V&A's solo?

[winnieofpooh]

For my one thousandth post about our upcoming honeymoon trip, my fiance wants to go to Victoria and Albert's. He's a huge foodie (is obsessed with the show Chef's Table), and this is one of his bucket list restaurants. Only issue is I am SUPER picky. I've looked over numerous reviews and menus for V&A's, and I just can't do it. The cost is much too high for me.

BUT, since I know it's his dream, I really want to encourage him to do it solo. He's open to the idea because he wants to do the meal so badly. I have zero qualms about him "ditching" me - I'm perfectly content strolling around MK by myself, or just getting room service and pigging out. However, is it weird to dine there solo? He really wants to do it, but doesn't know if it's weird to do such a fancy meal alone.

As an aside, does anyone know about how long it takes to dine there? So if he does decide he wants to do it solo, I can have an estimate for how much time I need to kill alone?

 

[a742246]

We spent 2 1/2 hours there.

 

[a742246]

PS it is "really" that good.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm guessing he's outgoing and is okay dining alone? As far as I can tell, others will be seated at Chef's Table too.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

He wouldn't be sitting at the Chef's table, that's a once daily reservation for a single party. He would be sitting by himself at either a table in the main dining room or the Queen Victoria room. I've done Queen Victoria room twice, and it takes about 3 hours for the meal. If he does wine pairings or upgrades, it will take longer. I don't think it would be awkward to sit there by yourself as the restaurant is very small and the servers are really interactive and will be talking with him a lot during dinner. He won't feel lonely.

 

[Missyrose]

I'm guessing he's outgoing and is okay dining alone? As far as I can tell, others will be seated at Chef's Table too.

Only one reservation gets the Chef's table each night.

 

[goofyintoronto]

While I havent been to V&A (its on my bucket list), I think your fiance should definitely go for it. I've dined at many restaurants alone at Disney, even signature restaurants....never felt awkward at all. He wouldnt be the first to dine there alone, trust me.

 

[Micca]

Never been to V&As for the same reason: I'm the foodie, DW is the super picky person. From what I understand you could give instructions for what you will & won't eat, so I suppose you could get something simple--i.e. a steak or pasta, etc. But who wants to pay big $$$ for that, right? OTOH, it is your honeymoon.
Do you go to WDW regularly? Maybe the solo V&A could happen on another trip?

 

[TwoMisfits]

For my one thousandth post about our upcoming honeymoon trip, my fiance wants to go to Victoria and Albert's. He's a huge foodie (is obsessed with the show Chef's Table), and this is one of his bucket list restaurants. Only issue is I am SUPER picky. I've looked over numerous reviews and menus for V&A's, and I just can't do it. The cost is much too high for me.

BUT, since I know it's his dream, I really want to encourage him to do it solo. He's open to the idea because he wants to do the meal so badly. I have zero qualms about him "ditching" me - I'm perfectly content strolling around MK by myself, or just getting room service and pigging out. However, is it weird to dine there solo? He really wants to do it, but doesn't know if it's weird to do such a fancy meal alone.

As an aside, does anyone know about how long it takes to dine there? So if he does decide he wants to do it solo, I can have an estimate for how much time I need to kill alone?

If it were me, I'd put the dinner on my wedding gift list...if someone bought it, it's meant to be and I'd enjoy it...and if someone didn't, I'd pass as a couple, since it seems money is an object for you both (now if money isn't an object, then I'd book and close my eyes on price, b/c if this is all your spouse is asking for, let him have it...life is all about compromise)...

Honeymoons aren't meant for ditching the spouse...they are the one time you get to spend time just as you two...

PS - For years, when my spouse asked me what I wanted for birthdays and Xmas, I said 4 star dining and experiences - just one each time. It took him a few years to wrap his head around this idea and stop buying me "stuff", but the best gift he finally got me was a $200 gift card to our local best-rated French restaurant...and we both had a wonderful meal there, and he even wanted to go back (even though it was all my idea)...

 

[Pygoplites]

V&A is a great solo experience. In fact of the 10 or so times I've been there, only two dinners were NOT as a solo diner. I'd rather enjoy a $$$$ restaurant alone than to share the experience with someone who is super picky. He will have a wonderful time. The "worst" thing I ever ate there was still good and the best dishes are spectacular and memorable.

If he can't get a reservation at V&A, he should look into the little-publicized Omakase at Morimoto for an ultra-personalized alternative.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would encourage your new husband to enjoy his meal at V&A. I look at this in much the same way I would look at a spa experience in a honeymoon. My DH would rather chew glass and die then go to a spa, but would never begrudge me the time it took for what would be a solo experience. I think that if the two of you are in agreement that you will occupy uyourself while he enjoy an outstanding meal that you would not want, why not?

 

[kiford]

We usually take 4-5 hours for our meal there; it's truly not the kind of place to rush through dinner. Not only is there 9-12 courses but there are bread courses in between and they allow you to take time to digest between courses and they don't start cooking one until you've finished the last one. Maybe if you're on your own and you're not doing the wine pairing, you could get away with a 3 hour dining time but less than that and you're really rushing through a truly delightful experience.

If you really, really don't want to join him, I've can tell you that we've seen solo diners there most times we've been (8-9 times) so he wouldn't be out of place. They're quite used to it. But he is quite unlikely to get the Chef's table. It's not even that easy to get the Queen Victoria Room 180 days out and they prefer for larger groups to book the Chef's table and it gets snapped up very quickly.

 

[NYCgrrl]

For my one thousandth post about our upcoming honeymoon trip, my fiance wants to go to Victoria and Albert's. He's a huge foodie (is obsessed with the show Chef's Table), and this is one of his bucket list restaurants. Only issue is I am SUPER picky. I've looked over numerous reviews and menus for V&A's, and I just can't do it. The cost is much too high for me.

BUT, since I know it's his dream, I really want to encourage him to do it solo. He's open to the idea because he wants to do the meal so badly. I have zero qualms about him "ditching" me - I'm perfectly content strolling around MK by myself, or just getting room service and pigging out. However, is it weird to dine there solo? He really wants to do it, but doesn't know if it's weird to do such a fancy meal alone.

As an aside, does anyone know about how long it takes to dine there? So if he does decide he wants to do it solo, I can have an estimate for how much time I need to kill alone?

The meal (we've eaten there twice; once as a couple and the first time w/ DGD who was up to the task) has taken us between 3.5 and around 4 hours. Can he eat there alone? "Surely" sez me and with no qualms. Since the meal is several courses long it is done very leisurely and your sense of time can slip away.

Don't forget to add in transportation time which can increase the waiting time another hour or two round trip depending on how far away you are staying from GF.

 

[auntfrannie]

I did V&A's solo for my 50th and loved every minute of it!

 

[Lilsia]

I would go and eat there. My hubby does not appreciate that kind of food(meat and potato guy). We should set up a group day for all of us solo to go eat there together.

 

[winnieofpooh]

The meal (we've eaten there twice; once as a couple and the first time w/ DGD who was up to the task) has taken us between 3.5 and around 4 hours. Can he eat there alone? "Surely" sez me and with no qualms. Since the meal is several courses long it is done very leisurely and your sense of time can slip away.

Don't forget to add in transportation time which can increase the waiting time another hour or two round trip depending on how far away you are staying from GF.

Lucky enough to be staying at the GF, so just a quick walk to the restaurant

 

[B-Ride]

In my opinion if you are considering a solo dinner on your honeymoon you should be reconsidering the marriage.

 

[Disney_Alli]

I think he should definitely go and enjoy, just as many people would go solo for a spa experience on a honeymoon a dinner like this is an experience that many would enjoy solo.