Looking for Restaurant Suggestions...

[7beasley]

My husband and I will be celebrating our 3rd anniversary at Disney this year (we went to Disney for our honeymoon and for our 1st anniverary.) We are looking for some restaurant recommendations:

Sat Sept 13 -- this is the day we land - and are planning to go to Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island. ANY DINING RECOMMENDATIONS?

Sun Sept 14 - we are eating at Morocco at Epcot

Mon Sept 15 - ANY RECOMMENDATIONS - we will be at Universal that day but have no problem eating dinner at a disney resort restaurant. We would like to try the Boardwalk hotel but don't know where!

Tues Sept 16 -- We have reservations at the Polynesian Luau

Wed Sept 17 - we have PS at Jiko (the best restaurant in Disney!!)

Thurs Sept 18 -- again we will be at IOA this day but are looking for ANY RECOMMENDATIONS either at Disney or Universal.

Fri Sept 19 -- we will be eating fast food while we wait for Fantasmic.

Sat Sept 20 -- airport food - yucK!!

So basically - I am looking for recommendations for 3 nights - any type of restaurant or cost (except for Victoria and Alberts) is fine. Would like to hear people's ideas for Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island and good places at the Boardwalk HOtel as well as anywhere else worth trying. How is the California Grill or the Concourse Steak house?

ANY TIPS OR IDEAS OR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

 

[SuiteDisney]

Downtown Disney - For Italian, Portobello Yacht Club is excellent. For seafood, we've had some good meals at Fulton's Crabhouse.

At the Boardwalk - It doesn't get any better than Flying Fish Cafe.

I can't help you with Universal.

 

[uncle al]

At DTD we enjoy Wolfgang Puck Express (it is actually in West Side). They have tables outside & the food is good. Our kids love the pizza & I have had a number of things there ranging from roasted chicken to a reuben sandwich. All have been very good. We find it very convenient on the nights when we visit PI and the kids head into DQ. Capn Jacks at DTD (in the shopping area) is good (although at times it hasn't quite measured up). If you want to sit down and have a "full meal", I would suggest House of Blues (also in West Side). The food is good & I personally like the atmosphere. I had a cajun chicken pasta dish the last time we were there - it was greta & way more than I could eat. A friend who was with us had a NY Strip steak - he said it was good, it looked good - but I hold out for my staek at The Yachtsman (we'll get to that in a minute).

At The Boardwalk- we enjoy ESPN Club. The food is fairly typical bar food (burgers, salads, wings, hot dogs, nachos, etc..) I love sports so I am in heaven with all of the TVs (even in the bathroom). For a little nicer atmosphere we like Spoodles. They have a great menu & the service has been good every time we have been in there. Flying Fish gets great reviews & friends have told us that the food & service are both fantastic. The only place I have really bad luck at is The Big River Grille & Brewing Company. The atmosphere is ok, the beer is ok, the food (at least in our experience) is horrible. I recommend that you leave a little time to enjoy a drink or glass of wine at The Belle Vue Room, just off the lobby inside the BWI.

I would suggest that you might consider California Grille. It is located on top of the Contemporary Resort. Plan a PS for just before fireworks time - ask for a table near the window. Wow- what a view of the fireworks at MK. The food at California Grille is a little chic for my usual tastes - but from time to time I enjoy pretending as if I am cosmopolitian. I have had a filet there, it had some kind of tasty sauce - I remember it was tasty. I have also had a fish dish there (ithink it was grouper). It was pan fried with a nice little white sauce - it too was tasty. My favorite part of CG is the view & the wine selection. They have an extensive selection - it is also unique in that you may order a glass of any wine they sell. They will literally open a bottle to pour you a single glass. It si also kind of nostalgic to be in that resort.

Now for our favorite restaurant - The Yachtsman Steakhouse. We are big fans! I have never had a bad meal there - NEVER! That's in ten years of eating there (average 4 times per year). Our experience with the service has always been good. They have a nice selection of wines in every price range. Ask for Shamir. My wife & I ate there just last week and he was our server. Absolutely great service. The YSH is located between the Beach Club & Yacht Club. You can walk there from Epcot - just go out the International Gateway and it's about 5 minutes. Of course, you can also walk to BW from Epcot as well. I would reccomend that you leave a little time to enjoy a drink or glass of wine at The Crew's Cup Lounge (adjacent to YSH). It kind of feels like Cheers to me. Big leather sofas & chairs - we like it there - nice place to sit on a rainy day when you can't enjoy the pool.

Enjoy & Happy Anniversary!!

 

[AspiringCindy]

Try House of Blues or Bongos at Westside. Also, CityWalk at Universals has great places to eat. Margaritaville and Latin Quarter is our fav!

 

[7beasley]

Thanks everyone for the responses -- I think we will follow your recom. for DD and the Yachtsman restaurant...

Can't wait!

Thanks again!

 

[becka]

For DD there is either Wolfgang Puck Express if you are looking for counter service or Fulton's Crab House for fantastic seafood.

At the Boardwalk we really liked Spoodles but I know that Flying Fish has a lot of fans.

Some of our other favorite restaruants are Artist Point at WL and Brown Derby at MGM.

 

[Parkinkenjilll]

The Flying Fish is a favorite of my DH and myself. The food, ambiance and service are all superb!

 

[DeeP]

There are good restaurants in all the areas you picked. Some of our favorites are:
DTD: Portobello, Fultons--both excellent, Rainforest--this restaurant gets a lot of bad reviews but we always have good meals--love the Nile Shrimp dish and the Rasta Pasta, House of Blues, Planet Hollywood--same as Rainforest we always have good meals there but some do not care for these restaurants.
Boardwalk-My absolute favorite restaurant is Flying Fish, I LOVE their seared NY strip steak, Yachtsman Steakhouse is another one of my favorite restaurants--their charred filet with Blue Cheese is to die for!
Universal/IOA-Emeril's restaurant, very good food but pricey.
Also, IMHO I would change dinner from the Luau to O'Hana at the Poly, much better food.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Downtown Disney - Portobello for great Italian food.
Boardwalk - Flying Fish for seafood, or Palio at the Swan (another great Italian restaurant) with strolling musicians. (They make the dinner an experience to remember)
Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge - We love the woodsy feel of the resort (very romantic) and the Berry Cobbler is to die for!
Congratulations on your anniversary and best wishes for many more!