New Yorkers Restaurant Review

[I_HaveA_DisneyProblem]

Now this is not meant to disparage my fellow Disney brothers and sisters from the midwest, south, Texas, west, and further abroad but us New Yorkers have a particularly refined culinary pallets. When I see Liberty Tree Tavern ringing in boatloads of positive votes I just shake my head (come on people your better than that!).

With my prologue aside I ask of my fellow New Yorkers (Jersey and Mass feel free to join in as well) to give a shout out to their favorite Disney restaurant.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Not everyone rates LLT or other Disney eateries highly.

********************************************************.

Our Ratings of Liberty Town Tavern: (*rev 12/27/2015*)
. . . food price value: B
. . . food quality: B
. . . food quantity per serving: A
. . . food prep speed: A
. . . food selection: C
. . . seating quantity: B
. . . seating comfort: C
. . . eatery atmosphere: C
. . . eatery convenience: C
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff attentiveness: C
. . . character interaction: n/a
.
Our Recommendations for Dinner:
. . . appys:... Declaration Salad
. . . entrée:.. Carved Beef
. . . dessert:. Johnny Appleseed's Cake
.
Our Recommendations for Lunch:
. . . appys:... Lobster & Crab Dip
. . . entrée:.. Season's Fresh Catch, New England Pot Roast
. . . dessert:. Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake
.
NOTE1: The dinner at LTT is pleasant and a nice way to spend some time in small dining
areas. The food is usually average and, for WDW, priced reasonably. Pork loin is tender
and delicious. The carved beef usually rolls off your fork. Turkey-is-turkey, so not much to
add. AppleCake is nice and tasty -- it's too bad the lunch ooey gooey coffee cake isn't on the
dinner menu! REALLY gooey. Fortunately, there are no more characters at dinner. There
are enough character meals in MK, and it does not need LTT with characters.
.
NOTE2: This is only Comfort Food, and nothing special-unique-upscale. Like most character
meals, one expects just average food. Although no longer a character meal, the food recipes
were not changed from when it was a character meal.
.
NOTE3: The lunch at LTT is pleasant and a nice way to spend time in air conditioning. Try
Crab and Spinach Dip for two, the New England Pot Roast, then the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake.
There are no stellar eats within MK for price vs food quality, but this is probably the best of
the lunch in-park restaurants. We enjoy the lunch more than the all-you-can-eat Dinner. The
dinner food seems a little bland to us compared to the lunch. Besides, for smaller appetites,
it's a good place to share.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Now this is not meant to disparage my fellow Disney brothers and sisters from the midwest, south, Texas, west, and further abroad but us New Yorkers have a particularly refined culinary pallets. When I see Liberty Tree Tavern ringing in boatloads of positive votes I just shake my head (come on people your better than that!).

With my prologue aside I ask of my fellow New Yorkers (Jersey and Mass feel free to join in as well) to give a shout out to their favorite Disney restaurant.

"Pallet" - the structural foundation of a unit load which allows handling and storage efficiencies. I lived in NYC for six years and I never realized how much better the pallets were there . . . Apparently, grammar and spelling are not. I was able to refine my palate there, however and, thank goodness, because I'm from podunk PA and now live just north of NYC in tony CT (which somehow got skipped over when the refined palate migrated to MA and NJ). Thank goodness, as I can now lift my nose high and look down on the folks enjoying whatever they happen to enjoy in WDW, regardless of where they're from. Goodness, how unrefined! They must be from Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans, Seattle, or even, no, no, Minneapolis, because we all know how sub-par the food is there!

In other words, who the freak cares what others enjoy at WDW? The assumption that everyone outside of the NYC metro area (plus MA?) somehow has an unrefined PALATE, is simply ridiculous.

 

[Hopefully]

Now this is not meant to disparage my fellow Disney brothers and sisters from the midwest, south, Texas, west, and further abroad but us New Yorkers have a particularly refined culinary pallets. When I see Liberty Tree Tavern ringing in boatloads of positive votes I just shake my head (come on people your better than that!).

With my prologue aside I ask of my fellow New Yorkers (Jersey and Mass feel free to join in as well) to give a shout out to their favorite Disney restaurant.

Really!!!
Pretty Rude and making uncalled for assumptions - and I am from MA!!!

 

[LilyWhitehouse]

NYC here... What a pejorative post! Liberty Tree Tavern is one of our favorites. Biergarten's lunch is fabulous. Boma breakfast is wonderful. Crystal Palace breakfast has some unique offerings. Cape May Cafe has a wide array of delicious seafood for dinner. My husband really enjoyed his steak at BOG.

We did not like Mama Melrose or Yachtsman Steakhouse.

No one goes to Disney for Michelin star dining. That said, I find their offerings to exceed expectations often.

 

[HM2012Butler]

Born and raised in NYC, now living in Windermere...

