WWYD dinner without the kids

[PEANUT1]

I get to call tomorrow to make my dining reservations...we are doing 1 dinner at Bluezoo and plan on doing the free babysitting there.

We are also thinking about doing another dinner alone while kids go to kids club..I am conisdering Le Cellier, Cali Grille, and Flying Fish. We are not on the dining plan and are giong to have TIW card. We have been to all 3 and love them all.

Any othe suggestions would be great for a dinner without the kids..I don't think I want to do V&A..too expensive.

 

[PEANUT1]

we plan on doing EPCOT emh that evening and watching illuminations too.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are bent on dining in Epcot that evening, then I suppose Le Cellier would be your best choice, but I don't find it very romantic at all. In fact, I don't find much special or romantic about the theme park restaurants. If I were leaving my kids at a baby sitting service, I'd go all out and do either Jiko, Artist Point, or Citricos.

Of the places you mentioned, Flying Fish might be a good choice, but like Le Cellier, we find it to be too loud to enjoy conversation. Our favorite for "date night" is Artist Point at Wildnerness Lodge with Jiko at Animal Kingdom lodge being a close second.

 

[PEANUT1]

thanks..no we don't have to eat at EPCOT..we will have a car so it is easy to get around. Jiko might be a good way to go. I will talk to my hubby

 

[jelliott04]

V & A would be my first choice but totally understand (and agree with) the expense thing.

Jiko would be my next choice. (I'd throw Artist Point in there but we haven't been back since they took away the steak.) Citricos would be next on my list.

I like Flying Fish but it is too noisy for romance.

J

 

[ToddyLu]

They took away the steak!!! What!!! I thought I would get to eat buffalo there one day...

 

[ToddyLu]

Shula's? Never eaten there either but want to...the pictures look nice.

 

[jelliott04]

They took away the steak!!! What!!! I thought I would get to eat buffalo there one day...

They usually do have buffalo I think but it isn't usually in steak form anymore. Might be a short rib etc. I think it was in some sort of stew the last time we were there. It has been since Oct 09 I think, so maybe enough people complained that they do the steak more often, but I don't think so. The chef came to our table to talk to us and we mentioned it and he said he likes to change things up and didn't want to cook the same old steak every night. DUH! If people order it all the time, then it must be what they want! I think that was the same trip where we found out the clams at Cape May Cafe were cooked in salt water instead of the broth that they used to be cooked in.

Was NOT a good dining trip that time. LOL

J

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our favorite adult meals are at Cali Grill and Artist Point! We love to walk around WL's grounds after a great meal. It's so romantic.

Bobbi

 

[simmons_m]

Jiko or Artist point.
I like the bar at both places for a before and after dinner drink, but think the walk around akl is better.
That being said, i would probably go with wilderness lodge, followed by the boat ride to the contemporary and the monorail back to epcot. (or cab it)
I'd leave the car after a couple of drinks.

 

[simmons_m]

Hey....
That was my 100th post.
Yahoo!

 

[CNPHILLY]

Another vote for Shula's. It is truly unbelievable, from the food to the service, and it would suit your location needs well.

 

[robertdangelo]

I suggest the California Grill. A nightcap on the Promenade during MK Fireworks is romantic!

 

[jarrdisney]

They usually do have buffalo I think but it isn't usually in steak form anymore. Might be a short rib etc. I think it was in some sort of stew the last time we were there. It has been since Oct 09 I think, so maybe enough people complained that they do the steak more often, but I don't think so. The chef came to our table to talk to us and we mentioned it and he said he likes to change things up and didn't want to cook the same old steak every night. DUH! If people order it all the time, then it must be what they want! I think that was the same trip where we found out the clams at Cape May Cafe were cooked in salt water instead of the broth that they used to be cooked in.

Was NOT a good dining trip that time. LOL

J

Artist Point and most of the "signature" restaurants try to change seasonally. You will almost always find a "steak" on their menu. They currently have both buffalo and beef. I, for one, would rather the restaurants change then have their menus stagnent, using produce/protein that is out of season.

As for the OP's question, I would suggest either Artist Point or Flying Fish, as they are the most consistent. FF has gotten a bit loud, but if you sit at the "food bar" overlooking the kitchen, it shoudn't be too bad. Jiko is probably the most romantic and will have the least amount of kids, but I've been underwhelmed in our 3 experiences there, and aren't running to go back anytime soon.

 

[dianeschlicht]

They took away the steak!!! What!!! I thought I would get to eat buffalo there one day...

They still had it in March.

 

[dgaston]

Just last week we ate at Jiko, Kouzzina, and Citricos. Citricos gets my vote for the best meal -- even better than Jiko for us!

