Which chain restaurant, please?

[waldiddy]

A critique I've encountered a few times on this board about Disney's food usually is something along the lines of ... 'Disney table service food is overpriced and about the same quality as any chain restaurant.'

We've been in the World for a week now, marvelling once again at how good the food is. The TS meals continue to impress us, and we've been travelling here since 1996. So far this trip, we ate at H&V, Liberty Tree, Crystal Palace, Tusker House and Chefs de France.

So, could someone please tell me which chain restaurant i can visit that has the same food quality as WDW? I really want to know. I'd love to find a local place that's close to being as good .. and I'd gladly pay $30 a plate to do so.

 

[smiths02]

The last time we went was 2009. Chef Mickey's was like Golden Corral/Ryan's/Sizzler (not terrible IMHO, just not good). Sci Fi food was just okay. Everything else was really good.

I don't get the comparisons to Applebee's...do the self-proclaimed foodies/food snobs eat there? Talk about going downhill...they used to have a few yummy dishes, but when we ate there a few months ago, I wished we had eaten in the mall food court instead (Wendy's or Chick-Fil-A)

We will see in a week if the food quality has changed!

 

[eliza61]

A critique I've encountered a few times on this board about Disney's food usually is something along the lines of ... 'Disney table service food is overpriced and about the same quality as any chain restaurant.'

We've been in the World for a week now, marvelling once again at how good the food is. The TS meals continue to impress us, and we've been travelling here since 1996. So far this trip, we ate at H&V, Liberty Tree, Crystal Palace, Tusker House and Chefs de France.

So, could someone please tell me which chain restaurant i can visit that has the same food quality as WDW? I really want to know. I'd love to find a local place that's close to being as good .. and I'd gladly pay $30 a plate to do so.

You could go to the olive garden and get probably better food than at Tony's town Square or mama melrose.

You were impressed by Crystal Palace? Seriously? exactly what was impressive? The menu is routine, Peel and eat shrimp? I did like the fact they tried a few ethnic dishes like thai but seriously it was pretty average. Roasted turkey? pretty boring, cheese pizza? a very dry prime rib. We don't have many chain restaurants that are buffets but at 37 bucks a person, the food was no better than my local cheesecake factory (actually my local cheese cake factory has better salads)

Never been to Chefs de France but since I've been to Paris and Southern France I refuse to try it because I know I'll be disappointing.

Right outside of DTD you will find quite a few steakhouses, there is definitely an outbacks. Once again, the only thing Le Cellier has going for it is the cheddar soup. I totally give them kudos for that but since I go to a steakhouse for the steak, well you can understand my frustration. We went to Outbacks for fathers day and the prime rib was just as good.

Let's see crystal Palace, if you have a car try going to Celebrations town Tavern, it's about 8 miles from the world. Excellent food.

I'm very much like you, I'd gladly pay 30 bucks a plate. I have no problem with that and in fact when I go on vacation I pretty much expect prices to be inflated. what I hate is when you pay that money and the food is so-so. I can honestly say I've never had a terrible meal but doesn't that make you sad when the best thing that can be said about a restaurant is that the food is not "horrible"?

I stand by my assesment, unless you do a signature meal, disney food is mediocre at best.

 

[eliza61]

So to answer your question. All these chains are in Orlando.

Bahama Breeze
Magiannos
Cheesecake Factory
The crab house
McCormick & Schmicks Seafood (which is actually pretty decent)
Ruth Chris
Longhorn
Outback

will all give you pretty much the same dining experience as disney, except no characters and most of them will have a larger menu.


Once again, I don't think Disney food is "terrible" but when I go on vacation I want to do a bit better than "just ok" and that's probably the best I can say after I've left a non signature restaurant. I'd like to leave one time saying "wow, that was a great meal"

 

[DVCconvert]

So to answer your question. All these chains are in Orlando.

Bahama Breeze
Magiannos
Cheesecake Factory
The crab house
McCormick & Schmicks Seafood (which is actually pretty decent)
Ruth Chris
Longhorn
Outback

....

