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

[creativeamanda]

Joining in! I love some of your choices. I've never done Raglan Road, although it's come on and off of my plans many years in a row. Someday. . .

 

[nocomment711]

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

It's fantastic if you get there early enough. If not, I don't think it's worthwaiting more than half an hour for.

so far!

Thanks! (=

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?

It is all counter service, but you go to tables to eat. My dad got in line at about ten while my grandma and I were exploring Honeydukes and Zonkos. We were actually in by 10:45, and waited in line maybe fifteen minutes before we actually got our food. Then it was another good ten minutes for the food to come out. They don't take reservations, but as long as you get there early the wait isn't too bad. We were out of there by 11:30 and at that point the line to get food was over an hour long. >.<

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.

Haha, we went back at the end of our trip and I wasn't as impressed (but we were right in front of the music and I thoroughly enjoyed that). I'm a salmon fan, so I didn't mind the hunks of salmon. I believe that there was both salmon and crab, but I don't recall off the top of my head. We did get the bread pudding on take two, and it was fantastic.

Thanks for sharing - looking forward to more.

Thanks for replying. (=

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

I'm beginning to believe that I'm just not an alcohol person. XD

Joining in! I love some of your choices. I've never done Raglan Road, although it's come on and off of my plans many years in a row. Someday. . .

When we first planned, it wasn't on our itinerary at all, and then it somehow wound up on there twice by the end of the trip (as much as I fought with my dad to go somewhere different )

 

[TigerKat]

We love that chowder at Raglan Road, one of our favorite entrees!

 

[Hmom03]

The sauce they serve with the bread is a guiness/sugar reduction that tastes almost like honey. It's awesome!

 

[Linda67]

Great reviews so far

I have never tried RR but I really like the look of your salmon dish

Looking forward to reading more

 

[disney_princess_85]

Great reviews so far!

 

[nocomment711]

Our next dining stop was at the Liberty Tree Tavern. This was where my dad insisted we dine for our morning in the Magic Kingdom.

APPETIZERS:

Kim & Nana:
Crab and Spinach Dip for Two ($10.99)

Blue Crab, Spinach, and Cream Cheese with Warm Flatbread
Well to begin with, I love Spinach dip. I usually get it whenever I see that it’s on the menu. All in all, this passed the test. It was the right temperature and consistency with the perfect kick afterwards (not too much though). Enough for all three of us to eat off of.

Dad:
New England Clam Chowder (6.99)

Meh. I thought it was a little spicy, but Dad and Nana finished it up, so it must’ve been good.

ENTREES:

Nana:
Pilgrim’s Feast ($14.99)

Traditional Roast Turkey and Herb Bread Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, and a Garden Vegetable.
Tender, melted in your mouth. The mashed potatoes were some of the best I ever had (and my grandma makes a mean mashed potato). Best meal out of the three.

Kim:
Pan-seared King Salmon Cakes ($17.99)

with mixed Greens in a Sherry Vinaigrette
Meh. I should have realized looking at it that it would have been quite similar to crab cakes, but I obviously wasn’t thinking properly. I hate crab cakes, and therefore did not enjoy this as much as I could have. Dad and Nana thoroughly enjoyed what I didn’t eat though.

Dad:
New England Pot Roast… Our Tavern Keeper’s Favorite ($17.99)

Braised Beef in a Cabernet Wine and Mushroom Sauce served with mashed Potatoes and Garden Vegetables.
Tender meat and well cooked vegetables. The flavor combination was fantastic (and I didn’t even mind the beef, imagine that!)

DESSERTS:

Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake ($6.49)

Vanilla Cake with a Gooey Toffee Filling, Caramel Suace, and Vanilla Ice Cream
Amazing and beautiful. Yum.

Chocolate Brownie ($5.99)

Dark Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream
Too much chocolate for me, but dad really liked it.

Apple Tart

Shortbread Crust, Sugared Apples, and Butterscotch Ice Cream
The ice cream was magical (my own notes dictate this, but I don’t know what that means). I don’t like apple pie, but I really enjoyed this. Warm and Gooey.

OVERALL:
Service: 5 - Very attentive and a very sweet guy.
Environment: 4 - Nothing really stood out besides the costuming on the wait staff.
Food: - 3.5 - I’ve had better.

There was nothing that truly stood out about this experience. The food was mediocre. The environment wasn’t much different from some of the taverns around home, and the service was what I expected from a Disney restaurant. Our bill total was $101.60 with drinks ($94.13 without, and we only got iced tea/soda as our drinks).

We love that chowder at Raglan Road, one of our favorite entrees!

The second time we went, both my dad and nana ordered it, that's how much they liked it.

The sauce they serve with the bread is a guiness/sugar reduction that tastes almost like honey. It's awesome!

