Prawn Heads & Cupcakes & Soups, Oh My! 10/5 Complete (now with my Dining Wish List)!

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Loved your Kona review. There are so many breakfast reviews of this restaurant it's nice to see more lunch and dinner ones.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

True.

Glad you understand! It's definitely a tricky situation to balance as a dining reviewer, since I want my opinion to be clear, but I still want to respect the fact that others could interpret the same dish very differently. And that works in two directions - for example, there's a hazelnut polenta cake at Tutto Italia and Tutto Gusto (mentioned in my and Jabead's reviews) that I really liked (partly because of its unique, crunchy texture), while Jabead gave it a "Captain Hook" (partly due to its dry texture). So if I focus on things that are more objective (the hazelnut cake was crunchy; the pork belly was charred and had a lot of fat on it; etc), maybe that info is what'll be most helpful to someone else.

Kona seating: isn't that seating along the outside window really a ghost of the original coffee shop that was in that location?

And I think you made the right decision about the dessert (although that ginger cake trifle would appeal even more to me). Last year I had the pineapple upside down cake and while the flavor was good it was terribly dry. It would have been lovely if it had actually been drenched in the sauces listed on the menu, but I think it had been pre-cut and had long since absorbed any sauces and then dried out by the time I got it at dinnertime. I suspect that if you got a slice from a fresh pan it might have been a much better experience.

And I know Kona is much-beloved here on the DisBoards but while our entrees were OK they were not spectacular enough to put Kona on any kind of a must-do list. I would not have any problem with eating there again but I wouldn't go out of my way to plan for it either; too many other good places yet to try.

Hmm, I'm not sure about that seating. I'm sure it's used for the sushi bar now, but I'd be interested in the history behind it.

Sorry to hear that about the pineapple upside down cake - it sounded like it could've been such a nice dessert with the caramel and lemongrass sauces. As for the entrees, I agree with you. I've only had one entree there, and while it was good (the tuna oscar), it wasn't a standout in retrospect. Not much sounds amazing to me (although the sustainable fish with swiss chard, forbidden rice, and hibiscus-beurre rouge could be interesting).

I don't DO spicy unfortunately. I love flavor in my food but don't like to feel like my mouth is on fire!

Aw - in that case, I don't think you'll be missing out by skipping the lettuce wraps and doing dinner instead. I really liked the flavors in that dish, but the spicy sauce was probably the element that surprised me most and won me over.

Kona Cafe. Yum! Everyone raves about it for breakfast and while it's good, breakfast always feels a bit heavy there. Dinner has not impressed me yet.

But lunch at the Kona has always been a winner for me. Food and service have always been a hit wtih me. The soup looks amazing as well as the dessert. The other dessert that looked good was the Pineapple Upside Down Cake but the reviews that I've seen so far have all been lackluster. The panna cotta looks heavenly!

Kona breakfast is very good, in the sense that it offers unique menu items inspired by the resort's theme. I appreciate that. However, you're definitely right about many of the dishes there - most of them could easily send me into a food-induced coma. Lunch was a good balance, since the food was light but still featured unique flavors.

Such a shame about the pineapple upside down cake. At least Kona's dessert menu still offers a bunch of other standouts (I've heard great things about the crème brûlée).

Loved your Kona review. There are so many breakfast reviews of this restaurant it's nice to see more lunch and dinner ones.

You're right - lunch seems to have less of a following than the other two meals. Breakfast is popular for some of its exclusive dishes (Tonga Toast, pineapple-macadamia pancakes, eggs benedict with pulled pork, the Big Kahuna, etc), while dinner offers some things that aren't available at lunch (sushi bar, bread with macadamia butter, bigger meat portions, such as a larger teriyaki strip, etc). But lunch was a very satisfying meal.

