Victoria & Albert's review (sorta)

[BayouQueen]

Don't feel like you need to get upgrades. We've dined there several times and have never paid for an upcharge (although I just might get the Turbot next time). We also don't drink (I believe they tried to require wine pairings in the QV room a few years ago, not sure if this is still the case). They offer you an upgraded water, but we just get regular water and tea. The tea has frozen tea ice cubes, so it's never watery (clever). The coffee/tea service is amazing. We also take our (4) chocolates/truffles boxed to go.

You jogged my memory, Lehuaann. The turbot was a fun one to try, since it was on a lot of fancy menus in Victorian times and you don't see it around much anymore. It was very yummy.
Well, everything was yummy.

 

[rg35]

That's a pretty accurate assessment. Again, I'm not at all value conscious when it comes to food. But I am experience conscious. But you nailed it, it's about a $100 max meal anywhere else. I've eaten at tons of great places as we travel a ton and are foodies. It's over priced even in relation to the places in New York, and it's no better than many places in New Orleans or Vegas. Not a bad place, but I think people on here do pimp it more than is justified.

Is V&A really overpriced in relation to NY?
Comparable price points like Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare is $330 per guest.
Momofuku Ko (by many considered to be the best tasting menu in the city) is $195 pp.

 

[cigar95]

Approx 4 hours. During 3 courses of the 10, the 7 just waits it out. This is where you share Enjoy!

Ah, didn't realize this was how it worked. Maybe I'll bring a bag of Doritos to eat during the lulls. That would fit right in, no?

 

[Kodachrome_Dreams]

Your points are irrelevant.

Victoria and Alberts is a theme park restaurant like Joel Robuchon is a casino restaurant. And there are pocket-friendly Michelin restaurants and meals.

Victoria and Alberts is a 17th year AAA Five Diamond restaurant, so Disney isn't getting away with anything.

Joel Robuchon is one of many, many world-class restaurants in Las Vegas, a city known as much for its fine dining experiences as it is for its casinos and shows. Victoria and Albert is an anomaly. I am glad you have enjoyed it so much. That, of course, does not reduce my surprise that it exists.

 

[randumb0]

And that's why I think Party for the Senses is still a good value

 

[FSU Girl]

Joel Robuchon is one of many, many world-class restaurants in Las Vegas, a city known as much for its fine dining experiences as it is for its casinos and shows. Victoria and Albert is an anomaly. I am glad you have enjoyed it so much. That, of course, does not reduce my surprise that it exists.

I think it's only coincidental that the restaurant is near a theme park. It really has nothing to do with Disney and I've heard many locals go just for this restaurant. I think if it was inside one of the park it might be more odd, but it is located in the flagship hotel so I think it fits in pretty well there.

 

[Fuberwil]

Don't get me wrong. I love a fine dining experience and any excuse to dress up; but just this morning I read a review in The Guardian of Le Cinq at the Four Seasons George V hotel in Paris, a world renowned restaurant with three Michelin stars, and *that* meal was the same price as one at Victoria and Albert. Wow.

I think your mindset is a bit off. Michelin Guide does not do many, if any, reviews outside of CA and NY. They predominately do Europe as you'll see a huge difference in numbers between USA and Europe. Also, just because the restaurant is in a Disney property doesn't necessarily make it a "Disney Restaurant". There are plenty of ultra-high end dining in Vegas Casinos or Hotels.

 

[kiford]

I am surprised that a theme park restaurant, no matter how enthusiastic a fan base it has, is able to get away with charging world-class Michelin star level prices.

Technically, it is not in a theme park, it is in a hotel that is located on the same property and owned by the same company that owns the theme park. Many locals visit the hotel and restaurant that aren't going to the theme park.

Does anyone know how long the dinner is for the 7 course & the 10 course meal is?

We have typically spent about 4 hours for the 10 course (there is only one seating so you don't need to worry about vacating for another seating) and about 3-3.5 hours for the 7 course (it may also be only one seating now - not sure).

You don't get to choose with the 10 course like you do with the 7, so it's nice to have that flexibility.

That is true, however, they customize the 10 course specifically for you so that the progression of proteins and wines (if you are doing the pairing) is logical. I am allergic to seafood, spinach and kiwi fruit so they make a different menu for me than for DH (although they also did that for me for the 7 course menu). They've also done some last minute changes to the menu for me for the 10 course. One time, there was a vegetarian course and the server asked if the chef could add some bison to the selection. To which I said "of course" (like I'm ever going to tell the chef what he can do - I think he knows a bit more about this than me and I have a lot of trust in him. I hate mushrooms but I once ate a mushroom pasta he made that I still remember and my taste buds cherish). It was, of course, delicious.

