Be Our Guest Is A Joke....OK, Somewhat

[Bpmorley]

I'm willing to bet NYC food is better quality for the price.

There certainly are menu items worth the price like filet mignon which no matter where you eat whether at Disney or your local fine dining restaurant you're going to pay a high price for.

However there are other things like cold/dry/stale cafeteria style burgers served at some QS locations that are not worth the $12 when I can buy an amazing burger with sweat potato fries for $14 at a local causal dining restaurant and $8 on Wednesday's!

Don't get me wrong there are some good options at many of the restaurants. I just wish quality was there equally whether you're eating a burger at Cosmic Ray's or Contempo Cafe (which has much better burgers imo)

With that said I think most of us recognize that you're paying more for atmosphere than food quality.

I agree. The food to price ratio has gotten way out of whack the last few years. Personally we eat most of our meals in our rooms or off property anymore.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I agree. The food to price ratio has gotten way out of whack the last few years. Personally we eat most of our meals in our rooms or off property anymore.

To be fair... I don't want to cook on vacation and its only an option if you have a kitchen anyways.
And unless you have a car its not very convenient or cost effective to leave the property.

 

[Buck Wheelie]

I agree. The food to price ratio has gotten way out of whack the last few years. Personally we eat most of our meals in our rooms or off property anymore.

Most Disney restaurants used to serve large portions where it was easy to share an entrée. Sometimes I was surprised by how much food we got. Now I've noticed that almost everywhere portions are much smaller. All part of cost cutting.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Most Disney restaurants used to serve large portions where it was easy to share an entrée. Sometimes I was surprised by how much food we got. Now I've noticed that almost everywhere portions are much smaller. All part of cost cutting.

I found the portions to be too big years ago.
When you have FD or you and your party don't want the same menu items sharing isn't a good option anyways.
Now at least I don't feel like I waste food.

 

[Bpmorley]

Most Disney restaurants used to serve large portions where it was easy to share an entrée. Sometimes I was surprised by how much food we got. Now I've noticed that almost everywhere portions are much smaller. All part of cost cutting.

I agree, they did. I think one of our last meals on property just about sealed the deal of ever eating on property again.
Olivia's at Old Key West, I ordered a chicken and fettucini alfredo dish, wife had scallops and risoto. almost $70 for those. I got 3 small slices of a chicken breast and what looked to be the side package of noodles you get at any supermarket. Wife got 5 micro small bay scallops and a table spoon of rice. Also ordered 2 blood orange magaritas, we get these in EPCOT all the time. They were half the size, $16 each and tasted like dishwater. I get cost cutting, but too much is too much

 

[Buck Wheelie]

I agree, they did. I think one of our last meals on property just about sealed the deal of ever eating on property again.
Olivia's at Old Key West, I ordered a chicken and fettucini alfredo dish, wife had scallops and risoto. almost $70 for those. I got 3 small slices of a chicken breast and what looked to be the side package of noodles you get at any supermarket. Wife got 5 micro small bay scallops and a table spoon of rice. Also ordered 2 blood orange magaritas, we get these in EPCOT all the time. They were half the size, $16 each and tasted like dishwater. I get cost cutting, but too much is too much

Olivia's used to be one of our favorites and we ate there a couple times each trip. They have disappointed us the last few times we ate there and haven't been back in a while.

 

[Absimilliard]

Chicken Breast.

BOG - Poulet Rouge Chicken with Faro, Vegetables, and Garlic Sauce

Tutto Italia - Petto di Pollo - Grilled chicken breast, fettuccine pasta, parmesan cream

La Hacendia de San Angel - Pollo al Pastor - Adobo-marinated Chicken Breast with Chili Arbol Glaze and Pineapple Relish and Grilled Vegetables

Brown Derby - Bell & Evans Chicken Breast Red Pepper-Toma Cheese Polenta Cake, Honey-glazed Carrots, Madeira Jus

Big River Grill - Habanero Chicken grilled chicken with sweet and spicy habanero glaze, topped with pico de gallo, avocado and cilantro, served with seasonal vegetables and cilantro lime rice

California Grill - Poulet Rouge Chicken Guava Barbeque, Fried Green Tomatoes, 3 Bean Salad, Black Bean Aioli

Citricos - Chicken Mediterranean creamy Polenta, Tomato Fondue, spring Vegetables, Chicken Jus;


and the list goes on and on. I stopped looking at menus because it was getting tedious.

