Rate my Restaurant Choices!

[D Morggggg]

Hello!

My girlfriend and I are taking a much needed vacation May 9-14 and we have our reservations all completed. I'll list our current plans. Can everyone rate or let me know if I am making the correct/incorrect choices? Thanks!

May 9th (Monday) - Cape May Buffet
May 10th (Tuesday) - San Angel Inn
May 11th (Wednesday) - The Boathouse
May 12th (Thursday) - Le Cellier
May 13th (Friday) - Kona

We are staying at BWV, so traveling to 3 of these isn't an issue at all.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Shellyb84]

Le Cellier is great! I can't speak to the others, but we are trying Cape May and Kona Cafe on our next trip

 

[craigkerstiens]

Given your staying at BWV I might strongly encourage replacing Le Cellier with Yachtsman. Le Cellie will have a slightly more themed decor, but there's pretty broad consensus that Yachtsman will be a much better meal.

 

[L&Lfan]

We are not impressed with Cape May Cafe but we have had good experiences at the other places you listed, though none is a favorite/ must do every visit.

 

[pmurph]

I have eaten at all of the restaurants, except one of those you listed, and they are all great! I might be easy to please but all evoke some Disney memory for me.

Cape May - For dinner you really have to love seafood (which I do) and breakfast is typically good breakfast with characters. We ate there for both because we were staying at the Yacht Club. Good!
San Angel - We got reservations there the same day and had never eaten there so we gave it a try. We ended up getting a table right up at the volcano, and I loved the environment/theme
The Boathouse - We haven't eaten there but once met a couple who said they've eaten at every restaurant at Disney and this one was excellent
LeCellier - First Disney restaurant my husband and I ever ate at without the kids (less than a year ago) - LOVED! Cheddar cheese soup - YUM!
Kona - I have eaten here three times, twice for dinner and once for breakfast. Enjoyed it each and every time

I don't think that you can go wrong with any restaurant that you choose. Just enjoy!

 

[a742246]

They all look good, I may consider changing Cape May to the Bluezoo in the Dolphin. It's your first night and I believe the Bluezoo is more private. But you can't go wrong!

 

[JZCubed]

Hello!

My girlfriend and I are taking a much needed vacation May 9-14 and we have our reservations all completed. I'll list our current plans. Can everyone rate or let me know if I am making the correct/incorrect choices? Thanks!

May 9th (Monday) - Cape May Buffet
May 10th (Tuesday) - San Angel Inn
May 11th (Wednesday) - The Boathouse
May 12th (Thursday) - Le Cellier
May 13th (Friday) - Kona

We are staying at BWV, so traveling to 3 of these isn't an issue at all.

Thanks in advance!

Cape May Buffet - seafood buffet at dinner or Goofy for breakfast. A good choice.

San Angel Inn - the location inside Mexico is lovely.

The Boathouse - never been, but reviews remain positive.

Le Cellier - in my view, the 'weak link' in your choices, not worth another trip to Epcot over going to Yachtsman or any Swan & Dolphin Signature (Shula's if you really want steak).

Kona - getting resort-to-resort via Disney transportation is not easy. Kona makes most sense if this is your Magic Kingdom day. And if going for Tonga Toast, I'd rather Goofy at Cape May breakfast buffet.

 

[D Morggggg]

Thank you for your input, everyone!

Cape May for dinner is a family favorite (as well as mine). It's kind of our first day celebration and something I've personally always looked forward to when arriving. They usually have to let me know that they are closing soon and that I can't continue on the crab legs

I've never been to SAI/BH/LC which is why I've ready to give them a try. We are considering changing LC to the Yachtsman based on reviews and insight from the forum. Is it quality of food that is different or just price points?

Kona/Polynesian area is also a tradition. We always head out during sunset and take it all in on our last night before dinner, with a Lapu Lapu in hand.. We usually go the Ohana route, but it feels that Ohana has been on a decline for us in terms of food quality. We've eaten at Kona a few times and have had a positive experience each time.

