V&L, Narcoosees, or Jiko

[newmommie77]

Dh and I are going for an adult only vacation and we are deciding on a sit down dinner. We do not like to book sit down dinners, but we are planning one special dinner. I would love to do V&L but dh wants Jiko. I know they are very different dining experiences, but I need to know a bit more about the three.

 

[Pakey]

V&L, hands down the best food on property. This is a dining experience rather than a meal. The menu is very limited with only one-three choices for each of the 5 courses. You will probably eat many things you have not tried before if you are not accustomed to dining at places like this. They offer a wine pairing at additional cost. They usually also have some upgrades to the regular menu for added costs. Example: caviar for an appetizer. There are two seatings each evening for dinner and the meal will take about 2 hours. The dining area is small and intimate--not much more than 12-18 tables in there. Sometimes there has been a harpist playing music and other times not. There is a dress code and there will not be any children there. The restaurant itself is not anything gorgeous to look at and the wait staff uniforms are not impressive either. But if you are going for food, this is the place.

JIKO is usually pretty quiet but since children are allowed, you will sometimes experience a noisier dining experience. JIKO is a beautiful restaurant, somewhat dark. The food choices are interesting. Love all of the appetizers and the filet w/macncheese entree is excellent. JIKO also has a huge selection of African wines, over 200 choices. We usually get a bottle that costs a lot more than our meal but I'm sure they have more reasonable ones on the menu. There is no dress code here other than no bathing suits and tank tops so you may see people dressed very casually here. If you choose JIKO, do not pass up the appetizer sampler platters that they offer. You will get to eat food you've never tried before and it's excellent.

Narcoosees. Lots of people love this place but I'm not one of them. The first time we dined there was many years ago and I enjoyed it very much but the place was half empty so it was quiet. The last 3 times there, I have found it to be very noisy and a lot of kids. And I didn't find their menu to be anything unusual. The food was okay, not spectacular. I can get a whole lobster or a steak and lobster at our local Red Lobster. So to me, it isn't anything special. As far as fish, the quality of the food at Flying Fish on the boardwalk is much better. For some, they may consider Narcoosees fine dining. I do not.

 

[Tricia1972]

Victoria & Albert's is an incredible experience. Reading the menu doesn't give a person an exact idea as to what the food will be, simply because most people have never had food prepared that well. It's not an every time to Disney occurrence for us, but we'll do it every few years. DH didn't think he'd like it and only wanted to do it once, before the meal. In the middle of the meal he was talking about the Chef's Table "next time".

Jiko has wonderful food and an amazing atmosphere. Next to Victoria and Albert's, it's my favorite place on property. The service was outstanding, the booths were comfortable and the rich colors really appealed to me. As silly as it sounds, the bathrooms here were wonderful too. Not theme park-y at all.

Narcoosee's is nice. It has a nice view and the seafood is fine. THe atmosphere was noisy, a little cramped and it wasn't the relaxing experience that Jiko or V&A was. We liked it, and we would go back, but it wouldn't be for a relaxing adult evening. I feel fine bringing my kids here. They also were very lax on the dress code here and that resulted in part of my casual feel for the restaurant. (Tank tops and flip flops abounded)

 

[LisaInNc]

I am going to Disney the first week of December and I booked Jikos for our adult evening. I love the menu, I love the atmosphere and the AKL is such an awesome resport that we are going to take some time before and after to soak in the atmosphere and just realx and enjoy ourselves.

I like the GF but for me the AKL is so much more exotic.

 

[raven69david]

We'll be doing Narcoosees & Jiko in about 30 days so i'll post back and let you know how those go. We won't get a chance to do V&A's until December '08 because we are packed with ADR's for 8 straight days. I've already got a sample pack of Nexium in my suitcase cuz i'm definetly gonna need it for this trip.

 

[Uncleromulus]

If $$$ is no object--V&A hands down. IF it IS an object, I'd pick JIko before Narcoossee's.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I agree with the previous poster although I have to admit I have not done Narcoosee's lately and may have to revisit that restaurant again.

 

[OKWMom]

I'm going against the popular opinion here and say I would pick Narcoossee's before Jiko. We have been to Narcoossee's three different times and had excellent service and wonderful dinners each time. We tried Jiko during our December trip and were VERY disappointed.

I had heard nothing but wonderful things about Jiko so I was very excited to try it. AKL is a beautiful resort and I was in awe just standing in the main lobby. I think more than any other resort I had visited, it gave me the impression that I had travelled to a completely different place.

We were seated within 35 minutes of our ADR in a mostly empty room (1 other couple dining in there and maybe four empty tables). I have worked in the restaurant industry so I know there are valid reasons for this so I was not at all upset. However, once we were seated the magic began to fade. Our server was the worst I have ever encountered at a signature restaurant. He was patronizing and condescending and gave us the impression he thought we were not worthy to dine there. We were dressed appropriately and were conducting ourselves appropriately so I can only guess it was the dining plan that may have turned him off to us.

The food was ok, but our impression of it was so marred by the poor service we have no desire to return.

 

[JenniBugInPink]

I can't imagine anyone at Jiko being condescending becaue you were on the dining plan. I love the place, and we were most definitely on the dining plan, as have been most of the people I've ever talked to online about Jiko.

We went in October and our server was fabulous, friendly, and helpful. The food is unique, wonderfully prepared, and unlike anything you'll eat anywhere else. I'm quite the foodie, and I was very impressed. My husband on the other hand is a meat and potatoes kind of guy, but he was very pleased with the meal as well. If I could eat that way every day I might not have lost 98 pounds in the last 3 years!