Searching for V & A Patrons!!

[majortom]

Majortom,
....
I've given you a range of places we like from very expensive to not quite so pricey. Also, some may require a jacket, but to my knowledge most don't. I hope you have a wonderful time in our great city!

Thanks! Which would you say are on par with Victoria and Albert's? Which are better?

/carmi

 

[allegracristina]

I noticed that you are from Metro NYC where I will be in 2 weeks. I was wondering if you could recommend some of your favorite restaurants in NYC that are almost as good as Victoria and Albert's? Looking for some new choices in town for this trip.

/carmi

One that is similar to V+A's is March. There you pick from either a 4, 5, or 6 course meal. You customize your menu by choosing from different options for each course. I think it's the closest to V+A's in NYC. Other restaurants that I love are Balthazar, Hudson Hotel Cafeteria, Mirepoix, and Daniel. I hope you have a great time in NYC!!!

 

[NejTheLion]

V&A is certainly an exquisite dining experience. Having eaten there several times (including the Chef's Table), it still ranks as one of my three favorite restaurants in the US (only because I haven't tried too many outside the country). The other two in that group right now are Jean Georges in NYC and Alan Wong's in Hawaii.

I thought V&A was loads better than the Inn at Little Washington (long-standing 5 Diamond from the DC area), but we might possibly have had one bad experience there. I try never to judge a place on a single visit.

I lived in NYC for three years and have been many places, including Grammercy Tavern, Craft, Union Square Cafe, Babbo, and Le Bernardin. V&A is right up there, even above several of those. A 5 Diamond rating isn't just about food. It's the entire restaurant experience, and some places, like Union Square, will never achieve that ranking because they're simply not that kind of a restaurant. The food's great, but 5 Diamond restaurants are ranked on everything from the moment you call to make a reservation to the moment you get in your car and drive away. USQ is wonderful, but too informal.

You will not be disappointed. I will be back there in 13 days and simply cannot wait!

 

[majortom]

One that is similar to V+A's is March. There you pick from either a 4, 5, or 6 course meal. You customize your menu by choosing from different options for each course. I think it's the closest to V+A's in NYC. Other restaurants that I love are Balthazar, Hudson Hotel Cafeteria, Mirepoix, and Daniel. I hope you have a great time in NYC!!!

When you said that Victoria and Albert's was "the most exquisite, intimate, romantic, delicious dining experience I have ever had!" were you really comparing it to Daniel? That would surprise me, but certainly make it worth a visit.

/carmi

 

[NejTheLion]

Well, I haven't eaten at Daniel yet (it's on my list), but I'd be willing to bet that it's a very similar experience. V&A is more intimate and romantic than any of the NYC restaurants I have listed above.

It feels like a very small space - low lighting, beautiful but understated decor, huge gorgeous arrangements of fresh flowers, a harpist playing in the corner, tables spaced generously to allow for privacy.

You will have no thoughts of being in WDW while you're there.

 

[majortom]

I lived in NYC for three years and have been many places, including Grammercy Tavern, Craft, Union Square Cafe, Babbo, and Le Bernardin. V&A is right up there, even above several of those.

How do you compare it to Babbo on food and service?

A 5 Diamond rating isn't just about food. It's the entire restaurant experience, and some places, like Union Square, will never achieve that ranking because they're simply not that kind of a restaurant. The food's great, but 5 Diamond restaurants are ranked on everything from the moment you call to make a reservation to the moment you get in your car and drive away. USQ is wonderful, but too informal.

True, very little of AAA's rating is based on food (fewer than half of points awarded are based on food and related service). For example, having valet parking is required for all three, four and five diamond restaurants, as is accepting credit cards. Having a separate waiting area (not a bar) is required for five diamond restaurants.

When you say Union Square Cafe is too informal, did you mean for your tastes or for AAA? Understanding that would certainly help me understand your evaluations (I much prefer informal restaurants with great food and service to stuffy [kidding] formal places ).

