My Fultons Crab House Review

[liquidsky88]

Just recently returned from a trip to DW. I set up PS for dinner for my family and friends at Fultons. I thought it would be a nice place for a group to eat. I was extremely wrong.

I knew it was expensive, but not that expensive. The menu was a little pricey for most of the guests. I was very disappointed with the condition of the restaurant. The bench seating they sat us at was ripped. To make matters worse, a roach ran down the seat as we were having our appetizers. I killed it and showed it to the manager.

The food was not worth the money. I’ve had better lobster tails at Red Lobster for $7.95. I thought for $45 it would at least taste fresh. The service was very good though. The manager did take our appetizers off the bill. I would give their service a good review, but not the food or the condition of the restaurant.

 

[ducklite]

Ugh to the cockroach! We also had a problem there and the manager was very apologetic (as was the server) and comped DH's entire surf & turf dinner.

As far as it being pricey, regretfully I can't sympathize. The prices are posted on several web sites, and outside the establishment. If there were budgetary concerns perhaps some advance research might have been prudent? I don't feel they are out of line for that type of food and service. But then again I think a lot of it depends on what part of the world you're from.

We've never had a problem with the freshness of the food at Fulton's but this is a restaurant that seems to have it's ups and downs. Too bad you hit it on a down.

Anne

 

[TIdoublegaER]

We ate there earlier this month and thought the food was really good. While I would have rather not spent that much on dinner, my sil is the one who really wanted to eat there because she loves seafood. My mil (her mother) got all over DH and I because we chose an expensive restaurant! Anyway, my mil and other sil ended up splitting an entree (I believe there was a nominal fee, but I don't remember for sure).

We were a large group (13) . What really surprised me the most was there was not a gratuity automatically added to our bill, as is the case with most large parties. Our server also gave us the DVC 10% discount, even though when I checked later that was only supposed to be for lunch. All in all, I can't really say anything bad about the place. But if I had seen a cockroach, I probably would have lost my appetite!

 

[Chip126]

I am so sorry to see this bad review (especially the roach......I would have freaked out). I am hoping to try this restaurant in December with my son. Hopefully I will see more positive reviews before I get there.

 

[Minniespal]

I'm so sorry for the negative experiences that you have had at Fulton's recently. We have eaten there on several occassions and have always had a wonderful experience!!!!!

 

[N.Bailey]

Wow,
I'm thinking I should make a trip to Jersey because I've never seen lobster tail in any of the Red Lobster restaurants here in Pa for $7.95.

Major yuck about the roach though, I would have had to end that dining experience right then and there.

I've worked in the restaurant business for 13 years (never had any roach problems) but had anything like that happened in the restaurant I worked in, your entire meal would have been picked up and the entire staff would have done ANYTHING within our power to get you to someday give us a 2nd chance. Even if that meant giving away guest of the house passes for a future visit as well as taking care of the current check.

 

[peachgirl]

Major yuck about the roach though, I would have had to end that dining experience right then and there.

That's exactly what I was thinking!


When you see one roach, you can count on there being a hundred of them you don't see...and they're in the kitchen!

I wouldn't have had to worry about how much the lobster tail was and there wouldn't have been any refunds on my meal because there wouldn't have been any meal.

Btw, at our local Red Lobster, they have add on specials..you can indeed get a loster tail add on for that price at times. They don't include roaches in that special, but I prefer it that way.

But then again I think a lot of it depends on what part of the world you're from.

I agree. In some parts of the country ridiculous prices are so commonplace that people get used to it and think it's "normal". $45 for a lobster tail is indeed "pricey".

 

[gina2000]

I'm from Jersey....and I've had the pleasure to have an expense account for many many years while working in the city. We found Fulton's prices out of line even by NYC standards. I can't comment on the freshness because once we looked at the prices we declined to patronize.

We were in Fulton's once....back in the days when they had a character breakfast. At the time the decor was sadly in need of refurbishment and the rugs were in horrifying condition. We never went back....sorry to see it hasn't changed.

 

[JAP]

Any one else have a good or bad experience?

We are planning a trip in November and I thought we would try Fultons. After read a few replys I think we are going to stick with the restaurants in the park.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

We've been to Fultons once per trip...and have had some slow service at times, but the food has always been great and the prices, while high, are ok with us for what we're getting.

As far as seeing a roach is concerned, you do realize that Fultons is situated rather ON the lake and often keeps it's doors wide open to the outside. Sometimes bugs do get indoors...including roaches and other unsavory critters.
I wouldn't automatically assume that things in Fulton's kitchens were unclean just because I saw a bug in the dining area.

 

[honeymo78]

I'll be eating at Fultons in 3 weeks and while everyone always, understandably, comments on the seafood, anyone want to rate the non seafood items on the menu?

 

[PrincessAurora]

I ate at Fultons two trips ago and weighing my experience vs the number of other places I had not tried - it will be a LONG time before I go back.

First, the place was not as clean as it should be. I didn't see a bug but it wouldn't surprise me if other people did.

Second, WAY overpriced. I know, I know its WDW. I eat in a LOT of pricey places but in my opinion the price was too high for the QUALITY of food served.