Okay, I wasn't sure. Our waitress just described it as Guinness Honey, but thanks for clarifying. (=

Great reviews so far

I have never tried RR but I really like the look of your salmon dish

Looking forward to reading more

Thanks!

Great reviews so far!

Thanks!



COMING UP: Dinner at Citricos!

 

[lilandvisma]

Excited to read more! Thanks for sharing your pic's and reviews

 

[sydneysmom]

What fun to jump into your review!! Your family is so adorable !! I love your Nana, she's too cute !! I can't wait to read more.... you're doing a great job!

 

[nocomment711]

Citricos… quite easily one of the best meals we had all week. It set the standards quite high. The service was the best of the trip, the food was the best. The view of the fireworks… it was just magical all the way around. Anyways, ONWARDS to the review!

Hidden Mickey <3

APPETIZERS:

Duck Confit ($14.00)

Smoked Dust Breast with Tomato and Egg Fettuccini and Opal Cream
Probably the single best thing I had to eat from the entire vacation (and I’ve never had duck before). The pasta was perfectly cooked and tasted perfect. It was the only appetizer I had where when it was finished I wanted more. The duck was a bit tough, but having never had duck before I wasn’t that was normal for the bird.

Gateau of Crab ($12.00)

Lump Crab, Orange Fennell Cream, and Tomato-Fennel Slaw
Once again, Kim still dislikes crab cakes. Dad liked it and adds that with the tomato, the flavors just explode. Very creamy. Not fully a crab cake though. The sauce finished it off well. Not really lump crab though.

Arancini ($10.00)

Crispy Risotto with Crimini Mushrooms, Asiago Cheese, and White Ruffle Aioli
Different. A good different. Not traditional, but very good.

MAIN COURSE:

Roast Chicken Breast ($29.00)

Tanglewood Farms Chicken with Roasted Mushroom Risotto
Holy crap. The chicken was good and tender. With the polenta it was like “Wow!” The fact that we shared it helped, we couldn’t finish it all. The sauce was extremely rich, but fantastic.

Braised Veal Shank ($46.00)

Carrot-Potato Puree, Roasted Vegetables, and Toasted Citrus Gremolta
Dry. Wasn’t as much sauce as expected. The sweet potatoes complimented the veal. The combination of the two was very good. At this point, I was beginning to realize that I’m not the biggest fan of red meat.

Pan-seared Florida Black Grouper ($33.00)

Prince Edward Island Mussels, Fregula Pasta, Tomato, Fennel, and Saffron Sauce with Olive Oil Crostini
Very very good! I decided to take a risk and go with the grouper. I’ve never had it before, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The combination of the grouper, the bread, and the “small round thingers” (which I believe was the pasta) was a superb combination of tastes and textures.

During the main course, the fireworks went off at the Magic Kingdom.

DESSERT:

Tropical Fruit Crème Brulee ($9.00)

Once again, dessert was the down point of the entire meal. It was far too sweet and too fruity.

OVERALL:
Service: 5. Very personable and knowledgeable. He realized that we wanted a slow dinner and catered to us as such diners. Lonzy was superb and could answer any question asked without a thought.
Environment: 5. Could see the fireworks. It was dark, but not too dark. Wonderful.
Food: 5

Our bill was $235.72 including drinks, $191.97 without (two classes of wine and three mixed drinks). It was two credits rather than one, but very very good.

Excited to read more! Thanks for sharing your pic's and reviews

Thanks!

What fun to jump into your review!! Your family is so adorable !! I love your Nana, she's too cute !! I can't wait to read more.... you're doing a great job!

Thanks.

COMING UP: Lunch at the 50s Primtime Diner at DHS

 

[Ullis]

Great reviews! I'll be going to some of the restaurants you visited on my upcoming trip in october and have almost all the other ones on my planning list for next year!

 

[molfrog]

I am a very pickey eater, and i was able to find something to eat at every place we went to on the ddp. Most places will make subustitions of sides in order to make you happy.

 

[jmm476]

Wow, Citricos looks amazing! I'll have to add that to the list for next time...

 

[butiflfeet]

Citricos is probably my favorite restaurant on property. I'm glad you liked it! It looks like you had the same table DH and I did for our anniversary. There are only a few tables in that restaurant where you can catch a glimpse of MK

 

[disneygirlinnj]

subscribing! I LOVE love love Citrico's. Sadly won't be able to go on either of my two planned trips.

 

[TheNewMrsB]

Your grandma is awesome - I love the pic where she's sipping the drink with the glow cube! (I need to get me one of those glow cubes)

I think the round pasta was pearl couscous but I could be wrong? Either way it looks delicious.

Great reviews! I'm trying hard to hold back the drool...!

