 side dish was a huge hit and a huge bargain. They had carrots in butter with ground walnuts with garlic. This changes every day, though.

9. And about the infamous cannolli. If you look at the photo he took (http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-podcast/photos/tutto), he placed an average teaspoon on the plate to give you an idea about the size. He says that it was crisp and flavourful. "It was good. It was nowhere near $12." So, there you go.

10. For an idea of price, it cost his party $180 without DDE for lunch for four people. With the DDE (which they do take), it costs $146. He thought this was outrageous. I think that's pricey but acceptable.

 

[mrincredible2008]

so you have three choices:

1. Eat there and pay OOP. That's the price to find out whether it's worth it or not.
2. Eat there on the 2007 DDP. What do you care what the prices are?
3. Eat there on the 2008 DDP, avoid the appetizers, and tip 10% instead of 20%.
4. Don't eat there

Those are the options...

David[/QUOTE]


I cant wait to try this canoli, wonder if it is for sell at Walmart?

 

[Brian Noble]

1. Eat there and pay OOP. That's the price to find out whether it's worth it or not.
2. Eat there on the 2007 DDP. What do you care what the prices are?
3. Eat there on the 2008 DDP, avoid the appetizers, and tip 10% instead of 20%.
4. Don't eat there

I choose option 4. I don't mind paying $30 for an entree---I do it not infrequentlly. But, at that price point, I expect something unusual: a standard dish with top-flight ingredients and perfect execution, or perhaps a bit of ingenuity in the meal. This looks like standard Italian fare I can get in any decent mid-sized city for half the price (or less).

Don't mind me though. I feel similarly about Le Cellier. I can't for the life of me understand why a good (but not great) steakhouse is the most popular restaurant in the world showcase.