I'm just back from Orlando and thought some restaurant reviews might be appreciated. Here's my views;
Kobe, Japanese restaurant. Food was good, but the attraction was having it cooked in front of you. The chef had an excellent sense of humour and paid particular attention to my children. The only real choice we were able to make was the type of meat. The rest was done by the chef. Worth it for the shear entertainment value. Once is enough.
Olive Garden, Italian. Food was excellent, but the atmosphere isn't brilliant. The prices are above average. Our waiter was a little too attentive, returning to ask if everything was OK. The wife reckoned he was new to the job. This got a little tiresome after a while. Went twice, probably wouldn't go next time, if only because there are so many other restaurants to try.
Tony Roma's, American. Food was good, prices were reasonable, service was good. The child's menu has about 10 different choices including vegetarian. I'd go again.
IHOP, American, close to junction of I-Drive and Sandlake Road. The service and food was excellent. Breakfast wasn't cheap, and I wouldn't go again. Dinner is reasonably priced, and I'll go again. Service was exceptional.
Prime Time Cafe at MGM. You MUST MUST try this out. It's 50's style American and has to be experienced. We were shown to our table and introduced to "Cousin Sarah", our waitress. My daughter left the table to visit the restroom and was told to sit back down as she hadn't asked to be excused ! When she got back she was asked if she'd washed her hands, and then asked what colour the soap was ! We'd already been warned by a friend so she'd made a mantal note to remember what it was. My wife got a round of applause from all the diners for clearing her plate. All of the dad's were made to wear a bib. Cousin Sarah even tried to set up a date for my daughter with the boy from the next table. When we left everybody was told to wish their cousin's from the UK a happy holiday. I will definitely go back. Do what we did and do a day at the park, dinner at the Prime Time Cafe, and then watch Fantasmic.
Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom. Give this a wide berth. The temperature set was low enough for the artic, not a rainforest. This meant the food got cold quickly. The service was very slow and the prices were far too high. I was very disappointed. Avoid at all costs.
Chef Mickey's, Contemporary Hotel. Another must do. The buffet breakfast was very extensive, compared to some character meals I've seen elsewhere on this board. We knew what to expect as we'd done it before but the kids love it, as did my mother who was having her first encounter with the characters.
MacDonalds, junction of I-Drive and Sandlake Road. Quite unlike
MacDonald's in the UK. There is more selection and this outlet includes a pizzeria, ice-cream sundae bar and a large games room./ The game room includes a huge assembly of ball-pits, ladders, slide tubes etc, as well as arcade games at reasonable prices. For example "Air-Hockey" is 50 cents, compared to the £1 per game in the UK. Be warned, the staff aren't very well trained, so check your bill, especially if you're using one of their offers. Try the Steak and Egg Bagel for breakfast.
Bill Wong's, chinese buffet. Do it. Have an afternoon's shopping at Belz's and drop in here for a meal. Arrive before 4 pm and you will pay the lunch-time price. Prices are very good and the food is above average. Service was excellent.
China Jade buffet and Mongolian Grill, on I-Drive. Don't do it. Cold food, poor service, zero atmosphere. Awful.
Cafe Tu Tu Tango, latin/Spanish style. Another must do. I don't know what it's like normally but we visited on a Friday when they were having a "Superhero's Night". We were served by a very camp Mutant Ninja Turtle ! Met up with Captain America, the Green Hornet, Tank-Girl, Cat woman (skin tight catsuit !), Supergirl (very butch, with beard), and many others. After the meal (tapas style) we walked around watching the entertainment. My daughters had their faces painted. They we had charactures of them done by an ex-Disney artist. I'm now the proud father of Super Hannah and Aqua Girl ! There was an artist working, somebody reading tarot cards, and two belly-dancers arrived as we were leaving. I told the waiter we were having the drawings done and he brought us our drinks and bill over. I know it was to free up the table, but the service was brilliant. I will be doing this again and would recommend it to anybody.
Chili's, Tex-Mex, on I-Drive. Brilliant food, brilliant service, brilliant prices, kids treated brilliantly. One word - Brilliant. Try a Margheritta.
Food Court at Florida Mall. Excellent selection, good prices. Olive Garden have an outlet there. Foods as good as the restaurant. £4 gets a plate of pasta, salad, garlic bread and a drink. One daughter ate Greek. You could try food before buying if you liked.
These are my opinions and other branches of the same chain will offer different levels of service and have different atmosphere's. Always collect the books of money-off coupons. Practically everywhere offers a discount of some sort.