 

[nolanboys]

This past February, DH and I, along with his sister and husband, had an adults only meal at California Grill while grandma and grandpa watched the kids. One of the best meals I've ever had. Going out on the balcony to watch the fireworks was very romantic. It was quiet enough to hold a conversation, but had good energy. Even my brother-in-law, who is hard to excite, couldn't believe that they put on a firework show like that every night. He was blown away.

 

[robinb]

Are you planning the evening EMH on your Blue Zoo day or your other day? I ask because I think the free babysitting is only for 2 hours and I'm not sure how long the Dolphin Club stays open. I do have to say that it was my DD's favorite of the 3-4 kids clubs she visited. The Neverland Club in the Polynesian was a close second.

As for another "Adult Only" dinner, I have a bit of a warning. The last couple times I left my DD in a kids club and had a dinner with my DH without her I missed her like crazy. It's not like I had a kid-free dinner because the tables around us were loaded with kids and I wondered why I was paying extra for mine to be somewhere else. This was at both California Grill and Jiko. That was when she was about 7-8 and we just bring her along now. So ... I guess I'm saying that you might have a romantic kid-free dinner or you might miss your kids so much it wouldn't be as fun.

Back to your original question. Why not Shula's and use the Dolphin Club twice? Shula's is the most child-free restaurant in WDW outside of V&A's and it now takes the TIW card . I also like the ambiance of Narcoossee's. I was not impressed with Citrico's the last time I was there (granted, it was almost 5 years ago) and we were seated next to a very large very noisy family. NOT romantic! California Grill can be nice, but also loaded with kids. Flying Fish is just "eh" and not worth the price. I don't like Le Cellier or Artist Point (but I think I'll have to give it another try soon). Jiko's food is good, but I don't find it particularly relaxing. I think the high ceilings are the problem.

 

[jelliott04]

Artist Point and most of the "signature" restaurants try to change seasonally. You will almost always find a "steak" on their menu. They currently have both buffalo and beef. I, for one, would rather the restaurants change then have their menus stagnent, using produce/protein that is out of season.

As I said, they always have buffalo but it isn't always in steak form.

From the allears.net site: http://allears.net/menu/menu_ap.htm

Note: Buffalo is usually on the menu but the cut of meat changes (short rib, rib eye, etc)

I think the signature restaurants who have certain items that people love should keep those items and change the other items. Like the Buffalo Steak at AP or the Cheese Soup at Le Cellier.

I have many friends that own restaurants and their key dishes are always on the menu but they also have seasonal menu's and nightly specials for customers to choose from. I fully understand the chef's need to create and work with fresh seasonal items and often just order "whatever the chef likes tonight". But when I go to a restaurant that has had a signature dish for years and then all of a sudden that signature dish is gone...it is disappointing.

J

 

[PEANUT1]

Are you planning the evening EMH on your Blue Zoo day or your other day? I ask because I think the free babysitting is only for 2 hours and I'm not sure how long the Dolphin Club stays open. I do have to say that it was my DD's favorite of the 3-4 kids clubs she visited. The Neverland Club in the Polynesian was a close second.

As for another "Adult Only" dinner, I have a bit of a warning. The last couple times I left my DD in a kids club and had a dinner with my DH without her I missed her like crazy. It's not like I had a kid-free dinner because the tables around us were loaded with kids and I wondered why I was paying extra for mine to be somewhere else. This was at both California Grill and Jiko. That was when she was about 7-8 and we just bring her along now. So ... I guess I'm saying that you might have a romantic kid-free dinner or you might miss your kids so much it wouldn't be as fun.

Back to your original question. Why not Shula's and use the Dolphin Club twice? Shula's is the most child-free restaurant in WDW outside of V&A's and it now takes the TIW card . I also like the ambiance of Narcoossee's. I was not impressed with Citrico's the last time I was there (granted, it was almost 5 years ago) and we were seated next to a very large very noisy family. NOT romantic! California Grill can be nice, but also loaded with kids. Flying Fish is just "eh" and not worth the price. I don't like Le Cellier or Artist Point (but I think I'll have to give it another try soon). Jiko's food is good, but I don't find it particularly relaxing. I think the high ceilings are the problem.

Thanks for the advice...We are just doing dinner when we do Bluezoo so the 2 hours should be fine...my husband agrees that if we are going to do another kid free dinner maybe we should stick to the swan/dolphin so we get the babysitting free. I too am second guessing whether I want to do 2 kidless meals.

I booked 2 reservations for the night in question..I did California Grille for 730pm so we can see the fireworks..It will be the MVMCP show and I did one for Le Cellier for all of us if we decide to bring the kids too...I'll do an early dinner there if we decide so as to not "annoy" romantic diners later in the evening. I will think about it and then cancel the one we decide not to use...again perhaps I will choose Shula's...I don't think I need to worry about a far in advance ADR for there do I???

When should I book my ressies for the restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin..i wasn't able to do it online this morning when I did the rest? we are going to do Bluezoo and the character breakfast they have on Sunday mornings