Again, thank you! My girlfriend and I are foodies with Hospitality degrees so the food/travel part is half the fun to us!

 

[Pemeberly]

Well, I'm a strong believer in there being no right or wrong dining choices since it depends on your tastes/interests.

That being said, San Angel Inn might be one to reconsider. On one hand, it has GREAT theming. I love the sky ceiling, and the volcano is super cool. But it's also really, really packed in there. You don't get a lot of room around your table, and you might feel cramped. It can also be pretty loud. Foodwise, I've found it to be ... fine. Not impressive, not the worst, just fine.

Last year my boyfriend and I made reservations there, too, but after thinking about it decided to drop it for something else in the WS. If you're really into Mexican, I've heard that the other restaurant in Mexico, La Hacienda, is superior, but I've never tried it.

Just my opinion/observations. Ultimately, what I love you may hate, and vice versa. Good luck!

 

[crabbygal902]

They all seem like great choices! However...I have learned that there is no restaurant at WDW, except for V&A's, that we are willing to travel and use up our time on transportation. We plan our night time entertainment and then plan dinner around that. Since you are at BWV, I would plan my choices around the Boardwalk/Epcot/DHS since you have so many great places right there literally under your nose! if you're going to the be in the Kona and Boathouse area any way, then great. Otherwise, I might switch the Boathouse for Biergarten or Trattoria, and I might switch Kona for Teppan Edo or Tokyo Dining. Just a thought...unless dining IS your night time entertainment!

 

[Nancyg56]

Thank you for your input, everyone!

Cape May for dinner is a family favorite (as well as mine). It's kind of our first day celebration and something I've personally always looked forward to when arriving. They usually have to let me know that they are closing soon and that I can't continue on the crab legs

I've never been to SAI/BH/LC which is why I've ready to give them a try. We are considering changing LC to the Yachtsman based on reviews and insight from the forum. Is it quality of food that is different or just price points?

Kona/Polynesian area is also a tradition. We always head out during sunset and take it all in on our last night before dinner, with a Lapu Lapu in hand.. We usually go the Ohana route, but it feels that Ohana has been on a decline for us in terms of food quality. We've eaten at Kona a few times and have had a positive experience each time.

Again, thank you! My girlfriend and I are foodies with Hospitality degrees so the food/travel part is half the fun to us!

I would also suggest that you change to YSH. I think that Le Cellier is one of teh most overrated restaurants on DIsney property. I am in the minority, but my family did not like it very much, felt like sardines packed in a very small dark can, thought that the service was both rushed and haphazard, and thought the food (with the exception of the duck comfit) was meh.

WE enjoy YSH a lot. We have been on an off night, but that can happen anywhere, and at least at Yachtsman, the staff knew it was an off night.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Hello!

My girlfriend and I are taking a much needed vacation May 9-14 and we have our reservations all completed. I'll list our current plans. Can everyone rate or let me know if I am making the correct/incorrect choices? Thanks!

May 9th (Monday) - Cape May Buffet
May 10th (Tuesday) - San Angel Inn
May 11th (Wednesday) - The Boathouse
May 12th (Thursday) - Le Cellier
May 13th (Friday) - Kona

We are staying at BWV, so traveling to 3 of these isn't an issue at all.

Thanks in advance!

My opinion on all but your vacation tradition restaurants:

San Angel Inn - atmosphere is amazing, the food is not good. We have given this place a shot every few years and the food is just bland and of really bad quality. If you are looking for a good, 1 credit restaurant in EP, I would try Via Napoli or Spice Road.

The Boathouse - awesome. We ate here on opening day and it was great. Get the Key Lime Pie in the Mason Jar!

