Favorite restaurant theme or decor

epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
From the over the top theme like T-Rex to the understated elegance of the California Grill, we like trying different restaurants at WDW to experience the theme and decor as much as the food.
Some places we have gone to and just had an appetizer or dessert to experience the surroundings, but we go at slower times and don't feel like we are taking a table away from full meal diners, and often do walk ups, and I guess they are easier for a party of two.
Anyway, thinking about it, our favorite, decor wise and just the overall feel of the place is Sanaa.
What is your favorite restaurant theme and or decor?
 
Figgy1

Figgy1

Well-Known Member
epcotisbest said:
From the over the top theme like T-Rex to the understated elegance of the California Grill, we like trying different restaurants at WDW to experience the theme and decor as much as the food.
Some places we have gone to and just had an appetizer or dessert to experience the surroundings, but we go at slower times and don't feel like we are taking a table away from full meal diners, and often do walk ups, and I guess they are easier for a party of two.
Anyway, thinking about it, our favorite, decor wise and just the overall feel of the place is Sanaa.
What is your favorite restaurant theme and or decor?
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Orpheus7696 said:
My two choices would have to be Yak and Yeti for the ambience. I feel like I am in Nepal. My other choice would have to be Le Chefs for the elegant Paris feel.
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I think you have both made excellent points but i'd have to say it's BOG for me. It was amazing and I felt like I was in the movie. that and I haven't been to Sanna or Y&Y yet (hangs head in shame) I'll fix that next August
 
zurgandfriend

zurgandfriend

Well-Known Member
The Hollywood Brown Derby was a direct copy of the original in California, the decor is right out of the 30's & 40's the golden age of movies an era I love. The 50's Prime Time Cafe IS the kitchen in the house where I grew up so I always like going there. Jiko has a very nice decor. Then there is Shula's ; red meat, football, GUY stuff!! As I type this I'm singing "men, men, men ,men" but I digress.
 
belledream

belledream

Well-Known Member
San Angel Inn. The food isn't the greatest I've ever had by any means, but it's very hard for me to pass up the opportunity to dine here every so often. Inside, but outside feeling, the ambient background music and smells, and the occasional Gran Fiesta boat that comes by. So much fun! Also watching the volcano all the way in the "distance".
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
belledream said:
San Angel Inn. The food isn't the greatest I've ever had by any means, but it's very hard for me to pass up the opportunity to dine here every so often. Inside, but outside feeling, the ambient background music and smells, and the occasional Gran Fiesta boat that comes by. So much fun! Also watching the volcano all the way in the "distance".
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Last time we were there, a couple of years ago, it was so dark you almost could not see what you were eating. I do like the feel of the place though, except the tables seemed a bit close together, but its so dark it was hard to tell.
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
lostpro9het said:
Ironically, probably my two favorite themed places are also my least favorite places to eat! Le Cel and BOG(West Wing, sans all the photogs ruining it with flash photography) I feel are done very very well done. Sanaa is pretty well done too and has excellent food to boot!
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Le Cel seemed a little cramped to me, but I guess that is part of the decor. BOG is lovely but seems too big and busy for theme. Yes, it does help that the food at Sanaa is so good. We love the bread service.
 
H

Hockey89

Well-Known Member
belledream said:
San Angel Inn. The food isn't the greatest I've ever had by any means, but it's very hard for me to pass up the opportunity to dine here every so often. Inside, but outside feeling, the ambient background music and smells, and the occasional Gran Fiesta boat that comes by. So much fun! Also watching the volcano all the way in the "distance".
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The young ladies on the wait staff are all very very nice too... Just friendly.... Foods good not great but the whole package is nice... The steak tacos are good
 
belledream

belledream

Well-Known Member
epcotisbest said:
Last time we were there, a couple of years ago, it was so dark you almost could not see what you were eating. I do like the feel of the place though, except the tables seemed a bit close together, but its so dark it was hard to tell.
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It is a little cramped, but also depends on where you sit. We were fortunate to get this awesome view on our last visit to San Angel:
10645095_2322434420058_7221267338853047185_n.jpg

Voila! Empty:
10410185_2322434220053_1771969984716283432_n.jpg
 
Schneewittchen

Schneewittchen

Well-Known Member
I can really dig the cheesy restaurants at WDW.

Pinocchio's Village Haus (when it's not overrun with people) has really sweet murals and the blocky wooden chairs almost make it feel like you're in the movie. So charming and it just feels like the 70's to me.

Pioneer Hall for the Hoop Dee Doo Revue has that same amazing attention to detail as well. The exposed timbers and lighting are so cool.

Columbia Harbour House reminds me of a squicky local seafood chain that used to operate in my area. All overdone fake colonial stuff. Fantastic.
 
horizons82

horizons82

Well-Known Member
As a foodie and as one who enjoys ambience as an almost equal part of the meal, I love this topic! :)

I really like the atmosphere in a lot of the Epcot restaurants that have been mentioned (Le Cellier, San Angel, etc.), but a lot of them are VERY seat dependent and crowd dependent. Visits at these places are fantastic if they are not crowded and you get a good seat, but they can also be a lot less enjoyable if they are crowded or you end up in a bad seat.

Worst case scenario was being at a table for two at an extremely crowded Le Cellier. I didn’t mind the smaller table as it was just my wife and I, but our small table was sandwiched between two other tables on both sides of us. We were less than arm’s distance away from the other tables and all of the conversations could be heard by all of the parties (even a low level speaking). It totally negated the charming and romantic atmosphere.

We’ve also had the exact opposite experience at Le Cellier where on another visit the restaurant was quieter and less crowded and we were seated in a large corner booth, allowing for a much lovelier and intimate meal. It was a completely different (but wonderful) experience than the one mentioned above.

And I would say that most of the Epcot restaurants are hit-or-miss in this way as very few have much room between tables.

I don’t think Monsieur Paul was mentioned, and while the interior isn’t as “unique” in terms of special theming, it had a beautiful and elegant exterior that completely matched the upscale dining, and it’s one of the few places in Epcot that seems to have slightly more breathing room between tables. It doesn't seem to be all that popular of a restaurant, but a birthday meal at MP last year has easily been my favorite meal at WDW.

Space between tables is one of the reasons I tend to prefer the resort restaurants; tables are given much more generous space and some of the visual theming of the signature restaurants is quite nice. I’d definitely list Jiko, Sanaa and Flying Fish as some of my visual favorites, though I believe Flying Fish will be undergoing a reno early next year, but I don’t know to what extent.
 

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