Strange question about dining

[sadiwest]

This might not even sound like a question so much as a statement followed by a plea for advice.

My husband has never been to WDW (at the age of 42...can you BELIEVE IT?)...and using the dining plan, I'm trying to plan some 'special' and 'cool/fun' experiences. We're not exactly "froo froo food" people, so although I think it'd be awesome to go to places like Cal. Grill or BOMA, etc etc, I'm a little concerned when I look at the menu. I think it's possible we'll go and find nothing to eat!


So...I guess my 'question' is....were would you suggest taking my first-timer husband where we can have a fun/cool/interesting/etc WDW experience without fear of starving LOL. I'd love to see Wishes from CG...etc etc, but it's not in the cards for us (based on the menus).
As of now, I've got ADRs at Coral Reef (which is still froo froo for us, but it'll be our 1st anniversary) , Sci Fi, BOMA (which I may cancel) and I think Breakfastasaurus.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, etc?
Thanks in advance,
Sandi

 

[pezpam]

It's difficult because I have no idea what your idea of froo-froo is. Not knowing what you like and don't like, I'd suggest hitting allearsnet.com and their menu section. I know it was useful to me - showed me that a couple of places I was interested in eating at didn't actually have meals I could eat while a few I hadn't thought about had selections that looked great. Well worth the clicking time.

 

[got2travel]

Some safe bets would be Liberty Tree Tavern (traditional Thanksgiving food) and the Hoop De Doo (fried chicken and ribs). Each have their own specialness to them, with all you care to eat of regular food.

Also, I think you should keep your ADR for Boma. I haven't eaten there yet, but will in June. However, my last trip we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the smells coming from Boma every day were just incredible. We finally decided to try it one day, but couldn't get a table. I can't wait to go back and give it a try.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Hi, Sadie

Well, starving you won't be!

DH and I aren't "froo-froo" folks, and we don't have kids' preferences to worry about, but I'm not adverse to trying something new, either...as long as it's cooked! Some restaurants/eateries we've enjoyed are:

Epcot -- LeCellier...one of the best steaks we've eaten; counter service place in Morroco...a lot of their entrees include lamb (which we don't mind), but they also have plenty of the same dishes using chicken instead; Brats and pretzels in Germany (we drink lots of beer in Germany, so we lose our inhibitions about trying different foods!). The counter service place in Norway has something called Lefsa (sp?). It's a potato flatbread with butter and cinnamon sugar in it, then wrapped up (it's a snack). Very yummy. We weren't impressed with France or Italy, but that's just us.

MGM -- we've eaten at 50s Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi. Sci-Fi I could take or leave. I paid way too much for an undercooked burger. 50s Prime Time is awesome food, whether you like pot roast or chicken pot pie or more adventerous foods.

MK -- pickins', IMO, are slim here. We usually go for a turkey leg. If not, then we go with a burger or chicken strips

AK -- way good food. Plan for Tusker House in Africa. Roasted chicken, grilled salmon or a fried chicken sandwich. No ADR needed. I've also heard the barbeque place is good, but I get enough of that here at home.

I know you mentioned Boma didn't appeal to you, but check Jiko out at AKL. We just did (Boma didn't appeal to us, either). Out of this world!!! Their signature dish is filet mignon over homemade mac and cheese, with a twirl of red wine sauce around the edge of the plate. They also had a fish dish that wasn't too froo-froo. The steak with mac & cheese is positively to die for. Plus, the place is beautiful, romantic and has a very extensive wine list that the servers spend a lot of time explaining if you're interested (African wines were very new for us...but not anymore!!!).

Anyway, hope this helps a little. I'm sure others will chime in, as well!

 

[islandbeachnut]

Tony's in the Magic Kingdom, has a great lunch menu and you can eat on the patio at parade time 3-3:15 for a late lunch & watch the parade.

Though we love Cali Grill & other froo froo places, we love Tony's too and it is not froo froo at all.

 

[Terri C]

I would try 'Ohanas. It's a great place for basic food. Grilled meats and potatoes. Shrimp and chicken wing appetizers. The atmosphere is alot of fun and if you time it right you can see wishes from the Poly.

Have fun!

