Restaurant Reviews Making My Head Spin

[CastleGazerMom]

Okay, even though I have almost a year before we leave for WDW - I have been scoping out new places for our family to eat when we go.

When I see threads and reviews on specific restaurants it seems like (just with attractions) that guests either LOVE it or HATE it. I don't think I looked at one restaurant where there wasn't at least one family that hated their food/experience.

How do you decide on trying a new restaurant?

Since our DS is 10 and not really into character meals anymore sad2, I am thinking about trying either the Hoop De Do experience or the OHana experience. It seems though that there is a very divided opinion on both? We don't usually spend so much on sit down meals and I want to make sure our one dining experience is the best one (since if they don't like it they will blame me!)

 

[TDC Nala]

Do not pay attention to the reviews as far as using them to choose restaurants for yourselves. Look at the menus, if they look good to you, try the restaurant. In the case of the two you mentioned, do HDD if you are interested in the show. The food is good ole American picnic fare and it is not a food-centric experience. 'Ohana can be more about the food and guests either love it or hate it because it's not "ordinary." If you like the way the menu looks, try it for yourself. Have your family look at the menus, or find pictures for them to look at if you are concerned they won't like it. You can order "kids food" there if you want - chicken nuggets, hot dogs, etc - but if adults order it they'll still pay the full adult price for the 'Ohana meal.

 

[Cherinva]

For me, I read the reviews but don't base my decision solely on that. I look over the menus carefully, and see what I would like to eat....that's how I do it. Once I try a place, then I know if it's somewhere I will go again. No matter what place you look at, there will be a least one person that will not like it. Good luck.

 

[Hooked On The Mouse]

I also read reviews, just to get an idea of potential issues, but then I take them with a grain of salt. Not only is it true that different people like different things, but some people are easy to please and other people are never pleased by anything. You can never be sure which one's review you're reading. I agree that if the menu looks good to you, give it a try for yourself.

 

[skylizard]

I take all reviews with a grain of salt. People have such different tastes and you have to try things out for yourself.

 

[graceesmom]

I have to agree with the above posters. Take all reviews with a grain of salt. On our first family vacation to WDW, I originally didn't book Ohana b/c of the negative reviews, then decided that I would go ahead b/c the menu is right up my husband's alley. It's now on our "must do" every trip. I'm sure there are people that have been there on the same night with the same server who would still disagree on whether they love or hate this place.

On the other hand, I did book Biergarten b/c lots of people love it on these boards. We tried it and I will never go back. That doesn't mean others didn't have a great experience. It's jut not my cup of tea.

You know your family and what their preferences are. I still read reviews for specific information like the dessert options have changed, etc.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

I think DS10 will have a much better time at Hoop Dee Doo than Ohana. Ohana dinner gets mixed reviews, and the "entertainment" is really not much and more for little kids -- parading around the restaurant shaking marakas.

Hoop Dee Doo is very funny and our waitress was a real hoot! Lots of funny joking and kidding around. Our DS laughed non-stop the whole show. Food not bad either. If you go to Hoop Dee Doo, I recommend buying the picture they take before you go in... it's 2 pictures... one of you and your family... and the other is the whole HDD cast. Nice keepsake. I could get a good photo of the whole cast during the show due to lighting (and the cast were always moving!).

I understand the head spinning... How can one restaurant be hated and loved so much? I look for specific reasons why someone gave their opinion. If a restaurant gets consistent rave reviews --- I'm there! Like Flying Fish Cafe, Crystal Palace, and 50s Prime Time Cafe.

Here are some restaurants that get the most head spinning reviews..... and why I think that is so.... I think the cost of the restaurant matters to people's opinions too.

Le Cellier -- some people just love steak. but it's just steak. the menu is limited. the prices are high. steak is boring to me... I won't go back.

Marrakesh -- some people don't like different food. the food is not that different. I like the food. the music and belly dancing entertainment is great. I like that it's different. We have a 100 places like Le Cellier at home. On vacation... I want something different. Will go back here in a heartbeat.

Hollywood and Vine -- lunch and dinner... I understand... food not great. breakfast food is good (it's your basic breakfast food but good). the character interaction is awesome for young children (6 and under). Breakfast here is a must do.

Ohana Dinner -- I raved about this place in 2009. Hated it in 2010. Had to wait forever. Food was not great. Between 2009 and 2010, the Chefs changed. I'll say that's the reason. Chef TJ was great -- made a special dessert in 2009 for DS.

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Prices are VERY high for the food quality. But it's fun, and DS laughs. On the dining plan, it's all the same cost. The laughter is worth a dining credit.

 

[Disfan20]

I also think some people go strictly for the food while others go for the entire experience (atmosphere, characters, theaming ect.). We have had some so-so meals, but because the experience was so great we would still highly recommend the restauraunt to others. So the bottom line is only you know whats importatnt to you and your family.

 

[katytxqueen]

Reviews are others opinions. I booked our ADR's based upon the menu and what my kids will eat!

