Making side dish substitutes at a sit-down meal

[Tinksbestie]

Does anyone know if we can ask for a different side dish? For example, and this is fictional for example only, say the steak comes with asparagus and rice, which we don't care for but the pork comes with Mac n cheese and carrots, may we ask for steak with Mac n cheese n carrots? Will this cause problems in the kitchen? Tyvm

 

[NAB]

I would think they would do that for you. Not sure how hard is back there to do it in the kitchen. I have asked for a different salad if I don’t like the choice on the menu. I get a house salad instead.

Usually I’m asking for the main meat like a lobster tail with what I ordered without the sides . Or if I see scallops I will ask for those no sides. Scallops usually come with pasta and I don’t want the pasta.

You won‘t find Mac and cheese on the adult menu but you can order it from the kids menu to go with your meal.

 

[sethschroeder]

I would 100% not count on it from my experience. Only place I could rely on it is in suite or specialty dining on any cruise line (like Palo).

Others have cruised with Disney way more than me but I find Disney in the MDR like other lines where its all mass produced plates of food and any sort of change is really not abided by except if you have an allergy.

What I would personally do is simply order a side of exactly what I want.

Steak and can I get a side of Mac please.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Tinksbestie]

Although it is assembly line-type plating, you can (and usually will) get what you ask for.

It’s throwing a fit if they don‘t bring out your request that is unacceptable.

They try so hard to please. For many servers, if they found out you wanted a substitution and you didn’t ask, they would seem so disappointed.

Oh no, that's why I asked about if it messes up the kitchen. I try hard to be most polite and thoughtful but I don't want to waste a bunch of food either. I'm quite shocked to see the behavior of some others, so rude, wasteful and entitled. Tyvm again.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Kwami]

I do this all the time. I don't like potato and almost everything comes with potato. So, I substitute rice for the potato. I also don't like some vegetables, so I ask for green beans instead. At Animator's Palate, my wife often gets one meat dish, but gets the sides from a different dish instead. We've never had a problem doing stuff like this. Nobody's ever complained or seemed hesitant to do it.

 

[holula]

I swap out veggies all the time and it’s not an issue.

 

[Flossbolna]

two different serving teams asked if I would be ok if they bring the original dish plus extra sides. I wasn’t a fan of that approach but went with it as I felt they suggested it because it makes their job easier. The funny thing is that on one occasion I ended up living the original side: cauliflower purée.

 

[Anna131517]

If you think you will do this then work with your server the night before about the next night’s menu. I have two kids with food allergies and this is what they have us do. We put in our food order the night before so they know what to prepare.

 

[Marc D]

As long as you make a clear request in a timely fashion, there will be no problem. While the kitchens pump out dishes like a production line, they also have stations to handle special requests manually, like food allergies, substitutions or even on religious grounds.

 

[Calantha]

Yes, I swap fries from DS's orders all the time to get him apples or cucumbers (depending on what he's eating). He's a potato hater.

 

[nancipants]

I’ve substituted a plain baked potato for some of the more elaborate side dishes before. They always have baked potato, rice, and mixed veggies with the “lighter fare” menu.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Does anyone know if we can ask for a different side dish? For example, and this is fictional for example only, say the steak comes with asparagus and rice, which we don't care for but the pork comes with Mac n cheese and carrots, may we ask for steak with Mac n cheese n carrots? Will this cause problems in the kitchen? Tyvm

Ask your Serving Team and manage your expectations, they will usually try to go above and beyond for you. Sometimes it may come on alternate dishes. (IE, arrives at the same time but on different plates)

For a while, I was only eating clean protein and veggies on a diet from my Dr and I would order two pieces of Meat and steamed veggies for every meal and there was no issues with this for my dining team.

 

[n2mm]

Sometimes when I don’t want a side, they will still bring the dish in original description, but will bring me different sides on a separate plate. I usually get a house salad or Ceasar salad if I don’t like the appetizers.

 

[soniam]

My son does this all the time in the MDR. He orders off the adult menu but is incredibly picky. He even asks for sauces to be removed. I have also seen adults order an entree with just the protein portion and then get a side of the kid's mac n cheese. It's not usually an issue.

EDIT: I would definitely consider giving extra tip to your serving team if you are asking for changes though.

 

[anricat]

My son does this all the time in the MDR. He orders off the adult menu but is incredibly picky. He even asks for sauces to be removed. I have also seen adults order an entree with just the protein portion and then get a side of the kid's mac n cheese. It's not usually an issue.

EDIT: I would definitely consider giving extra tip to your serving team if you are asking for changes though.

Same here. My daughter often orders the adult steak (the kid's steak is just awful) and then orders the super plain sides like baked potato or steamed veg. She's often not into whatever sides they are serving up with the main dish. They often try to get a little fancy and it doesn't always work out.

We also found the sides majorly lacking on the Wish. We would get maybe one tiny steamed carrot or like 5 green beans. It was nuts. We have vowed that next time we're going to have to ask for extra sides. They served hardly any vegetables on that ship!

And yes, we ALWAYS give extra tips to our servers. They work so hard!

 

[MomOTwins]

My son does this all the time in the MDR. He orders off the adult menu but is incredibly picky. He even asks for sauces to be removed. I have also seen adults order an entree with just the protein portion and then get a side of the kid's mac n cheese. It's not usually an issue.

EDIT: I would definitely consider giving extra tip to your serving team if you are asking for changes though.

I was about to post the same thing about my son. Our server on the Wish heard me and my son debating whether he should order a grown up dish when we knew he would not like the sauce/sides or go with the kids menu, and the server chimed in no problem, they will prepare it however he likes. The server did warn is his food would come out a little after ours since it was a special order, and it did, but none of us minded.

 

[kiford]

Sometimes they will swap but it can slow down service. What I've found that they often do is simply bring you a plate with the other sides as an addition and you can choose not to eat the sides that come with the meal that you don't like. It seems to be faster though we have had table mates who've made the request and had them change out the main plate. I think it depends on how busy things are.

 

[Kwami]

Whenever I've asked to change out sides, I've always had one main plate with whatever I didn't want removed from it and whatever I did want added to it. In fact, they often try to make it look nice, as if it was always meant to be that way. Very occasionally, I'll have an extra side delivered on a small plate or in a bowl if the server couldn't get it with the rest of the meal. I've never, ever been served something that I asked not to have and just been told to ignore it. That would be unacceptable to me.