 

[jabead]

I guess sometimes when I read other peoples' thoughts on restaurants (more in the Restaurants section than the Dining Review section), I find their language to be overly 'certain' and somewhat offensive. They'll say that people who like Yachtsman probably haven't experienced nice, real world steakhouses (which would be incorrect ), or they'll insist that Il Mulino is better than any of the Disney signatures (basic, overpriced Italian food over my Jiko prawn dish? No way ). It's almost like you have poor taste if you disagree with their viewpoint.

Hmm...I guess we now know what ruffles your feathers.

And for what it's worth, I agree with you. Well, except for your current opinion of my favorite restaurant, California Grill. In that regard, you are completely wrong, and I am totally right!

Just kidding, of course.

 

[emmysmommy]

I guess sometimes when I read other peoples' thoughts on restaurants (more in the Restaurants section than the Dining Review section), I find their language to be overly 'certain' and somewhat offensive. They'll say that people who like Yachtsman probably haven't experienced nice, real world steakhouses (which would be incorrect ), or they'll insist that Il Mulino is better than any of the Disney signatures (basic, overpriced Italian food over my Jiko prawn dish? No way ). It's almost like you have poor taste if you disagree with their viewpoint. So I guess that's why I try my hardest to separate subjective preferences from objective quality/preparation issues.
Which you clearly do!!

Even then, results can still vary. I've seen multiple positive comments about that cajeta dessert, none of which mentioned any 'goaty' flavor. And I had seen a negative review of the pork belly lettuce wraps before ordering the dish, but I still went with my gut and ended up loving the flavor combinations.

Perhaps it took a sophisticated palate such as your own to pick up on the goatyness of the cajeta dessert!!

To answer your question: during our August 2008 trip we were extremely disappointed with the food overall. Marrakesh was blander and more expensive than ever (we haven't been back since). Spoodles served up a chicken entree that was not only bland, but the chicken itself tasted processed and almost 'metallic'. I was quite happy to see Spoodles close shortly after that horrible last meal (even though it had once been a favorite of ours). We actually tried Artist Point for the first time that trip and loved it. Then we made another booking at AP for later in the trip (which happened to fall after free dining had begun), and we were less pleased with the meal (even though we ordered the exact same dishes). Portions were smaller and details were off, such as the fresh berries on the cobbler. Speaking of AP's cobbler, I hated the new version of that dish in 2010 - it was gummy, unappealing, almost 'canned' in flavor/texture, and a huge embarrassment for their signature dessert. At The Wave, I once had a piece of fish that was improperly prepared (my mom insisted on sending it back), and at Citricos I once had a seafood appetizer where the seafood didn't taste fresh. We've had extremely oversalted dishes at Flying Fish and Bluezoo. A pavlova dessert at Raglan Road was too sugary and crunchy - I'm a fan of soft pavlovas, but that dessert hurt my teeth when I tried to eat it. Also, I love strawberry and rhubarb together, but a strawberry-rhubarb dessert at California Grill was too unpleasantly bitter for me (I don't think the rhubarb was handled correctly). Of course, the omission of the pistachios in Sanaa's salad turned that dish into an overly sweet, one-note waste of money. And then there are dishes at quite a few restaurants that I think are fine, but mediocre - Coral Reef, Il Mulino, and everything I've tried at Yak and Yeti (aside from the wontons) come to mind here.

I can definitely be scathing when the situation calls for it. But most of the time, it hasn't been necessary.

Thank you for that well spoken response with some great examples.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Hmm...I guess we now know what ruffles your feathers.

And for what it's worth, I agree with you. Well, except for your current opinion of my favorite restaurant, California Grill. In that regard, you are completely wrong, and I am totally right!

Just kidding, of course.

Yep, I think my feelings are pretty clear from that little rant. It's not anyone's opinions that bother me - it's how they phrase their opinions. This is why I've become extra cautious when describing something that didn't work for me. We all have different tastes, and not everyone will be looking for the same qualities in an ideal plate of food. A giant piece of meat from Shula's or Yachtsman? Not for me, please! Medium-rare wild Pacific King salmon cooked on a cedar plank at Artist Point, with seasonal vegetables on the side? Sounds wonderful.

