The "Dumbing" Down of Menus?

[disneyfav4ever]

A lot of people have been saying recently that Disney has been dumbing down their menus. At first I thought maybe I don't really see it since I eat at mostly signature restaurants, but then it occured to me that the last three new restaurants at Disney IIRC are Kouzzina, Sanaa, and The Wave, and none of those are signature restaurants according to Disney.

None of those, IMO, have "dumbed down" menus. If anything, I've read complaints on them being too different for some people.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

 

[edandcolleen1995]

The issue with food is that it is food

Meaning that food is a complex experience and one that no two people will have the exact same version of.

Couple that with the fact that in a vast majority of times, Disney needs to flip tables and move patrons, and menu selections, quality, etc can be a moving target..

I don't feel the menus are dumb down. I think they have to appeal to a majority of people, and must be something they can serve in a quick period of time. That said, there are still enough locations where you can get the culinary sampling that are considered challenging, new, cutting edge etc.

 

[gila]

off-topic, and the political correctness of the word "dumb" aside, it seems to me that when people talking about "dumbing down" they mean "simplifying" or "increasing the dumbness factor," so shouldn't it really be "dumbing up" instead of "dumbing down?"

 

[ElizabethB]

Funny thing is, everybody knows excellent food when they taste it. Opinions vary if the food is fair. Thus, I interpret the great variety of opinions on WDW food to indicate that the vast majority of the food there is only fair.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

off-topic, and the political correctness of the word "dumb" aside, it seems to me that when people talking about "dumbing down" they mean "simplifying" or "increasing the dumbness factor," so shouldn't it really be "dumbing up" instead of "dumbing down?"

huh?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

huh?

That was my reaction too.

 

[Joshua_me]

off-topic, and the political correctness of the word "dumb" aside, it seems to me that when people talking about "dumbing down" they mean "simplifying" or "increasing the dumbness factor," so shouldn't it really be "dumbing up" instead of "dumbing down?"

I get it...

If the menus are indeed more 'dumb', then the 'dumbness' has increased, not decreased, hence, they've been 'dumbed up' !

 

[picktails]

I don't agree that everyone knows "excellent" food when they exerience it -the individual palate is extremely personal. For example, I love sushi, and have had the divine experience of dining at Nobu in NYC a few times. But I am well aware there are many people who are disgusted by raw fish, and would describe even the best as anything but "excellent."

I personally detest fried food, and would never eat the high fat, fast food offerings in many of the most-popular establishments at WDW. Does this discount how great other people find this food? Not at all - it's a strictly personal opinion.

When I look at the ADRs people obsess over on these boards I don't get it, because we only eat at places like Chefs de France, Narcoosees and Boma. But that's OUR preference. IMHO Disney has done an "excellent" job at offering quite a varied choice when it comes to dining.

 

[ElizabethB]

I wasn't speaking to whether people "like" a particular food or not or want to try a particular food or have an aversion to a particular food. That's a different issue.

I simply say if you take ten people who love steak and give them a great cut of prime beef done the way they like it, they will all recognize it immediately as a great steak. No discussion. No debate.

Give ten people a fair steak and they'll start to consider, well, how much did it cost 'cause that bears on how good it was, what restaurant was it at, what was served to accompany it, how was the service, etc. When that starts and people begin to disagree on whether it was a pretty good or not, rest assured it wasn't!

 

[picktails]

Ah, I did not realize you were only referring to people who already agree they like a certain food (that was not stated initially.)

Even so, I have witnessed some heated debates, especially with fine wines, over what is truly "excellent!"

 

[Colleen27]

I simply say if you take ten people who love steak and give them a great cut of prime beef done the way they like it, they will all recognize it immediately as a great steak. No discussion. No debate.

Give ten people a fair steak and they'll start to consider, well, how much did it cost 'cause that bears on how good it was, what restaurant was it at, what was served to accompany it, how was the service, etc. When that starts and people begin to disagree on whether it was a pretty good or not, rest assured it wasn't!

Ah, but "done the way they like it" is a far more complex question than simply rareness. There is a sizable segment of the American population that has no appreciation for complex flavors in their food. They'd rather a lesser cut of beef minimally seasoned a la Outback Steakhouse than a better cut at Yachtsman prepared with peppercorn brandy sauce or red wine butter.

