Kaycee
Magic is everywhere if you know where to look
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2001
- Messages
- 4,641
I had a wonderful week in WDW May 9 16. I was solo on this trip, although I did enjoy several meals with other DISers. I am an ovo-lacto vegetarian (i.e. I eat eggs and dairy products). Because I was solo this trip, I had counter service or just a quick snack for many meals. Heres a review of where I ate and what I had:
Plaza Restaurant: Food: A- Service: A. Atmosphere: A.
This was my first time dining at the Plaza. I dined with TLinden16 and TigerLily03 from the DIS. Everything about this meal was nice the company, the food, the service, and the setting. I had the Wrapped up in the Garden, which is a tomato-basil wrap filled with spinach, bibb lettuce, grilled portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers and hummus. It was delicious, but it was much too big for one person to eat. I was really hungry but was only able to finish about half of it. The sweet potato chips that were served with it were disappointing; they were really greasy and tasted like any other greasy chip youve ever had. Hence the minus in the food score. That was okay though; the wrap more than made up for the greasy chips.
ESPN Club: Food: A (both visits). Service: A (first visit) C (second visit). Atmosphere: A.
I had enjoyed the grilled portobello sandwich at ESPN during my December trip, and I was looking forward to having another one. It was just as good as I remembered. In fact, it was so good that I ended up eating there twice this trip just so that I could have this sandwich again! Grilled portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and Swiss cheese are served on a delicious roll. Chive cream cheese is served on the side, and the sandwich is served with fries. Its nothing fancy, but this is one of my favorite meals at WDW. On my first visit, Aaron was my server and he was fantastic. My server on the second visit was not so good. In fact, I ended up with two different servers, one of which tried to tell me they didnt offer this sandwich even though it was on the menu and I had just had it two days earlier. I finally convinced him, after showing him the menu. The sandwich was brought out by a different server who did not say one word to me. Neither of these servers made any effort to make conversation or make me feel welcome, as Aaron had. However, the food was still served promptly even though the restaurant was busy at the time, and no one was actually rude, so that experience definitely wont stop me from returning to ESPN on future visits.
Cape May Character Breakfast: Food: C. Service: A. Atmosphere: A.
I had breakfast at Cape May with TLinden16 (Karen). This was my first visit to Cape May but Karen had been there on previous visits. There were highs and lows to the food this visit. The fruit and baked goods were fresh and delicious. A yogurt parfait bar had been recently added, and the fruit and toppings on the bar were wonderful. However, the hot food on the buffet was anything but hot. It was not even lukewarm. This didnt bother me as much as it did Karen since I was busy stuffing myself with fruit, yogurt parfait, muffins and danishes. I was disappointed in the fact that my first Mickey waffle was cold (although it still tasted pretty good!) and the omelet was absolutely disgusting. The breakfast potatoes were tasty even though they were cold, but Im sure they wouldve tasted better hot. We told our server (who was very friendly and attentive) about the cold food, and she promptly reported the problem. However, it was too late to make a difference in our dining experience. We did have some great character interaction during this meal, and Ill definitely go back. Any restaurant can have an off day, and I dont believe the problem we had at Cape May is anywhere near typical for this restaurant.
Cantina de San Angel: Food: B+. Service: B. Atmosphere: B+.
There isnt actually a vegetarian item listed for this counter service restaurant, but you can order pretty much anything on the menu without meat. I had the nachos without meat. They are just your typical nachos, nothing special, but I really like them with a margarita while sitting by the lagoon and people-watching. In fact, I enjoyed this meal so much, I ate here twice and had the nachos both times. The serving is huge and I couldnt finish them, but I sure made a good dent in them! If you are looking for a unique meal, this is not the place for you. But if you want something familiar while relaxing in World Showcase, Cantina de San Angel should suit you well.
Seasons Food Court: Food: A+. Service: B. Atmosphere: B.
