New menu at House of Blues (downtown Disney) = huge disappointment!

[skylizard]

We ate at HoB last November while we were there and loved it. We have been going there for years and always look forward to their amazing cornbread. In November we had the cornbread, voodoo shrimp app, artichoke dip app, and their special entrees for the night. Everything was exceptional.

We went back this past week and were very upset. Apparently, in December they changed the menu and have a new chef (Spanish inspired). We had two long island iced teas and they tasted like soda water, barely any alcohol in them. And they had raised the price on them since our last visit. We also ordered the famous cornbread and upon taking one bite realized that it wasn't the same cornbread we are used to. They had changed the recipe on that too! We really didn't want to order anything else and be further disappointed so we asked the waitress for our check. She explained the new menu and their large mount of customers that had complained about it besides ourselves. Gone are all the items we had grown to love

Has anyone else been to HoB recently? Is there some way for me to contact corporate and let them know how disappointed I am?

 

[TDC Nala]

Here's their website:

http://www.houseofblues.com/

Down at the bottom there is a "contact us."

The chef whose name they are using for their new menu is Aaron Sanchez, you can see him in some Food Network shows, they're jumping on the celebrity chef bandwagon. It isn't just Orlando, they're going this way at all their restaurants.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We ate at HoB last November while we were there and loved it. We have been going there for years and always look forward to their amazing cornbread. In November we had the cornbread, voodoo shrimp app, artichoke dip app, and their special entrees for the night. Everything was exceptional.

We went back this past week and were very upset. Apparently, in December they changed the menu and have a new chef (Spanish inspired). We had two long island iced teas and they tasted like soda water, barely any alcohol in them. And they had raised the price on them since our last visit. We also ordered the famous cornbread and upon taking one bite realized that it wasn't the same cornbread we are used to. They had changed the recipe on that too! We really didn't want to order anything else and be further disappointed so we asked the waitress for our check. She explained the new menu and their large mount of customers that had complained about it besides ourselves. Gone are all the items we had grown to love

Has anyone else been to HoB recently? Is there some way for me to contact corporate and let them know how disappointed I am?

That is disappointing. The cornbread is my favorite thing at HOB. I hope the new chef doesn't mean the menu is going to have Spanish influences. The NOLA/Southern inspired menu was what made HOB what it is. We've always enjoyed our meals there. I think we'll wait for more reviews of the new menu, before returning or taking guests. We have extended family come to visit a lot, & southern inspired dishes work for them. Unfortunately, my DH, DS, & I are the only ones in the family with an adventurous palate. A Spanish inspired menu probably wouldn't go over very well with most of them. One of my sisters travels the world & comes home with stories of eating at KFC.

 

[albertagirl]

I am so glad that I am not the only one that feels that way!!

We have (had) made it our first night tradition to eat at HOB. My DH loves the Jambalaya and I love the rib eye. We had always had great food and great service.

We went to DLR for Christmas this year and eagerly anticipated our first night meal at HOB. We had checked the website before we left home and were surprised to see the changes in the menu. We decided to keep our reservation as the meals we like were still on the menu. What a nightmare! The food was sub-standard to say the least. My DD ordered a pulled pork sandwich. The coleslaw that came with it was terrible! There was no dressing to speak of and the veggies themselves were past their prime.

We are a family of 6 (4 kids between 16 and 2) so we were automatically charged an 18% gratuity. I normally wouldn't say anything about this but our service was about as good as our food was. My DS (2) spilled his orange juice all over my lap while the waiter was standing there and clearly heard me say that he had spilled. He just looked at me and walked away. 10 minutes later when he came back around to our table I had to ask for something to clean up the mess with.

Our meal at HOB was to be our only table service as we wanted to save some money on food but thought our splurge would be here. It was so terrible I was almost in tears. Only because I could have spent our money on a meal worthy of the near $200.00 we spent.

We have decided to not frequent the HOB anymore as there are far better options out there deserving of our hard earned money.

 

[PrincessAurora]

That is so sad! They were always one of my "go to" places at DLR. I suggest Brennen's Jazz Kitchen. EXCELLENT food, service and a great price point!! They also have KILLER drinks. They should satify your Southern food cravings.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

Its coming time for us to book our ADR's for our August trip. HofB is one of the restaurants we had chosen to book. I looked over the menu last weekend and was so disappointed that it had changed. To be honest, there isnt really anything that appeals to me anymore. I'm not sure why you change something that is working. I think it might be worth us looking for something different now.

