Top Three Bottom of the Pit Restraunts

[Tiger926]

There are in my opinion very few restaurants at Disney World that are great, but very few are horrible. Certainly bad service can ruin a meal and that will vary from situation to situation.

But we have found most to have good to very good food and usually decent service. Meals at Disney World are more about the experience and less about the food.

Totally agree! We've eaten pretty much everywhere, including Signatures, and so I'm not going to add any restaurants to this list either. We've eaten at some of the restaurants mentioned at least 8x, and no problems, yet someone ate there 1x, had a problem, and declares it the worst restaurant at WDW!

I come from an award winning Italian restaurant family, and we do pretty well with WDW restaurants, so in my opinion, people have super high expectations (the DISboards helps perpetuate that), and they remember negative experiences more than positive ones. That being said, there are a few restaurants that I see get consistently negative reviews, but most of them are CS restaurants, and so we don't eat at those anyway as CS food is just not that good.

Happy eating to all, Tiger

 

[ebird08]

WOW!! I am canceling San Angel Inn. Way too many negative reviews ....

Ah! don't do it! i happen to love it there - the food was great and the ambiance is fantastic. at least try it once and see for yourself...you might love it!

 

[bangzoom6877]

WOW!! I am canceling San Angel Inn. Way too many negative reviews ....

I'm not canceling San Angel Inn...I have read the negative reviews too, but have also read positive things. Furthermore, I have 2 friends that have been there recently and loved it, and I know their taste and trust their opinions. And even furthermore, I like to go and judge for myself. I also live in NYC, where we do not have the greatest authentic Mexican food like you would find in the Southwest, so my opinions probably vary greatly from someone that is from California or Texas.

As an above poster stated, reviews are very subjective, and I do notice that in many negative reviews, people either say that the restaurant didn't meet their expectations (what were those expectations anyway?), or that the price they paid was not worth it for a burger, etc. Does it mean the burger really didn't taste good, or the person felt they should have paid a few dollars less and that's why they won't go back? I live in NYC, food is expensive everywhere here, and paying $30 for an entree alone is not unheard of...therefore, the prices at WDW are not a complete shock to me.

 

[916chipndale]

i never really had that much bad experiences at disney, but if i had to pick the 3 worst restaurants it would have to be

1. Sci-fi Dine Inn- didnt like the food at all and the cartoons werent that good

2. Toy Story Pizza Planet- even tho its from my favorite movie the pizza was not that good and it wasnt gross either, also its almost impossible to get a seat during lunch time

3. i dont know what to pick for the 3rd one

 

[onelilspark]

I don't think I have any restaurants that I'll never resturn to...some that it will take me quite a while to get around to trying again, but 2 years down the road a restaurant can change entirely for the good or worse.

Right now on my "slow" list is California Grill, Mama Melrose, & Tony's. CG we had awful service, MM was wayyyy to garlicky, and Tony's was bland. Le Cellier was on that list for a long time...I think it's overhyped and not worth the trouble to get a reservation. But for our October trip we're giving it another shot. The GFC was on our bad list after one meal. Went back a few months later and it was great. Never write off a place!

 

[robinb]

3. Tomorrowland Noodle Terrace -- Terrible, tasteless noodles. There is a reason this place isn't open anymore.
2. Liberty Tree Tavern -- I gave this place two tries and both times it was bad, bad, bad. They served tasteless "Thanksgiving" style food and the meat was smushed, pressed and processed and not freshly carved. Even the mac n cheese was bad.
1. ABC Commissary -- Horrible, greasy food. Even the asian noodles were cold and greasy. The best thing I ate there was the hot and greasy fish and chips.

ETA (after viewing others): Honorable Mention goes to the Gackin' Yeti counter service.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Totally agree! We've eaten pretty much everywhere, including Signatures, and so I'm not going to add any restaurants to this list either. We've eaten at some of the restaurants mentioned at least 8x, and no problems, yet someone ate there 1x, had a problem, and declares it the worst restaurant at WDW!

