Ordering Appetizers instead of meal?

[Juniortrooper]

Hi,

We're going to Coral Reef for an early lunch and then to dinner at Chef Mickey's. We're not big eaters, but I know we'll need some sort of nourishment to keep us going--is it "cheesy" to order appetizers instead of a full meal? Do the waiters/waitresses frown upon this?
Sometimes just appetizers are very filling!

Thanks,
Amy

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

DH and I have done this sort of thing. We have ordered three appetizers and that was our meal. As long as you tip the same percentage as a regular meal, I don't think a server minds. You will eat and leave in less time than a regular meal, so s/he will have a quick turnover and ready for another group of diners.

 

[smjj]

We do this all the time. There are many restaurants that have appetizers that are more appealing to us than the main course. We will both order one or two and share them. It all comes out money wise about the same...smjj

 

[christinou]

I often do that, I loke to order a salad, then an appetizer as my meal, some of the appetizer are perfect size for a meal. My 12 year old also loves doing the same thing.

 

[Hootch]

food critics put that question to restaranteurs in my area. None of them had an issue with people ordering only appetizers.

Not Disney but opinions directly from the owners.

 

[disnut8]

I am a light eater and thre's no reason sometimes for me to order a full blown meal. I've never had sub par service anywhere, Disney or not, when I ask for "such and such as my meal". The alternative would be for a lot of wasted food and the server having to ask me if everything was alright.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Following on from this - I am thinking of booking Garden Grill for lunch for DS4 especially, but our friends are going to Epcot the same day and having a 2.30pm lunch at Coral Reef - Would it be acceptable for us to, say book Garden Grill for 12pm and then Coral Reef for 2.30pm and just have dessert at Coral reef??? (I don't fancy the GG desert, but I'd REALLY like the chocolate Wave at CR!!!)

Do you think this is wrong - as in stopping someone else having a reservation who would eat a 'full' meal???

 

[Shmily1]

If you order the land and sea app at CR as your meal, you are going to be very hungry that day! One shrimp and one good size bite of beef doesn't fill me up for long.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Often when going to Kona I will order a soup and then the Stickey Wings appetizer as my main course. It is about a dozen wing parts as well as a fair size salad.

 

[TDC Nala]

Not that I have ever had it happen (which I haven't), but if they frowned on it I really couldn't care less.

 

[oybolshoi]

We usually just order appetizers when we go to Spoodles - their appetizer selection is far more appealing to us and the portions are huge. We share them and then order dessert and leave very happy indeed!

 

[Jacklynn]

I don't see anything wrong with it. In fact here at home, we do that often... hehe with Cheese fries, we like to go to lonestar or Texas Road House and each order cheese fries... its our guilty pleasure.

Appetizers usually come with PLENTY of food, we usually take some home with us. I don't see why it should be any different at disney Go for it!

 

[ElizabethB]

Don't order just appetizers at Coral Reef. Shmily1 is right. We ordered the surf and turf appetizer to split before our main courses. We were shocked. It really was one shrimp and one bite of meat. One of us had the shrimp and the other had the meat -- and the thing was like $10. Sheesh! The shrimp cocktail is also about $10 and had three small listless pieces of shrimp and a wilted lettuce leaf.

This is, I'm certain, due to the fact that the DDP (at present) includes an appetizer for each patron. So, what did Disney do? They cut the appetizer down so much in quality and quantity that they can serve one to each person at the table and not lose money. Too bad we were paying OOP. So we ended up ripped off big time. So much for those who say nothing has changed with the introduction of DDP!

I'm hopeful that appetizers will improve once DDP no longer includes appetizers. Unfortunately, once a cut happens and restaurants find they can get away with it, rarely do they go back to better quantity and quality.

DH and I often like to order 3-4 appetizers to share, in lieu of main courses. But, I would definitely not recommend doing this at Coral Reef.