Looking for information on Portobello's and Wolfgang Puck's Dining Room

[oybolshoi]

Hi kids!

Just looking for any feedback on Portobello's and Wolfgang Puck's Dining Room (you know ... the fancy one located upstairs). The hubby and I are looking to try some new restaurants in October and the menus at both of these establishments sound interesting.

Neither one of these restaurants seem to get much airplay around here and I was just curious to know if anyone has tried them and what your thoughts were.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Peepster]

I usually don't offer opinions of dining unless we've been at least a couple of times, so please just consider them observations.

We were regular customers of Portebella until a couple of years ago and the food (and service) seemed to go downhill a bit. The menu began to shrink, too. But, having said that, we've just been talking about how we should give it another try as the menu now looks pretty good. Some of the pasta dishes used to be exceptional and I remember one Christmas trip we had lobster that was out of this world. As you see, I'm not a lot of current help.

Wolfgang Puck's Dining Room is another story. We made reservations there for New Year's Eve this past holiday trip and we couldn't have been more disappointed in food, service, atmosphere...the whole deal! We were seated promptly for an 8:30 ADR. Of course they were busy...it was NYE, after all, but the restaurant itself was very dirty, food on the floor, bathrooms dirty and out of supplies. And, I guess we were just expecting something different but the experience was not what either of us consider "fine" dining. I had what is supposed to be one of the specialties, weinerschnitzel, and it was dry and quite tasteless. We don't usually take a long time to dine as neither of us drink, but even for us, we felt extremely rushed through the meal. The entree was there before we were halfway through our salad and soup. And, no, it didn't seem to be that they needed the tables, because when we left I'd say half the restaurant was empty. We've eaten at the Cafe downstairs many times, and while it's very noisy, in our opinion, the food is better. We have ressies there for our June (sweat, gasp, how could I plan a summer trip to Florida?) trip.

Hope this was of some help. Guess it sounds rather critical as I re-read, so I hope others reply, too.

 

[oybolshoi]

Thank you Peepster - you've given me exactly what I was looking for, which was an opinion with some substance. I appreciate your input.

My brother-in-law and his wife have raved about Portobello's for years so we thought this might be a good opportunity to try it. And honestly, if we had to choose between Portobello's and Wolfgang Pucks, we're already leaning to Portobello's. It just sounds a bit more ... appealing ... to us.

Thanks again for responding and have a good time in June!

 

[TheCaymanIslands]

I want to weigh in on wolfgang's. I think its disgusting. We went last summer and it was not good. Calamari was not made to order. My steak had a ton of fat on it. Our server was rude, obnoxious, and lazy. And the place was louder than a Motley Crew rock concert!

 

[Uncleromulus]

We've been to both places on multiple occasions and if I could get the search engine to find my reviews, I'd link them for you. BUt it seems to struggle with even the simple phrases, and you can no longer find threads that you started--.
Anyway--I prefer Portobello. Pucks Upstairs is certainly more quiet than down, and some tables have a nice view. But I think the menu is pretty blah for a topnotch spot. Mrs U likes it better than I do. Portobello has the better menu I think, tho not as extensive as when it first opened.
My reviews are a bit more enlightening and I'll try yet again to get the links for you!!!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Found one!!
Portobello:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=12659047&postcount=1

 

[oybolshoi]

Thanks again for the input, and Uncleromulus thanks especially for providing the link to your review - it helps a lot!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Your welcome!
I'm determined to find the one on Wolfgang's--I actually reviewed it twice before.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Finally!!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=18843785&postcount=1

 

[oybolshoi]

Thanks again, Uncleromulus! You da man!!

I think I remember reading your Wolfgang Puck review last year before Jay and I went to WDW for our anniversary in May. We actually went so far as to make a reservation there but ended up canceling because we'd totally stuffed our faces at the HoB Gospel Brunch earlier in the day.

I admit it ... I'm up in the air right now about Wolfie. Maybe we'll save him for another trip and just go back to Raglan Road instead!

 

[BCV23]

We've only dined at each once but would go back to Portobello's before the Dining Room. Our service at the DR was very spotty and unusual. And the food was no better than downstairs in the Cafe in our experience. Now we like the food in the Cafe a lot but why pay that much more for the DR?

 

[oybolshoi]

We've only dined at each once but would go back to Portobello's before the Dining Room. Our service at the DR was very spotty and unusual. And the food was no better than downstairs in the Cafe in our experience. Now we like the food in the Cafe a lot but why pay that much more for the DR?

That seems to be the general consensus that I'm gathering here as well as from some people I work with who've eaten at Puck's. Thanks for the info!

 

[ThisMomLuvsDisney]

Portabello is my favorite place to eat in all of WDW!

It is not on the "Disney Dining Plan" list of restaraunts and We still eat there every WDW vacation even when we go during "free dining". It's so worth paying out of pocket!

We have also discovered that lunch is a great time to go, since our favorite dishes are also on their lunch menu, it is quiet, the lakeside location is beautiful, and it's a bit cheaper too!!

Enjoy you vacation, and definitely give Portabello a try!

 

[oybolshoi]

Portabello is my favorite place to eat in all of WDW!

It is not on the "Disney Dining Plan" list of restaraunts and We still eat there every WDW vacation even when we go during "free dining". It's so worth paying out of pocket!

We have also discovered that lunch is a great time to go, since our favorite dishes are also on their lunch menu, it is quiet, the lakeside location is beautiful, and it's a bit cheaper too!!

Enjoy you vacation, and definitely give Portabello a try!

Thanks so much for the input - my BIL and his wife have been after us for years to try Portobello's. Lunch might be a good idea; we hadn't considered that. Thanks!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Agree with BCV23--Upstairs has a nice view and is less noisy than down. But it's still Pucks and the food not too much different than down.