StarCruzer
Million Miler Member - Carousel of Progress
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2021
- Messages
- 612
1. (Tie) Victoria & Alberts: I know it's cliche. But literally everything we ate on this menu was delicious--even when we took risks and ate dishes we normally wouldn't. The servers are fantastic. My husband ordered the wine pairing and each time the server came over to do the pour, we got a little wink and a little extra in the glass so I could share. They don't try to rush you or upsell you. It is very expensive and we likely won't do it again any time soon, but I'm glad we were able to snag a reservation
(Tie) Takumi Tei: For the original a la carte menu only. It took us right back to Japan. The Nikomi Wagyu (braised wagyu short rib with roasted bone marrow) was insanely good. We did the Kamo Rosu (duck) and Takumi Gyuniku (A-5 wagyu) and they were also incredible. I don't know that we'd go back with the new omakase tasting menu (mostly because I don't really do sushi). I would go back in a heartbeat if they converted back to a la carte.
2. Morimoto Asia: I know I'll probably be in the minority rating Morimoto so high be we love the food so much we eat there almost every visit. The ribs have a crispy exterior and melt-in-your-mouth inside. I don't think we've ordered anything from the menu that was bad. While the A-5 wagyu here is quite pricy (now over $100 for the 3 oz order) I feel it's a reasonable splurge in terms of Disney pricing; we do it for special occasions and rarely regret it.
3. Topolino's Terrace: I don't think this is a surprise to anyone. The atmosphere, food and service here are all top notch. And thankfully, still a la carte pricing.
4. California Grill: We had an excellent experience because we happen to have a good acquaintance who works here. He hooked us up with a fireworks-view table, confetti on the table, and a couple other lovely extras (it was our anniversary). Like Topolino's, the food, service and atmosphere are all excellent. However, because of the proximity to Magic Kingdom and the eagerness of so many to eat here during fireworks, it tends to get much noisier than Topolino's. Also...now a prix fixe menu
I think if we went back it would be for the lounge.
5. Jiko: A menu that's a little more adventurous. Great for folks in big parties who want to steal a little bit off each person's plate to try everything. Equally good options for folks who don't eat meat.
6. Citricos: When we went it was very quiet, and we got excellent service. Drinks were surprisingly strong. The smoked duck appetizer they had on the menu at the time was one of the most heavenly things I've eaten at a Disney restaurant. However by comparison I don't even remember what I ordered for the entree (oops).
7. Grand Floridian Tea Service (RIP): I ended up doing this experience alone, as my husband was unexpectedly deployed. As a party of one it was absolutely delightful. I am honestly heartbroken that it doesn't seem to be coming back, as I'd hoped to go back with my husband. It was on par with the tea service I experienced at The Omni Homestead.
8. La Hacienda San Angel: The short rib here is no joke. Great atmosphere; you'd hardly believe you were in a theme park once you're inside. Even if you don't have a table next to the window, you can get a partial view of whatever night show is in the lake and wait out the crush of people exiting the park with a tasty flan.
My middle of the pack restaurants (roughly in order of favorite to least favorite):
Sanaa: Excellent escape from chicken fingers and cheeseburgers. It is really a fun meal, with lots of different flavors to appreciate and a great atmosphere with the sunny savanna right outside.
Sebastian's: One of the best value for money meals on Disney property. Everything was delicious. Wish this place was open for lunch too. Getting there can be a little tricky but if you have the time to fit it into your schedule it's a nice option.
50's Primetime: I'm sure people may disagree but to me this is some of the best fried chicken on properly. The portions are also enormous; unless we're starving my husband and I can share an order easily.
Boma: I'm not a person with a huge appetite so we truthfully haven't done many buffets. Boma is the exception because it seems to have a very wide selection. So folks like me who try to balance their meals occasionally on vacation can get some good vegetable and protein options here (along with the usual sweet breakfast staples like waffles and pastries).
