Yak & Yeti Sit-Down versus Counter Service

[consultant]

Is Yak & Yeti sit-down even worth it? The Cafe counter service sounds like they have most of the same food? We're on a budget but the day we will be there is a birthday for one person in our party. We are already eating at Sanaa that night for dinner as our special meal.

 

[TDC Nala]

I have been to the CS once, the TS about five times. I would not eat at the CS again over the TS. Have never had any of the food at the CS that is also sold at the TS though. I will say the container you get with your CS entree contains mostly rice and not so much entree.

If I were looking for a light lunch, before I did the CS I would go to the TS and order appetizers. But that is just my opinion, I don't go with a food budget, and I don't get a table, I sit at the bar. You may not want to go through the table service rigamarole just to have a light lunch, in which case the CS will suit you. Not sure what time of year you are going, but all CS seating is outdoors and unless they have changed things there is little shade.

 

[consultant]

I have been to the CS once, the TS about five times. I would not eat at the CS again over the TS. Have never had any of the food at the CS that is also sold at the TS though. I will say the container you get with your CS entree contains mostly rice and not so much entree.

If I were looking for a light lunch, before I did the CS I would go to the TS and order appetizers. But that is just my opinion, I don't go with a food budget, and I don't get a table, I sit at the bar. You may not want to go through the table service rigamarole just to have a light lunch, in which case the CS will suit you. Not sure what time of year you are going, but all CS seating is outdoors and unless they have changed things there is little shade.

Very good to know all CS seating is outside. If they get another cold snap like they are having now (low 33, high 50 - yikes) eating outside in our parkas may not be very fun.

 

[Pakey]

I"m not a huge fan of Yak/Yeti TS or CS but most people enjoy the TS (I've done CS once and TS twice). I was told by the person taking my order at the CS that the items on the CS menu that are the same as the TS menu are identical/cooked in same kitchen. I do not know if this is true or not because like TDC Nala, I have not ordered the same items.

The CS portions were huge, way too much food for us (we feel the same way about the TS portions here). I don't remember the portion of rice to meat/veggies to be significantly rice but since I like rice, perhaps I just didn't notice it.

The seating for the CS is awful.

 

[consultant]

Well, we have a reservation at Tusker House. This is where we ate a few years ago. Problem is my son has a milk allergy so the sit down is nice as the Chef will come out and personally cook his dairy free meal. At Tusker house though they give you an allergy chart so you know what he can eat.

What other options are there? Rainforest Cafe is SO cheezy (now that my kids are older) and overpriced. If there's a cold spell, outdoor CS will kind of suck be we are from Seattle so we're used to the cold.

We already are eating dinner at Sanaa, so going over to the Lodge for lunch may be a bit overkill/pricey/time consuming. We are already planning to have drinks there before dinner to take in the Xmas atmosphere.

It's a shame the in-park dining choice are typically pretty poor quality and/or value, even for Disney. In all my years going to the parks I surprised they haven't hired someone like Wolfgang Puck or whatever to come in and revamp it all.

I've read the Universal got it right for dining with the Three Broomsticks in Potter-land. Great atmosphere, great value, and they have the queue system DOWN to make the whole process super easy for everyone.

 

[TDC Nala]

For CS with indoor seating at AK, you can select Pizzafari (the back room has screened windows - no glass, screens only - so it's not recommended for extreme temperature days) or Restaurantosaurus. Flame Tree also has only outdoor seating, although some of theirs is sheltered.

You do realize Sanaa is not in the AK Lodge (Jambo House) but in Kidani Village. It's a separate building from the original AK Lodge.

Yak & Yeti is not operated by Disney, it's run by Landry's Restaurants, so I am not sure how much blame for food quality there you can put on Disney- maybe some, as it's inside the park. Everything you mentioned about Three Broomsticks is true - but in my opinion the food itself is not of superior quality, nor do I know if it's a "value," it's regular theme park food at theme park prices (only been there once. Not bad, but not spectacular foodwise)

 

[consultant]

For CS with indoor seating at AK, you can select Pizzafari (the back room has screened windows - no glass, screens only - so it's not recommended for extreme temperature days) or Restaurantosaurus. Flame Tree also has only outdoor seating, although some of theirs is sheltered.