I believe they tried to require wine pairings in the QV room a few years ago, not sure if this is still the case

No, it's not. We do the pairing but it's totally optional.

 

[Lehuaann]

That is true, however, they customize the 10 course specifically for you so that the progression of proteins and wines (if you are doing the pairing) is logical. I am allergic to seafood, spinach and kiwi fruit so they make a different menu for me than for DH (although they also did that for me for the 7 course menu). They've also done some last minute changes to the menu for me for the 10 course. One time, there was a vegetarian course and the server asked if the chef could add some bison to the selection. To which I said "of course" (like I'm ever going to tell the chef what he can do - I think he knows a bit more about this than me and I have a lot of trust in him. I hate mushrooms but I once ate a mushroom pasta he made that I still remember and my taste buds cherish). It was, of course, delicious.

My point was that the 10 course Chef's Tasting Menu doesn't list courses to choose from because it's intended to be enjoyed the way Chef Scott designed. Now, if a guest has a request for dietary accommodations, Chef Aimee (most likely, Chef Scott was promoted) will absolutely recustomize the menu, which is one of the reasons V&A calls guests in advance. And, yes, changes have been known to take place at the last minute, even per chef's recommendation. However, this is on occasion and not standard. Thankfully V&A is very accommodating.

It's pretty amazing what they are able to create with foods people typically wouldn't like or touch. For me, one of those was Sweetbreads. I haven't had anything at V&A that I didn't enjoy.

No, it's not. We do the pairing but it's totally optional.

I had go back through some of my old posts for the details. In July 2015, V&A announced that the price for the QVR would be $340 and wine pairing would be included. However, the plan was axed due to guest complaint. That was the same year they introduced the 10 course in the MDR and increased prices across the board.

 

[kiford]

I had go back through some of my old posts for the details. In July 2015, V&A announced that the price for the QVR would be $340 and wine pairing would be included. However, the plan was axed due to guest complaint.

They must have changed it fairly quickly as we were there in Dec of 2015 and the pairing was optional as it was in Dec 2016. In fact, when we were there in 2015 they had two different pairings (of course at two different price points) and one of the pairings was with wines that were very limited productions. We had that pairing and it was totally amazing.

My point was that the 10 course Chef's Tasting Menu doesn't list courses to choose from because it's intended to be enjoyed the way Chef Scott designed.

Yes, I understood the point you were making. I was, in fact, a little concerned that first time that I might not be happy to not have choices and that there might be something I didn't like or want but would be stuck with but we decided to give it a try anyway figuring we could always go back to the seven course version the next year. Concen totally unwarranted. I now find it rather exciting to get the menu and see what's in store and completely put myself into the chef's hands. As long as I'm not allergic to it, I'll eat whatever the chef serves. I think of it as my little adventure for the day. It's amazing how many things I'm willing to eat that I think I don't like when it's in the hands of a real professional.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

I've been to Le Cinq - but it was almost 6 years ago and seemed way pricier, so I looked it up. It is 210 Euros for 6 courses. 330 Euros for the Epicurean 9 course and their Valentines menu was 750. The atmosphere is much more to my taste, but the service is exactly on point at both, now I've been to V&A a bunch of times due to availablity, I don't jaunt to Paris for 3 day trips pretty much whenever, like I can do for WDW The food experience at V&A is clo se, but admittedly, Le Cinq is better. What I think is amazing is that it IS within a themepark. You can have an outstanding meal and then go ride roller coasters. I'm pretty hardcore about heels (and with the wine pairing, let's be honest, I can't feel my feet) and I've gone for hours after V&A, riding in a cocktail dress in heels. What a cool juxtaposition. Is it the French Laundry? Nope, is it totally worth it and just cool to have available at WDW? Yep.[/QUO
I think Le Cinq is pretty good too. Its funny that they are getting -ve reviews in the guardian and the Australian. But been promoted stars. I saw this -ve review of the Per Se in the NYT. I was expecting the meal to be worse then when I had it last time. But it was not. And they retained three michelin stars. You should take every guide and review with a grain to a mountain of salt. If you like the look of the food go if not don't go

 

[RealBlast3]

I think my point is clear. I am surprised that a theme park restaurant, no matter how enthusiastic a fan base it has, is able to get away with charging world-class Michelin star level prices. But hey, it's next to impossible to get a table there, so kudos to Disney for pulling it off I guess.

Victoria and Albert's is not a theme park restaurant, though. A theme park restaurant is one that resides in a theme park. V&A's is in one of the most expensive resort and hotels on property, The Grand Floridian.

I understand that you're using verbal shorthand to describe everything in Disney World as part of a "theme park" but that is not the case, even in how Diseny describes the area, they always include the word "Resort" like everywhere, especially in the recorded announcements when they describe a vacation there.

