Oh the Tragedy! No Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake this time! Updates x 5 9/30

[emmysmommy]

I have heard those pancakes are amazing. Cynthia and I were hoping to get there this past trip, but it just didn't work out. Despite that we did manage a couple of yummy breakfasts including the one at Olivias. yum!

Maybe next time will work out for Kona Mary Ellen! I'm interested in hearing about Olivias. You don't hear too much about that place.

I'm really enjoying reading your reviews. My husband and I were just there May 3-10 and I wanted to do a dining review but just keep putting it off.

Jiko is our fave signature and Kona Cafe the best breakfast ever. Love Yak & Yeti, too. This is strange, but the table you are seated at in Kona Cafe is the same table DH and I sat at. I recognized it right away.

Looking forward to more reviews.

Hi Maryspooh! Thank you for reading along! Ahhh we overlapped for our trips. It's not too late to start a DR.

Sounds like we have very similar tastes with your favorites. I normally would have had more to share for Y&Y.

That table at Kona seems to be reserved for DISers. As noted in my review, that was a repeat seat for us as well.

Just found your review. Love it, Love it, Love it.

I am trying to convince DH to go back to Jiko in October. He loves to eat on vacation. He does not like small portions. Your report is not helping my cause, unfortunately.

Too bad about Yachtsman. We used to really like it there, but have not gone back in years. Once we discovered there is a Ruths Chris steak house near WDW, we have not gone back. Olivia's Cafe suprisingly has a good steak, at half the price almost.

I made your beloved pancakes the other day from a recipe online. It was awesome. Love the pineapple sauce. If mine were that good, I can't imagine the yumminess of Kona's.

Can't wait for the rest of your report.

Hi Niki! Jiko is probably the one place that the portion size was out of line with the prices for a Signature. Too bad the dining isn't like on cruise ships where you can order more tan one entrée or other course if you wish.

YSH has some issues .... I hope it's a short lived trend since it's a shame to see it decline. Glad to hear Olivias has a nice alternative for a steak lover.

I'm not brave enough to make those pancakes myself since I'd ruin them!

I'm glad you are excited to read along.

Yum those pancakes remind me of what I have eaten on past trips to Hawaii. Your so famous you get recognized on WDW property you rock star you

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Hey Lori! Those pancakes fit perfectly with that theme right? Love them.

brenda, I hardly ate any of the mashed potatos or veggies, mostly just the steak. (the potatos had too much horseradish for me anyway) I did take a couple bites of the dessert, since it came with the DDP anyway.

that kona menu looks great.w e have only eaten there for dinner. not a very good value for the dining plan, but out of pocket? some of those prices aren't much differen from some breakfast prices back home at a family restaurant!

our last trip, we were talking to the reservation Cm at Prime Time Cafe, when a guy ran up and said "Nebo! you're Nebo and Smidgy!" and once before recognized in a DSA at AK. but naturally when our son's family was with us... not one recognition.. we wanted to impress our grandson.

hhmm, I would have a hard time choosing between TOnga toast and pineapple macadamia pancakes!

Ahh got it! Mashed potatoes that make your nose runny is no fun.

Funny but using TiW some of our breakfasts are cheaper for sit down restaurants than some CS. DDP definitely makes you debate whether some of the cheaper dining options should be out of pocket.

Of course!!! You guys are legendary! I've read some of your TRs (love the hilarity!) but just never commented so forgive my bashfulness!

I'm still looking for an EPIC breakfast combo platter that would combine the TT and the pancakes. I have to believe there are others out there with the same ordering dilemma!

I'm a few updates behind, so going back to ...

Tusker House: Awesome photos of the various buffet offerings and I completely understand separating sweet/savoury/syrup items. These things will not mingle on my plate either. Love the various character photos and I'm still laughing about the impending duck groping (cue the Jaws soundtrack).

Yak & Yeti: Wait a second here ... no Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake AND no Cream Cheese Wontons?!? I think we need to have a serious talk Brenda! Michael's salad looks really good though!

When did they start serving shoe leather at YSH? I'm so surprised that any restaurant, let alone a Signature, would allow a plate that looked like that to leave the kitchen.

Kona Cafe: Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes = I'm so happy you got to enjoy them this trip!

Ok, all caught up again and looking forward to the next instalment!

Hi Carol! Thanks for getting caught up!

I shouldn't point fingers but that duck groping wasn't from Michael or me and not Hunter so you figure out whose left.

