Restaurants to avoid?

[scrump]

Fortunately so far, we've never had a horrible dining experience. We've had neutrally ok experiences, but never ones where we would never go back to that particular restaurant.

 

[cutienibbler]

I have not eaten at every eatery in wdw, BUT, The Pizza Planet was just nasty! How can they make pizza taste so bad? The salad was slimey! This is coming from someone who has really never met a pizza she didn't like

 

[jenrose66]

We had dinner at Alfredo's and I was really excited cause I love Italian food. I found dinner to be very overpriced (about $70 if I remember right, for 2 people) and the food was just very disappointing.

I also didn't care for Fulton's. We went for lunch...it wasn't bad, I just wasn't impressed.

We did have our "special" dinner at Yachtsmem Steakhouse. I thought that was great. The food was delicious and the service was wonderful. At first I was a little uncomfortable because I'm not used to something so fancy. But our server made us feel comfortable. We even got a special desert platter that said congratulations or something like that (we were on our honeymoon).

 

[Patty3]

I love Chef Mickeys, great character interaction and the prime rib was very good. I will not go back to Alfredo's, Whispering Canyon, or Cpt Jacks. I do no see the fuss over WC, unless we hit it on an off night. You do get alot of food, but I thought it was just mediocre.

 

[rcraw45425]

Not horrible but not on our list to do again: LeCellier been there three times, 1st time was wonderful, tasty steaks. Last two times we have had overcooked steaks that were flavorless. The bread was good. Same with San Angel Inn. Both times for lunch. Both times excellent atmosphere, dried out cold food. Both the chicken in the quesadillas and the rice appeared to have been sitting under a heat lamp a little too long. The rice was actually hard! The same for the chicken in the quesas. Then it was left sitting on th ecounter till our unknown, unattentive server brought it to us. Chef Mickeys was a dissapointment the last time. Floors needed sweeping, food left to sit in the counter, where it had been dropped by guests. Some items dried out. Tonys was very bland but big portions. $70 for spaghetti was a bit much though!

 

[mommytutu]

I'm another one who never had a bad Disney dining experience. We had some that were better then others, but non were so bad that I'd never eat there again.

I guess the worse offender was ABC Commissary only because the wait was so freakin long. I didn't think I'd ever get to the register to place my order then I had another wait for my food. I'm not sure how long I was in line for, but it was long enough for my dh and ds to wait and ride Star Tours and when they found me I had just sat down to eat. It seems like the wait was 30-40 minutes. When we go back we probably won't eat at MGM just because I don't see any resturant that seems to be my cup of tea. We'll stick with counter service at MGM. And we'll probably sick with counter service at AK for the same reasons.

I LOVED eating at Epcot and MK. And so right now I really need to stick up for the Coral Reef. We LOVED it! We had a 5:00 PS and were seated within 15 minutes. I even got the aquarium table I requested. It was so awesome! Our food was really good...lobster soup, grilled mahi, and grilled shrimp. Our server was great! Coral Reef is dh's favorites.

 

[Kasmir]

One thing I have learned about Disney dining: some days when we get to a restaurant, particularly for dinner, we are just totally worn out by the day's events. They probably could serve us the best meal ever prepared, and we would gripe about it. Other days, we are rested and alert, and food that may be mediocre seems great, just cause we are happy to be there.

Excellent insight!

 

[maggs]

I have to say the worst by a long stretch for us was Beaches and Cream.The food was lousy and the service very poor. O'Hanas comes a close second with its dry oversmoked meats and again poor service.Lastly Mama Melrose - what an awful dining experience that was too Interesting to see how views differ!

Maggs

 

[rigs32]

Liberty Tree Tavern - way overpriced for what you get. We went because the large group we were with went. Never again. And boy was I happy just the 2 of us had gone to Crystal Palace the night before or I might have been turned off to character meals.

Restaurantasaurus - we had no idea it was a McDonalds. We went there cause we liked the name. Four adults pretty must had a temper-tantrum when we walked in and realized the bait-and-switch.

Water park food - it's all pretty bad because they don't serve the numbers to provide anything else

 

[sportears]

I keep hearing good things about many of the restaurants at DW. We are going for the first time and I'm wondering if any of you veterans have suggestions as to which restaurants we should avoid when we're there. Thanks

Everyone has different taste. I am amased at how many people like and dislike the same restaurants. Some people equate quantity with quality when rating how good a reataurant's food is. Some people have more of a discriminating point of veiw. For the most part I have found that most of the food at Disney is very good. We have been going to Disney for the past 8 years and like creatures of habit tend to eat at the same restaurants. We do however have a few restaurants that we would not eat at again. MGM - Sci Fi Drive in, Mama Melrose's EPCOT Living Seas. Polynesian - Ohana's, or the Polynesian Luau. If you like to eat sit down meals at Lunch and Dinner like we do, do not waste your money on Disney's new dinner package. Its a bad deal.

 

[keishashadow]

I'd never call Le Cellier "Classy". Decent and sometimes great food, yes, have to agree there, but "classy"? Nope, it's no more "classy" than Outback, which falls just above TGIF in my book.

As far as the "snobby" service, I think often it's imagined by people who feel intimidated by a place for whatever reason. (Not saying that's the case here.) Sooo many people say that some of the deluxe resorts are too "snobby" for them, which is a ludacris statement to make--if they are so snobby then why do so many enjoy them?

