Disney Misses Out on Michelin Stars

TP2000

TP2000

Well-Known Member
Rteetz said:
Disney failed to earn a Michelin Star at Victoria & Alberts. Capa at the Four Season earned one star which it also earned last year.
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Last time I ate at Victoria & Albert's, George Bush II was in the White House, so I'm not an expert on their current operation. And if Napa Rose at the Grand Californian can't muster a single Michelin star, then certainly nothing at WDW can.

Regarding Michelin (although I'm generally a Goodyear man myself), it wouldn't surprise me to learn that the CM's training and polish level, or lack thereof, won't earn any Disney operated restaurant a Michelin star regardless of what's going on in the kitchen. I know officially Michelin says that it's all about the kitchen/chef and things like "harmony of ingredients" or however Michelin phrases it, but service staff is also a factor. Which is encompassed by the "consistency between visits" rating factor.

I've had some laughably bad and embarrassingly amateurish CM service on occasion from Disney operated hotel restaurants that were priced/presented as "fine dining". I've mostly had mediocre/passable/satisfactory service at those types of Disney restaurants. That seems to be the best they can hope for, or that their front line management even know how to achieve. Let's shoot for Satisfactory! :rolleyes:

The only Disney operated hotel restaurants where the service just barely landed at world-class, fine dining level of polish and detailing was at Tokyo Disneyland Resort, specifically Magellan's and Canna.
 
TheMaxRebo

TheMaxRebo

Well-Known Member
I've only eaten there once but the experience was on par with what I have had at Michelin Star restaurants. Food was excellent and presented quite well, the service was unbelievably good - super knowledgeable but also friendly and down to earth, not stuck up. The harpist added to the mood.

I wonder if maybe they feel it isn't innovative enough or trying to push boundaries or anything - definitely more of a consistent menu

Overall I am a little surprised but not like unbelievably shocked
 
PascagoulaRun

PascagoulaRun

Member
It's quite possible it was due to price. You can have 1 or 2 star food and quality, but if the price is too high they won't put you in the book. The tasting menu is same price as Le Bernardin.
 
lentesta

lentesta

Premium Member
PascagoulaRun said:
It's quite possible it was due to price. You can have 1 or 2 star food and quality, but if the price is too high they won't put you in the book. The tasting menu is same price as Le Bernardin.
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Yeah, that's one of my thoughts too. V&A's pricing is in line with some Michelin 3-star restaurants. And one of Michelin's four evaluation criteria is "value for money." That is not exactly synonymous with Disney costs.

However, I really think Michelin's decision came down to timing: V&A simply hasn't been re-opened long enough for a proper review cycle:
  • V&A re-opened on July 28, 2022. Call it August 1 to make the math easier.
  • I'm assuming Michelin had to complete its reviews by April 1 at the latest.
  • That's 9 months, tops, for a reviewer to schedule approximately 3 trips
AND
  • It's unlikely that Michelin would've sent a reviewer until the restaurant had been opened a while. If you told me they have to wait at least 3 months, and more likely 6 months after opening, I'd totally believe that
  • V&A's chef, Matthew Sowers, has only been there 9 months as well.
The combination of being open 9 months, with a new chef in place for only 9 months, might be the main reasons it doesn't have stars yet.

Like I said, I was there last night. Had the degustitation menu. It meets the other criteria for Michelin stars. I think it's just a matter of time.

ETA: For context, the most recent 2-star I've dined at is The Modern in Manhattan. I don't know how many 1-stars I've been to, but the most recent was Capa at the Four Seasons.
 
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C

Comped

Well-Known Member
lentesta said:
Yeah, that's one of my thoughts too. V&A's pricing is in line with some Michelin 3-star restaurants. And one of Michelin's four evaluation criteria is "value for money." That is not exactly synonymous with Disney costs.

