What Do You Expect From a Sig Restaurant Dining Experience?

[Rip]

Would the signature resturant charge adult prices and give a child an adult size portion with no children's menu.

I guess I don't get why having a children's menu detracts from another patron's dining experience? My DS (and sometimes my DD) will eat more adult food: food- mahi-mahi, lobster bisque, steak, etc. However, sometimes he just wants chicken fingers. Not sure why that request couldn't be accomodated at a WDW signature resturant.

Most of the "signature"-type restaurants here have no kids menu per se, but they will make child portions of (1) pasta w/ cheese/marinara/alfredo/etc., (2) chicken strips , (3) steak and (4) some sort of seafood, usually a shrimp option and a fish option.

So, while mac-n-cheese and chicken nuggets aren't on the menu, they tend to be readily available even in places like August and Commander's Palace.

 

[MarkinNM]

More V&A type restaurants in WDW? If it ever happens, more power to them. The more variety, the better.

In regards to the current sig restaurants, if it gets people into such a tizzy that a well behaved and appropriately dressed child is eating a hotdog ***shudder*** at another table (in WDW, no less), then the REAL problem is staring right at them through the polished sheen of a spoon. Perhaps if people minded their own business and focused on their own family, table and main menu, then they might actually enjoy their experience.

Looks like your the only one getting all Tizzed...........

A "well-behaved, appropriately dressed" child isn't the problem, just not the norm these days. Same for a lot of the parents.

Unfortunately, what you consider appropriate is in the minority.

Agreed............

This is what you said in your original post. "well-behaved children more than welcome, but no concessions on the menu to accomodate - no chicken fingers, hamburgers, fries;"

So, if my child is well behaved and if we are eating at the same signature restaurant at the same time, why would you care what my daughter is eating?

Its not a matter of what ones child is eating, more of something different to give them, a signature menu would not have a hotdog on it, THAT is dumbing down a menu............

 

[ThumperandLitenin]

This is what you said in your original post. "well-behaved children more than welcome, but no concessions on the menu to accomodate - no chicken fingers, hamburgers, fries;"

So, if my child is well behaved and if we are eating at the same signature restaurant at the same time, why would you care what my daughter is eating?

I don't care, that's why I changed the thread several pages back to discussing three new V&A style restaurants. As I stated, there is obviously a demand for familiy-friendly dining a notch above regular TS.

What I am trying to define now is what people would want in these hypothetical restaurants.

 

[LisaInNc]

I want to leave thinking now that was a great meal and worth the money . It's not gonna happen at Disney.

So I will settle for....

A distinctive menu reflective of the restaurant

The atmosphere to reflect the theme and be relaxing I think that Jiko does a nice job with this, so does Coral Reef.

Servers that know the menu and wine selection (last time we ate at Ca Grill our waiter was also the restaurants sommelier, it was a great experience he brought out samples of 3 wines for us to try bebore we decided on which bottle)

Food that is perfectly cooked

I really would like them to be strict about their dress codes. For my dining is a total experience of taste, sound and sight and dining next to someone in shorts, a tee shirt and flip flops isn't going to ruin my meal but it isn't going to enhance it a bit.

Beautiful presentation with the food...(remember the shrimp appetizer at Le Cellier? It was a Chinese takeout container on it's side with the shrimp spilling out of it.)

I expect the desserts to be breath taking in their presentation, distinctiveness and inventiveness

Of course I want it all to taste amazing.

I think that I am asking too much!

I EXPECT the bathrooms to be clean and the kids to be well behaved all all restaurants, signature or not.

 

[Rip]

Something to keep in mind for those arguing for kids' menus - you aren't always going to be dining with your kids. They seem to grow up and leave us at some point.

Taking that into consideration, and assuming you and your spouse will still be visiting WDW (shame on you if you aren't! ), would you not want a quiet, upper-scale restaurant to get away to?

Since I'm not going to be even looking at a kids' menu in that case, why would it concern me in the least if one existed?