Whispering Canyon: As with the above, even though it is all you care to enjoy I feel the price is pretty reasonable for the sheer variety of food you get (we normally do breakfast). We love the high energy, fun atmosphere, but also recognize it's not for everyone. The food quality has always been good for us. And we love an excuse to visit Wilderness Lodge.
Biergarten: Last buffet on the list. For this one, I do feel the cost used to be somewhat justified because of 1. the awesome show with dinner and 2. best price by volume for beer in Disney World. Though normally an introvert, I did enjoy sharing a table with strangers and striking up a conversation. It's just overall a great atmosphere.
Olivia's Cafe: The food here is honestly excellent. The only downsides I felt were for a resort so big, the restaurant is surprisingly small. If you're not staying at OKW it's definitely a hassle to get to--the food is not stellar enough to figure out the logistics (but probably not terrible if you have a car). Some of the more creative items from the menu have been removed.
Grand Floridian Cafe: This used to be WAY higher on the list for their phenomenal brunch options. Unfortunately, like many other Disney table services, they have REALLY pared down the menu (bring back the chorizo benny!). Chicken and waffle option is great and my husband loved the salmon. Not sure about their lunch/dinner quality but breakfast is solid and a great option to start the day.
Kona Cafe: At this point, I think we visit here more out of breakfast tradition than anything else. My favorite menu item, The Samoan, is long gone (pulled pork hash with eggs benedict + hollandaise). My husband still loves the Macadamia Nut Pancakes, even if they aren't quite as good as they used to be.
Sci-Fi Dine In: This restaurant is specifically one we go to for lunch if we know it's going to be hot, and we have a full day planned at Hollywood Studios. The food is solid but the true purpose is a dark, relaxing place to unwind indoors.
Skipper Canteen: It's not bad, but it's not amazing either. I think we visited during a time when they were struggling with whether to tone down the menu or not. The food was less flavorable than you'd anticipate based on the ambitious menu. Everything was fine, but simply didn't stand out as a memorable meal again.
Space 220: We found the food to be good, but a prix fixe meal was way overpriced and too much food for us. We also felt the server was itching for us to finish as quickly as possible (the restaurant had only been open about a year when we visited).
Places we won't do again:
Cinderella's Royal Table: We grabbed this one post-COVID, when there was only Cinderella greeting guests and it was a little cheaper. Service was terrible. Our reservation was specifically planned so we could eat during the fireworks show (we didn't want to be out in the crowd). The service was so backed up that we were waiting over an hour after our reservation; us and a few other folks were "roped" into Cinderella castle's ground floor interior during the fireworks and had nowhere to sit and had to endure the noise of fireworks exploding all around us without being able to see anything. The three small kids with one of the families stuck there with us were in hysterics that they were missing the fireworks (their dinner was also delayed, but they were trying to exit). Once we got in the meal was fine. It was a nice experience to each inside the castle, but due to the price and the poor overall experience we were one & done.
Teppen Edo: Nothing technically wrong with this place. In the end, it's basically overpriced hibachi. If you live in an area without good hibachi, this is a solid choice. We just happen to be in an area with a few exceptional hibachi restaurants, so this is always a pass for us.
Tiffins: I know we are in the minority in this, but our experience was truly mediocre. The food taste vs price value was just really not there for us. Our time waiting in the Nomad Lounge before our seating was actually nicer. Bartender was lovely and set us up with drinks that were both strong AND delicious.
Be Our Guest: This doesn't really have anything to do with the food quality or atmosphere. We just personally really loved the breakfast and lunch services, which they no longer have. I've heard the dinner is good but I've never felt like the food served there would be worth the premium price. We aren't really into character meals either, so that aspect isn't a big draw.
Hollywood Brown Derby: In our experience, the food was barely above mediocre and the prices were way too high for anything on the menu. I remember it being VERY loud, lots of kids. No knock against kids in a restaurant--it is Disney World, after all--but it really feels like the design of this place is not very kid friendly. Tables packed pretty close, interior that wasn't able to absorb sound, and basically only crayons to keep the kids occupied. It felt very much like being in a Macaroni Grill, but more tightly packed.
