Kouzzina - Opinions and Pics

[bicker]

Prices are a bit too much for Greek food also.

Prices are relative to food and service quality, not the type of cuisine. You can have cheap French food and fine Greek food.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Not a fan of Greek Food, so I will avoid this resteraunt...doesn't agree with my Digestive System.... Prices are a bit too much for Greek food also.

Prices are normal to any good authentic Greek restaurant here in NJ (even "it's Greek to Me" that the pp mentioned...which is yummy!) or even Astoria in Queens (the biggest Greek population in the US). Plus are you forgetting you're in a theme park?

 

[aubriee]

DD ordered the whole fish. it is a whole snapper delivered to the table and it was delicious. Note this entree is not for the faint of heart. I think she has been watching Andrew Zimmerman too much. She ate the whole thing including the eyeballs cheeks and tail.

I guess I am faint of heart. No way am I eating anything that's looking at me as I eat it (no I don't eat stuffed crabs or whole lobsters either). I was planning on ordering the whole fish when I go to Kouzzina's Oct 2nd. Glad I read beforehand that the thing comes with it's head still attached. Would it be really rude to ask the kitchen to cut the head off before it comes out? I don't really see any thing else on the entree part of the menu that I'd like. I'm usually an adventuresome eater and love trying new things, but I don't know if I could handle cinnamon in my meat either and I notice that both the lasagna and the chicken have cinnamon in them. I canceled Boma to get Kouzzina, but am thinking I may need to try to get my Boma ADR back.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Prices are normal to any good authentic Greek restaurant here in NJ (even "it's Greek to Me" that the pp mentioned...which is yummy!) or even Astoria in Queens (the biggest Greek population in the US). Plus are you forgetting you're in a theme park?

Prices at Kouzzina are in line with the "fancy" Greek restaurant here--DH and I went last night and had a coupon for a free appetizer, and after tax & tip it came out to $80 (including a glass of wine for me, 2 for him, entrées and desserts). We have other, less-expensive Greek restaurants in town where the food is excellent but the atmosphere is less fancy (and the location is less prime ... I'm sure rent at the fancy place in the shopping district is a lot higher than the family-run place on the outskirts of town that we usually go to).

 

[TillyMarigold]

I don't really see any thing else on the entree part of the menu that I'd like. I'm usually an adventuresome eater and love trying new things, but I don't know if I could handle cinnamon in my meat either and I notice that both the lasagna and the chicken have cinnamon in them. I canceled Boma to get Kouzzina, but am thinking I may need to try to get my Boma ADR back.

Ironic, since the #1 complaint I read about Boma is that people don't like that there's cinnamon in so much of the food ...

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I guess I am faint of heart. No way am I eating anything that's looking at me as I eat it (no I don't eat stuffed crabs or whole lobsters either). I was planning on ordering the whole fish when I go to Kouzzina's Oct 2nd. Glad I read beforehand that the thing comes with it's head still attached. Would it be really rude to ask the kitchen to cut the head off before it comes out? I don't really see any thing else on the entree part of the menu that I'd like. I'm usually an adventuresome eater and love trying new things, but I don't know if I could handle cinnamon in my meat either and I notice that both the lasagna and the chicken have cinnamon in them. I canceled Boma to get Kouzzina, but am thinking I may need to try to get my Boma ADR back.

I don't see why they couldn't cut the head off for you? My mom is the same way...she can't eat it if it's staring back at her

Also though in regards to the cinnamon in the lasagna (pastisio). You aren't supposed to taste an overpowering flavor of cinnamon if made correctly. I actually don't taste it at all normally. I know it freaks some people out but after they try it they really enjoy it. The chicken though I would assume has a much stronger flavor since there seems to be a lot more added in the recipe from looking at the photo someone posted. Just my two cents though!

 

[cbg1027]

I made reservations for Kouzzina on 10/31 for my birthday dinner. I was second guessing that and thinking I should go somewhere I know I like, but after the reviews and photos I feel good about the Kouzzina ADR! Thanks!

 

[aclov]

Just reserved for dinner in Sept., I inquired if they were going to take the Tables in Wonderland (DDE) card and he said yes. Has anyone used that yet there?

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Just reserved for dinner in Sept., I inquired if they were going to take the Tables in Wonderland (DDE) card and he said yes. Has anyone used that yet there?

no...but I plan to use mine for my Sept 19 dinner...AND my Sept 20 breakfast! I am sure it will be accepted...no reason why it shouldn't. Enjoy!

 

[TDC Nala]

I'll be using TIW if I go next week. This is a Disney-owned restaurant, there's no reason why they won't accept it.

 

[dbk1029]

Read the menu and saw the pics. Personally its not for me. I can't imagine that this place will have a really long life at WDW. The menu doesn't strike me as being "safe" enough for a good majority of guests.

I am sure it is great for those who like greek/med food. I just don't know if it could attract enough business. I guess Disney did the studies to support opening this place with the current menu.

 

[bicker]

I think it is a good option for where it is, pulling in spill-over business from the convention guests from the Swolphin. And I think the Cat Cora name will bring in Food Network fans for the next couple of years, at least.

 

[faindrops27]

I think it is a good option for where it is, pulling in spill-over business from the convention guests from the Swolphin. And I think the Cat Cora name will bring in Food Network fans for the next couple of years, at least.

 

[walt's assistant]

We ate at Kouzzina this past Sunday. The restuarant is currently in a "soft open" mode, which in the vernacular means that they are still working the kinks out. According to the staff we spoke to, Cat Cora hasn't even set foot in the restaurant yet.

