September 2011 Not-Clever Dining Reviews-Updated Brown Derby

[cmesq61]

spent a delightful 7 nights/8 days from Sept 21-28, 2011, at the Poly, first time castle view. I faithfully took dining notes at every meal--sorry, not a photo kind of gal--and am offering succinct reviews of the places we ate. I am not clever or pithy like so many are, so I'm going to try to just be informative and offer our opinions. Sorry for the belated timing but: my DD got sick while we were away and was not much better when we got home so I was busy with doctor visits, etc. After two weeks she finally seems back to her old self. While she was still sick, and right after we got home, my DS who is in college in OH, had a head injury and a week of symptoms that required a CT scan, visit to a neurologist, etc., so the Boards kind of fell by the wayside. He is better, thankfully, although he has so much work to makeup, the poor thing.

Anyway, DBF and I were on the DxDP and used every credit. It was a lovely (aside from the scare with DD), delightful couple only trip. We love the DxDP. We've read all the cons, but for us, we like to eat, we like to dress a bit for dinner, like to try new things, and don't like to budget while on vacation. There's lots of budgeting before we get there, but once we are there, we like to be able to do what we please, within reason.

Pecos Pete's post #2
The Wave twice for dinner and twice for breakfast
Captain's Grill post #3
Kona Isle (at the Poly) post #3
FF
Poly room service breakfast
Captain Cook's
Citrico's
CP
50s PT Cafe
Brown Derby
Garden View Tea Room
Cali Grill
Kona Cafe

Background factoid--DBF and I have been together for 5.5 years, not married, not engaged, we wear no rings. This info will be helpful when I get to the Hollywood Brown Derby review.

Feel free to ask any questions and we'll happily answer whatever we can! Hope everyone enjoys!

 

[cmesq61]

Sept 21:

Lunch at Pecos Pete's just cause we were hot, tired and hungry. I had the chicken ceaser wrap with yogurt and apple slices. The wrap was delicious--really good. I was, frankly, shocked. Big, loaded with well-flavored chicken, fresh greens, tasty dressing. The apple slices were the best I've ever tasted. I think that was cause we had been up since 0330 and had not eaten anything!

DBF had a deluxe burger, which he said was excellent. Again, 2 starvin-marvins!! he did not like the choc cake he had for dessert.

DINNER-5 PM: The Wave of American Flavors.

We first went to the Wave in 2008 shortly after it opened and loved it. It has been a staple of subsequent trips, always excellent food, excellent service, somewhat quieter than other Disney restaurants. The food this trip was very disappointing. There has been a change in chef, and a new menu. My poor DBF did not like any of his meals. Food preference is very subjective so maybe it was just us, and take my review with a grain of salt. With the exception of one server, the service remained excellent, still quiet, and we still love the bar. Anyway,
ME: I started with an Agave margarita. It was OK. I'm a margarita girl, so tequila is never bad, but it did not blow my dress up. APP: I had the crabcake. it was OK, not as good as in previous years.
MAIN COURSE: I had the braised short ribs, which were excellent. They were not fatty, and the tomato sauce was yummy. It came with the best brussel sprouts. Delish.
DBF had the soup of the day, a chicken and wild rice. The Wave has always had too-die-for soups, but this one was so spicy it overpowered the other flavors. Usually DBF likes the spice, so if it was too much for him, I dared not try it. MAIN COURSE: Beef tenderloin--it was cooked as he ordered (well done--I know! the man is a loon with his meat!). He did not care for it--he said the flavor was bland, potatoes were "notjhing special and were cold".
DESSERT: those were also changed and were nothing special.

Our server was Angelo, and he was excellent!

 

[cmesq61]

Thurs., Sept 22

Breakfast: Kona coffee & strawberry cheese danish from the Kona Isle at the Poly while sitting on my balcony looking at the Castle. Delicious! DBF had Kona coffee and a cinammon roll, which he said was yummy.

After a morning at MK and afternoon nap, off to Captain's GRill at the Yacht Club. That was a new place for us we decided to try after reading lots of great reviews on DIS Boards.

First up was bread--really yummy. Although, all WDW bread seems delish to me--always freshly made, etc.

DBF: app = the Wedge salad. He really liked it-the greens were fresh and he said the blue cheese was especially good. For his main course he had the NY strip--well done, of course--it's painful to watch--which came with fingerling potatoes and cippollini onions. He said the steak was dry & tough, the potatoes and veg just OK. In his defense, he swears that it is possible to have flavorful, juicy well doine steak. Not sure I buy it.

ME: app=lump crab cake with fennel slaw. The slaw was so freaking good I almost inhaled it! I had the rib eye with bacon cheddar mashed potatoes & seasonal veggies, which was broccolini. The rib eye was excellent--cooked perfectly, nice flavor, juicy. Broccolini also great. I wanted to like the potatoes--cause what's not to love about bacon, cheddar & potatoes, right? But they were nothing special.