I agree! Someone needed to give me a talking too about skipping both of those amazing desserts this trip. It was so pathetic. I need to space my meals out further. Michael and everyone else loved those salads. Good job LTT!

I'm with you. I wonder why the kitchen thought it was ok to serve that piece of meat. Everyone else had issues with the doneness of their steaks as well so it wasn't just me. So sad.

I wouldn't miss those pancakes!! Good think breakfast is the first meal of the day since there's little danger in missing a meal then.

Mmm Michael's breakfas looks amazing! Love a good egg white omelette to start the morning-- Kona seems like just a good, dependable option.
Can't wait for more, as always

I've never been disappointed with Kona. It's a great solid choice.

MMMM, that omelet looks so good. I will never be able to make up my mind as to what to get when I get to Kona. Decisions, Decisions.

Ha ha! Dining Reviews can create dining decision paralysis! You may have to flip a coin to decide!

We had our first ever breakfast at Kona Cafe in February this year and now I kind of wish I'd tried the macadamia pancakes over the Tonga Toast. DD and I traded with each other on 1/2 order of Tonga Toast with 1/2 order of the ham and cheese omelet.

We both liked the Tonga Toast but didn't LOVE it. Glad I tried it, but I definitely see an order of the pancakes in my future.

We also love Tusker House breakfast and half of us actually went twice. The first reservation was requested by DD, Pie but she was ill that morning so Dude and I kept the reservation and then made another one a few days later.

DH might have answered the "do you love Disney as much as..." question almost as nicely but more likely would have said he tolerates it for the rest of us. Big points for Michael's answer! I think some mom/kid trips may be on our horizon as they are getting older.

Looking forward to the rest of your review (always lurk and love them but don't know that I've ever actually posted on one!)

I've tried the TT and it was good but not amazing to me like those pancakes. I same ordering omelets for the other breakfast places and the buffets that offer them!

That's great that TH breakfast worked out the second time. I'm sure Pie was grateful!

Ha ha! I had to appreciate Michael's response... he could have answered it honestly as he's said before, he likes Disney but he's not going to go write a report about it. And definitely he has no desire to go more than once a year since there are other trips that he'd rather do.

Mom/kid trips are a great way to not OD your hubby on Disney. It's what I have to do.

And finally, thank you Rodeo for reading and commenting! I'm glad that you are joining in!

I'm here …. better late than never
I'm happy that you enjoyed the wine at Jiko and thanks to Barb for helping me out with my little surprise.
Hmmm …. another below par experience at YSH. It seems that something is not quite right in the kitchen at this restaurant lately
You've just made me want to try and get a Kona breakfast ADR for October by the way

Hi Linda! Welcome back from your travels. I hope you had a great time.

We absolutely LOVED your generosity with the wine. It was awesome! Thank you again for that treat.

Definitely a sub-par experience with YSH. The trend isn't good - especially for a Signature.

Oh my! Book Kona for October! I can't pass it up - ever.

We ate at Tusker house this morning for the first time and really liked it. And your Kona report just made me add that to our breakfast rotation this week! Yummy! So excited!

Hi Fsudisney! Awesome! I'm glad you liked TH! Was Donald outside for the photos or only inside? Just curious if that is permanent.

I hope you enjoy your Kona breakfast! It's my favorite breakfast at WDW!

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[jerseytinkerbell]

Oh boy, you had a bad run of food luck that one day. Thank goodness Kona saved the day! That mocha looks pretty tasty. I'm going to keep that in mind for next trip!

 

[emmysmommy]

Oh boy, you had a bad run of food luck that one day. Thank goodness Kona saved the day! That mocha looks pretty tasty. I'm going to keep that in mind for next trip!

Hi Jeri! Yeah, at least we turned things around with the Kona breakfast... until the next meal... stay tuned!

 

[emmysmommy]

Liberty Tree Tavern Lunch - April 30, 2014​

Our lunch plans took us to Liberty Tree Tavern with Paula, Hunter, and Barb who met back up with us. This meal is obviously where my DR found its title so there's no surprise as to what will be missing for this meal. Stay tuned to see how exactly I allowed that transgression to occur!!!

If you want the short version of this DR it would be:
"I'm too full for an entrée since I'm leaving room for dessert whereby I try to get Michael to split dessert which doesn't work but at least I think I'll see the glorious toffee cake make an appearance but we all know how that ended." Cue dramatic music!

We checked in and when they asked where we were from we realized we had 3 states represented. Instead of making something up we deferred to Paula and Hunter’s state since they were celebrating their anniversary and Hunter’s birthday.

