Overhyped Disney Restaurant Tour Live From Kidani Village 8/29-9/7

[maedelken]

Happy Birthday! Enjoy your trip!

 

[TDC Nala]

First off, many thanks for all the birthday wishes posted here.

Without further ado, live from Kidani Village

Saturday, August 29

Tangierine Café

Went here at about 4:30 pm to spend a credit on the quick service dining. There wasn’t a lot of action going on in there which may be why the three girls behind the counter were more interested in texting someone on a cell phone than taking orders. When they actually ask you to wait while they read a text I would hope there isn’t a line waiting to get through. If I were reviewing service I might be tempted to sic the hounds on them. But it’s all about the food.

On the dining plan you get an entrée, drink and dessert. Entrée of choice:

Mediterranean Sliders Combo

3 mini pitas with chicken, felafel and lamb with lettuce and onions with yogurt sauce, plus sides of hummus, lentil salad and tabbouleh. This is actually rather good. Came on the dining plan with a big honking Diet Coke (not sure if it’s standard DDP procedure to include such a huge drink) and a slice of baklava. The baklava tastes good, but either there is too much liquid on it or it doesn’t hold up in the Florida humidity, because it’s soggy.

Meal rating:

A little more spice in the food (I know, Disney won’t do it) and it would have made a stab at the Full Monty. Maybe having some hot sauce available.

La Cava del Tequila

Awhile back I looked up the name to see if it translates to Cave of Tequila. According to the dictionaries it’s more like Excavation or Ditch of Tequila. There was another meaning – wine cellar. That’s probably closer to what was intended.

This place just opened today and features tequila shots, tequila specialties, tequila flights, tequila mockingbird, whatever. They’ve also got food. I did not try the food because I was full of Morocco. But I did have two specialty margaritas.

The Limon-Jalapeno

Standard lime juice marg with some jalapeno pepper strips added. Interesting because the pepper permeated the drink, but it had no actual heat. The flavor was intriguing, but I do not know if they remove the ribs from the pepper to strip it of capsiacin or if the lime and tequila somehow act together chemically and leech the heat out. Where is Alton Brown when you need him. At any rate, if there’d been heat to it I might have sprung for a Full Monty, but it’s a good strong Lisa.

The Fruta de Pacion

This one tastes like passion fruit, which is what they’re going for and I love passion fruit, and the passion fruit foam and cinnamon sugar salt on the rim are fascinating. But it’s sweeter than I like a tequila drink. I will say it’s only a little too sweet as opposed to the fruity frozen margs outside which are way too sweet. Takes it out of the Monty running and earns another Lisa.

The specialty margs cost $12.95. And they don’t take TIW so with the tip you’re throwing down $15 for a margarita. Fortunately they’re big and the bartenders are being generous with the spirits. They threw an extra shot into the passion fruit one for my birthday too.

No extra dinner. The Moroccan platter was a lot of food. It could easily be split by two persons for a lighter meal. Hit the MK with some friends instead of tracking down a restaurant.

Next up for 8/30: Wolfgang Puck Express and Flying Fish

 

[TDC Nala]

Sunday, August 30

Wolfgang Puck Express

Falling down on the job, in trying to catch up with my friends and their cute little son who will be 2 in a few weeks, I did not take a photo of the Wolfgang Puck barbecue chicken pizza and crème brulee. But now a word about the dining plan.

The lunch rang up as over $21. Yesterday’s lunch at Tangierine Café was about $15 with tax, more if you include the baklava. The mug cost $13 or so. Plus snacks – one Diet Coke ($2.50) and one Mickey peanut butter cup from Goofy’s at DTD ($3.95). Basic rounded off math for the two days: around $55. Cost for the one night on the plan: $29.99. Problem I had with having a dining plan: I wanted to try the food at Cava del Tequila but they didn’t take the dining plan so I had to eat at Tangierine. I can go back to Cava but if I were on the dining plan for the whole trip (which I’m not) I couldn’t do that most likely – I’d be sticking to dining plan places. Plus, huge lunch at Wolfie’s means that half the Flying Fish dinner now reposes in my little refrigerator in my Kidani studio.

