The Everything Victoria & Albert's Thread

[PaulaSB12]

Has anyone found out if you have to have the wine paring in the new dining room at Victoria & Alberts?

 

[SpinDisc]

If anyone has the manager's email address, can they PM me it?

During my experience at the Chef's Table something occurred that I want to bring to their attention.

Dis_Yoda - unfortunately, I don't have their e-mail. But I think calling may work a little quicker, and be more effective. (Although I can understand the reason for wanting to send an e-mail - it's quick and easier to go back and edit, to make sure what you're saying sounds just right. Hard to do that when talking on the phone - but just write yourself a script before you call. I do it all the time). This is also assuming the situation was bad, which it may not be...but I'm going to guess by you post that whatever happened, wasn't good. Hope all is well.

Has anyone found out if you have to have the wine paring in the new dining room at Victoria & Alberts?

PaulaSB12 - I posted a while back about this. I called V&A and left a message asking this question. A CM called back and left a message (which I still have on my phone) which states that if you "buyout" the entire room, then the wine pairings become mandatory. However, if you do what I did, and just reserve a single table, and share the room with another couple, than the wine pairings are optional. Hope this helps.

Speaking of the Queen Victoria Room - has anyone been to it yet? I'd be interested in hearing about experiences.

Thanks,
Spin

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Nothing was wrong with the food or the wine. Our pacing was extremely fast for the chef table with a wine pairing as we were through with it in 2.5 hours. I ended up getting I'll while trying to get to the restroom and the reaction from the staff made me feel much worse about it than I already did. To the point where when they rushed my husband from the table on the back not knowing what happened he got to hear the waitors laughing about it. I do not spend over $600 on a meal to leave feeling even worse that I just did by the staff. I have no idea why the pacing was so quick. We only saw the chef for half our courses. I've attended many wine dinners at Disney and other places with nothing ever happening like that before.

The new room has only been open for 4 days now. No one was in it last night. They told us a lot about it during our table experience that certain dishes get made infront of you.

The chefs table no longer has different dishes than one another as everythingwe got served was the same. So the part of the experience where you got to share with your tablemates is no longer occuring.

 

[GirlfromTN]

Nothing was wrong with the food or the wine. Our pacing was extremely fast for the chef table with a wine pairing as we were through with it in 2.5 hours. I ended up getting I'll while trying to get to the restroom and the reaction from the staff made me feel much worse about it than I already did. To the point where when they rushed my husband from the table on the back not knowing what happened he got to hear the waitors laughing about it. I do not spend over $600 on a meal to leave feeling even worse that I just did by the staff. I have no idea why the pacing was so quick. We only saw the chef for half our courses. I've attended many wine dinners at Disney and other places with nothing ever happening like that before.

The chefs table no longer has different dishes than one another as everythingwe got served was the same. So the part of the experience where you got to share with your tablemates is no longer occuring.

Oh no. I am sorry about your experience Did you get to speak to the manager while you were there? I can't believe you were done in 2.5 hours - it has taken us longer to eat in the regular dining room. And I can't believe they give you the same menu items at the chef's table now - if that is a permanent change, then it is not appealing to me b/c my husband and I like to share so we can try a larger variety of dishes.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Nothing was wrong with the food or the wine. Our pacing was extremely fast for the chef table with a wine pairing as we were through with it in 2.5 hours. I ended up getting I'll while trying to get to the restroom and the reaction from the staff made me feel much worse about it than I already did. To the point where when they rushed my husband from the table on the back not knowing what happened he got to hear the waitors laughing about it. I do not spend over $600 on a meal to leave feeling even worse that I just did by the staff. I have no idea why the pacing was so quick. We only saw the chef for half our courses. I've attended many wine dinners at Disney and other places with nothing ever happening like that before.

The new room has only been open for 4 days now. No one was in it last night. They told us a lot about it during our table experience that certain dishes get made infront of you.

The chefs table no longer has different dishes than one another as everythingwe got served was the same. So the part of the experience where you got to share with your tablemates is no longer occuring.