Speaking of which, we can certainly agree to disagree over Cali Grill for now. After all, you and your family still have some unresolved differences regarding AP and Jiko, and things seem just fine. At least I agree with you about Artist Point.

Perhaps it took a sophisticated palate such as your own to pick up on the goatyness of the cajeta dessert!!

Thank you for that well spoken response with some great examples.

Regarding the cajeta, I honestly don't even know what to say. When I tried it, all I knew was that it was supposed to taste like caramel. So I felt completely insane when every single bite made me think of goat cheese (and then completely relieved to find out that goat's milk was a likely ingredient in it). That dessert probably isn't supposed to taste 'goaty', so I wonder what was going on.

I'm glad you like the examples. There are probably more that I've forgotten about, but those are some that were most memorably "bad", IMO.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

After heading back to MK to use a fastpass, I eventually found myself back at the Polynesian. This time, my goal was to try a piña colada cupcake from Captain Cook's.

There were lots of coconut flakes on top (your favorite, Jabead )

Inside the cupcake was a tasty pineapple filling.

I thought this cupcake was okay, because the cake was light and spongy and because the flavors were fun, tropical, and fruity. That said, the frosting was the whipped kind that tasted like nothing to me (compared to the frosting at Sunshine Seasons, which was too sweet and thick). So once again, I simply removed most of the frosting.

Later in the day, I headed to the Contemporary, where I stopped by the 2nd floor and took pics of the current California Grill menu.

I wish I could've fit in a stop there. There are a few new dishes I would've loved to try, such as the bacon cheeseburger flatbread, the summer lobster salad with watermelon three ways, or the summer berry crostada. Also, the key lime cheesecake appears to come with the same rum-roasted pineapple that I loved at The Wave. In the end, I didn't make it back to CG. So if our July experience was our last one before it's refurbished, I guess this is all I can say:

But of course, the main reason I stopped by CR was to try another cupcake! This time, I was after the strawberry lemonade cupcake that tempted me last time.

I love the Mickey Mouse motif in Contempo Cafe's chairs.

Lots of lemon filling

Even though I'm a strawberry fan, this was probably my least favorite cupcake of the trip. The strawberry flavor didn't taste natural to me, and the frosting had the same issues as the one at Captain Cook's (I think it was supposed to taste like strawberry, but it didn't add any flavor IMO). The lemon curd filling was good, but it had a very intense flavor, so it would've worked better if the cake itself had a more distinct flavor of strawberries. From a cupcake standpoint, Contempo Cafe let me down, but I'm still a fan of this place for its sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads.

Even though neither one of these cupcakes was my favorite, both of these cupcakes have received quite a few positive reviews on the DIS. It's just another reminder of a recurring theme here in the Dining Review section - we all have different tastes. Just because something received an amazing review, it doesn't mean you'll love it, and just because something received a negative review, it doesn't mean you'll dislike it. The best thing we can do is make educated decisions based on our own personal preferences (and even then, things don't always go according to plan - I was certainly expecting to enjoy a strawberry cupcake more than most of the others, but it didn't work out that way).

Next up: Artist Point

 

[krhst25]

I am not a big cupcake fan- especially bakery ones. But- I had the red velvet cupcake from Starring Rolls for breakfast one morning- oh my goodness, I couldn't believe how yummy it was. I was sure I was going to remove some of the icing, because like you, sometimes I feel it is just too much. Didn't remove a lick! It is a must- eat in December.

You take such beautiful pictures of the cupcakes that they all look delicious- even if you say they aren't I still want to try them!

 

[MrsB1228]

Both those cupcakes look wonderful, the strawberry one in particular is lovely to look at. Sorry you didn't really enjoy them. I've had experiences with icing that seems like it's a great blob of flavourless goo, very unpleasant. Having said that however, I have a friend who loves that type of icing and will make horrid faces over carrot cake with cream cheese icing, which I adore. It's our differences that make us interesting isn't it?

