Signature Dining for Appetizers or Desserts Only?

[Trish0025]

I'm a newbie here! DH and I would like to try out some signature restaurants on our upcoming trip. I was wondering if we have to eat a complete meal or if we can just order two or three appetizers, two desserts and a couple glasses of wine, etc.? In an ideal world, I'd have a full meal, but I also want to not stuff myself silly. I notice that CA Grill has sushi and flat-breads for instance. Can we just order those and call it a night or is that considered rude? I also hate the idea of taking up ADRs from people who'd order a full meal. BTW We are not on the dining plan.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) At any 2-TS Signature Restaurant (except dinner shows), you can order Ala Carte
2) Doesn't make a difference whether a full meal, or appys and coffee.
3) In fact, MrsRustyScupper and I do this frequently.
. . . many times, just soup-salad-coffee
. . . sometimes an appy and an alcoholic drink
. . . and, no we do not adjust our tip above the 15% range to compensate - SERVERS know some bills are going to be less than others

 

[loves to dive]

I do it all the time as well. I'm not a big eater so a meal for me is an appetizer and a soup or salad and maybe my son and I share a dessert. Most times he will get an entre but if I'm solo, I rarely order an entre. I do normally tip 20% unless my service sucks but I do that everywhere, including our little college town.

 

[figment_jii]

You can order as much or as little as you want. I would still recommend that you make an ADR because you'll still need to be seated. Otherwise, a number of Signatures have lounges/bars that serve the full menu but do not require an ADR. Those might be a good option if you're looking for flexibility.

 

[Trish0025]

You can order as much or as little as you want. I would still recommend that you make an ADR because you'll still need to be seated. Otherwise, a number of Signatures have lounges/bars that serve the full menu but do not require an ADR. Those might be a good option if you're looking for flexibility.

That's great advice! I like flexibility.

 

[gwynne]

I'm a newbie here! DH and I would like to try out some signature restaurants on our upcoming trip. I was wondering if we have to eat a complete meal or if we can just order two or three appetizers, two desserts and a couple glasses of wine, etc.? In an ideal world, I'd have a full meal, but I also want to not stuff myself silly. I notice that CA Grill has sushi and flat-breads for instance. Can we just order those and call it a night or is that considered rude? I also hate the idea of taking up ADRs from people who'd order a full meal. BTW We are not on the dining plan.

We dine as you suggested all the time. It's perfectly fine to make a dining reservation. We generally prefer to do that rather than wing it and hope to get seats at the bar. Sometimes there is space, sometimes there isn't.

 

[HopperFan]

We do it!

 

[amberpi]

I do that all the time. The entree portions are huge and I like to have a couple of things rather than one huge plate of the same thing. I tend to be in parties that order a good bit of wine/cocktails, so I figure out checks come out the same.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We too like a couple of appetizers each and a bottle of wine. And my daughter usually gets an appetizer and s salad or soup. As for tipping, I'm in the 20% range regardless of what is ordered while my husband is cheaper.

 

[rosiebean]

The best service I've ever had at a signature - Artist Point - was when our rather large party (who was stuffed from a very early ADR at Prime Time) ordered a few appetizers each instead of entrees and split dessert. I was a bit worried when we arrived, because even though we had an early lunch and late dinner ADR, we were still so full! But it was all fine, the staff could not have been better. It was a magical evening. It's really fine to eat as little as you want.

 

[markandjen]

We did it this past trip at both Brown Derby and LeCellier. I would highly recommend it. I don't think it is taking away a spot from someone that wants to eat a full meal there by having an ADR. It has been my experience the last couple of trips that those are not the hard reservations they once had the reputation of being. Go and enjoy!