Oh my goodness! 2.5 hours for the Chefs Table is WAY too fast! When we dined in the main dining room in Sept we were seated at 5:15 and left at 9 after a tour of the kitchen! Our meal was 3.5 hours and fewer courses than the Chefs Table AND when we toured the kitchen the guests at the chefs table were still there!!

Also, the wait staff reaction to your feeling ill is unacceptable!

If you are paying $600 for a meal at the Chefs Table you should see the Chef on EVERY course. I'm going to assume is wasn't Chef Hunnel?

Rather than calling, I would personally go and visit V&A to convey your disappointment in the pacing, service and overall experience.

 

[BLTLDZ]

I have a question for those of you that have done V&A's...

For our honeymoon, it is probably more romantic eating in the main dining room, correct?? We have never been.

 

[princessallegra]

I have a question for those of you that have done V&A's...

For our honeymoon, it is probably more romantic eating in the main dining room, correct?? We have never been.

Actually I think for your honeymoon NOTHING beats the Chef's Table!! It is an absolute once in a lifetime experience! I had dined in the Main Dining Room before, and was SO lucky to get CT ressies for our honeymoon. Actually the Poly IPO got them for me! From start to finish, the CT was the quintessential dining experience. I can't even remember how many courses right now! They gave us some special things I think shhhh! We tried the Waygu beef and it was the most decadent sliver/s of beef I've ever tried. So rich! Even if you can't get a seat at the CT, V+A's is a must-do for any Disneymooners!! Good luck!!

 

[hoosiercruiser]

Is there a corkage fee? We have a special bottle of wine we were thinking of bringing with us.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Oh no. I am sorry about your experience Did you get to speak to the manager while you were there? I can't believe you were done in 2.5 hours - it has taken us longer to eat in the regular dining room. And I can't believe they give you the same menu items at the chef's table now - if that is a permanent change, then it is not appealing to me b/c my husband and I like to share so we can try a larger variety of dishes.

I couldn't believe I was done that quickly. I mean I was back in the room quickly enough to not miss most of my Monday night shows! This seems to be a permanent change as it was stated that the changed the experience on the 5th to the new set up.

Oh my goodness! 2.5 hours for the Chefs Table is WAY too fast! When we dined in the main dining room in Sept we were seated at 5:15 and left at 9 after a tour of the kitchen! Our meal was 3.5 hours and fewer courses than the Chefs Table AND when we toured the kitchen the guests at the chefs table were still there!!

Also, the wait staff reaction to your feeling ill is unacceptable!

If you are paying $600 for a meal at the Chefs Table you should see the Chef on EVERY course. I'm going to assume is wasn't Chef Hunnel?

Rather than calling, I would personally go and visit V&A to convey your disappointment in the pacing, service and overall experience.

I know right! When we were at the table before we were seated at 5:15 & left at 9:30 which felt about right for us. It was not Chef Hunnel but rather his assistant.
I thought about going in person but I feel embarrassed enough by the entire situation & I know that the general manager of the restaurant is not in today & since his back up was one of the ones that rushed me out at the end, I know the complaints won't go far. I sent my email this afternoon & will see what happens.

Is there a corkage fee? We have a special bottle of wine we were thinking of bringing with us.

There is a corkage fee - $35 a bottle was what it was 2 years ago when I brought a bottle in.

 

[hoosiercruiser]

Thanks for the quick reply Dis_Yoda.

 

[ElizabethB]

Dis_Yoda --

Aaaaakkkkk! Your report of your Chef's Table experience is shocking. Dh and I have done the Chef's Table at least 10 times, perhaps more. We generally are seated at 5:30 pm or so (used to be 6 pm) and we leave around 10 pm.

4 1/2 hours feels about right. We both get the wine pairings and we've always been served different selections for each course, enabling us to share and thus try most everything on the menu before the evening is done.

Quite frankly, I'm flabbergasted by what you report. Not to mention saddened and worried. An evening at the Chef's Table is one of our favorite nights of the year.

Do you think it was an off-night or a permanent change in how they are managing the Chef's Table in light of the new Victoria Room?

And, the servers have always been the soul of discretion in my experience.

I'd be interested in what you hear back from the manager.

