Adventureland Veranda - Skipper Canteen restaurant

[Haymarket2008]

Back to back comments. Hard to believe they're about the exact same restaurant!

All I can say is, if changes need to be made, I hope they tweak the menu rather than re-doing it completely. Maybe tone down a spice or two, and replace the least ordered entree with a (generic-ish) burger. But please don't change it all to the typical theme park/TGI Fridays fare.

The menu is FAR from too exotic. Not quite sure why some people are complaining about it. Compared to the likes of Sanaa (one of the best restaurants on property), this is nothing crazy or surprising. It's exactly what you would expect, and its pretty darn good too.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Typical Magic Kingdom crowd... Won't like anything they aren't familiar with food wise. Come live in Canada, where we have so many options of foods from around the world thanks to our variety of cultures that we celebrate and love being part of our country, as opposed to just trying to Americanize everything and anyone who enters our country.

Living in Orlando for a summer really showed me the lack of culture.. It's just all one thing... Where's the diversity?

 

[Biff215]

I really wanted to like this place but I just didn't find our meals very good in general. The pork was edible but about the taste quality I'd expect from Applebee's. I tried my wife's mac and cheese and it was just ok. Maybe we picked the wrong dishes or caught it on a bad day, that can happen anywhere. I'm not rushing back but I certainly don't fault those who enjoy it, and for you I fear a menu adjustment that might not be favorable.

Instead of that, I'd prefer to see them address the jokes (server delivery), kitchen speed, and consistent food quality. This is what will fill tables and make this place a success.

 

[wdwmagic]

Typical Magic Kingdom crowd... Won't like anything they aren't familiar with food wise.

There is an element of truth to what you say, but just because a menu is different from the familiar, doesn't mean it is automatically good.
Our reviewers, who a big fans of Sanaa, Jiko, Boma, Morimoto, were not impressed by Skipper Canteen.

We shouldn't immediately categories anyone who doesn't like Skipper Canteen as being unadventurous diners.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

We shouldn't immediately categories anyone who doesn't like Skipper Canteen as being unadventurous diners.

Totally behind this. My wife and I went back in December. It was fun, but it's not a great meal, y'all. It looks cool inside and it's nice to have another restaurant in the Kingdom, but the food is mediocre for the price tag. Disney has better deals elsewhere.

 

[jakeman]

There is an element of truth to what you say, but just because a menu is different from the familiar, doesn't mean it is automatically good.
Our reviewers, who a big fans of Sanaa, Jiko, Boma, Morimoto, were not impressed by Skipper Canteen.

We shouldn't immediately categories anyone who doesn't like Skipper Canteen as being unadventurous diners.

There is an element of Disney dining that is complicated for the sake of complication that doesn't add to the meal. California Grill several years ago was probably the worst offender I've seen of this.

With that said, it appears expectations are inconsistent going into the restaurant. Disney may have made a misstep with the menu and the messaging for Canteen. However, a quick review of the menu, while it should not temper expectation on quality, should be an indication the diner is getting into something a little more experimental than Yak and Yeti.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Typical Magic Kingdom crowd... Won't like anything they aren't familiar with food wise. Come live in Canada, where we have so many options of foods from around the world thanks to our variety of cultures that we celebrate and love being part of our country, as opposed to just trying to Americanize everything and anyone who enters our country.

Living in Orlando for a summer really showed me the lack of culture.. It's just all one thing... Where's the diversity?

I kid, I kid.

 

[Andrew C]

I kid, I kid.

be careful...you might get another anti-american rant again...

 

[Buried20KLeague]

be careful...you might get another anti-american rant again...

The problem is I might agree with it.

 

[Miss Heinous]

Can I just say that I am entitled to my opinion like everyone else here is without getting stones thrown at me? I didn't like the food, I sent it back like the rest of the people around me because they didn't like the food either. If you don't like what I have to say about it, that's rough I guess.

 

[Miss Heinous]

Obviously by "dining all over the world" she means World Showcase

I have actually traveled (Japan, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy), but I guess we can't all be Florida grad students with no class.

 

[wdwmagic]

There is an element of Disney dining that is complicated for the sake of complication that doesn't add to the meal. California Grill several years ago was probably the worst offender I've seen of this.