You're forgetting the exceptional gastronomic delights offered by Denney's, and IHOP.

 

[smiths02]

So to answer your question. All these chains are in Orlando.

Bahama Breeze
Magiannos
Cheesecake Factory
The crab house
McCormick & Schmicks Seafood (which is actually pretty decent)
Ruth Chris
Longhorn
Outback

will all give you pretty much the same dining experience as disney, except no characters and most of them will have a larger menu.


Once again, I don't think Disney food is "terrible" but when I go on vacation I want to do a bit better than "just ok" and that's probably the best I can say after I've left a non signature restaurant. I'd like to leave one time saying "wow, that was a great meal"

I've had meals at Ruth Chris, Maggianos, and Cheesecake Factory that were MUCH better than "okay." I would call my one meal at Ruth Chris "great." (maybe my class is showing, so be it)

 

[JimmyV]

I've had meals at Ruth Chris, Maggianos, and Cheesecake Factory that were MUCH better than "okay." I would call my one meal at Ruth Chris "great." (maybe my class is showing, so be it)

Yeah. I wouldn't put Ruth's Chris in the same sentence as Longhorn or Outback. RC is, IMHO, the best national steak house going. Far better than Morton's, Smith & Wollensky, or any of the others, including Shula's.

Not sure if the OP is asking about local chains in or around WDW or around Winston-Salem. But the truth is, a quick trip to Bahama Breeze, Chevy's or the Ale House will net you food that is better than most non-Signature restaurants for far less money. They just aren't as fun when I am in the house of the mouse. I don't think that the criticism here is that one should skip the Disney restaurants in favor of off-site national chains. Rather, the point made most often is that the praise that many WDW restaurants receive is often misplaced as the food is really no better than national chains that are hardly ever called "great". To me, Le Cellier is absolutely no better than a Longhorn, Outback or Texas Roadhouse. And it is twice the price. And you could slap a "Macaroni Grill" sign on Mama Melrose and no one would see a difference. But when I am at WDW, I will choose the Disney restaurants over the national chains because I want the Disney immersion.

 

[eliza61]

Yeah. I wouldn't put Ruth's Chris in the same sentence as Longhorn or Outback. RC is, IMHO, the best national steak house going. Far better than Morton's, Smith & Wollensky, or any of the others, including Shula's.

Not sure if the OP is asking about local chains in or around WDW or around Winston-Salem. But the truth is, a quick trip to Bahama Breeze, Chevy's or the Ale House will net you food that is better than most non-Signature restaurants for far less money. They just aren't as fun when I am in the house of the mouse. I don't think that the criticism here is that one should skip the Disney restaurants in favor of off-site national chains. Rather, the point made most often is that the praise that many WDW restaurants receive is often misplaced as the food is really no better than national chains that are hardly ever called "great". To me, Le Cellier is absolutely no better than a Longhorn, Outback or Texas Roadhouse. And it is twice the price. And you could slap a "Macaroni Grill" sign on Mama Melrose and no one would see a difference. But when I am at WDW, I will choose the Disney restaurants over the national chains because I want the Disney immersion.

You are absolutely right Jimmy but I guess my contention is why can't they have both? Would it really be so hard to make a marinara sauce that was tasty? Wouldn't Tonys be even better if people were leaving saying "damn, that chicken parmigna was excellent".

We definitely enjoy the ambiance of the disney restaurants but what many return visitors and foodies can't understand why it is "either" "or"?
At twice the price, disney can't get better quality steaks? My family owned a restaurant in NYC for 30 of my 50 years. I know for a fact that dang near any food or meat supplier on the planet would bend over backwards to get a contract with the mouse.

Yes, I love being immersed in the magic but the magic starts to tarnish when day after day, meal after meal you realize you are paying top dollar for the same stuff (or worse) than you can get at home.

Maybe it's because me and my family love meals. Nothing better than after a long day in the parks sitting down to dinner and having a great meal. Nothing worse imo than after a long day in the parks sitting down to dinner and expecting a great meal and then taking the first bite and it's "eh" just ok.