Restaurant photos with a clock theme. I didn’t notice that until I looked through my photos.

Menu:

Appetizers and Specialty Beverages

Dessert options: As you can see the toffee cake is still prominently featured!

Apparently I was so focused on that toffee cake that I have 3 photos of the dessert section of the menu but no photos of the entrees. You’ll have to pop over to Barb’s dining review of LTT here to see her photos as well as her excellent debrief regarding this lunch.

Celebration curly-cue on the table

Liberty Tree Tavern is a lunch favorite of mine and today was no different other than the fact that I wasn’t hungry after nearly conquering that stack of pineapple macadamia pancakes at Kona only a few hours earlier. There was no pot roast in my immediate future since Michael decided to enjoy the Colony Salad – as did most of our table. I tried to coerce him into ordering the pot roast by pointing out that it IS the featured entrée but he wasn’t having any of my sweet talk. Well that didn’t work so now I had an ulterior motive for skipping ordering an entrée…. There was a certain dessert that has made an appearance in all 8 Dis trips since 2010.

Michael ordered an Arnold Palmer but the lemonade was a pomegranate lemonade version and he didn’t like it at all. He called it pomegranICK lemonade. It was swapped out by our server no problem for something else.

Pomegranate Lemonade

As for the food, the salad looked good. I took one bite and can say that I’d probably have a second bite some time. It’s no Tavern Keeper’s pot roast but it will do.

Colony Salad: Apples, Pecans, Applewood Smoked Cheddar, Dried Cranberries, Grilled Chicken with Field Greens and a Honey-Shallot Vinaigrette $14.99

So about dessert. Yes please. While Michael was figuring out what he was having I was waiting to place my order in case he chose the toffee cake in which case I’d just share. Yeah, that didn’t work out so well. He landed on the vanilla cake. I said it’s not vanilla cake like you think. He replied that’s what it says. Ok, so I guess I’ll let him figure out that that the Johnny Appleseed Cake is a little different than he imagined. Now I THOUGHT I’d requested the ooey gooey toffee cake.

That's what I get for thinking.... and assuming...

Because......

Apparently when dessert was brought out it was:

One Johnny Appleseed cake for Michael

One ooey gooey toffee cake for Barb

And whatever Paula and Hunter ordered.

And...... NOTHING for me! What??? My initial thought was to throw myself on the floor in a fit of rage and demand that this be corrected immediately!

Hadn’t the server seen the toffee cake admiration in my eyes when I mentioned it? However, it was in that moment that I realized I could live without the amazing toffee cake since I wasn’t that hungry. But I was so sad that I didn’t get to behold its amazingness this trip. Ok so I got over it but I’ll not make that mistake twice.

Johnny Appleseed’s Cake: Tavern made White Cake filled with apples and dried cranberries – topped with ice-cream $7.49

I had a bite of the “vanilla” cake and I didn’t enjoy it as much as last time I tried it. Oh well. That just reinforces to me that there’s no other dessert that rivals the toffee cake.

For those that followed Barb’s dining reviews from this trip and have read her LTT review here now you know the answer to her multiple choice quiz! The answer is #4!

For a photo history of this lovely dessert.....(typically ordered without ice-cream or ice-cream on the side.)

The very first ooey gooey toffee cake ordered in August 2010

My birthday ooey gooey toffee cake April 2011

Ooey gooey deliciousness February 2012

Oooey Gooey Toffee Cake – NAKED in August 2012! I didn't mean for it to be plain when I asked for no ice-cream.

February 2013 the Ooey Gooey Toffee cake was served as it should be... in all its gloriousness with all of the toppings
And the way that it SHOULD be served!

In August 2013, the toffee cake looked like this!

And the last time I had the ooey gooey toffee cake was December 2013:

Using our TiW we saved $5.69. It could have been $7.29 had the toffee cake misstep not taken place. Just sayin’. Ok, now I’m over it. Really.

We parted ways with Barb since she had other plans for the day. We would be seeing her the next day for dinner.

Next Up: 'Ohana dinner​

 

[smile4stamps]

I know you said you wanted the Ooey-Gooey... but we may have distracted the server with all the laughing we had going on at our table!

And Barb DID offer you some of her's but I think you really were still pretty full! Those pancakes can definitely stick with you!

 

[emmysmommy]

I know you said you wanted the Ooey-Gooey... but we may have distracted the server with all the laughing we had going on at our table!