I am most comfortable at a place where I can joke with front of house staff and chefs, and where they are less concerned with how I dress, and more concerned with making sure I love my food and experience. I realize that my style is not for everyone. Some people clearly care about things that do not matter to me at all and do not care about things that I find critical. That is why all restaurants are not McDonalds nor are they all Alain Ducasse (or we would all have to earn much more to go out to eat ).

/carmi

 

[allegracristina]

When you said that Victoria and Albert's was "the most exquisite, intimate, romantic, delicious dining experience I have ever had!" were you really comparing it to Daniel? That would surprise me, but certainly make it worth a visit.

/carmi

I'm not literally comparing it to anything-it's very different from anywhere I've eaten before. It's hard to compare it because few places I've eaten have offered multi-course personalized menus. I say personalized because you choose from many choices for each course to make the meal your own. The only restaurant I can say is similar is March in NYC because you choose courses there.

 

[majortom]

The only restaurant I can say is similar is March in NYC because you choose courses there.

Got it. Have you been to March before or just think it is a similar experience from their menu and reviews?

/carmi

 

[NejTheLion]

How do you compare it to Babbo on food and service?

Hmm...definitely better service. Nothing against Babbo, but V&A is in that higher class of restaurant in terms of service (more like Jean Georges and Daniel) - where 4 people will all come and remove everything from your table and you'll never even notice them, etc. Actually, "better" may not be the right word. "Fancier" service is probably more accurate.

In terms of food, V&A has more complicated and refined dishes. Of course, Mario isn't really known for "fancy" cooking. I would say the quality is fairly equal, maybe giving V&A a slight edge.

When you say Union Square Cafe is too informal, did you mean for your tastes or for AAA? Understanding that would certainly help me understand your evaluations (I much prefer informal restaurants with great food and service to stuffy [kidding] formal places ).

For AAA. I thought Union Square was great, but it isn't a restaurant where men have to wear jackets or where I expect to enjoy a 7-course dinner over 3 hours. V&A is more like those "stuffy" restaurants you're talking about, but I don't think it's stuffy at all when compared to high-end French restaurants. That's kinda what the atmosphere is (subdued elegance), but I don't feel that the staff or service comes across as unpleasant in any way. It IS still Disney after all.

I am most comfortable at a place where I can joke with front of house staff and chefs, and where they are less concerned with how I dress, and more concerned with making sure I love my food and experience. I realize that my style is not for everyone. Some people clearly care about things that do not matter to me at all and do not care about things that I find critical. That is why all restaurants are not McDonalds nor are they all Alain Ducasse (or we would all have to earn much more to go out to eat ).

Well, there is a dress code - jackets for men, tie not necessary, women in evening wear. If you don't like fancy restaurants, this may not be the place for you. But it is the best meal you can get at WDW, probably the best in Florida, and one of the best in the country.

 

[Cplofdisneynutz]

here is our V&A chef's table review from our honeymoon in October. We are also getting ready to post another review from our April 18th chef's table experience, which was as amazing as the 1st.

You will have a wonderful experience

 

[majortom]

For AAA. I thought Union Square was great, but it isn't a restaurant where men have to wear jackets or where I expect to enjoy a 7-course dinner over 3 hours.

According to AAA, restaurants do not need to have a dress code at all to achieve five diamond status. It does need to have valet parking and a waiting area separate from its bar.

Well, there is a dress code - jackets for men, tie not necessary, women in evening wear. If you don't like fancy restaurants, this may not be the place for you. But it is the best meal you can get at WDW, probably the best in Florida, and one of the best in the country.

I eat in fancy restaurants quite often, just do not like those that have dress codes. Based on your descriptions, I have no doubt that it is the best meal at WDW (although based on some of my more recent experiences, that is not such a high bar these days).

