Recommendations for Restaurants around Boardwalk and surrounding Lagoon

[PHILCT]

Hi Disney Fans !

I am staying at the Boardwalk in early December.

I would like suggestions on restaurants near the Boardwalk and around the Lagoon.

Has anyone dined at "THE FRESH" and other restaurants in the Swan and Dolphin ?

Does Beaches and Creme have dining facilities, or breakfast items more than pastry or sandwhiches?

I was disappointed in Cape May Clam Bake a few years ago, has it improved ?

The Yachtsmen was too fancy for my taste, I get nervous when some one comes near me with a wine list.
I would rather see a House Tropical Drink style menu.

I am definitely into breakfast places, "THE FRESH" seems nice.
Any other Lagoon area suggestions?

I am not using a car, and relying on Disney Transportation.

Also can you recommend any Disney Restaurant Review Sites.
I have checked out Disney Ears, with some limited reviews.

I am planning on O'Hanas and Boma's, they are family favorites.
I will also do the Crystal Palace and Chef Mickeys.
I may try Le Cellar at Canada this time.

I am not familiar with restaurants near the Boardwalk of the Lagoon areas nearby.

Thanks for any advice !

A Kuna Matata

 

[LindaR]

www.allearsnet.com has an extensive menu site.

Spoodles at Boardwalk was a great place to eat!

 

[PHILCT]

Hi Linda

What was your favorites at Spoodles?

I did check out allearsnet, I meant to say that instead of disney ears.

I just remembered the ears thing.


Thank You,

Phil

 

[Kae]

Try www.ourlaughingplace.com they have pictures with their reviews.

Kae

 

[Mad4Dizne]

We love the Flatbread pizza appetizer at Spoodles(I made a meal out of that with a salad), the hummus is delicious!!! The Sangria was the best. Everyone was very happy with what they ordered.

We also loved Fresh--the best bananna pancakes I ever had, prepared fresh as you wait and the great chef gave me his recipe!

 

[Desnik]

You will love the BW and all the dinning options so close!! The BW is our favorite place and we will be there for the 3rd time in 2 weeks.

I will add to the suggestion for eating at Spoodles. It is very good, also nice atmosphere. We also love Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club. The burgers are so good, the desserts to die for! A really fun place, they also have salads and sandwiches, but very good food. Not average sandwiches. We also like to get a late snack or a quick bite at the Boadwalk pizza window. They have salads, calzones, meatball sandwiches that are so good!! Also pizza by the slice or a pie to take to your room! We don't like the Big river brewery. We have tried it 3 times and it was just bad. Bad food, and OK service. We don't drink but I do know beer drinkers who like to try different types there. We also eat in Epcot. Just a short walk and then you have so many more dinning options. The menus on allears.net should help you decide what you would like.

Have fun!

 

[Desnik]

I forgot to mention the ESPN club! It is good and I would say average food like at TGI Fridays. Also you can walk or take a boat ride to MGM. We love Moma Melrose and 50's Prime time cafe. Both great fresh food and 50's wins for best atmosphere!

 

[minniesota]

Just returned and you might be interested in our impressions of these Epcot area dining spots:

Cape May Character Brunch - Our PS was for 10:40 but we were not seated until after 11. Everyone was starving! Food was very good - tasted fresh and hot! Kids loved Krispy Cremes, Mickey waffles, bacon and fruit. The grown-ups loved the scrambled eggs with onion, mushrooms and red peppers, bacon (which our server said was baked, not fried), sausage and ample fruit. The sweet breads were also delicious as was the fresh squeezed OJ. We had a wonderful server - a real veteran - and she was delightful. Character interaction was great and for that type of meal, this one was very calm and relaxing. Food - A atmosphere - A


Mama Melrose - Ate lunch here and LOVED it. Such a pleasant atmosphere and our waiter was excellent. We ordered a Moretti draft for DH and 3 strawberry coladas for the ladies. Five adults split three flatbreads - a grilled chicken, portabella mushroom and tomato basil along with a family salad (our waiter suggested this as a better value and it was!) The kids had pizza and pasta your way. We also had some delicious bread with a pesto dipping sauce and an olive and sundried tomato sauce (came with the meal). Everything was fantastic - we will be back! Food - A+ Atmosphere - A

Spoodles - First time here, too. Had dinner before our Illuminations cruise and everyone thought this place was awesome. We ordered two appetizers - the sauteed chili garlic shrimp and grouper cheeks with a wasabi sauce - both excellent and enough for 5 adults. For entrees, three ordered the salmon and raved about it. DH, the pasta man, had rigatoni with Italian sausage, tomatoes and portabello mushrooms and I had the Seafood Paella which was to die for. The blend of spices in the rice was perfect and the dish contained generous portions of shrimp, scallops, oyster, clams, mussels, calamari, mahi, crab and chorizo. Kids ate Mickey pasta, popcorn shrimp amd cheese pizza. We have added this to our favorites list.. YUM! Food - A+ Atmosphere - A


Le Cellier - First time here - lunch with mom, dad and sister. We were blown away. I've been reading about this place on the boards and am so glad we tried it. The service was fantastic and we loved the feel of the place. My sister and I had the teriyaki glazed salmon salad and it was the best. Unless you asked my mom who had the Vancouver chicken sandwich and vegetable noodle salad. The sandwich was topped with Canadian bacon, Black Diamond cheddar, a cucumber slaw and wasabi mayo. She went on and on about the noodle salad. My dad also loved his choice - the grilled steak burger topped with bleu cheese and served with potato salad or fries. He had the salad and said it was great. My dad had a LaBatt's and we girls had a glass of wine. To top off the lunch, our waitress brought out a fabulous piece of chocolate cake on a decorated dinner plate wishing my parents a happy 75th birthday - it was a work of art! We didn't have our camera so she offered to take a digital and e-mail it to us! This place is the best!
Food - A++ Atmosphere - A+

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Two of our favorite WDW restaurants are around the Boardwalk.

Spoodles - On the Boardwalk. We eat here on every trip and have never had a bad meal. On our last trip I had there salmon and my wife had the rigotoni pasta and we both really liked our dinners. The salmon was the best I had ever had.

Fresh - Located in the Dolphin resort. We had breakfast here twice during our stay last December and both times it was fantastic. We just loved how you picked what you wanted and they made it while you watched. They had roasted meats and fresh squezzed juices etc. My wife just loved the peanut butter m&m pancakes and I loved the Blueberry creme cheese stuffed french toast.

We will be eating at both of them again in December.

 

[PHILCT]

Thanks to Everyone for their great advice and reviews.

The only problem is now I am starving after reviewing all your suggestions, and lunch is about a couple of hours away.

I just mapped out a general reservation strategy today, and I will be calling Disney Dining today.

Cellar, Fresh, and Spoodles is a definite yes.

I will also be checking out the Beaches and Creme for lunch as well during the stay.

And it will be hard to keep my Older Nephew and his Wife away from the ESPN CLUB, they will definitely like this place.

I must visit Mama Melrose this time at MGM, I haven't been there.

I have been to the Prime Time TV Cafe, where they
kept telling me to keep my elbows off the table - AGGGH !


Thanks again,

Phil