With that said, it appears expectations are inconsistent going into the restaurant. Disney may have made a misstep with the menu and the messaging for Canteen. However, a quick review of the menu, while it should not temper expectation on quality, should be an indication the diner is getting into something a little more experimental than Yak and Yeti.

I think most will go in expecting a high degree if theming and immersion - both of which are lacking compared to the standards being set elsewhere on property.

And the food, perhaps people aren't happy to pay say $18 for one of the cheapest cut of steak and a few pieces of lettuce - and wait 30 minutes for it to arrive.
http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/skip...gle-cruise-skipper-canteen-overview/26266.htm

This restaurant was a real opportunity to do something great - it doesn't look like it has worked out.

 

[Andrew C]

I think most will go in expecting a high degree if theming and immersion - both of which are lacking compared to the standards being set elsewhere on property.

And the food, perhaps people aren't happy to pay say $18 for one of the cheapest cut of steak and a few pieces of lettuce - and wait 30 minutes for it to arrive.
http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/skip...gle-cruise-skipper-canteen-overview/26266.htm

This restaurant was a real opportunity to do something great - it doesn't look like it has worked out.

Hopefully they can make a few adjustments here and there to make the overall experience a bit better.

 

[dupac]

Weren't there some complaints about the quality of food at BOG when it first opened? I can't remember, but for some reason this feels familiar.

 

[wdwmagic]

Weren't there some complaints about the quality of food at BOG when it first opened? I can't remember, but for some reason this feels familiar.

Not really. I think most people at the time felt it was the best dining at MK, and while it wasn't anything amazing, it was a step up, and the environment added to the experience.

I feel people are finding Skipper Canteen to be a step down in both food and environment.

 

[dupac]

Not really. I think most people at the time felt it was the best dining at MK, and while it wasn't anything amazing, it was a step up, and the environment added to the experience.

I feel people are finding Skipper Canteen to be a step down in both food and environment.

I see!

Well, let's hope for a menu tweak is for the better. Sounds like the problem is not necessarily overly-exotic food, just poor quality and a price-point that's off-the-mark. Having not even eaten there, I will say that looking at the prices versus the pictures of the entrees, there seems to be a disparity there.

 

[FigmentForver96]

I think most will go in expecting a high degree if theming and immersion - both of which are lacking compared to the standards being set elsewhere on property.

And the food, perhaps people aren't happy to pay say $18 for one of the cheapest cut of steak and a few pieces of lettuce - and wait 30 minutes for it to arrive.
http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/skip...gle-cruise-skipper-canteen-overview/26266.htm

This restaurant was a real opportunity to do something great - it doesn't look like it has worked out.

Such a shame, I was really forward to eating here this next trip. Which I may still like, but I hate to see it not live up to expectations.

 

[Cletus]

We ate here exactly a week ago. It was just OK. It seemed expensive for the quality of food. I had the pork and DW had the shrimp. My pork was really tough and I took several bites that were inedible (extremely hard charred pieces). Her shrimp were way overpriced for the size. The pictures don't do it just justice. They were maybe 21/25 ct shrimp and you only got 5.

 

[note2001]

There is an element of truth to what you say, but just because a menu is different from the familiar, doesn't mean it is automatically good.
Our reviewers, who a big fans of Sanaa, Jiko, Boma, Morimoto, were not impressed by Skipper Canteen.

Thanks for pointing this out. Due to the reviews, and a limited budget I've decided on going back to an old favorite: Sanaa and saving our trip to the Veranda for a later year when the kinks have been worked out

 

[jakeman]

I think most will go in expecting a high degree if theming and immersion - both of which are lacking compared to the standards being set elsewhere on property.

And the food, perhaps people aren't happy to pay say $18 for one of the cheapest cut of steak and a few pieces of lettuce - and wait 30 minutes for it to arrive.
http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/skip...gle-cruise-skipper-canteen-overview/26266.htm

This restaurant was a real opportunity to do something great - it doesn't look like it has worked out.

Your point is well taken.

I've not read most of the reviews (nor do I want my jest to come across as a defense of something I've not experienced), other than some shenanigans in this thread, as I'd like to experience it for myself (which with some luck will be in a few weeks).