First look at The BOATHOUSE menu - opening next week at Disney Springs The Landing

[JohnD]

Lets run through an example of a couple eating at two restaurants, one which you are claiming is only for the rich, and one at Epcot, which many many people who do not claim to be rich frequently eat at.

BOATHOUSE

- Cedar Planked Salmon $29
- Berkshire Pork Chop 12 ounce $27
- Key Lime Pie in a Jar $9
TOTAL $65

Coral Reef

- Seared Salmon Filet $24.99
- Roasted Pork Belly $26.99
- The Chocolate Wave $8.99
TOTAL $69.97

I would add:

BOATHOUSE

- Cedar Planked Salmon $29
- Berkshire Pork Chop 12 ounce $27
- Key Lime Pie in a Jar $9
- Park Admission: $0
TOTAL $65

Coral Reef

- Seared Salmon Filet $24.99
- Roasted Pork Belly $26.99
- The Chocolate Wave $8.99
- Park Admission: $97.00
TOTAL $157.97

Now, you may say that is not a fair comparison as people who go to WDW already factor park admission into their budget. But the difference is that you need park admission to eat at Coral Reef. If you want to eat there and didn't have plans to be a park guest you have to fork over $97.00 for a one-day ticket first. I think it's very obvious hardly anyone would ever do that. Still, you don't need park admission for Boathouse or any other restaurant at Disney Springs. These restaurants are open not only to WDW guests but locals and anyone else in the area who want to dine there.

If you're a local or, say, on a business trip elsewhere in the Orlando area, and decided to dine at Boathouse, you might have more disposable income to spend extra on a meal, including sharing the $115 steak. If you're a WDW guest, you make adjustments because a good portion of your budget is going to your resort stay and park admission. As had already been pointed out, you can still pick items in the $20-$40 range.

 

[wendysue]

I'm not trying to white knight for this place or anything, those prices fall in line with a proper steakhouse pricing. I am a vegetarian, so I have no pony in this race and will likely never eat here.

If those prices fall in line with proper steakhouse pricing, everyone should start eating at home!! That is just plain stupid!!

 

[sshindel]

If those prices fall in line with proper steakhouse pricing, everyone should start eating at home!! That is just plain stupid!!

The moment I become good at properly dry or wet aging a steak, cooking it to (hopefully) perfection somehow without actually doing any of the work and instead drinking wine, and have a good connection at a butcher who can provide me with the proper quality meat, I'll do that.
The ultra-high priced cut of meat that everyone is having sticker shock over, the tomahawk cut for 2, is a fairly pricey cut of meat if you get it in USDA Prime quality. Someone in the know in this kind of thing mentioned to me yesterday (and I did a little Google confirmation on the side as well) that this cut of meat typically retails for around $70-75, uncooked.
So yes, there is markup to get from $75 to $117, sure. Looking at it as a percentage markup though, it's no larger than what a standard food service markup would be. Your $20 Outback 10oz Boneless Ribeye isn't going to be of USDA Prime quality, because those retail around $25 ($2.50/ounce). Outback uses USDA Choice, which looking at my local Jewel sale paper, I can get a USDA Choice boneless ribeye for $6.86 for 10oz ($0.68 an ounce), now buy them in bulk like Outback would do and guess what the markup is on that? Something like %191 (ok, you get 1 side with it at Outback, how much would a handfull of fries cost?).
Looking at that, the %56 markup of the USDA Prime Tomahawk Chop looks like the steal of the century.

 

[JohnD]

I really don't get the ire over the menu prices. That's like saying Disney shouldn't have any deluxe resorts. Just as there are multiple ranges of resorts--Deluxe, Moderate, and Value--there are multiple ranges of restaurants from food trucks to snack bars to counter service to table service to signature dining, all the way from the DTD food trucks to Victoria and Alberts.

Why is it so bad to offer dining at different price ranges for differing income ranges? If you can't do Victoria and Alberts, there is nothing wrong with choosing the Grand Floridian Cafe, for example. If you still want to eat at Boathouse, if you can't choose the 32 oz steak for two at $115, or $57.50 each if the cost is shared by two, you could still order the Sirloin for $23.

 

[GeneralZod]

No. It won't.

Good. Now if only we could say the same for every restaurant.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Those prices are crazy. Maybe I am spoiled but I live in NE and we have a steakhouse every couple of miles. We can get a great steak dinner for much cheaper.