However, I really think Michelin's decision came down to timing: V&A simply hasn't been re-opened long enough for a proper review cycle:
  • V&A re-opened on July 28, 2022. Call it August 1 to make the math easier.
  • I'm assuming Michelin had to complete its reviews by April 1 at the latest.
  • That's 9 months, tops, for a reviewer to schedule approximately 3 trips
AND
  • It's unlikely that Michelin would've sent a reviewer until the restaurant had been opened a while. If you told me they have to wait at least 3 months, and more likely 6 months after opening, I'd totally believe that
  • V&A's chef, Matthew Sowers, has only been there 9 months as well.
The combination of being open 9 months, with a new chef in place for only 9 months, might be the main reasons it doesn't have stars yet.

Like I said, I was there last night. Had the degustitation menu. It meets the other criteria for Michelin stars. I think it's just a matter of time.

ETA: For context, the most recent 2-star I've dined at is The Modern in Manhattan. I don't know how many 1-stars I've been to, but the most recent was Capa at the Four Seasons.
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If any place in Florida was going to get a star or two, likely even three, it should have been this place. There's a reason why both Forbes and AAA (although AAA maybe a bit suspect given the long-term partnership between them and Disney) have given them top marks. Only getting recommended is a bit of a slap in the face for Disney, and arguably the taxpayers of Orange county given the money that was put out for this guide in the first place, given that V&A is among the highest profile and best reviewed restaurants in the Southeast for a reason.

If it's down to timing then Disney had months to get this ready, if not an entire cycle given that they skipped the 2022 cycle. Getting a recommended for something that otherwise is extremely well reviewed either is the fault of the chef because the food was bad (we know this isn't true), the price was bad (as many have suggested here, although I don't think it is nearly as bad as some suggest), or the CMs simply weren't up to Michelin service standards. I think that's the closest to being right, but that doesn't make sense given how well essentially every other publication, yours included, has reviewed the place over the years in terms of service, and even after the pandemic. Price is likely to be a short-term issue because everyone knows once you get a star or two it goes up. Disney is already at that price point and is unlikely to cut. It doesn't make sense for them when they can fill the place if they want to. To me the only reason it could be is a question of service, and that's where I'm wondering what the heck happened.
 
Disney Analyst

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
lentesta said:
Yeah, that's one of my thoughts too. V&A's pricing is in line with some Michelin 3-star restaurants. And one of Michelin's four evaluation criteria is "value for money." That is not exactly synonymous with Disney costs.

However, I really think Michelin's decision came down to timing: V&A simply hasn't been re-opened long enough for a proper review cycle:
  • V&A re-opened on July 28, 2022. Call it August 1 to make the math easier.
  • I'm assuming Michelin had to complete its reviews by April 1 at the latest.
  • That's 9 months, tops, for a reviewer to schedule approximately 3 trips
AND
  • It's unlikely that Michelin would've sent a reviewer until the restaurant had been opened a while. If you told me they have to wait at least 3 months, and more likely 6 months after opening, I'd totally believe that
  • V&A's chef, Matthew Sowers, has only been there 9 months as well.
The combination of being open 9 months, with a new chef in place for only 9 months, might be the main reasons it doesn't have stars yet.

Like I said, I was there last night. Had the degustitation menu. It meets the other criteria for Michelin stars. I think it's just a matter of time.

ETA: For context, the most recent 2-star I've dined at is The Modern in Manhattan. I don't know how many 1-stars I've been to, but the most recent was Capa at the Four Seasons.
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I also believe it would have come down to timing, in order to get 3 visits in, before the deadline needed.

Now if they don't get anything next cycle, that's another story.
 
My95cobras

My95cobras

Well-Known Member
Comped said:
If any place in Florida was going to get a star or two, likely even three, it should have been this place. There's a reason why both Forbes and AAA (although AAA maybe a bit suspect given the long-term partnership between them and Disney) have given them top marks. Only getting recommended is a bit of a slap in the face for Disney, and arguably the taxpayers of Orange county given the money that was put out for this guide in the first place, given that V&A is among the highest profile and best reviewed restaurants in the Southeast for a reason.