 

[Addicted to Dopey]

You could go to the olive garden and get probably better food than at Tony's town Square or mama melrose. Sorry but some thing is seriously wrong if you think those are good italian meals.


You were impressed by Crystal Palace? Seriously? exactly what was impressive? The menu is routine, Peel and eat shrimp? I did like the fact they tried a few ethnic dishes like thai but seriously it was pretty average. Roasted turkey? pretty boring, cheese pizza? a very dry prime rib. We don't have many chain restaurants that are buffets but at 37 bucks a person, the food was no better than my local cheesecake factory (actually my local cheese cake factory has better salads)

Never been to Chefs de France but since I've been to Paris and Southern France I refuse to try it because I know I'll be disappointing.

Right outside of DTD you will find quite a few steakhouses, there is definitely an outbacks. Once again, the only thing Le Cellier has going for it is the cheddar soup. I totally give them kudos for that but since I go to a steakhouse for the steak, well you can understand my frustration. We went to Outbacks for fathers day and the prime rib was just as good.

Let's see crystal Palace, if you have a car try going to Celebrations town Tavern, it's about 8 miles from the world. Excellent food.

I'm very much like you, I'd gladly pay 30 bucks a plate. I have no problem with that and in fact when I go on vacation I pretty much expect prices to be inflated. what I hate is when you pay that money and the food is so-so. I can honestly say I've never had a terrible meal but doesn't that make you sad when the best thing that can be said about a restaurant is that the food is not "horrible"?

I stand by my assesment, unless you do a signature meal, disney food is mediocre at best.

I don't believe anyone asked for your high and mightly opinion of what some people consider to be good disney food...the OP just asked for suggestions of places to eat outside of the world after a week of eating on disney property. while i dont think Mama Melrose is authentic italian food i dont go around telling people there is something wrong with them if they enjoy it...everyone has different taste buds and is used to food a certian way depending on what part of the country they are from. instead of being helpful and giving actual reccomendations you just decided to put people down..what a shame.

as for the reccomendations....Tu Tu Tango about 10-15 min away from property is great, as is the Stone Wood Grill in the Dr Phillips area which is about 15 min away. We have had great meals at both places!

 

[whitney37354]

We've compared Mama Melrose to Olive Garden. Nothing wrong with that!

 

[MrsLS]

I've critiqued mostly just Tony's & Mama Melrose to the chain Olive Garden because IMO it is comparable. & when I compare it to that, Olive Garden to me is fake/not authentic/not very good italian food - jar tasting sauce, etc. But for the most part I really like the food at Disney, although the excellent meals I've had have been at signatures, the rest are good to great with some exceptions.
Although everyone has their own tastes, likes, what you can get at home, etc.
If you want to know what I think of as a really good chain, its Cheesecake Factory but since it is company owned I think they have more quality control and I think it shows, unlike other chains which I don't go to (like the Olive Garden, Applebees, Outback, etc).

 

[JimmyV]

You are absolutely right Jimmy but I guess my contention is why can't they have both? Would it really be so hard to make a marinara sauce that was tasty? Wouldn't Tonys be even better if people were leaving saying "damn, that chicken parmigna was excellent".

I think it all comes down to volume. If you ever got a chance to see the "Dinner Impossible" show where Robert Irvine is tasked with making a meal for 400 volunteers at Epcot, you get a pretty good look at the back of the house of WDW's kitchen operations. It is, as expected, not at all like your family's restaurant in NY. Cooking is done in huge hotel pans, vats and trays that simply do not lend themselves to high culinary art. Tony's can never be Victoria & Albert's or bluezoo in terms of "a la minute" cooking. Things are cooked in advance and in large volume out of necessity. The food at most non-Signatures is always going to be more akin to cafeteria or banquet food, even if it is individually plated. It is for this reason that the main dining rooms on cruise ships can serve huge volumes of "OK" food, but can never rise to the level of fine dining the way specialty restaurants on cruise ships can. Food prepared in advance and in mass quantity will never be as good as dinners cooked to order. Disney does a decent job of disguising this with fancy buildings and character interaction to up the level of dining enjoyment. But in the end, they are serving hundreds of people at a time where most "regular" restaurants serve 30-50 people at a time.