 

[Hmom03]

I think the round pasta was pearl couscous but I could be wrong? Either way it looks delicious.

The round pasta things are a lot like pearl couscous. I think that main difference is that fregula (fregola is how I always spelled it) pasta is toasted before it is bagged adding a whole other layer of flavor.

I have to agree that it does look amazing! I think I may have to add Citricos to our list of places to try next time!

 

[DLo]

Great reviews and pics. I hope my mom still wants to go when she is 80 - my son calls her nana. Looking forward to more.

 

[nocomment711]

Great reviews! I'll be going to some of the restaurants you visited on my upcoming trip in october and have almost all the other ones on my planning list for next year!

Thanks! I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

I am a very pickey eater, and i was able to find something to eat at every place we went to on the ddp. Most places will make subustitions of sides in order to make you happy.

That they would, but it was my goal on this trip to try everything to get a better understanding of what I do and do not like.

Wow, Citricos looks amazing! I'll have to add that to the list for next time...

We almost did Citricos again on the last night of our trip, we loved it that much. I would have greatly preferred going there one more time, but I was out voted.

Citricos is probably my favorite restaurant on property. I'm glad you liked it! It looks like you had the same table DH and I did for our anniversary. There are only a few tables in that restaurant where you can catch a glimpse of MK

Everything about the meal was magical, from the location, to the waiter, to the food... Honestly it was a wonderful way to start out the trip. If we go again, we will probably wind up going there twice.

subscribing! I LOVE love love Citrico's. Sadly won't be able to go on either of my two planned trips.

Aw, that's so sad. It's probably my favorite dinner location.

Your grandma is awesome - I love the pic where she's sipping the drink with the glow cube! (I need to get me one of those glow cubes)

I think the round pasta was pearl couscous but I could be wrong? Either way it looks delicious.

Great reviews! I'm trying hard to hold back the drool...!

Thanks. I wasn't sure, because I'm not all that into food stuff...

The round pasta things are a lot like pearl couscous. I think that main difference is that fregula (fregola is how I always spelled it) pasta is toasted before it is bagged adding a whole other layer of flavor.

I have to agree that it does look amazing! I think I may have to add Citricos to our list of places to try next time!

It was wonderful. Easily the best dinner we had the entire trip. (=

Great reviews and pics. I hope my mom still wants to go when she is 80 - my son calls her nana. Looking forward to more.

Aw. (=


Anyways, sorry fo the delay guys, I just moved in to school and I accidentally left my notebook full of all my food notes at home >.> And I don't even know where it is, so I can't have them mail it up to me.

 

[nocomment711]

Thus begins the "unenjoyable lunches" section of the dining report. >.<

I still haven't found my notebook, so we'll have to see...

APPETIZERS:

Cousin Amy's Iceberg Lettuce Wedge ($5.49)

Bleu Cheese Dressing, Bacon, and Chives
They seemed to like it. I'm not a salad person.

Aunt Annie's Seafood Salad ($9.99)

Lump Blue Crab, Bay Scallops, and Shrimp tossed in Citrus Vinaigrette served on seasonal greens.
Overall disappointing. The shrimp were overdone and the scallops underdone.

Chicken Noodle Soup ($6.49)

Hearty mixture of Chicken, Vegetables, and Egg Noodles
Kinda hard to mess up Chicken Noodle Soup. Twas good.

ENTREES

Dad's Traditional Meatloaf ($14.99)

blend of beef and pork topped with tomato glaze served with mashed potatoes and green beans.
No real complaints here. Could have been a little more seasoned.

Stacked Sandwich ($12.68)

Your choice of Smoked Turkey or Ham, Multigrain Bread with Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, and Mayo
Too much for one person, but okay.

Aunt Liz's Golden Fried Chicken ($15.99)
served with Mashed Potatoes, Chicken and Southern Greens
I didn't get a picture of this, but it was very underwhelming.

DESSERT

Smores

The best dessert EVER. It was deliciously perfect.

Hot Fudge Sundae ($4.99)

Yummy.

FOOD: 3. Meh.
SERVICE: 0. Everyone that's been to this place knows that the server can make or break the experience. Our server wasn't attentive, wasn't funny, and I just got bad vibes from him all the way around. I learned later that he changed the tip that we gave him up to 20%. My dad was already annoyed with all of this and didn't want to deal with it any more, but seriously... what the heck!?
ATMOSPHERE: 3. Brought down by the crapful waiter.

Bill Total: $103.66 ($86.73 without drinks).

So I dunno if we were all just that out of it from the wonderful meal before, or if it was really that horrible, but it was an overall disappointment (which is hard to do when you go in with fairly low expectations to begin with). It's officially been crossed off our list of places to return to.


COMING UP: Dinner at Yachtsman's Steak House