I was anxiously anticipating trying Seasons after reading about the changes that had been made here recently. I was not disappointed! If you are a vegetarian, you should be very pleased with the new menu. In fact, my biggest problem was narrowing down the choices something that is almost unheard of when vegetarians dine out! I ate here twice this trip. The first time I dined with TLinden16 and Katypop from the DIS. I had the grilled vegetable Cuban sandwich and an apple simply wonderful! The second time, I was tempted to get the same thing, but I wanted to try some of the other offerings. Boy, am I glad I did! I had the roasted beets and goat cheese salad, and it was one of the best salads Ive ever had. It is served with cilantro and lime dressing and candied pecans, and the mix of flavors is amazing. For dessert, I had a fruit cup with vanilla pudding filling served in a pastry shell yum!
Columbia Harbour House: Food: A. Service: B. Atmosphere: A.
I have at least one meal at CHH every time I visit WDW. I have yet to be disappointed. I had my usual meal of a cup of vegetarian chili and a half lighthouse sandwich. The sandwich consists of hummus and broccoli slaw served on multigrain bread. It is very tasty and goes well with the vegetarian chili. I ate upstairs at a table by a window overlooking Liberty Square so that I could people-watch while enjoying a relaxing, delicious meal.
Earl of Sandwich: Food: A+. Service: B. Atmosphere: B.
The Earl is another must-do when Im visiting WDW. Their sandwiches are absolutely wonderful. On this trip, I visited the Earl with TLinden16 and TigerLily03 from the DIS. I had the Caprese, the only vegetarian sandwich on the menu but with a sandwich this good, who needs more?! It consists of sliced mozzarella, roma tomatos, fresh basil and drizzled virgin olive oil on some of the best-tasting sandwich bread Ive ever had. I cant remember what Karen and Lily ordered, but I know they each had different sandwiches, and that they both were very pleased. I think Karen may have had The Original without horseradish sauce and a salad. Im pretty sure Lily had the Caribbean jerk chicken. This place is always packed, but this is the first time Ive ever seen a delay in service. Lily and I made it through the line just fine, but Karen was stuck in line for about 15 minutes after we were seated. It seems that the new dining plan cards were wreaking havoc with the computer system. I heard later that this was the case at several Downtown Disney restaurants that evening, so it was evidently something beyond the control of the Earl.
Boulangerie Patisserie: Food: A. Service: B. Atmosphere: B.
I had the cheese plate, which was served with French bread, and a glass of white wine. All three of the cheeses were very good, and the French bread and white wine complimented the cheeses perfectly. I dined at one of the tables on the sidewalk outside the bakery and felt as though I were actually in France! I had considered ordering a strawberry tart for dessert, but Im glad I didnt because the cheese was very filling.
Tangierine Café: Food: C. Service: B. Atmosphere: C.
I had the vegetarian platter on my December trip and enjoyed it very much. For some reason, I didnt like it as much this time. Maybe I just wasnt in the mood for it, but everything tasted a bit off this time. I couldnt finish the tabouleh or the marinated olives because the flavor was just too overpowering. The hummus was very good, but the bread was drier and blander than I remembered. The couscous seemed dry and bland also. I may have just caught the restaurant on an off night, but Im not sure that I will dine there again on my next visit. After eating there this trip, the food doesnt seem as appealing to me anymore. I also felt that the dining area is not as well-kept as most of the other areas in WDW. It seemed dirtier, which definitely affected my dining experience.
Snacks: I had some wonderful snacks on this trip and would like to mention a couple that stood out. I had two Dole Whips from Aloha Isle. The first time, I had the plain pineapple Dole Whip, which is my favorite. The second time, I was in the mood for the pineapple and vanilla swirled, which is a little lighter and less sweet than the plain one. Both of them were absolutely divine! I had giant pretzels from the stand in Germany twice and enjoyed them both very much. I had fruit cups from numerous stands in each of the parks and I always found this to be a light, refreshing snack. I discovered a new treat this trip at the refreshment outpost between China and Germany in World Showcase. They serve ice cream in a waffle cone, and they had a delicious cookies and cream low-fat frozen yogurt that was so good I had to go back for a second one!
