Pebbles & Jungle Jim's Restaurants

[bausemer]

I was not sure if I should post this here or not. I took my family to both of these restaurants. First at Jungle Jims for lunch. The food was okay but the service wasn't. The waiter forgot our appetizer. We used the Entertainment Book discount which took $9.00 off the bill. For a family of four the bill came to $42.00 with discount. The second restaurant which I read good reviews about was Pebbles. I took three of us for dinner. The food was horriable. We all ordered clam chowda and the quantity was less than a cup. We all tried something different. The best meal was the pan fried chicken. As my friend says "How can you mess up fried chicken"? The drinks were also very expensive $7 a pop. Our bill came to $63 with $15 off for the Entertainment Book discount. Anyone else have any negative or positive experiences at these two restaurants??

 

[FoodLover]

Anyone else have any negative or positive experiences at these two restaurants??

I've eaten at Pebbles probably half a dozen times (most recently three days ago) and have always had excellent food and service there. I especially love the "Nutty Cheesy Salad."

The prices you mentioned are very reasonable for Orlando. Your dinner at Pebbles averaged $21 a head, which is about half what they'd charge at an equivalent full-service restaurant in one of the Disney theme parks. Of course, if you hate the food, it doesn't matter how cheap it is. Everyone has different tastes.

Personally I wasn't impressed with Jungle Jim's the one time I ate there. I found the atmosphere loud/overwhelming and the food mediocre. But I've seen lots of positive reviews of it here... seems to be especially popular with families.

To each his own.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[utahkennedys]

We used to love Jungle Jim's, but the last time we went there on our way heading out to the aiport it was just terrible. The place had gone SO downhill. DH and I commented the only reason it was still open is b/c there is a fresh crop of tourists all of the time. The food was bad, the place was dirty, and the services are awful. Scratch it off our list! That is why we don't eat off-site much except for Bahama Breeze!!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Your dinner at Pebbles averaged $21 a head, which is about half what they'd charge at an equivalent full-service restaurant in one of the Disney theme parks.

I haven't eaten at either of the above mentioned restaurants, but I wanted to add, that is because for $21/head we can get better service/food/atmosphere at a WDW restaurant. Many full service WDW restaurants have main entrees for the $14-$18 range (of course some places charge more). So I wouldn't say Pebbles averaged half of what Disney charges ?
I have nothing against offsite restaurants (our family has dined at Macaroni Grill and Pizzeria Uno i.e. when staying at WDW), but we just prefer the ambience of eating in the parks and at wdw resort restaurants for very similar prices to what many (but not all) offsite restaurants charge. So I agree with Foodlover when she says the prices at Pebbles were comparable to the Orlando area, but I can't agree with the fact that $21/head is half of what wdw full service restaurants charge---at least not many of them ?

 

[CarolA]

I don't think you can eat at Disney full service with DRINKS for $21 a head for a main dish and drinks (At seven bucks, they weren't getting cokes!) Actually $7 seems more then resonable to me. I travel a lot on business and beer, wine, mixed drinks are VERY expensive at most resturants. Figure a min of $10 for a decent glass of wine.

I have not eaten at Pebbles in a few years, but I recall they prided themselves on creative food which means your Fried Chicken was probably not prepared as you would expect. I did enjoy my meals there however.

 

[FoodLover]

Many full service WDW restaurants have main entrees for the $14-$18 range (of course some places charge more). So I wouldn't say Pebbles averaged half of what Disney charges?

Yes, but the OP said that was the total bill... with an appetizer and/or dessert and a drink, it's not hard at all to rack up a $42 bill per person at WDW. If you just order an entree and a glass of tap water, you could certainly come out at the same price as what they paid at Pebbles - or less.

Just to pull a random example out of a hat: at Spoodles, one of the more moderately-priced WDW restaurants, the appetizers average $8, entrees average $19 (but can go much higher) and soft drink would be about $2. With 6.5% tax and 15% tip you'd be at $35... and that's without a dessert or any alcoholic beverages.

I'm not sure what they ordered, though, or whether her total included tax and tip, which is what I was assuming.

By the way, I usually eat both on-site and off-site when I visit WDW, and at times have paid at least as much at off-site restaurants (such as Roy's on Sand Lake Road or The Venetian Room at Caribe Royale) as I have at WDW restaurants, so there's no guarantee you will pay less off-site! However, I have found Pebbles to be pretty moderately priced compared with similar WDW restaurants. Not trying to be argumentative at all -- just sharing my experience.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[MiaSRN62]

Ok....all due respect to Foodlover and CarolA.....you stated $21/HEAD. I included main entree and beverage when calculating the cost at wdw restaurants.
Examples :
Kona (love this place at the Poly) : http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_kcd.htm
Drinks were approx $2-$2.50 each here. There are several entrees that would equal $20 or under per person.

O'Hanas : http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_oh.htm (all you can eat, served family style at your table for $25/HEAD. This includes coffee, tea (hot or cold) and soda

Whispering Canyon Cafe at the WL : http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_wc.htm (several selections for under $21/head and includes drink).

Olivia's at Old Key West resort: http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_okw.htm (we eat here regularily for around $20/head. Full service again).

Concourse Steakhouse at the Contemporary : http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_cs.htm (again, one can eat here for under $20-$25/HEAD with drinks included).