Terri

 

[angel's momma]

We're not "froo froo" either, and I'm a very picky eater.

We did the dining plan for 2 weeks last fall. Our favorites (in no particular order) were Coral Reef, LTT, Concourse Steakhouse, WCC, and Chef Mickey's.

We did try Boma, and I was surprised that I liked as many things as I did. We enjoyed Boma, just not as much as the ones listed above.

The others we tried were Boma breakfast, 1900 Park Faire, Akerhaus, H&V, CRT, and B&C. We didn't have any bad meals.

 

[Goofy&Sleepy]

We love ESPN zone on the Boardwalk...if you are going to MGM or EPCOT, ESPN has lots of sandwich choices & gives you huge portions @a reasonable price compared to many places. You can see the fireworks from Illuminations if you step out onto the BW.

 

[crazy4dizney]

I have a suggestion for you if you would like to see wishes at CG. My DH and I had drinks an a appitizer at the bar area and watched wishes, It was alot of fun...Don't know if it would work for you ,but I thought I would mention it.

 

[budbeerlady]

WE are not Foodies! Dh thought going to WDW would be kiddie H*ll. But he loved the dining plan and that is what sold him on going back. He ate like a king for a week and then we had to come back to my cooking. We dont want to dress up since it was on vacation so we ate at the following for dinner.

1900 Park Fare Dinner (Dh loved the mussels and prime rib)
Le Cellier (loved his mushroom covered red meat)
Mama Melrose (Dh salmon ok, loved the rest of my veal)
Liberty Tree tavern. (This was ok but we wont go back, I make better at home)
Yachtsman Steak House (He loved the food here, it was good and more class than we usually experince at home. It was a nice adult meal out for us)
Captn Jacks (did this before Cirque and wont go back, slow service and bland food)
Boatwrights in POR (This was a last minute change from Boma, I didnt feel like going all the way to a park to take abus to AKl, Great food. WE all loved it here and will go back. The prime Rib was very tasty!!!!

OUr favorite CS were the Tusker house in AK (we ate here twice and loved it. The wrap with corn chowder is great) and the Seasons in the land at Epcot. It has huge black forrest ham sandwichs that are so yummy.

Did you look at the menus on Allears? That helped us make some of our choices.

 

[sadiwest]

I did actually look at the menus, but unless you have a 'starting point' the menus can be overwhelming. There are SO many choices...it's helpful to have a few suggestions to look into.

I'll keep checking back here...because it sounds like people have alot of good suggestions.

By the way "froo froo" can include (but not limited to) items that have words like "delicate", "fragranced" or "hint" included in their description.


Sandi

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Hoop Dee Doo Revue!!! You will have a great time.

and i see you have character breakfast, thats good!

What about "Garden Grill" in the Land at epcot? my mum LOVED that restaurant when we were kids, and when dh and i went a few years ago, HE loved it. we ate at lunch, family style dining where the y bring the food to you but its all you can eat. a sample of everything, choose what you want more of. and its a revolving restaurant! how cool is that!

Le Cellier at Epcot? or 50's prime time cafe at MGM , u could have lots of fun there.

Whispering Canyon? its loud i hear tho...

 

[mkygrl]

Don't cancel Boma!!!!
I am a very picky eater..I absolutely loved Boma! Found lots of stuff I would eat and the option for me to try something new was there if I wanted! Food was/is really good...especially the desserts!

 

[byoung]

I agree don't cancel Boma's you will love it there.

 

[Cruisinondisney101]

I recomend to not go to Chef Mickey's. It may be an absolutely outstanding interactive experience but the food and seeting is not as whimsical as the other restaurants. Besides there is not a large variety compared to 1900 park Fare. Go to 1900 Park Fare to get a good Prime Rib buffet along with my favorite signature disney foods (strwberry soup, rice krispie treats, and that oh so famous 1900 park fare original Monkey Bread). The service is outsatnding. Go here for breakfast and lunch. It is amazing as well as interactive.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

The meun at Kona Cafe at the Polynesian has a nice menu. Sounds a little fancy (but it's not) and steak is good anywhere.

Also look at the dinner in Morocco (Epcot). There is a bellydancer who performs about every hour and while the food is not traditional american food, all my picky eaters loved it.