Top 5 Signature Restaurants?

[Masonmj84]

Assume you are doing a trip on the DxDP for possibly a first and only time, you've never eaten at a 2 TS Disney restaurant, and you want to make the most of your opportunity by going to the best places.

Also assume that you're on a 6 night stay and you've promised the kids you'll use a 2 TS meal for CRT (and eat at other "kid friendly" places on your 1 TS meals), in exchange for going to places mom & dad pick the other 5 nights.

Which restaurants would you choose?

While there is obviously some amount of personal preference involved, my research (having never eaten at any of these) draws me to the following:

California Grill
Citricos
Flying Fish
Jiko
Artist Point

If you have eaten at a lot of signatures, would you agree?

Also, excluding CRT, how close are in-park signatures (Brown Derby, LeCellier for dinner, etc.) to any of these? Are they in the ball park or do they not even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence?

 

[Eeyore98]

I have huge love for Le Cellier, but looking at reviews of people who've recently gone for dinner, it seems to me like they really haven't done anything to live up to the "signature" name. The atmosphere (table spacing, lighting, table dressing, etc.) is exactly the same as at lunch. The plating is different and they use better quality ingredients, but that's it.

 

[Happydinks]

We have eaten at all except for Flying Fish.

We used to love California Grill - but the wait staff kept getting snobbier and snobbier until the last time (on the DDP) we were there, and basically got treated like we had the plague - we have ditched it.

Our favorites are Artist Point and Narcoosees. We have had outstanding meals at both places, extremely accomodating waitstaff - and at Narcoosess you can see the fireworks (they will hold your dinner while they are going off so you can go outside to enjoy).

That's just our opinion. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Sweet Melissa]

My list could very well change day-to-day, though the top two have been firm for a few years now.

1) Jiko
2) California Grill
3) Shula's
4) Bluezoo
5) Flying Fish

Since you're talking about Dining Plan participants, I guess I'd sub Shula's and Bluezoo for the Yachtsman Steakhouse and Artist Point. I will be trying Citricos for the first time in October and suspect it may upset some of my current rankings.

 

[OhThePain]

OP, I think you nailed the top 5 signatures (not in that order but those are my top 5).

The only thing I would question is the age of your kids and what time you would plan on having these meals. My girlfriend and I don't have kids, but depending on the time of ADR we expect different kinds of crowds. Basically, out of respect to other guests, the younger the kids the earlier you should try to make your reservation (especailly at Citricos, Jiko and Artist Point since CG and FF tend to be on the louder side). If a family is at one of those restaurants with a 3 year old at 5:30 or 6, we expect it a little more and it doesn't bother us if the child gets fussy and/or loud, but if that same family brought a 3 year old to an 8:30 or 9:00 ADR and the child gets fussy and/or loud it is far more likely to really get under our skin.

 

[Masonmj84]

We would never book an ADR for anything later than 6 and more likely 5:30. Even then, we'd probably be somewhat concerned as I understand a signature dining experience can take at least 2 hours and it may be difficult to keep kids entertained for that long.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I've eaten at all of the signatures quite often, and my top 5 is:

Artist Point
Citricos
Yachtsman
Jiko
Flying Fish

California Grill is an experience when you factor in the view and the fireworks, but we think the food at the above signatures is better.

 

[LowesChevy]

My top 5

Citricos
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Jiko
Flying Fish
California Grill

 

[MickeyNicki]

Mine would be

Cali Grill
Citricos
Flying Fish
Yactsman
Flying Fish (even tho our last meal wasnt that great)

 

[danielryan]

5. Brown Derby
4. Le Cellier
3. Yachtsman Steakhouse
2. California Grill
1. Narcoossee's

 

[Pakey]

We've eaten at all many times and although I think the restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin are better than any of the signatures, I'd rank the signatures as:

1. Flying Fish
2. Citricos
3. Jiko
4. Ca Grill (because of sushi, otherwise I'd rank it lower)
5. Brown Derby
6. Yachtsman
7. Artist Point
8. Narcoosees

Depending on the age of your children, I may or may not skip Citricos. Although the food and service are great, it's probably the most boring atmosphere for kids.