Here's our take:
ATMOSPHERE: A bit vast in appearance. Some added plants would help.
SERVICE: Very good, from hostess through completion of the meal.
FOOD QUALITY: Mediocre. DW ordered the wood fired flank steak, which was overly seasoned. I ordered the lamb burger, which was also overly seasoned. As Cat and team refine the menu and food prep, they should take care to let the flavor of the primary ingredients stand out more (i.e. lay off of the heavy seasoning). The absence of dolmades, a core dish to Greek cooking, was glaring.
WINE AND BEVERAGE: Good selections. The ouzo and sangria were exceptionally good.

I'd like to come back and try it again next year, after they've had a chance to make corrections and refinements.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

We ate at Kouzzina this past Sunday. The restuarant is currently in a "soft open" mode, which in the vernacular means that they are still working the kinks out. According to the staff we spoke to, Cat Cora hasn't even set foot in the restaurant yet.

Here's our take:
ATMOSPHERE: A bit vast in appearance. Some added plants would help.
SERVICE: Very good, from hostess through completion of the meal.
FOOD QUALITY: Mediocre. DW ordered the wood fired flank steak, which was overly seasoned. I ordered the lamb burger, which was also overly seasoned. As Cat and team refine the menu and food prep, they should take care to let the flavor of the primary ingredients stand out more (i.e. lay off of the heavy seasoning). The absence of dolmades, a core dish to Greek cooking, was glaring.
WINE AND BEVERAGE: Good selections. The ouzo and sangria were exceptionally good.

I'd like to come back and try it again next year, after they've had a chance to make corrections and refinements.

But they aren't absent - I even took a picture of them on the 2nd page of this thread. They came with the appetizer sampler.

Overall, I enjoyed the food more than you did, but I didn't try either one of those dishes. The seared haloumi appetizer, appetizer sampler, and fisherman's stew were all great.

 

[TillyMarigold]

FOOD QUALITY: Mediocre. DW ordered the wood fired flank steak, which was overly seasoned... As Cat and team refine the menu and food prep, they should take care to let the flavor of the primary ingredients stand out more (i.e. lay off of the heavy seasoning).

And one of the other reviews I've read on the DIS (think it was posted separately, not on this thread) said the flank steak was not seasoned enough and they should season it more!

Guess that goes to show you can't win no matter what you do.

 

[walt's assistant]

But they aren't absent - I even took a picture of them on the 2nd page of this thread. They came with the appetizer sampler.

Overall, I enjoyed the food more than you did, but I didn't try either one of those dishes. The seared haloumi appetizer, appetizer sampler, and fisherman's stew were all great.

OK, I didn't notice that they were included with the sampler. Thanks. IMO, it would be better if they featured them standalone. As for the haloumi appetizer, we tried it and felt that too much had been done to the cheese (i.e., the breading). We felt that if they'd prepared the cheese sans the breading it would have been much better as the haloumi would stand up to the searing without losing its shape.

Overall, we felt they did too much to the key ingredients rather than just let them stand out more. I expect that, over time, they'll make refinements and Kouzzina will improve.

 

[ga9497]

Read the menu and saw the pics. Personally its not for me. I can't imagine that this place will have a really long life at WDW. The menu doesn't strike me as being "safe" enough for a good majority of guests.

I am sure it is great for those who like greek/med food. I just don't know if it could attract enough business. I guess Disney did the studies to support opening this place with the current menu.

To be honest I am tired of "safe" restaurants especially since it seems that all restaurants tend to have a lot of the same menu items at Disney. As long as the food is good it will last. Spoodles was a Med style restaurant and was good until the food quality went down hill. Marrakesh and Boma are definitely not "safe" menus and have been around for a while.

We ate at Kouzzina this past Sunday. The restuarant is currently in a "soft open" mode, which in the vernacular means that they are still working the kinks out. According to the staff we spoke to, Cat Cora hasn't even set foot in the restaurant yet.

Here's our take:
ATMOSPHERE: A bit vast in appearance. Some added plants would help.
SERVICE: Very good, from hostess through completion of the meal.
FOOD QUALITY: Mediocre. DW ordered the wood fired flank steak, which was overly seasoned. I ordered the lamb burger, which was also overly seasoned. As Cat and team refine the menu and food prep, they should take care to let the flavor of the primary ingredients stand out more (i.e. lay off of the heavy seasoning). The absence of dolmades, a core dish to Greek cooking, was glaring.
WINE AND BEVERAGE: Good selections. The ouzo and sangria were exceptionally good.

I'd like to come back and try it again next year, after they've had a chance to make corrections and refinements.

I am sorry to hear that the food wasn't seasoned correctly, hopefully this will be fixed very quickly. I would highly suggest contacting Cat Cora directly even though it is owned by Disney her name is on it and what is attracting most people to the restaurant. I am sure she will give them the kick they will need to straighten it out

You can contact her through a few options
http://catcoracooks.com/
http://www.myspace.com/catcoracooks

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I would highly suggest contacting Cat Cora directly even though it is owned by Disney her name is on it and what is attracting most people to the restaurant. I am sure she will give them the kick they will need to straighten it out

You can contact her through a few options
http://catcoracooks.com/
http://www.myspace.com/catcoracooks

Very good idea...I have heard she does respond on myspace as well. Someone on the DIS sent her a message there asking about Kouzzina and she wrote back a few days later.

 

[bicker]

And one of the other reviews I've read on the DIS (think it was posted separately, not on this thread) said the flank steak was not seasoned enough and they should season it more!

Guess that goes to show you can't win no matter what you do.

That's really the case: No rational personal aims to please everyone all the time. There is simply too many cases where reasonable people hold diametrically oppositional perspectives.

I agree with the earlier poster who alluded to the fact that there are more than enough restaurants for folks who like less well-seasoned food. We really would appreciate more restaurants that respect more adventuresome palates.