Reputations and Reviews

[CarolAnnC]

Having already seen one good review pop up on the Nine Dragons - China - thread, I thought I would inquire about any other restaurants that may have had good or bad reviews that disappointed or surprised WDW diners.

The Nine Dragons has been the object of bad reviews from many. But we just heard a rave review on their Taste of China lunch. Perhaps I may now give this one a shot my next visit!

Alfredo's - Italy - I personally enjoyed this dinner very much! I thought they had a great selection and I loved the Italian theming. I would definitely eat there again.

Olivia's at OKW - This one had been receiving poor reviews, but just this past summer I heard a few rave reviews over it. I would also like to try this one out, specially since I am a DVC Member and stay at OKW every once in a while!

Does anyone have any other restaurants that did not meet expectations, or perhaps exceeded poor reviews?

 

[Crissup]

As I understand it, Olivia's turned around about two years back. This is the reason for the sudden change in people's opinions.

As for Alfredo's, I have eaten there once and I enjoyed it. However, most people go there for the Fettuccine Alfredo, and it is slightly different from what most people are used to. Admittedly, I did not care for their Alfredo as much as I have other places. But, I wouldn't hesitate to go back again.

Coral Reef is one of my favorite Epcot restaurants. But, it's another one that often gets bad reviews. I don't argue with people. I figure it's hard enough to get into without trying to convince other people to go also.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Good point John!! LOL!!

 

[Scottwdw]

To be honest, I have not found anything bad about a WDW restaurant. I think some people just have more opinionated taste than others. Now, do I like everything I've eaten at WDW? No, but I love to try new things and sometimes I don't like what I ordered mainly because it is new to me.

I've also loved a lot of these new foods. On the trip I just returned from I ate at Morroco's Restaurant Marrakesh where I enjoyed a sampler plate. The menu called it a "Night in Casablanca" which included Roast Lamb Meshoui, Chicken Kebab, Seafood Bastilla and served with vegetable couscous. The bastilla I could have lived without, the kebab was very good but the lamb was simply heavenly! I finally got to try couscous but, while I wasn't blown away with it, I can see were in a meat sauce, it would be very good. I intend to go back on my next trip just for a single (and larger) serving of the lamb. Oh, the belly dancer wasn't bad either!

I tend to dismiss negative reviews and go by a restaurants menu. Now, are there restaurants I wouldn't bother to go to again, you bet. However, I wouldn't pan them. There's just so many WDW places to eat!! My advice to most people is, if you like what they are serving, go for it!

 

[crisi]

Since it may have been years since you last tried a restaurant (with so many of them at Disney even those of us who are down "all the time" can't get to all of them regularly) a restuarants reputation can take a while to fix.

I last ate at Alfredo's, Nine Dragons and Coral Reef about ten years ago now. They were all less than great in my opinion back then, and it will take a number of good reviews of any of them to get me back. I try to refrain from comment on them - as my experience is so dated. (Although I had one of the best meals of my life at Alfredos in 1984!)

On the other hand, it can take little time at all for a restuarants reputation to go downhill.

 

[Luv2Roam]

It seems like Pepper Market at CSR has mixed reviews too. We really enjoyed PM, although I read a lot bad reviews too, along with good.

 

[CamColt]

Yes! Sometimes I feel like I am the opposite of everyone.

Although places like Planet Hollywood & Alfredos get bad reviews we have always enjoyed them(eaten at both 2x). We also used to love Mama Melrose, but now with the new menu, we arent too happy anymore. That was another one that I very rarely heard any good about. Ive heard the food at Cindys breakfast isnt so great, but I loved it! I would go back just for the food.

On the opposite end I always hear raves about Tonys, and we had a horrible experience there. We wont go back.

 

[Uncleromulus]

With me, a lot depends on who has done the review. Over time I've become familiar with Board members who's taste seems quite similar to mine. I read and value their opinions and experience.
Case in point-Shula's. This spot had some very poor reviews, but also several glowing reviews. So we decided to try it this last trip. And it was just fine. Probably the finest steak on property.

