"Rare-ified" Yaughtsman Steakhouse

[keishashadow]

At long last we were able to secure reservations at the Yaughtsman Steakhouse during our recent trip to WDW.

We were using the dining plan (this restaurant takes 2), and had a PS for 5:30 p.m. When making the reservation, we were reminded that the dress code was "casual dressy", the agent further explained that this meant shirts with collars for gentlement and no jeans for anybody.

We arrived early to enjoy a walk around the beautiful grounds and checked in with the hostess for our 5:30 seating, we mentioned that we were on the dining plan; she said to mention it to the waiter. We were guided to a table at the window with a lovely view of the pool and lake. We looked around and observed the occupants of the tables around us, dressed in jeans, shorts, tank tops, etc.?

As required with the Dining Package, we mentioned to the woman who seated us that we would be using the dining plan. She cooly stared at me and indicated that we would need to advise our "server Oscar" of this fact. I got the feeling that it would be a long night.

Oscar soon appeared, when I mentioned that we would be using the dining plan he actually asked to see our Room Key/Dining Card and disappeared to the back of the restaurant with it! After 5 long minutes, he reappeared with my card and a wide smirk.

For the remainder of the evening, Oscar was not without a smirk, or muffled giggle each time he approached our table. I have never felt quite so uncomfortable at a restaurant.

I assume that they don't see the dining plan often at their establishment and consider it "beneath them". However, the shrimp cocktail, 24 oz porterhouse and cheesecake were exceptional. Our final bill totalled $180.

We have dined in many fine, sophisticated, restaurants, both in Orlando, other vacation spots in and out of the country, and at home in the Pittsburgh area. We've never been made to feel unwelcome or out of place, what a huge disappointment!

 

[lmhall2000]

OH NOOOOOO.... I had decided on YS to take my dh and 3 children to....ON THE DINING PLAN!!! UGH! If I'm treated like third class it will certainly put a damper on our experience. And I'd BEG to be able to take the 15% tip off (although we always tip over 20% for good service)....I think I would have said something to management. Or, actually, I would have asked for another server! I'm sure that would teach him a lesson.

There, I feel better...we'll still use our 2 dining credits at YS...but if we get an attitude..I'll calmly and oh so sweetly ask for another attendant. But it really makes me want to buy an AP so I can use the DDE card...wonder if they frown on that as well..

Pitiful, just pitiful. If they truly were an "upscale" establishment that never would have happened. I have eaten in a few top notch eateries and although we didn't have the Aston Martins, Jaguar, or upper end German cars..they parked our little Toyota (hatchback no less) and were as genuine and sincere in hoping our dining experience was memorable.

TACKY is what I call your service.

Tara

 

[ducklite]

What a shame.

I agree, if they are going to suggest a dress code to the point that they spell it out, they need to enforce it. Get off the fence.

Your server should NEVER have treated you like that. Please write a letter to guest services and let them know how disappointed you were with the experience.

Anne

 

[magicmouse2]

Its that sort of attitude that puts me off eating at these restaurants. You are on vacation and should be relaxing. You should have asked to speak to the manager.

 

[OKW Lover]

I think you mis-understood Oscar's smile. We always request Oscar because he is both a really good waiter (listens to what you like, makes recommendations, knows the menu, keeps the water glass full...) and he is always so pleasant to deal with. I've never seen Oscar give anybody an "additude".

Now as to the dress code - I agree that if they are going to publish a dress code, they should inforce it. Disney isn't very good at this because they don't want to turn away business and they also don't want to have people going home and telling their friends how they were humiliated by being asked to dress nicer.

 

[ducklite]

I think you mis-understood Oscar's smile.

I"m wondering about something here...

Sometimes when a CM's name tag is missing or breaks (and that happens more than you'd think) they "borrow" someone elses tag for the evening.

Maybe you two should describe your servers to be certain you're talking about the same person...

Anne

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I was under the impression that CMs loved to wait on tables that were on a dining plan because the people are more likely to order high priced items that will increase the CMs tip?!?

 

[keishashadow]

"Our" Oscar was a dark, very suave gentlemen; who under any other circumstances I would describe as quite the charmer. Oscar was amazing at refilling the water & drink glasses, as well as removing courses when we were finished. I really don't fault this technical expertise, but unless he has an un-nerving smirk all the time, we still felt "looked down upon".

I also questioned why there would be attitutude towards the tip portion of the dining plan. It was my understanding that servers receive their tip (15%) on the total amount of the bill and are usually delighted to be tipped based on a generally larger total bill, factoring in appetizers, desserts, etc. FYI, on several occassions we did leave a more generous tip based on the service we received, but not here.

My husband looks upon this situation as a learning experience (he's ever the eternal optimist), saying that at least we know we probably wouldn't be comfortable staying at this resort based on our treatment here. This has swayed our choice of hotels for our next "splurge" to the Polynesian, which seemed inviting, laid back, but still luxurious when we strolled through the grounds this year.

Thanks for your support, we were feeling somewhat dejected/rejected by this experience. Although my 11 year old son thought the whole evening was hilarious, how often do they get to see you squirm in public.

 

[lotte]

Don't feel bad--we got that kind of condescending service last year at the Yachtsman and we weren't on any dining plan.

We also got terribly prepared food and will never return there.

 

[bethzfl]

My bf and I are young (turning 21 this year).. and we get treated like that a lot. People assume we're going to order cheap things or we cant afford high priced menu items.

Our server, who was female, at Yachtsman kind of approached us that way.. but we didnt let it dampen our nice night out. Our meal ended up being fantastic.. service could've been better.. but we'd still go back for the great food.

