Well thanks for all your help.... looks like Jiko and California Grill are a must. Will def be booking those.
Have already booked for Boma, Chef de France, Whispering Canyon, Yak & Yeti, T-rex, Hollywood Vine, Artists Point.
I'm pretty Keen on Citricos after seeing the menu. Anyone have any first hand experience there?
Getting everyone to agree on a restaurant is akin to making everyone agree about politics--it just isn't possible. What is a great restaurant to one poster was the scene of a disastrous meal for another. That being said, you've asked two specific questions, neither of which I've seen answered yet.
First, you mention Citrico's, and while I will admit it makes many "best of WDW" lists in this forum, I had one of my worst experiences there. The menu selections are good, but our service that night was at times patronizing, disdainful, unprofessional, and unworthy of a signature restaurant. While the food wasn't terrible, some entrees in our party of five came out undercooked--twice--and another received her food 15 minutes later than the rest. Coffee cups were left unfilled after the initial pour, even after we asked for more. All that being said, there are many people who absolutely adore Citrico's and can recount numerous wonderful meals there.
You also asked much earlier about Artist Point. That happens to be my favorite place to eat at WDW. Their menu isn't extensive, but what they prepare has always been superb. . .for me. Their signature dish is the cedar plank salmon which is divine, though I've read that they've changed the sauce that accompanies it which a few haven't enjoyed as much as the old one. They always have buffalo on the menu, usually in filet form, and it is very good (my personal favorite) as long as you like medium rare meat--overcooked buffalo is tough and tasteless (as is any lean meat). An absolute must-have at AP is the smokey portobello soup--sublime. And though there have been some disagreements about the berry cobbler there, it remains the best dessert option on the menu. I've never had bad service there (7 trips and counting), love the ambience, and afterward, it's a great location to stroll along the beach or a nature trail where it's serene and lovely.
Again, there will be others who disagree about AP, and I get that. But, that brings me to my final point. Go into each restaurant with as few preconceived notions as possible. Expect good food and good service since that's what restaurants daily should provide. But, if you have high expectations of having a great time, say at Whispering Canyon, but get a server who isn't "into" the action, you'll be disappointed. Likewise, if you approach a restaurant with some dread, then it might become a self-fulfilling experience. Go open-mindedly into each one, expect to have a good time, and who knows, you might be posting on the Review thread that you had a great time dining in the World! Good luck and have fun!