The recipe is: Grill the chicken breast (maybe you need to throw it in a carboy of marinade first), add the sauce, pull the sides from the steam tray, and serve it up.

There are about a half dozen other chicken dishes that instead of "grill the chicken breast" begin with "bread the chicken breast and deep fry" and then continue with add the sauce and sides.

There is also the oh so creative and different dishes consisting of "grill the chicken breast THEN CUT IT UP, put it IN the sauce, add sides and serve."


There is a place by me that has a dish called "Chicken Ala You" on the menu. Then it lists about 10 ways you can get it - PIcatta, lemon, saltimbocca, etc. At least they are honest about it (and it's a bar, so it is expected, and I think it's about $15 if I recall)

Maybe they should market that to WDW.

The obsession with chicken breast as the only chicken option is ridiculous, but its been going since forever.

To refresh my mind, I went back and looked at one of the Coral Reef menus I kept from 2003. I scanned it and attached it and its fascinating. For example, the menu had 13 selections, of which 10 were seafood dishes and for the landlubbers, you had a delicious grilled new york strip, a roasted stuffed pepper for vegetarians and the usual chicken breast, mushroom dusted and oven baked here. The lobster was listed as "market price", but beside that, the most expensive dish was not even the steak. It was the Bouillabaisse which was made with lobster, shrimp, mussels, grouper, scallops and vegetables in a saffron bouillon. The Grilled Jumbo Shrimp entree was also 29.50$

When I went to Tokyo DisneySea last year, it was 3 days after the grand opening of Soaring Fantastic Flight and they had a special set course at Magellan's, the park gourmet restaurant. The set menu was 85$ US + 10% service charge and what did I get for this?

- Chopped mustard chicken served with a small side of salad with a made from scratch tomato-strawberry sauce.

- Seafood bisque, served in a beautiful Soaring Fantastic Flight cup on its matching saucer. The bisque was fascinating as it was studied to build up in taste. In order, you had two shrimps, mussel meat and ended with a flavorful scallop at the bottom.

- Batter-fried flounder with coriander accent served with an orange-white wine sauce.

- 3 slices of Kuroge beef, with a dusting of amazing steak spices and barbecue sauce on the side. For fun, they even threw a tiny taco on it.

- Vanilla Mousse tart and Japanese summer Orange-Yuzu sherbet.

Bread service was included and I had the choice of tea (hot or iced, it was july after all) or coffee. I loved the cup and saucer, so I decided to pay 17$ US to get a new one to take home. The photo I attached show the amazing Kuroge beef, which is 200-250$/lbs in the US and that you can only get at Victoria & Albert at even richer prices at WDW. The meal was incredible and it was the best theme park meal I ever had. Its in my top 5 most incredible meal and I would gladly pay to have it. It made WDW "fine dining" so sad and I stayed away from WDW restaurants my last visit in 2019.

 

[Yellow Shoes]

The obsession with chicken breast as the only chicken option is ridiculous, but its been going since forever.

To refresh my mind, I went back and looked at one of the Coral Reef menus I kept from 2003. I scanned it and attached it and its fascinating. For example, the menu had 13 selections, of which 10 were seafood dishes and for the landlubbers, you had a delicious grilled new york strip, a roasted stuffed pepper for vegetarians and the usual chicken breast, mushroom dusted and oven baked here. The lobster was listed as "market price", but beside that, the most expensive dish was not even the steak. It was the Bouillabaisse which was made with lobster, shrimp, mussels, grouper, scallops and vegetables in a saffron bouillon. The Grilled Jumbo Shrimp entree was also 29.50$

When I went to Tokyo DisneySea last year, it was 3 days after the grand opening of Soaring Fantastic Flight and they had a special set course at Magellan's, the park gourmet restaurant. The set menu was 85$ US + 10% service charge and what did I get for this?