I did like the pizza, but it was sort of messy. The chicken also wasn’t all that tasty, it seemed like small and sort of dry pieces. Not like I remember Puck’s pizzas. I should have ordered my favorite spicy chicken pizza but the dining plan rears ugly head again – the barbecue chicken cost more than the spicy chicken so I went for the dining plan maximization. I like Puck’s but I should stick with my favorites. The crème brulee wasn’t bad but Flying Fish’s was a lot better. I will give Puck’s a Ned for the experience.

Bellevue Lounge sangria
Nice to come in from the heat and drink this before dinner. Definite Lisa.

Flying Fish

3-wine flight – pinot noir

Just for photography’s sake.

Fresh Mozzarella di Bufala, “Ugli Ripe” Yellow Beefsteak and Tiny Heirloom Tomatoes

This is not ugly at all. In fact if I am going to pay $15 for some cheese and tomatoes these are really good cheese and tomatoes. Full Monty

Porcini and Herb Crusted Epcot Land Pavilion Striped Bass, Truffle-laced Potato Puree, Young Carrots, Alba Mushrooms, Truffle and Port Wine Reduction “Agrodolce”

Yep. It gets the Full Monty too. It seems a shame to not finish it, except that it’s going to be really cool to have truffle mashed potatoes for breakfast.

Birthday White Chocolate and Vanilla Crème Brulee

It’s a crème brulee birthday. This was brought to me although I didn’t order dessert. I did eat it all – it was too good to leave any. The chocolate birthday resides in my fridge in a different box from the bit of fish and potatoes (and one carrot) I brought home. Trifecta of Montys.

Next up: Brown Derby lunch, California Grill dinner

 

[iluvpluto27]

Really enjoying your reviews. Flying fish looks fab, I love the scallops there but the sea bass looks fantastic as well. I really like the sound of the passion fruit margarita, we'll definitely have to stop in there for a drink.

 

[BriarRosie]

First off, many thanks for all the birthday wishes posted here.

Without further ado, live from Kidani Village

Saturday, August 29

Tangierine Café

Went here at about 4:30 pm to spend a credit on the quick service dining. There wasn’t a lot of action going on in there which may be why the three girls behind the counter were more interested in texting someone on a cell phone than taking orders. When they actually ask you to wait while they read a text I would hope there isn’t a line waiting to get through. If I were reviewing service I might be tempted to sic the hounds on them. But it’s all about the food.

I would have released the hounds on them. Or at least ask them if those text messages were of vital importance to ensuring world peace.

On the dining plan you get an entrée, drink and dessert. Entrée of choice:

Mediterranean Sliders Combo

3 mini pitas with chicken, felafel and lamb with lettuce and onions with yogurt sauce, plus sides of hummus, lentil salad and tabbouleh. This is actually rather good. Came on the dining plan with a big honking Diet Coke (not sure if it’s standard DDP procedure to include such a huge drink) and a slice of baklava. The baklava tastes good, but either there is too much liquid on it or it doesn’t hold up in the Florida humidity, because it’s soggy.

Meal rating:

A little more spice in the food (I know, Disney won’t do it) and it would have made a stab at the Full Monty. Maybe having some hot sauce available.

I'm so glad you tried those! I thought they looked good, and they'd probably get a full Monty for me, since I'm not all about the hot sauce.

La Cava del Tequila

Awhile back I looked up the name to see if it translates to Cave of Tequila. According to the dictionaries it’s more like Excavation or Ditch of Tequila. There was another meaning – wine cellar. That’s probably closer to what was intended.

This place just opened today and features tequila shots, tequila specialties, tequila flights, tequila mockingbird, whatever. They’ve also got food. I did not try the food because I was full of Morocco. But I did have two specialty margaritas.

The Limon-Jalapeno

Standard lime juice marg with some jalapeno pepper strips added. Interesting because the pepper permeated the drink, but it had no actual heat. The flavor was intriguing, but I do not know if they remove the ribs from the pepper to strip it of capsiacin or if the lime and tequila somehow act together chemically and leech the heat out. Where is Alton Brown when you need him. At any rate, if there’d been heat to it I might have sprung for a Full Monty, but it’s a good strong Lisa.

