GenePA
<font color=blue>Poor old, gimpy, lyme disease rid
- Joined
- Sep 29, 1999
- Messages
- 266
My DW, DS (age 16), DD (age 11), any myself got back a week ago from a week at WDW. We stayed at OKW and ate our breakfasts in our villa and also had a lunch and dinner there too. Here are the reviews of the various restaurants we ate at while in WDW. Ratings are on a 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent) star rating and encompass food and service. Here goes.....
<b>Olivias (OKW breakfast) .</b>Being we stayed at OKW, we thought wed try out Olivias right after we checked in. I find the atmosphere here to be very laid back and pleasant. Our server was Janet and she was bubbly and efficient we even caught her singing and dancing around a bit .really enjoying herself. We ordered a variety of dishes which included: a huge three egg omelette with cheese, bacon, and onions; 2 orders of Ocies Homestyle Special which was 2 poached eggs over sweet potato and ham hash; an order of eggs and bacon; sides of breakfast potatoes which were a bit unusual with cheese and a hint of nutmeg (there was another flavor in there that I couldnt make out); an order of grits; biscuits; smoothies, milk, and tea. Our eyes were much bigger than our stomachs as I dont think anyone finished everything they ordered. Overall, the service was excellent and the food was very good and not too pricey .we werent disappointed in anything. In addition, we received a DVC member discount (10%). Wed definitely go back again and I give it a <b>4 STAR</b> rating on this visit.
<b>Ohana (Polynesian dinner) .</b>We decided to head over to Ohana on Sunday night and the place was packed. We had a 45 minute wait but since we missed this restaurant on our last trip, we were more than happy to wait. Our server was Rob and he was very busy. This led him to be not very personable and rushed when delivering our foods and drinks. We really enjoy the food here and they have tons of it. The starters they serve include our favorites the vegetable & shrimp wontons and the salad with the honey-lime dressing. The salad was top notch but the wontons were not as good as usual. The rest of the starters including the chicken wings and stirred fried veggies and rice were good. Next came the meats and they kept coming shrimp, steak, turkey, and pork. All were good but the shrimp is everyones favorite. This trip I also found the turkey to be very moist and tasty. Overall, the service was average (at best) and the food very good. For the amount of food you get, I dont find the price too outrageous. Another restaurant wed definitely go back too and I give it a <b>4 STAR</b> rating this trip.
<b>Bomas (AKL dinner) .</b>This is a place I have always wanted to eat and we finally got a chance. Our server was Abdelali and he was first rate. He did a fantastic job of explaining the various dishes on the buffet that night and was quite personable. He was very attentive to our drink orders and clearing our plates the entire meal .and the restaurant was very busy. I really dont think I could do justice to the variety of tastes we experienced here. My son and I are adventurous and tried a little of everything .and liked most everything. My wife and daughter stick to more basic dishes generally and found a large enough variety here to make it worth their while (they raved about the boneless fried chicken). I can understand some of the reviews I read about Boma where people dont care for it but if you like to try different foods and tastes, this is well worth the visit. My wife and kids also raved about the desserts but I am the type to have another plate of real food so I cant really comment on them. Overall, I was glad I finally made it here for dinner and well surely be back. I give it a <b>4 ½ STAR</b> rating.
<b>Sci-Fi Dine-In (MGM lunch) .</b>This is a restaurant I never really wanted to go back to but my family really wanted to go there again so we ended up here one day for lunch. We were seated shortly after they opened and got a great seat up front. As always, the ambiance was good and it was fun watching the old B-movie trailers. Our server was Cindy and she did a pretty good job .a little slow with drink refills but overall, she was OK. My son and I had the spinach & artichoke dip as an appetizer and found it to be runny and rather bland .the tortilla chips served with it were not real tasty either. My wife ordered the marinated tomato and buffalo cheese appetizer and found it to be rather average at best .not much basil and the balsamic glaze was practically non-existent. My wife and I had cheeseburgers and fries and they were good. My son had a BBQ-chicken sandwich and found it a little dry. My daughter had kids pasta and found it to be pretty good. Overall, I again was not overly impressed with the food and find it to be very much over-priced (for the quality). The atmosphere is very pleasant and I still find this a good restaurant to come in and grab a milk shake (they are very good) but not a meal. It still remains a restaurant I dont need to hurry back and visit again. I give it <b>2 ½ STARS</b> for this trip (and that is better than I would have rated it in the past).