- Chopped mustard chicken served with a small side of salad with a made from scratch tomato-strawberry sauce.

- Seafood bisque, served in a beautiful Soaring Fantastic Flight cup on its matching saucer. The bisque was fascinating as it was studied to build up in taste. In order, you had two shrimps, mussel meat and ended with a flavorful scallop at the bottom.

- Batter-fried flounder with coriander accent served with an orange-white wine sauce.

- 3 slices of Kuroge beef, with a dusting of amazing steak spices and barbecue sauce on the side. For fun, they even threw a tiny taco on it.

- Vanilla Mousse tart and Japanese summer Orange-Yuzu sherbet.

Bread service was included and I had the choice of tea (hot or iced, it was july after all) or coffee. I loved the cup and saucer, so I decided to pay 17$ US to get a new one to take home. The photo I attached show the amazing Kuroge beef, which is 200-250$/lbs in the US and that you can only get at Victoria & Albert at even richer prices at WDW. The meal was incredible and it was the best theme park meal I ever had. Its in my top 5 most incredible meal and I would gladly pay to have it. It made WDW "fine dining" so sad and I stayed away from WDW restaurants my last visit in 2019.

The current Coral Reef menu makes me cry. I remember when one could expect a signature seafood restaurant to serve actual seafood.
Today--5 entrees; 2 of them seafood. And even though it contains shrimp, I really don't think of Shrimp and Grits as a "seafood entree" -not when it's full of sausage.

Entrées​

Shrimp and Grits​

Sautéed Shrimp, Cheddar Cheese Grits, Local Corn Succotash, Andouille Sausage, Creole Spice Emulsion

$30.00

Grilled Vegetable Skewer with Impossible™ Kefta​

Basmati Rice, Lentils, Smoked Eggplant Salad (Plant-based)

$24.00

Oven-roasted Herb Chicken​

Seasonal Vegetables, Curry Vinaigrette

$28.00

Seared Mahi Mahi​

Jasmine Rice, Coconut and Cilantro-Lime Sauce, Caribbean Shrimp Salsa

$31.00

10-oz Slow-roasted Grilled Rib-Eye​

Loaded Mashed Potatoes with Bacon, Bercy Butter

$34.00

 

[DznyGrlSD]

The current Coral Reef menu makes me cry. I remember when one could expect a signature seafood restaurant to serve actual seafood.
Today--5 entrees; 2 of them seafood. And even though it contains shrimp, I really don't think of Shrimp and Grits as a "seafood entree" -not when it's full of sausage.

Entrées​

Shrimp and Grits​

Sautéed Shrimp, Cheddar Cheese Grits, Local Corn Succotash, Andouille Sausage, Creole Spice Emulsion

$30.00

Grilled Vegetable Skewer with Impossible™ Kefta​

Basmati Rice, Lentils, Smoked Eggplant Salad (Plant-based)

$24.00

Oven-roasted Herb Chicken​

Seasonal Vegetables, Curry Vinaigrette

$28.00

Seared Mahi Mahi​

Jasmine Rice, Coconut and Cilantro-Lime Sauce, Caribbean Shrimp Salsa

$31.00

10-oz Slow-roasted Grilled Rib-Eye​

Loaded Mashed Potatoes with Bacon, Bercy Butter

$34.00

Keep in mind all of the restaurants are still on reduced menu options.

 

[Phonedave]

The current Coral Reef menu makes me cry. I remember when one could expect a signature seafood restaurant to serve actual seafood.
Today--5 entrees; 2 of them seafood. And even though it contains shrimp, I really don't think of Shrimp and Grits as a "seafood entree" -not when it's full of sausage.