 

[NHPixidust]

Sadly we had the same experience in December. I had always looked forward to the Po'Boy (shrimp sandwich) which is no longer on the menu. I decided to try the flatbread as nothing else sounded all that great to me. Unfortunately it was ok at best especially for the price. I hate to say it, but we won't be back. Too many other options out there.
If anybody is out there listening, please bring back the old menu!!

 

[chinarider]

sorry for your disappointment and lack of enjoyment of your dinner but, I really appreciate your input on this. I think you have just sealed the coffin for me ( as they say). I am cancelling my ADR's and making another trip to Epcot and going to Chefs ( plus its a better bang for the buck on the dining plan ). Unless I decide to head back to DTD and go to PH instead ( i could use my AAA $15 for appetizers and DDP for the meal). My DD17 is a plainish eater so, not quite sure yet.

 

[dansyr2514]

Anyone know if you are still able to use the Restaurant.com certificates since they changed the name? We're heading down the end of February and figured we may use the gift certificate if it was still accepted.

 

[Meriweather]

You can use the restaurant.com coupons still.

We went to the Crossroads at House of Blue in DtD in Dec. and were also disappointed.
Gone were all of the things that they were known for and that we liked. DH does not want to go back.
I went again in Jan with a friend and tried something else and it was good......just not what I wanted from there.
We have one more restaurant. com coupon to use next visit and then we probably won't go back.

On the other hand, a friend that lives in Orlando......really likes the new menu and has been to several different locations and recommends the shrimp and grits and outstanding. I will have DH try that next time and see how it goes.

 

[Aquagirl]

I used to always get the Cajun meatloaf. Sadly it is no longer on the menu.

 

[Dizneydaz]

That is so disappointing to hear! We haven't made it to the one at WDW but have gone to the one at DLR several times (always with a restaurant.com certificate, of course!).

While I enjoy watching Aaron Sanchez on Chopped, he's actually one of my least favorite chefs to watch cooking. I've never made one of his recipes. I'm not a big fan of very spicy foods.

Hopefully if guests continue to complain about the menu at HoB, they will make changes.

 

[minniebeth]

I'm sorry for anyone who has been disappointed with their changes~ I heard they were changing menu items and was hoping it be for the better...

It's a shame they have changed their menu and have gone away from some of the traditional Southern cooking style choices. There is already Bongos and Paradiso 37 in DTD that have menus with those flavors.

We are interested in doing their Sunday Gospel Brunch sometime...has anyone gone recently and know if the menu of items for the brunch has changed too?

Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

I've never eaten there, but what a bummer for those who do eat there!


"Aaron Sanchez is an award winning chef, author, televison star and restauranteur who brings authentic latin cuisine to the American table."

Why is he in charge of House of Blues? Do the Blues usually go along with authentic Latin cuisine?

 

[beachfan]

We always loved the voodo shrimp and cornbread too! Will skip House of Blues on our March trip.

 

[cymbaldiva]

"Aaron Sanchez is an award winning chef, author, televison star and restauranteur who brings authentic latin cuisine to the American table."

Why is he in charge of House of Blues? Do the Blues usually go along with authentic Latin cuisine?

I have to wonder the same thing - I wouldn't mind trying Chef Sanchez's food, but I'm not sure that HoB is the best venue for it.

As for HoB itself - I haven't been in years; once they dropped the fried chicken from the menu I was done!

ETA - I have reviewed the new menu and I see that now there is fried chicken - anyone have any idea if it's the same recipe as way back when? I loved that chicken so much I'd have married it!! LOL

ETA again - fried chicken available on the Orlando menu, not on the much more local menu here in Dallas - who's bright idea was that???

 

[skylizard]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's disappointed. HoB is going to end up losing a lot of long time customers if they keep this new menu.

 

[aubriee]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's disappointed. HoB is going to end up losing a lot of long time customers if they keep this new menu.

I ate there for lunch one day during my Sept trip. The place was almost empty so the waitress spent alot of time just talking to me. She mentioned that they were going to start a new menu Dec 4th and would also be taking the DDP after Jan 1st. I asked her if she was sure about them taking the DDP and she told me they had already had a couple of meetings about it and the manager said for them to get ready for a huge increase in business after Jan 1st. She then waved her hand out toward the almost empty restaurant and said they were going to have to start taking the DDP if they were going to stay in business. She then went to the back and came back with a bunch of papers clipped together and told me to take a look at the new menu. It had not come back from the printers, but they had been shown the items and were told that the new items would start to be coming out a few weeks before the new menu started as chef's specials, so the staff could get used to doing the spiel for each dish. The papers she showed me, were just a bunch of papers clipped together. The top page had an article about Chef Sanchez, then each page had a description and pictures of items on the new menu. They looked pretty good. Too bad the reviews are not living up to how they looked that day.