Should we try Sci-Fi at least once for lunch?

[Kapp]

I know this place usually gets slammed but I do some that go every trip. We have never eaten there so wondering if it is even worth it? All advice greatly appreciated!

 

[New England Eeyore]

Here's my take on the restaurant - the food was fine - we just got burgers and chicken sandwiches and the like so it was hard to mess those up. But there were 2 reasons I wouldn't go back:

1. It was so dark (the only light is from a VERY small strip of light along the tabletop) that we couldn't see what we were eating. That really bothered my DH - he's very picky about appearances so he was full of anxiety of what was on his plate!
2. You don't sit at a conventional table. You sit as if in a car, two people to a seat, everyone facing forward. Because we were a family of five, someone had to sit alone. Now, if you're at a point of the vacation where you need a break from family togetherness, maybe that would be a good thing, but I didn't like that aspect. It broke the family up too much.

I had wanted to try it, and I'm not sorry we tried it once, but I wouldn't return.

 

[llebrekniT]

I say GO, if only to say that you have. And lunch isn't going to set you back too badly. Just go with appetizers and salads or a burger and you probably won't be disappointed. Personally, we love eating there although we have only had lunches there. DH and I love the reuben sandwich and it's big enough to share.

 

[danny1649]

We've had some good burgers and shakes and I would try it once at least.That way you can form your own opinion on it.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We really had fun there in January!

The bad reviews scared us, so we were just going for dessert. Well, DS and I shared a pizza at Pizza Planet for lunch several hours before and when we got to Sci Fi he said he was hungry. DS NEVER says he is hungry, so we figured it was pretty serious!

We ordered a burger and fries for him with a vanilla milkshake. DH had the sundae and I had the Cookie Monster.

DS loves old cheesy movies so he was in heaven with the movie clips. The food was OK. DS only ate half of his burger, so I ate the other half. It wasn't bad. It was actually pretty good. The fries were the crinkle cut kind and I don't care for those. They were a little soggy. DS didn't seem to mind. Our server was VERY nice and gave DS a little "spaceship driver's license" and made a little Mickey head on his plate with the ketchup.

It really was a fun place to go. Definitely don't plan on FABULOUS food, but it was fine.

 

[Kaycee]

Sci Fi is a must-do for us every trip. If we had to name our favorite overall restaurant, Sci Fi would be it. That being said, we are well aware of it's limitations. The theming is the main draw here, with the food being secondary.

But if you go for lunch, the burgers and shakes are actually very good. Then you get to enjoy the outstanding theming along with really good food.

 

[KellyluvsDisney]

We love Sci-fi. It is a must do for us everytime. We have ate there for dinner the past 3 years and have never had a bad meal.

We have an adr for lunch next week. My girls absolutely love this place as do we. I think you should at least try it. The ambiance is great.

 

[jann1033]

our food/service/wait was not good but it is a cute atmosphere so even though the meal stunk i am glad we did it once..would have rather not paid so much but if you have free dining go for it. we got a burger and a bowl of soup and 2 cokes and it was $24+. if you don't have free dining i might go for a milkshake or something to see it and not eat. jmo to be taken with a grain of salt

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I LOVE Sci-Fi for lunch! It's my must-do everytime we go.

 

[henrylovespooh]

We tried it last March and enjoyed it. DH had a burger and I forgot what I had. It is very dark, but I found that a nice change from the bright sun outside.

The only negative for us is that the darkness scared my two kids, ages 2 and 3 at the time. They thought something scary was going to happen.

I will go back for burgers, onion rings and milkshakes, but when they're a bit older.

 

[scrump]

It is a "must" for us, moreso for the ambience than the food, which is OK. Try it!

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

YES!!! If you have never been it's a great experience at least once. Especially at lunch like others have said you can get a burger and a shake and the atmosphere is worth it in itself. Try it and see what you think but, I bet you'll have a great time.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We do lunch there EVERY trip, I have 4 teens. So we fit perfect in the car for 6....... My kids are teens and we just love it. Lunch there for us is burgers, sandwiches, grilled cheese, etc.

 

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

I had wanted to try it, and I'm not sorry we tried it once, but I wouldn't return.

This is how we feel too. We took the boys last year as I have always wondered what is was like, but now that we have gone, I would not go back. The best part for the boys was sitting in the cars and the light up ice cubes with the drink.

 

[enabler]

I was apprehensive after reading bad reviews, but decided to go anyway - and was glad I did. I will definitely return. Good service, really good food (BLT soup; Reuben with fries), and I personally enjoyed the dark atmosphere. It was nice to find a quieter restaurant, although there were birthday and anniversary announcements every 10 minutes which got old fast. If you're not sure about the car seating, call ahead and ask for a flying saucer (round picnic table in the back).

 

[MICKEEP]

YES...Definitely...YES

You have to try this at least once. We have gone there and do not regret it in the least....But on the other hand we won't be going back. You have to go to experience the atmosphere and ignore the not so good food.

 

[SeaSpray]

We went to Sci-Fi for lunch this past summer, for the first time. I am very glad that we went! On the advice of many DISers, we stuck with burgers, fries, and shakes, and everything was great We really enjoyed the black & white film reels. They were a lot funnier and entertaining than I thought they'd be. It was a mix of 50's - 60's commercials for sci-fi movies and other things. We didn't think it was too dark, but we had a car that was near the side, so maybe it is darker in the center of the restaurant. Here are a couple of pictures from our lunch there:

This is the back of the restaurant. It looks dark and orangey because I didn't have the correct setting on my camera. It's the entrance to the kitchen, they have it designed to look like the snack bar at a drive-in theater!

 

[DisneyFreq]

Actually that burger looks pretty good!

It's been awhile since I've been but here is what I plan to do:
Last time I went, the food was terrible and WAY overpriced. I think my dad had a BLT and it was like $10. However, you go for the experience...not nessessarily the overpriced, badly cooked themepark food. The reel of clips was really cute...BUT when I went, the loop was really short and it got old REALLY fast.

So, now that I'm older and my kids have been harrassing me to go...I plan on taking the UG's advice...go at off times and just have a milkshake or dessert. That way you get the experience without the cost and the bad food. Plus, I would imagine that the time it takes to eat dessert is the perfect length of time to not get burnt out on it all. I plan on taking the fam towards then end of the lunch crowd....3:30...they'll get a real kick out of those light up ice cubes.

 

[mattsdragon]

Food's great, have the onion rings.

The tables are a little small, so it's hard to keep everythign on the table, the wife dumped her sweettea. But it's very nice for lunch, and for someone too young to have ever taken a date to a drive in movie, it's kind of fun.

Thumb's up for restuarants that require sitting close to the one you love.