Less-popular Epcot places (Marrakesh, San Angel, 9 Dragons, Tokyo Dining)?

[vinotinto]

Hi all! I'm looking for recent experiences (within the last 9 months) at these Epcot places, which seem less popular. We ate at Marrakesh back in Oct 2009 and thought it was pretty good, but recent reviews have been terrible. Conversely, San Angel and Nine Dragons used to get bad reviews, but recently they've been better. So, wondering what's new with all these places. TIA

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Sorry that I'm of no help here, but I'm also interested in this thread. We used to love Marrakesh, but noticed a decline in quality back in 2008 that correlated with free dining - I'd love to hear if it's better. We had a bad experience with Nine Dragons in 2000 and we've never been back since, while San Angel Inn has never really appealed to us. Tokyo Dining's menu looks pretty good, and I'd to try it on our next trip (not interested in the hibachi - can get that at home).

 

[figment814]

I have eaten at San Angel Inn twice in the last couple of years...most recently in December. We, two adults, really like San Angel. The atmosphere is great, we feel like we are less on top of other people than in many of the Epcot restaurants. I really like the pollo a las rajas (chicken w/cream sauce) and DBF has enjoyed his steak both times. Of the TS restaurants I have eaten at in Epcot, it is definitely one of my favorites. (For perspective, I've eaten at Via Napoli, Chefs De France, Rose and Crown, Le Cellier, and Akershus.)

 

[TDC Nala]

I wouldn't call San Angel less popular. I was there last month and they were not seating anyone who did not have a reservation.

I've never considered it bad.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Ate at San Angel in August it was really good.

 

[VAN]

We've been at WDW the last two Septembers for free dining. We ate at Marrakesh both years ... I wasn't really a fan, but my DH liked it. I thought the food was as good as any of the other places, it was just that there were other Epcot restaurants that I liked better.

Love San Angel Inn. You really can't beat the atmosphere. I thought the food and service was good. I love it more for the atmosphere than what's on the menu, though.

Did not eat at Tokyo Dining, but did at Teppen Edo. Loved it; however, we have habachi restaurants at home and it's pretty much the same.

All of the above mentioned places were fine. I wouldn't necessarily expect "fine dining" ... you are at a theme park, afterall. The food is as good as what you would get at a mid-priced restaurant at home. The atmosphere is really what separates these restaurants from those at home.

I'm glad I've had a chance to go to them, however, if I don't go again - I'd be fine.

Now I will miss L'Cellier as a 1TS restaurant, though. The food there really was GOOD!

 

[peimikes]

Hi all! I'm looking for recent experiences (within the last 9 months) at these Epcot places, which seem less popular. We ate at Marrakesh back in Oct 2009 and thought it was pretty good, but recent reviews have been terrible. Conversely, San Angel and Nine Dragons used to get bad reviews, but recently they've been better. So, wondering what's new with all these places. TIA

We ate at both Marrakesh and Nine Dragons in Sept. Honestly Marrakesh was not for us. My food just tasted burnt. But I like to try new places so in that spirit I'm glad we went but will not be going again.

Nine Dragons was so good we did it 2 days in a row. The second day it was actually at our then 3yr old daughters request. We all loved our meal and both times sat by a window and could people watch and look at the lake. It's on our must do list this time. You should have seen our servers face light up when I told her we had been the previous day and had enjoyed it so much we had to do it again.

By the way our daughter requested it a third time that trip we were in epcot (we were on a 10 day trip) but by that time we were out of TS credits so she had to settle for sunshine seasons and their noodles. We all really wished we were in China again

 

[FireDancer]

I had a good meal at San Angel Inn and a great meal at Marrakesh. If you are a coffee drinker they have (or did when I was there last) a Moroccan coffee that was a regular coffee with a shot of espresso and some orange blossom water. It was real good.

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

We ate at Marrakesh and Nine Dragons back in September. DH and I didn't love Marrakesh, but it was our first time trying that kind of food. It wasn't bad, just not our favorite. I loved Nine Dragons! I got honey chicken and it was soooo good. DH got general tso's chicken and he didn't really like it.

 

[mccathy]

Eh - we ate at Marrakesh and didn't like it much at all. the food tasted bland to me.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2680637

 

[Madhatter266]

Love Nine Dragons! Honey chicken was very good and the service was excellent,

 

[AndreaDM]

We ate at Nine Dragons last June for dinner, had no ADR and just called the dining line to see what was available. It ended up being perfect, we had a seat by the window during Illuminations, totally unexpected. The food was pretty good too, but if I recall, we were so hungry we'd have eaten anything!

 

[bluejasmine]

We thought Nine Dragons was very good, wasnt looking fwd to it, DS wanted it but we were all impressed..

 

[rcraw45425]

Nine Dragons is a must for us. We actually bought passes just to eat there the night before our cruise . Honey chicken for the family and I always get the Kung Pao chicken

 

[MJMcBride]

of those choice, San Angel is the only one i really like

 

[SGMCO]

We ate at San Angel in Oct. and loved it--our food was very good!!
I was very pleasently surprised because I wasn't expecting it at all after seeing past negitive reviews. We also had good service.

My DH said San Angels was one of the best meals that he had the whole trip. Even over the popular JIKOs which was not good at all. Won't eat there again.

Tutto's Italia is our most favorite resturant in WS we have eaten there several times and have always had wonderful food and service. Tutto's was the only Restaurant that acknowledged our 25th Anniversary even though we had noted it on all our ressies. They sang Happy Anniversary in Italian, it was wonderful!

 

[pigletto]

It just goes to show that 2 people can have completely different experiences at the same place. I went into our dinner at San Angel with a completely open mind. I loved it as a child, and I adore the atmosphere so we were willing to ignore the reviews.
Hands down the worst meal ever at WDW. And we are easy to please for the most part. Despite asking several times, it being noted on our reservation and choosing something without meat, the vegetarian in our party was apparently given the wrong meal and it was full of chicken.
My steak was tough, and dry and cold. And I found the tables to be the most crowded of any place at Disney. Honestly.. it was terrible. Nobody ate their food. We were polite and friendly.. no point being miserable.. but it would take a miracle to make me go back.

We liked Marrakesh. Not our favorite but it was entertaining, and the food was pretty good.

Next up we are trying Nine Dragons. I like to try everything once and the China pavillion is just beautiful. So hopefully we will enjoy it

 

[YukiPhnx]

It's so encouraging to hear that Nine Dragons has gotten better! I will definitely have to drop in on my next trip. Hope it won't be THAT popular by then!

 

[garada3]

This was one of our favorite meals on our last two trips. Our entire family (including sons, two teens and a pre-teen) thought the food was really good in the summer of 2009.

In the summer of 2010 it was just my husband and I and we loved it even more but that included saki flights

The atmosphere of the restaraunt, once past the shared waiting area (Teppan Edo), was so relaxing after the hustle of the attractions-cool, lower lighting levels, gracious staff.

Last summer we walked up, no ADR, and were seated within 5 minutes at a great window seat overlooking the front of the pavillion and the lake.

Wish I was having lunch there today rather than eating leftover at my desk between classes

 

[vinotinto]

Good feedback, thanks. It seems San Angel is more popular than what I originally thought and seems to be getting some good reviews; same with Nine Dragons. And Marrakesh seems like it's having consistency issues, although since it's one of the few places that regularly has lamb on the menu and since I love Moroccan food I may just risk it. What's good at Tokyo Dining? Are the bentos good?