Signature dining recommendation?

[FosterLovesMickey]

Hey - looking for some feedback…

I'm taking my daughter to WDW (staying at GF) the end of January, to celebrate her HS graduation. We do enjoy signature dining, she is a bit of a foodie. Would love some recommendations!!

Some about her:

• 17, but very adventurous diner
• Loves steak (not an overly cooked steak, mind you, this girl wants hers well seasoned and rare)
• Loves sushi
• Enjoys a good dessert
• Enjoys specialty 'mock tails'
• Very much one to enjoy an 'experience'
• Enjoys brunch

Thanks for your recommendations!!

 

[Narawen]

For overall atmosphere + food I'd do California Grill. We love Jiko as well- both places have excellent steak, but CG has the sushi and the amazing views as well.

 

[FosterLovesMickey]

For overall atmosphere + food I'd do California Grill. We love Jiko as well- both places have excellent steak, but CG has the sushi and the amazing views as well.

.

CG is definitely on our list of options! We have done Jiko, before (and loved it!). Thank you for your input!!

 

[PrincessMom1]

I just want to know, can we trade 17 year old daughters? Mine eats like a toddler.

I wish she was more adventurous! Have a blast on your trip!

 

[FosterLovesMickey]

I just want to know, can we trade 17 year old daughters? Mine eats like a toddler.

I wish she was more adventurous! Have a blast on your trip!

HAHAHA!! I've been blessed! I actually have two teenage daughters who are pretty adventurous, but my oldest is far more adventurous. I'm so, so, so glad that they aren't picky eaters (some of their friends are and it is so frustrating to them, when they want to go somewhere 'nice' to eat and their friends want chicken nuggets… lol). I don't know if it is true or not, but I always say that maybe my girls are like this because from the time they ate solid food, they ate what I ate … I had a food mill and they ate what I ate - spices and all. And, they loved it! I don't even think they would have wanted to eat jarred baby food - excepting, maybe, some fruits. Not too many things that they won't try!

 

[999_Happy_Haunts]

Check out bluezoo. Creative dishes. Great bar staff. Awesome desserts. And while the reputation grew up around seafood, the meat dishes are excellent.

 

[ctipp79]

I can’t rave enough about CG. We were there Saturday for my birthday and I had the Tuna 3 Ways, Ribeye, and a warm chocolate cake. If she likes brunch I can recommend there as well lol it’s an all around amazing experience. We liked it so much that we contemplated picking up an ADR we saw for our last night but decided not to for a new experience

 

[HappyHaunts999]

Hey - looking for some feedback…

I'm taking my daughter to WDW (staying at GF) the end of January, to celebrate her HS graduation. We do enjoy signature dining, she is a bit of a foodie. Would love some recommendations!!

Some about her:

• 17, but very adventurous diner
• Loves steak (not an overly cooked steak, mind you, this girl wants hers well seasoned and rare)
• Loves sushi
• Enjoys a good dessert
• Enjoys specialty 'mock tails'
• Very much one to enjoy an 'experience'
• Enjoys brunch

Thanks for your recommendations!!

CG Brunch is amazing and you can go back at night to watch the fireworks.
Morimotos for sushi

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We only visit five TS eateries at WDW when we go there for an actual meal.
.
1) We prefer
. . . fine food
. . . excellent, top notch service
. . . innovative dishes with flair and quality
. . . overall great value
. . . relaxed and soothing dining atmosphere
. . . behaved and somewhat quiet patrons
.
2) The only sit-down restaurants we routinely visit,
. . . Sanaa - Animal Kingdom Villas Resort (one of my personal favs)
. . . Artist Point - Wilderness Lodge Resort
. . . Citricos - Grand Floridian Resort
. . . Shula's Steakhouse - Dolphin Resort (no DDP)
. . . Il Mulino - Swan Resort (no DDP)

 

[FosterLovesMickey]

Check out bluezoo. Creative dishes. Great bar staff. Awesome desserts. And while the reputation grew up around seafood, the meat dishes are excellent.

I'm interested in Bluezoo, personally. And, I do think that she'd be interested in that filet. I will have to show her the menu!

I can’t rave enough about CG. We were there Saturday for my birthday and I had the Tuna 3 Ways, Ribeye, and a warm chocolate cake. If she likes brunch I can recommend there as well lol it’s an all around amazing experience. We liked it so much that we contemplated picking up an ADR we saw for our last night but decided not to for a new experience

CG is definitely on the short list. I did mention to her, today, that I thought the brunch looked lovely! I wasn't sure if maybe she would prefer the dinner experience, but we've yet to really talk in depth. This one is definitely staying in the running!

CG Brunch is amazing and you can go back at night to watch the fireworks.
Morimotos for sushi

Have you also done dinner at CG? If so, which do you prefer? I did look at Morimoto - which were some of your favorite sushi options there?

 

[FosterLovesMickey]

We only visit five TS eateries at WDW when we go there for an actual meal.
.
1) We prefer
. . . fine food
. . . excellent, top notch service
. . . innovative dishes with flair and quality
. . . overall great value
. . . relaxed and soothing dining atmosphere
. . . behaved and somewhat quiet patrons
.
2) The only sit-down restaurants we routinely visit,
. . . Sanaa - Animal Kingdom Villas Resort (one of my personal favs)
. . . Artist Point - Wilderness Lodge Resort
. . . Citricos - Grand Floridian Resort
. . . Shula's Steakhouse - Dolphin Resort (no DDP)
. . . Il Mulino - Swan Resort (no DDP)

Thanks, Rusty! I love, love, love both Sanaa and Artist Point! Definitely 2 of my favorites as well. I was actually looking at Citricos, as we're staying at the GF. When we do signature dining, we like to 'dress up', so that does make that one stand out a bit as an option, as well (not to mention the rave reviews I've seen - unfortunately, that is somewhere we've not been before). Shula's is also on the 'short list' for her!!