Le Cellier - we like it here, but there are definitely better restaurants in the area. We love, love, love bluezoo in the Dolphin. If you want steak, try Yachtsman or Shula's

 

[Mainemama]

We just ate at San Angel Inn in late December and had a great experience. The staff was attentive and efficient, we did not feel crowded or that is was too loud (a complaint I often have in Disney restaurants), and the meals were delicious. I had the chefs recommendation (sampler plate) and my DH had the chicken dished cooked in chocolate. Paired with an avocado margarita, it was delicious! I know it has a mixed bag of reviews, but we were glad we tried it.

 

[samsteele]

I have enjoyed 3 out of 5 of your choices:

Cape May Buffet: think this is the dinner buffet? I love it. In fact, last Fall, I had 2 ADRs here . . . one at the beginning of my trip and one on the last night. I love those crab legs. While I have had poor crab legs here (my first trip approx 4 yrs ago), the quality has improved to the point where I now make sure to wear my old, ratty t-shirt because of the amount of butter & gunk that I spray on myself while cracking open those bad boys. I don't get seafood often where I live (central Ontario, Canada) so your mileage will definitely vary if you are lucky enough to live on the East Coast and enjoy fresh seafood often. But for the rest of us, its a lovely, lovely feast.

San Angel: I agree with some of the PPs that it has become hectic and busy. The tables are basically cheek to cheek with little privacy. However, I love the atmosphere and enjoy the food. Their steak is tasty and they can bring in margaritas from La Cava. If possible, get the earliest ADR available for your dinner or lunch. This gives you a better shot at a water side table. It does back up with seating & delays, so see if an earlier ADR works for you.

Kona: one of my fav dinner ADRs. I always get the steak and the banana creme brulee. Heaven. Again, if you can swing an earlier ADR for dinner, grab it. The earlier you can get in, the better the service. My best service ever (and best food since the plate was whisked right out to me as soon as it was up) was at 4:30 pm. Last Fall, I had a 5:30 pm ADR and while the steak was good, it had been sitting out for a good 1/2 hr before being brought to me so was cool. Something to think about. I also ask to be seated with a view of the monorail/garden to avoid looking at a wall or other diners. Enjoy! ps try to fit in a drink at Trader Sam's before dinner. Opens at 4pm but lines starts by 3:15pm-3:30 pm. Great fun. Try to get a seat on the far left hand side of the room for best view of the drink effects. Let me know on this thread if you need more info. Cheers!

 

[LJSquishy]

I've only dined at San Angel Inn and Kona Café.

One of our absolute favorite meals was at San Angel Inn! We requested a waterside table so had to wait a few extra minutes to be seated but it was worth it. Service there was incredible and the food was wonderful. I had the Pollo a las Rajas which was amazing, my husband and dad each had the Carne Asada which they both loved, and my mom had the Chile Relleno which she really enjoyed (though a bit different than she was expecting). It was a relaxing experience dining there and I'd visit again in a heartbeat! It was not originally in our plans to dine there but right before our trip I changed my mind on a few restaurants and decided to give San Angel Inn a try and I'm so glad I did!

Kona Café was great in 2012 but we weren't able to fit it into our trip in Oct 2015 so my review may not be very relevant. Back in 2012 we both had the teriyaki strip steak which I think has since been retired from the menu. I've heard excellent things about their sushi (which I wanted to try this last trip). Kona Café isn't a must-do for us...it was very good, but not outstanding. I remember the tables being very close together as we ended up chatting with a couple next to us during our meal! I wouldn't mind going back, but I'd probably get sushi next time. They do have amazing rolls & butter!

 

[goofy4prez]

Hello!

My girlfriend and I are taking a much needed vacation May 9-14 and we have our reservations all completed. I'll list our current plans. Can everyone rate or let me know if I am making the correct/incorrect choices? Thanks!

