San Angel Inn Encouragement

[chell]

We like eating here. My husband LOVES the duck with berry sauce. I'm not sure of the official name of the dish. But it very well may be the best dish he has ever had. He has 3 dishes that are pretty close to being in that #1 spot and I think this duck wins the #1 spot.

Honestly, I had to make him put his plate down and not lick it clean.

 

[AimeeMichele]

I love San Angel Inn! The atmosphere is wonderful, their margaritas are deelish and last time I had the filet (medium rare) and it was fantastic! Every time I go to Epcot going to San Angel Inn is a must do for me. Take a deep breathe and relax, you're going to have a great time. Even if the great time is just soaking up the atmosphere and having a few drinks (if you wind up not caring for the food).

 

[zscfan]

We ate at San Angel Inn last September--I was pretty happy with the food. My margarita was wonderful and I loved the atmosphere. I also loved going on the boat ride after lunch. We had such a good time that we are going back this year.

I know that this restaurant gets a lot of low marks, and to each his own, but we love it. I hope it is just as good this year.

 

[BarleyJack]

Thanks for continued good words all, I'm feeling a lot better about this ressie now. I'm not expecting 5 star anything, but I'm glad to know a lot of ppl like it. I've decided that if I get a bad meal, I won't worry about it for 2 reasons:

1) I'll just order another margarita!

2) We'll be there during food and wine, can fill up elsewhere if needed!

 

[Sandy55]

We also had a great San Angel experience in December, and we went in with our expectations being low. We were traveling as 3 adults with 5 children and we weren't sure the food was going to appeal to the four preteens with us on the adult meal plan. None of us knew what the food was so we just ended up each getting something different and sharing. I have to say, everyone's meal was good. Some I liked more than others, but none were horrible. I had a really good steak dish. Turned out all the kids enjoyed it as well. My husband and I definitely plan on going back on our next trip to Disney alone. My only complaint would be the darkness, but even that we eventually got used to.

By the way, like a previous poster I had a terrible experience paying for dinner at the GF one night when some of us were on the meal plan and some were not so maybe it is not a problem specific to the San Angel.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

We just ate there in June for the first time in a long time. It was very good!
You know about the atmosphere, and the salsa and Tostitos.
I had a dish that I don't see listed on any of the current menus posted. It was red snapper on a bed of artichoke hearts in a spicy red sauce. It was really good! DH had the chicken mole? He liked it...didn't love it. But he ate it!
Both kids had cheese quesidillas and virgin marguaritas and loved their meals. I had a real marguarita and it was excellent. I would definately go back.

 

[wheredreamsbegin]

We ate at SAI in March. I too was questioning the ADR because of some of the things I had read on the boards. We LOVED it. The food was good, the service was good, the atmosphere was the best. Our girls (DD5, DD3, and DD18 months) were mesmerized by the volcano. Entertaining them while eating in Mexico was not an issue. It was a fantastic experience for the whole family. (Don't forget to do the boat ride before or after your meal!)

 

[disfan melissa]

San Angel Inn is my fam's favorite place in Disney and has been since we first went in 1986! We look forward to it every visit. The atmosphere is amazing and the food is great, too.

 

[edandcolleen1995]

I wish I could offer you postives..

BUT.......... It is the one place we will NEVER (EVER) go back to in all of WDW..

We always go dining plan. 7 sit down adr's each trip. We have tried almost all the places. We tried San Angel about 8 years ago and was horrible. We never went back till last Jan.

We said "why not" and gave it a try almost a decade later. Now we never make a fuss. My mom raised 5 of us kids being a waitress. I worked my way through school as a waiter for a hotel. I am very very understanding.

So after our trip in Jan and trying it again, there is no way we could ever recommend it to anyone. The service was so bad, the food so horrible (warmed under a heat lamp, you could tell) that I actually spoke to a manager and complained. Those managers were so bad they offer to only give us a free drink. Free drink?? Our entrees were unedible! I had to make a stink to get the refund.