<b>Hoop-Dee-Doo (Fort Wilderness dinner show) .</b>My wife and I havent been here since our honeymoon 20 years ago. I wasnt sure how the kids would enjoy the show but it was excellent. Both kids had smiles on their faces the whole time and the food wasnt bad either. Actually, I thought the fried chicken was excellent very crispy, moist, and flavorful. Everyone else raved about the ribs and though the BBQ sauce was good, I thought the ribs themselves were a little tough. The corn and baked beans were average and again, everyone loved the bread & butter. I didnt have any but my wife thought they whipped the butter with sugar as it was very sweet. The highlight though of the show for my kids was when my wife hooted & hollered that is was our anniversary night (and it truly was 20 year anniversary). They made us get up and dance. I dont think we have ever danced together before neither of us like it plus I am 65 and she is 52 so we are a bit of a size mismatch. Anyway, it was fun and we had the spotlight on us for a minute or so while we danced by our table .the kids were busting up laughing because they know I hate to dance .but again, it was fun! Overall, the food & service was generally good and the entertainment a lot of fun. I give it <b>4 ½ STARS</b> as it was a very enjoyable evening.
<b>Rainforest Café (AKL lunch) .</b>We have been to the Rainforest Café many times several times in Florida and many other times when we had one near us in Philadelphia. I have always found the food pretty good but nothing great. This time though, the food was generally not good and the service was average. Stuart was the server and he was not very personable and a bit slow on the drink refills. The best part of the meal was the awesome appetizer as it was hot and tasty and included chicken tenders, fried calamari, a crab & cheese dip, and an eggroll type concoction. From there, the rest of the meal went downhill. I had a chicken sandwich that was dry and flavorless. The cole slaw and fries were average. My wife also did not enjoy her turkey wrap. My son did enjoy his pizza which was a BBQ chicken & cheese pizza but I personally do not like the cracker-like crust they have for their pizza. My daughter liked her chicken strip appetizer and she also had macaroni & cheese which she said was OK. This was probably my least favorite meal of the entire trip and give it a lowly <b>2 STAR</b> rating. There was a definite highlight though that happened here and it was two E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES cheers that came out of nowhere from across the restaurant. Being an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan, it was a hoot to hear that.
<b>House of Blues (Downtown Disney dinner) .</b>We were seated right away and our server was Bill who was very attentive and personable. We had the cornbread with maple butter which was excellent. My son ordered a chicken penne pasta with a mushroom cream sauce. He felt it was the best meal he had the entire trip. He also had a side of sweet potato mashed potatoes which he inhaled with pleasure. My daughter had a grilled cheese sandwich. Now I didnt think it was possible to ruin a grilled cheese but the one she had was cold and the cheese not melted she ate about three bites of it. My wife ordered the sautéed shrimp with linguini, tomatoes, parmesan, and garlic butter .she really enjoyed it. I had the jambalaya which was good and very plentiful .I could not eat it all. Overall, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was fine. Food was good, except for the grilled cheese and the price was reasonable (especially compared to other WDW restaurants). I give it a <b>4 STAR</b> rating overall and would return in the future.
<b>Shulas Steak House (Dolphin dinner) .</b>It was my wifes birthday and she wanted to go to Wolfgang Pucks but we could not get in. Instead she decided on Shulas (without the kids) .though I feel she chose it for me as I have wanted to eat here. We got seated right away, though we were seated near the entrance .couldnt really complain about this as it was a Friday night and we did not have a PS. I enjoyed all of the football memorabilia and the dark, wooded décor of the place. Everyone we dealt with was very professional and attentive. Steve was our main server and at first he came off as a bit snooty but as the meal went on, my perception changed and I felt he did a real nice job and loosened up a bit. They bring out a cart of their entrees and describe each cut of beef they have. In the middle of the cart was a giant lobster (4-5 lbs) and at first, my wife thought it was dead so she touched it .then it moved! She gave a little shriek and it was rather funny. I started my meal with Oysters Rockefeller and they were awesome. They were the single best food I had on the entire trip. They were huge, juicy, and flavorful. The hollandaise sauce they have here is the best I have ever had anywhere. My wife ordered a NY Strip steak and I ordered the 24 oz. porterhouse. Both steaks were cooked very rare and were extremely tender. My wifes steak was cold all the way through though mine was fine. I also had a side of béarnaise sauce with mine another fantastic sauce. We ordered a side of broccoli and a potato pancake. Well there was enough food for four or five people easy, and it was all very good. The potato pancake was interesting as it had a hint of nutmeg though I would classify it as more of a large hash brown rather than a potato pancake. Being it was my wifes birthday and she being a chocolate lover, we ordered the chocolate soufflé for two for dessert. It came with a vanilla sauce they poured in the middle, two small bowls of vanilla ice cream, and a bowl of whipped cream. It was excellent and I am not a chocolate lover. It was very warm and the chocolate just oozed out the center. For me, the vanilla ice cream and sauce was a must with this dish as the chocolate was so overpowering. Overall, the meal service was very good and the food and presentation excellent. In addition, since we were kidless for the evening, it made the meal even better. Im going to give the meal <b>4 ½ STARS</b> though my wife still enjoys the strip steak from the Flying Fish better. The restaurant is indeed pricey but they do give you a large quantity of food. We could have easily ordered exactly what we did and had plenty for my two kids as well.
