Narcossee or Jiko?

[vinotinto]

Have been readingthe reviews and they both look like good choices, but we need to pick one! Looking for opinions as to which has more interesting food - probably would not order the lobster or the surf and turf at Narcossee, since it sounds like it would not compared to eating it at the source.

Would help to know what folks have ordered thatt hey really liked or not liked.

Finally, would one of them be more child-friendly than the other? Our kids will be 5 (and a half) and a (just-turned) 3-year old. We do eat out all the time at home, but they are still kids.

 

[cbg1027]

I thought Jiko was much better than Narcoossee's in food quality and service.
The menu items at Jiko are also more special...not your everyday fare, and they use a lot of ingredients that would be hard to come across in everyday life for most people.

I didn't dislike Narcoossee's, I just thought it wasn't up to par with all the other signatures.

As for kid-friendliness, it's really a tie - unless you are at Narcoossee's during the Electric Water Pageant and/or Wishes, which would provide entertainment for the kids.

 

[kirrrby]

Dining at either depends on which you favor more.

Narcoosees is known for it's fish, shellfish and lobster. Jiko is really good about steaks and wine. Either restaurant has the atmosphere that some kids might find boring. On our most recent trip we went with the option of Narcoosees over our regular ADR at Jiko's. The chef at Jiko's recently moved over to LeCellier. So they have a new chef as of 2008 I believe.

The scallops at Narcoosees are amazing, they were fresh and cooked very well, and i'm the pickiest eater in my family . I've always ordered the Sirloin at Jiko.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Depends whether you like seafood or African food better. We like both, and loved both. Service was marginally better at Narcoossee's but still outstanding at Jiko. I agree about the scallops at Narcoossee's. Frankly if you want a steak I think you can get it anywhere; if you're going to eat at an African fusion restaurant, you should eat something more African. But no one around here agrees with me. The curried shrimp stew at Jiko was to die for, though. Best entree I've ever eaten at any restaurant anywhere.

Wherever you eat, ask the server to pace your kids' meals so they arrive at the same pace as yours. At both restaurants, I saw kids get their whole meals when the adults got their appetizers, and then the kids ate and were bored for the next hour.

 

[kirrrby]

Depends whether you like seafood or African food better. We like both, and loved both. Service was marginally better at Narcoossee's but still outstanding at Jiko. I agree about the scallops at Narcoossee's. Frankly if you want a steak I think you can get it anywhere; if you're going to eat at an African fusion restaurant, you should eat something more African. But no one around here agrees with me. The curried shrimp stew at Jiko was to die for, though. Best entree I've ever eaten at any restaurant anywhere.

Wherever you eat, ask the server to pace your kids' meals so they arrive at the same pace as yours. At both restaurants, I saw kids get their whole meals when the adults got their appetizers, and then the kids ate and were bored for the next hour.

For the African Fusion cuisine, the Taste of Africa is amazing, so is the tuna.

 

[Pakey]

I think the food is much better at Jiko (although I did think it was better before the chef change). I love the atmosphere here; it's kind of dark and we've always enjoyed quiet leisurely dinners. The African wine selection is outstanding and I think Jiko offers the best selection of unique appetizers. Every soup I've had here has been outstanding. The entrees and desserts are a disappointment after eating the appetizers so now we always get the Taste of Africa and I get a bowl of soup instead of ordering an entree.

Narcoosees is more casual and upbeat. It's a bit noisier and has all of those windows looking out onto water. I had the lobster here on our last visit and it was not all that great but the fish dishes are okay. I enjoyed a grouper entree here; not sure it's still on the menu. The scallops are okay but not as good as Flying Fish's.

 

[vinotinto]

Dining at either depends on which you favor more.

Narcoosees is known for it's fish, shellfish and lobster. Jiko is really good about steaks and wine.

Depends whether you like seafood or African food better. We like both, and loved both. Service was marginally better at Narcoossee's but still outstanding at Jiko. I agree about the scallops at Narcoossee's. Frankly if you want a steak I think you can get it anywhere; if you're going to eat at an African fusion restaurant, you should eat something more African. But no one around here agrees with me. The curried shrimp stew at Jiko was to die for, though. Best entree I've ever eaten at any restaurant anywhere.

We like African food. We also like seafood. Love fish, love lamb, also saw that there's some interesting game at Jiko. We sometimes order beef, but not as frequently as seafood, fish, lamb and game.

The menu items at Jiko are also more special...not your everyday fare, and they use a lot of ingredients that would be hard to come across in everyday life for most people.

I didn't dislike Narcoossee's, I just thought it wasn't up to par with all the other signatures.

I think the food is much better at Jiko (although I did think it was better before the chef change).

Sounds like Jiko may be better for us. We're looking for more interesting items and preparation. Not just a steak or steamed seafoo (even if it's high-quality steamed seafood).

Wherever you eat, ask the server to pace your kids' meals so they arrive at the same pace as yours. At both restaurants, I saw kids get their whole meals when the adults got their appetizers, and then the kids ate and were bored for the next hour.

Excellent suggestion!
I've also worked very hard at training my kids that they need to stay seated and use indoor voice to get dessert. When they start getting rowdy, I tell them "you must not want dessert today." Works like magic

 

[TigerKat]

If you're not going to Narcoossee's for the lobster I'd definitely say JIKO! Having been to both we prefer the selection at JIKO by far.