Garden Grill Fell Through - Need Advice

[Shere_Khan]

Well I had lunch reservations for the Garden Grill on October 11th - only to find out the last day they will do lunch is October 6th. So I of course need a new choice.
The restaurants we are already going to this trip are: Rose and Crown, 50's Prime Time, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Biergarten. What I am looking for is a new lunch option, that would include meals between $10-$18. I wouldn't say we are extremely picky eaters, but I was hoping for something that had at least one or two choices that are not too strange as far as food goes.
I am not limiting to the parks, maybe a resort choice would be fun. I have never eaten at a resort, besides the Hawaiin Luau (the name escapes me). I was trying to look through menus but I find suggestions to be so much more helpful.

I suppose dinner is not out of the question since we were going to spend around $26-29 for the Garden Grill, but I was hoping to go with a cheaper option then in the upper 20's-30's.

Thanks!!

Edit: $20 meals are fine, up in the $30's is pushing it!

 

[KingStefan]

I guess that I'm not telling you anything when I say that table service for $10-18 is a bit of a challenge. So maybe you intend to include counter service.

Also, as lunch at the Garden Grill implies you plan to be at Epcot, why not think about lunch at one of the Epcot resorts (including maybe the Westin hotels). Spoodles on the Boardwalk comes to mind. Let me check my notes and references and post again a bit later.

 

[Shere_Khan]

I guess that I'm not telling you anything when I say that table service for $10-18 is a bit of a challenge. So maybe you intend to include counter service.

Also, as lunch at the Garden Grill implies you plan to be at Epcot, why not think about lunch at one of the Epcot resorts (including maybe the Westin hotels). Spoodles on the Boardwalk comes to mind. Let me check my notes and references and post again a bit later.

Well ok, I guess I did go too low on the prices. I suppose I would like to go somewhere that would have been the same price as Garden Grill which we had already planned on. I think it was between 26 and 29.
Also I only planned Garden Grill because I wanted to go there, so we just decided we would be in Epcot because of that. Epcot is not a must since we will be there on two other occasions for the Rose and Crown and Biergarten.
Now that I think about it, maybe it would be more fun to visit a resort. Because then we would not have to decide until that day on what park we want to go to in the morning. It is our second to last day so it might be kind of nice not to have to be somewhere specific that morning. We can go wherever we didn't feel we spent enough time at, and then leave for a late lunch.
Thanks for your reply. Please give me your suggestion that are a bit more price wise. We can handle it I think. I just would love to experience some table services because I never really have.

 

[mousefan1972]

Katie, how about the Kona Cafe at the Poly? We've eaten there twice for dinner and the food is very yummy. Also the lunch prices are more reasonable than dinner. The lunch entrees seem to range from $12-$18 so not too bad price wise.

 

[mouselvrmom]

Does cape may cafe do lunch? Maybe they have a bit later breakfast seating like right before noon? That wouild be something that you would be close for since you were already in epcot. Of course if cape may doesn't do lunch, you could always do beaches and cream.

 

[Master Yoda]

Take a short walk over to the beach club and have lunch at Beaches n Cream. They have great burgers, fries and onion rings and they are the home of the infamous Kitchen sink. The only bad thing about the place is that they do not take ADR's so you might have a bit of a wait. The good new is that there is an arcade next door and you can easily kill the wait time in there.

 

[KingStefan]

The trouble is that most resort restaurants that are table service don't do lunch. For example, Spoodle's that I mentioned doesn't have lunch.

One I know that does lunch is the Whispering Canyon Cafe at the WL. It is wonderful. The food is good, there are fun and games and antics, and they take ADRs. Of all the resort restaurants that take ADRs for lunch, this would be my first pick.

I'll try to post listing the other resort restaurants that take ADRs for lunch in a little bit, but I might mention that I agree that Beaches 'n' Cream has great grill sandwiches - Hamburgers, Grilled Chicken, etc., but no reservations. Might be worth a chance, though.

Later!

 

[KingStefan]

These are the resort restaurants that take ADRs for lunch (I think I got them all, but I'm not so sure):

Captain's Grille - YC
Fresh Mediterranean Market - Dolphin
GF Cafe - GF
Kona Cafe - Poly
Olivia's Cafe - OKW
The Wave - Contemp
Whispering Canyon Cafe - WL

I would not recommend Olivia's. It's nothing really special, and kind of out-of-the-way.

Whispering Canyon Cafe, as I've said is fabulous, and would be my first choice.

You've already got a good recommendation for Kona Cafe in an earlier post - I've not been there.