Thanks you for your input!!

 

[HappyHaunts999]

↑
CG Brunch is amazing and you can go back at night to watch the fireworks.
Morimotos for sushi
Have you also done dinner at CG? If so, which do you prefer? I did look at Morimoto - which were some of your favorite sushi options there?
We have done both. I personally love brunch. If it is a clear day it is an amazing view. Food is great with a lot of variety. We went with a group to Morimoto and don't remember favorites but that people really enjoyed. Btw the ribs were fantastic. For my DD sweet 16 we did Dine with an Imagineer at Brown Derby. She recently spent a lot of time at WDW and her current favorites are Jiko,Saana, Flying Fish and Tiffins.

 

[FosterLovesMickey]

↑
CG Brunch is amazing and you can go back at night to watch the fireworks.
Morimotos for sushi
Have you also done dinner at CG? If so, which do you prefer? I did look at Morimoto - which were some of your favorite sushi options there?
We have done both. I personally love brunch. If it is a clear day it is an amazing view. Food is great with a lot of variety. We went with a group and don't remember favorites but that people really enjoyed. Btw the ribs were fantastic. For my DD sweet 16 we did Dine with an

Thank you for the additional information!! I really appreciate it!

 

[JZCubed]

Hey - looking for some feedback…

I'm taking my daughter to WDW (staying at GF) the end of January, to celebrate her HS graduation. We do enjoy signature dining, she is a bit of a foodie. Would love some recommendations!!

Some about her:

• 17, but very adventurous diner
• Loves steak (not an overly cooked steak, mind you, this girl wants hers well seasoned and rare)
• Loves sushi
• Enjoys a good dessert
• Enjoys specialty 'mock tails'
• Very much one to enjoy an 'experience'
• Enjoys brunch

Thanks for your recommendations!!

Options include (in no particular order):
-- Victoria & Albert is special and would be a wonderful experience for a graduation.

-- CA Grill offers the potential to be the 'most magical' if experiencing Disney is part the goal - especially if you also enjoy the fireworks. But given the reasonably high expectations, CA Grill also has the potential to fall flat because, like too many Signature experiences, children & ambiance become a factor and this place can sometime feels like an Olive Garden. In a nutshell, CA Grill can be too 'hit-or-miss' to be my only recommendation.

-- There are Dinner Packages at Tiffin's that get a FP+ for River of Lights; Brown Derby offers tickets for Fantasmic! Of course, there are Dessert Parties and 'Special' Excursions (like a Safari with food) that might be considered as well.

-- If your child is a 'sea-foodie' and wants to try the best fish at Disney, then BlueZoo is truly my family-favorite. Since it's not run by Disney (and is not part of the Dining Plan), there are fewer children is a dining room that is more adult than anything Disney manages.

-- Capa, inside Four Season serves 'small plates' of tapas and excellent steaks.

 

[CraigInPA]

Sushi and Steak pretty much mean you'll be at California Grille.

 

[tannerandcatesmom]

A late dinner at California Grill timed to watch MK fireworks!!! Hands down was our favorite! I had the seafood ramen, it was phenomenal!! Our second choice would he Citricos, my steak (I share your daughters love for well seasoned/rare) was excellent. The charcuterie and cheese boards were lovely. For overall ambience you can't beat CG but Citricos is right up there! Enjoy!

 

[disneypaws]

Would also suggest Shula’s for steak - nice atmosphere, great drinks, soufflé for dessert is amazing.

 

[FosterLovesMickey]

Thank you, all, for your recommendations!! Lots to consider!!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Hey - looking for some feedback…

I'm taking my daughter to WDW (staying at GF) the end of January, to celebrate her HS graduation. We do enjoy signature dining, she is a bit of a foodie. Would love some recommendations!!

Some about her:

• 17, but very adventurous diner
• Loves steak (not an overly cooked steak, mind you, this girl wants hers well seasoned and rare)
• Loves sushi
• Enjoys a good dessert
• Enjoys specialty 'mock tails'
• Very much one to enjoy an 'experience'
• Enjoys brunch

Thanks for your recommendations!!

I highly recommend Artist Point at WL. It's one of the best signatures on property IMHO. Great steak and Pacific Northwest cuisine with a twist.

Cali Grill is great, too, but I think the food at Artist Point is better.

For sushi, head to Kimono's at the Swan - best sushi on property. While you are in the area, check out the lounge at bluezoo (also a GREAT restaurant choice) at the Dolphin and AbracadaBAR at BWI for fun mocktails. I also HIGHLY recommend going to Trader Sam's at Poly for great mocktails ($4.99!) and to see all the antics and effects at the bar. Also stop in Nomad Lounge in AKL for great mocktails made with fresh fruit.

 

[FosterLovesMickey]

I highly recommend Artist Point at WL. It's one of the best signatures on property IMHO. Great steak and Pacific Northwest cuisine with a twist.

Cali Grill is great, too, but I think the food at Artist Point is better.

For sushi, head to Kimono's at the Swan - best sushi on property. While you are in the area, check out the lounge at bluezoo (also a GREAT restaurant choice) at the Dolphin and AbracadaBAR at BWI for fun mocktails. I also HIGHLY recommend going to Trader Sam's at Poly for great mocktails ($4.99!) and to see all the antics and effects at the bar. Also stop in Nomad Lounge in AKL for great mocktails made with fresh fruit.

I, too, love Artist Point!! I'm trying to get her to consider it, but she doesn't seem TOO interested.

I do like your idea of Kimonos! I will have to get her thoughts on that!

Thanks, again, for all the responses!! I appreciate the ones already provided and any yet to come!