The AINT-SO-GRAND Floridian Cafe

[lovin'fl]

He's been posting dining reviews in that style, good and bad, for years. With all the ...
Just how he does it.

 

[leebee]

We are headed for Florida for 10 days on Monday. I've been looking at menus at WDW and am... uninspired by the limitations and that many restaurants are just closed. We are looking offsite for many of our meals. With parks closing earlier and no fireworks, there's little reason to NOT go offsite for late dinners, and lots of reason to do so: More variety, better prices, etc. I'm kind-of psyched to be trying out new places for dinner!

 

[Simba's Mom]

We dined at Grand Floridian Cafe for lunch in November. The current online menu is accurate to what was available at the time in addition to an "off menu" chicken and waffles dish (which is AMAZING). @Simba's Mom the caesar salad with chicken was alive and well at the time. I'm not going to say it was the very best meal of the trip. But it was solid and a nice break from the Magic Kingdom, the menu was as advertised, distancing between tables was very good, service was great. I don't recall a paper menu - we used a QR code to access the menu.

Whew thanks!

 

[Meriweather]

We ate there in early Dec. and enjoyed it.
I had my usual chicken Caesar salad. DH had a Lobster Thermidor burger. He loved it .....and the fries!
Would definitely go again.
No one looked at the menu and walked out when we were there.
We did not use a paper menu, we scanned the code and looked at it on our phones

 

[sethschroeder]

He's been posting dining reviews in that style, good and bad, for years. With all the ...
Just how he does it.

Yup and glad they do it with all their background as a different perspective.

 

[Colleen27]

It seems like all of the menus, almost everywhere, have been slashed so I'm not sure why the changes at this one particular place should come as such a surprise. I'm genuinely struggling with dining planning for the first time in all of our many Disney trips because things are so pared down that most of our go-to favorites are either not open at all or operating as a shell of what they once were. That's just COVID reality. Hopefully the trend will reverse as the pandemic winds down (though if I'm being honest, I think there's a good chance that it won't as Disney seeks to keep costs as low as possible to recoup 2020/21 losses).

 

[sethschroeder]

I'm not sure why the changes at this one particular place should come as such a surprise.

True but bugger or salmon being the only options is a fairly strange menu for a sit down.

Is there anything that matches or is worse for number of options?

 

[mmackeymouse]

It seems like all of the menus, almost everywhere, have been slashed so I'm not sure why the changes at this one particular place should come as such a surprise. I'm genuinely struggling with dining planning for the first time in all of our many Disney trips because things are so pared down that most of our go-to favorites are either not open at all or operating as a shell of what they once were. That's just COVID reality. Hopefully the trend will reverse as the pandemic winds down (though if I'm being honest, I think there's a good chance that it won't as Disney seeks to keep costs as low as possible to recoup 2020/21 losses).

To be fair, Grand Floridian Cafe seems to have especially been pared down, in comparison to some of the other restaurants.

It's not unusual to see a few dishes missing from particular restaurants. But G-Flo Cafe seems to have taken a much bigger hit than most.

 

[Colleen27]

True but bugger or salmon being the only options is a fairly strange menu for a sit down.

Is there anything that matches or is worse for number of options?

I'm not sure, since I've just started poking around. But FWIW, those aren't the only options... they're just the only "lunch" options on what has become a brunch menu. There is also quiche, eggs benedict, a traditional breakfast platter, etc. Just not much in terms of non-breakfast food. (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/d...ort-and-spa/grand-floridian-cafe/menus/lunch/)

I think the one that most jumped out at me as odd so far in my planning is The Plaza getting rid of most of their sandwiches and their entree salad. It used to be such a nice place for a relatively light lunch that left room for dessert, but now the menu is bangers and mash and meatloaf and a brisket-topped burger and several choices of "loaded" fries, all very heavy and not what I'd think of as compatible with their huge ice cream desserts. And Columbia Harbour House being closed, with only the deep-fried parts of their menu relocated to Tomorrowland Terrace, is pretty disappointing too. But I haven't been to WDW in almost 3 years and am just starting to realize how spoiled I've gotten by the differences between the FL and CA parks, even in non-pandemic times.

 

[sethschroeder]

brunch menu.

Got it moved from a lunch to brunch makes more sense then I suppose.

 

[Dug720]

True but bugger or salmon being the only options is a fairly strange menu for a sit down.

Is there anything that matches or is worse for number of options?

The menu on the Disney site - which seems to be kept up to date better than usual certainly mentions more than just burger and salmon.

I had understood that primarily the paper menus are used for allergy orders and the regular menu was to be accessed electronically with minimal ones available on paper. I wonder if perhaps they were either given an allergy menu by mistake and their server (especially if it was a "lead" who might not always be on the floor) saw the paper/heard the request for paper and defaulted to the allergy offerings which are often reduced even with a full menu in offering.

