Tell me about dining at SSR

[sueg]

I've been alittle "out-of-touch" with the DIS Bds for the past month or two. When I scored a late ressie 2 BD at SSR at the end of Aug., it dawned on me that I don't know much about this newest resort. We think there is only a food court (in contrast to Olivia's at OKW, our home) How are the dining options? Do they assume that you'll just go to DD for your close-to-home restaurant needs? Any info would be appreciated, even if you just point out a recent thread that I can search for. Thanks! SGG

 

[CRobin]

While we didn't eat there, I can give you some info about Artist's Palette, which is the semi-upscale food court @ SSR....

The seating area, gift shop, convenience store, and food ordering / preparation area are all in a relatively open area. They have around 6-7 items on the menu, as well as a daily chef's special. I think the prices ran from around $8-$9.

Their pitch here is that you can order and take it back to your room as well, thus the convenience store handy to grab some beer or wine.

I don't think it will cut into DD's restaurant business. If you want a sit down meal with a server, DD or Olivia's @ OKW are your closest alternatives. We did see a fair crowd at AP when it was raining @ dinnertime one evening, but far from packed.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I had two meals there this past week. One was dinner and it was a pulled BBQ flatbread with tomato based BBQ sauce. I liked it a lot, and I am picky about my BBQ sauce. I also had a turkey sandwich for lunch one day and it had a cranberry mayonnaise sauce on it, which I liked, along with the hand cut potato chips, the bread looked like a homemade multigrain bread. The sandwich was generous and I was full when all done.

The night we ate dinner there, they offered a pot roast and mashed potato plate. I was told they were all sold out, then after I finished my flatbread, I saw other people getting orders of the pot roast. I wasn't too happy about that as pot roast is one of my favorites.

All things considered, I thought the prices reasonable. At first glance they seemed a bit high, but the sandwiches, etc. are a little more special than say just a regular turkey sandwich.

 

[fsubigdogs]

We ate there one day last month and I was less then impressed. The chef behind the counter was not the nicest person I met. He was not that accomadating to special needs like no cheese. The food was fresh and not bad, however the selection was limited. DD across is where I will be eating and its a shame. It would be nice to beable to sit by the great pool and run in to grab lunch...

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We ate at Artist's Palette twice two weeks ago.

Prices are decent and portions are large. For lunch we shared a portabella and cheese flatbread pizza, which was very good. For breakfast we had egg, hashbrown breakfast platters, fruit and coffee. Our breakfast platters were so big that next time we'll share a platter.

Everything was fresh and yummy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We also enjoyed eating twice at Wolfgang Puck's Cafe for a late lunch and a dinner, as well as, a snack at Giaradelli's (sp?) and a pretzel at Wetzel's Pretzels.

 

[#1Mouse]

We were down there during the week of Member Homecoming and spent alot of time at the SSR pool, so we ate quite a bit at Artist's Palette. Everything we had was very good. I had the Lasagna special, the meatloaf special, pot roast special, pepperoni flatbread and the french toast casserole. Ummm....by the way, these meals were all on different days - I didn't eat all that on one day

They also have prepared items that are wrapped and ready to go that you can purchase instead of ordering a meal.

RweTHEREyet - I don't want to make you feel too bad, but the pot roast special was some of the best pot roast I have ever had!! You definately would have enjoyed it!!!!! Looks like you will need to take another trip soon so you will be able to try it!

Gail

 

[sueg]

Thank you for all of the information. DH & I are in Phase 3 of South Beach, so we tend to eat ALOT of chicken, salad & wholegrain breads. Pot roast would be fine, with some modifications. I think we will plan on one meal at AP. DSs will really like the option of being able to bring the food back to our unit. That is "one of their things" !

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I just knew it had to have been good, it looked it........... That was just the final blow to a really stinky day.

Our flight was late leaving Raleigh

The man sitting next to me brought on board his own min-bottle and drank it and the steward said he was going to have to call the Federal Marshalls and have him arrested and taken off the plane in handcuffs.

A little girl had a seizure while we were in the air.

Orlando airport was shut down, but they almost decided to have us land anyway in the awful storm because of the medical emergency. They decided to stay in the air so we went out over the water and circled and circled.

We finally landed and then had to stay in our seats until the EMT's came on Board to assess the situation.

