Lucky Bunny Eats the World – with photos - Complete

[Thumper's Tara]

A few notes to start…if you are following along from my trip report, cool! Feel free to skip ahead to the actual reviews. For those new guests that are joining us, I have a trip report as well.

Lucky Bunny goes to WDW

I will do my food review in one thread. I have to apologize in advance - This will be long and detailed, but I am having fun!

Cast of Characters:

Thumper’s Tara: Me – SWF, 30, Disney Goddess, mom to 3 bunnies and Trouble, the cat, currently accepting applications from SWM interested in becoming my personal Prince Charming. Oh wait, wrong boards…Anyway, here is a picture of Thumper and I from last year’s trip.

Lucky Bunny: A stuffed washcloth bunny, 8, who has been my personal good-luck charm since my senior year at university. Lucky Bunny has been with on all of my adventures, including grad school and a 15-month stint in Ukraine. Lucky Bunny bravely volunteered to be the mascot on my first solo trip to the world. Of course, we can’t forget a picture of Lucky Bunny.

Carebare05 – fellow DISer and DVC member

Various fellow travelers and cast members.

Some background information…
As a former bartender and server, I tend to be a bit forgiving of poor service. However, I have three key things that I expect from my servers:
(1) The initial greeting – I expect to be acknowledged in a timely manner. This doesn’t need to be a full greeting. A “I will be right with” will work.
(2) Drinks – I like to be offered another drink when my drink is getting low. If the server doesn't offer, I can live with that. What does get me steamed, is to sit with an empty drink for 10 minutes and my server is nowhere to be found! If I can see my server is busy with others, no problem. However, I don’t have a lot of patience if my server is MIA. With a drink in hand, I can forgive almost any other serving sin!
(3) Being treated differently – as a solo person who travels a lot, I eat on my own frequently. I get very offended if I am treated differently than other tables. I think that most servers see a 1-top and think small tip. Personally, I tend to order drinks, appetizers and dessert – I am not going to be a small ticket! Also, I used to wait tables, so I tip well. Treat me like your other tables – don’t ignore this party of one – and you will be rewarded!

Okay…that is what I look for in my servers! Now, onto the reviews!

 

[wilma-bride]

Looking forward to this - bring it on

 

[Thumper's Tara]

The Outer Rim
After a long day of travel and playing the parks, I decided to get a drink at the Contemporary before dinner. I wandered around for a bit before I found the Outer Rim. For those of you who don’t know, the Outer Rim is located in the same area as Chef Mickey’s and the Concourse Steakhouse.

The OR wasn’t crowded, so I was able to find a seat at the bar. I grabbed a drink menu and decided on a Melon Margarita. Unfortunately, my bartender failed criteria #1. I was able to decide on a drink, pull out my book, AND read several pages before I was acknowledged.

Things did get better though! My CM was friendly, poured a great Melon Margarita, and asked if I wanted another when my drink was low. I had fun people-watching and reading my book.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures of my margarita.

Service: B+
Drink: A
Atmosphere: B
Grand Total - $9 with tip

The California Grill
Last year, I had wanted to visit the Cali Grill, but my family wasn’t so keen on the idea. I am so glad that I decided to eat here this trip. This was the best meal of the trip. It totally rocked!

At 7 pm, I checked-in downstairs for my 7:30 PS. After some initial confusion between the upstairs and downstairs hostesses, they were able to immediately seat me at the Pantry Counter. As I was walking to my seat, I was amazed at the view – the Cinderella’s Castle looks unbelievable from here.

The Pantry Counter is an amazing place to sit. The Pantry chefs make all of the desserts, slice fresh sourdough bread and hand out containers of goldfish for the tables. The Pantry Counter has three chairs, but I was the only guest. Immediately, Sunne, one of the Pantry Chefs, gave me my own goldfish, sourdough bread, and olive oil.

Gail, my server, greeted me promptly. She offered a wine list, and after some serious decision making, I decided on the Buena Vista “Happiest Celebration on Earth” Chardonnay. The wine was an excellent choice.

For my first course, I decided on the Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Pumpkin Seed Pesto and Spiced Crème Fraiche. Oh my lord. The soup was so good I wanted to lick the plate! Yum, yum, yum.

Did I mentioned that I liked the soup?

During the whole meal, Anthony, Sunne, and Mario kept me entertained. They answered my questions and gave me advice on what to choose for my meal. In addition, Anthony slipped me a taste of the Exotic Fruit Sorbet as a pallet cleanser. Wow. The sorbet packs a powerful punch!

For my main course, I had a hard time deciding. I finally chose the CR’s signature dish, Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta, Cremini Mushrooms, Zinfandel Glaze and Sage. Incredible. The pork was seasoned perfectly. The polenta, another first for me, was amazing. I really wanted to save room for dessert, so I dragged myself away from the plate and had it packed up. The next morning, I ate the remainder, cold, and it was still delicious.

As I was eating my meal, Anthony slipped a taste of the Autumn Spiced-Apple Cider Ice Cream. The small taste was amazing. It had me considering the Autumn Apples dessert to finish off my meal.