While service might be "poor", "poor" and "Snobby" are two different animals.

That said, my husband was treated in a very condescending manner by our "Victoria" at V&A's (our Albert was a gem). To me, condescending is something specific that happens, a specific statement or incident, "snobby" is perceived. Hope that makes sense, and NOT trying to flame the poster.

Anne

Hey younz guys - no one said nuthing about that there grammar. You must excuse me, where I come from if they give you real silverware and a cloth napkin, you've arrived. Gotta go - time to brush out my mullet.

All funnin' aside, nice house (re-location, retirement or vacation?). What a dream come true, enjoy.

 

[DVCconvert]

a little too "testosterone filled" for me LOL!

but what else would you expect from a steak (beef) house??

 

[ottawa-newbie]

It sounds like I'll have to form my own opinions when we get there
I know we'll be avoiding Planet Hollywood though since I've been there before and it wasn't worth the hype. DH is a pickier eater than I am, but since I'm calling the shots (at least for PS's), he'll have no choice. So far, the only places I know we'll go to for sure are Boma's and the HDDR. I'm hoping that the week of Nov 12th, we'll be able to wing it. Thank you everyone!

 

[Robundrh2o]

The Concourse Steakhouse.

DW DD and I went there for our last meal of the trip. We were on the Silver plan (I guess thats been replaced with the MYW dinner). I had the prime-rib and let's just say it was very much less than Prime. I forget what my wife had and so does she, that should tell you how memorable it was. Our server was attentive until we mentioned we wer on the Silver plan and then he only showed to bring our food and the check. The only good thing about the place was the painted cookie for my daughter at the end of the meal. Other than that I can get the same quality of steak at the Golden Corral buffett.

Chef Mickey's

We hit that on our last morning and was not impressed. The food wasn't that great and the character interaction left much to be desired. Even DD 3 wasn't that into the characters because their only there for a minute. When we want a good breakfast with the characters we will go to Crystal Palace in MK.

 

[crisi]

One thing I have learned about Disney dining: some days when we get to a restaurant, particularly for dinner, we are just totally worn out by the day's events. They probably could serve us the best meal ever prepared, and we would gripe about it. Other days, we are rested and alert, and food that may be mediocre seems great, just cause we are happy to be there.

And expectations. It was expections, not really the food quality, service or atmosphere that ruined Boma for us. We simply didn't have "buffet" expectations after all the rave reviews here. And while Boma is a good buffet, it is a buffet. Prime rib from a buffet is NOT prime rib from a kitchen, salads that were dressed half an hour ago are not the same as salads dressed three minutes ago, scooping up potatoes onto your own plate is not the same as having potatoes plated and sauces artfully drizzled over the top. And zebra domes would be better plated with a mango or raspberry sauce.

Likewise, I decided not to go to Beaches and Cream. I'd heard again and again how the burgers were "the best" and made plans. Then I was in a thread where I was describing the "best" burger I'd ever had and someone (perhaps Anne, who has similar gourmet taste) said "oh, honey, don't go to B&C - you are setting yourself up for a fall." I might go there another time, but next time with realistic expectations and not looking for a burger to compare with my "best."

We are doing Sci Fi for the atmosphere, not the food, at my seven year old's request. We like San Angel for the same reasons. While some people love Chef Mickey's food, most people don't say "California Grill or Chef Mickey's" and make the choice on food quality - they are going for the characters. Some people put a lot of emphasis on value - so Boma, Ohana or WCC come out higher than someone who puts little emphasis on value and a lot on presentation and quality.

 

[ducklite]

AHAHA! GREAT post Crisi!

Not sure I ever dissed the burgers at B&C though, I doubt it, because when you're in the mood for a greasy big ole burger and fries, it's a great place to go! LOL!

That said, I prefer my beef on the lean side, and the burger served at lunch at Le Cellier is probably the best I've had at WDW.

I wouldn't know about Zebra Domes though--can't eat them due to my allergies Same with Tonga Toast

Anne

 

[GIOny]

Tony's Town Square is pretty bad. $19.00 for a plate of spaghetti that tasted like it came out of a chef boy-r-dee can. Also MaMa Melrose's I have given more than one chance and I don't know why because I got sick both times and my husband got sick once. Come on Disney, Italian cooking is not that hard or expensive. How can you justify charging $19.00 for a bowl of spaaghetti for something that tastes so bad. There are plenty of restaurants in Disney that have fairly decent to very good food, don't waste your time with the bad ones.

 

[panthergirl]

For me it's the Crystal Palace. Shocking I know but I really hate that they made it into a character dining buffet. It used to be just a lovely place where you could sit and enjoy the ambiance. It was always a little on the loud side but now I think it's obnoxiously so. The food is OK and certainly wouldn't discourage anybody who wants good character interaction to give it a try. I liked it better the old way and will not go there any more.

 

[Fire14]

Last spring my family had horrible, not even as good as frozen, pizza at the Pizza Planet. But some people say it's a good value for decent pizza. Maybe we'll try it again this year.

I've eaten it twice and "lost it" within an hour. I can eat food court pizza but i can't stand pizza planets.

 

[erinz]

It was interesting to read all the negative reviews of Alfredo's. When we were there in Dec 2003, we had one of our best meals of the whole trip. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I had my first bite.

Well, actually I had died and gone to heaven before that, when I saw our waiter!!