 

[emmysmommy]

But- I had the red velvet cupcake from Starring Rolls for breakfast one morning- oh my goodness, I couldn't believe how yummy it was. I was sure I was going to remove some of the icing, because like you, sometimes I feel it is just too much. Didn't remove a lick! It is a must- eat in December.

I am right there with you on this one!!! Had one for the first time this last trip!

I wish I could've fit in a stop there. There are a few new dishes I would've loved to try, such as the bacon cheeseburger flatbread, the summer lobster salad with watermelon three ways, or the summer berry crostada. Also, the key lime cheesecake appears to come with the same rum-roasted pineapple that I loved at The Wave. In the end, I didn't make it back to CG. So if our July experience was our last one before it's refurbished, I guess this is all I can say:

You'll see one of those menu items from CG making an appearance in my DR.

The pineapple cupcake I would get; however, the strawberry one I would just look at! I can see the frosting isn't to my liking.

When you were at Contempo Cafe it wasn't starting the refurb? It was down for a period of time when we were there.

 

[jabead]

Speaking of which, we can certainly agree to disagree over Cali Grill for now. After all, you and your family still have some unresolved differences regarding AP and Jiko, and things seem just fine. At least I agree with you about Artist Point.

Of course we can, my friend! I just couldn't resist the urge to tease you a bit...just like I do my own family. Oh, and the pizza dude too.

And speaking of California Grill, thank you for your very diplomatic review of its current menu. I too spotted that Bacon Cheeseburger flatbread and the Summer Lobster Salad and thought they sounded very good. So I guess we agree on a few things regarding CA Grill after all...even if it's just a couple of descriptions from their menu.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I am not a big cupcake fan- especially bakery ones. But- I had the red velvet cupcake from Starring Rolls for breakfast one morning- oh my goodness, I couldn't believe how yummy it was. I was sure I was going to remove some of the icing, because like you, sometimes I feel it is just too much. Didn't remove a lick! It is a must- eat in December.

You take such beautiful pictures of the cupcakes that they all look delicious- even if you say they aren't I still want to try them!

I'm glad you really like the pictures! Disney does a nice job presenting their cupcakes beautifully - I just wish they always tasted as good as they looked.

As for the red velvet cupcake, I tried it last year and it was so rich - I could only finish less than half of it. Maybe I'll have to revisit it on an empty stomach.

Both those cupcakes look wonderful, the strawberry one in particular is lovely to look at. Sorry you didn't really enjoy them. I've had experiences with icing that seems like it's a great blob of flavourless goo, very unpleasant. Having said that however, I have a friend who loves that type of icing and will make horrid faces over carrot cake with cream cheese icing, which I adore. It's our differences that make us interesting isn't it?

Exactly! I love certain things that other people would just say "eh" to, and vice versa. If we all liked the same things, then the restaurant selection and menu options would be a lot less interesting.

You'll see one of those menu items from CG making an appearance in my DR.

The pineapple cupcake I would get; however, the strawberry one I would just look at! I can see the frosting isn't to my liking.

When you were at Contempo Cafe it wasn't starting the refurb? It was down for a period of time when we were there.

Great - now I'll be on pins and needles waiting to find out which dish it was, and if it was any good.

Contempo's "refurb" started a few days after we left. It seemingly came out of nowhere and was only closed for a few days, but that was an odd one. Normally those things are announced at least a few weeks in advance, but I don't think there was any warning this time.

Of course we can, my friend! I just couldn't resist the urge to tease you a bit...just like I do my own family. Oh, and the pizza dude too.

And speaking of California Grill, thank you for your very diplomatic review of its current menu. I too spotted that Bacon Cheeseburger flatbread and the Summer Lobster Salad and thought they sounded very good. So I guess we agree on a few things regarding CA Grill after all...even if it's just a couple of descriptions from their menu.