The Wave is a new place at the Contemp that I've heard really good things about. You might want to consider that. It may be a tad bit more $ than the other places, but I'm not really sure. I've heard really good reviews, though.

I can't say anything about the others.

I have heard that the lunch buffet at Trail's End at FW is a really good value. I believe it's $13-15 for adults, I think depending on season. They don't take ADRs, but I've heard that it's not hard to get in. You're not going at a busy time, so - idk. 11:30-2.

There are a couple of other places that don't take reservations, but might fit your needs. I don't have a complete list, but could do some research if you're interested in taking a chance that you might have to wait a bit.

 

[AnimalMagnetism]

Does anyone know exactly why Garden Grill would stop serving lunch? It's hard enough to find ADRs in Epcot without taking somewhere away. Seems a strange move.

 

[KingStefan]

Does cape may cafe do lunch? ...Of course if cape may doesn't do lunch, you could always do beaches and cream.

Cape May doesn't do lunch; B&C is a good alternative but doesn't take ADRs.

 

[wolf29]

If dinner is an option, then I'd head to DAKL and experience the lodge & Boma. It's different than any other dining option.

 

[KingStefan]

Here are some other casual/special lunch choices that I do not think take ADRs. I am familiar with only B&C:

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop - BC
Big River Grille & Brewing Works - Boardwalk
The Fountain - Dolphin
The Mara - AKL

These are all I could find except poolside, etc.

And of course, every resort has a counter service restaurant now, some more than one.

I love to take a break from the parks sometimes and eat lunch at a resort.

Good luck in your search.

EDIT: sorry I've been so chatty in this thread. I just sorta got excited when somebody wanted maybe to resort hop for lunch!

 

[Shere_Khan]

EDIT: sorry I've been so chatty in this thread. I just sorta got excited when somebody wanted maybe to resort hop for lunch!

Omg do not be sorry! I appreciate your suggestions so much!! From what you all have described, I am thinking between The Whispering Canyon, Kona Cafe, and the Wave.
I would really like to get out and see some other resorts so that might be a good opportunity. It might be fun to walk around Wilderness Lodge as well after we eat.
However, the new wave sounds interesting too, as does Kona.

Thanks for all your help. Keep the suggestions coming.

 

[kangaand2roos]

I was going to suggest the Whispering Canyon. I haven't actually eaten there yet but my parents and sister have and they said it was great. We have reservations this year though so I get to finally try it!

 

[YodaGirl]

I have heard that the lunch buffet at Trail's End at FW is a really good value. I believe it's $13-15 for adults, I think depending on season. They don't take ADRs, but I've heard that it's not hard to get in. You're not going at a busy time, so - idk. 11:30-2.

Actually, they do take ADR's. We've gone with; we've gone without. Just depends on the season/time. You may have to wait 30-45 minutes to get in, but I've never heard of anyone NOT being able to get in.

We eat at Trail's End every time that we're down there. It's a pretty good all-you-can-eat buffet. The atmosphere is neat (if you like country-themes, which we do ).

Also, we enjoy sitting in the rocking chairs on the front porch. I don't think you mentioned whether or not you have kids, but if you do, there's a playground where they can play (you can watch from the rocking chairs) as well as the Tri-Circle-D ranch where they keep the parade horses. They also offer pony rides for around $4. Something to do while you wait, anyway.

 

[KingStefan]

...I have heard that the lunch buffet at Trail's End at FW is a really good value. I believe it's $13-15 for adults, I think depending on season. They don't take ADRs, but I've heard that it's not hard to get in. You're not going at a busy time, so - idk. 11:30-2.
...

Actually, they do take ADR's. We've gone with; we've gone without. Just depends on the season/time. You may have to wait 30-45 minutes to get in, but I've never heard of anyone NOT being able to get in....

Thanks for that correction. That's good to know.

So, I'm a bit confused about the official Disneyworld site's dining section. I thought that all the restaurants that take ADRs had the following phrase in their listings: "Reservations: recommended, please call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463)". However, I'm finding out that that is not the case.

Certainly, all the restaurants listed that way take ADRs, but I'm finding through these forums, or by reasoning or experience that just because it doesn't say that, it doesn't mean that they DON'T take ADRs. Trail's end is a good example. Another is Garden Grill at the Swan. I thought that maybe that was because it was at a Westin hotel, but Fresh Mediteranean Market and Shula's at the Dolphin have that statement, so that can't be it.

Does anyone know a reliable way (aside from calling Disney Dining or asking JPVonDrake) you can tell what restaurants you can make ADRs for?