Have you ever been to Bayona in New Orleans? How about the Kitchen Table at Emeril's (New Orleans, Orlando or Las Vegas)? You seem to have a good range of experience, so I am curious both about your opinion of those and any comparison between them and Victoria and Albert's.

/carmi

 

[NejTheLion]

According to AAA, restaurants do not need to have a dress code at all to achieve five diamond status. It does need to have valet parking and a waiting area separate from its bar.

I was speaking generally. Most 5 Diamond restaurants do have a dress code of at least "jacket required," but you're right in that the Diamond rating is about the restaurant and not about what the restaurant requires of its patrons. I would tend to link a dress code with high-quality linen tablecloths and silver-plated utensils (some of the more specific requirements of a 5 Diamond rating). Always being referred to by name is another tiny detail that I have noticed at V&A. Attention to every detail is really what the AAA award is about.

I eat in fancy restaurants quite often, just do not like those that have dress codes. Based on your descriptions, I have no doubt that it is the best meal at WDW (although based on some of my more recent experiences, that is not such a high bar these days).

I guess I don't mind the jacket dress code. I think places requiring a tie are a little excessive. I feel out of place if the server is dressed more formally than I am

Have you ever been to Bayona in New Orleans? How about the Kitchen Table at Emeril's (New Orleans, Orlando or Las Vegas)? You seem to have a good range of experience, so I am curious both about your opinion of those and any comparison between them and Victoria and Albert's.

Never been to New Orleans, but I'm even more ready to go now and give them lots of tourist dollars. I've eaten at the Kitchen Table at Emeril's Delmonico's in Las Vegas (in addition to Picasso and Aqua-now known as Michael Mina). Picasso was very unimpressive. I try not to rate a restaurant on one bad meal, but it was not at all what it should have been. I also thought Le Bernardin in NYC was overrated. Some of the courses were exquisite, but others were sorely lacking. Not consistent and not worth the expense. Aqua was devine - probably the best seafood tasting menu I've ever had. Put Le Bernardin to shame.

Emeril's Kitchen Table was an incredible experience, although the star of the night had to be the Parmesan-Truffle-Garlic potato chips. I think the staff was more relaxed and interactive than at the V&A Chef's Table. Of course, they were younger than the Chef/Sommelier/Server at V&A. That could very easily be the difference. Our server at the CT was a little like Albert the butler from the Batman mythos. The Emeril's crowd was a bit more playful and hipper. As far as food, I'd give a slight edge in taste to V&A (mostly due to complexity of dishes), and a definite edge in both plating and creativity to V&A (if you want me to go all Iron Chef on you ).

Now, there are many high-end restaurants in NYC that I haven't tried. There comes a point when the price is just so extreme that I honestly don't think it's worth it (unless I have a lot of money to blow at the time or if it's a VERY special occasion). It's hard to justify a meal at some of those places when I think about how I could be eating multiple times at Babbo or Craft. Daniel is probably the next biggie I really want to try. I usually test a high-end place with a lunch or brunch. If that knocks my socks off, I feel fairly safe that it can only get better with dinner. That was the case with Jean Georges. After a tremendous Mother's Day brunch, I was more than willing to try dinner there.

Part of the reason Jean Georges, Alan Wong's, and V&A are my favorites is because I've eaten at all of them more than once, and my enjoyment has only increased with each successive meal. There are many great places I've been to once, but I'd need to try them again to check consistency. Although the service is excellent at each, the food at those three always leaves me moaning in joy.

V&A is definitely worth at least one try. And if you have the DDE card, it's also included in the 20% discount! Not the CT, but the main dining room is. We'll be saving over $500 with that card on our trip next week!

 

[majortom]

I guess I don't mind the jacket dress code. I think places requiring a tie are a little excessive. I feel out of place if the server is dressed more formally than I am

Not me. Last time I walked into Delmonico in Las Vegas wearing a button down shirt, one of the managers looked at me and asked what the occasion was that got me so dressed up. When I stopped in their kitchen to say hello to their chefs, the Exec Sous looked at my shirt and said exactly the same thing - what was the occasion that got me so dressed up.