If anyone has any questions, please ask, I'll do my best to answer them!
Plaza Restaurant: Food: A- Service: A. Atmosphere: A.
This was my first time dining at the Plaza. I dined with TLinden16 and TigerLily03 from the DIS. Everything about this meal was nice the company, the food, the service, and the setting. I had the Wrapped up in the Garden, which is a tomato-basil wrap filled with spinach, bibb lettuce, grilled portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers and hummus. It was delicious, but it was much too big for one person to eat. I was really hungry but was only able to finish about half of it. The sweet potato chips that were served with it were disappointing; they were really greasy and tasted like any other greasy chip youve ever had. Hence the minus in the food score. That was okay though; the wrap more than made up for the greasy chips.
ESPN Club: Food: A (both visits). Service: A (first visit) C (second visit). Atmosphere: A.
I had enjoyed the grilled portobello sandwich at ESPN during my December trip, and I was looking forward to having another one. It was just as good as I remembered. In fact, it was so good that I ended up eating there twice this trip just so that I could have this sandwich again! Grilled portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and Swiss cheese are served on a delicious roll. Chive cream cheese is served on the side, and the sandwich is served with fries. Its nothing fancy, but this is one of my favorite meals at WDW. On my first visit, Aaron was my server and he was fantastic. My server on the second visit was not so good. In fact, I ended up with two different servers, one of which tried to tell me they didnt offer this sandwich even though it was on the menu and I had just had it two days earlier. I finally convinced him, after showing him the menu. The sandwich was brought out by a different server who did not say one word to me. Neither of these servers made any effort to make conversation or make me feel welcome, as Aaron had. However, the food was still served promptly even though the restaurant was busy at the time, and no one was actually rude, so that experience definitely wont stop me from returning to ESPN on future visits.
Cape May Character Breakfast: Food: C. Service: A. Atmosphere: A.
I had breakfast at Cape May with TLinden16 (Karen). This was my first visit to Cape May but Karen had been there on previous visits. There were highs and lows to the food this visit. The fruit and baked goods were fresh and delicious. A yogurt parfait bar had been recently added, and the fruit and toppings on the bar were wonderful. However, the hot food on the buffet was anything but hot. It was not even lukewarm. This didnt bother me as much as it did Karen since I was busy stuffing myself with fruit, yogurt parfait, muffins and danishes. I was disappointed in the fact that my first Mickey waffle was cold (although it still tasted pretty good!) and the omelet was absolutely disgusting. The breakfast potatoes were tasty even though they were cold, but Im sure they wouldve tasted better hot. We told our server (who was very friendly and attentive) about the cold food, and she promptly reported the problem. However, it was too late to make a difference in our dining experience. We did have some great character interaction during this meal, and Ill definitely go back. Any restaurant can have an off day, and I dont believe the problem we had at Cape May is anywhere near typical for this restaurant.
Cantina de San Angel: Food: B+. Service: B. Atmosphere: B+.
There isnt actually a vegetarian item listed for this counter service restaurant, but you can order pretty much anything on the menu without meat. I had the nachos without meat. They are just your typical nachos, nothing special, but I really like them with a margarita while sitting by the lagoon and people-watching. In fact, I enjoyed this meal so much, I ate here twice and had the nachos both times. The serving is huge and I couldnt finish them, but I sure made a good dent in them! If you are looking for a unique meal, this is not the place for you. But if you want something familiar while relaxing in World Showcase, Cantina de San Angel should suit you well.
Seasons Food Court: Food: A+. Service: B. Atmosphere: B.
