Oops. Bang. POW. Drawn On the Carpet,

[Tiger926]

It's kind of interesting to me how people who have eaten at restaurants very often, can give reviews either?

We have eaten at pretty much all restaurants, on a consistent basis over the past 7-8 years, so I think we would give pretty much good reviews. If a restaurant serves multiple meals (b, l & d), we've eaten at all different meals, in order to get a true assessment of the restaurant. But again, food is very subjective, as is the restaurant experience on a whole.

I read reviews of guests who have dined at a restaurant 1x, and have declared it the worst restaurant on property. They can't make that distinction until they've eaten at all restaurants. It may have been one of the worst experiences they've had in a restaurant, but they cannot declare it the worst on property if they have not eaten elsewhere.

It will be interesting to see what Rusty's review is considering there is a new chef over at Jiko.

Tiger

 

[nigel-bigel]

... but how long has it been since he's eaten at any other restaurant? And has he eaten at every other restaurant on property?

These are both good questions.

However, I don't know that it is fair to expect him to go back to a bad restaurant, unless reviews from others suggest it should be reconsidered. Why should HE pay for it?

Personally, I think WDW management should have Dining CMs tour and sample the restaurants, just like Accommodation CMs should tour all the properties. If they are selling a product, they should know the product!

I work for a retailer of high-end cookware and housewares. We use the products in the store. We are allowed to take demo units of products home to use. When I talk to a customer about a product, I know the product. That said, I doubt Disney provides this kind of training to their reservation CMs.

However, if I have a CM actually is honest and discourages me from making a poor choice, then the things he does recommend to me must be honest opinions as well. We've all had a CM on the phone who will only say good things about everything. Who in the world believes a word they say? They are no help at all.

Nicole

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I write reviews after every trip. I've eaten at most of the table service restaurants, so when I suggest places to my friends and coworkers to eat, (they all always come to my when trip planning,) I feel like I can give pretty decent recommendations. But just because I do or don't like something doesn't mean that everyone would feel that way, and I know that.

Boma is an excellant example. It is my favorite buffet on property, and one of my favorite places to have dinner, but a lot of people whose reviews I trust, (due to reading their reviews mutiple times from various trips, and knowing we have similar tastes,) don't really like Boma. It doesn't mean their reviews are any less worthy of mine, so when I tell people I love Boma, I also mention that some of my friends don't love it so much, and it seems to be very hit or miss.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

These are both good questions.

However, I don't know that it is fair to expect him to go back to a bad restaurant, unless reviews from others suggest it should be reconsidered. Why should HE pay for it?

Personally, I think WDW management should have Dining CMs tour and sample the restaurants, just like Accommodation CMs should tour all the properties. If they are selling a product, they should know the product!

I work for a retailer of high-end cookware and housewares. We use the products in the store. We are allowed to take demo units of products home to use. When I talk to a customer about a product, I know the product. That said, I doubt Disney provides this kind of training to their reservation CMs.

However, if I have a CM actually is honest and discourages me from making a poor choice, then the things he does recommend to me must be honest opinions as well. We've all had a CM on the phone who will only say good things about everything. Who in the world believes a word they say? They are no help at all.

Nicole

I do agree with you about that. When we do promotions at my work, and they tell me to push something, I don't like doing that until I've tried it out for myself.

ETA - However, if someone asks me my opinion of something, and I don't like it, I would tell them why.

 

[LaurenT]

Seems like exactly the wrong time to try Jiko considering they have a new chef who hasn't quite found his/her groove yet.

Would have been better to try it when you could still get the filet with mac and cheese, lol. I couldn't believe it was on the menu - then I tried it when my stepson ordered it....

 

[Lou Holtz]

I think you're to be fired eventually. Just because someone asks your opinion, that doesn't mean you're allowed to say negative things about aspects of your company to potential customers. It's not a court of law. They can tell you keep those thoughts to yourself if they want and fire you if they don't like what you're telling the customers.

 

[BriarRosie]

I went to Jiko a week ago Friday. If you can try an appetizer, I recommend the wild boar. It is supposed to be pink when it arrives at the table. I thought it was very good.

