Weekend Reviews / Dress Code update

[Peter Pirate]

Our weekend trip netted some good eats. Here's how it went:

Friday: Candlelight Processional package. Ate at Teppenyaki. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to get the steak and lobster combination because it (lobster) isn't allowed with the package. No worries... They don't offer the steak and lobster combination anymore anyway! Seating was 20 minutes behind. Then we sat for 20 minutes before our drink order! Not happy. After that it was right back to normal with very good food and a great chef. We had shrimp/steak, steak/scallops and chicken/shrimp. Rating: B- (for the uneveness).

Saturday: Prime Time Cafe (Lunch). Very expensive/poor value, IMO. My wife LOVED the pot pie. Sadly she was sick not long afterward as was I (Ceasar Salad) and youngest daughter (who shared the pot pie). Rating: D This was our third or fourth meal here and will probably be scratched from our future list with Mama Melrose and Brown Derby as competetion.

Jiko (dinner). Probably the best overall dinner we've ever had at Jiko (everyone was very happy). Wife & I had the tilefish (replaces the monkfish), oldest daughter had shrimp curry, her bf had the scallops, youngest daughter had the coffee bbq flatbread. Had firecraker app which was great, as usual. Rating: A- (have to leave room for something better)

Sunday (dinner). Flying Fish. Good thing we left room for the higher grade at Jiko, because FF gets it. I had the scallops with wild mushroom risotto, wife had cod fish, oldest daughter had the charred NY strip (thus I finagled some), daughters bf had (rare) ahi tuna and youngest daughter had Ceasar salad. Had frisee salad appitizer and a leek with wine reduction sample, courtesy of the chef. Rating A.

Dress code. We were a very casual group. Park jeans, tennis shoes, mostly collarless shirts (me for sure) and not ONE word or even ONE second glance in the direction of our comfy clothes.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

PP, you are so naughty with your rebellion against the dress code! I hope your thong was not peeking out of the back of your low rise jeans!

I have NOT TRIED FF...and I am dying to do so. It is a MUST TRY on our next trip.

I have never eaten at Prime Time...just never appealed to me. Guess it is a good thing, huh? We did love HBD...have you tried it yet? You will love it.

Thanks for the reviews!

 

[Peter Pirate]

Dress code? Dress code? I don't need no stinkin' dress code.

No, no thong this trip...Just went commando! Yuk, yuk, yuk.

Yes, I like HBD very much (I'm a Cobb Salad fan). We like the antics of the Prime Time staff but it's not worth the price or loss of Park time, if you get my drift.

FF is really, really worth the trip.


BTW, thanks for responding...I thoought I was on EVERBODY's ship list.

 

[jwfla422]

I can't believe I miss the opportunity to meet the "Peter Pirate" as we were also at FF on Sunday night!! LOVE THAT PLACE!!! It has become one of our favs!! We just went to Jiko tonight and enjoy that as well...but like FF a little more.

We love to sit at the counter by the kitchen. The chefs are always passing samples of their delicious fare our way!! YUM!! Oh well, maybe next time you'll have your eye patch and sword so we can pick you out of the crowd

 

[Uncleromulus]

Glad you enjoyed your meals-especially FF and Jiko. Was a thread around that the monkfish was back at Jiko--but evidently not!!
And up-to-date information on the "dress code" is always valuable.

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your reviews ~ Thanx for posting.

 

[Leota]

Good reviews. Thanx for posting them.

 

[Kaycee]

Thanks for the reviews, and for sharing your dress code experience!

 

[Nancyg56]

PP, you are so naughty with your rebellion against the dress code! I hope your thong was not peeking out of the back of your low rise jeans!

Thank you for the updated dress code info. My DD was going to make my poor son in law wear dress pants and a dress shirt!!!!! He has been on her list because he was refusing. I generally stay out of their little tiffs, but took SIL side and promised that nice jeans would be okay. Good to know that he would not be turned away at the CG, as DD was suggesting would happen, and SIL would be peeking in watching the well dressed eat.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Dress code? Dress code? I don't need no stinkin' dress code.

No, no thong this trip...Just went commando! Yuk, yuk, yuk.

Yes, I like HBD very much (I'm a Cobb Salad fan). We like the antics of the Prime Time staff but it's not worth the price or loss of Park time, if you get my drift.

FF is really, really worth the trip.


BTW, thanks for responding...I thoought I was on EVERBODY's ship list.