Dessert: I had the hazlenut chocolate cake. It was fine, just too rich for me. Probably if you like chocolate, you would love it. It certainly was very pretty.
DBF had the blueberry cherry pie w/ lemon sorbet. The pie was quite good. I ate the sorbet as he is not a lemon kind of guy and it was really good.

Overall, I liked the Capt Grill. It was a bit quieter than many WDW places, which was nice, and we had a great table for people watching, which just might be the best attraction at the World!

 

[quinnc19]

Thanks for taking the time to post these - I'm enjoying them and am curious about HBD!

 

[cmesq61]

Sorry for my delay--I was on another college trip with DD and was tuckered out! Anyway:
Sept 24
DD 17 woke me up with her call--she had a fever of 103 & a very sore throat, on a Saturday morning when the doctor's office is not open. So we called and woke up the on call doc, explained I was in FL and she was at hoem. He agreed to see her that morning, thankfully! So we stayed in the room so we could be in touch w/ DD and the doc. Ordered Poly room service...the Poly coffee is yummy, so that's a known item. We ordered the fruit platter and the pastry plate, both for 2. Everything was very good. It looked to me like the same fruit plate and pastry as at the Kona Cafe, which have always been good. We were on the DxDP, so it was 4 meal credits. DBF did the math & said to let everyone know that if you are on a meal plan, it is actually cheaper to just pay for the particular items we ordered out of pocket rathetr than using meal credits.

We stayed in the room most of the morning talked to doc (bad strep & mono, poor thing), getting her perscriptions filled and coordinating care with my sister. Thank goodness for family.

We left the room about 1pm so house keeping could do their thing. Grabbed lunch at Captain Cook's--again, not the best use of meal credits, but extenuating circumstances. BUT--have to say, the food was delish!!
We shared a pulled pork sandwhich and a grilled chicken sandwich Both were excellent--one of the best pulled pork sandwhiches I've ever had. The mango salsa on the chicken was too spicy for me, but was easily scraped off onto DBF's half. DBF was hungry and so also had a burger, which he said was great. The fries and house made chips were nice and crispy and perfectly seasoned.

After a much needed nap...Citrico's
Again, as with the Wave, the menu had changed and there were not as many choices that appealed to my particular tastes, but that's OK.
Me: As usual, I had the lemon-feta shrimp appy--so freakin good. I soaked up every drop of sauce w/ bread, and had to restrain myself from licking the bowl. I had the signature veal shank. Fabulous. Seasoned so well, not greasy. the sauce is wonderful--a very rich flavor. The carrot-potato puree was surprisingly good--I loathe carrots but liked it, even though I could taste carrot.
DBF: Lump crab cake appy--he said it was excellent--he is a crab cake afficionado so if he says he loved it then it must have been good. He had the grouper w/ a corn relish. He said it was just OK. he's not really a fish guy, so I was bit surprised he ordered it. I'm not sure he ever loves, loves fish, so it may have been better than he said if you are a fish person.

Dessert: I had the berries w/ gran marnier sauce, which the waiter recommended--I again wanted to lick the bowl!! A very unusual combo but really good. DBF had the banana choc tort with the choc crown. Very beautiful to look at, and something you only see at the World, but we did not especially like the flavor. It just seemed kinda flat.

The service was excellent. We have always found the service at Citrico's to be reliably excellent. We had a nice table toward the back, near a window.

 

[cmesq61]

Sept 25...
CP breakfast: I love CP. Puffed french toast--'nuff said! So good! The veggie frittata was yummy, as usual, as were the potatoes. Pooh'smpeach cobbler was new and so good I was sorry I'd already eaten one whole plate of food and was kind of full.
DBF had a made to order omellette--flavor was good but it was not too fluffy.

We had a latert ressie this year & the line was quite long. Other than that, anothergreat CP experience.
Spent a great day wandering the World Showcase, drinking, snacking shopping.
Dinner: The Wave
Me--I cannot remember our appys. I had the pork dish--it was very good. Sorry I cannot remeber anything else!
DBF: Haf the curry veggie stew, he thought it was OK. I liked it--it had coconut milk in the sauce to balance the curry.

No dessert for DBF, I had the gelato sampler, which, except for the popcorn flavor was very good.

This was the first time that the service was less than stellar. Not awful, just not as excellent as usual.
After dinner, my ECV died==but that's for a different section!!

 

[cmesq61]

Sept 26 Monday:

Breakfast was Poly room service--the same as we'd had before. It was very good. And this was our first time with a castle view, and the food just tastes better looking at the castle!