It would be very difficult for me to get out my credit card and pay (especially with the latest price increases) if we'd had a night like yours.

Wow. That's all I can say is wow.

Keep us posted.

 

[Twitterpated!]

I have a question for those of you that have done V&A's...

For our honeymoon, it is probably more romantic eating in the main dining room, correct?? We have never been.

My husband and I did the Chef's Table back in 2007 to celebrate our 10th anniversary as well as my husband's new embarkation into culinary school, and although I may be in the minority, I have to agree with your assumption that the dining room would be more conducive to a romantic evening. Don't get me wrong, the Chef's Table was phenomenal, but I would not really call it romantic. For one thing, when we walked into the kitchen, the first thing that hit me was the smell. Many years ago I used to wait tables at Johnny Rockets, the 50's style burger restaurant, and let me tell you, the V&A kitchen brought me right back to the days of going into the back prep area to grab fries from the walk-in freezer and/or standing by the deep fryer waiting for fresh fries to come up. The smell of oil on an industrial grill is the exact same smell in a $50.00 plate restaurant as it is in a $5.00 plate burger joint. Also, the atmosphere of the kitchen, while very interesting to watch, was not romantic. While the chef's table alcove is very prettily decorated, the stark white of the kitchen is just that, stark. One other thing was that it took me a little while to relax, probably into my second glass of wine. This was in no way in part to the Amy, the sous chef filling in for Chef Hunnel, the cooks, or Israel, the maitre d/sommelier. They were all incredibly welcoming and very informative. I just felt funny being in their kitchen. The service was top notch, of course, but it also is in the dining room. Now that they have the new more private room, I think I would be more apt to reserving one of those tables. Just my two cents.

 

[Tricia1972]

My husband and I did the Chef's Table back in 2007 to celebrate our 10th anniversary as well as my husband's new embarkation into culinary school, and although I may be in the minority, I have to agree with your assumption that the dining room would be more conducive to a romantic evening. Don't get me wrong, the Chef's Table was phenomenal, but I would not really call it romantic. For one thing, when we walked into the kitchen, the first thing that hit me was the smell. Many years ago I used to wait tables at Johnny Rockets, the 50's style burger restaurant, and let me tell you, the V&A kitchen brought me right back to the days of going into the back prep area to grab fries from the walk-in freezer and/or standing by the deep fryer waiting for fresh fries to come up. The smell of oil on an industrial grill is the exact same smell in a $50.00 plate restaurant as it is in a $5.00 plate burger joint. Also, the atmosphere of the kitchen, while very interesting to watch, was not romantic. While the chef's table alcove is very prettily decorated, the stark white of the kitchen is just that, stark. One other thing was that it took me a little while to relax, probably into my second glass of wine. This was in no way in part to the Amy, the sous chef filling in for Chef Hunnel, the cooks, or Israel, the maitre d/sommelier. They were all incredibly welcoming and very informative. I just felt funny being in their kitchen. The service was top notch, of course, but it also is in the dining room. Now that they have the new more private room, I think I would be more apt to reserving one of those tables. Just my two cents.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[jfinke]

We had dinner last night. What a phenomenal experience. I had the wine pairing while my wife just had a glass. We were both blown away. By the time we hit the entrees, my wife had started to fill up and just ate her meat and left the vegetables.

I highly recommend everyone try this at least once. Just save .50 a day for a year and you have your meal paid for.

 

[GirlfromTN]

We had dinner last night. What a phenomenal experience. I had the wine pairing while my wife just had a glass. We were both blown away. By the time we hit the entrees, my wife had started to fill up and just ate her meat and left the vegetables.

I highly recommend everyone try this at least once. Just save .50 a day for a year and you have your meal paid for.

Did you save the menu or do you remember what the choices are? I am going there next week and I'm wondering if the choices have changed since I was last there in early December.
Glad you had a good experience!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I received a phone call in reply to my email and I am satisified with the response I got from Disney management. I have not spoken with israel yet but I'm sure I will hear from him soon.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

We had dinner last night. What a phenomenal experience. I had the wine pairing while my wife just had a glass. We were both blown away. By the time we hit the entrees, my wife had started to fill up and just ate her meat and left the vegetables.

