Tell me about Victoria and Alberts

[Katieinwonderland]

DH and I are planning to eat at Victoria and Alberts for our 1st wedding anniversary this July, and I don't really know what to expect. Last year two days before the wedding, we ate at the chef's table there with both sets of parents, and it was incredible! I loved the food, the personal service, everything. But I know nothing about the main restaurant!

Is it one set price like the chefs table was? And how many courses is it? Is it the same kind of foods? I thought the food was great, with so much to try, but DH was wary of some of the really different foods (although he loved the fois gras and I was totally freaked out!)

Any info, reviews or anything would be much appreciated! TIA

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Basically what you got at CT was everything that was on the menu in the Main Dining Room. Since you had to pass through the dining room on the wasy to CT you saw what they layout was like. Again, there are paired servers and you get the wonderful service. Also, the harpist does requests (have you ever heard the Mickey Mouse Club March on a harp?).

If you click here you will see a menu from last July. The current price in the dining room is $125 and $65 for the wine pairings.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Our dinner there was over 2 years ago, but we still remember it as THE BEST meal we've ever had! Food and service are extraordinary, to say the least. I did the wine pairing (ate there with my teen DD) and we chose a couple of upgrades, like caviar and truffle. Everything we had was exquisite.

Our servers were impeccable, you never had to look around for them, but they were so unobtrusive - we often found that we had something that we didn't have before, but we did not see the server arrive and depart! But if you want interaction, you only have to ask a question, and they are happy to explain the wine or food to you, at length if you so desire.

I think there were 6 courses (not counting amuse bouche and coffee), with 2 or more choices per course. The coffee service is very good (and I don't even like coffee!), and so unusual, you have to order it just to have the experience!

 

[tiggr33]

OP, although I cannot answer your question, I will be dining there for the first time, 3 weeks from tonight. I can't wait. I will be happy to report back then. I've heard they call you about a week out to discuss likes/dislikes, is this true? We are celebrating our 5th annivesarry, and my DP doesnt eat fowl, and I am not fond of any offal. We plan on doing the wine pairings, and picking up our car from the valets the next day. I assume that is ok. OP sorry for the hijack.

 

[arbolita]

I was also wondering about this since we will be going on our Disneymoon in September - my fiance can be a fairly picky eater, and while the idea of V&A's seems great, I'd be concerned that he'd wind up being served things he does not care for. So you do get some sort of choice in what you eat and it's not one menu with one option for each course per day?

 

[Pakey]

For each of the 5 courses, there will be at least 2 items to choose from. Some of the courses may have 3 choices, some of which would cost extra to upgrade. For the amuse bouche, there is no option on that. V&A is not a good place for picky eaters as there will be many many items on the menu that a picky eater will not have heard of before. Hopefully, although picky, he will be adventurous and not be intimidated by menu items he cannot read nor silverware he has no idea what to use it for. Your Victoria and Albert will be very gracious in answering all of your questions.

We eat at V&A on every Disney vacation and it's one of the best places we have eaten. It's very quiet, dinner takes about 3 hours, it's just the best place to really enjoy the food and the company of your fellow diner(s).

WARNING: Watch out for the constantly refilled bread plate. The bread is very very very very very good and as soon as you finish your piece of bread, another one magically appears. You start out thinking, oh the courses are so small, so you eat the bread. By the 4th course, you are wishing you had stopped with one piece.

 

[JoanneNC]

We are also eating here for the 1st time in June - DH will eat anything and I am more reserved but will try anything but seafood - so I am staying hopeful.

 

[yitbos96bb]

DH and I are planning to eat at Victoria and Alberts for our 1st wedding anniversary this July, and I don't really know what to expect. Last year two days before the wedding, we ate at the chef's table there with both sets of parents, and it was incredible! I loved the food, the personal service, everything. But I know nothing about the main restaurant!

Is it one set price like the chefs table was? And how many courses is it? Is it the same kind of foods? I thought the food was great, with so much to try, but DH was wary of some of the really different foods (although he loved the fois gras and I was totally freaked out!)

Any info, reviews or anything would be much appreciated! TIA

Their Fois Gras is amazing... unfortunately, they banned it from Disney Property. I won't go on a rant about Disney management, but needless to say a lot of people were ticked off, including the chefs.

 

[KristiMc]

We ate at V&A this past October for our 10th anniversary. It was the best meal that we have ever had. The service is wonderful. Here is my menu for the night. My DH had a slightly different menu since he is allergic to nuts.


