Signature Dining Recommendations?

[pixiemeg]

My sister and I are heading down to the world this October and we are giving each other Delux Dining plan for our birthdays this year.
I welcome recommedations on Signature Dining places-- we hope to do one signature a day in out 4 day trip! Thanks

 

[catheren]

Flying Fish, probably one of the best WDW restaurants!! Narcoossees at the GF. Chef de France or Bistro de Paris in Epcot.

 

[mommyrosa2]

We've always enjoyed Narcoose's and Yachtsman Steakhouse

 

[figment_jii]

What kinds of food do you like? Have you tried looking at Allears.net to see what kind of items are on the menus at the various Signatures? (They do change seasonally, so some things might not be on the menu when you go.)

My favorite Signatures are Narcoossee's and California Grill. I've had consistently excellent food (calamari, crab cakes, lobster, and the chocolate mousse are my favorites) and service at Narcoossee's. At California Grill the food and service was also excellent and you have the added bonus of being able to go out to the observation deck to watch Wishes.

 

[OhThePain]

My fiancee and I have always tried to do a Signature for dinner on most nights of our trips. We rank the Signatures on the dining plans as follows:

1a. Citricos + 1b. Flying Fish (These are the top 2 Signatures in our opinion and we cant decide which we like better).
3. Jiko (The food is great and the atmosphere is nice and relaxing, especially in the Wine Room)
4. Artist Point (The best steaks on the DDP)
5. Bistro de Paris (Now that it is on the DDP I can add it to this list. Pre-DDP we have enjoyed the food and find it to be relaxing, but who knows if the dining plans will ruin that)
6. Cali. Grill (We find the food to be a little bland, boring and overrated, but it gets big points for the view of MK and Wishes)
7. HBD (This one grew on us after our second try)
8. Yachtsmen Steakhouse (Not the best steaks on property, but not the worst)
9. Fulton's (Did not impress us at all)
10. Le Cellier (Have not been since it became Signature but we felt it was very overrated when we went a couple of years ago)
11. Narcoossee's (While it's cool to watch Wishes from, the atmosphere is loud and the food just isn't that good, in our opinion).

As a PP said, a lot depends on what your tastes are. I love restaurants that others hate and I hate restaurants that others love. The best thing to do is to get an idea of what each restaurant has to offer (since many of these menus change quite a bit from season to season) on allears.net, and pick a few out to ask about specifically. If you vaguely ask for recommendations you are going to end up hearing a recommendation for every Signature on property.

 

[EvilQueenT]

citricos, flying fish, and yachtmans are my 3 favorite. my next 3 would be narcoossee's, california grill, and artists point.

 

[minniebride]

I would do:

1. California Grill: Time your reservations for either Wishes or during sunset.

2. Flying Fish

3. Jiko: a more unique choice

4. Hoop Dee Doo Revue: This is NOT fancy, but it is a 2 credit meal because it's a dinner show. It's SO much fun & the food is great!

 

[CWarkenthien]

I agree with others, REALLY depends on your taste. If you like seafood, I'd say flying fish and narcoosees. If not, you'll hate them.

My tops would go to Citricos (delicious Pork belly and tenderloin!), Nacoosees (mmm surf and turf), and Jiko (bold and different flavors using the usual disney proteins).

Cali Grill is great for the MK view, but I feel the food is very average.
Artists Point is quite nice as well, but the food isn't the most memorable.

I'm sure where ever you go, you'll enjoy it!

 

[3pletprincesses]

Citricos
Cali grill
Yatchman
Brown Derby

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I vote for Yachtsman...the tables have enough space between them that it's not too noisy or "busy" feeling, the service is wonderful, the food great....and it would be fun to walk over and have a drink at Jelly Rolls afterwards, or walk and enjoy the Boardwalk atmosphere.

I like LeCellier food, but the tables are so crammed together, and if you're eating at a two-person table, it is DINKY...and it's noisy there. Me and DH went on our honeymoon, and we could hardly fit our plates, appetizers, and drinks on the table, and had to keep rearranging everything to make room. The funny thing is, though, that the table next over was newly-weds too, and our tables were so close together that after we congratulated each other, we started talking, and ended up pushing our tables together (which was only a few inches anyway).

 

[skunk]

Our top 3 on dining plan:

Citricos
Flying Fish
Jiko

 

[mickeynut1]

Two of our favorites are Artist Point (awesome salmon and filet) and Yachtsman Steakhouse (awesome filet) .

 

[tinacaplan]

First of all, happy birthday! Sounds like you have quite a trip planned.

That said, I have a few comments about the DxDP in general and ADRs, in particular. The deluxe plan is a TON of food, so be prepared.

1. Space out your meals. It worked best for my husband and I (not slouches in the eating department) when we did either breakfast, no lunch, and a late dinner or an early lunch and very late dinner. Two meals a day seemed to be our limit. You will also have ample snack credits to help tide you over.

2. We never had a truly bad or even mediocre meal at the signatures we've been to. Not terribly impressed by most of the 1 credit TS places, though.

That said, here are my suggestions:

1. Jiko -- been here twice, had amazing food both times, and good service. Visiting AKL is an added bonus, as the resort is beautiful with some of the friendliest CMs you'll ever meet.

2. Flying Fish -- fantastic meal here; everything was delicious. Loved their signature red snapper and still think about it a lot.

3. California Grill -- went on Valentine's Day with my husband in 2010 during Wishes. We had a table right in front of one of the windows. Heaven. Truly. I felt like I was walking on air as I left. The food is great and we had excellent service.

4. Citrico's -- yum and the new menu looks even better. We're headed there for our date night meal in just a couple of weeks.

We didn't do Narcosee's, but the reviews on the boards are never that great. Didn't do Artist Point, as I don't love salmon. Le Cellier was still a 1 credit when we went, so didn't do that either. We finally did it for lunch last year and didn't love it. Everything was pretty salty. Yatchsman seems to get consistently solid reviews, if you love steak.

You are going to have a wonderful trip, but make sure you pace yourselves.

 

[gardengirl628]

Artist Point....Smoky Portabello Soup...no other words needed.

Also love Flying Fish. Cali Grill is nice atmosphere, but food doesn't stand up IMHO.

 

[kelleigh1]

We are also going in Oct. with the Deluxe Dining Plan. We have 6 signatures on our list. We have been to Narcoossee's previously and really enjoyed it, but this trip is about trying all new places.

We are planning on:

Jiko
Flying Fish
Citricos
Artist Point
California Grill

and Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast, just so we can experience dining in the castle.

 

[pixiemeg]

What terrific ideas! I can't wait to share all of these with my sister as we make plans. Just about 3 weeks till our 180 day mark. We both love pretty much everything seafood and occasional steak.

I am also wondering about Bistro de Paris? I looked at the menu on ALLEARS so would love to hear any opinions on that place too. Thanks again for all the shared insight. Megan

 

[kelleigh1]

Just about 3 weeks till our 180 day mark.

This sounds a little off to me. Have you checked your dates in the calculator? You said you're going in Oct., and when I plug 10/1/2012 into the ADR calculator, it shows the 180 day mark as 4/4/12 - which is definitely more than 3 weeks away.

Here is the calculator if you want to check for the exact date you can make your ADR's: ADR Calculator