Perhaps a cautionary tale about asking for a paper menu rather than using the QR code if you don't have allergies.

 

[mmackeymouse]

As far as paper menus, I did see on one of the Orange County Zoom meetings they did, a million years ago, one of the experts suggest, rather than throwing paper menus away, since the virus (at that time) only had a transfer longevity of 12-24 hours on specific items....this man suggested having different stacks of menus which they rotated in and out every 3 days. This way, it would cut back on waste.

I am not saying Grand Floridian Cafe is doing that for sure, but it's definitely possible. If that's the case, I can appreciate that.

 

[Ninjagrrl]

The menu on the Disney site - which seems to be kept up to date better than usual certainly mentions more than just burger and salmon.

And that's where my objection to this "review" and the other one on the resorts board comes in.
Not the style - although I do find it annoying, it's their right. Nor their disappointment, which I also disagree with.
It's the blatant misrepresentation, and sometimes outright lies that have been told to support their feelings, or garner sympathy.

If you want to be upset, go right ahead. But don't lie and omit details to make your feelings seem more justified.

 

[MATTERHORN]

And that's where my objection to this "review" and the other one on the resorts board comes in.
Not the style - although I do find it annoying, it's their right. Nor their disappointment, which I also disagree with.
It's the blatant misrepresentation, and sometimes outright lies that have been told to support their feelings, or garner sympathy.

If you want to be upset, go right ahead. But don't lie and omit details to make your feelings seem more justified.

Agreed! We went two weeks ago and the current menu posted online was what was offered. And it was more than two items. There was also chicken, a steak and salads.


Chilled Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail
Citrus-Avocado Salad and Red Rooster Cocktail Sauce

$16.00

Heirloom Apple Salad
Organic Baby Lettuces, Heirloom Apples, Sharp Cheddar, Pecan Brittle, and Crispy Prosciutto with a Honey-Apple Vinaigrette

$12.00

Caesar Salad
Romaine Lettuce tossed with Caesar Salad Dressing

$8.00

Grilled Romaine Market Salad
Grilled Romaine, In-season Vegetables, with Lemon-Coriander Vinaigrette (Plant-based)

$15.00
Entrées

Buttermilk-fried Chicken
Hand-breaded Chicken Breast with 'Loaded' Smashed Potatoes and Warmed Bacon Vinaigrette

$24.00

Lobster 'Thermidor' Burger*
Artisanal 7-oz Burger Patty and Lobster-Parmesan Thermidor Sauce on a Seared Brioche Bun served with Cafe Signature Seasoned French Fries

$22.00

Miso-glazed Salmon*
Lemon-scented Sticky Rice, French Beans, and Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette

$27.00

New York Strip Steak*
Cheesy Potato Gratin, Roasted Cipollini Onions, Broccolini, and House-made Steak Sauce

$34.00

Impossible™ Burger
Caramelized Onions and Plant-based Smoked Gouda on a Kaiser Roll (Plant-based)

$16.00

 

[B-Ride]

Post Covid, I check every single menu online before I go to see the new limited choices.

And that is the approach we should all take. Rather than complaining once you get there it is just common sense to check first.

I think we need to count our blessings if we are healthy and cut everyone including Disney a little slack during these times. Let's wait until things are back to normal before we get back to whining about prices and menus.

 

[MDIME]

OP mentioned being grossed out by paper menus being reused. If anyone concurs, do you still get your mail? How many people have touched that? Spoiler: many.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Got it moved from a lunch to brunch makes more sense then I suppose.

It's been a brunch menu since pre-Covid. I can't even remember a time when GF Cafe at lunch/breakfast wasn't simply "brunch" and the menu was not that different than it is now IMO.

Interestingly, The Wave has 5 lunch entrees (no brunch options) and GF Cafe has 5 lunch entrees PLUS brunch options.

 

[Lilsia]

I went in October and knew that the food choices where going to be limited. I had no issue finding something to eat. It is disappointing, but not enough to keep me from going again next month. LOL Really, the only thing that irked me was that the YC market sold pre-packaged Greek salads but had no Greek dressing. No, I don't want ranch on my Greek salad. Stuff like that should not happen since it is not hard to order in Greek dressing when you order in the other types.

 

[Lilsia]

OP mentioned being grossed out by paper menus being reused. If anyone concurs, do you still get your mail? How many people have touched that? Spoiler: many.

We always order our food and then go and wash our hands. We have done this forever, way before Covid. It's just gross touching the menus.

 

[Lilsia]

We are headed for Florida for 10 days on Monday. I've been looking at menus at WDW and am... uninspired by the limitations and that many restaurants are just closed. We are looking offsite for many of our meals. With parks closing earlier and no fireworks, there's little reason to NOT go offsite for late dinners, and lots of reason to do so: More variety, better prices, etc. I'm kind-of psyched to be trying out new places for dinner!

I wish Portillo's was open.