The other thing that I haven't seen mentioned yet in this thread (I'm half way through reading it) and am quite surprised I haven't seen it mentioned yet is that none of the diners at V&A's are under any duress or pressure to do the 7 or 10 course meals at all. I can tell you from a personal experience that I saw a dining patron at V&A's say "No thank you to all of that, please bring me a menu". And they proceeded to bring him one.

Simple as that. You don't want to spend hundreds of $$$, simply ask for a menu and dine the old-fashioned way and order at your discretion.

Is it rather deceptive that V&A doesn't make a big deal that the multi course offerings are an "option" and not compulsory? Perhaps. But really, it would be bizarre for any restaurant to ONLY order a price-fixe menu and not allow ala carte ordering. So, it should probably go without saying that you can ask for a menu, but I'll agree the fact that V&A doesn't automatically bring out the regular menu is an example of manipulation, probably, into hoping guests think that the price-fixe multi course option is the only one when it isn't at all.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Well yes and no you can ask for a menu, but... it's basically the 7 -10 courses and you pick what you want. And the pricing... about the same.

(I actually know someone who used to take clients here on a regular basis and if he went more than once or twice on a 'rotation' he would do the menu. It was not any cheaper, it just allowed him to pick the stuff he liked. They did not have a full menu of things you aren't seeing on the tasting menus. I think there was one steak and one fish maybe? But the price points were still such that by the time you did three courses it's about the same as the tasting. He always recommended the tasting, but if you go several times in a month it's basically the "same" tasting so that's why he would move to the menu)

 

[peabody58]

Fortunately, DW and I were able to experience V&A's for our 30th Wedding Anniversary 5 years ago. At that time V&A's still honored TIW which helped out a lot. There was one table in the Queen's Room which had a lady talking very loud to a guest at another table. Annoying yes, but we didn't let it ruin our fabulous meal. At the end of the meal, the wait staff was very apologetic about the loud lady, and they comped our liquor bill. They even redid our complimentary menu to reflect our anniversary date which was actually the next day. The service was over the top, and the food divine.

We are glad we did V&A's and can check it off of our bucket list, but without TIW and with the current price point, we like many other's will have to pass on any future visits and settle for slumming it at the lowly Table Services restaurants!

 

[RealBlast3]

Well yes and no you can ask for a menu, but... it's basically the 7 -10 courses and you pick what you want. And the pricing... about the same.

(I actually know someone who used to take clients here on a regular basis and if he went more than once or twice on a 'rotation' he would do the menu. It was not any cheaper, it just allowed him to pick the stuff he liked. They did not have a full menu of things you aren't seeing on the tasting menus. I think there was one steak and one fish maybe? But the price points were still such that by the time you did three courses it's about the same as the tasting. He always recommended the tasting, but if you go several times in a month it's basically the "same" tasting so that's why he would move to the menu)

Ahhh...interesting. In the 5 or 6 times I was there, I have always done the multi-courses, both in the main dining room and the Queen Victoria room, so I never knew what the main menu was like, just that this one rather rude and irate guest, I might add, demanded a regular menu. I didn't know it was more or less the same things.

But still, if you were to totally eschew all apps and any dessert, and just ordered 1 dish, I don't see how it couldn't be cheaper. Make it a 1 course dinner, that's all. I'm pretty sure you still get some of that delicious bread service, maybe not as much as if you were doing lots of courses, but probably still one serving of it. Some bread, and one incredible main course, I don't think would set you back too much - like there's no way that one course of something like the pouilly rouge ordered with just the complimentary water and complimentary bread could possibly come to anything more than $100. (I'm sure it would be less, even the best chicken in the world is not THAT expensive).

Obviously courses like the Wagyu beef is another story.

 

[dzak1717]

Has anyone dined here recently, wondering what the current prices are for the Main dining room. Was able to grab an ADR for an upcoming trip.

 

[Pete W.]

Has anyone dined here recently, wondering what the current prices are for the Main dining room. Was able to grab an ADR for an upcoming trip.

It looks like you just revived a year old thread. There are newer threads which discuss the recent changes at V&A, but below is verbiage from the recent confirmation I received for our January 3rd reservation in the main dining room --


Menu Style- Victoria & Albert’s offers a Chef Degustation Tasting menu with a vast array of textures and flavors. Our menu is seasonal as Chef Scott, Chef Aimee along with the culinary team are on a quest of always finding the perfect balance between classic and modern touches.

Allow at least 3 hours for the dining experience. On average, the menu will be between 8 and 12 courses. The amount of courses may change based on the size of some of the culinary creations.

Pricing – Menu price is $235.00 per person (for food only) not including supplement items, alcoholic beverages, gratuities or taxes. A wine pairing is also available upon request at a price of $150.00 per person.