Yep, it's all in good fun. As long as most of the food I eat is enjoyable, I'm okay being 'wrong' and having a different opinion from most Disers. Clearly I'm never going to be 'right' about several places (like Shula's, since I have no desire to try it). You actually tried Shula's and didn't love it - what's wrong with you?

One more thing - I also thought the carrot ravioli and Florida red snapper entrees sounded great. So I think it would be fair to assume Cali Grill did redeem itself. It probably wouldn't be my favorite (that title is currently reserved for Jiko and Artist Point), but let's just say we've made up and are on good terms.

 

[smile4stamps]

The menu for CG looks so good!! I better be hungry that night as I see myself having a 4 course meal!!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

The menu for CG looks so good!! I better be hungry that night as I see myself having a 4 course meal!!

If you see that many courses that sound good, go ahead and do it!

 

[jabead]

You actually tried Shula's and didn't love it - what's wrong with you?

Now that's a list so long that even I, the "Queen of Lists", would not attempt to make! However, if I did, I don't think that the fact that I was not impressed by the steaks at Shula's would even make the first page.

One more thing - I also thought the carrot ravioli and Florida red snapper entrees sounded great. So I think it would be fair to assume Cali Grill did redeem itself. It probably wouldn't be my favorite (that title is currently reserved for Jiko and Artist Point), but let's just say we've made up and are on good terms.

Very glad to hear this, my friend!
I'm very anxious to hear now if Brenda and Vicki enjoyed their meals there.

 

[sushi candy]

I find kind of sad that some cupcakes look like perfection but the taste doesn't back it up. Thank you for taking a pic of the menu at CG. I will be going there soon and it looks like I may have to think twice about what I originally thought I would be ordering.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Now that's a list so long that even I, the "Queen of Lists", would not attempt to make! However, if I did, I don't think that the fact that I was not impressed by the steaks at Shula's would even make the first page.


Very glad to hear this, my friend!
I'm very anxious to hear now if Brenda and Vicki enjoyed their meals there.

It might not seem like a big deal to you, but our feelings about Shula's and Il Mulino are complete blasphemy on this site.

And I would bet that the answer to your final thought is "yes", but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I find kind of sad that some cupcakes look like perfection but the taste doesn't back it up. Thank you for taking a pic of the menu at CG. I will be going there soon and it looks like I may have to think twice about what I originally thought I would be ordering.

Yeah, it's somewhat disappointing about those cupcakes, since they always look so tempting. But don't worry - the best are still coming up.

As for Cali Grill, what were you thinking about ordering before? The menus at all the signatures change often, so even this one might not be completely accurate now!

 

[sushi candy]

As for Cali Grill, what were you thinking about ordering before? The menus at all the signatures change often, so even this one might not be completely accurate now!

I am leaning towards an all sushi meal actually but with the red snapper coming in, I find myself leaning towards being open to a different entree.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I am leaning towards an all sushi meal actually but with the red snapper coming in, I find myself leaning towards being open to a different entree.

Very tough decision - sushi at California Grill is almost always well-received, but that snapper sounds pretty good as well. Good luck - I'm sure you'll be happy either way.

 

[wilma-bride]

As nice as they look (and sound) I don't think those cupcakes can even begin to live up to my new favourite ever cupcake, the Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcake that we had at Starring Rolls on our last trip. It was awesome.

Thank you so much for posting the Cali Grill menu. I love, love, love the sound of that Key Lime Cheesecake. I love citrus desserts and that sounds right up my street. Hmm, 14 months until my next trip to WDW, how on earth am I going to wait that long

 

[TheNewMrsB]

Darn that Yoshi. I have my heart set on a Spicy Kazan roll and she comes up with that tempura roll just to tempt me away. I'd say DH would share a piece or two of his SK roll...but I'm not completely delusional.

I've never had a cupcake in WDW (though I did have a carrot cake cookie last time and I might just have to make it a point to get another one). Maybe this is the trip where that needs to be rectified. Do you have any favorites? If so, which ones?