I didn't try any of the entrees, though. I had a soup and that wild boar appetizer as my dinner. And I shared the amarula creme brulee for dessert. That was tasty, too.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I had the vegetarian trio for my entree, I thought that was awesome.

 

[crabbygal902]

RustyScupper, I like your style. Straight-forward but polite.

I am looking forward to reading your review of Jiko. I have no doubt that you will tell it like it is!

 

[engle]

RustyScupper, I like your style. Straight-forward but polite.

I am looking forward to reading your review of Jiko. I have no doubt that you will tell it like it is!

Meee too RUSTY!!! I can't wait to hear it. I am pretty opinionated about WDW restaurants as well...there are places that I will DEFINITELY never eat at again...and V&A and Il Mulino are in my top 5 as well.

 

[kayrosek]

Can't wait to hear your review of Jiko. I like an honest CM as well but I would be curious if any of the places you had negative experiences at have gotten better over time.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I like honesty so I will give Rusty applause for that.

Are you a CM who handles ADR"s? I would fear for your job if so. Not that I might disagree with your opinions but it is not good business practice. Also not everyone can afford to eat at the listed establishments so even if the food is much better than elsewhere it would not be appropriate and might turn many off as being a bit elitist

I am a mystery shopper and mostly do restaurants although much more modest places than listed. Might I suggest that Rusty would be perfect for such a job at DW? Only the deluxe options though.

One final thought, I am thinking that I will not have to see yet another review of how 'fantastic' the heated up frozen Stouffer's Mac and Cheese at LTT is!.

Go ahead Rusty, I wanna see how the other half lives even though I am not likely to join you for dinner any time soon.

Slightly Goofy

 

[goofy4tink]

Can't wait to hear your review of Jiko. I like an honest CM as well but I would be curious if any of the places you had negative experiences at have gotten better over time.

Here's my issue......an honest CM isn't always going to give you the info you need. There's an issue with the OP's listing of the 'only' restaurants he will honor with his presence...they are all nasty expensive. While I have no issue, usually, with expensive, the vast majority of guests at WDW choose to eat at less expensive spots...possibly due to budget restraints.
I am not a believer in high prices always mean good food or good service.

One person's idea of a 'great restaurant' could very well be counter to what I feel is a great place to eat.

Can I afford to eat in those '5' places? Yes. But....I much prefer much plainer food, so some of them just don't get it done for me. I'll let you know how I feel about Shula's after I get home in Dec. But, the others have menus that hold no appeal to me. BUT...here's the thing..you can get very good food, with wonderful service, without all the 'stuff' that goes along with it. Just give me basic good, plain food and I'm a happy girl. But I will not accept that hoity-toity attitude that comes from those in the really pricey restaurants. Believe me...if all I get is your hoity-toity attitude, and not so wonderful food....I won't be back. And neither will those I know.

I don't think any CM should be hiding behind their idea of 'honesty' when cutting down other restaurants onsite....when you give postive reviews of only very expensive places, you are not doing your job. Now..if a guest comes up to you and says..."I would love a suggestion for a really nice place to eat, great service, great atmosphere, and an interesting, out of the ordinary menu.", then sure, go ahead and list your 5 places worthy of your mention. But to give your 'honest' opinion, basically denigrating that guests choices, is wrong.

 

[Tricia1972]

One person's idea of a 'great restaurant' could very well be counter to what I feel is a great place to eat.

I agree with the post quoted, but feel that the quote is the crux of the issue with reviewers who make dining recommendations, even if they've dined at every restaurant at Disney several times.

Everyone has different tastes, and unless a person is a renowned food critic, what makes them qualified to guess what my family and I may like?

Where a food critic may have different tastes, their palates are such that they can listen to a person and what their likes and dislikes are and make an informed suggestion for a restaurant suggestions based on those tastes.

However, I would agree that if a guest asks about a specific restaurant, and the CM either hasn't eaten there at all, or it's been a long time since they have eaten there because of a bad experience, it's not the best thing to do from a business standpoint to talk down about the guest's choice. I would rather they would just say they haven't been recently, than to either give me a fictional "review" or give negative info about the restaurant because they ate there 10 years ago and had a bad experience. As you said, things change a lot in the restaurant industry - what is bad today can be great tomorrow. One WDW trip I had my worst meal and my absolute best meal at the same restaurant, about a week apart. It happens.

