Our July dining

[BCV23]

We returned about a week and a half ago. This trip, our party varied from 2-6. Dining was the true highlight of this trip.

Breakfast: Kona, room service and takeout at Gasparilla's and the Kona coffee bar.

Lunch: Gasparilla (checked in right as Grand Floridian Cafe closed ), CRT, Brown Derby, Chef de France, Mama Melrose, Grand Floridian Cafe, the Plaza, Rain Forest Cafe.

Dinner: Citricos, HoopdeDoo, Narcoossee's, Kona Cafe, Rose and Crown, California Grill, Wolfgang Puck Cafe and room service.

We had very good service across the board. Two highlights in that area were Kevin at Mama Melrose...charming as ever, and Rob...spelled Bor backwards at the Hoop. He has been there forever but I don't think we've ever had him before. He was so funnyand his service was great too.

Our only negative experience was checkin at Chefs. We had a noon PS, arrived about 10 minutes early. At noon, a cm can out and started checking people in. No one was seated until 12:15 at which point a guy came out, said sorry for the delay , and then they started seating. One family without a PS was seated ahead of us although not by more than a minute or two. This is July in FL so waiting outside while the staff mingled inside was not a good start to the meal. Our server was fine though and the food was good too.

Any questions??

 

[Suzabelle]

How was your meal at Wofgang Puck Cafe?

 

[jennymouse]

Sounds like a yummy trip!

 

[uktigger]

i'd like to know how your lunch was at grand floridian cafe and the plaza

and your dinner at kona cafe and the rose and crown

i have made ps's for these places

thanks eve

 

[BCV23]

Originally posted by Suzabelle
How was your meal at Wofgang Puck Cafe?

Suzabelle, WP Cafe was one of 3 meals I wasn't at....the other two were Citricos and RFC at AKL. But I know my DH, DD and DS1's fiancee enjoyed their meal. My daughter especially loved the chocolate fondue. This has been a favorite of ours for some time but my husband and I enjoy it a little more at lunch because it's not as busy...and loud... then. He also misses the Pad Thai that used to be on the menu as does DS1.

 

[BCV23]

Originally posted by uktigger


i'd like to know how your lunch was at grand floridian cafe and the plaza

and your dinner at kona cafe and the rose and crown

i have made ps's for these places

thanks eve

Eve, this trip was all about hitting favorite places. Our DD18 hadn't been to WDW since November and probably won't be back until next May so I made sure to schedule her favorites. The four spots you ask about are some of her top choices...mine, too.

Anyway, GFC for lunch was great as always. DD had the sandwich that was called the Earl of Sandwich for a time. Ham, turkey, onion straws and boursin cheese on foccacia. Her favorite sandwich anywhere. My husband had shrimp salad and soup, I had tuna and onion soup. DS2 had a cheeseburger. Service was fine as was the food and it is always a delight having lunch there...very pretty restaurant. They no longer give you a basket of bread at lunch though...we missed it. Our server offered to try to get us some but we declined.

The plaza was great too. I love their reuben. My DH and DD had chocolate shakes but I can't remember what sandwiches they ordered?? DS2 had a cheeseburger.

 

[BCV23]

Eve, I'll continue to answer. Forgive the disjointed posts but I want to make sure Im actually able to get the post through.

Anyway, Rose and Crown is another longtime family favorite. We split 2 or 3 fruit and cheese plates between the five of us.I can't remember what our son's fiancee had for heer entree. My husband, DS2 and I all had fish and chips except we asked for mashed potatoes instead of the chips. Actually, my DH had Yorkshire pudding for his starch. Our daughter had a steak. Both she and our DS1 always ordered the prime rib at R&C. Sadly, it's off the menu. For her, the steak didn't measure up. Service at R&C has always been wonderful in our experience. The young cms are uniformly engaging we find. Delightful as always.

Kona for dinner is a relatively new favorite for us although breakfast has always been a must do. Anyway, we were a little disappointed this time because one of our favorite entrees at WDW has morphed. The macadamia encrusted mahimahi is a very different dish now. I guess tinkering with menus is what good chefs do, but we sure missed the old dish. My daughter had prime rib which she enjoyed very much.

 

[uktigger]

BCV23

thank you for taking the time to let me know how your meals were sounds like you had great meals

eve

 

[jacksmom]

Did you prefer Citricos or Narcoossee's? We are still debating this for our up-coming trip? Any insight would be much appreciated!

