Via Napoli, Chefs de France, or Coral Reef???

[DisneyFive]

Haven’t been to Via Napoli or Chefs de France.

We’ve done Coral Reef the last four trips. To be honest, I’ve had anywhere from my best meal ever (Sept 2011 - Chef’s sustainable catch, awesome prep) at Disney, to just mediocre there. We love the atmosphere and the tanks.

Thinking maybe it’s time to try something new. My thoughts:

Via Napoli... We’re on the dining plan, and not sure if a TS credit is worth it for pizza. Plus, that would be A LOT of pizza since you can’t share pizza if using the dining plan right?

So… Chefs de France. Haven’t been there. Menu looks pretty good.

Your thoughts? We're happy with all three cuisines... Thanks.

Dan

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd go with Via Napoli, with Chef's de France a close second. It somewhat depends on what your family likes to eat.

We like VN pizza, and have also tried several of their other menu items. Enjoyed them all.

Our experience at CdF is a bit more spotty. Generally lunch there is very good. Dinner is sometimes a let down from both the service and food perspective.

 

[figment_jii]

Via Napoli... We’re on the dining plan, and not sure if a TS credit is worth it for pizza. Plus, that would be A LOT of pizza since you can’t share pizza if using the dining plan right?

Correct, no sharing on the DDP (meaning, using one credit to feed multiple people). You can "share" the pizzas you order (meaning everyone can try all of the pizzas that are ordered), but you have to order one entree per person dining there when using the DDP.

I like both Chefs and Via Napoli. In terms of food alone, VN is one of my favorite spots in Epcot. The appetizers are outstanding (especially the calamari and aracini), as are the desserts (especially the Coppa Di Brutti Ma Buoni sundae). I like the thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas, but I do think an individual size is big enough to share in many cases (it's about 11" in diameter). When on the DDP, Chefs is probably the better financial choice and I do like the food there as well.

I would be happy at either place, so I would go with whichever one has the better looking menu to you and your family.

 

[snoopy352]

Hands down VN. Pizza and other food always reliable there. CdF is hit or miss. While we did have two very nice meals there, we also had 2 incredibly bad ones.

 

[Kimosabe]

I'd go with Via Napoli, with Chef's de France a close second. It somewhat depends on what your family likes to eat.

We like VN pizza, and have also tried several of their other menu items. Enjoyed them all.

Our experience at CdF is a bit more spotty. Generally lunch there is very good. Dinner is sometimes a let down from both the service and food perspective.

I'd second this whole post and tell you not to limit yourself to pizza at VN. It is quite tasty, and at least one or two of you should get it, but we tend to get a pizza and then a pasta dish or two and then just dig in family-style. Lots of good things there, from apps to desserts.

We love Chefs for lunch (never been for dinner). We've been a few times and never been disappointed. Hate that Remy doesn't appear there anymore, but I suppose he did his job and got us in the door the first couple of times and loving the restaurant for its food and service.

 

[AspenLL]

We did Chefs the last time we were there. It was average. We are trying Via Napoli when we go in April. Heard nothing but great things.

 

[bd1441]

Chefs is great on DDP because you can get an appetizer with the prix fix option. The food was pretty good the last time we went.

 

[supersnoop]

Since you're one the dining plan, I'd go with Chef's. If you were paying out of pocket, the Via Napoli. I'd avoid Coral Reef like the plague.

 

[Dacky619]

We are not fans of Chefs de France, but really like the other options. I'd go with Via Napoli, in fact I'm trying to figure out how to schedule it into our trip this summer.

 

[Dizzytime]

We've been to Chefs many, many times over the last ten years or so, but in spite of wanting to like it, and liking the menu, there was something that was always disappointing. Usually service and servers attitude to be frank , but that would trickle down to the food experience (cold food, etc.)

Haven't been back to Chefs in a year or so, and things may have changed there, but have to say we've loved Via Napoli from the time they opened. A busy place for sure, like Chefs, but doesn't seem we're as 'squeezed in'. Food is WONDERFUL, wait staff is efficient , friendly and fun...even if you don't speak Italian (hint to Chefs).