Entrées​

Shrimp and Grits​

Sautéed Shrimp, Cheddar Cheese Grits, Local Corn Succotash, Andouille Sausage, Creole Spice Emulsion

$30.00

Grilled Vegetable Skewer with Impossible™ Kefta​

Basmati Rice, Lentils, Smoked Eggplant Salad (Plant-based)

$24.00

Oven-roasted Herb Chicken​

Seasonal Vegetables, Curry Vinaigrette

$28.00

Seared Mahi Mahi​

Jasmine Rice, Coconut and Cilantro-Lime Sauce, Caribbean Shrimp Salsa

$31.00

10-oz Slow-roasted Grilled Rib-Eye​

Loaded Mashed Potatoes with Bacon, Bercy Butter

$34.00

I had the seared Mahi Mahi when I was there maybe a year ago or so. It was plated like it was a pile of slop. The salsa had a lot of raw pepper (bell pepper) that jus totally overwhelmed the fish. It was not an enjoyable meal.

 

[danyoung56]

I've had the mahi mahi several times, and each time it's been very tasty and well plated. And surprisingly the steak is excellent as well!

 

[fractal]

OK...maybe just slightly to get you in, but can we discuss Be Our Guest?

I’ve been several times, but I just ate here again today, 12/18/20. I‘m not here to bash Be Our Guest, but I want to give some constructive feedback.

The Good

• The entree (Filet) was actually great. It’s not prime beef, but it’s well seasoned, perfectly cooked, tender, and flavorful. Good job.
• Green beans and mashed potatoes were good.
• The scallops were well cooked, seasoned, and not rubbery. These are probably frozen, but still passable as far as taste.
• I enjoyed the desserts.

The Not So Good

• The lobster bisque needs work. It lacks depth and feels cheap somehow...like it’s been thinned out with something to stretch it.
• Service needs refinement. Feels slightly like a factory and very scripted. It’s $62...let’s go.
• The bread is cheap and kind of a disappoint for a ”French” restaurant.”

The Ugly

• Portion sizes are a JOKE. Are they even smaller now? I got 6 green beans. SIX!! They were good, but six?
• Mashed potatoes were literally a tablespoon spread over the plate.
• The filet is small and Im fine with that, but it’s too small given that the sides are almost nothing.
• The premium charged is too much for just the food and ambiance. It’s a little much. Maybe $49 would be reasonable.

For $62, Be Our Guest is even high for Disney. I’m not even worried about prices at Disney in general, but the portions need to be larger and the service slightly better for this to be any value.

Anyone else leave feeling like, that was actually pretty good, but I still feel somehow ripped off? Lol...it’s uncanny.

Couldn't agree more; especially the lobster bisque which was easily the most watery bisque of any kind I ever had. I was there in July for lunch and was surprised to find there was no lunch menu (yes, my fault) so I went with the car payment sized lunch bill for four. Yes, it is great atmosphere but otherwise very overpriced and made me feel ripped off.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Couldn't agree more; especially the lobster bisque which was easily the most watery bisque of any kind I ever had. I was there in July for lunch and was surprised to find there was no lunch menu (yes, my fault) so I went with the car payment sized lunch bill for four. Yes, it is great atmosphere but otherwise very overpriced and made me feel ripped off.

Watery is the word. Not bad tasting, but not like Narcoosee’s.

 

[aliceismad]

I don't doubt that the quality of food was mediocre. My husband has put BOG on a solid no-thanks list unless my daughter specifically asks. But the $62 for a prix fixe menu doesn't seem that bad. If I go to Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill in Disney Springs, which I think is a decent but meh restaurant, with that $62 I'd spend $15 or so on a soup/salad/appetizer, $37 on a 10 oz flat iron steak with a tiny bit of broccolini, and another $10 for dessert. The portions might be a touch bigger and the food quality a bit better and maybe a bit less cafeteria-like, but it's not in Beast's castle.