50's Prime Time Cafe : http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_ptcd.htm (again, many entrees under $17 and then the $2.50 beverage leaves under $20/head)

Boma at the AKL : http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_bomadin.htm (now granted it's a buffet, but a very good one. Adults are all-you-can-eat for $25/head and kids $11).

I could go on......but this would end up being a lengthy post.
True....appetizers and desserts would make the bill higher, but we can't eat that much anyway.....we feel the dining experience in WDW is worth the money for the main entree cost. Sometimes we'll only order 1 or 2 desserts or maybe 1 appetizer and just split it among the 5 of us. For $21/head at Pebbles vs the places above we've dined, my vote goes to WDW. YOu stated Pebbles was 1/2 the cost of wdw restaurants and I'm still not seeing this from my above examples ? I think there are many comparable priced wdw full-service restaurants. I don't see the wdw restaurants mentioned above coming out to $42 (or even near that) per person. I suppose if people are big appetizer and dessert eaters in addition to the main entree, then maybe offsite is better for them. But for families who can skip appetizers and keep with main entree, often times they can eat in full service disney restaurants for under $20/person and in some cases for maybe $15/person. We study our disney menus carefully and choose accordingly. Often times we already know what we want as soon as we're seated because I tend to print out several menus from the allearsnet site. Sorry.....I'm sure MANY would disagree, but for us the price is very comparable for the food and experience we get. I figure we're on vacation.....we can eat at the chain restaurants at home. I do consider some offsite places must-tries, but generally we view eating in the World as part of the vacation experience and we pick the moderately priced restaurants as listed above. I totally understand how some would feel differently and this is ok with me. We budget accordingly. And I respect everyone's budget is different. I just don't see disney as being twice as expensive as stated.

I have found Pebbles to be pretty moderately priced compared with similar WDW restaurants. Not trying to be argumentative at all -- just sharing my experience.

I totally understand this Mary and respect what you're saying.
Just an example, at the Whispering Canyon Cafe (a favorite of ours) inside the WL they have a soup appetizer for $3.99 (the OP stated they got clam chowder soup at Pebbles). Then there are many entrees for $17-$18 on average. Add in the $2.50 for a soda and you've got a total of maybe around $23-$24/person. Not double what you'd pay at Pebbles.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

WE at at Jungle Jims years ago at the time when if you finished the Head Hunter (I think it was called) you got another burger free. What they neglect to tell you is the Head Hunter is not all that big AND you need to come back to get the free meal. I was not impressed. My kids were young and they liked it b/c they got some plastic animal in their drinks. Keep in mind we went there when there were many fewer restaurants in the area so there were not a lot of choices.

I have thought of going to Pebbles and even drove up and looked at the menu on two seperate occasions. It just did not thrill me. There are tons of restaurants on Sand Lake Road that were so much better and even the ambiance at Pebbles did not look all that great.

If you are looking for an off site dining experience I say try the complexes on Sand Lake. Lots of REALLY nice places and easily give Disney a run for the money.

 

[cleo]

We tried Jungle Jims a few months back to see if the bad reveiws were justified and, sadly, we think they are. The food was mediocre at best, the service was nothing short of terrible, and the price was far more than the experience warrented. In the interest of research we had their specialty margarita, which tasted like some kind of cleaning product.

That said, there are so many fabulous off site restaurants it's a shame not to leave Disney for a while and find out why Orlando is such an amazing vacation destination. Cafe Tu Tu Tango, Sweet Tomatoes, Bahama Breeze, I could go on and on and that's just the 'moderate' restaurants. Spectacular restaurants would take an hour to list!

 

[BonnieA]

I go to both Jungle Jims and Peebles only when I have entertainment coupons. At buy one get one I think it's a good bargain. Jungles Jims is not anything outstanding but it's OK to me with the coupon. Peebles is a nice place and a bargain with the coupon. Of course I don't add too many extras, like appetizers or wine, so the price is kept down.

 

[jana]

Sorry to hear you didn't like either place. We eat at both places quite regularly and have never been dissapointed.
Dear step daughter ( 20) came over from the UK for a visit and asked to go to Jungle Jim's for her B- day. She says they have the best peanutbutter burgers. I personally don't like them LOL.

 

[Drcell01]

We have eaten at both in the past but have not returned due to numerous attempts to have an enjoyable experience. We go by the old saying "three strikes and your out"!

Waiter...check please...LOL

 

[Planogirl]

I would avoid these and try some of those others already mentioned or go to Citywalk and try a few of the places there. Citywalk is a lot of fun and we really love Margaritaville.

 

[baggypants]

We just got back and ate at both. The first time I went to JJ's about 12 years a go it was OK. Been there several times after that and I haven't liked it since the first time, but for some reason my family thinks we need to go there on each trip. I had been wanting to try Pebble's for years, but I have to say I was not impressed and probably won't go again, nor JJ's either if I can help it. Another one to cross off your list is Chevy's. We ate there one night, my food was OK, but when we got back to the condo I was surprised that everyone else's had not been good. Also went to Black Angus Steakhouse, great food but horrible service. When we got the bill the tip was added on already, so no wonder the guy didn't care how he treated us. I asked for some sweetener for my tea and he actually threw some packets on a used appetizer plate on our table.