If it's down to timing then Disney had months to get this ready, if not an entire cycle given that they skipped the 2022 cycle. Getting a recommended for something that otherwise is extremely well reviewed either is the fault of the chef because the food was bad (we know this isn't true), the price was bad (as many have suggested here, although I don't think it is nearly as bad as some suggest), or the CMs simply weren't up to Michelin service standards. I think that's the closest to being right, but that doesn't make sense given how well essentially every other publication, yours included, has reviewed the place over the years in terms of service, and even after the pandemic. Price is likely to be a short-term issue because everyone knows once you get a star or two it goes up. Disney is already at that price point and is unlikely to cut. It doesn't make sense for them when they can fill the place if they want to. To me the only reason it could be is a question of service, and that's where I'm wondering what the heck happened.
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Service is not evaluated in receiving a star.

If you’ve been to a 3 Michelin star restaurant, you know that va will not get three.

the restaurant Is not what it was pre pandemic.
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
TheMaxRebo said:
I've only eaten there once but the experience was on par with what I have had at Michelin Star restaurants. Food was excellent and presented quite well, the service was unbelievably good - super knowledgeable but also friendly and down to earth, not stuck up. The harpist added to the mood.

I wonder if maybe they feel it isn't innovative enough or trying to push boundaries or anything - definitely more of a consistent menu

Overall I am a little surprised but not like unbelievably shocked
Click to expand...
It’s been a while…

But I bet that the Bob brain trust lowered the outlays on the culinary staff and services or they lost too much due to attrition and the quality has fallen.

It was excellent for a long time. But none of the food - while still pretty good - is quite to the standards needed for accolades. It’s been a long, slow burn

Enjoy that dining plan though 😎
 
TheMaxRebo

TheMaxRebo

Well-Known Member
Sirwalterraleigh said:
It’s been a while…

But I bet that the Bob brain trust lowered the outlays on the culinary staff and services or they lost too much due to attrition and the quality has fallen.

It was excellent for a long time. But none of the food - while still pretty good - is quite to the standards needed for accolades. It’s been a long, slow burn

Enjoy that dining plan though 😎
Click to expand...

I will admit it has been a while since we have eaten at V&A so maybe it isn't as good as when I went. I would also think being able to market that they have a Michelin Star restaurant on property is something executives would like to tout if any place got more than their share of the reduced pie of dining resources it would be something like V&A

I think the timing challenge that Len mentioned definitely played a roll - big thing will be what happens next year. If it is important to them to get accolades like this they will allocate the resourced and change up what needs to be adjusted in order to help ensure they get one next year. If they don't bother / care then that will play out as well
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
TheMaxRebo said:
I will admit it has been a while since we have eaten at V&A so maybe it isn't as good as when I went. I would also think being able to market that they have a Michelin Star restaurant on property is something executives would like to tout if any place got more than their share of the reduced pie of dining resources it would be something like V&A

I think the timing challenge that Len mentioned definitely played a roll - big thing will be what happens next year. If it is important to them to get accolades like this they will allocate the resourced and change up what needs to be adjusted in order to help ensure they get one next year. If they don't bother / care then that will play out as well
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It’s all per guest spending in the dwarf house now…more than usual

There was a time when they touted their accomplishments…but that’s for 20th century “losers” now 😎
 
Tha Realest

Tha Realest

Well-Known Member
Sirwalterraleigh said:
It’s been a while…

But I bet that the Bob brain trust lowered the outlays on the culinary staff and services or they lost too much due to attrition and the quality has fallen.

It was excellent for a long time. But none of the food - while still pretty good - is quite to the standards needed for accolades. It’s been a long, slow burn

Enjoy that dining plan though 😎
Click to expand...
I was wondering about this too. We took a trip just before the pandemic and just after they reopened, and again late last year. Drop off in food quality was dramatic over that time. Can’t help but think it’s carried over to some degree across the board?
 

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