What makes V&A so special?

[Boo Bear]

I'm going in June 2012 for my honeymoon and I'm interested to learn more about Victoria & Alberts. What makes this worth SOOOO much money?

 

[Brandis]

I can only speak for me, but I found the food really good and the service is excellent.

The restaurant is very elegant, a harpinist is playing during dinner. It's a six course meal and there are several choices with every course.

A couple of days before your dinner, they will call you and check if there are any allergies or things you don't like, so they can tweak the menu if necessary. They also reconfirm the spelling of your name, as you will get a personalized menu to take home.

 

[Sgt Tibbs]

We dined at V&A on our honeymoon as well.

V&A is a 5 star restaurant, the food and service are outstanding. They will also (for a price) pair wines with each course. The meal itself is 7 courses, and the menu changes each night. As stated by a PP the chef will change some menu items as requested. There is a dress code, including jacket and tie for gentlemen. If you don't wish to pack all that, might I recommend one of the serveral great signature restaurant, Californis Grill, Citrico's or Jiko to name but a few.

Whatever you decide, good luck and best wishes.

 

[akl-fan]

It is very elegant and romantic and my DH and I enjoyed eating there on our honeymoon. He had foods that we would not normally be able to afford like Kobe beef, lobster, foirs grais, caviar etc. However I am a vegetarian and so my 7 courses, although delicious were vegetables and cheese. I couldn't quite justify the cost in my head when my ingredients could be bought so cheaply.

I much prefer the Californian Grill, try and get seated in the semi private room at the side. It is so much more romantic and far less noisy.

 

[DVCconvert]

They use only the finest peanut butter in their PB&Js....and the frys are to die for!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

It is one of only 46 AAA Five Diamond rated restaurants in the US.

It is quiet and refined. They do not allow children under age ten.

The quality of the food and service sets a standard that is extremely difficult to match anywhere.

 

[JimmyV]

What they said.

And it really isn't SOOOO much money. If you go to one of the top restaurants in any major U.S. city that has a tasting/chef's menu option, the cost will be higher than V&A. But despite being cheaper than most of these other top restaurants, V&A is every bit as good. Try getting out of Charlie Trotter's, Alinea, French Laundry, Per Se, Daniel, or most of the other Five Diamond Restaurants for the same price as V&A. By comparison, V&A is not at all expensive. It may not be a style of dining that suits all people. But if this is how you like to dine, then V&A is a relative bargain.

 

[Pakey]

I agree with Jimmie V. I have eaten at several of those restaurants on that top 46 list and V&A is a bargain compared to any of the ones I have experienced. We go to V&A on every WDW vacation because it's such a great deal for the quality of food and experience you receive.

 

[Boo Bear]

Thanks everyone! I am not a seafood person, will that be a problem?

 

[JimmyV]

1. No. Just discuss it with your server, or better yet, call the restaurant several days in advance.

2. Assuming that this is a preference issue and not an allergy issue, go in with an open mind. You might not be a seafood person because you haven't had the right seafood. You might want to try what they offer to see if it changes your mind. I wasn't a caviar person or a foie gras person until I had the right caviar and foie gras. Those darn church pot lucks can really leave with you with a bad first impression of a particular food!

 

[vicki_c]

Here's a recent write up from the Disney Food blog as well - announcing their 11th year selection as the AAA 5 Diamond award:
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011/...erts-restaurant-earns-aaa-five-diamond-award/

 

[WTP]

I dined there in 2000, when I was 20 years old. My dad took me and told me that if I were going to get married, my suitor had to treat me at least as well as the servers at V&A. It really set a standard!

I have dined at many upscale places since then and only very recently had a meal that I considered better in quality than my V&A experience (Citronelle's in DC if you are curious) *however* the ambiance and service at V&A were unmatched by even that place.

 

[Boo Bear]

Here's a recent write up from the Disney Food blog as well - announcing their 11th year selection as the AAA 5 Diamond award:
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011/...erts-restaurant-earns-aaa-five-diamond-award/

Thanks for that link!

So, I hope I don't offend anybody by asking, but how much is everything if we select the wine pairing?

 

[garneska]

I could be wrong as I am going of memory but I believe the fix price for the menu is $125 per person and the wine pairing is $89.

