Question/Opinion on Kevin's PYC review

[kpadalik]

After listening to Kevin's PYC review today , I was really disappointed. Why does Disney keep changing things that are good? Disney needs to listen to the old saying, If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

It seems that Disney's dining has in recent months and years become very inconsistent and so-so. You used to be able to go to Disney and if a restaurant was good before, it would still be good. Now, you never know what you're going to get. It seems the only places that are consistent are the higher-end restaurants, such as California Grill, Victoria and Alberts, etc.

And now with the recently disclosed closing of Boatwrights at POR for breakfast sad: ), it makes me wonder...with Disney having all of these great "deals" and the free dining packages once or twice a year, are they starting to decrease the quality of their food and service in their TS restaurants? You know, if they pay less for their lesser-quality food and don't provide the same quality service that they did before, then their profit margin is going to be greater than if they were serving higher quality food.

I guess they figure since their guests are already in the parks and on-property, that they are going to eat there anyways...therefore, they could sell bread and water (well, maybe not) and people would still pay for it! Just my opinion!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

This is why I like to eat offsite more often than I used to.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm not sure you can blame this on Disney. Portobello is operated by the Levy group. I suspect they are the ones that decided to change things.

 

[MM32830]

DW and I was at Portobello's last month, about a week after the refurb and I was very pleased with the quality of food we received. Maybe Kevin's trip was a "bad day" for the staff.

I have always believed that if I get bad service at any type of business, be it restaurant, retail, or anything else, that I will return to give them another chance. If the service is bad on the return trip, then I normally won't return.

In Portobello's defense about theming, with the refurb came a name change. The restaurant is no longer the Portobello Yacht Club but just "Portobello". To me that suggests that the theming is no longer nautical. I didn't get into the details with the cast members as to what the theming is now, but it looks more like a generic, yet somewhat upscale, restaurant.

One has to wonder if this change was made to synchronize it's theming with all the changes being made at Pleasure Island. We know that Street Foods of the Americas is coming (slowly) but are there other clubs that will be converted to restaurants and perhaps one of those will have a nautical theme.

One thing I've learned about Disney after all these years of studying them is that they know how to keep a secret.


___________________
Armand

 

[DisneyKevin]

As I have said on many more than one occasion....

My reviews encompass the entire experience (not just the food) and are basec on one visit. They are also entirely based on my (and John's) opinion.

Everyone should try a restaurant and form their own opinions.

As for Portobello.....I was a tried and true fan. I have eaten there more times than I can count.

In my opinion, they have "dumbed down" the menu. There are far fewer choices as far as entrees are concerned. The pizzas were described by more than one person as being "the worst I have ever tasted".

The very best part of the new menu is the Antipasti section at the top and the vast majority of that requires no culinary skill from any restaurant employee. It's basically slicing and portion control.

Again, this is an opinion and you should by all means, form you own based on your visit.

The full Portobello menu can be viewed here:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.ID=92

As far as your visit a week after the menu change....Pete offered the very same opinion. I might chalk this up to the transition team still being there. We see this very often when new restaurants open or existing restaurants experience a change. The top level management and kitchen staff show to assist with the transition and then once they believe the staff has things under control, they leave the restaurant in the hands of those staying. It's not uncommon for there to be a steep decline once these folks leave.

Again, this is an opinion and you should go and form your own.

You might love it....you might not.

I, for one, am saddened to report that I no longer love one of the restautants that I once considered great.

And the new themeing is generic "find it anywhere" upscale Italian. I miss the nautical themeing and the Disney back story.

 

[LMO429]

Hey Kevin!

I remember John saying he took pictures of the food, are they are going to be posted on the show notes page?

 

[kpadalik]

I'm not sure you can blame this on Disney. Portobello is operated by the Levy group. I suspect they are the ones that decided to change things.

I know, but you would think (and hope) that Disney would have some say in what happens on their property...

 

[Cruz Family]

Everyone should try a restaurant and form their own opinions.

No thanks!!! I would much rather spend my money on good food. Pete's can pay for the crappy stuff.
Actually, the only times I had a different experience then Kevin did was Brown Derby. I almost fell over when my $16 short rib appetizer was about half the size of a credit card. Also we liked TRex, the ribs were really good and we enjoyed the atmosphere.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I did wonder why no one at the table asked for a different entree. Or for the manager to have them remake their order. I understand Kevin didn't get anywhere with their server, but I was surprised the manager didn't offer everyone complimentary entrees.

 

[SamSam]

I haven't listened to the review yet but I must say I'm not surprised by what I'm reading. Dh and I have been true blue Portobello fans for years but after eating there in early December right after the change was complete, we are no longer fans. The menu was very disappointing to us, we kept saying to each other "there's not much here". What we ordered was just okay, not up to the level we had come to expect at Portobello's. In addition, neither one of us cared for the very lackluster decor.
Will we try it again? Yes, because we always give a place a second chance but I'm not really thinking our opinion will change. Mainly because our problem wasn't with service, but with the menu.
I find it really sad because this has been a favorite of our for many, many years.

 

[OKW Lover]

I know, but you would think (and hope) that Disney would have some say in what happens on their property...

You would hope so. But then there wouldn't be any excuse for Big River Grill & Brew Works.

 

[bawstngrl]

No thanks!!! I would much rather spend my money on good food. Pete's can pay for the crappy stuff.

Best line of the day! ROTFLMAO