 

[joepoe]

We enjoy it a great deal. Our servers are always friendly and make easy-to-use- chopsticks for our DD's (8,8,5). The food has been very good each time. Be careful, it is easy to over order! The restaurant is not cheap by any means, but the atmosphere is enhanced by the native Chinese staff. The manager (an American) made it a point to visit our table and chat with us about our meal and our stay. We are very picky about Chinese food, and this is some of the best we have had.

 

[wld]

We went to Prime Time on our first trip to WDW based on the reviews in Birnbaums and Birnbaum kids. Our own 2 were 8 and 11. They hated it. Normally they are very much in the spirit of the thing, but couldn't wait to get out of there. We didn't think much of the food either. Most everyone else seems to love it!!

We also enjoy the Pepper Market.

 

[DeborahB]

Alfredo's - We had a wonderful lunch here, food was quite good and service great! I agree that maybe the one downfall is the closeness of the tables....but I've been told it's very authentic to an experience in Italy.

Yachtman's Steakhouse- Reviews on this restaurant prior to our trip were suggesting a downward spiral, but again hubby and I had a very good dinner with excellent service. I had the filet mignon and a delicious trio of sorbets for dessert. We would definitely dine here again.

Flying Fish- Was expecting much more than we got. I know this place has a loyal following but the found the service lacking and the food only ok. I guess it could have been an off night, but we were less than impressed.

California Grill- Read many glowing reviews of this place and was pleasantly surprised....one of the best meals we ever had at WDW. Service was top notch.

Brown Derby- We had eaten here many times before, but the buzz before our trip was the decline of food and service since the inception of Fantasmic dinner package. Well, we took a chance and tried the dinner package and found food and service both still terrific. The restaurant was very busy, but we never felt rushed. One thing I miss is the piano player, and I told the CM on the way out.

Opinions being what they are, I say go and try whatever restaurant you're interested in and decide for yourself!

Debbie

 

[CHIPSTER]

Le Cellier gets good reviews and we will not return. None of us were overly thrilled with our meals -- our steaks were dry, the service was poor, especially for the price.

Chef Mickey's - Won't return there. I know it gets thumbs up for characters but I think the quality of the food has definitely gone down hill over the years.

Pepper Markets -- Sometimes gets trashed, but we make it a point to eat there once per trip, even though we have never stayed there.

Boma -- Let's just put it this way, you have to be adventurous. And I know the argument is they have not adventurous food, but that is few and far between.

Olivias - Never been there, but friends of ours who say at OKW said they like it. I've checked out the menu and because of the nice variety, we are going to give it a try this trip.

 

[ZerasPride]

I agree with Chipster about Le Cellier. I was so looking forward to eating there after all the rave reviews this place gets. DS and I had a bad meal. I've had better steaks at local places here in Cleveland. Our meal was pretty expensive for two and I hated the cheese soup! I know people love it but DS and I thought it was odd tasting. I admit I'm a plain ol' meat and potatoes kinda girl so maybe that's one reason why the food was not to my liking. It could also have been an off night but it was super crowded and our waitress was not very friendly which added to our negative experience.

I might try it again one day but there are so many other places to try and of course there are our old favorites we have to sample each visit.

 

[eeyore0062]

I expected much better from WCC at WL. The wait time was horrendous, both for a seat, and for the food. The food, when it finally got to the table, was cold, and the ribs were tough and chewy. We also had a server who didn't know the difference between being amusing, and being crass.

On the otherhand, we have read poor reviews on Mama Melrose, but we LOVE it! We have eaten there 3 different times, and have had a great experience, great food, good service, and nice atmosphere.

To each his own, I guess!

 

[dandave]

Alfredo's, We have eaten here two or three times, and have never had a bad meal. I really like this place!

Nine Dragons, Loved the family style lunch!

WCC, Walked in on an October Wednesday night with no PS, and were seated before the kids could hit the Lego table. We really enjoyed the pulled pork and ribs from the family style skillet.