Never been to New Orleans, but I'm even more ready to go now and give them lots of tourist dollars.

Definitely worth the trip and they really need/appreciate the visit/money.

I've eaten at the Kitchen Table at Emeril's Delmonico's in Las Vegas (in addition to Picasso and Aqua-now known as Michael Mina). Picasso was very unimpressive.

Friends of mine were at Picasso while I was at the KT at Delmonico last monday (National Association of Broadcasters meeting in LAS: Saturday, Delmonico Tasting at a table in the restaurant, Sunday - Tasting at Emeril's New Orleans Fish House (ENOFH) in the restaurant, Monday - Delmonico's Kitchen Table, Tuesday ENOFH Kitchen Table).

We had an amazing meal with fantastic wines (Thank you nVidia!) while my friend's at Picasso were unimpressed.

I try not to rate a restaurant on one bad meal, but it was not at all what it should have been.

I have been to Picasso twice, once on a friend's reservation as a regular guest, and the second after a good friend of mine that knows the Chef called over and set up a reservation. I was not impressed either time. Given how many great restaurants there are in Las Vegas these days, I see no real reason to go back.

Which once again explains why I do not have much respect for AAA's ratings.

Emeril's Kitchen Table was an incredible experience, although the star of the night had to be the Parmesan-Truffle-Garlic potato chips.

We call them 'Crack Chips' - as that is the only explanation for their addictive properties.

I think the staff was more relaxed and interactive than at the V&A Chef's Table. Of course, they were younger than the Chef/Sommelier/Server at V&A. That could very easily be the difference. Our server at the CT was a little like Albert the butler from the Batman mythos. The Emeril's crowd was a bit more playful and hipper.

That is exactly my concern. I really much prefer having staff that will joke and interact with me and my guests to one that is very formal.

V&A is definitely worth at least one try. And if you have the DDE card, it's also included in the 20% discount! Not the CT, but the main dining room is. We'll be saving over $500 with that card on our trip next week!

How many people are going with you? When JarrDisney comes down late June, I think his girlfriend, he and I will try to have dinner there.

/carmi

 

[allegracristina]

Got it. Have you been to March before or just think it is a similar experience from their menu and reviews?

/carmi

I have eaten at March before V+A's. I really liked March, I loved the choices for each course. I think I chose the 4 course meal. V+A's is more intimate, I think. March is still quite formal and the service is excellent, but I felt V+A's was more romantic due to the dimmer lighting and more secluded seating. (There is more space in between tables there).

 

[NejTheLion]

The $500 is for the whole week, not just V&A night. I think 10 people is the max you can use DDE for. We'll have six - bringing family this time (grandmother, uncle, and 95-year-old great aunt). Unfortunately, they have different tastes in fun. Half of the week will be Hoop-Dee-Doo, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, and Poly Luau. Not bad things, but not my first choice in dining experiences. The other half will be V&A, Jiko, Citricos, and Artist Point. Can you tell we're two different groups of people going together?

 

[majortom]

The $500 is for the whole week, not just V&A night. I think 10 people is the max you can use DDE for.

Ok, easier to understand.

We'll have six - bringing family this time (grandmother, uncle, and 95-year-old great aunt). Unfortunately, they have different tastes in fun. Half of the week will be Hoop-Dee-Doo, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, and Poly Luau. Not bad things, but not my first choice in dining experiences. The other half will be V&A, Jiko, Citricos, and Artist Point. Can you tell we're two different groups of people going together?

Actually, that is not far from what I do when there with only small groups of my friends (some thing like Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue, Crystal Palace, Jiko and the Kitchen Table at Emeril's Orlando).

Different experiences, different goals - Hoop-Dee-Doo for great food, Jiko for that great entertainment (or do I have those backwards? ).

/carmi