Third, slow and poor service. We had "odd waiter Bill" who was, ummm, odd. Not friendly, not uber-snotty, just unsettling. For me to leave without dessert because I couldn't stand to be around Bill anymore says something. It would not surprise me if they found pieces of people in his freezer one day and his neighbors went on CNN to say how "quiet" he was but in an odd way.

Fourth: So-so food. First they serve the WRONG BREAD! I am a self-admitted snob regarding certain things. I am from San Francisco and it is my native San Francisco opinion that you do NOT serve RYE BREAD with clam chowder. There was NO sourdough bread to be had at all. That was just wrong. Rye is fine for corned beef (if you like that sort of thing) but NOT for seafood.

As a SF native born & raised, I've had LOTS of fresh Dungeness Crab. This crab was old, dry and had little flavor. The King Crab was good but the rest was a disapointment.

For the money, I would seek out better seafood with better wait staff and cleaner facilities. My 2 cents.

 

[peachgirl]

As far as seeing a roach is concerned, you do realize that Fultons is situated rather ON the lake and often keeps it's doors wide open to the outside. Sometimes bugs do get indoors...including roaches and other unsavory critters.

Yes, I realize it. But, I look at it this way....

There's lots of choices as to where to eat at WDW. So, if I get to choose between a place I have seen a roach and one I haven't...I'll eat at the 2nd one.

An errant bug in my room I can take, one within striking distance of my dinner plate I can't.

 

[liquidsky88]

I just wanted to reply to some of the posts.

Yes I knew it would be a pricey restuarant. But I would think for those prices the place wouldn't look like an old crab shack and have better food. I've eaten at almost every sit down restaurant in Disney with the exception of a few countries in Epcot. I don't remember any restaurant...besides Victoria and Alberts...that the menu was that expensive. I eat in NYC every weekend, so price is not a problem if the atmosphere and food make it worth it. I was trying to say that Fultons is not worth that type of money.

As far as the restaurant being on the water and bringing in bugs, there is no excuse. If bugs want to get into the restaurant, they won't be using the front door. It's disgusting and unacceptable.

I personally thought the best place to eat was Le Cellier in Canada at Epcot. The service and food were outstanding. Again, my two cents.

 

[N.Bailey]

I wanted to add a little more to my earlier post as well. The restaurant where I worked for 13 years isn't too far from a river that runs through our town. Actually, I've heard that MANY restaurants (and one grocery store--YUCK) has roaches here. It is VERY difficult to control these things, but it is NOT impossible. Summer's are a really bad time because of the heat up north here, so we would have the sprayers in 4 times a week to spray for bugs. Sure, this is a very expensive solution. It takes between 5-6 manpower hours just to get every thing in the restaurant covered with plastic. When I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING! From every little sweet and low packet, to every high chair, booster seat, cooler in the back as well as all the grill area, each microwave and every single container that is anywhere. This truly takes hours a night to complete (not one person does it all). The plastic isn't exactly cheap either, but it must be tossed come morning. Add to the expense of what the sprayers charge and you can see it isn't cheap. If that's what it takes though, that's what you do! In all the years I worked there, the most I ever saw was a dead fly.

This particular restaurant had done much research and says that if a guest has a bad dining experience, by the time all is said and done 10,000 people will have heard about it. I find these numbers to be quite high myself, but what do I know? You only have one chance to make a good impression, and customer service had to be priority one!

Roaches do NOT fit into this equation!

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

Originally posted by honeymo78
I'll be eating at Fultons in 3 weeks and while everyone always, understandably, comments on the seafood, anyone want to rate the non seafood items on the menu?

Hubby is not a seafood eater and has tried the pork tenderloins and several different steaks. All were prepared to his liking and his favorite was the pork.

We've also had salads and appetizers at Fultons and all have been very good. The battered portobella mushrooms with horseradish dip is to die for! They also make a pretty good bloody mary.....mmmmmm.

We've eaten there about 10 times and our only complaints have been slow service.

 

[honeymo78]

Thank you HauntedMansionGeek. I really appreciate knowing that they can prepare a good steak and other non-seafood items. Now I'm just hoping that you can add the fried shrimp to one of the steaks (I think I saw an entree with grilled shrimp and steak) b/c DF loves fried shrimp.

Oh and we're not worried about the cost at all since we are on the gold plan and everything is included already.

Thanks again.

 

[madcoco]

Sorry about the bad experience. The last time we ate at Fultons was just a few weeks ago. Our service was great. The grilled halibut I had was fresh and well prepared. The only complaint was the seafood chowder(tomato based) did not have even one shread of seafood in it. It was all chunks of veggies. However it did have a good flavor. Maybe it was supposed to be that way? DW's Lobster Bisque on the other hand was imho excellent. Yes I switched bowls when she wasn't looking. She always said she wanted to try the veggie soup diet anyway.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by honeymo78
Oh and we're not worried about the cost at all since we are on the gold plan and everything is included already.

Thanks again.

Now I'll admit I have NO IDEA, but, is Fulton's included on the Gold Plan? Not all non-WDW owned and operated places are. It very likely might be, but I'd make double sure just in case. That' would be a very expensive oops.

Anne

 

[sters]

We ate here a couple of years ago, on my husband's expense account. Even so, I felt cheated! The atmosphere was pedestrian and so was the food. Small portions, not very flavorful. I don't plan to go back. (I remember going in 1990 when it was was the Princess Lilly and had a good experience.)