Just mho... but wherever you go, DisneyFive, sure hope you have a great time!

 

[usmcwife1]

Via Napoli was amazing on our last trip.. We are debating trying Chefs this trip but may switch to Via Napoli anyways.

 

[klinlin]

Since you're one the dining plan, I'd go with Chef's. If you were paying out of pocket, the Via Napoli. I'd avoid Coral Reef like the plague.

I was going to post almost exactly the same thing. Just no to Coral Reef. Just plain no. We have had fabulous meals at Chef's our last three trips, but we are not doing ddp this time. ( boys will both be "adults") It may just be too pricey for Mac and cheese. We loved Via Napoli, but it did end up being a ton of food. Pizza was great, so were the rice balls and zeppolis

 

[DisneyFive]

Wow, thanks all!

Looks like Via Napoli is winning out, and I'm good with that. We can always try Chef's another time.

We like the idea of pizza for some of us, and others can get some entrees, and all splitting. It's hard to go wrong with Italian. It's very forgiving for the kids. They can be a little picky with pizza, but it's hard to go wrong with the staples like spaghetti, lasagna, etc.. for them. The pizza sounds great to me. I love brick oven, thin crust...

Dan

 

[Micca]

VN is a great choice for your group. Everybody gets to try a little of several different things. You probably know that with the very thin crust pizzas you might eat an extra slice or two if you're used to eating pizza with a heartier crust.

 

[kastoney]

Sounds like you made a great choice, via Napoli is awesome and that's coming from an Italian who never likes anything I don't fix myself. Their pizza is the best I've ever had.

 

[pooch]

Sorry, have to disagree. I just don't understand potatoes as a side at an Italian restaurant. I had eggplant parmigiana with POTATOES???? The pizza is ok, ok it's fabulous compared to "Disney pizza" but I get much better at home. I vote for lobster bisque & baguettes at Chefs!!

 

[DisneyFive]

Chefs is still on our radar for sure. Perhaps on another visit. There are some great looking choices there too.

Of all things, our kids all fell in love with escargot on our RCI cruise last month, and I see them on Chefs menu. Glad they are willing to try new things. My little guy literally ate somewhere between 70-80 of them during the week, as they were basicaly his dinner each night along with shrimp cocktail. They would love getting a chance to have them again at Chefs.

Who knows, maybe we'll work Chefs into the schedule, but we're already planning to do Teppan Edo too. We did Teppan Edo a couple of years back, and while it's nothing all that different than what we can get locally at hibachi places, it was still a fun time and we like it.

Dan

 

[Squirlz]

I'll never get pizza at Via Napoli again. The crust tasted like burnt rancid oil. The toppings are quite unremarkable. Slices at the Boardwalk Pizza Window are far better.

 

[Kristina4109]

I had my birthday dinner at Chefs de France this past June. The meal was delicious! I got a salad, salmon with braised lentils, and strawberry cake, with a glass of Pinot Noir. The dining room is bright and airy and I loved it.

 

[Huff]

VN is mediocre for us at best. We didn't have pizza so no comment there. Other dishes tasted dried out. Decor is plain. Worst part of our last experience at VN was a waiter who ran outside after us yelling that we didn't leave enough money. We had left a 15% tip. He was figuring 18% which meant we under payed for the meal in his view. It was just 3 of us so no mandated 18% tip. Never before have I had a waiter anywhere run out after us demanding a higher tip. VN is off our list.

We've been to Chefs 3 times. First was excellent service, excellent food. 2nd trip great food but horrible service. We decided to try once more and were happy to have a perfect experience once again.

Coral Reef has always been a fun experience for us. Food is generally very good but it varies from item to item ordered. The atmosphere with the aquarium makes it all worthwhile.

Between the VN, Chefs or Coral Reef I'd have to go with Chefs with Coral a close 2nd for the dining plan.