After my main course, I ventured outside to take some pictures. Here is a shot of Epcot from the back viewing platform. It isn't the best picture, but you get the idea!

Here is a view of the castle from the front viewing platform right before Wishes.

This picture does not really capture the beauty of the view, but it gives you an idea!

Before dessert, I enjoyed Wishes from the viewing area. Amazing. The chefs get very excited about the fireworks as well. They count down until the fireworks!

When I arrived back at my seat, the Pantry Chefs had a bit of magic waiting for me. They made up a dessert for me. It was a piece of their chocolate cake with caramelized bananas on the side. Here’s what it looked like…sorry for the fork, they had to remind me to take a picture of it before I dug in.

I also had a cappuccino with my dessert. It was good, but not amazing.

While I was enjoying my dessert, the Executive Chef came by to see how my meal was. He joked with me that I had been there since 5! I jokingly disagreed with him. I also mentioned how much the chefs were entertaining me.

Actually, the chefs made the meal amazing. Sunne was quick to tell me all about the different courses and give me her recommendations. She was also quick to help me get another glass of wine. I hadn’t been able to spot Gail to ask for another glass. Sunne saw me searching for Gail and came to the rescue. A+ for Sunne! Anthony, when he wasn’t busy, kept me entertained with stories and information about being a chef. We even discussed my favorite TV show – Iron Chef America. Mario was quiet one of the bunch, but he is the one who came up with my dessert. Here is a photo...from left to right - Sunne, Anthony, and Mario.

When the bill came, I had a slight buzz kill. I had assumed (silly me) that because the chefs had given me the chocolate cake, that I wouldn’t be charged for it. Gail decided to charge me for it. I was a bit upset about this. First off, if I am going to pay $9 for a dessert, I would like to choose it. I probably would not have chosen the chocolate cake. Second, the chefs made it for me and gave me the impression that it was their magic to me. Gail managed to kill that a bit.

Anyway, I still have to say that the meal was amazing. Here are my ratings:
Service: B+ - it would have been an A, but the dessert thing and wine thing
Chef Service: A+ - they made the meal memorable
Atmosphere: A+++ - it is an amazing restaurant with an incredible view
Food: A+

Grand Total: $80 with tip

Again, this was the best restaurant that I ate at the whole trip. I will definitely be visiting this restaurant next time! Actually, I wish I was there right now. I could go for some pumpkin soup.

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your review ~ Thanx for sharing.

 

[zippehsmom]

I enjoyed your reviews & pics. Thanks for sharing.

 

[crazy4dizney]

The pork tenderloin looks great! Thanks for the detailed report..

 

[lillygator]

we love, love, love CG!

 

[TwingleMum]

I'm enjoying your reviews and photos can't wait for the next installment. ITA about the cake that wasn't right.

 

[curiouser]

Great review and photos! I can't wait for the rest!

Did you request in your ADR to be seated at the Pantry Counter? That sounds like something that's right up my and SO's alley, I'd love to be seated there if we ever go to CG!

 

[Texa]

I can't wait for the rest!


OT: ooooo McDreamy and Meredith. Can't wait for Sunday.

 

[Mister Disney]

Thumper’s Tara: Me – SWF, 30, Disney Goddess, mom to 3 bunnies and Trouble, the cat, currently accepting applications from SWM interested in becoming my personal Prince Charming. Oh wait, wrong boards…

Too much......

 

[Mister Disney]

GREAT review.....The Pork looks amazing!

THANKS!

 

[amburger]

Yes finally a dining report with pictures of food!! I'm so excited. That dessert looks amazingly good. However, pretty rude of them to make you pay for it. I guess now I'll have to remember that if that happens to me, to ask if I need to pay for it. haha. Weird. But like you, I would also want to pick out my desert and not just given something I didn't pick and having to pay for it.

 

[Thumper's Tara]

Great review and photos! I can't wait for the rest!

Did you request in your ADR to be seated at the Pantry Counter? That sounds like something that's right up my and SO's alley, I'd love to be seated there if we ever go to CG!

Actually, I didn't request to sit at the pantry counter on my ADR. I was pretty sure that I wanted to sit at the counter for my meal, but at the time I didn't know about the pantry counter. There are two counters - the main counter and the pantry counter. Sunne said that they normally don't have guests at the pantry counter...so if you are interested in a more "private" counter experience for you and your SO, ask to sit here! It was so much fun. Especially if you are a dessert-aholic like me!

ttfn,
TT

 

[NMAmy]

I'm enjoying both your dining report and your trip report! Thanks for taking the time to post.

 

[TinkrBeth]

Love the review so far! (And I always appreciate another bunny lover! I'm the mother of a sassy,spoiled,flop-eared bunny named Stephanie! )

 

[richard_andmel]

Great report and pictures! Thanks.

Mel

 

[disneymom727]

Can't wait to hear more. Thanks for the reviews.

 

[AdventurerKat]

I actually got up from the couch with my laptop and carried it in to my DH so he could see the picture of the pork tenderloin dish and read the description. I know where he wants to eat next trip.

 

[jacksmom]

Love the reviews! Can't wait for more!!