The Picky Eater takes on DxDP (10/3: Primetime Diner)

[nocomment711]

Why hello there! I am sorta new to the boards, but I figured I would start up a dining review for the vacation I just returned home from. We went down to Disney as a dual celebration for my 21st and my grandma's 80th birthday party. She wanted to have one last big trip to Disney (and we took advantage of the fact that my mother and sister were in Ireland/Scotland), so we went off in style. We stayed at the Grand Floridian while we were there and went on an adventurous deluxe Dining Plan meal excursion. We usually go in November, so the heat and the crowds were a bit intense for us, but we managed. We went down with a big plan and wound up changing our middle of the week plans (instead of going to Victoria & Alberts, we gave ourselves an extra day for World Showcase) and end of the week plans (instead of Fantasmic, did the Magic Kingdom one final time), but it all worked out for the best. Let me introduce us:

This is my grandma, Mildred (or Nana, as she'll be called for the rest of the report). This whole trip was her idea. I will share the now infamous "key" story later, but she is "The Pin Queen" (or so said our first driver on Kilimanjaro Safaris). We were down to celebrate her 80th birthday, and she truly was the queen of the trip.

This is my father, Rodney, the one stuck in the middle of the old lady and the hyperactive child. He was more or less just along for the ride (and to eat the good food). He’s an amazing cook, and has the palate to match.

And this is me. I'm the picky eater. I don’t like beef or pork. I can’t look at salad (too many years of making them >.<). But this was an adventure for me to try something new at all these different and interesting restaurants.

For the full TR, click here, this will be all the dining plan.

The itinerary:

Thursday 24 June

• Lunch - The Three Broomsticks (Universal)
  Dinner - Raglan Road

Friday 25 June

• Lunch - Liberty Tree Tavern
  Dinner - Citricos

Saturday 26 June

• Lunch - 50’s Primetime Diner
  Dinner - Yachtsman’s Steakhouse

Sunday 27 June

• Lunch - Chefs de France
  Dinner - Marrakesh

Monday 28 June

• Lunch - Coral Reef
  Dinner - Narcoossee’s

Tuesday 29 June

• Lunch - Yak & Yeti
  Dinner - Raglan Road (take two)

Monday 30 June

• Breakfast - 1900 Park Fare

Thursday we were not on the Deluxe Dining Plan, but the rest of the trip we were. The whole trip was a mixed bag of amazement and disappointment, and I’ll go in depth with each restaurant as I come to it, and will post the link in this thread.

Hope you enjoy.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Count me in and can't wait to read your reviews...

 

[oboedm]

Signing on! Can't wait for your reviews-- especially for the Three Broomsticks!

 

[kimgof]

Can't wait for your reviews! Your Nana is beautiful! 80 and wanting to go to Disney...good for her.

 

[Minnie]

As a Fellow picky eater with numerous food allergies to now even food I used to love I'm really looking forward to your review.

We often limit ourselves to specific restaurants we "trust" but we're looking for something new this trip

 

[jaci-h]

Looking forward to reading all about the food! as always Hope you got adventurous!

 

[wilma-bride]

From one picky eater to another, bring it on....

 

[Gouden Leeuw]

OMG you went to The Three Broomsticks?! I hope there is a review for it!!! And maybe a little review of the park??? please please please!!!! I am a huge HP nerd and I wanted to go to the HP park but DBF said no time on this trip so I have to wait for our next one......whenever that may be. But I'm hoping by that time the crowds will slow a bit.

Anyways the line up looks great and cant wait for the review of some of the resturants that I will be eating at at the end of the month.

 

[butiflfeet]

I can't wait to read your reviews!

 

[nocomment711]

I guess I should do a bit of clarifying, I am a picky eater with very very strange taste in the foods I do like (something that will be seen later on in the review).

Anyways, I'm glad that you're all interested.


Unfortunately, I didn't take many notes on our meal at the Three Broomsticks, so I don't have prices or anything... but I can give you a review on what I remember from the meal.

Shepherd's Pie

It was just okay. Decent for park food, but I'm not the biggest fan of beef to begin with, but usually I enjoy Shepherd's pie. I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped to.

Ribs & Chicken

The chicken was very good. It was moist and had great flavor. The ribs fell off the bone and the corn was perfect. Much better than the other.

As for drinks, of course we got more butterbeer, and my dad got the Hog's Head Brew. I don't like beer, but it was refreshing and I actually liked the taste of it.

Overall Ratings:
Food: 3
Environment: 5
Service: N/A (counter-service)



For more pictures inside, see my trip report (link in the sig) and I'll have plenty of pictures up there. (=

 

[ChefColette]

Thanks for your review of the Three Broomsticks, that's one I'm anxious to try, for as much the themeing as the menu.

 

[vinotinto]

How lovely that you went with your 80-year old grandma to Disney! I wish I would have taken my grandma to wdw when she was 80.

 

[nocomment711]

So we wound up leaving Universal early and heading toward Downtown Disney (see we weren't even on property and you couldn't keep us away). We couldn't fit Raglan Road into our trip, and my dad heard nothing but fantastic things about it, so we decided to go off the dining plan.