Kobe, Japanese restaurant. Food was good, but the attraction was having it cooked in front of you. The chef had an excellent sense of humour and paid particular attention to my children. The only real choice we were able to make was the type of meat. The rest was done by the chef. Worth it for the shear entertainment value. Once is enough.
Olive Garden, Italian. Food was excellent, but the atmosphere isn't brilliant. The prices are above average. Our waiter was a little too attentive, returning to ask if everything was OK. The wife reckoned he was new to the job. This got a little tiresome after a while. Went twice, probably wouldn't go next time, if only because there are so many other restaurants to try.
Tony Roma's, American. Food was good, prices were reasonable, service was good. The child's menu has about 10 different choices including vegetarian. I'd go again.
IHOP, American, close to junction of I-Drive and Sandlake Road. The service and food was excellent. Breakfast wasn't cheap, and I wouldn't go again. Dinner is reasonably priced, and I'll go again. Service was exceptional.
Prime Time Cafe at MGM. You MUST MUST try this out. It's 50's style American and has to be experienced. We were shown to our table and introduced to "Cousin Sarah", our waitress. My daughter left the table to visit the restroom and was told to sit back down as she hadn't asked to be excused ! When she got back she was asked if she'd washed her hands, and then asked what colour the soap was ! We'd already been warned by a friend so she'd made a mantal note to remember what it was. My wife got a round of applause from all the diners for clearing her plate. All of the dad's were made to wear a bib. Cousin Sarah even tried to set up a date for my daughter with the boy from the next table. When we left everybody was told to wish their cousin's from the UK a happy holiday. I will definitely go back. Do what we did and do a day at the park, dinner at the Prime Time Cafe, and then watch Fantasmic.
Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom. Give this a wide berth. The temperature set was low enough for the artic, not a rainforest. This meant the food got cold quickly. The service was very slow and the prices were far too high. I was very disappointed. Avoid at all costs.
Chef Mickey's, Contemporary Hotel. Another must do. The buffet breakfast was very extensive, compared to some character meals I've seen elsewhere on this board. We knew what to expect as we'd done it before but the kids love it, as did my mother who was having her first encounter with the characters.
MacDonalds, junction of I-Drive and Sandlake Road. Quite unlike
MacDonald's in the UK. There is more selection and this outlet includes a pizzeria, ice-cream sundae bar and a large games room./ The game room includes a huge assembly of ball-pits, ladders, slide tubes etc, as well as arcade games at reasonable prices. For example "Air-Hockey" is 50 cents, compared to the £1 per game in the UK. Be warned, the staff aren't very well trained, so check your bill, especially if you're using one of their offers. Try the Steak and Egg Bagel for breakfast.
Bill Wong's, chinese buffet. Do it. Have an afternoon's shopping at Belz's and drop in here for a meal. Arrive before 4 pm and you will pay the lunch-time price. Prices are very good and the food is above average. Service was excellent.
China Jade buffet and Mongolian Grill, on I-Drive. Don't do it. Cold food, poor service, zero atmosphere. Awful.
Cafe Tu Tu Tango, latin/Spanish style. Another must do. I don't know what it's like normally but we visited on a Friday when they were having a "Superhero's Night". We were served by a very camp Mutant Ninja Turtle ! Met up with Captain America, the Green Hornet, Tank-Girl, Cat woman (skin tight catsuit !), Supergirl (very butch, with beard), and many others. After the meal (tapas style) we walked around watching the entertainment. My daughters had their faces painted. They we had charactures of them done by an ex-Disney artist. I'm now the proud father of Super Hannah and Aqua Girl ! There was an artist working, somebody reading tarot cards, and two belly-dancers arrived as we were leaving. I told the waiter we were having the drawings done and he brought us our drinks and bill over. I know it was to free up the table, but the service was brilliant. I will be doing this again and would recommend it to anybody.
Chili's, Tex-Mex, on I-Drive. Brilliant food, brilliant service, brilliant prices, kids treated brilliantly. One word - Brilliant. Try a Margheritta.
Food Court at Florida Mall. Excellent selection, good prices. Olive Garden have an outlet there. Foods as good as the restaurant. £4 gets a plate of pasta, salad, garlic bread and a drink. One daughter ate Greek. You could try food before buying if you liked.
These are my opinions and other branches of the same chain will offer different levels of service and have different atmosphere's. Always collect the books of money-off coupons. Practically everywhere offers a discount of some sort.
Getting, there plus theme parks and tickets having been covered in planning.