This question could be better worded. I don't think its a matter of 'where you live'. I think it is more of 'where have you been?'. I know plenty of people from home who think Olive Garden is good Italian. This is more of a question for the experienced foodie and/or traveler. However, I understand what you're trying to get at. There is a level of expectation when it comes to good food in New York. If you're not good, you don't survive. It is different in Disney. You don't walk into every little restaurant in NYC expecting a 5 Star meal and you cant expect to walk up to every QS in Disney expecting the best of the best. I do give a lot of my reviews based on what is "good" here and not necessarily the BEST I've ever had.

Places I truly enjoy are California Grill, Shula's, and Yachtsman (just to name a few). There are plenty of enjoyable options.

I understand I will probably take some heat for this but it is my opinion and I am trying to relate to the OP without offending the masses because that's how things work these days. This is my opinion and I am entitled to it.

 

[Nancyg56]

I live in rural CT, you know a farm town. I guess you cannot expect a farm girl to know better.

 

[Lisa F]

Now this is not meant to disparage my fellow Disney brothers and sisters from the midwest, south, Texas, west, and further abroad but us New Yorkers have a particularly refined culinary pallets. When I see Liberty Tree Tavern ringing in boatloads of positive votes I just shake my head (come on people your better than that!).

With my prologue aside I ask of my fellow New Yorkers (Jersey and Mass feel free to join in as well) to give a shout out to their favorite Disney restaurant.

lol.

Don't be haters, everyone. not everyone can have pallets that look like this New York Pallet. born and raised in Brooklyn, lived all over the country, now living in MA.

I may be tres sophistique but when I am at Disney atmosphere, theming, characters and other factors have as much to do with my favorites as food. Liberty Tree for lunch is an old favorite of mine though I haven't been in years (the dinner doesn't appeal.) I like CA Grill, Ohana (which seems hit or miss) both for breakfast and dinner (breakfast more for ambiance and characters, dinner I enjoy the asian meets brazilian bbq approach), Coral Reef (another one that has a lot of haters but the food has always been good, love the atmosphere, warped amusement by eating fish while watching their relatives swim), Boma, and doing a ton of character breakfasts. I LOOOOOVE breakfast and it's kind of hard to screw up.

 

[Lisa F]

also I am not sure if you are a real NY snob or just masquerading as one. Real NY snobs do not associate with people from NJ! if you think there is no good food anywhere else, you should watch diners, drive ins and dines. I swear I gain about 10 lbs when that thing is on. Some amazing cuisine all over this country!

 

[minnie mum]

but us New Yorkers have a particularly refined culinary pallets

One would have thought that such a refined gourmet would know the difference between their palate and their pallet. We'll leave the obvious need for the New York education system to put more attention on grammer for another thread.

But thanks for the morning laugh. The ludicrous assumption that only a New Yorker can expertly judge the quality of a meal really made my day.

 

[Huff]

From my travels, friends, relatives around the country I've found that much (not all) of the midwest and east coast are meat, bread and potato kind of folk. The main spices in their diet are salt and pepper. Time and again I see high reviews for the home style cooking restaurants that to me are bland and dull. Restaurants with flavorful foods with strong use of spices (doesn't mean hot but rather flavorful) often rank lower in the overall reviews.

For us there are no WOW restaurants on Disney property but there are some very good ones. Much of the ones we enjoy are due to the uniqueness of the atmosphere I can't find at home along with pretty good food. I stay away from restaurants at Disney that are for the most part the same dull boring menus and theme I can f ind at home.

 

[maltdizzy]

In other words, who the freak cares what others enjoy at WDW? The assumption that everyone outside of the NYC metro area (plus MA?) somehow has an unrefined PALATE, is simply ridiculous.

This reminds me that my in-laws owned restaurants and they dreaded NYer's...to them, no NY'er seemed happy unless it was "just like home," but no two NYers seemed consistent on what that was..."the lights are too bright..."the lights are too dim"..."the food is overcooked"..."the food is undercooked"...etc.

All in all, WDW is a theme park to serves tens of thousands every day. While I rarely find anything in WDW exceptional...at least it's not T-Rex.

 

[rwdavis2]

Now this is not meant to disparage my fellow Disney brothers and sisters from the midwest, south, Texas, west, and further abroad but us New Yorkers have a particularly refined culinary pallets. When I see Liberty Tree Tavern ringing in boatloads of positive votes I just shake my head (come on people your better than that!).

With my prologue aside I ask of my fellow New Yorkers (Jersey and Mass feel free to join in as well) to give a shout out to their favorite Disney restaurant.

I think a better way to put the question was to ask that " anyone who has access to a wide variety of restaurants both quality and cuisine-wise, what are your favorite WDW restaurants?"

You have got to realize that many people do not have anything but fast food where they come from. Maybe a Ponderosa. To anyone in that situation WDW is ding heaven. I get it. My home town was like that.