 

[Peter Pirate]

I don't understand? You're basing this not on anything that actually happened but rather on a perceived attitude?

 

[shellybaxter]

You all have just put your finger on why I thought the YS wasn't as good as LeCellier. You're right the food was excellant, the service was prompt and technically proficient, but I felt judged the whole night. DH and I aren't rich, but we're certainly not poor and I felt like they thought we were. The waiter (and I don't remember his name) wasn't very personable. I felt like we were taking space "away from some important people".

Shelly

 

[valandemmy]

With the exception of the dining plan (which already includes the 15% tip as part of the plan). Let your happiness or lack there of show in how you TIP. This is what the waitstaff is supposed to be working for after all. and I would explain in person or if you would rather stay low key, write it on the back of the bill, that your server was rude, unfriendly, ect. and this was the reason for the TIP or lack of TIP.

You can not judge a book by its cover, nor someones wealth by how the look.

JUST DONT TIP

 

[Epcotgal]

I think you mis-understood Oscar's smile. We always request Oscar because he is both a really good waiter (listens to what you like, makes recommendations, knows the menu, keeps the water glass full...) and he is always so pleasant to deal with. I've never seen Oscar give anybody an "additude".

As I was reading this I was thinking the same thing. "Not the Oscar we know from the Yachtsman." The Oscar I know does smile but it's sincere. One of our favorite places and no one there has ever seemed condescending in the least.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Not much I can say about the "condescending Oscar" matter--
But the dress issue is of interest. Enforce a dress code at places like YSH and they run the very real risk of losing a good percentage of their business.
And did these "ill dressed" patrons act out in any way?? Drunk and disorderly, carrying on, making a scene??
If not--why did it make any difference how they were dressed??

I do agree tho that Disney should get off the fence--either make a dress code mandatory, or simply don't mention it at all. Many who make PS get the impression it IS mandatory, and dress up when they really don't have to--or want to.

 

[DaveT1]

Ok, for me at Le Cellier the waiter was very friendly and talkative. That's when you could find him No checking on things, no drink refills, had a small problem with 1 meal and took forever to correct.

At YS, the waiter was not very talkative, i wouldn't say unfriendly though. However, he was ontop of everything. Constantly checking, refilling, clearing dishes.

IMHO, the more upscale a restaurant is, the wait staff are more business like. I guess they feel the table is there to have a nice meal and talk amongst themselves. The more invisible they can be, but do their job, the better.

Sometimes, if i feel out of place or self conscious, i start to "look" for things that probably aren't there. If you got good service and the meal was fine i wouldn't worry about it, they probably didn't have a bad attitude towards you in particular.

OP, i'm not saying you are wrong, i wasn't there. However, if you had an exceptional meal i would hope you wouldn't worry about it and use your meal plan there again. I try to remember I'm on vacation, feed me well and i'll put up with some attitude.

 

[webray]

We had a party of 7 at Yachtsman not that long ago..not on a dining plan, sorry to hear you didn't feel welcome. They don't treat people much better than they treated you. The food and service were horrible, and we will never return.

 

[micksterlee]

We had one of the best meals ever at the yachtsman last June.I can t remember our servers name but he was great.We were on the old silver plan and he suggested items off the menu to us and even said make sure you go for the best after all you paid for it with your plan.He took very good care of us but he did not start a lot of conversation unless we asked him a question he even remarked that if we needed anything be sure to ask because he didn t want to interupt our evening.He brought out an order of mushrooms and said the chef made them in error and he thought I looked liked I guy that would enjoy them at no charge of course.By the end of the evening I was discussing other restaurants and steaks with this guy. Needless to say I handed him an additional 20.00 on top of the tip included in the plan.

 

[eeyore0062]

I can't believe this is the Oscar that everyone raves about!!! Maybe you just misunderstood his smile.

We went last October for our anniversary, and we were wearing shorts and nice shirts-- never were informed of any business casual attire (the CM's at the Dining line will tell you that if you are dining at California Grill and Citricos, but I have NEVER heard it for any of the other restaurants, unless the CM has gotten so used to saying it for those, she adds it on for all resort dining). Never once did we receive any indication that we were not welcome. The hostess and the wait person were wonderful. I also had a discount and that made no difference whatsoever to them. We were treated like royalty.

The food at the Yachtsman is delicious, the service is outstanding and PLEASE do not let this negative post dissuade anyone else from dining at this wonderful restaurant.

For the original OP. Did you speak with the management about Oscar's attitude? Perhaps Oscar had no idea the manner in which your perceived him, or perhaps he was having an off night that had absolutely nothing to do with you?

 

[keishashadow]

FYI, we have eaten at Le Cellier before, loved the cheese soup and steaks, but I "wanted to kill 2 birds with 1 stone" and scout out the hotel and eat at the Yaughtsman at the same time (we hate to loose precious park time).

We thought Le Cellier's food was excellent and the service impeccible. We felt welcome and pampered by the staff, even though we looked a little worse for wear since it had rained several inches already that day and we were somewhat wilted by our ponchos. The waiter was professional, unobtrustive, but helpful in wine suggestions and possible menu suggestions. At the time I booked, this restaurant also required 2 dinners on the sit-down plan.

We expect to return here for our next "carnivore experience" at WDW.

As to perceptions, I agree in theory with your comments but, as having worked many years in employee evaluations (of the unannounced type where-in I would review employee's performance and behavior based on specific, employer criteria); I do feel that I am usually able to objectively rate an experience. Although, everyone has off days, customers and CM's alike. Perhaps Oscar was having a Grouchy Day (lol).

Thanks again for all your input.