Restaurants to avoid?

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Chef Mickey's, Pinnochio's Village Haus, the ABC Commisary and Backlot Express, and San Angel Inn are the only places I will NEVER EVER EVER eat at again, if it was FREE or they PAID me I wouldn't eat there again.

That said, there are a few other places I don't eat at, as follows:

Coral Reef I think it's terribly expensive for mediocre (but not bad) food

Palio, had two REALLY bad experiences there with service, not right to spend $150 on a meal and get horrendous service. If it was free, I'd go back.

Sci-Fi Drive In--Some love it, we thought the food was "OK", the service was "meh" and the atmosphere was uncomfortably cramped.

Big River Brewery, so-so service and so-so food, too many good places to eat to waste my time eating there.

Portabello yacht Club--had SUCH bad service and medicore food we haven't gone back. Keep meaning to, I think we caught them on a bad night.

Garden Grill, ok service, ok food, but again, so many great places to eat, why waste the time?

Boma--I have food allergies, and this is the ONLY place at WDW that they didn't try to accomodate me, and I couldn't eat 95% of the food there. AFTEr my son and husband finished eating, right down to dessert, the server offered to bring me a chicken breast from the kitchen when he realized I hadn't eaten anything. Had he been attentive, he would have noticed this issue half an hour earlier. The chef also did nothing but walk me through teh buffet and tell me I couldn't eat almost everything on it--again, no offer to try to accomodate me. I would have been happy to pay for a dinner from Jiko to be brought over, there are several great items on their menu I can eat. Boma at breakfast was a different animal and I strongly suggest it!

Alfredo's--overpriced so-so food, and generally indifferent service give me no reason to want to run back there.

Anne

Anne,
So you must bring a packed lunch to Disney? Sounds like you theres not a single place you like.

 

[DisneyaholicRaquel]

OMG... I love H&V!

 

[ducklite]

Anne,
So you must bring a packed lunch to Disney? Sounds like you theres not a single place you like.

First of all, I know how to obey rules, and don't haul FOOD into WDW parks.

That said, as many who read my posts will attest, there are plenty of WDW restaurants that I rave about.

Jiko, Citrico's, California Grill, Yacht Club Galley, Mama Melroses, Spoodles, Kona, 50's PT are all favorites.

Others I like alot: YSH, Artists Point, Bongo's, Wolfgang Pucks, CB at Donalds in the AK, CD at 1900 PF, GF Cafe, Le Cellier, Shula's, Fulton's, B&C, Cape May Cafe.

I'm sure there are others I'm just not thinking of at this moment.

Anne

 

[Peachie158]

The 2 restaurants I'll never go back to are Fulton's and Mama Melrose's.

On the other hand, there are so many restaurants I love but the BEST service I've had was from Teresa at the Flying Fish.

 

[MEM]

The only restaurant I would absolutely refuse to go to is ABC Commisary at MGM. The food was not edible. I believe we got some type of chicken, I don't remember.

There are other restaurants I don't really care for, but none that I would not go back to.

June

ABC gets my vote too, as well as Toy Story Pizza Planet. Last time we walked into Pizza Planet it smelled strongly of sour vomit!! Turned right around and never returned!

 

[cseca]

Citrico's - Snobby, snotty CM... never again... And we're very easy to get along.

Big River Brewery - Tried it twice and both times weren't impressive.

I think that's pretty much it.
All the rest are pretty decent in my opinion.
But those 2 I wouldn't go back even if somebody pays me... hehe... okay, maybe if they pay me a lot of money I would... LOL!!!