I think this is more about keeping kids out of the restaurant without making that an actual policy rather than about being inconvenienced by the knowledge that a kids' menu exists, even though you'd never even have to look at it.

Why not just put (1) no children under "x" years of age allowed on your wish list?

 

[PatriciaH]

I also agree with the OP and some follow up posts. Also, the smaller portion kids menu is a good idea. I have no idea why people feed their kids such crap just to get them to eat something. My good friend has been coming to visit us at WDW with her 3 year old since she was 3 months old. She always orders off of the adult menu or shares with the adults at the table. Sides, steak, pasta, seafood, sushi, soups, vegetables, rice, etc. There is plenty of great food for kids to eat that is not over processed hot dogs pumped full of nitrates, chicken? nuggets, boxed mac and cheese, lard fries, etc.

 

[ThumperandLitenin]

Since I'm not going to be even looking at a kids' menu in that case, why would it concern me in the least if one existed?

I think this is more about keeping kids out of the restaurant without making that an actual policy rather than about being inconvenienced by the knowledge that a kids' menu exists, even though you'd never even have to look at it.

Why not just put (1) no children under "x" years of age allowed on your wish list?

Go back and re-read post #49 from Colleen27. I think it is the best post in the thread.

 

[pozey]

Its not a matter of what ones child is eating, more of something different to give them, a signature menu would not have a hotdog on it, THAT is dumbing down a menu............

But if the regular menu had fantastic selections, why would you care in the least that a hamburger or hot dog was listed on the children's menu? How is that dumbing down a menu?

I am all for great signature restaurants that serve a wide variety of perfectly prepared meals. But I still don't understand why people are so preoccupied by what OTHER people are eating.

 

[Marquis de Disney]

Looks like your the only one getting all Tizzed...........;

Its not a matter of what ones child is eating, more of something different to give them, a signature menu would not have a hotdog on it, THAT is dumbing down a menu............

Is the 'main menu' being dumbed down? No. If you ate at a sig rest without a child or with kids w/ an adult palette, one would never see the childrens' menu to make any judgement. If, however, they decided to put hotdogs and chicken tenders along with the other main courses in an 'adult menu' at these restuaruants, then I would see the problem.

Living in New York City, I am blessed with a plethora of high end restaurants to eat at. Some have childrens' menus, some don't. With the 'jackets required' ones, there is no doubt my child is going to rendevous with the babysitter that evening. However, since Walt Disney World's signature restaurants realize that its still a family friendly place, they make sure to accomodate them and I'm thankful for it. In return, the parents should oblige back by making sure their children are well behaved. If that still bothers some would be patrons, then they should save themselves from any potential grief by not eating there.

 

[Rip]

Go back and re-read post #49 from Colleen27. I think it is the best post in the thread.

I don't disagree with her at all, that was actually part of the point I was trying to make earlier.

My kid's generally eat off of the adult menu and share between the two of them (8 and 3 year old), but occasionally the 3 year old wants something else, especially when the 8 year old orders sushi or a tasting menu, and we've yet to not be offered at the very least some version of maccaroni and cheese.

I disagree with Colleen27 in one aspect, kids that enjoy real food are not the norm. I know this because I see what my kids eat (and won't eat, you couldn't pay them to eat a hotdog and they usually won't eat hamburgers or fries, and they won't eat mac-n-cheese from a box either), compared with what most of our friends' and relatives' kids eat.

 

[goofy4tink]

My response to that statement is ...Why?

WDW dining got really good a few years ago, and may be slipping as of late.

What is wrong with expecting a few great dining experiences? I think Napa Rose and V&A are perfect examples.

Why wouldn't Disney want to offer a handful of really great restaurants that don't compromise standards to accomodate every possible patron?

I think the strategy of trying to accomodate everyone (notice I didn't say "dumbing down" Mark!) will eventually lead to the downfall of some restaurants. As I stated in another post, I think this is what is happening to Le Cellier.