Pizza and a kid with a milk allergy don't mix. But you didn't know that. We pack him a PB&J a lot of times to deal with that situation though. However one of the joys of going to Disney is it is one of the few places we can eat out in the world with little to no stress knowing the Chef and kitchen staff "GET IT" as far as serious food allergies. Disney realizes an ambulance showing up at one of their restaurants would be REALLY bad publicity let alone a huge damper on the day for the family.

 

[TDC Nala]

I went with my nephew who has a milk and nut allergy once. Not sure about the counter services for certain but I believe they can also accommodate allergies (pizza w/o cheese, pizza with non-dairy cheese, etc). Not sure how this applies to Pizzafari in general but you maybe shouldn't eliminate the places until you find out how they can handle an allergy. Pizzafari also sells items other than pizza.

It'll doubtless be easier at a TS. I am not sure about how an allergy would be handled at Yak & Yeti CS either. I know CS generally have ingredient lists available.

 

[jedwards]

IMHO- forget them both and go to Flame Tree for a wonderful CS meal and sit by the water and relax. Flame Tree is a great BBQ and my pick for best CS in all the World.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

I went with my nephew who has a milk and nut allergy once. Not sure about the counter services for certain but I believe they can also accommodate allergies (pizza w/o cheese, pizza with non-dairy cheese, etc). Not sure how this applies to Pizzafari in general but you maybe shouldn't eliminate the places until you find out how they can handle an allergy. Pizzafari also sells items other than pizza.

It'll doubtless be easier at a TS. I am not sure about how an allergy would be handled at Yak & Yeti CS either. I know CS generally have ingredient lists available.

OP - You need to check the Vegan reviews. I know I saw at least one DISer who had a vegan pizza at Pizzafari -- if it's vegan, it's dairy free! Might be a great treat for your little one.

 

[cbg1027]

I am person who frequents the signature restaurants, and I really like Yak n Yeti TS. I've been three times and enjoyed it each visit.

If your concerned about time, they can get you in and out pretty fast - it is an in-park TS after all, so they are of the 'churn and burn' mentality, I think. You can slow it down if you want to, just don't order more than one course at a time.

I have a review of each of my visits if you want to take a look - one review in each DR, links in my signature.

I have never been to the CS. If the dishes are the same ones served inside, it's only a few of the most Chinese take out place style stuff. All the great things I've had at YnY are not the dishes you can get outside.

Here's a menu and prices for TS: http://allears.net/menu/menu_yak.htm
And CS: http://allears.net/menu/menu-anad.htm

Yak n Yeti will probably have lots of options for someone with a milk allergy. The only items that jump out to me as things to avoid would be the desserts.

BTW, Sanaa is amazing!!!

 

[JenSop]

We've done Y&Y TS twice and the CS probably 6-7 times. (We don't really like many of the other AK CS options.)

Personally, I've really like the TS - we had some great fish there over the summer. I've never ordered anything that was on both menus, though. We usually split the CS meals - they're so big!

And you will LOVE Sanaa. I've been there three times and each time was beyond excellent!

 

[Chee Chick]

IMHO- forget them both and go to Flame Tree for a wonderful CS meal and sit by the water and relax. Flame Tree is a great BBQ and my pick for best CS in all the World.

Another vote to skip Yak & Yeti. No one in my party liked their meal when we visited the TS.

 

[3SmilingFaces]

We ate at Yak and Yeti on 12/3. The food was good, not the best we ever had, but still good. We would go back. When I made our ressi for 3:15 I told them it was our first visit celebration. They seated us upstairs at the VIP table in the corner by all the windows. The best part was that we could watch the parade right from our table!