Please Compare These Restaurants.

[magicmato]

My mother has given me a list of the restaurants that she would like to eat at. I am hoping to pare it down by half. We will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge.

Marakesh
San Angel Inn
Coral Reef
Jiko
Artist Point
Ohana
Hoop Dee Doo
Whispering Canyons

Can anyone who has eaten at these restaurants tell me if any are definate passes? Are any not worth even trying?

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

My mother has given me a list of the restaurants that she would like to eat at. I am hoping to pare it down by half. We will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge.

Marakesh
San Angel Inn
Coral Reef
Jiko
Artist Point
Ohana
Hoop Dee Doo
Whispering Canyons

Can anyone who has eaten at these restaurants tell me if any are definate passes? Are any not worth even trying?

Whispering Canyon- very loud atmosphere, fun, great tasting food, excellent if you have kids along

Coral Reef- way overpriced, nice atmosphere, small portions (lunch for 2 was $75 with no dessert or appetizer!)

 

[TwoOldPoohs]

If you're staying at Wilderness Lodge, you should definitely try Artist Point. I know a lot of people love Whispering Canyon, but we were not impressed. As two adults without kids, we were placed in a smaller room which, although quieter, didn't provide a view of all the fun stuff that goes on. Our server was not exactly pleasant, and we didn't care much for the food. We have not been back to try it again. Just my opinion, of course.

Are you familiar with Deb's site? You can look through menus here -- it might help you with your decision.

 

[Lowillian]

Jiko and Ohana are 2 of our favorite restaurants! We have dinner there on every trip!

 

[Dana49]

Personally, I would keep, in order:
Jiko
Artist Point
Marrakesh
Hoop-Dee-Doo

Enjoy!

 

[sleepydog25]

Whispering Canyon - PASS - I'm with TwoOldPoohs on this one. Have been twice and not been impressed with either the food or service.
Artist Point- GO! - Excellent food, great service, nice ambience, and good wine list. A bit pricey to some, but it's in line with a typical upscale restaurant in the metropolitan areas in which I've lived. Plus, you ARE right there.
San Angel Inn - PASS - Many on here say they like it, but I found it cramped, the food mediocre, and the margarita undrinkable (too sweet, little tequila). The ambience is pretty decent, but is offset by the close proximity of the other diners.
Coral Reef - GO! - Sat right next to the tank, had delicious food, and superb service. Some complain that it is pricey, but again, it's comparable to dinner at any above average restaurant in most larger cities. My DW and I each had an appetizer, entree, dessert, coffee, and we split a bottle of wine. In addition, our DD4 had a kid's meal, drink, the Blue Cube, and dessert--all for $135. Cheap? No, but not outrageous, either. As for portions, we were pleasantly full--DW couldn't eat all hers, in fact. Good luck!

 

[nasmith]

They all have their plusses and minus - personally, I like them all for one thing or another - and have been to all of them more than once - but asking us to compare them is sort of like comparing apples to oranges to pears, etc..... Jiko and Artist Point are "fine" dining -- quiet atmosphere, more adults than children......Ohana and Whisp. Cyn are "family-oriented" with childrens games to play (hula hoop, stick-pony races) and therefore rather boisterous....Marrakesh and San Angel are in Epcot and are based on the Countries they are in (Ie. Do you Like Morrocan or Mexican food (not Tex-mex)?- but being in the theme parks,they do tend to be a little more cramped and loud as well........Hoop Dee Doo is a Dinner Show - and the food is almost secondary to the entertainment (while still good, you can get almost the same food next door at Trail's end for about 1/3 the price)............Oops- I left out Coral Reef - Do you like Seafood? The view is awesome there, and the food is yummy......

So, bottom line IMHO - check out those menus - figure what kind of food you want to eat....and go to those restaurants.....

 

[Uncleromulus]

Would certainly keep Jiko and Artist Point. Hoopdeedoo is more of a show than a real "meal", so that's a "pass". Whispering Canyon and O'hana both "pass" due to the shennanigans at each spot, especially at Whispering Canyon.
OF the rest--would probably "pass" on all 3, but if they are on your list, then I'd go with Coral Reef, Marakeesh, and San Angel, in that order

 

[DeirdreTours]

Marakesh-- We loved the belly dancing here but found the food a wee bit bland--authentic ingredients prepared with only a fraction of the authentic spices.
San Angel Inn I LOVE this place, mainly because they serve a very good mole dish. No place in Louisville serves a decent mole, so I am mole deprived. I wouldn't go here and order the standard taco/burrito stuff, but the central Mexico dishes are pretty authentic. No opinion on the margaritas, enjoy the atmosphere, must admit service is spotty.
Coral Reef never been, been put off by the prices and reviews
Jiko Food is very good, but not, IMHO any better than Boma (I believe the share the same kitchen and cooking staff). Very expensive- our total for 4 adults and 2 kids was $300. I would go to Boma buffet instead.
Artist Pointnever been
Ohana not impressed, food mediocre
Hoop Dee Doo This is positively the very worst dinner show I have ever sat through in my life. Really, truly appallingly stupid. Not half as entertaining as a HeeHaw rerun, nor half as sophisticated. I am utterly mystified by the continueing rave reviews this show generates on this board. Must be the free wine.
Whispering Canyons Our kids enjoyed this. Food was okay. Not a repeat for me.

Unfortunately, I think it is very hard to weight the reviews on DIS appropriately. There are such a wide range of tastes out there. Frankly, I think my tastes are really not in the main stream-- I think most of the chain restaurants offer bland, fatty food that I won't eat (Olive Garden, Applebee's etc). But lots of people love those places and keep them making money year round. Same thing with the HDDR-- lots of people love it, just like lots of people flock to see films like "Dumb and Dumber".

We don't go to Disney hoping for great food. We go hoping for good food and great atmosphere.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Jiko is our favorite place to eat at WDW.

I would do Hoop De Doo it is a great show for adults and kids. They have fried chicken, ribs, salad, potatoes and strawberry shortcake they serve you. I'm sure I'm missing a few things. We enjoyed the food and the show.

 

[jwfla422]

We love Jiko and AP. Both have excellent food and excellent service and provide a unique dining experience. Even though they are in the more "fine" dining category, they are still "kid friendly". My 6 yr old dd enjoys both of these restaurants as well

O'Hana and WCC are also favorites of ours. Good food and a fun and entertaining atmosphere. San Angel has been just "ok" lately. Last time we were there for some strange reason our food was somewhat dry and overcooked but prior to that we always enjoyed it (may have been a fluke).

Hoop De Doo - although we've never done this dinner I hear great things, the food is the same as Trail's End which is not bad. Country cooking, probably the best way to describe it...but I hear the show is a hoot!

 

[Cookie Princess]

Out of your list, I would keep the following:

Marakesh
San Angel Inn
Jiko
Artist Point
Ohana (we have had both good and bad experiences here)

Let us know how you make out with your dining choices!

 

[cocodog]

We LOVE San Angel Inn-- romantic atmosphere and good food !

I enjoyed Coral Reef, but it is a somewhat pretentious place-- dh did not like it!