May 9th (Monday) - Cape May Buffet (Not a fan at all, but then I'm not a buffet fan. I thought the crab legs are average and the rest of the food is typical quantity over quality. The crab legs nearby at Captains Grill are much better.
May 10th (Tuesday) - San Angel Inn ( A place that is either loved or hated... I really love this place. I love the decor, and I actually enjoy the food. It is not your typical anytown, USA Tex/Mex restaurant.
May 11th (Wednesday) - The Boathouse ( I have not dined here yet (will in June), however the reviews have been mixed. If you are planning steak at Le Cellier you may want to think this one over. We had ADR's for this place last year and passed at last minute to try Raglan Road... A completely different dining experience, but we loved it.
May 12th (Thursday) - Le Cellier ( In my opinion does not come close to being the signature and $$$ that Disney is peddling this place to be. I did not care for the very average at best mushroom filet, nor did I care for the service, dark, loud and cramped dining room. I won't be returning.... I would highly recommend going to Yachtsman Steakhouse instead.
May 13th (Friday) - Kona (Nothing spectacular, but it is a good place. The sushi, while not top shelf is good as is the rest of the menu. While it is not a must do for me, it is a place I will return to.

We are staying at BWV, so traveling to 3 of these isn't an issue at all.

Thanks in advance!

Let me start off by saying there is no correct or incorrect choices among your list. Like belly buttons we all have one and the same will be with opinions about the restaurants. But with that it's still fun to hear what people think about the restaurants we may or may not enjoy. My thoughts are above.

 

[D Morggggg]

Again, I appreciate all the insight! It has been very helpful!

 

[SGMCO]

Of the Places you listed We've eaten at both:
San Angel Inn (3 different trips--we love it) Food has always been very good each trip, I didn't find it hectic as others did. Never had a bad server. Love the atmosphere, we will be eating there again in the fall. I like that it is not the Typical Tex-Mex food, we have those on every corner where we live, it gets old.
Kona (dinner) I found food to be very good (I had Sword fish with Forbidden Rice)and it was a pretty restaurant, good server.
The manager even helped me out with my TS credits (another restaurant double charged me the day before and they help me get the credits back on my Dining Plan) and I was very grateful.

 

[River Country]

Hello!

My girlfriend and I are taking a much needed vacation May 9-14 and we have our reservations all completed. I'll list our current plans. Can everyone rate or let me know if I am making the correct/incorrect choices? Thanks!

May 9th (Monday) - Cape May Buffet
May 10th (Tuesday) - San Angel Inn
May 11th (Wednesday) - The Boathouse
May 12th (Thursday) - Le Cellier
May 13th (Friday) - Kona

We are staying at BWV, so traveling to 3 of these isn't an issue at all.

Thanks in advance!

Cape May was fantastic for Breakfast ive never been to the seafood buffet Breakfast was good
San Angel Inn- Love this restaurant I think I got the Chimichangas the last time I was there
THE Boathouse- one of the best restaurants on my last trip from Food TO Service it was amazing
Le Cellier Honestly its hit or miss. ive been there and loved it and ive been there and it was sub par. if you are looking for a signature restaurant try Cali Grill, Narcoossee's, Yachtsman, Or even Hollywood Brown Derby. If you are looking for a steak try Shula's....and price is not a factor and not on the DP
Kona LOVE for any meal

Hope it helps have fun

 

[jimmytammy]

Hello!

My girlfriend and I are taking a much needed vacation May 9-14 and we have our reservations all completed. I'll list our current plans. Can everyone rate or let me know if I am making the correct/incorrect choices? Thanks!

May 9th (Monday) - Cape May BuffetGood choice for seafood
May 10th (Tuesday) - San Angel InnWe love San Angel and its a must do every trip. Its not your usual Tex Mex and that tends to throw some into panic mode once there. Its very good IMO
May 11th (Wednesday) - The Boathouse
May 12th (Thursday) - Le CellierBefore this became a 2 credit place we enjoyed. We like it but feel its a bit overpriced
May 13th (Friday) - KonaAll 3 meals here you cant go wrong

We are staying at BWV, so traveling to 3 of these isn't an issue at all.

Thanks in advance!