There's a few I've missed I'm sure, and even more that we haven't had the chance to eat at yet. For our upcoming trip we're looking to try Yak & Yeti, Toledo, Ale & Compass, and Steakhouse 71.
(Tie) Takumi Tei: For the original a la carte menu only. It took us right back to Japan. The Nikomi Wagyu (braised wagyu short rib with roasted bone marrow) was insanely good. We did the Kamo Rosu (duck) and Takumi Gyuniku (A-5 wagyu) and they were also incredible. I don't know that we'd go back with the new omakase tasting menu (mostly because I don't really do sushi). I would go back in a heartbeat if they converted back to a la carte.
2. Morimoto Asia: I know I'll probably be in the minority rating Morimoto so high be we love the food so much we eat there almost every visit. The ribs have a crispy exterior and melt-in-your-mouth inside. I don't think we've ordered anything from the menu that was bad. While the A-5 wagyu here is quite pricy (now over $100 for the 3 oz order) I feel it's a reasonable splurge in terms of Disney pricing; we do it for special occasions and rarely regret it.
3. Topolino's Terrace: I don't think this is a surprise to anyone. The atmosphere, food and service here are all top notch. And thankfully, still a la carte pricing.
4. California Grill: We had an excellent experience because we happen to have a good acquaintance who works here. He hooked us up with a fireworks-view table, confetti on the table, and a couple other lovely extras (it was our anniversary). Like Topolino's, the food, service and atmosphere are all excellent. However, because of the proximity to Magic Kingdom and the eagerness of so many to eat here during fireworks, it tends to get much noisier than Topolino's. Also...now a prix fixe menu
I think if we went back it would be for the lounge.5. Jiko: A menu that's a little more adventurous. Great for folks in big parties who want to steal a little bit off each person's plate to try everything. Equally good options for folks who don't eat meat.
6. Citricos: When we went it was very quiet, and we got excellent service. Drinks were surprisingly strong. The smoked duck appetizer they had on the menu at the time was one of the most heavenly things I've eaten at a Disney restaurant. However by comparison I don't even remember what I ordered for the entree (oops).
7. Grand Floridian Tea Service (RIP): I ended up doing this experience alone, as my husband was unexpectedly deployed. As a party of one it was absolutely delightful. I am honestly heartbroken that it doesn't seem to be coming back, as I'd hoped to go back with my husband. It was on par with the tea service I experienced at The Omni Homestead.
8. La Hacienda San Angel: The short rib here is no joke. Great atmosphere; you'd hardly believe you were in a theme park once you're inside. Even if you don't have a table next to the window, you can get a partial view of whatever night show is in the lake and wait out the crush of people exiting the park with a tasty flan.
My middle of the pack restaurants (roughly in order of favorite to least favorite):
Sanaa: Excellent escape from chicken fingers and cheeseburgers. It is really a fun meal, with lots of different flavors to appreciate and a great atmosphere with the sunny savanna right outside.
Sebastian's: One of the best value for money meals on Disney property. Everything was delicious. Wish this place was open for lunch too. Getting there can be a little tricky but if you have the time to fit it into your schedule it's a nice option.
50's Primetime: I'm sure people may disagree but to me this is some of the best fried chicken on properly. The portions are also enormous; unless we're starving my husband and I can share an order easily.
Boma: I'm not a person with a huge appetite so we truthfully haven't done many buffets. Boma is the exception because it seems to have a very wide selection. So folks like me who try to balance their meals occasionally on vacation can get some good vegetable and protein options here (along with the usual sweet breakfast staples like waffles and pastries).
Whispering Canyon: As with the above, even though it is all you care to enjoy I feel the price is pretty reasonable for the sheer variety of food you get (we normally do breakfast). We love the high energy, fun atmosphere, but also recognize it's not for everyone. The food quality has always been good for us. And we love an excuse to visit Wilderness Lodge.