I think differences in taste account for a lot - not all, but many - of the complaints we read about Disney food. Foodies think it is prepared too simply and is unoriginal. Picky eaters think it is all too fussy and complex, and don't care for many of the flavors used to complement the basic ingredients. And since few posters here are chefs, restaurant critics, or otherwise well-versed in putting a fine point on precisely what they didn't like about a given meal, the reasons for poor reviews are often unclear. That's why I don't put a ton of credibility in reviews. If a particular reviewer seems to have similar tastes to my family, I pay more attention, but overall I tend to take reviews with a grain of salt and make restaurant decisions based mainly on the menus.

 

[kmk1180]

When I look at the ADRs people obsess over on these boards I don't get it, because we only eat at places like Chefs de France, Narcoosees and Boma. But that's OUR preference. IMHO Disney has done an "excellent" job at offering quite a varied choice when it comes to dining.

definately agree with this. and that's what I don't get about those who complain about "dumbing down the food".
Patrons have more choices to eat than ever, more places more variety of foods.
and I remember when CS used to mean only burger and fries or chicken sandwich and fries. Now you can get fruit, sandwiches, salads, veggies, and more.
and I would also says Disney now employs more Top rated chefs than ever.

I think people confuse changes or cuts in the dining plan with dumbing down of food but quality and variety of food is higher than ever.

 

[Sandy321]

Yes, but the reports coming in seem to suggest that the food is becoming more.... simplified?

one poster said that at Wolf Gang she wanted a creme brulee - but the response was that the shipment of them hadnt come in yet...

one poster that was a regular at Boma mentioned several ways in which Boma had changed...

how many posts have there been complaining about LeCellier?

The cost of food everywere has risen!! You dont mind paying for quality - or expectations - for instance I've talked to, and have read, and posted about the disappearance of the buffet quality prime rib has now been replaced with a roast beef - still a fine cut, but cheaper...

there have been posts and debates - everyone has an opinion!! I'll still drool over the Victoria and Albert's menu - that still gets the 5* rating, and well deserved! The cost may seem prohibative, but the whole package, from the dress code to the food is kept up to 5* - I'll be dreaming!!

 

[edandcolleen1995]

I simply say if you take ten people who love steak and give them a great cut of prime beef done the way they like it, they will all recognize it immediately as a great steak. No discussion. No debate.

QUOTE]

Nope.. Because that steak can be made a dozen ways to Sunday and half the folks might not like it that way. There is a ton of discussion and ton of debate. Sorry but you are very wrong about this.

Been in the hotel business for a long time. I know the quality of our entrees in our outlets for example. I know the sous chef doing the cooking. I know how the steak taste. I can't tell you how many times in a given service, we can have a bunch of folks giving compliments and then have two or three folks complain. Same product, same service, same chef. They are all steak lovers and due to various reasons they don't like it.

Heck what they had for an app can directly influence their taste for the entree..

Sorry Liz, but it is no way as cut and dry as you like to make it out

 

[picktails]

I wholeheartedly agree with the last few posts. The "reviews" on this board are just subjective opinions, and should be viewed as such.

The only source I've used to help decide on dining venues is the UG. It is done very much like Zagats, in that the food, atmosphere, cost, etc. are all considered in the ratings. It does not matter if it is fine dining or a snack cart, the review is based on what that category of food is supposed to taste like, the service with which it is offered, and it's associated cost.

You really can find the excellent dining experiences if you use an objective source to guide your subjective choices!

 

[ElizabethB]

Well, take V&A as an example. The reviews are so unanimous as to be as near 100% as a restaurant can get. You have a group of people who like quality in food and wine -- and to a one, they love it. There are lots of differing preparations and unique tastes and textures, but the quality is so remarkably high, no one can deny that the meal is exquisite, even if they don't personally care for everything that is served!

I took a friend there last month. She doesn't eat out all that often. She simply loved it. She said she could not believe the layers of flavors and the amazing taste and quality. She said she can never go to WDW again and not eat at V&A.

Quality wins out every time. Quality results in unanimous praise. Quality is obvious. If something is not of the highest quality, then there is sure to be debate and differing opinions. Give someone exquisite quality and they recognize it.

Someone did a survey once and looked at every restaurant review that had ever appeared on these boards (quite a feat). The result was that there was one restaurant that had never received a negative review on these boards -- and that was V&A!

So, I stand by my original conclusion! High quality equals no debate. Anything less and people debate it to no end.