What's so special about Spoodles?

[aubriee]

I know Spoodles gets consistently good reviews on this board, but looking at the menu what is so special about it? I'm going to change one of my TS and was debating between Spoodles (due to the reviews) and Teppanyaki (my mom's never been to a hibachi type restaraunt). Which would you choose and why? Thanks!

 

[bicker]

Spoodles has always had great chefs, who really go all out for you. The flavors they manage to create in the food have been amazing.

There are better hibachi-type restaurants in Texas than Teppanyaki.

 

[swimmom]

I have to say that there is nothing special about Spoodles these days - Several years ago I think it was a really good restaurant. The menu has been trimmed down significantly and some of the more interesting dishes are no longer available. My dh and I had dinner there last year and ended up ordering three appetizers as our entire meal because they were the best things on the menu. It was tons of food.

 

[antmaril]

We had dinner at Spoodles in January and we didn't think it was special at all. We had a flatbread appetizer which was tasty, but very small. Our dinners were fine, but nothing to rave about.

 

[Desnik]

We were there last week and as usual it was great! I do agree that the menu isn't so "special" but the quality of food is! It is always tasty and fresh and the service is always great. I love the flatbread appetizer and they have good options for the kids. We love going there because we know we will have great food. We also like the atmosphere in there. It is a bit loud, which is great for us with small kids! The open kitchen is cool too.

 

[madalex]

I have not seen "consistently good reviews" for Spoodles; it seems to have the same mix of those who like and those who don't as most WDW restaurants. Put me in the "indifferent" category; it is a decent place to eat, but nothing special and I don't go out of my way to go there.

 

[Cherlynn25]

We ate at both places in march. We were very disappointed in teppanyaki, better show and food at our local japanese steak house. Spoodles was ok, we didnt have ADR's anywhere and thought we would hit ESPN or try spoodles. It was alright, we wont go back again though! Sorry I dont think i really helped you at all =)

 

[dischick4778]

We love Spoodles! Went there this past November. The appetizers were great. We had the flatbread and this dip thing. The dinner was so tasty (like a seafood stew) and the Sangria was awesome. I also thought the wait staff was super nice and it's a cute atmosphere.

Here are some pics:
Appetizers

Dinner

 

[jbdreamer]

Spoodles is nothing special, to me it was just a regular everyday restaurant.
My DH and I actually went on our second date there.

 

[missmun52]

i have a ADR for spoodles never been, hope its good.

 

[crisi]

Spoodles tends to be pretty good quality for the price - in that way it reminds me of Le Cellier or Kona. It isn't remarkably good, but its a good value. The food is also a little unusual - a little more modern and "cuisine-ish" than a lot of non-signature Disney restaurants. i.e. you know they have a chef who creates recipes and enjoys cooking, while - at the end of the day at Whipsering Canyon - you wonder if there is a chef involved - or a bunch of line cooks turning out the same thing day after day.

We enjoy going to Teppenyaki. Its a fun meal. We just went to our local teppan place, and it was a better show, but we almost never go there - somehow, its on the way at DisneyWorld and out of the way at home (it was, get this MORE EXPENSIVE at home).

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Dischick you made me hungry.

MMM MMMM mediterranean dips, one of the flatbreads, I think it's the Olive Tapanade with red and yellow tomatoes with mozerella, and Portuguese seafood stew respectively.

It gets high marks here. Everything we ate was delicious, properly prepared, and the waiter was great.

 

[rigs32]

We're going because we've never been to the Boardwalk area, so by making an ADR there, we've got a reason to go. And I like greek food, even if it is "americanized" and it seems to be the only place to get anything like that on property.

 

[bicker]

Just a note about the size of the appetizers. Keep in mind that appetizers at many WDW restaurants are now sized for individual guests (or for two guests to share two appetizers), rather than being intended to serve a whole party.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Spoodles is one of two places we eat on every single trip to WDW. We would not dream of missing it! The 4 cheese flatbread is like heaven on a plate.

I agree with Bicker about better Japanese Steakhouses! I live in a small town in NC and we have two .. and they are both better than Teppanyaki.

Here is the review my DD22 wrote about Spoodles from our trip in May 05. Unfortunately, they have changed the pasta we both had that night.


Dinner – Spoodles, The Boardwalk
Our PS for Spoodles was for 7:15, and we were right on time. They told us it would be a 10 minute wait for our table, but it was more like 2. We’d no more than sat down when the beeper started beeping. Can’t beat that!

Our table was at the front of the restaurant near the windows, so for Spoodles it was actually not all that loud. Wow, amazing. Mom got the Spoodle-rita, which she usually does, and she said it was wonderful as always. We ordered the 4-cheese flat bread for appetizer, and it was yummy as always. Lots o’ garlic to keep the vampires at bay! Our waitress, though, brought the bread and the flatbread at the same time, and I wish she hadn’t done that, b/c they’ve changed the bread! Instead of the hummus spread like they used to have, they now have an olive oil and spices dip. It’s sooo yummy! It’s like the stuff they make for you at a lot of Italian restaurants, only 500 times better! It’s got parmesan, garlic, red pepper, chili flakes…I’m not even sure what all!

Anyway, for our main course we both got the alfredo pasta, but I got mine w/ chicken. I wished I hadn’t, though, b/c it didn’t add much flavor and just made it heavier. The dish was wonderful on its own and didn’t need the chicken; the sauce was just right, not too heavy, and the prosciutto added a nice saltiness.

For dessert we got the sampler platter to split. It had pistachio mousse (Mom’s favorite); baklava (neither of us are really crazy about that, but it was ok); cheesecake (so yummy!!); an orange cake something (ok, I can’t remember the name, but it was my favorite and SO GOOD!); and the flourless chocolate cake (always delicious). It was certainly decadent, and definitely a good choice if you can’t decide what to choose!

 

[aubriee]

Hhm! Thanks for the reviews and the pictures. It looks yummy, but yesterday I was able to change my lunch time ADR at Le Cellier to a dinner ADR, so it looks like we'll be going there that night. I'm going to keep Spoodles in mind though for our Sept trip. I can't believe I stayed at the BW last May and never ate there. Oh well, live and learn! Thanks again guys!