I was anxiously anticipating trying Seasons after reading about the changes that had been made here recently. I was not disappointed! If you are a vegetarian, you should be very pleased with the new menu. In fact, my biggest problem was narrowing down the choices something that is almost unheard of when vegetarians dine out! I ate here twice this trip. The first time I dined with TLinden16 and Katypop from the DIS. I had the grilled vegetable Cuban sandwich and an apple simply wonderful! The second time, I was tempted to get the same thing, but I wanted to try some of the other offerings. Boy, am I glad I did! I had the roasted beets and goat cheese salad, and it was one of the best salads Ive ever had. It is served with cilantro and lime dressing and candied pecans, and the mix of flavors is amazing. For dessert, I had a fruit cup with vanilla pudding filling served in a pastry shell yum!
Columbia Harbour House: Food: A. Service: B. Atmosphere: A.
I have at least one meal at CHH every time I visit WDW. I have yet to be disappointed. I had my usual meal of a cup of vegetarian chili and a half lighthouse sandwich. The sandwich consists of hummus and broccoli slaw served on multigrain bread. It is very tasty and goes well with the vegetarian chili. I ate upstairs at a table by a window overlooking Liberty Square so that I could people-watch while enjoying a relaxing, delicious meal.
Earl of Sandwich: Food: A+. Service: B. Atmosphere: B.
The Earl is another must-do when Im visiting WDW. Their sandwiches are absolutely wonderful. On this trip, I visited the Earl with TLinden16 and TigerLily03 from the DIS. I had the Caprese, the only vegetarian sandwich on the menu but with a sandwich this good, who needs more?! It consists of sliced mozzarella, roma tomatos, fresh basil and drizzled virgin olive oil on some of the best-tasting sandwich bread Ive ever had. I cant remember what Karen and Lily ordered, but I know they each had different sandwiches, and that they both were very pleased. I think Karen may have had The Original without horseradish sauce and a salad. Im pretty sure Lily had the Caribbean jerk chicken. This place is always packed, but this is the first time Ive ever seen a delay in service. Lily and I made it through the line just fine, but Karen was stuck in line for about 15 minutes after we were seated. It seems that the new dining plan cards were wreaking havoc with the computer system. I heard later that this was the case at several Downtown Disney restaurants that evening, so it was evidently something beyond the control of the Earl.
Boulangerie Patisserie: Food: A. Service: B. Atmosphere: B.
I had the cheese plate, which was served with French bread, and a glass of white wine. All three of the cheeses were very good, and the French bread and white wine complimented the cheeses perfectly. I dined at one of the tables on the sidewalk outside the bakery and felt as though I were actually in France! I had considered ordering a strawberry tart for dessert, but Im glad I didnt because the cheese was very filling.
Tangierine Café: Food: C. Service: B. Atmosphere: C.
I had the vegetarian platter on my December trip and enjoyed it very much. For some reason, I didnt like it as much this time. Maybe I just wasnt in the mood for it, but everything tasted a bit off this time. I couldnt finish the tabouleh or the marinated olives because the flavor was just too overpowering. The hummus was very good, but the bread was drier and blander than I remembered. The couscous seemed dry and bland also. I may have just caught the restaurant on an off night, but Im not sure that I will dine there again on my next visit. After eating there this trip, the food doesnt seem as appealing to me anymore. I also felt that the dining area is not as well-kept as most of the other areas in WDW. It seemed dirtier, which definitely affected my dining experience.
Snacks: I had some wonderful snacks on this trip and would like to mention a couple that stood out. I had two Dole Whips from Aloha Isle. The first time, I had the plain pineapple Dole Whip, which is my favorite. The second time, I was in the mood for the pineapple and vanilla swirled, which is a little lighter and less sweet than the plain one. Both of them were absolutely divine! I had giant pretzels from the stand in Germany twice and enjoyed them both very much. I had fruit cups from numerous stands in each of the parks and I always found this to be a light, refreshing snack. I discovered a new treat this trip at the refreshment outpost between China and Germany in World Showcase. They serve ice cream in a waffle cone, and they had a delicious cookies and cream low-fat frozen yogurt that was so good I had to go back for a second one!
If anyone has any questions, please ask, I'll do my best to answer them!