Biergarten: Last buffet on the list. For this one, I do feel the cost used to be somewhat justified because of 1. the awesome show with dinner and 2. best price by volume for beer in Disney World. Though normally an introvert, I did enjoy sharing a table with strangers and striking up a conversation. It's just overall a great atmosphere.
Olivia's Cafe: The food here is honestly excellent. The only downsides I felt were for a resort so big, the restaurant is surprisingly small. If you're not staying at OKW it's definitely a hassle to get to--the food is not stellar enough to figure out the logistics (but probably not terrible if you have a car). Some of the more creative items from the menu have been removed.
Grand Floridian Cafe: This used to be WAY higher on the list for their phenomenal brunch options. Unfortunately, like many other Disney table services, they have REALLY pared down the menu (bring back the chorizo benny!). Chicken and waffle option is great and my husband loved the salmon. Not sure about their lunch/dinner quality but breakfast is solid and a great option to start the day.
Kona Cafe: At this point, I think we visit here more out of breakfast tradition than anything else. My favorite menu item, The Samoan, is long gone (pulled pork hash with eggs benedict + hollandaise). My husband still loves the Macadamia Nut Pancakes, even if they aren't quite as good as they used to be.
Sci-Fi Dine In: This restaurant is specifically one we go to for lunch if we know it's going to be hot, and we have a full day planned at Hollywood Studios. The food is solid but the true purpose is a dark, relaxing place to unwind indoors.
Skipper Canteen: It's not bad, but it's not amazing either. I think we visited during a time when they were struggling with whether to tone down the menu or not. The food was less flavorable than you'd anticipate based on the ambitious menu. Everything was fine, but simply didn't stand out as a memorable meal again.
Space 220: We found the food to be good, but a prix fixe meal was way overpriced and too much food for us. We also felt the server was itching for us to finish as quickly as possible (the restaurant had only been open about a year when we visited).
Places we won't do again:
Cinderella's Royal Table: We grabbed this one post-COVID, when there was only Cinderella greeting guests and it was a little cheaper. Service was terrible. Our reservation was specifically planned so we could eat during the fireworks show (we didn't want to be out in the crowd). The service was so backed up that we were waiting over an hour after our reservation; us and a few other folks were "roped" into Cinderella castle's ground floor interior during the fireworks and had nowhere to sit and had to endure the noise of fireworks exploding all around us without being able to see anything. The three small kids with one of the families stuck there with us were in hysterics that they were missing the fireworks (their dinner was also delayed, but they were trying to exit). Once we got in the meal was fine. It was a nice experience to each inside the castle, but due to the price and the poor overall experience we were one & done.
Teppen Edo: Nothing technically wrong with this place. In the end, it's basically overpriced hibachi. If you live in an area without good hibachi, this is a solid choice. We just happen to be in an area with a few exceptional hibachi restaurants, so this is always a pass for us.
Tiffins: I know we are in the minority in this, but our experience was truly mediocre. The food taste vs price value was just really not there for us. Our time waiting in the Nomad Lounge before our seating was actually nicer. Bartender was lovely and set us up with drinks that were both strong AND delicious.
Be Our Guest: This doesn't really have anything to do with the food quality or atmosphere. We just personally really loved the breakfast and lunch services, which they no longer have. I've heard the dinner is good but I've never felt like the food served there would be worth the premium price. We aren't really into character meals either, so that aspect isn't a big draw.
Hollywood Brown Derby: In our experience, the food was barely above mediocre and the prices were way too high for anything on the menu. I remember it being VERY loud, lots of kids. No knock against kids in a restaurant--it is Disney World, after all--but it really feels like the design of this place is not very kid friendly. Tables packed pretty close, interior that wasn't able to absorb sound, and basically only crayons to keep the kids occupied. It felt very much like being in a Macaroni Grill, but more tightly packed.
There's a few I've missed I'm sure, and even more that we haven't had the chance to eat at yet. For our upcoming trip we're looking to try Yak & Yeti, Toledo, Ale & Compass, and Steakhouse 71.