Exactly

 

[Cinderella94]

I can't wait to see how the rest of this thread goes

 

[4HppyCamprs]

An opinion is always given from ones own perspective.

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

I think the whole debate is a little ridiculous. There are so many dining variables that is silly to recommend just one restaurant on Disney Property.
These are a few things that come to mind...
Budget, ages, what meal are they asking about? What about allergies or dietary requests?

A family with small children are not permitted to dine at Victoria & Alberts. Perhaps they don't have the budget to eat at California Grill. They could have seafood allergies, so you probably shouldn't recommend Coral Reef, or Columbia Harbor House.

If you are a CM and a guests asks for your recommendation, it might be more helpful to try to find out what type of meal they are looking for. A steakhouse? Maybe they love the hibachi style grill in a Japanese restaurant. What if they have young children and want a nicer place but somewhere they can feel comfortable bringing the children.

I will look forward to reading your review of Jiko. We haven't eaten there, the only signature restaurant we have eaten at is Hollywood Brown Derby. I didn't think it was worthy of the Signature Status, although I enjoyed it.

My husband and I like nice restaurants, but we prefer to visit them without our children. We considered going to California Grill for our upcoming trip now that our children are getting older, but there wasn't any ADR's available.

 

[Gregowa]

OK here is my 2 cents worth.....To each his own... one man's garbage is another's prize! I think this whole discussion is kind of ridiculous. Food is very subjective as are dining experiences. There are so many variables - budget, families with children, couples without children, cultural influences, food likes and dislikes, food allergies, table vs counter experience, menu offerings, comfort level, and on and on. I think the main point is everyone has to make up their own mind and go from there. If you love a place, return to it again, if you don't like it - don't return. I know people who will never try Victoria and Alberts - as wonderful as it is -just because they have to get dressed up to go there and they don't want to be bothered with that on vacation! Others love the experience of dressing up to go there. Some people don't want to be bothered with table services meals and the hassle of making resevations in advance. Others want only to have table service meals as a respite from the crowds, heat, etc. Some want only counter service. Others like the experience of trying something they haven't tried before regardless of whether it is table or counter service. Two people eating in the same place at the same time often have two very different experiences based on their individuality. Everyone has their favorites and their least liked experiences. Everyone is different and the wonderful thing is that is what makes the (Disney) world go round! I say let them all eat cake!

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

I don't know how or why you can or should pooh pooh a guest's list of eateries. One thing I've learned on the DIS is that everyone has such different eating styles and preferences. Most people going to Disney are going because they have kids and are maybe making 1 or 2 trips a year. Ergo, must places they pick, especially if they are on DDP, will be kid friendly character meals. They aren't interested in super high class dining that isn't kid friendly. Not to mention, a lot of people just like plain American food. When our family comes to visit from the Midwest, we think about places that serve the best American style food. We don't bring them to Dim Sum or for Sushi or to our favorite Indian place. We instead choose a nice alehouse where they can get burgers and fish and chips.

Looking at your list:

- Bistro de Paris - I'm sure it's delicious but it's not kid friendly at all. And if guests are on DDP, it is likely a No-go.
- Citricos - looks wonderful but kind of fancy for the average family.
- Shula's Steakhouse - Upscale steakhouse doesn't seem kid friendly.
- Il Mulino - I'm sure it's delicious, but most people are happy with basic Italian fare.
- Victoria & Albert's - Kids aren't allowed.

I'm not a TGIF diner myself. I actually can't remember the last time we ate at a chain restaurant except on the highway. We like to go to nice places and would love to try Citricos or Il Mulino, but when vacationing with the family we want to eat at places the kids would like. Thus, we think about characters and theming (We're at Disney!) and try to combine those interests with food preferences and budgetary concerns.

 

[nigel-bigel]

When our family comes to visit from the Midwest, we think about places that serve the best American style food. We don't bring them to Dim Sum or for Sushi or to our favorite Indian place. We instead choose a nice alehouse where they can get burgers and fish and chips.

As someone from the Midwest, your comment struck a nerve with me. Did your visitors tell you they want American fare, or did you just assume? If they did tell you that, why does it matter where they are from? Is it only midwesterners that like American food?

Nicole