Because Disney is all about the bottom line....profit. Once they brought in free dining, the restaurants went to pot (pardon the pun). The menus became shortened, the portions became smaller. For instance.....I took my two dd's (15 and 33) to WDW last week. My eldest dd's favorite spot to eat is 50's. She ate there 2 yrs ago, in Jan, and loved it. She got her pot roast, and commented that it seemed much smaller than the first time. Why? Because it was. At LeCellier many more expensive things have been taken off the menu.
Another for instance....a few years ago, we ate at Coral Reef. We had an incredible meal. So, when we returned there, last Sept during free dining (I booked before free dining was announced!!) we looked forward to a similar experience. It was the polar opposite....the servers were incredibly stressed and rushed, the noise level was incredible. There were young children running all over the place, there were babies screaming at many tables. This was at about 7pm. It was so awful that we decided to forgo dessert and leave...even though we had been looking forward to the dessert there. Our food was okay, but not of the same caliber that our first visit provided.

I have no issue with kids in upscale restaurants. I sometimes wish my 15 y/o had more adventurous taste in food, but she is very picky and tries nothing new. We were lucky...at FF while there were children, they were very well behaved and were a tribute to their parents. But, if I had spent over $150 for my dh and my dinners, with no alcohol, I would have been more than a bit miffed if I had had to shout to hear him over a melting down child.
I love kids, I have three of my own. I sent my two dd's off to play mini-golf while we ate at FF!!! Neither one of them would have appreciated the meal.

Perhaps Disney could come up with a restaurant that allowed families to dine together but allow the parents a more adult experience. Perhaps as someone already mentioned, provide child sized portions of existing meals, maybe provide some 'Disneyfied' food choices for the youngsters. I have no problem with that. I like a nice ambiance in a restaurant, not yelling kids. I like it to be dimly lit, not bright. I like a nice wine list. I want a good choice of both seafood and beef/chicken/lamb. I don't ask for much, and I'm very easy to please.

It may seem that many of us have something against children dining in more adult restaurants. We don't. I'm sure there are many well behaved kids out there. I just seem to run into the ill behaved ones it would seem.

With the advent of free dining, Disney has pretty much told us how it feels about 'fine dining' while onsite. What passes for 'fine dining' or two TS credit meals, in WDW is pretty similar to our regular restaurants here at home, in Boston. Sure, V&As is a notch above but they're pretty much it. Disney finds which places are crowd pleasers and then makes them 2 TS, calling them signature dining.

I think they do a decent job with the spots they have. I know that a lot of people wish that Disney would provide an adults only time at some restaurants. But, that will never happen. And I realize a lot of you will argue with those of us who say Disney isn't 'just for the kids'. I go to WDW every Dec to join up with my adult friends every year. We spend a ton of money there...not a kid in the group. We are all over the age of 30!!! Many of us have wished for a spot, other than Jellyrolls, that is more adult. But, again...it's Disney. Disney wants to appeal to the masses, and those masses bring their children with them. Nothing wrong with that..it's just the way Disney does business.

 

[ThumperandLitenin]

....
Living in New York City, I am blessed with a plethora of high end restaurants to eat at. Some have childrens' menus, some don't. With the 'jackets required' ones, there is no doubt my child is going to rendevous with the babysitter that evening. However, since Walt Disney World's signature restaurants realize that its still a family friendly place, they make sure to accomodate them and I'm thankful for it. In return, the parents should oblige back by making sure their children are well behaved. If that still bothers some would be patrons, then they should save themselves from any potential grief by not eating there.

MdD - would you object to, as you put it, a few "jackets-only" restaurants at WDW?

If so, what would you like to see in such a restaurant?

No changes in current sig restaurants.