There you go, about the heat again. I think it would have been very interesting to have heat in there, so I can sort of understand the Lisa rating.

The Fruta de Pacion

This one tastes like passion fruit, which is what they’re going for and I love passion fruit, and the passion fruit foam and cinnamon sugar salt on the rim are fascinating. But it’s sweeter than I like a tequila drink. I will say it’s only a little too sweet as opposed to the fruity frozen margs outside which are way too sweet. Takes it out of the Monty running and earns another Lisa.

Wacky foam. I thought it looked pretty strange. But I would probably want to try it, since I like passion fruit, too. Those are pricey drinks, though.

No extra dinner. The Moroccan platter was a lot of food. It could easily be split by two persons for a lighter meal. Hit the MK with some friends instead of tracking down a restaurant.

Even the Mexican appetizers could be split, if only to try a few of them.

Sunday, August 30

Wolfgang Puck Express

Falling down on the job, in trying to catch up with my friends and their cute little son who will be 2 in a few weeks, I did not take a photo of the Wolfgang Puck barbecue chicken pizza and crème brulee. But now a word about the dining plan.

Just don't let it happen again.

I did like the pizza, but it was sort of messy. The chicken also wasn’t all that tasty, it seemed like small and sort of dry pieces. Not like I remember Puck’s pizzas. I should have ordered my favorite spicy chicken pizza but the dining plan rears ugly head again – the barbecue chicken cost more than the spicy chicken so I went for the dining plan maximization. I like Puck’s but I should stick with my favorites. The crème brulee wasn’t bad but Flying Fish’s was a lot better. I will give Puck’s a Ned for the experience.

Oh, you succumbed to Dining Planus Maximus! I'm sure it was too easy to fall victim to that.

Bellevue Lounge sangria
Nice to come in from the heat and drink this before dinner. Definite Lisa.

Flying Fish

3-wine flight – pinot noir

Just for photography’s sake.

I'm lumping all the booze together and give you for that.

Fresh Mozzarella di Bufala, “Ugli Ripe” Yellow Beefsteak and Tiny Heirloom Tomatoes

This is not ugly at all. In fact if I am going to pay $15 for some cheese and tomatoes these are really good cheese and tomatoes. Full Monty

Those are some pretty tomatoes, not ugli at all. Sure looked good to me.

Porcini and Herb Crusted Epcot Land Pavilion Striped Bass, Truffle-laced Potato Puree, Young Carrots, Alba Mushrooms, Truffle and Port Wine Reduction “Agrodolce”

Yep. It gets the Full Monty too. It seems a shame to not finish it, except that it’s going to be really cool to have truffle mashed potatoes for breakfast.

Wow that looked fantastic. And truffle mashed potatoes for breakfast? Cool.

Birthday White Chocolate and Vanilla Crème Brulee

It’s a crème brulee birthday. This was brought to me although I didn’t order dessert. I did eat it all – it was too good to leave any. The chocolate birthday resides in my fridge in a different box from the bit of fish and potatoes (and one carrot) I brought home. Trifecta of Montys.

Glad you didn't waste that creme brulee. That would be criminal. I'm happy your birthday dinner rated a full set of Montys. Three-card Monty?

Next up: Brown Derby lunch, California Grill dinner

Too much food? Probably not, but I'm looking forward to seeing pics of either sushi or flatbread, if not both.

 

[jenjolt]

Great Reviews!! So glad you had an amazing birthday dinner at the Flying Fish!!!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Great reviews and photos! I'm happy for you that you got a full set of "Full Montys" for your birthday dinner!

DH and I loved Tangierine Cafe last summer when we went. They did not have the sliders combo back then but we had the shawarma combo so we could have both the chicken and the lamb. It is very filling. We were happy we had an early lunch because we had dinner at Biergarten that night and by then we were hungry again. The sliders combo looks excellent though, and we plan to go back there again on our next trip so I hope they still have it!

La Cava del Tequila looks nice. I love margaritas (it's the only way I can attempt to drink tequila anymore...don't ask! ) and they look very good and interesting there. Definitely have to make a stop there!