I come from an award winning Italian restaurant family, and we do pretty well with WDW restaurants, so in my opinion, people have super high expectations (the DISboards helps perpetuate that), and they remember negative experiences more than positive ones. That being said, there are a few restaurants that I see get consistently negative reviews, but most of them are CS restaurants, and so we don't eat at those anyway as CS food is just not that good.

Happy eating to all, Tiger

You said it! Everyone has different tastes, and then as you said, people read some of the hype here on the DIS and then they go into a restaurant with the highest of expectations. People are also much quicker to voice a negative opinion or a complaint than a compliment or a positive opinion.

To me, if a restaurant's menu looks good to me and I feel like trying the place, I try it. If it does not look good, I don't try it. I've read a lot of positive things about Tony's Town Square at MK but I would not go there because I generally do not eat Italian food on vacation unless I know the place. We were considering Tutto, but decided we can get great Italian food at home so we would rather try something more unique at Epcot. Of course, we fell into the Le Cellier trap, but we are curious about it and we both love steak. However, I know that this is probably the most overhyped restaurant at WDW (and possibly in the whole Orlando area), but I am going in with my own expectations that it is just a restaurant and although I expect it to be good, I don't expect it to be the greatest steak I have ever eaten in my life. The menu is appealing though, plus my sons both like steak so this is a place we are going to try and see how much we really like it.

 

[BLTLDZ]

I'm not canceling San Angel Inn...I have read the negative reviews too, but have also read positive things. Furthermore, I have 2 friends that have been there recently and loved it, and I know their taste and trust their opinions. And even furthermore, I like to go and judge for myself. I also live in NYC, where we do not have the greatest authentic Mexican food like you would find in the Southwest, so my opinions probably vary greatly from someone that is from California or Texas.

As an above poster stated, reviews are very subjective, and I do notice that in many negative reviews, people either say that the restaurant didn't meet their expectations (what were those expectations anyway?), or that the price they paid was not worth it for a burger, etc. Does it mean the burger really didn't taste good, or the person felt they should have paid a few dollars less and that's why they won't go back? I live in NYC, food is expensive everywhere here, and paying $30 for an entree alone is not unheard of...therefore, the prices at WDW are not a complete shock to me.

Same here. You know, what I'll keep the ressie I really should jusge for myself.

 

[Sabor]

1) Brown Derby - Once a family favorite, has seriously declined from its former self. Last visit several family members became very ill.

2) Coral Reef - very overpriced and small portions

3) Teppan Edo - I can name a dozen restaurants of the same genre that I have eaten at that had better food at a fraction of the cost. Our family loves Hibachi but we can do it better elsewhere.

 

[goofy4prez]

While I have had average food and service at several WDW restaurants, only one I would never return to, EVER.

ABC Commissary. When I say this place is terrible, I mean it is terrible. I have never in my life anywhere (ok, high school cafeteria 28 years ago was worse) had a worse pile of slop ever plopped on a plate in front of me. The cuban sandwich tasted like it was truly from Cuba, prior to the "cold war".

Possible a second restaurant I would add to the list is Le'Cellier. I may return someday, but it won't be anytime soon. I was way under impressed with this place. With all the rave reviews I was expecting this to be one of the best places I have ever encountered in my life; it was average. We waited 45 minutes past our ADR to be seated, we were stuck next to the restroom entrance (imagine eating the cheese soup and listening to the toilet flush at the same time), and right between the two serving stations(one for payments, the other for silverware). We asked politely to be moved and the manager told us we had to sit there or we could not be seated anywhere else that evening for dinner. Take this place off the DDP as a 1ts restaurant and I'm sure the popularity of this place will go down. Sorry all, I so wanted to love this place.

 

[cw21726]

1. 'Ohana - terrible food, worse service, clueless CMs at check-in.
2. Corral Reef - worst service ever and average food
3. Citricos - pretentious and rude server that acted like we should be thankful for the chance to eat there. Will not return. Narcoosee's was better across the board.