And exactly what kind of steakhouse are you referring to every couple of miles?

 

[Bob]

And exactly what kind of steakhouse are you referring to every couple of miles?

I'm guessing Golden Corral.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

If those prices fall in line with proper steakhouse pricing, everyone should start eating at home!! That is just plain stupid!!

Those prices are in-line with proper steakhouse pricing. What steakhouse do you eat at?

 

[MichWolv]

If those prices fall in line with proper steakhouse pricing, everyone should start eating at home!! That is just plain stupid!!

The prices are in line with prices as steakhouses like Gibson's, Morton's, Palm, Del Frisco's. They are also in line with prices at Be Our Guest, Le Cellier, Yachtsman's Steak House, Jiko, Artist Point, Fulton's, Wolfgang Puck, Coral Reef, Chef Mickey's, Cape May Cafe, Citrico's, Narcoossee, Ohana, and a bunch of other restaurants on property.

Getting those kind of steaks at home is pretty darned expensive as well (that $115 cut at Boathouse is about $75 or so when purchased from a high-end butcher). And then you have to cook and serve yourself. Perhaps you think nobody should eat food that costs that much -- so be it. Lots of folks seem to disagree, however.

 

[GrammieBee]

If the reviews for The Boathouse have been favorable by the time we get there in November, I would rather spend $39.00 for a filet than the $49.oo for the same size filet at The Yachtman's Steakhouse or Le Celler. Even more at Shulas. I am aware we can get a steak dinner for a lower cost at other reataurants on property, but my husband wants one "great" steak dinner while we are there.

If you really want to do something special you have to be ready to pay the price. Example: We would like to have dinner at Victoria and Albert's, but the cost is way out of our league, so, in many trips spanning forty years, we have never eaten there. We would like to, but can't justify spending that much on one meal. It's just the way it is. There is no point in complaining about something you can't afford. It only makes you unhappy or angry.

 

[WWWD]

And exactly what kind of steakhouse are you referring to every couple of miles?

She said she's from Nebraska. A lot of bars even serve great steaks in Nebraska.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

She said she's from Nebraska. A lot of bars even serve great steaks in Nebraska.

I lived in Omaha, NE for almost 14 years as an adult, and while they do have a few good steakhouses, there certainly isn't one every few miles. And great steak is really a matter of opinion. I don't remember ever getting a "great" steak, but some really good ones.

 

[JohnD]

I lived in Omaha, NE for almost 14 years as an adult, and while they do have a few good steakhouses, there certainly isn't one every few miles. And great steak is really a matter of opinion. I don't remember ever getting a "great" steak, but some really good ones.

Obviously, Omaha steaks aren't very hard to come by where you live but I get your point.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

While I don't doubt for a second Gibson's can pull off a worthy Tomahawk. My concern is ambience. When I drop a C-Note on a steak, I'm expecting a level if sophistication currently not found in DTD. These prices are pretty much in line with Bull and Bear. I just don't see this as being in that league for ambience and service.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

While I don't doubt for a second Gibson's can pull off a worthy Tomahawk. My concern is ambience. When I drop a C-Note on a steak, I'm expecting a level if sophistication currently not found in DTD. These prices are pretty much in line with Bull and Bear. I just don't see this as being in that league for ambience and service.

I do agree, and I think we'll have to see how the entire area is completed next year.

 

[lunchbox1175]

Why do you want a new restaurant offering to fail? Because it doesnt offer $5 burgers? There needs to be a mix of offerings, from low end to high end.

I agree.....I prefer the higher end restaurants, but often end up settling for mid range, this will help sort out some people that are looking for some finer dining experiences, and open up more spots for others.

 

[jaklgreen]

It's not even the steak prices that are that bad but the fact that you have to pay so much extra for the sides. If those prices included a vegi and potato then it wouldn't be that bad.

 

[MichWolv]

It's not even the steak prices that are that bad but the fact that you have to pay so much extra for the sides. If those prices included a vegi and potato then it wouldn't be that bad.

Remember that the sides are "family style" and are intended to serve 3-4.

 

[jaklgreen]

Remember that the sides are "family style" and are intended to serve 3-4.

What if you are by yourself or with a one other person? Is there a cheaper smaller option?

 

[jharvey]

I get it. This is like one of those shady "Gentlemen's" clubs that severally overcharges you, and when you complain they exchange for services?