I had to edit my post...meant to say I have not tried Prime Time and haven't really had a desire to... (I also have not tried Sci Fi...but that's for another thread!)


Yes, the first time I ate at HBD, I tried the Cobb, thinking, "It is just a salad, how good can it be?" I was really impressed and DH and I still talk about it.

*Total side note/thread hijack here*...is there a restaurant near you called "Little Italy?" It was bayside, and pretty far down (past Tavernier.) Just wondering if it was still there...DH and I ate there when we were dating (10 years ago) and we still talk about what great seafood they had.

About being on a "ship list" (LOL, that was funny...) I pretty much disagree with you about the dress code thing, but I think it is fun to get both sides of the issue, especially when presented in a light hearted manner. When I go to Jiko, or Blue Zoo, part of the fun for *me* is getting dressed up, and I *wish* others felt the same way, but I also know that I cannot control other's behaviors, only my own. if I am going to let that ruin my dinner...well, then there is something wrong with ME.

But geez...put some undies on next time...will ya?

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Nancy-Just hope you know, when I say I like getting dressed up for dinner...sometimes that DOES mean jeans, and some heels, and a dressy top. And my DH will wear a nice pair of jeans and a collared shirt. What annoys me, and a lot of others...is "park attire," flip flops, tank tops and shorts. "Technically" park attire like that is not allowed at some of the nicer restaurants, but the whole debate thing that PP got involved with hinges on the fact that they do not enforce the dress code, so what good is it?
Your son in law will be perfectly fine in a nice pair of jeans!

 

[Peter Pirate]

jwfla, I almost posted that we would be going last week and ran out of time. I wish I would have, it would have been great to meet and say hello! We ate at 8:30 and did have the chef's table. My wife likes to sit there as it's almost impossible for her to get cold!

WLL, yes the Litle Italy is still there and still very popular but you know, in 22 years down here I have never eaten there. I'm not an Itallian food lover and the same owners own another restaurant in Key Colony Beach that we occasionally go to. If you ever get back this way there is a great, romantic, beachside restaurant on Grassy Key called the Hideaway Cafe at the Rainbow Bend Resort. I had a cowboy steak there two weeks ago that took up half the table! I ate about a third of it and I'm a big eater.

As for the dress code or lack thereof it seems to me that it's still hit or miss and although I always try and stay casual I generally do have a collared shirt in the car in case someone gets uppity with me.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Ummm, PP...I can handle our differences in opinion on dress codes...but you DO NOT LIKE ITALIAN FOOD? I thought was one of three absolutes in life...death, taxes and everyone loves Italian Food!

Thanks for the tip on the other places down there. DH and I have not been that way in 10 years...we really need to. Can't believe Holiday Isle is being sold to make an upscale, swanky resort! It is the end of an era!

Thanks to you and jwfla for the tip about the counter...if I make an ADR...should I request "counter" or "chef's table?" Funny, because I am the type that always gets cold in a restaurant, too!

 

[Peter Pirate]

It's not that I don't like Italian food per se, but I'm not Italian and I really like Italian food the way my wife prepares them (Americanized, I'm sure)...

I hadn't heard Holiday Isle is closing although I knew developers were controlling the upper keys now as well.

The chef's counter at FF can just be requested upon entry so it's very hit and iss, but the bar also has seating and while it's not as warm or fun, the bartenders are a good group to mingle with at FF, as well.

 

[Nancyg56]

Nancy-Just hope you know, when I say I like getting dressed up for dinner...sometimes that DOES mean jeans, and some heels, and a dressy top. And my DH will wear a nice pair of jeans and a collared shirt. What annoys me, and a lot of others...is "park attire," flip flops, tank tops and shorts. "Technically" park attire like that is not allowed at some of the nicer restaurants, but the whole debate thing that PP got involved with hinges on the fact that they do not enforce the dress code, so what good is it?
Your son in law will be perfectly fine in a nice pair of jeans!

Thank you. Nice to know that Mom can be right. My DH will wear nice jeans and a good shirt, and DSIL has some new collared polo shirts. I read the debate a while back.

 

[3princesses4us]

Loved your reviews Peter! You're like me, sarcastic & dry sense of humor. And here I thought you were on people's list for calling us planners anal. I didn't even know about a dress code conversation I must have missed.
No seriously you're very funny and such a nice dad to take your daughter's friend! I'm scared to take all 3 of my own children- forget their 7 & 5 year old friends! Glad you had a good time!