Le Cellier, I've had poor service here, but the food was still very good. Granted, we mostly go for the cheese soup and pretzel bread. The steak sandwich and steak salad are very good entrees for lunch.

Boma for dinner: Although most seem to love it, we found the selections and service very, very, poor. My kids filled up on desserts, while I had mainly soup. Not a good deal for the price, IMHO.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Olivia's gets bad reviews?? We had lunch there last year and really enjoyed it...both the food and the service. I'd love to go back this year, if we can make the time.

LeCellier was a disappointment, esp the cheese soup. I thought we must have had a bad night. ??

Before one trip, I was reading good things about Yachtsmen Steakhouse, and the service was so bad and the steaks were so bad, we probably won't ever go back.

Restaurant Marrakesh...terrible service...enough to make DH not want to return. I really liked the food, but he wasn't overly thrilled (a real meat and potatoes man ).

Last year, I insisted that we eat at Akershus...there were many recommendations on the boards about this restaurant. DH reluctantly agreed to go. Well, HE liked it, I thought it was just "ok" while I was eating there, but 1/2 hour after we left, my stomach started hurting, and continued to bother me for the next 3 days of our trip, and 2 days after we returned home. NEVER AGAIN.

Prime Time and Sci-Fi frequently take a beating, and we loved them both, esp Prime Time...it's THE ONLY restaurant in WDW that we go to every trip.

 

[Wilma Flintstone]

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the food (lunch) was fine at the Sci-Fi. We really wanted to go for the atmosphere (and air conditioning) and I had heard mostly bad reviews.

California Grill, on the other hand, was a disappointment. While the food itself was good, the rushed/cool service certainly left something to be desired. Did it--tried it--won't do it again!

Sometimes a breakfast, lunch or dinner can be altered by the EXPERIENCE: poor service, noisy children and/or adults, crowds, lousy seat and bad choice off the menu. So many of these posts contradict others' experiences. For instance: we loved Olivia's, loved Akersheus, liked Mama Melrose, loved Yachtsmans, liked Marrakesh, would never step foot in Nine Dragons (looks dirty and empty all the time), and cannot understand why they still attempt to serve food at Capt. Jack's. Keep the bar and dump the rest
--Wilma

 

[eeyore0062]

LOL, Wilma... we definitely agree with you on Capt Jacks. It needs to go back to being an Oyster Bar, and leave the fine dining to someone who knows better how to pull it off!

 

[Demosthenes]

The Polynesian Lua often times gets panned for the food, but DW, who is a very picky eater loves it. I thought it was good, but I'm easy to please.

On the other hand, she likes Le Cellier, and I don't like it at all.

Bistro de Paris was just plain awful to both of us. I'm not one to say "we won't go back," but it will be a while before I can convince DW to give it a try again.

The Yacht Club Galley served one of the best meals we had on property; the food was really good, and the service was phenomenal.

The Rainforest Cafe has a neat theme, but bad food, and the worst service of any restaurant I've ever tried. We tried both the AK RFC and the DD RFC, and both were just as bad.

 

[The Duchess]

We ate at the Yachtsman Steakhouse last week and both the food and service were fantastic. It is definately a must do for us on future trips.
Artist Point...great food and service also but not a must do.
V & A....we hadn't been since our Honeymoon five years ago and laughed at how "classy" it was. But we ate there last week and it was great. Will definately go again next trip.
Cinderella's Royal Table...I'm not sure why we ALWAYS book this b/c the food is less than stellar and if you don't get seated by the window the atmosphere is only OK.
Prime Time Cafe...I thought this place was a lot of fun and the food wasn't bad.
Coral Reef...I think this is only worth it if you're right by the tank. I would opt to wait for a table by the tank unless your party is more than four people then don't bother b/c there are only tables for four right by the tank.
Tempura Kiki...we LOVE this little sushi bar in Epcot and always go there.
Hoop Dee Doo...food is sub-par and the show is somewhat corny, but my DS who is four loved it so it was worth it


Also, it seemed like the Room Service menu somewhat degraded from 2000 to 2002.