Reviews of Palio needed !!!

[Ron from Michigan]

I am looking for reviews on Palio, which is in the Swan resort. THis is one restaurant we are thinking of eating at on our next trip.

 

[CPM]

we ate there on Dec. 30th. I ahve been there before, maybe two years ago. It was very good that time.
We were so excited since it was our no kids night, we were two couples.
We did have a nice and attentive waiter.
We ordered appetizers and salads.
We had to send back the caeser salads since the leaves were brown. The portions were tiny, prices high.
I can't remember what I even had for an app, but it was uneventful.
I had the seafood risotto for dinner, it tasted like minute rice and boiled seafood! No flavor at all and very tiny portion. I think it's the first time I ate a whole risotto and didn't feel full!
My husband had the linguine with clams, teeny clams, no flavor. All you tasted was garlic.
the other couple didn't like either of their meals either.
The waiter was very apologitic and brought the manager over. I hate complaining in a restaurant but they had to know how bad it was. We weren't looking for any compensation. Hopefully it will get better.
We were all laughing because we were all still hungry!!!
We went over to tubbies to get some snacks! LOL
Eat at the Fish!!!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Dined there about 4 times now and always had a good meal. Place is pretty, never very crowded, with a supurb wine list. Beer list leaves a lot to be desired--.
Service was always good. Strolling muscians add a romantic touch, especially if they stop by your table.
You can check out the menu yourself--I can personally vouch for the veal Saltimbacca and the wood oven Pizza's make a fine appetizer for two.
Dress is casual--we always wear shorts and a Disney T, but you'll see all manner of dress there.

 

[WDWMaria]

Originally posted by CPM
we ate there on Dec. 30th. I ahve been there before, maybe two years ago. It was very good that time.
We were so excited since it was our no kids night, we were two couples.

I was part of the other couple who ate there with Cheryl that night. To say we were disappointed is putting it mildly. I've grown up cooking REAL Italian food, my dad and aunts/uncles born in Italy. I live near Philadelphia, where there are many authentic Italian places.

The spaghetti and clams I had at palio was the worst I've ever had. It looked like a tomato sauce that had been sitting on a steam table too long, with a can of clams thrown in. The pasta was a glop on my dish. They put some steamed clams around the edge of my plate...why couldn't they make the sauce with those is beyond me, since that's how it's DONE.

I didn't complain about my meal since I knew the chef just didn't know how to make clam sauce using anything but canned clams, and didn't know the consistency...so me having him make it again wouldn't do any good.


I finally had the spaghetti and clams the other night that I'd been craving every since that night. At Sfizzio in Center City, Phila.....YUM!!!!

And my husband's veal saltimbocca had no flavor. Not sure how prosciutto can have no flavor. I make Saltimbocca alot and it's always tasty. Not here at Palio.......sorry.

I wont go back to Palio. But I'll be back to the Flying Fish in a second!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks for the reviews, I had heard so many good things about this restaurant in the past that we thought it would be a good one to pick on our next trip. But after reading these reviews I think we will skip it and eat at Spoodles like we do on each trip.

 

[SamSam]

Dh and I ate there in November and had a great meal. Great service, the food was great and the wine list was excellent.
It was our first time and we were very pleased to have a new 'must do' to add to our growing list.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

In fact in December 2001, we took the whole family. My great grandmother came over to the US from Italy when she was 20. So needless to say, our family knows Italian food. We all loved it!
We never had a bad meal there, and are looking forward to returning in 9 days. Hopefully, the other couples just happened to visit on a "off" night.

 

[CPM]

So what did you all have that was so good? I am also Italian and have been in the restaurant business all my life, so credibility isn't the issue. Just out of curiousity when were your meals? like I said I had been there before and it was good. There wasn't anything fresh in the whole meal.
yes, wine list was excellent.
Maybe you'll all like it, I can think of better places to spend my money. JMO

 

[snowmouse]

We ate there once about two years ago. I barely remember the food, my husband described it as underwhelming. What I do remember is that the waiter spilled red wine on me! I wonder why the rest of the night is a blur?

 

[GenePA]

Was there one time a few years ago and I thought it was great! Not sure if the chef has changed or not, but in looking at the menu, it looks quite comparable to what it was then. I always felt Palio's was one of the best hidden secrets for dining at WDW. I have been to several other WDW Italian restaurants....Tony's Town Square....Mama Melrose's....Alfredo's.....Portabello Yacht Club....of all these, only Portabello is as good as Palio's and frankly, I didn't really enjoy any of the others.

We're going back to WDW in a few weeks and we hope to get back to Palio's. I have to say give it a chance....just my opinion.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

I hope my previous comments didn't sound harsh!
When I just went back and read how I worded the comment, I realized it might sound like I was critizing you for your opinions. That's the negative aspect of the internet. You can't here the "tone" of the comments.
Anyway, unfortunately I cannot remember the exact dishes everyone chose. I know there were several chicken and veal dishes ordered. No seafood that I can remember. My mother even special ordered spaghetti and meat sauce.
Everything was fresh and got rave reviews at our table. My Aunt and Uncle asked to go a second time during the same trip (2001), and enjoyed it so much that we took them there again in November 2002.
I am sorry to hear your meal was so awful and hope it was just a "one night thing." Palio was always in our Top 5 favorites at WDW and we will be very upset if it goes downhill.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by MickeyCrazed
I hope my previous comments didn't sound harsh!
When I just went back and read how I worded the comment, I realized it might sound like I was critizing you for your opinions.

No, it didn't sound harsh, I agree I have a hard time conveying my thoughts on a message board. Maybe they changed chefs or something. I even take into account that it is a tourist location & usually isn't as good as though great places we all have in our own cities. I'm sure at some point I'll try it again.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks everybody for the great reviews. This is what makes these boards so great, you get all kinds of different opinions on the same restaurant. Thanks everybody.