But living between DC in Baltimore we have a huge selections of restaurants to choose from so we do not make that
big a deal of dining there. It is just a matter of where you live.

 

[DisneyHardin]

According to National Geographic Travel, Louisville, KY is the top destination for foodies. NYC didn't even make the list.

That being said, I live in Louisville, and I enjoyed Liberty Tree Tavern when I ate there. Food doesn't have to be fancy to enjoy it.

 

[wilkeliza]

I've eaten at some great places and I'll admit I review Disney restaurants different then how I would review something here in NYC. You can't expect Per Se quality food at a theme park establishment.

We actually really enjoy LTT. The food is good (come on guilty pleasure Stouffers) and the atmosphere is great. I also like that you can usually get in with out having to plan months and months in advance.

 

[goofy4prez]

I guess being that I grew up in Cleveland and still live in N.E. Ohio the only thing I would have a refined culinary palate for would be hot dogs, hamburgers and good old biscuits and gravy. I surely wouldn't have an idea what a good prime rib, filet mignon or lobster is.

Oh wait, your talking about pallets? I'm sure there are some good ones sitting behind the loading docks at Walmart in NY like they are here in Ohio. LOL

 

[LinderInWonderland]

I grew up in MA, moved to Manhattan, back to Boston, then Philly, back to Manhattan and now live in western Washington. I've been to many other states across the country. My favorite food town in the whole USA? Portland, OR. Their food scene is unreal!

At WDW, I have no expectations beyond tasty - and there is a lot that is tasty! I don't care for LTT -though my one meal there was tasty- because I grew up in Concord, MA and am kind of over colonial theming.

 

[NuJoy]

Typical NY/NJ attitude that I experienced with my long ago ex-boyfriend who was born/raised in NJ, worked on Wall Street. Yeah, same guy who drove me past the NY main post office and told me every. piece. of. mail. in. the. U.S. comes through that office. I nearly died laughing and promptly declared him an idiot in front of his mother. Also, he got properly educated in the art of genuine fine southern cuisine by my able hands and at my bountiful table. Poor guy thought BBQ was whatever you put on a grill.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I'm from NY. Please don't give us a worse reputation than we already have.

With that said - I THINK what you meant is that people's taste and expectations of food seem to vary regionally. I enjoy biscuits and gravy. It's something I don't get too often but when I do, I like it. I may find the Wave's version good, but someone from Alabama may scoff at it. Same thing with Lobster Rolls. I love the Boardwalk Bakery's lobster roll, but someone from New England may have a different opinion.

I think what you meant to say is "I'm from NY, where we're blessed to have a plethora of restaurants, which in turn has elevated our taste for cuisine and turned us into fairly big food snobs. Can anyone recommend some solid restaurants that meet my taste?"

Sure, Disney_Problem, I can, but keep in mind that it's all arbitrary and subjective.

We enjoy Narcoossee's. It's delicious, the offerings are top notch and it has a relaxing atmosphere. We love sitting by the window and watching Wishes as we dine.

Artist Point is another great spot. It doesn't have the ambiance that a Cali Grill or Narcoossee's has, but the food is delicious - especially the foods. It's more rustic, though. We weren't sure that we'd like it but we truly enjoyed our meal.

We love Rose & Crown. We're part English, so we always enjoy a nice pint and fish & chips. It has a classic pub feel to it and we love eating outside when the weather is nice.

Beaches & Cream has the best burger/patty melt on property - IMO. It's like an NJ diner had a baby with a Jersey Shore ice cream shop.

I haven't dined at Via Napoli, but fellow NY'ers like the pizza. Personally, I enjoy Wolfgang Puck Express Pizza. It's no Rose's in Penn Station, but it's fresh and very filling.

Edit: Just thought of this funny story that can hopefully lighten the mood of this thread...

We were on the bus and got to talking with a family from South Dakota. We asked what they've done, what their plans were, etc. The dad looks up at me and goes "I'm trying the new coffee spot in Magic Kingdom today." I looked at him bewildered. "Starbucks?" He smiled ear to ear and goes "yeah! That's the one! Been dying to try a Starbucks coffee everyone has been talking about."

He had me intrigued.

I didn't mean to come across rude, but I replied "you've never had Starbucks?"
"No, we don't have any by us. They have them in New York?"
I laughed and said "you can't walk 10 feet without seeing one."

He was in amazement. I happened to go to Starbucks that morning as well. I discovered my new friend staring at the menu. He planned on getting coffee, but couldn't believe all the choices. I helped him choose the best option based on his tastes and used a snack to treat him to his first Starbucks.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

One would have thought that such a refined gourmet would know the difference between their palate and their pallet. We'll leave the obvious need for the New York education system to put more attention on grammer for another thread.

But thanks for the morning laugh. The ludicrous assumption that only a New Yorker can expertly judge the quality of a meal really made my day.

*Grammar.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.