Cancellation Fee - Cancellations will be accepted only by our reservations office by calling 407-939-3862. A fee of $100 per person will be charged for each guest that cancels within 72 hours or does not show to the reservation. All fees will be waived if we receive a courtesy call before the 72-hour window. Our restaurant is very small and each table is only served once per evening. A prompt cancellation allows for us to call one of our many guest on our wait list.

Dress Code –A dinner jacket is required for men, along with a collared dress shirt, long sleeves, dress slacks and dress shoes (tie optional) and elegant evening attire, such as a dress or pants ensemble, is required for women. No jeans, t-shirts, shorts, capris, flip flops, sneakers or casual wear please.

Valet Parking – Complimentary valet parking is available at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for guests dining at Victoria & Albert’s.

Corkage Fee – The restaurant has over 600 wine selections. We allow for a special or meaningful bottle that is not in our wine list to be brought in at a corkage fee of $75.00 (limit one per table) – Please submit a request for a bottle to be brought in with our sommelier team at wdw.victoria.and.alberts@disney.com or contact us at 407-939-3862. Our office is open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST 7 days a week.

 

[Dean Marino]

It looks like you just revived a year old thread. There are newer threads which discuss the recent changes at V&A, but below is verbiage from the recent confirmation I received for our January 3rd reservation in the main dining room --


Menu Style- Victoria & Albert’s offers a Chef Degustation Tasting menu with a vast array of textures and flavors. Our menu is seasonal as Chef Scott, Chef Aimee along with the culinary team are on a quest of always finding the perfect balance between classic and modern touches.

Allow at least 3 hours for the dining experience. On average, the menu will be between 8 and 12 courses. The amount of courses may change based on the size of some of the culinary creations.

Pricing – Menu price is $235.00 per person (for food only) not including supplement items, alcoholic beverages, gratuities or taxes. A wine pairing is also available upon request at a price of $150.00 per person.

Cancellation Fee - Cancellations will be accepted only by our reservations office by calling 407-939-3862. A fee of $100 per person will be charged for each guest that cancels within 72 hours or does not show to the reservation. All fees will be waived if we receive a courtesy call before the 72-hour window. Our restaurant is very small and each table is only served once per evening. A prompt cancellation allows for us to call one of our many guest on our wait list.

Dress Code –A dinner jacket is required for men, along with a collared dress shirt, long sleeves, dress slacks and dress shoes (tie optional) and elegant evening attire, such as a dress or pants ensemble, is required for women. No jeans, t-shirts, shorts, capris, flip flops, sneakers or casual wear please.

Valet Parking – Complimentary valet parking is available at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for guests dining at Victoria & Albert’s.

Corkage Fee – The restaurant has over 600 wine selections. We allow for a special or meaningful bottle that is not in our wine list to be brought in at a corkage fee of $75.00 (limit one per table) – Please submit a request for a bottle to be brought in with our sommelier team at wdw.victoria.and.alberts@disney.com or contact us at 407-939-3862. Our office is open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST 7 days a week.

As we go to V&A twice per year?

TOTAL agreement - except for one small item .

Party of TWO, with appropriate Tip, will be about $750. COULD be more, could be slightly less. PLEASE - if going here? Do not look for a "Budget Dinner". Go full tilt. This is the 2nd finest Restaurant in the United States. #1 is in Chicago. Please avoid it, as the entire City is a bit "iffy" in terms of personal safety.

Dear Wife and I are booked for the EIGHTH time - Nov 2018 . THEY will tell ME what the bill is . And I will smile .

 

[hereforthechurros]

As we go to V&A twice per year?

TOTAL agreement - except for one small item .

Party of TWO, with appropriate Tip, will be about $750. COULD be more, could be slightly less. PLEASE - if going here? Do not look for a "Budget Dinner". Go full tilt. This is the 2nd finest Restaurant in the United States. #1 is in Chicago. Please avoid it, as the entire City is a bit "iffy" in terms of personal safety.

Dear Wife and I are booked for the EIGHTH time - Nov 2018 . THEY will tell ME what the bill is . And I will smile .

Alinea?

 

[dzak1717]

As we go to V&A twice per year?

TOTAL agreement - except for one small item .

Party of TWO, with appropriate Tip, will be about $750. COULD be more, could be slightly less. PLEASE - if going here? Do not look for a "Budget Dinner". Go full tilt. This is the 2nd finest Restaurant in the United States. #1 is in Chicago. Please avoid it, as the entire City is a bit "iffy" in terms of personal safety.

Dear Wife and I are booked for the EIGHTH time - Nov 2018 . THEY will tell ME what the bill is . And I will smile .

Interested to know what your #1 is in Chicago since I do live here and kind of laugh at you "Iffy" comment. But that aside I do appreciate the info on the meal from V&A.