The Everything Victoria & Albert's Thread

[AAshleySEG]

Hi guys, my DH and I ate at V&A's on March 1, 2012 and I thought I would share with you all what was on the menu, in case anyone was interested I will put an * beside what we ate, everything was delicious and I had nothing bad at all, I ate everything on every plate including all of the bread courses and the friandises I was full but it was worth it and actually pretty manageable! My DH and I also split the Wine Pairing, we each had 3.

*Amuse-Bouche: Cauliflower Creme with Caviar, Crab Roulade, Seared Duck, Seared Ahi Tuna

*Gulf Shrimp and Heirloom Tomatoes with Charmoula Sauce
*Cold-Smoked and Seared Bison with Truffle Vinaigrette
Galilee Osetra Caviar with Tradtional Garnishes
German Osetra Caviar with Tradition Garnishes

Diver Scallop and Langoustine Cioppino with Main Mussel and Fennel Nage
*Black Grouper with Arugula Pudding
*Wild Turbot with Toasted Capers and Preserved Lemon

*Porcini Mushroom Soup with Wild Mushroom Bread Pudding
*Roasted Quail with Asian Pears and Serrano Ham Jus
Marcho Farms Veal with an Apple Wine Kraut

Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin and Belly with Verjus-Bacon Vinaigrette
Poulet Rouge with Roasted Butternut Squash Spaetzle
*Niman Ranch Lamb with Candied Marble Potatoes and English Peas
*Australian Kobe Beef Tenderloin with Smoked Garlic-Potato Puree
Blackmore Wagyu Strip Loin with Oxtail Jus

*Colston Bassett Stilton, Sottocenere Al Tartufo, Gouda Reypenaer XO and Fiscalini Cheddar
*White Chocolate Gelato with Tableside Shavings

*Tanzanie Chocolate Pyramid with a Champagne-Chambord Truffle
Meyer Lemon and Blood Orange Purse with Blackberry-Violet Sherbet
Caramelized Banana Gateau
Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee
Grand Marnier Souffle
*Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Souffle

"Celebes" Coffee, Tea, and Friandises

 

[Mrsjvb]

*drool*

was the Kobe worth the up charge?

 

[domiii]

We are dining in QVR in May for our 25th Anniversary. There are 6 of us. Is is a fixed menu or will everyone have choices?

Glad to read they will pair red or white only if that is your preference. DM prefers white, DD prefers red, I'll try whatever they pair me with!!

This is a 'bucket' list item for me and I am so excited to experience this. DH and I have never really celebrated our anniversary. But after 25 years, I figured we might as well do it right!! The Grand Floridian was being built when we where at WDW for our honeymoon!!

 

[DrGaellon]

We are dining in QVR in May for our 25th Anniversary. There are 6 of us. Is is a fixed menu or will everyone have choices?

Apparently, everyone gets a personalized menu with 3 or 4 choices for each course. If one of the standard choices comes up against an allergy or "dislike," the offending item will be removed or substituted on that person's menu.

 

[AAshleySEG]

*drool*

was the Kobe worth the up charge?

My husband got the Kobe, and it was very good...So if you really like beef then I think it is worth the upcharge...HOWEVER, I got the lamb and thought it was way better than his beef. He also said that if he went again, he wouldn't get that, but that he is glad he tried it once He also went on to say that we are spoiled on Steak considering we go to Shula's every other time we go to WDW, so if it was me I would skip the kobe/wagyu upcharge and go to Shula's for a REALLY good steak...lol I will tell you that the Turbot was DEFINITELY worth the upcharge, I absolutely loved it. I have only had one better piece of fish in my life and it was the maize crusted corvina at Jiko, FYI

 

[jenneth79]

My husband got the Kobe, and it was very good...So if you really like beef then I think it is worth the upcharge...HOWEVER, I got the lamb and thought it was way better than his beef. He also said that if he went again, he wouldn't get that, but that he is glad he tried it once He also went on to say that we are spoiled on Steak considering we go to Shula's every other time we go to WDW, so if it was me I would skip the kobe/wagyu upcharge and go to Shula's for a REALLY good steak...lol I will tell you that the Turbot was DEFINITELY worth the upcharge, I absolutely loved it. I have only had one better piece of fish in my life and it was the maize crusted corvina at Jiko, FYI

We did the same thing, and I would have to second the thought that the lamb was better overall.

When we dined at V&A the upcharge fish choice was Dover Sole... oh my goodness..... so worth it!!!

 

[Mrsjvb]

yeah Shula's is on our list next trip. I have had Wagyu and Kobe both before so the prep would have to be really intriguing before I'd pay the upcharge

especially if they have game on the menu

mmmm Pheasant.....

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I am so excited! DH and I will finally be trying V&A on our summer trip We used to go out to nice dinners all the time before the kids and DH used to be a chef and worked at a AAA 4 diamond restaurant here. Now he has a construction company (crazy huh??) and I work and we end up making egg sandwiches for weeknight dinners He was really excited when I told him I booked V&A (and kids are going to Neverland Club that night).

So I've read all about the wine pairings and I've seen the extensive wine list on their web site. But do they have cordials and other drinks?

Also, how many items do they put caviar in or on? And will they take it off? It is one of the few items in this world I find gross (and I like cow's tongue, wild game, and have even eaten insects). It appears that V&A is a great restaurant but I worry when restaurants smother things in truffles or caviar - although I'll eat the truffles!