That's it! Please feel free to ask questions if you have any.....thanks!
<b>Olivias (OKW breakfast) .</b>Being we stayed at OKW, we thought wed try out Olivias right after we checked in. I find the atmosphere here to be very laid back and pleasant. Our server was Janet and she was bubbly and efficient we even caught her singing and dancing around a bit .really enjoying herself. We ordered a variety of dishes which included: a huge three egg omelette with cheese, bacon, and onions; 2 orders of Ocies Homestyle Special which was 2 poached eggs over sweet potato and ham hash; an order of eggs and bacon; sides of breakfast potatoes which were a bit unusual with cheese and a hint of nutmeg (there was another flavor in there that I couldnt make out); an order of grits; biscuits; smoothies, milk, and tea. Our eyes were much bigger than our stomachs as I dont think anyone finished everything they ordered. Overall, the service was excellent and the food was very good and not too pricey .we werent disappointed in anything. In addition, we received a DVC member discount (10%). Wed definitely go back again and I give it a <b>4 STAR</b> rating on this visit.
<b>Ohana (Polynesian dinner) .</b>We decided to head over to Ohana on Sunday night and the place was packed. We had a 45 minute wait but since we missed this restaurant on our last trip, we were more than happy to wait. Our server was Rob and he was very busy. This led him to be not very personable and rushed when delivering our foods and drinks. We really enjoy the food here and they have tons of it. The starters they serve include our favorites the vegetable & shrimp wontons and the salad with the honey-lime dressing. The salad was top notch but the wontons were not as good as usual. The rest of the starters including the chicken wings and stirred fried veggies and rice were good. Next came the meats and they kept coming shrimp, steak, turkey, and pork. All were good but the shrimp is everyones favorite. This trip I also found the turkey to be very moist and tasty. Overall, the service was average (at best) and the food very good. For the amount of food you get, I dont find the price too outrageous. Another restaurant wed definitely go back too and I give it a <b>4 STAR</b> rating this trip.
<b>Bomas (AKL dinner) .</b>This is a place I have always wanted to eat and we finally got a chance. Our server was Abdelali and he was first rate. He did a fantastic job of explaining the various dishes on the buffet that night and was quite personable. He was very attentive to our drink orders and clearing our plates the entire meal .and the restaurant was very busy. I really dont think I could do justice to the variety of tastes we experienced here. My son and I are adventurous and tried a little of everything .and liked most everything. My wife and daughter stick to more basic dishes generally and found a large enough variety here to make it worth their while (they raved about the boneless fried chicken). I can understand some of the reviews I read about Boma where people dont care for it but if you like to try different foods and tastes, this is well worth the visit. My wife and kids also raved about the desserts but I am the type to have another plate of real food so I cant really comment on them. Overall, I was glad I finally made it here for dinner and well surely be back. I give it a <b>4 ½ STAR</b> rating.
<b>Sci-Fi Dine-In (MGM lunch) .</b>This is a restaurant I never really wanted to go back to but my family really wanted to go there again so we ended up here one day for lunch. We were seated shortly after they opened and got a great seat up front. As always, the ambiance was good and it was fun watching the old B-movie trailers. Our server was Cindy and she did a pretty good job .a little slow with drink refills but overall, she was OK. My son and I had the spinach & artichoke dip as an appetizer and found it to be runny and rather bland .the tortilla chips served with it were not real tasty either. My wife ordered the marinated tomato and buffalo cheese appetizer and found it to be rather average at best .not much basil and the balsamic glaze was practically non-existent. My wife and I had cheeseburgers and fries and they were good. My son had a BBQ-chicken sandwich and found it a little dry. My daughter had kids pasta and found it to be pretty good. Overall, I again was not overly impressed with the food and find it to be very much over-priced (for the quality). The atmosphere is very pleasant and I still find this a good restaurant to come in and grab a milk shake (they are very good) but not a meal. It still remains a restaurant I dont need to hurry back and visit again. I give it <b>2 ½ STARS</b> for this trip (and that is better than I would have rated it in the past).
<b>Hoop-Dee-Doo (Fort Wilderness dinner show) .</b>My wife and I havent been here since our honeymoon 20 years ago. I wasnt sure how the kids would enjoy the show but it was excellent. Both kids had smiles on their faces the whole time and the food wasnt bad either. Actually, I thought the fried chicken was excellent very crispy, moist, and flavorful. Everyone else raved about the ribs and though the BBQ sauce was good, I thought the ribs themselves were a little tough. The corn and baked beans were average and again, everyone loved the bread & butter. I didnt have any but my wife thought they whipped the butter with sugar as it was very sweet. The highlight though of the show for my kids was when my wife hooted & hollered that is was our anniversary night (and it truly was 20 year anniversary). They made us get up and dance. I dont think we have ever danced together before neither of us like it plus I am 65 and she is 52 so we are a bit of a size mismatch. Anyway, it was fun and we had the spotlight on us for a minute or so while we danced by our table .the kids were busting up laughing because they know I hate to dance .but again, it was fun! Overall, the food & service was generally good and the entertainment a lot of fun. I give it <b>4 ½ STARS</b> as it was a very enjoyable evening.