 

[LibGirl]

Main Entry: condescending
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: snobby
Synonyms: arrogant, complaisant, disdainful, egotistic, lofty, lordly, patronizing, smart ***, snobbish, snooty, supercilious, superior, uppish, uppity
Antonyms: approachable, down-to-earth, friendly, humble, unassuming, unpretentious
Source: Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.1.1)
Copyright © 2005 by Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

Ann, I am happy that you know how to follow the rules. Do they sell baby formula and baby food at counter service? What about gluten-free bread and soymilk for my best friend's autistic son? Or perhaps he shouldn't be allowed at Disney. Maybe Disney should confiscate his lunch at the gate and turn us all away. My point here is that many people would not be able to go to Disney World, health-wise or cost-wise, without bringing food into the parks. Disney must appreciate their business, since the CM's are not confiscating food at the gate.

It would be "classy" to have a pleasant discussion without picking apart other people's grammar or opinions.

 

[goodferry]

We did not like Pizza Planet at MGM, Pinnochio's at MK or Chef Mickey's. I have to agree with Anne that there are much better character meals out there. We found the whole experience a little obnoxious, although the children enjoyed the characters, and the food was ....food, I think.
For the most part, though, we have enjoyed most of our meals at WDW, however, I do research menus and reviews a good bit to make sure that the food would suit our tastes before we go.

 

[ducklite]

Ann, I am happy that you know how to follow the rules. Do they sell baby formula and baby food at counter service?

No, but you can buy limited selections at the Baby Care Centers in each park.

What about gluten-free bread and soymilk for my best friend's autistic son?

With advance notice WDW full service restaurants can accomodate these requests. A good friend is lactose intolerant and has Celiac. We've visited WDW together several times, she's always been accomodated.

Or perhaps he shouldn't be allowed at Disney.

As the mother of a son with disabilities, I find this comment both absurd and ignorant.

Maybe Disney should confiscate his lunch at the gate and turn us all away.

Individuals with special dining needs are allowed to bring their own food into the parks, however Disney Special Services strongly cautions that appropriate steps are taken to make sure the food doesn't spoil.

My point here is that many people would not be able to go to Disney World, health-wise or cost-wise, without bringing food into the parks. Disney must appreciate their business, since the CM's are not confiscating food at the gate.

Disney's official policy is that people can't take food into the parks--with the exception of those with special needs or infant/toddler food. Guests who can't afford to eat in the parks are welcome to return to their cars or rooms to eat--although cooking in rooms not equipped for same is prohibited. Regretfully CM's don't enforce many of WDW's policies.

Anne

 

[csmommy]

We have enjoyed Chef Mickey's every time we go, its my sons favorite place to eat.

As for a restaurant we will NEVER eat at again, it has to be Shula's at the Dolphin. I am a New Yorker, & have eaten in many NYC steak houses including Ruths Chris, Peter Lugers & Sparks. Shula's steak couldn't touch anything in NYC it was tough & not cooked properly, the aspargus was under done, & the staff thinks WAY to much of themselves.

 

[eeyore0062]

I think that lists of restaurants to avoid are strictly preferences in taste. One persons wonderful meal, may be another's nightmare. For instance, I have no desire to eat at California Grill or Artist's Point, but they are on the top of other's best restaurant lists.

I say that you need to try what sounds good to you and form your own opinions.

 

[CharmedLife]

Although we seldom have had bad experiences, a few years ago we ate at San Angel Inn with my parents. Although the atmosphere was lovely, the service was horrible. We ordered quesadillas for an appetizer and the waiter brought out this huge platter that had two tiny pieces on it! We paid quite a bit for it, and to this day I wonder if he didn't tilt the platter on his way out and spilled most of the food off! At least it made for a funny family story, but none of us have any interest in ever going back, not with so many other restaurants to try.

 

[vsimeone]

Of all the places we've tried, the only one I will NEVER go back to is Wide World of Sports Cafe. YUCK!!!! Expensive, inedible food and horrible service!!! And should I mention that they closed at 9pm the night of the Alamo Bowl? A SPORTS cafe???