 

[UNCgolf]

I don't doubt that the quality of food was mediocre. My husband has put BOG on a solid no-thanks list unless my daughter specifically asks. But the $62 for a prix fixe menu doesn't seem that bad. If I go to Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill in Disney Springs, which I think is a decent but meh restaurant, with that $62 I'd spend $15 or so on a soup/salad/appetizer, $37 on a 10 oz flat iron steak with a tiny bit of broccolini, and another $10 for dessert. The portions might be a touch bigger and the food quality a bit better and maybe a bit less cafeteria-like, but it's not in Beast's castle.

That's how I feel about Cinderella's Royal Table (although only for breakfast), because I really enjoy being inside that room in the castle. I don't care about the princesses and it's not somewhere I'd go every trip because the price is way too high for the food quality, but every once in a while it's a fun place to eat because it's a great setting.

Be Our Guest, on the other hand, doesn't work on that level for me. It doesn't really feel like you're in the Beast's Castle when you're actually eating there, outside of maybe the West Wing. One of the rooms doesn't even look like anything from the movie, and the ballroom is so large and full of people that it significantly detracts from the experience. When you combine that with the mediocre food, it's just not worth the price. I went once and don't have any intention to ever go back.

 

[aliceismad]

That's how I feel about Cinderella's Royal Table (although only for breakfast), because I really enjoy being inside that room in the castle. I don't care about the princesses and it's not somewhere I'd go every trip because the price is way too high for the food quality, but every once in a while it's a fun place to eat because it's a great setting.

Be Our Guest, on the other hand, doesn't work on that level for me. It doesn't really feel like you're in the Beast's Castle when you're actually eating there, outside of maybe the West Wing. One of the rooms doesn't even look like anything from the movie, and the ballroom is so large and full of people that it significantly detracts from the experience. When you combine that with the mediocre food, it's just not worth the price. I went once and don't have any intention to ever go back.

Dining there is definitely not an intimate experience in the ballroom, and it's loud. In the ballroom, I've only sat near the windows, where you can see the "snow fall," which is neat. The West Wing would be my preference. If I went to Disney all the time, I wouldn't bother with the place.

 

[NelleBelle]

Having never eaten at BoG or CRT, and knowing that both have limited menus, but going purely for the atmosphere (it's a girls trip...I don't think when I go with my DH and boys they're going to want to eat at either), which would you recommend? And are they both prix fixe menus?

 

[UNCgolf]

Having never eaten at BoG or CRT, and knowing that both have limited menus, but going purely for the atmosphere (it's a girls trip...I don't think when I go with my DH and boys they're going to want to eat at either), which would you recommend? And are they both prix fixe menus?

As I said above, I much prefer CRT. Sitting in the West Wing of BoG is definitely better than the other parts, but the ballroom (where the majority of the seating is) almost feels like a cafeteria. It's just a big open room with tables everywhere. The design of the room at CRT is more conducive to dining -- even though it probably has just as many people in it as BoG, it doesn't feel as crowded because of the way it's designed. It's more intimate (not saying it actually is intimate; just moreso than BoG).

Neither of them are worth the price for the food, but I think the atmosphere at CRT is better and it's neat to know you're eating inside the castle.

 

[Chef Mickey]

As I said above, I much prefer CRT. Sitting in the West Wing of BoG is definitely better than the other parts, but the ballroom (where the majority of the seating is) almost feels like a cafeteria. It's just a big open room with tables everywhere. The design of the room at CRT is more conducive to dining -- even though it probably has just as many people in it as BoG, it doesn't feel as crowded because of the way it's designed. It's more intimate (not saying it actually is intimate; just moreso than BoG).

Neither of them are worth the price for the food, but I think the atmosphere at CRT is better and it's neat to know you're eating inside the castle.

How’s the food quality at CRT lately?

 

[UNCgolf]

How’s the food quality at CRT lately?

I ate there almost exactly a year ago and it was fine. Not especially good, but fine. It was for breakfast, though, which is harder to really screw up than other meals.

We tend to just eat dinner at Disney Springs most nights, even if it's a very late dinner. The food quality there is almost uniformly higher than what you find in the parks, with a few exceptions -- I'd even say most of the quick service restaurants like Polite Pig and Pizza Ponte at DS are better than most of the table service restaurants in the parks.