 

[Mrsjvb]

I don't do fish eggs either.. IIRC the only time you will see it is with an upcharge

there will be an after dinner drink menu. definitely specialty coffees, and you can pretty much order any bar drink as well. I wanna say there was a port(Tawny I think) option. maybe limoncello?

we shared an after dinner drink with another table as they offered to buy( DH was in uniform)

you definitely will most likely see truffles yummy tasty truffles although we are talking shavings, nothing will be drowning in them.

but by all means you can request anything be left off the menu. as for prep, they will work with you as much as they can without compromising the dish.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I don't do fish eggs either.. IIRC the only time you will see it is with an upcharge

there will be an after dinner drink menu. definitely specialty coffees, and you can pretty much order any bar drink as well. I wanna say there was a port(Tawny I think) option. maybe limoncello?

we shared an after dinner drink with another table as they offered to buy( DH was in uniform)

you definitely will most likely see truffles yummy tasty truffles although we are talking shavings, nothing will be drowning in them.

but by all means you can request anything be left off the menu. as for prep, they will work with you as much as they can without compromising the dish.

Awesome, thank you!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Also, how many items do they put caviar in or on? And will they take it off? It is one of the few items in this world I find gross (and I like cow's tongue, wild game, and have even eaten insects). It appears that V&A is a great restaurant but I worry when restaurants smother things in truffles or caviar - although I'll eat the truffles!

They will call to confirm about a week out. At that time they will ask if you have any allergies or specific dislikes.

If you tell them caviar, not only will your copy of the menu not have the caviar shown, but if any item normally has caviar as part of it that will also not show on your menu.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

They will call to confirm about a week out. At that time they will ask if you have any allergies or specific dislikes.

If you tell them caviar, not only will your copy of the menu not have the caviar shown, but if any item normally has caviar as part of it that will also not show on your menu.

Oh, that is great, thank you!

 

[jasperess]

I don't suppose anyone has a picture of the caviar course or knows what it entails? I've only had some on top of other food items and really liked it, but haven't come across any pictures on here on Yelp yet.

 

[DrGaellon]

I don't suppose anyone has a picture of the caviar course or knows what it entails? I've only had some on top of other food items and really liked it, but haven't come across any pictures on here on Yelp yet.

Traditional Russian/French caviar service would come with blinis (small pancakes made with buckwheat flour), sieved hard-boiled eggs, finely minced red onion, capers and créme fraiche. It may optionally also include minced cornichons.

 

[TwoIfBySea]

The night we were there they only used it on top of a fish course, not as a traditional course. I don't know how often they serve it traditionally.

 

[jkh1978]

Menus constantly change so don't listen to anyone here on how it will be prepared

 

[ems_mom]

I know the menu will be the same, but is there any reason you chose one seating over another? I have a reservation for a late seating (8:30 pm) because at home we usually dine @ 7:30 or later. Then I read somewhere that at the late seating the harpist leaves early, plus my husband is afraid with a 2+ hour dining time, its just too late. Any experiences? We will be celebrating our 28th anniversary.

 

[Mrsjvb]

we choose to dine that late so we can hit a park in the morning then head back to the resort for a leisurely preparation after an early lunch. despite DH cheating and using a *gasp* pre tied bow tie it can take a while to get all his blasted medals just so. although we usually don't book anything past 730 or 8

plus we like to wander around GF prior to eating. Makes us fell all swanky

 

[BC1836]

Menus constantly change so don't listen to anyone here on how it will be prepared

True...except for the vegetarian (with or without seafood) menus. One of us always orders via the vegetarian menu and, alas, it hasn't changed significantly during our last five V&A meals whether it be in the V&A Room or the main dining area. We're hoping for a changed vegetarian menu on our next visit next week. The regular menu, however, is always intriguing.

All the best.

 

[shaun&miranda]

We ate in V&A's last October and had a 9:15pm seating. We chose to eat that late because it was the only booking we could get

But actually it worked out great, we arrived at the GF around 8pm and went and sat in Mizner's Lounge (the bar at the GF - same floor as V&A's, just behind the balcony for the band). I love Mizner's and we had a couple of drinks and listened to the live music, it was a lovely start to the evening.

The harpist played two or three sets while we ate, and yes we did then see her pack up and leave, but it was kinda nice to feel so quiet and secluded away from all the disney noise and hubub outside. We were literally the last people in the place, which normally I would feel very uncomfortable with, and feel we needed to leave so the servers could close up, but our servers explained that they would be there several more hours getting everything straight and that we were not to rush at all, but to stay as long as we liked. It was just lovely, and actually pretty romantic to be there all alone so late at night (it was coming on to midnight by this time, lol!) She assured us that they were used to folk finishing later than we had, and they always allow for people to linger over their meals when they accept the bookings for that time

On the Kobe upgrade vs the Niman Lamb debate, my DH had the Kobe and I had the lamb, and I kicked myself. Being British I found the lamb and english peas to be perfectly nice, but was so every-day for my normal food it was dull for me. Sure it was beautifully cooked and presented and I did enjoy it, but it wasn't special. In the UK we do good lamb. In America you guys have incredible beef. For us Brits, it is next to impossible to order a filet mignon in a restaurant and when it is on a menu it is crazy expensive. British restaurants are also not good at cooking beef and always over-cook it, so to see this beautifully pink-red gorgeously tender steak was incredible for us. So if you're a British foodie, don't choose the lamb unless you're really really sure!

Although we said it would be once in a lifetime, we loved it so much that we have booked to go again to V&A's this May for DH's 40th birthday

This time I am getting the Kobe upgrade

Miranda
PS We have also been to Shula's and I agree the steak there is incredible, but I preferred the kobe in V&A's.