At twice the price, Disney can't get better quality steaks? My family owned a restaurant in NYC for 30 of my 50 years. I know for a fact that dang near any food or meat supplier on the planet would bend over backwards to get a contract with the mouse.

I'll bet there are a lot of suppliers who would love to have that contract, but when push came to shove, they would have to surrender the opportunity because they can't supply in that great a volume. Did your family restuarant serve veal cutlets? Assuming that it did, and that the veal was high quality, could that supplier from Brooklyn or the Bronx supply Disney with 1,000 times the quantity that your restaurant got? Every week? How often did your restaurant take something off the menu for a night or two because you were not happy with the quality of the ingredient that you were offered. "Sorry, sir. No salmon today. We just didn't like what our supplier had for us." This happens all the time at "regular" restaurants. Disney doesn't have that luxury at non-Signatures.

Maybe it's because me and my family love meals. Nothing better than after a long day in the parks sitting down to dinner and having a great meal. Nothing worse imo than after a long day in the parks sitting down to dinner and expecting a great meal and then taking the first bite and it's "eh" just ok.

I'm right there with you. Which is why we always have a CS lunch with low expectations, and go to non-buffet Signature (or Swan/Dolphin) restaurants for dinner. If you stick to kitchens that prepare meals to order, you have a much better chance of success. But you knew that already.

 

[eliza61]

I don't believe anyone asked for your high and mightly opinion of what some people consider to be good disney food...the OP just asked for suggestions of places to eat outside of the world after a week of eating on disney property. while i dont think Mama Melrose is authentic italian food i dont go around telling people there is something wrong with them if they enjoy it...everyone has different taste buds and is used to food a certian way depending on what part of the country they are from. instead of being helpful and giving actual reccomendations you just decided to put people down..what a shame.

as for the reccomendations....Tu Tu Tango about 10-15 min away from property is great, as is the Stone Wood Grill in the Dr Phillips area which is about 15 min away. We have had great meals at both places!

That's me, Mrs. High and Mighty.

Op, sorry if you took offense. I've edited out the offending statement. Bon appetit, where ever you eat.

 

[JimmyV]

I don't believe anyone asked for your high and mightly opinion of what some people consider to be good disney food...the OP just asked for suggestions of places to eat outside of the world after a week of eating on disney property. while i dont think Mama Melrose is authentic italian food i dont go around telling people there is something wrong with them if they enjoy it...everyone has different taste buds and is used to food a certian way depending on what part of the country they are from. instead of being helpful and giving actual reccomendations you just decided to put people down..what a shame.

as for the reccomendations....Tu Tu Tango about 10-15 min away from property is great, as is the Stone Wood Grill in the Dr Phillips area which is about 15 min away. We have had great meals at both places!

Whoa. Take a deep breath. First of all, I don't think that the OP was actually asking for off-site recommendations. At least that is not the way I read the post. I think the post was a sarcastic (but in a fun, not mean-spirited) way of saying that Disney food is far better than national chains, and if there are national chains out there that are better, which ones are they. It was a rhetorical question. However, to the extent that the question was truly being posed, eliza answered it in post #4 above. And I think her answer is spot on. All of the places she listed are, IMO, as good if not better (food-wise) than a typical "casual" category restaurant at WDW. Nothing high and mighty about her list at all.

 

[Tigger1]

We would rather eat at Disney than any chain restuarant in our area with the exception of
Teds Cafe Escondito in Oklahoma City. I think Oklahoma is the only state with Teds.

I would never compare any Disney restaurant with
Outback
Applebees
Ihop
Ect.

Maybe a counter service but even those are better than the chains above.

 

[shortchange1026]

DH and I usually do not have a problem with the food at Disney. It is usually quite good. I personally would not want to eat at a national food chain around Disney that I can eat in at home. I'm on vacation! Even when we go on vacation somewhere else besides Disney, we usually try something new.