Got off the plane, got our rental car, hit the toll road and one lane of the road was shut down so it took about an hour to get from the airport to SSR.

We were finally checking in at the time that we were supposed to be having dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern, about 3 hours later than we should have been.

Checked in, decided to try Artist Palette since we missed LTT and we were very, very tired and didn't want to leave for anything else, and I saw that pot roast and I thought, something good is coming out of today anyway. So, I ordered, and the woman looked back at me and simply said, "we are out of it." I thought she was kidding, but noooooooooooo, she meant it. So, now to find out that really was as good as it looked just adds insult to injury.

But I am glad that you enjoyed it, and I hope they have it again when I am there in the Fall.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

P.S.

They did not arrest the mini-bottle guy. The kid with the seizure kept everybody busy for a while and I think they decided to let him be since he was not bothering anyone.

 

[#1Mouse]

Yikes, what a trip! All that and no pot roast! Yep, another trip is definately a must.

Gail

 

[G8RFAN]

RweTHEREyet,

I Had the artichoke and chicken flatbread and the spaghetti meatball chef special last weekend. Both were good. They had run out of the meatballs, so the CM said they would bring the dish out to the dining area for us. It seems that either they had a change of policy or your CM was just being lazy.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I am not sure what happened but, she did not even imply that more was on its way, or I would have waited. As soon as I saw more people getting pot roast, I mentioned it to a Cast Member that appeared to be maybe over the others. She apologized and offered to give me a plateful to take back to the room, but we were only there for 2 nights and had plans for both nights as it was an anniversary trip, and I knew we would not be in the room to eat it at lunch. It was too late to even be eating a little later that night, so I declined.

It appears to me from my own experience and what others are reporting that while the menu at SSR may be limited, that there will be "different" choices than available at most other Disney dining locations.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by RweTHEREyet
It appears to me from my own experience and what others are reporting that while the menu at SSR may be limited, that there will be "different" choices than available at most other Disney dining locations.

From our recent experience, that certainly seems to be true. The offerings were much different than we had eaten that entire week and it was somewhat of a relief.

I'm so sorry you and your family had such a difficult time at the beginning of your trip. Please tell us that the rest of the trip was *~magical~*?

 

[RweTHEREyet]

why yes, most of the rest of our trip was just wonderful. We got to see my dear friends College Program son in action at the Magic Kingdom. We ate at California Grill, a first for us. Staying at SSR was special. Did enough shopping to purchase an additional suitcase to bring extra stuff home. Saw Wishes, my new favorite thing and the thunderstorms left in time for Fantasmic to go on as planned.

Now, on the return flight, not near as much action, but there was another "medical" situation. Right as they were taking drink orders, a young girl (say 21 or so) had a "stress" attack or panic attack or anxiety or something. The flight crew stayed busy with here the whole flight. When they were able to start serving beverages, the captain announced we were making our descent into Raleigh. We again stayed in our seats until the EMT's came aboard to assess the situation. They decided to take her off the back of the plane so we were able to disembark without too much of a delay.

So, the trip was short and sweet. I am anxious for a longer stay at SSR.

 

[DrTomorrow]

A minor comment on the "limited" selections: There are a least 12 - 16 items up on the menu displays, plus the one or two "specials". There are also things like fruit plates and the like in the cooler.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
A minor comment on the "limited" selections: There are a least 12 - 16 items up on the menu displays, plus the one or two "specials". There are also things like fruit plates and the like in the cooler.

True, and I don't find it really that limiting except when you compare to some other dining locations in other resorts, and maybe if there are some picky eaters. I am kind of picky but still saw several things I could choose from.

It just seems a little different for a "food court" at Disney, but I liked it. I do wonder once there are lots more people there how smoothly it will work with the person taking the order writing it down. I think the line to order may back up a bit.

 

[#1Mouse]

We were talking with someone at the pool bar and they were telling us that at Artist Palette they are trying to maintain the "healthy" eating as opposed to the typical hamburger, hot dog, chicken strips that you can get everywhere else. I didn't find the menu limiting either. It was a nice change from the typical fast food fare.

The ordering service was fine while we were there, but as the resort grows they will have to make some changes. Otherwise it will take forever just to place your order.

Gail