I am sure if i am wrong someone will correct me.

 

[tinkrebell]

Okay, so let me preface this with "I love V&A." Honestly, I do, and I had a great experience food-wise there.

But be prepared to be overwhelmed by mauve.

It's meant to be a Victorian space. For me, it felt very dated, and while I often dine out with tasting menus (I've been a chef - it's in my blood to spend my money on expensive food!), I usually expect the decor to be a little bit trendier, EVEN IF the restaurant is supposed to be Victorian. . . . I just don't know if I could handle the high-necked waitress outfits again, and all that peachy cream lace and blandness.

But I loved the food. It is highly comparable to tasting menus at four-star restaurants elsewhere. The service is phenomenal. I just can't. love. the. mauve.

;-)

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The wine pairings currently are at $60.

Here is a link to the sample V&A menus with the pricing (note there are certain extras, such as caviar and Japanese Wagyu Beef, for example).

 

[Boo Bear]

Okay, so let me preface this with "I love V&A." Honestly, I do, and I had a great experience food-wise there.

But be prepared to be overwhelmed by mauve.

It's meant to be a Victorian space. For me, it felt very dated, and while I often dine out with tasting menus (I've been a chef - it's in my blood to spend my money on expensive food!), I usually expect the decor to be a little bit trendier, EVEN IF the restaurant is supposed to be Victorian. . . . I just don't know if I could handle the high-necked waitress outfits again, and all that peachy cream lace and blandness.

But I loved the food. It is highly comparable to tasting menus at four-star restaurants elsewhere. The service is phenomenal. I just can't. love. the. mauve.

;-)

Thank you for your honesty! That is DEFINITELY good to know for the two of us. We are both artists and notice the details in EVERYTHING... it's in our nature to critique everything, but not in a bad way.

The wine pairings currently are at $60.

Here is a link to the sample V&A menus with the pricing (note there are certain extras, such as caviar and Japanese Wagyu Beef, for example).

Thanks! I'll go check it out!

 

[madalex]

There is a dress code, including jacket and tie for gentlemen.

Jacket is required, but ties are optional. And, you don't need to actually wear the jacket during the meal; the night I was there, several of the men that were there took their jackets off and hung them over the back of their chairs (this is a huge pet peeve of mine generally and I was surprised to see men doing this at such an elegant restaurant).

 

[ElizabethB]

People can differ about the decor, I guess. Funny, too, I recall no mauve at all. It seems more beige to me. In any event, we love the refined and quiet atmosphere. Quite frankly, dh and I are so tired of expensive and "trendy" restaurants, with noisy open kitchens, no tablecloths, bare floors and walls off of which noise bounces continuously, no background music, and service in the mode of "Hi, my name is Jack and I'll be your server", that we find V&A a delightful respite. We love the large, well-spaced tables, the cocoon-like decor that shuts out the world, the harp music and the unpretentious and attentive service. I could not care less what the servers are wearing!

A few additional thoughts -- V&A is a must do every trip for dh and me, the wine pairing may be the best bargain of the trip (given that many restaurants now charge upwards of $20 for a glass of middle-market wine) and the food is extraordinary -- highest quality and layered with amazing flavors. V&A is an evening to be savored -- we never, ever plan anything for our evening at V&A but dinner at V&A. We do not try to run over to MK for fireworks, or to La Nouba because we are on the one-night Platinum Plan and still need to fit in a circus and an Illuminations cruise. Our evening at V&A is focussed on great food, wine, relaxation and enjoyment.

A couple of years ago, a friend and I were in Orlando for business and took one night to have dinner at V&A. She loved it so much, she now will not visit Disney without spending an evening at V&A.

Also, just to clarify, men are required to wear a jacket. A tie is not required.

 

[Brandis]

In any event, we love the refined and quiet atmosphere. Quite frankly, dh and I are so tired of expensive and "trendy" restaurants, with noisy open kitchens, no tablecloths, bare floors and walls off of which noise bounces continuously, no background music, and service in the mode of "Hi, my name is Jack and I'll be your server", that we find V&A a delightful respite.

You can have that at V&A as well, just book the Chef's Table.