I highly recommend everyone try this at least once. Just save .50 a day for a year and you have your meal paid for.

Glad to hear you enjoyed your meal!! I would be interested in your menu as well!

Did you save the menu or do you remember what the choices are? I am going there next week and I'm wondering if the choices have changed since I was last there in early December.
Glad you had a good experience!

I was there in late Sept and I would love to see how/if the menu has changed.

I received a phone call in reply to my email and I am satisified with the response I got from Disney management. I have not spoken with israel yet but I'm sure I will hear from him soon.

I'm glad you heard from Disney management. Please let us know when you hear from Israel!

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

Wow, this thread had sunk down to the 5th page! I thought it needed a bump to keep it from getting lost in the shuffle.

I'm eagerly awaiting any news from someone who has actually tried the Queen Victoria room.

Anyone out there ready to share?

 

[Mr Lee]

I received a phone call in reply to my email and I am satisified with the response I got from Disney management. I have not spoken with israel yet but I'm sure I will hear from him soon.

Hi DisYoda,

I am sorry to hear about your experience at the Chef's Table. We visited in January and found it to be vastly inferior to our previous visit in September. Having the same course each until dessert was extremely disappointing. when we were served desserts we did not get the dessert trio which was another down point. Add to that the fact we were not given the champagne toast because we didnt order the wine pairings, they brought out white chocolate gelato when I explained I can not have chocolate and also printed the wrong thing on one course. Not to mention no sign of the breakfast bread we received on our previous visit. I think we were out in around 2 and a half hours to three hours whereas our previous visit was closer to four. I also noticed that there was a lot less chef interaction, as we were only greeted by Chef Scott perhaps two or three times during our visit, whereas Chef Amy visited our table maybe half a dozen times. We were not brought out the specialsalt selection, nor did we receive any of the special 100 year balsamic vinegar to compliment our courses. The bread courses were pretty much standard bread that could be purchased anywhere, and although nice enough were not a patch on what I had received before. And they jhave put the price up to $200 for our pleasure.

If I return to Victoria and Alberts on a future visit, I think I will prefer the main dining room, where we will be able to select what we will eat.

It looks like the Chefs Table experience may be diluted by the new Victoria Room experience coming to V&A. I hope the arrival of a similar standard restaurant at Four Seasons will be a kick up the backside it needs to stay at the top of its game.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Hi DisYoda,

I am sorry to hear about your experience at the Chef's Table. We visited in January and found it to be vastly inferior to our previous visit in September. Having the same course each until dessert was extremely disappointing. when we were served desserts we did not get the dessert trio which was another down point. Add to that the fact we were not given the champagne toast because we didnt order the wine pairings, they brought out white chocolate gelato when I explained I can not have chocolate and also printed the wrong thing on one course. Not to mention no sign of the breakfast bread we received on our previous visit. I think we were out in around 2 and a half hours to three hours whereas our previous visit was closer to four. I also noticed that there was a lot less chef interaction, as we were only greeted by Chef Scott perhaps two or three times during our visit, whereas Chef Amy visited our table maybe half a dozen times. We were not brought out the specialsalt selection, nor did we receive any of the special 100 year balsamic vinegar to compliment our courses. The bread courses were pretty much standard bread that could be purchased anywhere, and although nice enough were not a patch on what I had received before. And they jhave put the price up to $200 for our pleasure.

If I return to Victoria and Alberts on a future visit, I think I will prefer the main dining room, where we will be able to select what we will eat.

It looks like the Chefs Table experience may be diluted by the new Victoria Room experience coming to V&A. I hope the arrival of a similar standard restaurant at Four Seasons will be a kick up the backside it needs to stay at the top of its game.

I'm sorry to hear your experience wasn't everything you expected it to be. We didn't get the balsamic either but we did get our sea salts.

I'm thinking we aren't going to do V&A during October's trip but we may give it another try next Feb at the Chef's Table & see how it goes. I'm hoping if others have bad experiences the complaints make it to those that need to hear so it could be corrected.

I did get a phone call back from Israel but I missed it and it went to voicemail. The response to the incident was more than I could have asked for.