Of course, we had to check out the menu first. As if we didn't already know that it was going to be awesome...

The 130 year old bar was absolutely beautiful. I couldn't get over it.

Of course, my dad had to get his Guinness. I tried some and thought it was rather disgusting. Of course, beer grosses me out so...

We loved the irony that we were eating in an Irish Pub while my mother and sister were in Ireland (eating crappy, non-Irish food).

Appetizer: Scallop Forest ($14)

Georges Bank scallops in a golden batter served with citrus lime dipping sauce and sweet chili jam.

The scallops were cooked to perfection and the batter was light and crisp. the sweet chili jam was just that, sweet at first but with a kick in the mouth after. As my dad so eloquently put: "It's like a firework in your mouth... BAM!" I was not a fan of the citrus lime dipping sauce (neither was the rest of our party), it was a bit heavy on the citrus.

We were also given this Irish Soda bread with dipping oil with a honey guinness (?) sauce in the bottom. It was so good that we nearly filled our stomachs with that rather than our food. The bread and the sauce complimented each other.

DINNER:

Kim:
Salmon of Knowledge ($24)

Atlantic salmon fillet topped with smoked salmon; served with a maple glaze. It'll give you brains to burn.

It had a salmon taste with a very smoky aftertaste. When dipped in the Honey-Guinness sauce from the bread (and yes, I did dip everything in the oil/honey mixture from the bread), it was even better. The maple sauce flavoring was almost nonexistent.

Nana:
It's Not Bleedin' Chowder! ($24)

That's what Master Chef said! It's the freshest cuts of seafood & potatoes in a white wine infused cream broth. But it's not chowder, ok!?

We took the advice of the waitress, and were ever so glad. She said this was her personal favorite item on the menu, and that most of the staff agreed with her. She said that for a reason. It was very unique. In many chowders, you have to search for the seafood in a sea of broth. Here, you had to search for the broth in a sea of seafood. Everything was piled up like a little pyramid. The salmon melted in your mouth and the sauce was fantastic. I think people are a but scared of it, but it is well worth the money.

Dad:
Lambo ($26)

Lamb shank braised in rosemary jus with mash, leeks, shiitake mushrooms and baby carrots.

I dislike lamb. Okay, now that that is out of the way, there were areas that were very tender and melted in your mouth, and others that just weren't. But that is due to the nature of the lamb shank itself. The flavor was good. The Potatoes were very dry and didn't have much of a kick.

Dessert: Bailey's Creme Brulee Tart ($7.99)

Creme Brulee. Irish Style.

Disappointing. It was more like a cheesecake than a creme brulee. Too thick. Burnt flavor from the carmelization. I love my creme brulee, and this was just upsetting.

OVERALL:
Service: 5 - Slow at times, but the restaurant was packed. Her recommendations were superb.
Environment: 4 - There was great live music (Creel = <3), but we were back in the far corner, so the live entertainment was a bit lost for us.
Food: 5 - See above.

Overall, the food cost us $107.72 without drinks ($131.72 with drinks). We loved it there so much we went back there on our last night. I would highly recommend going.

Thanks for your review of the Three Broomsticks, that's one I'm anxious to try, for as much the themeing as the menu.

The theming was beautiful (more pictures in my trip report), and the food was surprisingly good. If you are going though, I recommend getting in line around 10:00 for lunch. Yes, you're waiting, but the line gets obnoxious because there's only so much available seating.

How lovely that you went with your 80-year old grandma to Disney! I wish I would have taken my grandma to wdw when she was 80.

It was quite the experience.


COMING UP: Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern

 

[wilma-bride]

Great start to your reviews. We've always found RR to be quite hit and miss. We are really looking forward to visiting 3 Broomsticks next month

 

[LovesHerTaurus]

so far!

 

[TruBlu]

Did you need a reservation at The Three Broomsticks? We REALLY want to try it out in December.

About how long did your meal take? We don't want to waste too much time since we'll only have one day at Universal. Would you recommend CS instead?

 

[wilma-bride]

Did you need a reservation at The Three Broomsticks? We REALLY want to try it out in December.

About how long did your meal take? We don't want to waste too much time since we'll only have one day at Universal. Would you recommend CS instead?

The 3 Broomsticks doesn't take reservations. There is usually quite a queue but it's not really a table service place, as far as I'm aware.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Very nice photo's! Thanks for sharing them.

We ate at RR in 2008 and it was amazing then! One of our favorite meals of that trip, so we went back in 2009, and our experience was that time was not so great. When I had the bleedin' chowder dish in 2008, it was full of crab meat. My husband ordered it in 2009 on my recommendation, and the crab meat was replaced with salmon. The crab meat was way better!

The bread and sauce we were served in 2008 consisted of rock-like muffins and a plate of oil. It was the one thing we disliked that visit. We got no bread at all in 2009; our server didn't bring any and we didn't think to ask for it.

For dessert, the Ger's bread pudding is all-that! We loved it both visits.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

Thanks for sharing - looking forward to more.

 

[adsrtw]

I'll sub in. I'm not a beer fan either, but I do care for dark beers once in a while.