 

[CastleGazerMom]

Thank You For all the Excellent Advice Everyone!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Agreed that you have to try something yourself due to the very mixed reviews here. For example, many love WCC and it is on our never go back list. I want to be able to someday say that I have eaten at every restaurant on property. Not easy considering we only get to go once a year! So each trip I pick several new restaurants to try. Sometimes I base them on recent great sounding reviews, other times the menus and sometimes just because it is a place we haven't been to. We are trying H&V for breakfast this year just because I have to be able to cross it off the list.

So I agree, look at the menus and decide what is best for your family. We have never done HDDR as that type of food and entertainment isn't something we are interested in. But we do love 'Ohana.

Good luck and have fun making those ADRs. I love the planning part of the vacation almost as much as the trip itself!

 

[johnsonginad]

I did read reviews of restaurants when making choices about which restaurants to book when making our ADRs for our trip back in March, but they weren't the deciding factor on which ones we went to. We looked at menus of the restaurants and made our choices based off of what we thought sounded the best. After our trip, I wrote notes in my binder about what each family member thought about the different restaurants we had chosen. I thought this might help when deciding which places to possibly go back to on our next trip.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

We try to do 2 or 3 new places a year, so I do read up on places quite a bit. I study the menus and side options, read reviews, and I try to pay attention to the particulars of reviews. For instance, if someone loves a dish at San Angel and says that the fresh cilantro was a nice touch, that's a negative in my book. I hate cilantro. FWIW, there is a Disboarder who does very well with her reviews, i think her name is MikkiNikki.

Take your time and realize that you won't love every meal. Two of the most raved about spots on the boards (Hoop De Doo and Teppan Edo) are absolute never do again list for us. Hoop De Doo because I don't think the show is funny. Food is average at best. Teppan Edo because I LOVE LOVE LOVE Japanese food and my local spots have better food, more of it, and less money.

However, last year one of our picks had mostly negative reviews and after studying the menu we went anyway. I can say that I really enjoyed Kouzzina's and will definitely go back!

 

[Hootch]

two ago there was a thread on the worst restaurant at WDW. Almost every, if not every, restaurant was nominated by someone. People have different expectations, demands, tastes, etc. Restaurants and servers do have bad days.

I do look at reviews. Sometimes the things people rant about aren't important to me. Sometimes what raved about is minor on my list of things. Reading the reviews helps me understand about the restaurant. If I see review after review mention bland food versus one where one reviewer took awhile to get seated, another had to wait for the check, another didn't like the way their entree was cooked, etc I'll be more likely to try the second rather than the first.

The best advice is look at the menu and heming of a restaurant and determine if it's interesting to you. Glance at the reviews to get a feel, but if you want to go, then go. And then tell us what you thought.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We love to try new places and I like to read reviews of them but if I read lots of bad ones that is not going to keep me from trying it myself.

I just pick what I want and that is it...until my DH changes it up on me

 

[Mommytwotwins]

You will always have people who will love it and ones that hate it!! Just check out the menus and choose the ones that look the best to your family. I read the reviews to get ideas but have learned that the only way to really know it to try it out yourself.

 

[Lynne M]

It's really no different than choosing a restaurant in your home town. I'm sure that if you looked at reviews on Yelp for your favorite local restaurants, you'd see horrible reviews and great ones. I know it's that way with restaurants I've tried around here.

So, how do you decide whether or not to try a place at home? Do you look at the menu online? Do you ask friends for a recommendation? Do you read reviews on a site like Yelp or OpenTable?

I look at menus. I pretty much ignore reviews. Well, I will say that if multiple reviewers say a restaurant isn't clean, I stay far away. But that's not something you need to worry about at WDW.

I wouldn't hesitate to try any restaurant at WDW.

 

[JerseyDisneyGirl]

You will hear good and bad about every restaurant. To be honest I didn't find any of the food outstanding. We are pretty adventerous eaters, and loved Boma, not every one likes this place. Ohana gets rave reviews, it is on many people's must do list. I thought it was terrible, we didn't like the food there at all. Hollywood-n-Dine gets bad reviews, we loved it. The food was just ok, but the character interaction was outstanding. This place isn't very popular, so the kids got to get up and dance with the characters. Like other posters have said, check out the menus and see what you like. If you take every review under consideration it will drive you crazy...This trip I just let the kids pick where they wanted to eat. We ended up with CRT, Captian's Grill, Cape May Cafe breakfast and dinner.

 

[JimmyV]

Reviews are colored by past experience and future expectation. Many people here drink so much of the Disney Kool-Aid that everything Disney does is great, and they say so loud and clear. Others read those reviews, and, having just dined at The French Laundry, Per Se or Alinea, can't see what the fuss is all about because even the best Disney restaurants (except for V&A) pale in comparison. So you have to figure out if you are a French Laundry person, or an Olive Garden person. And here comes the hard part. You have to figure out which type of person the person writing the review is. I know people who regularly dine at "family style" restaurants like Olive Garden, Applebee's, Chevy's and the like, and have entirely different opinions of Disney dining than people who regularly dine at high end gourmet restaurants. So, your past experiences are key in figuring this all out. And you can never get too excited about any restaurant at Disney because if you are expecting an A+, and it comes in at a B, you will be very disappointed, despite the fact that a B isn't all that bad.

 

[burberryplaid]

I say go for anything that sounds good to you! We've been to a few places that others put down and loved them (Mama Melrose) You have to try it yourself!