 

[Rip]

Because Disney is all about the bottom line....profit. Once they brought in free dining, the restaurants went to pot (pardon the pun). The menus became shortened, the portions became smaller. For instance.....I took my two dd's (15 and 33) to WDW last week. My eldest dd's favorite spot to eat is 50's. She ate there 2 yrs ago, in Jan, and loved it. She got her pot roast, and commented that it seemed much smaller than the first time. Why? Because it was. At LeCellier many more expensive things have been taken off the menu.
Another for instance....a few years ago, we ate at Coral Reef. We had an incredible meal. So, when we returned there, last Sept during free dining (I booked before free dining was announced!!) we looked forward to a similar experience. It was the polar opposite....the servers were incredibly stressed and rushed, the noise level was incredible. There were young children running all over the place, there were babies screaming at many tables. This was at about 7pm. It was so awful that we decided to forgo dessert and leave...even though we had been looking forward to the dessert there. Our food was okay, but not of the same caliber that our first visit provided.

I have no issue with kids in upscale restaurants. I sometimes wish my 15 y/o had more adventurous taste in food, but she is very picky and tries nothing new. We were lucky...at FF while there were children, they were very well behaved and were a tribute to their parents. But, if I had spent over $150 for my dh and my dinners, with no alcohol, I would have been more than a bit miffed if I had had to shout to hear him over a melting down child.
I love kids, I have three of my own. I sent my two dd's off to play mini-golf while we ate at FF!!! Neither one of them would have appreciated the meal.

Perhaps Disney could come up with a restaurant that allowed families to dine together but allow the parents a more adult experience. Perhaps as someone already mentioned, provide child sized portions of existing meals, maybe provide some 'Disneyfied' food choices for the youngsters. I have no problem with that. I like a nice ambiance in a restaurant, not yelling kids. I like it to be dimly lit, not bright. I like a nice wine list. I want a good choice of both seafood and beef/chicken/lamb. I don't ask for much, and I'm very easy to please.

It may seem that many of us have something against children dining in more adult restaurants. We don't. I'm sure there are many well behaved kids out there. I just seem to run into the ill behaved ones it would seem.

With the advent of free dining, Disney has pretty much told us how it feels about 'fine dining' while onsite. What passes for 'fine dining' or two TS credit meals, in WDW is pretty similar to our regular restaurants here at home, in Boston. Sure, V&As is a notch above but they're pretty much it. Disney finds which places are crowd pleasers and then makes them 2 TS, calling them signature dining.

I think they do a decent job with the spots they have. I know that a lot of people wish that Disney would provide an adults only time at some restaurants. But, that will never happen. And I realize a lot of you will argue with those of us who say Disney isn't 'just for the kids'. I go to WDW every Dec to join up with my adult friends every year. We spend a ton of money there...not a kid in the group. We are all over the age of 30!!! Many of us have wished for a spot, other than Jellyrolls, that is more adult. But, again...it's Disney. Disney wants to appeal to the masses, and those masses bring their children with them. Nothing wrong with that..it's just the way Disney does business.

It's not even the "free" dining that has precipitated this, it's the DDP in general.

 

[Marquis de Disney]

MdD - would you object to, as you put it, a few "jackets-only" restaurants at WDW?

If so, what would you like to see in such a restaurant?

No changes in current sig restaurants.

As I had said previously, I wouldn't mind more V&A type restaurants (ie 'jackets required'). Il Molino (forget if its the in the Swan or Dolphin) is also an excellent restaurant that tends to frown on children. With the news that a Four Seasons is going to be built on Disney Property soon, I imagine more upscale dining will follow.

 

[MarkinNM]

Is the 'main menu' being dumbed down? No. If you ate at a sig rest without a child or with kids w/ an adult palette, one would never see the childrens' menu to make any judgement. If, however, they decided to put hotdogs and chicken tenders along with the other main courses in an 'adult menu' at these restuaruants, then I would see the problem.

Living in New York City, I am blessed with a plethora of high end restaurants to eat at. Some have childrens' menus, some don't. With the 'jackets required' ones, there is no doubt my child is going to rendevous with the babysitter that evening. However, since Walt Disney World's signature restaurants realize that its still a family friendly place, they make sure to accomodate them and I'm thankful for it. In return, the parents should oblige back by making sure their children are well behaved. If that still bothers some would be patrons, then they should save themselves from any potential grief by not eating there.

