Which 2 Epcot restaurants?

[Mom2micayla]

I need help picking 2 restaurants in Epcot. I simply cannot make up my mind. I go back and forth and change my mind every other day. We're doing 2 days at Epcot, and I am planning 2 table service meals per day. Our first day at Epcot I'm planning on Kona for breakfast and a late lunch at Le Cellier.

It's the second EP day I can't decide on. I'm interested in an early lunch (around 11-noon) and a later dinner (maybe 7-8pm-ish).

The 4 I'm really debating on are:

Coral Reef- I can't stand seafood or fish, but DH loves it. I like the idea of eating near the tanks. I'd likely get the mushroom lasagna if we ate there. Little worried b/c the reviews are so mixed here.

Via Napoli- DH LOVES pizza. I'm just "eh" on it, although I don't believe I've ever had really good pizza, so who knows. The rest of their menu doesn't appeal to me at all.

Chefs de France- I keep hearing about how good the onion soup is and I love me some onion soup. The rest of the menu is just so-so to me. I thought I'd get the chicken crepe, but seeing pics of it I'm not sure if that's something I'd want to eat. I'd consider the mac n cheese, but that seems kind of silly to be at that kind of restaurant and order m&c. Maybe the vegetable lasagna? Is that any good?

Big River Grille- So this is at Boardwalk, but easy access to from EP. I know DH would love the menu, but I'm concerned about the fact they don't take ADRs and worried about being stuck waiting forever.

So which 2 would you do? I've got a week to figure this out and my DH has left all the meal planning totally up to me.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Don't waste your time going to Big River. It's plain aweful! It gets some of the worst reviews of all Disney restaurants.

 

[hannahryan]

That's easy: Via Napoli (I don't like regular pizza much either, but this is different) & Chefs de France

 

[Silver Queen]

I agree with Crazy Kanga. Skip Big River Grille. As far as the other three go can't decide we'd be happy at any of them.

 

[figmentgirl]

I agree. Via Napola and Chefs de France. Coral Reef just wasn't very good and Big River Grille is AWFUL!
That being said if I were you I'd go to Flying Fish if DH likes seafood. YUM!!! Read the review and look at the menu there. it's on the boardwalk and the best seafood restaurant (besides BlueZoo) at WDW. Don't forget you can also go get habachi grill at Teppan Edo. My boys love that

 

[princssdisnygina]

Never been to Via Napola but we LOVE Chefs de France! We get the onion soup and the filet which just melts in your mouth if you love red meat! BUT... my best friend LOVES LOVES LOVES the Mac and cheese!!

 

[Mom2micayla]

I think that if I do Chef's, it should be for dinner. The filet does sound good. I'm not sure how I overlooked that. I really do have my heart on onion soup.

Thanks for steering me clear of BRG. I didn't realize it sucked.

At the moment, I'm leaning towards Via Napoli for lunch.. we'd likely just go light and split a pizza. Then Chefs for dinner.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

Another vote not to go to Big River Grill, just not that good. The location is nice, sitting out on the boardwalk but the food just isn’t very good.

We always eat at Chefs de France; I really like this restaurant. The atmosphere & food are both very enjoyable. I’ve never eaten at Coral Reef; my husband doesn’t like seafood so I don’t make him go there. I’m not sure we ever ate at Via Napola, years ago we ate in Italy & didn’t like it. We tried it again 2-3 yrs ago & I have to say, still didn’t like it…

My vote would be Chefs de France & Rose n Crown Pub; these are always must dos for us. We also always make a trip to the Mexican Cantina for their nachos, yummy!

 

[bellefromboston]

I would go with Coral Reef and Chefs de France.

 

[pianoronni37]

Just an FYI on both Chefs and Coral Reef - while the food was ok at both, the wait times at both were unbelievable. Our lunch at Coral Reef took 3 hours (including the fact that we were seated almost 45 min past our ADR) and our dinner at Chefs started at 6:45pm and ended as Illuminations was ending.

But you know - I think I'd give Chefs another chance. Our food wasn't spectacular, but I don't think we ordered the right thing. My duck was cold - I'd get mac and cheese and onion soup next time. It looks fantastic and gets great reviews.

 

[kimgof]

We love Coral Reef. I do love seafood but my DH hates it. However, Coral Reef has the best steak he ate on the trip! Go figure. The best steak at the seafood restaurant I know it doesn't always get great reviews but we've eaten there twice and my family has requested it again this trip!

 

[MickeyNicki]

I would do Via Napoli and Chefs de France but only for lunch, we didnt like dinner there

 

[JerseyDisneyGirl]

After eating at Disney you still will not have had really good pizza. I would NEVER eat pizza in the south. Yes, I am a big pizza snob. It is a Jersey thing, we take it very seriously.

 

[Fishy RocketBoy]

Can't argue with Via Napoli and France... but both of the Japan restaurants are good - Teppan Edo is fun if you like that sort of thing and fairly "safe" food, I really like Tokyo Dining - reliable sushi... ate recently in Morocco and really liked it too...

If you want to venture over to the Boardwalk, Kouzzina is really good and Flying Fish is great (but pricey...).

Stop into Big River for a beer (they brew it there and it's pretty good), but it's not a "destination dining" place... I've had decent burgers and apps there tho if you're there and can't get in anywhere else...

Andy

 

[jjman101]

i would do Chefs for lunch they have a great prix fixe 3 course lunch special i usually get the onion soup, ham and cheese sandwich with mixed green salad and creme brulee all for $20. it might sounds like alot but it's really a nice light lunch and then i would do Via Napoli for dinner a couple of my friends just ate there two days ago and loved it.

 

[jacksmom]

I would try Coral Reef! The steaks there are great! We tried Chefs de france and were not impressed!

 

[mjp12831]

Consider using your 2ts credits at Yachtsman (quick walk) - it will be worth it.

 

[Faline]

The mushroom lasagna at coral reef was very good. and love sitting and watching the tanks. In addition to the onion soup, the flatbreads(alsacienne) was delicious. And don't think it's plain mac and cheese. It was out of this world good, and very different, not your everyday mac and cheese.

 

[vickiemariko]

I have to give a vote for Coral Reef. I haven't been to the other restaurants you are considering but I've been to the reef twice and am going again on our next trip. The fish and steaks were cooked perfectly for everyone in our group on both occasions and the sauces there are delicious. They also have my favorite drink at Coral Reef, the green apple freeze thing. It has pina colada in it and is so delicious!

 

[Mom2micayla]

You guys do realize you're not making this any easier on me to decide, right?

We're not doing DDP, so I'm not concerned about what's 2TS or not. Is Yachtsman hard to get to? We're already planning on several steak meals (Le Cellier, Narcoossee's, Turf Club) so I'm not sure if it's worth hitting yet another one?

All the pizza pics from VN look great, but what worries me is the fact that all the crusts are thin. We are more of the hand-tossed or deep dish type. Not sure how I feel about crunchy crust.