 

[pixiedust23]

Wow am I in the twilght zone here? Ok for starters I LOVE san angel inn. I've been to MX a couple times and I still like like it, so please no one feel discouraged if you wanted to give it a try!!!! And then Fultons ok that one gets a big old YUM YUM from my tum tum! The French pattisserie...oooo that one has une grande yummy-licious level! Sigh and the LTT, amazing mac and cheese, that's all i have to say!

Now onto other matters: Anne and Danny come on now, how can you get heated when talking about food? food is THE best thing ever!!!! Can't we all just get along?

And snobbery: When my brother and I were younger many many moons ago and the Empress Lily was still in all her glory (sigh) and we would go down on the grand plan....we were warned I would say a god 20 times by my dad to be on our best behavior and not even spilling water would be tolerated. Well as I'm sure can imagine my angel older brother and I were saints and bout 15 min into the meal good old dad knocked his water all over the table and broke his glass! Well my brother and I maintained composure until our waiter started laughing then we all lost it! AHHHH good memories! O and we've prolly eaten at every nice restaurant in Disney and never once experience snoberry including V&A's so no worries people you will be fine!

 

[jacksonsmom]

We must have been pretty lucky. We really haven't had a horrible eating experience while at WDW. Sure there were some places we thought would better then other, some service was better at some place then others, but there is no one WDW place (sit down or counter) that I would cross off my list.

Now there are some that don't appeal to me, like the places in China or Japan (don't care for Asian food) or Coral Reef (don't eat seafood).

 

[OceanAnnie]

We have enjoyed Chef Mickey's every time we go, its my sons favorite place to eat.

As for a restaurant we will NEVER eat at again, it has to be Shula's at the Dolphin. I am a New Yorker, & have eaten in many NYC steak houses including Ruths Chris, Peter Lugers & Sparks. Shula's steak couldn't touch anything in NYC it was tough & not cooked properly, the aspargus was under done, & the staff thinks WAY to much of themselves.

Oh man! I was thinking of taking DH to Shula's as a special treat. He's a big fan of Don Shula. Shoot. That would be awful to be such a fan and have a truly disappointing meal at his restaurant.

Back to the drawing board for a special treat.

 

[ducklite]

We had a good meal there, but it's VERY expensive, and I wasn't too fond of teh atmosphere--a little too "testosterone filled" for me LOL!

Anne

 

[estnh]

As you browse these restaurant threads, it is amazing the difference of opinion you get on individual restaurants. We all seem to feel so strongly about them, and it is interesting to see the totally opposite opinions of the same restaurants.

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.

At home, when you are tired and a little grumpy, you don't bother to go out to dinner, but at WDW, you have a priority seating that was made three months ago, and you are virtually obligated to go, whether you really want to or not.

Just a thought, but maybe sometimes our state of mind when we get to the restaurant may play a major factor in our dining experience!

 

[krystyana]

We absolutely hated Coral reef... .the food was awful..and excessively priced....and we have no problem paying well for good food....we waited over an hour and a half to be seated (even with ps)...the server was rude...it was an overall poor experience. We aren't excessively picky....we've eaten almost everywhere else over the years...and would return to almost all...but we will not return to coral reef.

 

[Leota]

The only places I will absolutely not return to are Restaurantasaurus & Pizza Planet. Actually, I avoid eating in MGM period as I haven't been really impressed anywhere there that I have tried. We are trying 50's Prime Time for the atmosphere next trip, but going with low expectations for the food.

I also didn't like Cape May Cafe's "Clambake". I have been to far too many really good,fresh NE clambakes before tho & Cape May doesn't come close at all. Even my seafood loving DS at 12 said never again.

I know alot of people rave about Beaches & Cream, but I find it so-so for dinners. I have eaten meals there three times. I had a medicore hamburger, an awful veggie burger thing & a tough prime rib sandwich. I do love their ice cream sundaes tho & had one every night of my BC stay.

Oh, I almost forgot, from our first trip - the counter service Chinese place in Epcot was truly atrocious.