Maybe because it’s an insult to a Chef to even consider putting a hotdog on a signature menu, yes it’s dumbing down a menu. Why not have true adult distinct menu w/o a hotdog, I have been blessed to try some awesome restaurants and foods and no such crap was anywhere to be found. Some like a dumbed down menu, good for them but don’t make a nice signature menu come down and make a hotdog because some are dragging kids into a signature resturant knowing it’s a more sophisticated taste. Do you think Gordon Ramsey or Wolfgang Puck or Michael Mina would put such food on a menu, THAT is what we are trying to get across, Fine Food, Fine establishment, Fine ambiance, Fine Dining, if more kids were enlightend to the finer foods I think the PB&J crowd would be happier as well as the kids.

 

[maznorm]

I think there's something of a divide in what people view the purpose of a child's menu to be. Personally, I think the function of a kids' menu should mainly be portion-related, rather than a constant selection of crummy food completely divorced from the restaurant's quality and theme. Kids are often sophisticated enough to enjoy adult food and well behaved enough to fit into an adult atmosphere well before they have the appetite for an adult-sized entree.

Well said!!

As a child, I would never have eaten the typical children's menu fare you see on today's menus. I enjoyed all types of food. Anything unusual or exotic was met with intrigue and I enjoyed trying new things.

I would have behaved in a restaurant such as these because I was interested in the food. My children, on the other hand, don't really feel that way yet. They are highly strung and so, I will not be visiting any of the signature dining restaurants, much to my despair.

I think it would be really nice if Coral Reef improved their offerings (I haven't eaten there yet, this is just based on what I have read in reviews) and became a family friendly (because of the distractions) yet foodie and slightly upscale restaurant. We were going to go there for our anniversary, since it would mean that the kids were occupied and we could enjoy a good meal in a distinctive setting. Hoever, from what I hear, the food isn't up to scratch so we need to rethink that one.

What we need to remember is that people tend to frequent Disney for special occasions. These occasions are not always children's birthdays etc, but anniversaries, adult birthdays etc. There is definitely demand for something that is a special meal (not a character meal) but that the children will enjoy and be able to take part in.

I was so disheartened when I saw the awful childrens menus at the restaurant in Disney.

 

[ElizabethB]

Good post -- Goofy4Tink.

Sad to say, there was an effort in the late 90s and earlier 00s actually to create a place where adults could go for more sophisticated dining and entertainment. It was great and I'm now thinking it likely was tied to Michael Eisner and his team.

There's a new leadership in place now. Bottom line seems to be the only (and I mean the only) concern. IMO, it shows.

 

[MarkinNM]

Because Disney is all about the bottom line....profit..

Sad but true, with the economy as it is now, this is VERY TRUE......

 

[Marquis de Disney]

Maybe because it’s an insult to a Chef to even consider putting a hotdog on a signature menu, yes it’s dumbing down a menu. Why not have true adult distinct menu w/o a hotdog, I have been blessed to try some awesome restaurants and foods and no such crap was anywhere to be found. Some like a dumbed down menu, good for them but don’t make a nice signature menu come down and make a hotdog because some are dragging kids into a signature resturant knowing it’s a more sophisticated taste. Do you think Gordon Ramsey or Wolfgang Puck or Michael Mina would put such food on a menu, THAT is what we are trying to get across, Fine Food, Fine establishment, Fine ambiance, Fine Dining, if more kids were enlightend to the finer foods I think the PB&J crowd would be happier as well as the kids.

LOL! You are confusing signature restaurants in WDW with Five Star, Zagat rated restaurants in 'The Real World".

 

[Rip]

Good post -- Goofy4Tink.

Sad to say, there was an effort in the late 90s and earlier 00s actually to create a place where adults could go for more sophisticated dining and entertainment. It was great and I'm now thinking it likely was tied to Michael Eisner and his team.

There's a new leadership in place now. Bottom line seems to be the only (and I mean the only) concern. IMO, it shows.

When we lived in Orlando during the time you reference, Disney probably had the best restaurants (Ariel's, Artist Point, just as 2 examples) in the area.