 

[GeminiAngel]

Only 2 come to mind for me.

1-The take out place for Yak & Yeti, The honey/orange chicken was just plain ole gross.

2-I thought Nine Dragons would be better, I was wrong. On top of that the service was just bad.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Mama Melrose - entrees were terrible. Dessert and appetizers was good though.

 

[MEK]

1. Whispering Canyon Cafe - worst meal ever.

2. Tony's - very hit or miss and never had anything really good there.

3. ABC Commissary (but if I have to pick a TS I would go with Sci Fi - I know there burgers and shakes are supposed to be awesome, but I had a horrible piece of salmon there).

 

[Luv4Disney]

WCC - Bad food, bad service

H&V - need I say more?

San Angel - the empanadas were good, but that's about it. Glad we tried it, but no need to go again

 

[PrincessV]

I won't say "never" to any of them, because I've been talked into some I didn't like just to eat with friends - it was worth it, even if the food wasn't. Plus, I've seen menus and service change over the years, so today's "no" could be next year's "yes!" That said, as of now I won't touch these if I can avoid it:

1. ABC Commissary. Because of this:

2. ABC Commissary -- I could see that it was fast food. It just wasn't good fast food.

Yep, my thoughts exactly.

2. Chef Mickey's. Iffy service, iffy food, high price. We're out.

3. Cap'n. Jacks. ~sigh~ Have you seen the new menu? $24 for crab cakes?!?! Such a shame, because I absolutely love the ambiance there.

As an aside, if it were only about food, San Angel would be at the bottom, too. I won't be ordering dinner there again any time soon, but they do make a mean margarita; I'll go back for that and the atmosphere alone!

 

[eeyoregon]

Whispering Canyon Cafe: horrible food (had to send our skillet back twice for various reasons and I am NOT a picky eater!) that is extremely overpriced and terrible service all around.

Mama Melrose: Food was horrible and our waiter was the mirror image of our food. I have had better frozen italian meals from a box.

 

[Faldred]

I'll put Boatwright's in as my choice. Not particularly bad, just... pointless. The only reason to go there is if you're staying at POR and don't feel like leaving the resort.

I can't honestly think of any others I wouldn't (eventually) do again, but there are several I wouldn't bother with repeating until I've tried other places first (such as Coral Reef).

 

[Tricia1972]

...I also do not plan to cancel any meals based on anything I read on this thread. Happens all the time, some people post bad reviews and others immediately cancel their reservations. If you haven't been there, and the menu looks good to you, try it for yourself.

Others have made this sentiment, and I couldn't agree more.

Everyone has their own opinion and everyone's opinion is the absolute truth for them. No matter what someone's experience level is and no matter how they grew up, nobody is more qualified to make up your mind for you than you are for yourself.

I read reviews for an overall feel of the place. Then I look at the menus. Even if sentiment is overwhelmingly against a restaurant, I'll try it if the menu appeals to me. We did this last trip, and now love a restaurant that many people here do not.

Perhaps it helps that I was burned by public sentiment on an early trip. I tried a DIS favorite dish at a DIS favorite restaurant. Never read ANYTHING bad about it. The dish was so horrible tasting that it made me feel sick to my stomach immediately after eating it. Coupled with bad service, and we won't be rushing back. However, that's just our experience, and if the menu sounds good to someone else, they should try it for themselves. It might be their new favorite.

I always think of these threads as "fun" and consider them more of a game than something anyone should base their dining reservations upon.

They are also a great way to bond with people who hate the same restaurant/dish that you do! :

 

[jx3smom]

1. Pizza Planet-the worst pizza I have ever tried to eat
2. Sci-Fi-we finally tried it and can say it was some of the worst food we've ever been served at WDW. My pasta and shrimp dish was awful and the chocolate peanutbutter cake was so hard a knife would not cut it.
3. Biergarten-I don't eat meat and there aren't many veggie choices.