First Course:
Amuse Bouche

Second Course:
Tamarind-Ancho Marinated Florida Gulf Shrimp with Heirloom Tomato Vinaigrette
Alaskan King Crab and Dungeness Crab Salad, Mustard Aioli

Third Course:
Minnesota Elk over Stewed French Lentils with Baby Brussels Sprouts
Poached Vermont Quail with Black Mission Figs and Fuji Apples

Fourth Course:
Corn-Crusted Florida Grouper with Zellwood Corn and Geoduck Clams
Alaskan King Salmon with Salsify and Demi-Tasse Cup of Smoked Salmon Cream
Monterey Abalone with Toasted Capers and Meyer Lemon - $30

Fifth Course:
Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin and Belly with Baby Beets and Sherry Bacon Vinaigrette
Fennel Pollen Dusted Lamb with Vegetable Ratatouille
Marcho Farms Veal Tenderloin with Yellow Chanterelles and English Peas
Australian "Kobe" Beef Tenderloin with Smoked Garlic Potato Puree - $35
Japanese Wagyu Strip Loin with Oxtail Jus - $80

Sixth Course:
Colston Bassett Stilton, Brillat Savarin and Comte Forte Rousses
White Chocolate Gelato with Tableside Shavings and Micro Garden Mint

Seventh Course:
Tanzanian Chocolate Pyramid, Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Souffle and Peruvian Chocolate Ice Cream and Puff Pastry
Berry Gateau with Mango Yogurt Panna Cotta
Carmalized Banana Gateau
Vanilla Bean Cream Brulee
Grand Marnier Souffle
Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Souffle

"Celebes" Coffee, Tea and Friandise

 

[disneynuts777]

I cannot say enough good things about it. It is single handedly the best meal, service and atmosphere I have ever encountered.
I wish we had the money to do V&A's every time we visit....but sadly this is not the case

 

[styron]

It was the best meal either of us have ever had, and we are foodies who spend a lot of money on big name restaurants/chefs. We spent a great deal of money, and it was worth every dime, and I would do it again tomorrow.

Ask your waiter what he recommends from the choices. He will not be wrong! In one case, the waiter told us to get something that wasn't even on the menu because there were only a couple of pieces of it and not enough to offer to everybody in the dining room.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I was glad to see this thread as tonight I began to think about our trip in May 2010 where we will celebrate our 25th anniversary. We enjoy good food but I was worried that the choices might be a little above our normal fare. In reading reviews and information from other sites, it appears that the CM's make everyone feel as comfortable as possible and do not want you to be intimidated over the choices.

One thing--my wife and I are not wine drinkers. Occasionally some champagne, but no wine experts by any means. We would not opt for the wine pairings, so I am correct in that the cost would be $125.00 pp plus tip and gratuity, correct? Are reservations difficult to come by or do you need to be on the phone 90 days before at 7:00 EST to get a table?

One last thing, I was considering the meal than hoppng over to Ft. Wilderness for a 9:30 carriage ride. If we were to have a reservation at VA for even up to 6:30, that would still be possible, wouldn't it?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Reservations are not difficult. The ultimate capacity of V&A is about 70, and the normal seating is under 50. It is just the Chef's Table that is impossible to get, as there is only one reservation per night.

You could indicate that you do not want the full wine pairings, but ask them for recommendations of what may be reasonable (by the glass) that will cover more than one course. When I go there with firends or relatives I tend to have a glass of champagne at the start and then switch to iced tea.

Even if you get one of the earliest seatings, before 6:00, you should figure on the meal taking about 2½ hours. And I don't think you would want to go over to Fort Wilderness on Disney Transportation dressed up; even if you drove or took a taxi you would have to change to a bus at the entrance. Unless you are staying at the Fort you cannot take a car into the campgrounds area.

 

[highsmith]

I was trying to decide what to do for my mom's 60th! V&A sounds like a winner. She went there years ago but I am not a good foodie. For her, I guess I can try (or jsut indulge in the v.v.v.v good bread and wine!)

Has anyone ordered a cake there for dessert or is that major overkill?

 

[BriarRosie]

I reviewed the main restaurant (complete with food porn pictures) in my Nosh link in my signature.

Like you, I had done Chef's Table only prior to dining in the main restaurant. It was still very good, and there was flexibility in the menu items.

I'd like to go back again in October, instead of waiting another 6 years between visits.