<b>Rainforest Café (AKL lunch) .</b>We have been to the Rainforest Café many times several times in Florida and many other times when we had one near us in Philadelphia. I have always found the food pretty good but nothing great. This time though, the food was generally not good and the service was average. Stuart was the server and he was not very personable and a bit slow on the drink refills. The best part of the meal was the awesome appetizer as it was hot and tasty and included chicken tenders, fried calamari, a crab & cheese dip, and an eggroll type concoction. From there, the rest of the meal went downhill. I had a chicken sandwich that was dry and flavorless. The cole slaw and fries were average. My wife also did not enjoy her turkey wrap. My son did enjoy his pizza which was a BBQ chicken & cheese pizza but I personally do not like the cracker-like crust they have for their pizza. My daughter liked her chicken strip appetizer and she also had macaroni & cheese which she said was OK. This was probably my least favorite meal of the entire trip and give it a lowly <b>2 STAR</b> rating. There was a definite highlight though that happened here and it was two E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES cheers that came out of nowhere from across the restaurant. Being an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan, it was a hoot to hear that.
<b>House of Blues (Downtown Disney dinner) .</b>We were seated right away and our server was Bill who was very attentive and personable. We had the cornbread with maple butter which was excellent. My son ordered a chicken penne pasta with a mushroom cream sauce. He felt it was the best meal he had the entire trip. He also had a side of sweet potato mashed potatoes which he inhaled with pleasure. My daughter had a grilled cheese sandwich. Now I didnt think it was possible to ruin a grilled cheese but the one she had was cold and the cheese not melted she ate about three bites of it. My wife ordered the sautéed shrimp with linguini, tomatoes, parmesan, and garlic butter .she really enjoyed it. I had the jambalaya which was good and very plentiful .I could not eat it all. Overall, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was fine. Food was good, except for the grilled cheese and the price was reasonable (especially compared to other WDW restaurants). I give it a <b>4 STAR</b> rating overall and would return in the future.
<b>Shulas Steak House (Dolphin dinner) .</b>It was my wifes birthday and she wanted to go to Wolfgang Pucks but we could not get in. Instead she decided on Shulas (without the kids) .though I feel she chose it for me as I have wanted to eat here. We got seated right away, though we were seated near the entrance .couldnt really complain about this as it was a Friday night and we did not have a PS. I enjoyed all of the football memorabilia and the dark, wooded décor of the place. Everyone we dealt with was very professional and attentive. Steve was our main server and at first he came off as a bit snooty but as the meal went on, my perception changed and I felt he did a real nice job and loosened up a bit. They bring out a cart of their entrees and describe each cut of beef they have. In the middle of the cart was a giant lobster (4-5 lbs) and at first, my wife thought it was dead so she touched it .then it moved! She gave a little shriek and it was rather funny. I started my meal with Oysters Rockefeller and they were awesome. They were the single best food I had on the entire trip. They were huge, juicy, and flavorful. The hollandaise sauce they have here is the best I have ever had anywhere. My wife ordered a NY Strip steak and I ordered the 24 oz. porterhouse. Both steaks were cooked very rare and were extremely tender. My wifes steak was cold all the way through though mine was fine. I also had a side of béarnaise sauce with mine another fantastic sauce. We ordered a side of broccoli and a potato pancake. Well there was enough food for four or five people easy, and it was all very good. The potato pancake was interesting as it had a hint of nutmeg though I would classify it as more of a large hash brown rather than a potato pancake. Being it was my wifes birthday and she being a chocolate lover, we ordered the chocolate soufflé for two for dessert. It came with a vanilla sauce they poured in the middle, two small bowls of vanilla ice cream, and a bowl of whipped cream. It was excellent and I am not a chocolate lover. It was very warm and the chocolate just oozed out the center. For me, the vanilla ice cream and sauce was a must with this dish as the chocolate was so overpowering. Overall, the meal service was very good and the food and presentation excellent. In addition, since we were kidless for the evening, it made the meal even better. Im going to give the meal <b>4 ½ STARS</b> though my wife still enjoys the strip steak from the Flying Fish better. The restaurant is indeed pricey but they do give you a large quantity of food. We could have easily ordered exactly what we did and had plenty for my two kids as well.
That's it! Please feel free to ask questions if you have any.....thanks!