 

[TwingleMum]

Thaks for the wonderful reviews.

 

[BCV23]

Originally posted by jacksmom
Did you prefer Citricos or Narcoossee's? We are still debating this for our up-coming trip? Any insight would be much appreciated!

Can you fit in both? Seriously, when you're staying at the GF, it is so nice to have those nice short strolls to two excellent restaurants.

Although many people find Narcoossee's loud, we've never had a bad experience. We do tend to dine on the early side which might help with that. It has great food, an absolutely beautiful setting and very good service. We had Sandy this time and she did an excellent job. We've been dining there since the GF opened, so I just sort of sigh and relax as we enter as memories of my then young children come back. I really love that place. This time it was just my daughter and I. We both had the filet which was excellent. She started with Narcoossee's Chowder which she loved. I had the Field Greens salad which has goat cheese and pine nuts. She had the Triple Chocolate Terrine for dessert which was wonderful...I had a bite!

I didn't go to Citricos this trip. It was the night of our arrival, DS2 wanted to eat in the room and I was bone tired so we did room service. I enjoyed my dinner while watching the MK from our Conch Key balcony....restorative!

But I digress...Citricos is one of my husband's favorites. It's one of only 3 places he has requested for our next trip. He loves the quiet ambience of the restaurant. DS1's fiancee and my daughter had mixed reactions to their meals that night but my husband loved his lamb. DS1 wasn't in town at that point but I know he has enjoyed the lamb there as well. Oh, and DD loves the lobster bisque. I already have scheduled it for next time.

 

[jacksmom]

Thanks so much for the reply!

 

[inky dinky doo]

I would love to hear all about your experience at Mama Melrose. We're trying lunch there for the first time in October. Any recommendations?

Pat

81 days and counting . . . again!

 

[BCV23]

inky dinky doo, I love MM for lunch. It feels totally removed from the park.

We always request Kevin or Dori...excellent servers both. But the other servers we've had from time to time have offered fine service as well.

If you like calamari, you have to try the version there. The breading is very light and the calamari never is chewy. The sauce used to be spicier which I liked better...it is now more ordinary. If you've never tried calamari, try it here.

We enjoy the flatbread pizzas. We've never had one we didn't like. DS1 enjoys the sausage and peppers entree. The pasta diabalo...or is it diavalo?..has been another favorite. But you can also just request any number of pastas with a choice of several sauces. This isn't on the menu but just ask.

 

[Minniespal]

Great reviews ~ Thanx for sharing.

 

[inky dinky doo]

Thank you so much for the recommendations. I've never had calamari, but after reading your review, I think I'll have to give it a try in October. It sounds yummy, as does the Linguini Fra Diavolo. It caught my eye at Deb's site, and I wondered how it was. Thanks!

Pat

80 days and counting . . . again!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Another fine dining trip it appears!
Narcoosee's, California Grill and Citrico's all scheduled for our Oct. visit.

 

[BCV23]

Uncleromulus, I can hardly wait to read your reviews. We'll be going to Citricos and CG in October as well. Are you trying any new places? We didn't try any new spots at all this trip...unless you count our surprise Gasparilla Grill lunch. For October, the only place new for us I have scheduled so ar is Spoodles for breakfast.
We have so many favorites that it seems hard for us to be adventuresome!

 

[AJA55]

How was the room service menu at GF? Can’t find info on this. As we are coming from the west coast, we will not get to GF until around 6 – 7 PM. We would like to order a snack after we settle in the room. Oh and do you know if we can get the scones from room service?

Tankx a bunch….

Amy

 

[BCV23]

Room service was fine. The food arrived quickly and it was very warm. My son had a cheeseburger which looked great. It was served on a kaiser roll just as the Polynesian room service offers it. I had prime rib which was tasty and cooked to order.

I don't remember if scones were on the menu but I think the GF really tries hard to please and I imagine they would try to get them for you. Both the concierge and the tea serve them so it probably is something they could get.

I think the menu is on allearsnet.com. Look for in-room dining or something like that.

Edited to add that I checked the menu at allears and it is from 2001. I had a regular cut of prime rib with a baked potato not the sandwich listed on that menu. Really don't remember what other changes there might be..other than the Earl of Sandwich is still offered but just as at the GFC it has a new name..I think it is just called The Floridian now.