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks for that correction. That's good to know.

So, I'm a bit confused about the official Disneyworld site's dining section. I thought that all the restaurants that take ADRs had the following phrase in their listings: "Reservations: recommended, please call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463)". However, I'm finding out that that is not the case.

Certainly, all the restaurants listed that way take ADRs, but I'm finding through these forums, or by reasoning or experience that just because it doesn't say that, it doesn't mean that they DON'T take ADRs. Trail's end is a good example. Another is Garden Grill at the Swan. I thought that maybe that was because it was at a Westin hotel, but Fresh Mediteranean Market and Shula's at the Dolphin have that statement, so that can't be it.

Does anyone know a reliable way (aside from calling Disney Dining or asking JPVonDrake) you can tell what restaurants you can make ADRs for?

The safe assumption is that all Disney owned restaurants will take ADR's directly through Disney. All of the non-Disney owned restaurants can be hit or miss and their ADR policies seem to change frequntly. One of my favorite restaurants on property is Raglan rd and since its opening it has changed its ADR policies at least twice. Start with Disney for the ADR and if they can not do it call the restaurant directly.

 

[DDuckFan130]

10-18 dollars a meal during lunch is the norm, so I don't know why someone said it would be a challenge.

We've had lunch at the following places and have had great meals for that price range:

Mama Melrose
Liberty Tree Tavern (no characters and no buffet)
San Angel Inn

I'd recommend any of them if you've never been And they're pretty easy to get into.

Have a great trip

 

[KingStefan]

10-18 dollars a meal during lunch is the norm, so I don't know why someone said it would be a challenge.

We've had lunch at the following places and have had great meals for that price range:

Mama Melrose
Liberty Tree Tavern (no characters and no buffet)
San Angel Inn

I'd recommend any of them if you've never been And they're pretty easy to get into.

Have a great trip

It was I who said it would be a challenge.

Most of the table service restaurants are listed on the official Disney site as "$$", which means $15-36 pp.

For the three examples you gave, using the WDWinfo menus, I come up with the following:

Mama Melrose - 2 courses: $19-35 pp incl tax and tip
Liberty Tree Tavern (no characters and no buffet) - 2 courses: $19-28 pp incl tax and tip
San Angel Inn - 2 courses: $20-35 pp incl tax and tip

The above prices do not include drinks (not even soft drinks). So add about $2.25 pp if you have a coke, more if you drink juice, beer, wine, or cocktails or specialty drinks (LTT - Patriot's Punch w souvnir mug about $10 w tax and tip; MM - non-alcoholic Pirate's Punch about $8 w t&t).

Of course if you drink only tap water and/or have only one course, it will cost less. As little as: MM - $15, LTT - $14, SAI - $14. But this is just tap water and the very cheapest plate of food - anything else is extra. And of course kids' meals will generally cost less.

Enjoy!

 

[DDuckFan130]

It was I who said it would be a challenge.

Most of the table service restaurants are listed on the official Disney site as "$$", which means $15-36 pp.

For the three examples you gave, using the WDWinfo menus, I come up with the following:

Mama Melrose - 2 courses: $19-35 pp incl tax and tip
Liberty Tree Tavern (no characters and no buffet) - 2 courses: $19-28 pp incl tax and tip
San Angel Inn - 2 courses: $20-35 pp incl tax and tip

The above prices do not include drinks (not even soft drinks). So add about $2.25 pp if you have a coke, more if you drink juice, beer, wine, or cocktails or specialty drinks (LTT - Patriot's Punch w souvnir mug about $10 w tax and tip; MM - non-alcoholic Pirate's Punch about $8 w t&t).

Of course if you drink only tap water and/or have only one course, it will cost less. As little as: MM - $15, LTT - $14, SAI - $14. But this is just tap water and the very cheapest plate of food - anything else is extra. And of course kids' meals will generally cost less.

Enjoy!

I think it really depends. If we're including drinks, then perhaps you are right. I was thinking in terms of just the food and what each plate costs. Even so, I'll give the example of LTT and what I had:

This is from All Ears:

Angus Chuck Cheeseburger topped with bacon and cheddar or mushrooms and provolone served with fresh fruit or tavern fries $11.99

And I had a Coke...so still within the price range the OP mentioned. We never eat appetizers, and even less do we ever eat desserts.

It's all a matter of picking wisely. I don't like to splurge on food, which is why we rarely do sit-down meals to begin with. And when we do, I don't buy the most expensive meal.

:shrug: