Signature Dining Recommendations?

[anorman]

I have an upcoming trip booked for August so I will be looking to complete my ADRs some time next month. This will be our fourth (recent) trip to Disney and we will be on-site for 10 days this time (last time was 14 days).

My intention this time around is to try a couple of signature dining restaurants, just to change things up a bit, but I would like to know what my fellow DISers would recommend. I have two DDs ages 8 and 10 plus DH. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

p.s. I am tentatively considering The Brown Derby and The California Grill.....any thoughts?

 

[Agri]

Oooh. I'm looking forward to the answers you get as we're doing for a shorter stay than you, but its going to be our last for awhile, so I want to get in one signature dining experience at least and have no idea what to choose!

 

[Em&Bec'sMom]

We ate at Cali Grill on our last trip, when it was just two adults. There were a number of children there, even younger than your own. We are going there again on our upcoming trip, this time taking our 9 yo and 13 yo (her request).
A tip (if you didn't already now): you can eat dinner at Cali Grill at any time and then return to use the viewing platform later, in case the fireworks are too late for dinner for your crew. We are planning to do that, with a 5:45 dinner and coming back for later for 10:00 fireworks.

We also ate at Jiko last time also, and loved it. There weren't many children there and it's a little more of a dark and romantic kind of place. Not that children aren't welcome (and there is a kids menu), but it's not the kind of place I would think of for kids.

Narcoossee's is also signature. We had wonderful food there as well. It is brighter, busy, and nosier than Jiko and would be a better choice for children, IMO. If you time it right, there is great fireworks viewing from a deck that wraps around the restaurant. We saw the MVMCP fireworks from there.

 

[MrsLS]

My favs are Flying Fish, Cali Grill and Brown Derby. You can't go wrong with any of those.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

All depends on what you are looking for...I'd say the quality of food and service is about the same. My all-time favorite is Flying Fish Cafe! I will definitely return to Flying Fish and Brown Derby. I say Brown Derby because the other choices for the Fantasmic package don't appeal to us.

The other signature restaurants on the dining plan -- I'd enjoy returning to them, but it wouldn't bother me if we dined at some of the better 1 credit DDP restaurants instead.

Flying Fish Cafe -- Great seafood, best mussels appetizer in the World, enjoyed the boardwalk entertainers just outside the restaurant. Easy to get to from Epcot.

Brown Derby -- Enjoyed all the food. Fantasmic package is nice and includes appetizers even if you are not on the deluxe DDP (which does include apps). Convenient being right in Hollywood Studios.

California Grill -- Great seafood. I like the sushi, and trying a different fish entree not usually available (Pacific Monchong). Nice sunset view from up high. DW says they have the best filet (steak).

Narcoosees -- Food is pretty good. I'd dine here again if I could time it to watch the fireworks and the lighted boat parade (9pm) from the restaurant. I think the seafood is better at Flying Fish and CA Grill, but I'd still come back here.

Citricos -- Quieter restaurant, more formal service, food has a very nice presentation. The small orchestra and piano player in the Grand Floridian lobby is always enjoyable before/after dinner.

Jiko -- Great food. But out of the way at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Not long on the bus from AK Park. Fun resort to visit.

Never been to...
Yachtsman
Artist Point
Signatures not on the dining plan

 

[Pakey]

Are you on a dining plan? The best restaurants for both food and service are not on the plan. If that's the case, I would recommend Il Mulino at the Swan. bluezoo is our favorite but it's definitely got a more adult vibe to it. Shula's does not have a children's menu. Bistro de Paris in Epcot used to be a favorite of ours but I've heard that it's gone downhill since they are now allowing children to order from Chefs downstairs and it's become more family dining than fine dining.

If you are looking for plan restaurants, my favorites are Flying Fish, Citricos and then Jiko (I like Citricos and Jiko equally). Ca Grill and Brown Derby are in the middle of the pack for me; I like them better than Yachtsman, Artist Point and Narcoosees. Your daughters would probably love seeing the castle from above at Ca Grill. Brown Derby has decent food and is inside a park so it's convenient. We've had great meals there and then just okay meals there.

 

[anorman]

We are on the dining plan (booked it free before the offer expired on Dec 20th). So far, it sounds like people are leaning toward

The Flying Fish Cafe-love mussels and we've been meaning to check out the Boardwalk,

The Brown Derby-good idea on the Fantasmic package and it's nice that they include appetizers, and

The California Grill-can't beat the view!

I would love to try Jiko's after a day at the AK park but I'm not sure if the kids would like it; are there choices that would be suitable for sometimes finicky kids? Alternatively, has anyone tried Boma?

Right now I am leaning toward the Brown Derby and Flying Fish but keep those opinions coming!

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

We just got back and our son loved Brown Derby and Flying Fish...so did my husband and me. At flying Fish my son loved his dessert (paint while chocolate puzzle) and at Brown Derby he enjoyed his pasta and my husband and I really enjoyed all meals. The top Signature restaurant was Citricos last month...it was an amazing meal for the 3 of us.

 

[DISprincessWANNABE]

I would advise against Citiricos because, while I had my most enjoyable Disney meal there (FI and I went to celebrate a few days after our engagement - amazing service, best food I've had on property, a personalized menu, free champagne, etc.), the restaurant doesn't seem super kid friendly. It's pretty quiet and more formal than the others.

I think I'd suggest Jiko for a family meal. The food and service there are wonderful, and the Animal Kindom Lodge is pretty fun for, well, just about anyone. Get there early and check out the animals outside

 

[DisneyFamily123]

We are on the dining plan (booked it free before the offer expired on Dec 20th). .....I would love to try Jiko's after a day at the AK park but I'm not sure if the kids would like it; are there choices that would be suitable for sometimes finicky kids? Alternatively, has anyone tried Boma?

We went to Jikos after AK park. We enjoyed the food and restaurant, flexible menu for DS.. but it's really a more quiet restaurant like Citricos, kind of boring for young children. I think a buffet like BOMA would be more relaxing after a day at AK park. But, we like the dining choices in AK park too. Yak and Yeti is one of our favorite restaurants. DS now has a tradition of getting his photo taken with every statue in the restaurant and making silly faces.... Food was incredibly good there.

For us, dining is a big part of our vacation... but not for everybody... If you want to do more signature restaurants, see how much extra it would cost to upgrade to the deluxe DDP... you just pay the difference between the value of your free dining and deluxe. It didn't seem to be that much more to upgrade. The deluxe gives you appetizer, entree, and dessert. It also includes 1 refillable resort mug per person, more meals that you can use any way you want (table or counter service) and more snack credits.

But we like to do all table service... We only end up with 3 meals a day a few times because we use dining credits on our arrival and departure day, and several of our dinners are either 2 credit shows or signature meals.

 

[anorman]

We plan on two days at AK and will eat at the Yak and Yeti for one of those....we love it there too! Perhaps Boma may be the better choice for the other day; after a day of trekking around a park, I don't feel like going back to the resort to get all fancied up and then out again.....too much trouble for me and mine. We loved Tusker House the last time we were there as well but I'd like to get a look around the Animal Kingdom Lodge this time.

I don't think that I could handle the Deluxe Plan. I'm nuts enough now with only one table service to plan per day, let alone three!!!

 

[Silver Queen]

Well, everyone has different tastes and opinions. For the most part I agree with Pakey's dining plan choices of Flying Fish, Citricos and Jiko. We have dined at all of these and have always seen families with children there. We've also been to CAli Grill several times. the view is wonderful and the food was good, but not (in our opinion) the same quality as FF, Citrico, and Jiko As much as I like the food at Boma I do not agree that it would be a better choice. It's loud and quite busy in there and of course with a buffet there is always the getting up and sitting down involved with a buffet. AKL may be a little out of the way, but it's a beautiful resort with many interesting things for children to see and experience (eg. the story teller by the fire pit in the back and the animals on the savannah). Have fun whatever you decide.

 

[Corwin]

In order, our favorites are:

1. California Grill (Great view, fantastic service; had filet mignon, sushi, flatbread)
2. Jiko (Nice atmosphere; had Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon with Macaroni & Cheese, flatbread with dipping sauces)
3. Artist Point (Beautiful dining room, have had Cedar Plank Roasted King Salmon, Grilled Bison/Buffalo steak)
4. Citricos (beautiful restaurant, but service could have been better)
5. Brown Derby (fantastic filet mignon back in 2007--but now discontinued)
6. Bistro de Paris (Very quiet, intimate atmosphere; food was decent, but very expensive)
7. Cinderella's Royal Table (breakfast) (food was just OK, but experience was fun)

 

[pinkerbell]

thanks for this great post, we will be in teh same situation in Sept and have the same plan...
The disney website has menu's for most 2 counter service meals, so I plan to take the info here on atmosphere, setting etc and compare that to menus and make decisons based on both..

I know that many sites list the menu's, and I appreciate the effort that is put into them, but they donot correspond with the menus on the disney website, so be sure to check both. I don't know whcih is more accurate, but may post asking for confirmations of menu items to see whcih is correct.. probably neither :

 

[IllumFan]

If I had to choose, I would choose California Grill - great view, great service, the food is familiar to kids, and the "extra" bonus of seeing Wishes or Flying Fish with kids.

Flying Fish is on the Boardwalk and renting a surrey bike after dinner, having ice cream at Beaches N Cream for dessert, or watching one of the great entertainers in the evening makes it a great place to eat.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[NJEeyore]

Artist Point, Flying Fish, Cali Grill are must do sig dinners. They are good eniugh to plan your park days around them.

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

We love California Grill for the steak and sushi and fireworks view.
Narcoossee for seafood and dessert and Citricos for everything.

We saw many children at each restaurant. Each of these were kid friendly even though they were signature dining.

 

[anorman]

Thanks everyone! I certainly feel like I am better informed. I'll take all your advice into consideration and pick two when I sit down to firm things up. I love to hear about others' experiences.

 

[OKW Lover]

Our favorites are

• Yachtsman Steak House
• Flying Fish
• Jiko
• Citrico
• Artist Point

You may want to read the dining reviews here when trying to decide.

 

[I-Bike]

I had this exact question and also looking forward to feedback.