And Barb DID offer you some of her's but I think you really were still pretty full! Those pancakes can definitely stick with you!

Yes, it's the fault of everyone else at the table! There was a LOT of hilarity during that meal. I have a photo of the texts between Hunter and Michael to prove it.

Barb was very generous to offer to share her dessert. I liken that offer to having a co-worker move and they know you have a truck and you hope they never ask you to help!! Seriously though, I figured I'd save room for dinner since that was an over-eaters event waiting to happen.

 

[Fantazmickey]

Sorry you missed the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake. It looks amazing and is on my list for our next trip.

 

[kastoney]

Ohh the humanity ; ). I will be sure to get a double next visit in your honor, or in case they forget I orders one ; )

 

[Couchy]

I love the the plethora of pics of the cake through time....
I also thing the salad looks delish

 

[Marshypooh]

The last two pics of the toffee cake look the most yummiest. The poor "naked" one looks so.....naked.

Can't wait for more reviews and more pictures.

 

[smidgy]

sorry I have to say, as a server for many years. .. i generally ignore what the guests say to each other.. I mean, I "hear it" but I don't. because the only orders that count are the orders given TO me.

If , in the proces of ordering, I hear one person suggesting to another while they are ordering.. "maybe we should get this or that and split this or that" I'll stand back and let them discuss it for a bitl

then I will come back to the person ordering and ask him what he would like. if there is still discussion going on, I ask if they would like me to come back in a few minutes.

the server probably assumed you weren't eating and had no way of knowing you wanted to share the dessert with hubby, and since he didn't order it, you would want one of your own. although if someone isn't ordering an entree, I do usually ask them if they would like a salad or dessert.

sorry you didn't get the dessert you love!! it sounds yummy!

 

[Linda67]

I hope that you ate plenty of the 'Ohana Bread Pudding to make up for the lack of Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake

 

[Fsudisney]

Donald was not outside for the photo, he was inside. So maybe a permanent change?

 

[Wood Nymph]

It is surprising that you ever came to love this dessert when you started out eating it without ice cream. The cake part must be pretty good on its own.

 

[rodeo65]

OK, now I'm having trouble with a lunch choice for MK. I have my "Fantasy Itinerary" started for 2015, although have yet to convince T-Bone that two trips a year apart need to happen.

So far I've got Tony's, Plaza and LTT as my possible maybes for that day and the Plaza sundaes were coming out on top but now your (non) Ooey Gooey is making it really hard for the plans on my currently-pretend trip. Yes, a meal choice is often determined by the dessert menu.

 

[disney meema]

Oh shoot I got it wrong on Barb's page ... I thought it was #1 The salad looks great and the mystery is solved : ) Love your Sheldon picture reference lol

 

[vettegirl]

I made a lunch ressie there for Dec just because you highly recommend it! Can't wait it to try it

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[poohangel]

OH THE INHUMANITY OF NOT BRINGING YOU THE TOFFEE CAKE. I have never had the toffee cake but it sure looks good.

 

[princess_momma]

I wonder what the reason is for moving Donald inside to outside at Tusker House. That just seems strange! Hopefully they don't do they at other character meals with people you meet outside first.

I love Yak & Yeti...sorry to hear you didn't get anything that time! I am with you on the dessert...G and I both love it so much, we've agreed that is the one dessert we won't share...we can just get 2!

Nothing grinds my gears like disappointing signature restaurant meals. You look forward to the meal that much more and then it falls. That wouldn't even be acceptable for a QS! If a QS served prime rib of course. The closest I can imagine is the steak sandwich or whatever at BoG lunch. It wouldn't be okay there AND it doesn't even cost $42 there. Regardless of how they handle that mistake, in my opinion, it shouldn't happen at a signature. At least you had good company!

I always love your reviews of Kona...I'm STILL dying to get over there. I do have it booked for this next trip! How I'll ever decide what to get though is beyond me. There's like 4 things I want to try! Macadamia Nut Pancakes included, of course!

I'm DYING over your ooey-gooey toffee cake gallery! You crack me up. And by dying, I mean drooling. I probably scrolled through all the pictures for about 5 minutes...maybe more. You've convinced me to go back...I haven't been since 2009! And I don't know why. I need to eat that ooey-gooey-ness again!

 

[lizzyb]

I have never had toffee cake but based on your previous reviews I made a reservation for our upcoming trip. Unfortunately after looking at all our plans I just don't think we will be hungry enough for a large lunch so I cancelled it. There's alway next time.