We had being "those people" but it had to be done. After 10 trips to WDW it was the only time we had to. Heck that is not a bad track record and there are more great times/meals then we can remember. But this place is so bad, I gotta put my 2cents in

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Thanks for continued good words all, I'm feeling a lot better about this ressie now. I'm not expecting 5 star anything, but I'm glad to know a lot of ppl like it. I've decided that if I get a bad meal, I won't worry about it for 2 reasons:

1) I'll just order another margarita!

2) We'll be there during food and wine, can fill up elsewhere if needed!

The Mexico 'booth' or one of the mexicanish countries that is set up outside on what we would call the 'porch' of the building had awesome snacks during F&W. I can't remember what it as called i want to say echririto (but thats not it, thats that yucky thing at taco bell) but it was fabulous. It was like a chimichanga (deep fried pocket) filled with pork strips and covered in a sour cream and green chile' sauce. I tried some fajitia snacky thing that was divine as well.

 

[bleeps]

We tried it last October and LOVED it. I think that it's important to take to heart the point that other posters have made -- it is NOT tex-mex, and it is not the ultra-Americanized food that's served in many local "Mexican" restaurants.

We had zero problems using the deluxe dp, the service was wonderful, and the dark, cool atmosphere really does refresh you after a day in the FL sunshine.

We wouldn't hesitate to recommend it nor to go again ourselves.

 

[minnie_michelle]

My friend that goes to Disney all the time said that alot of people are disappointed because they are used to and expecting it to be the "Americanized" mexican that you get in majority of mexican restaurants in the US. Instead, if you go to actual Mexico, they serve alot of meat and mole and fish etc. It isn't just all deep fried tacos, covered in globs of cheese and red sauce etc. and San Angel does their best to keep it semi-authentic and not serve the americanized version. (which I think is good considering that is the whole point of World showcase)

I do wish they would fry their own chips though . .. what a cheap cop-out.

 

[harpinjean]

DH and I eat at San Angel every trip and love it. I don't think we have ever had a bad meal there. We like to try different things, so I can't recommend one particular dish. I hope you enjoy it as well.

 

[DisneyHolidayFan]

We've eaten at SAI about 10 times over the years and always enjoyed it until our trip in May - the food was hardly fit to eat.

That is so disappointing too! We have had the same experiences at Garden Grill (ate there every year from 1996-2007 and then food was terrible) and Rose & Crown Pub (probably ate there five or more years in a row and then OMG; in 2/2009, food was horrible. But, we will eventually try these two places again in a few years. Maybe, it was the chef on duty at that time????

 

[choirchic]

I'm enjoying these reviews...DH and I loved the little cantina outside Mexico, and said after riding the boat ride, that we would definitely try the Inside restraunt this time around. Can't wait!

 

[FireDancer]

Like most of these questions you will get good, bad, and indifferent expericneces. Keep in mind that food is subjective, you and I can sit at the same table in the same restaurant at the same time and eat the exact same meal. One of us can love it while the other hates it.

I ate at San Angel Inn once and had a good experience. It isn't my favorite restaurant at WS but the food was good and I love the feeling that you are eating outside at night next to a river in Mexico.

For just the atmospheric experience I would rate San Angel as the best at WS.

 

[cjb1879]

I've eaten at San Angel Inn during each of my last three trips- I've enjoyed the food all three times. I think I usually get the Plato Mexicano.

I would echo what everyone else here has already pointed out- don't let someone else's opinion keep you from trying new experiences. The people who dislike something are generally more vocal than those who like it- it is human nature and I am guilty of it myself. This makes it seem like the naysayers are the majority when that may not be the case at all. Those who are satisfied with the experience tend not to speak up because it doesn't make as exciting a reply as "I'll never set foot in that place again because..."

I'm not suggesting that this is definitely the case with San Angel, but as you can see from these replies, enough of us were pleased with our experience there that I would wholeheartedly encourage you to go and form your own opinion about it. Enjoy your trip!

 

[tamtam81]

I really liked San Angel Inn. The food was good and the ambience was spectacular!

 

[nytimez]

I haven't eaten there lately, but in the past I've always enjoyed the Mole Poblano. And like many people here have already said, the atmosphere is fantastic.

 

[topmonkeygirl]

I really like it, all of it. The food is really good, atmosphere is great, and no the torillas aren't tostados they're made fresh. It's not typical mexican like at home it's upscale Real Mexican food. I go every trip.