I'm glad you mentioned Belle Vue here. Being DVC members at BWV, we plan to get a drink at Belle Vue here and there.

Flying Fish looks amazing, and a wonderful place to have a celebratory dinner! That sea bass looks delicious.

Wolfgang's is a place we consider having lunch in DTD. I wouldn't order pizza though (too picky about pizza and normally I don't have it on vacation). Their salads and sandwiches look really good from reading their menu though.

I'm enjoying your reviews so far, hope you are having lots of fun, and looking forward to the rest of your reviews!

 

[PNO4TE]

What a wonderful thing to have to read first thing this mornimg, Catherine! Sounds like your Birthday Extravaganza is off to a great start. Good food and drink... can't go wrong with either. Or both! :goodbvibes

 

[oybolshoi]

Great start to your trip and terrific pictures - thanks for sharing.

I cannot wait to try the Ditch of Tequila ... ... the drinks look good although I admit that the second one you had - the passionfruit - kinda threw me when I first saw the picture. The foam looked a little gacky from this side of the computer, but that may just be because it's early.

And kudos to Flying Fish for serving you a Full Monty birthday meal! I love the generosity of the wine pours, too.

Looking forward to more reviews.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm thinking today won't be too much food - Derby coming up at 11:30 (Lunch with Imagineer) and Ca. Grill won't be till 9:40. I've closed down MK two nights in a row but maybe I will go back over there and actually watch Spectro - when my friends were here we ignored the parade so we could walk onto rides. And I'm off the dining plan. I'm thinking a margarita at the Ditch and a snack at about 5 pm...

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Outstanding reporting! Glad you are having a great time already! I'm penciling in Flying Fish on my December ADR list as I type. Truffle mashed potatoes & white chocolate crème brulee?!

 

[Tricia1972]

I'm late with your birthday wishes, but it sounds like your birthday dinner was delicious.

I'm enjoying reading your reviews! Reading about Wolfgang Puck Express has me a little worried about them falling victim to the Dining Plan, maybe they're using lesser ingredients to maximize profit?

 

[ChelleinNC]

Sounds like a great start to birthday week

I loved the slider platter when we had it in July, perfect for sharing as we were snacking around the world

Can't wait to hear about your lunch today!

 

[DLo]

Great pics. What kind of camera did you use? what setting? glad you had such a great b'day dinner.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Flying Fish looks fabulous. I think I may have to change my dining plans up.

 

[kabuki]

Happy Day Late Birthday! Love the reviews and the FULL MONTY! That fish looked amazing and Flying Fish is our Fav. place to go! Can't wait...
Have fun and enjoy your trip. It's great to see someone use the DDP that eats at places like we do! So far I am happy we haven't sprung for it.

 

[D&R love Disney]

Happy Belated Birthday

I'm loving your reviews, can't wait to try some tequila next week!!!!!

And a big on the Full Monty at FF.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I may need to try that passion fruit margarita when I'm there in October. It looks really good, and I like sweeter drinks.

 

[Shenanigoat]

Great looking birthday meal. It's pretty cool to get fish that was swimming around in the Land Pavillion.


I don't know how I feel about foam on a margarita though.

 

[ImprovGal]

Standard lime juice marg with some jalapeno pepper strips added. Interesting because the pepper permeated the drink, but it had no actual heat. The flavor was intriguing, but I do not know if they remove the ribs from the pepper to strip it of capsiacin or if the lime and tequila somehow act together chemically and leech the heat out. Where is Alton Brown when you need him. At any rate, if there’d been heat to it I might have sprung for a Full Monty, but it’s a good strong Lisa.

I'm enjoying the reviews and am really looking forward to going in a couple of days! Hopefully we'll get food good enough to qualify for 2nd or 3rd degree Burns.

I'm not Alton Brown, but I can solve the Case of the Missing Scovilles. It sounds like they removed the white membrane and seeds from the jalapeno and are just using the sliced pepper strips to infuse the margarita. I haven't tried a seeded habanero or scotch bonnet but when you remove the seeds/membrane from jalapenos you get virtually no heat remaining in the pepper (think mild salsa). Tequila isn't really a capsaicin neutralizer and the acid in the lime would intensify what was there.