 

[yenlee]

I'm on board with the "Disney food is better than chain food" crowd. I think that even below the signature-level, there are sort of two tiers of table service restaurants. There are the places that are more about the food (e.g. at Epcot and at the nicer resorts) and the ones that more about convenience/gimmick (e.g. character buffets, most of the places in MK and DHS).

I can't think of a single chain restaurant that is as good as the better Disney one-credit TS restaurants.

For example, my favorite Italian chain is probably Maggiano's, which is incomparably better than Olive Garden, and it's nowhere near as good as Tutto Italia. And the prices are probably not far off.

One of the best chains, imho, is Cheesecake Factory. There are many Disney restaurants that are better than Cheesecake Factory, but the one I'll choose (simply because it also has an eclectic but much shorter menu) is Wolfgang Puck.

Another higher end chain would be Red Lobster, which is not even in the same universe as a place like Coral Reef.

But maybe I only feel this way because I haven't bothered with places like Mama Melrose or Tony's. (Even still, I have a very hard time believing that they are at Olive Garden level.)

 

[eliza61]

I'm on board with the "Disney food is better than chain food" crowd. I think that even below the signature-level, there are sort of two tiers of table service restaurants. There are the places that are more about the food (e.g. at Epcot and at the nicer resorts) and the ones that more about convenience/gimmick (e.g. character buffets, most of the places in MK and DHS).

I can't think of a single chain restaurant that is as good as the better Disney one-credit TS restaurants.

For example, my favorite Italian chain is probably Maggiano's, which is incomparably better than Olive Garden, and it's nowhere near as good as Tutto Italia. And the prices are probably not far off.

One of the best chains, imho, is Cheesecake Factory. There are many Disney restaurants that are better than Cheesecake Factory, but the one I'll choose (simply because it also has an eclectic but much shorter menu) is Wolfgang Puck.

Another higher end chain would be Red Lobster, which is not even in the same universe as a place like Coral Reef.

But maybe I only feel this way because I haven't bothered with places like Mama Melrose or Tony's. (Even still, I have a very hard time believing that they are at Olive Garden level.)

I'm looking forward to trying tutto Italia it's been getting great reviews. You're way more generous than me, Tony's is worse than Olive Garden. tony's IMO is ragu at best. LOL.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

If ya'll keep picking on Olive Garden I'm going to send my DD11 in after you!

She loves it so we eat there all the time. I'm happy my DD13 will eat the Minnestrone since she mostly shuns veggies.

Having eaten many times at Mamma Melroses and Tony's I think comparing them to Olive Garden is pretty accurate.

Just my two cents:

Calamari better at OG. Suprisingly this is one of OG's best dish's. Lightly battered very tender and the parmesean peppercorn dip is perfect with it. MM's isn't as tender and we have to order it with no peppers and onions. We did not like at all the cold calamari we got at TTS.

Chicken Parmesean about the same.

Minestrone soup. MM's has bigger pieces but more broth. DD didn't like the pasta in TTS. OG fills the bowl with the ingredients. The other DD likes pasta fagoli which is pretty good.

Spagetti and meatball's about the same but pricier at TTS. MM's has bigger portions of the Pasta and Vodka sauce which is its closest comparison.

Breadsticks - I think they are just awful at OG but they are warm and at least MM's now gives you bread. I remember when you had to buy the bread. NOT good in an Italian restaurant.

Salad much better at OG and included and endless there.

Lemon Creme Cake and Zepoli are, again very, very good at OG. We do the DxDP so I know I've had desserts at TTS and MM but honestly wouldn't go out of my way for them but I would for the warm soft Zepoli at OG.

Overall, OG is a week night meal, not a special night out. It is not a Signature restaurant.

 

[rachel09985]

The one big difference I have noticed vs. Disney and chain restaurants is that Disney serves bread at almost every table service restaurant. A lot of chains have cut back on that or have never done it! Fridays, Applebees, Champps, etc..That is where Disney has an edge! Granted Disney is more expensive than those but still!