Spent the day at DHS...
Lunch was at the bar in the Tune In Lounge. You can order off the 50s PT menu. But first...the drinks. I had a Grandma's Punch (well 2 actually!). Very good. Not too sweet, quite strong. Yum. DBF had a Mowie Wowie and a Dad's Electric lemonade. He enjoyed them.
For food, I had an appy that I didn't like and I'm sorry but I forget again what it was. DBF had the crab cake, which he liked. I had the fried chicken plate w/ mashed potatoes & green beans--fabulous. DBF had the sampler plate, which was meatloaf, fried chicken & oneother thing. He really enjoyed his meal. DBF had the Boston cream pie parfait--he loved it. I had the smores--ick.
We really enjoyed the Tune In & plan to go back next month. The bartender was great. Both DBF & I saw a first--a mother daughter duo both on the make. Kind of fun to watch, especially given that there were no unattached guys except for the bartender.
When I got out in the heat, I really did not feel well--too much to drink and heavy--though yummy--food. Suffice it to say that Star Tours & I did not go together so well!

 

[cmesq61]

Dinner at the Hollywood Brown Derby: We had a nice round booth, great view of the place. It was our first time there and outside of the crazy crowd due to people trying to escape the torrential downpour, we liked the atmosphere. First, the food
ME: Tortelloni appetizer--it was very good, but a little heavy for an appetizer.
DBF: the Cobb Salad--he loved it. He said it was very fresh and the dressing was creamy, not too spicy but had a tang.
We both had the signature pork dish--w/ an appricot glaze and cheese topping. It was OK--the cheese was a bnit strong for me, but the pork was very tender and moist.
ME: I had the banana tort dessert. i did not like it all--it is very popular, so i think it just was not my cup of tea.
DBF had the signature grapefruit cake. he liked its tartness, I did not care for it.
BUT THE BEST PART OF DINNER WAS THE CM/WAITRESS, TITI
So, she's chatting and asks how long have you been married. i say, Oh, we're not married but we've been together five and 1/2 years. Well, Titi says, when is he going to marry you for pete's sake?
I almost swallowed my tongue! Can't say i have not wondered the same thing myself over the past year. So i said, calmly, well, I don't know. You'd have to ask him. politeness is wait till you're asked. I did not dare turn my head to see what expression DBF had on his face.
Now, I have to say...DBF & I are truly soulmates. We found each other later in life, and have the kind of relationship that many people never find. Not a day goes by that I do not thank the good Lord for having found him, and wonder how I got so lucky. And he is very generous to me--2 WDW trips this year on his dime, just cause i love WDW. Back to the story:
So, okay, off goes Titi...DBF do not mention the convo with Titi, but keep talking the way we usually do during meals. The food comes in the usual course of things, dinner proceeds.
Titi brings dessert, and lingers at the table. Tells us all about her ex-husband, and then about her younger boyfriend who only wanted to party, so she kicked him to the curb. But now she's lonely, and older (I'd say at least 40-ish, DBF says late 40s), and it's not so easy to find a guy when you're older. She asks me how did i find a guy in my 40s. We chat about that awhile, discerning the good ones from the bad ones--girl talk. Then she says to DBF--SO WHEN ARE YOU GONNA PUT A BIG ROCK ON HER FINGER? Kinda loud--but mayber it just seemed so cause I was mortified and yet curious to see what DBF was gonna say.
When I turned to look at DBF he had a great poker face, and he said something like well we'll have to see but I'll make sure I talk to her about it before I talk to anyone else. We all laugh, off goes Titi.
i think my face was so red it almost melted off. DBF did not say one word about the entire conversation w/ Titi! I said to him while we were walking toward the Muppets--you know that's going in my trip report. he assured me he figured that. And then said he assumed I'd be telling my DD, sister and friends just as soon as humanly possible. So annoying when he's right.
I guess I'm not sure w!hat I expected the poor guy to say, and it isnot fair to back anyone into a corner--although i think Titi was just being nosy & meant no harm.
I could fill a notebook with reasons we should not get married. Guess I just would like him to seem at least interested! Although my rational brain does not want that subject to be forced by an outside person. And geez, dude, just cause we are not married does not prohibit him from putting a ring on it!! Not that he does not buy me jewelry--he does. And other things. But you know--a ring is symbolic. Sometimes symbols are important.
We have an ADR at the Brown Derby during next month's trip. If Titi is our waitress again I'm going to take it as a sign. Of what, I'm not sure--but a sign of something!

 

[lildebbie107]

Loving your reviews. I loved the puffed french toast at CP. I can't wait to go back and eat it again.

 

[DisneyGuess]

I had to LOL at your HBD waitress!

You've made me very excited for CP in December...if only these days would fly by! Can't wait to read more!

 

[jenandjuice]

These reviews are wonderful, thank you so much for sharing!

I am a tequila girl as well

 

[mouser_momof2]

Love your reviews!

And I too would have been red faced at the waitress! But he didn't tuck tail and run over the conversation, so that's a good sign!

 

[cmesq61]

Love your reviews!

And I too would have been red faced at the waitress! But he didn't tuck tail and run over the conversation, so that's a good sign!

Apparently, he thinks Titi was flirting with him. I cannot fathom how "when are you going to marry your girlfriend of 5.5 years" translates to the waitress was flirting with him. Perhaps it's the male ego in action, although he's not usually like that.

 

[Busymom85]

I really enjoyed your review. Maybe you should just ask your bf.