Restaurants you miss

[OKW Lover]

I would pay a lot of money for an unlimited California Grill lunch.

I'm sure it would be a "lot of money". I'm not sure it would be worth it with today's Disney attitude towards dumbing down experiences and raising prices.

 

[jimmymc]

I'm sure it would be a "lot of money". I'm not sure it would be worth it with today's Disney attitude towards dumbing down experiences and raising prices.

I agree, it would most likely be another prix fixe option with shared apps, one entree, and dessert sampler.

 

[garris3404]

California Grill brunch
Be Our Guest counter service breakfast and lunch

 

[Robber Baron]

ESPN Club was always a favorite. My son and I would reserve a table for various sports.

Tangaroa Terrace was always a favorite for breakfast at the Poly.

Many don’t remember, but the Outer Rim was, at one time, a raw bar. We’d stop there frequently as an appetizer spot before going to dinner.

We used to love going to the gazebo/sunroom area in the Plaza Restaurant for a full breakfast early on MK days.

I always thought the Concourse Steakhouse had the best burger on property and we’d leave the MK to have lunch there.

We used to stay at Poly a lot and the Papeete Bay Verandah was a first night ritual.

 

[SteffyLou]

Pretty much all of the major things we miss were at the Contemporary

1) I grew up- literally- in the arcade in the basement at the Contemporary. Between the movie theater, the games, the quick service- we spent 1/2 of our vacation there for many, many, many years.

2) The fourth-floor Concourse Steakhouse was the best. My parents got the sausage and peppers there every trip.

 

[OhhBother]

The character breakfast at Olivia’s was a favorite. And I still miss Alfredo’s and that fettuccini.

 

[kboo]

I’ll second Artist Point! I wonder why they changed it to what it is now? To not have a decent signature normal restaurant at a deluxe resort is beyond me.

We LOVED Artist Point! I do wish they kept a signature restaurant there, but every time we went, the reservations were easy to get and the restaurant was often near-empty. Now it is much harder to get, and we still enjoy it, AND I feel like it's a good entree for people (for us, our kids) who might be signature-meal-curious. I do think the food is still a notch above that of most of the character meals.

1) I grew up- literally- in the arcade in the basement at the Contemporary. Between the movie theater, the games, the quick service- we spent 1/2 of our vacation there for many, many, many years.

wow. There was a basement at the Contemporary? Seems like it is not a public-accessible space any more...

 

[zackiedawg]

No question the biggest missed spot is ESPN. Not even because the food was spectacular, or a great atmosphere - but because with Boardwalk being my home resort, it was great to have a spot for grabbing burgers, chili, sandwiches, with or without alcohol, in a casual sit-down spot that required no reservations.

Artist's Point in it's original incarnation - the first few years it opened it served a very exotic game menu - eventually it became more of a standard beef/chicken/seafood menu and was still a good restaurant, but those very early years it was an incredible and unique menu. There was an amazing plate with a sampling of multiple exotic meats that included bison steak, ostrich steak, antelope and one other I can't recall. The bison was great, but the ostrich blew me away...it was the first time ever trying ostrich and I have sought it out anywhere I could find it since - it is the most wonderfully rich, soft red meat - like a more filet-than-a-filet-mignon. Excellent Pacific Coast wines paired with the menu perfectly - the sommolier was very good with his pairings recommendations.

Other restaurants we regularly ate at that I miss include Concourse Steakhouse (now Contempo Cafe), Spoodles (now Trattoria Al Forno), Alfredo's (Now Tutto Italia), Empress Room (One of the dining rooms on the Empress Lily, now Paddlefish), Fireworks Factory (Approximately where Boathouse is now), Portobello Yacht Club (Now Terralina), Shutters (now Sebastian's).

 

[OKW Lover]

wow. There was a basement at the Contemporary? Seems like it is not a public-accessible space any more...

The PP was referring to the first (ground) floor of the Contemporary. It's where Steakhouse 71 is now.

 

[OKW Lover]

Missing Areils as well. It was the signature restaurant at the Beach Club.

 

[PolyRob]

I agree with everyone about Artist Point! Why couldn’t it have been treated like Riviera? Breakfast and lunch with characters, but dinner still a signature?

 

[fla4fun]

wow. There was a basement at the Contemporary? Seems like it is not a public-accessible space any more...

The PP was referring to the first (ground) floor of the Contemporary. It's where Steakhouse 71 is now.

it just feels like a basement because there are no windows. Even in the arcade days, the only outdoor light came from an exit door by the QS restaurant in one corner. The rest was a pool of fluorescent lights.

 

[lukemorenus]

Spoodles

 

[Simba's Mom]

I agree with everyone about Artist Point! Why couldn’t it have been treated like Riviera? Breakfast and lunch with characters, but dinner still a signature?

Great idea! We ate there for our 30th anniversary and it was so perfect. The manager met us and brought us to our table (next to a window) where our personalized menus and "amuse bouche" awaited. As a Food Network addict, I'd heard the term "amuse bouche" but never actually gone anyplace where I'd gotten one-so I was even more impressed. Everything continued to be perfect-food, service, everything.

 

[Moliphino]

Other restaurants we regularly ate at that I miss include Concourse Steakhouse (now Contempo Cafe), Spoodles (now Trattoria Al Forno), Alfredo's (Now Tutto Italia), Empress Room (One of the dining rooms on the Empress Lily, now Paddlefish), Fireworks Factory (Approximately where Boathouse is now), Portobello Yacht Club (Now Terralina), Shutters (now Sebastian's).

Dinner at Fireworks Factory, then spend a few hours at the Adventurers Club. Those were the days.

 

[MamaMermaid]

It's still there but I miss when Remy would come out to visit guests at Chefs de France!!

 

[fla4fun]

Dinner at Fireworks Factory, then spend a few hours at the Adventurers Club. Those were the days.

Fireworks Factory had the best hot wings I have ever eaten! We live about a half hour away and would drive down there just to get those wings.