Garden Grill - whats the real scoop

[Tomi-Rocket]

We love it, the food is very good(and LOVE they use ingredients grown in Living with the Land!) and the character interaction is great! Go and decide for yourself.

 

[tsaintc]

Thanks everyone! These are great reviews. My DH wants Teppan Edo. He's been asking for it for the past 8 years. So I think that is going to use up the TS credit at Epcot but i'm hoping to sway him towards GG. I have no interest in Teppan Edo.

Go with Teppan. The food is much better. GC food is just OK, rather bland in my opinion.

 

[djpoore94]

We haven't been in a few years, but when we went the food was really good and the character interaction was great (especially for this Chip & Dale lover). The only problem I had was that the layout of the restaurant made for some kind of awkward attempts at photos with the characters. Having to slide out of the booth every time someone came by and the tables being so close together (both side by side and the multilevel set up) made it a little hard to maneuver.

 

[kasey1988]

We booked this for our upcoming trip, I enjoyed it in early 2000's , looking forward to trying it again!

 

[tracyandalex]

It's been a few years for us, but we LOVED it. It's one of those we have been meaning to get back to especially since DD has never been, but it keeps not working out for us, lol. The characters are great, the food is yummy, the scenery is nice, and it's all you can eat that is brought to you!

 

[disneygirl76]

Yes, there are 2 levels. The first level is what you see from check in. The first level is all booth seating...has kind of a private feel to it. The 2nd level is tables.

While I liked having the bottom level for the booths and the private feeling...I also liked having the view...

This is what we would like. I don't know if I would like to be up top.

 

[disneygirl76]

DH is leaning towards to Teppen Edo. I may be loosing my chance now that I am finally game to try it.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

DH is leaning towards to Teppen Edo. I may be loosing my chance now that I am finally game to try it.

While some say it's not big deal, I think it's worth requesting the lower level. I don't think it increased our wait time all that much either. We had a 6:15p ADR...arrived a bit early just to get in the request and were seated around 6:30p.

 

[disneygirl76]

While some say it's not big deal, I think it's worth requesting the lower level. I don't think it increased our wait time all that much either. We had a 6:15p ADR...arrived a bit early just to get in the request and were seated around 6:30p.

Thanks for that tip. I would have never known. And I love seeing the restaurant from the ride so that is the level I would like to be on.

 

[danpam1024]

We did it when DS was tiny- by far one of the best/ most unique character meals- a LOT of one on one time. Food was plentiful- but kind of Thanksgiving-ish- which was fine in October I would go again!!

 

[JBravo1977]

DH is leaning towards to Teppen Edo. I may be loosing my chance now that I am finally game to try it.

If it helps, we tried Teppan Edo a few trips ago, and I was pretty disappointed. There was absolutely nothing special about it. You can get the same experience at any Japanese teppan style place in your hometown. I haven't gotten around to trying Garden Grill, but if it comes down to those two, I would go with GG.

 

[disneygirl76]

If it helps, we tried Teppan Edo a few trips ago, and I was pretty disappointed. There was absolutely nothing special about it. You can get the same experience at any Japanese teppan style place in your hometown. I haven't gotten around to trying Garden Grill, but if it comes down to those two, I would go with GG.

Thanks! That is what I think but my DH asks for so little. He really likes that style. Oh...so on the fence! I'm so spoiled when it comes to what we do at Disney.

 

[Phonedave]

The Garden Grill is somtimes my one daughter's favorite restaruant. I say sometimes because it tends to be hit or miss. Somtimes the food is really good, other times it is just OK - especially the flank steak.

When I say just OK - I mean bland. It's not bad, it's just not flavorfull at all. When it is good, then the food is quite good - tastes like food, rather than carboard.

It is enough that my daugughter (11 y/o) notices it. If we go there, she waits, takes a bite, and then either says "yes, it is a good night" or "Dad, it's not the same tonight" I make their flank steak at home (she loves it) and evertime I make it, it turns out good. I really think that when they are slammed, they do not leave the meat enough time to marinate, nor do they season the other items properly.

-dave

 

[lebeau]

Easily the most under-rated character meal on property. The food is better than you'll get at Chef Mickey's. There are fewer tables per character, so you'll get the most character interaction of any other character meal on property.

As for your choice, it seems very clear cut to me. If you want a character meal, GG is the clear choice. If not, go for Teppan Edo. The two experiences are very different. Since we have kids, the character meal wins every time. Someday when they are older, we may get around to trying Teppan Edo.

 

[s&k'smom]

Years ago I brought my daughter for her 2nd birthday and we had a ball, once they knew it was her birthday they were absolutely wonderful to her. Don't know why we haven't been back but honestly I would definately go back.

 

[disneygirl76]

The Garden Grill is somtimes my one daughter's favorite restaruant. I say sometimes because it tends to be hit or miss. Somtimes the food is really good, other times it is just OK - especially the flank steak.

When I say just OK - I mean bland. It's not bad, it's just not flavorfull at all. When it is good, then the food is quite good - tastes like food, rather than carboard.

It is enough that my daugughter (11 y/o) notices it. If we go there, she waits, takes a bite, and then either says "yes, it is a good night" or "Dad, it's not the same tonight" I make their flank steak at home (she loves it) and evertime I make it, it turns out good. I really think that when they are slammed, they do not leave the meat enough time to marinate, nor do they season the other items properly.

-dave

Thanks for the insight! This is great info!

 

[disneygirl76]

Easily the most under-rated character meal on property. The food is better than you'll get at Chef Mickey's. There are fewer tables per character, so you'll get the most character interaction of any other character meal on property.

As for your choice, it seems very clear cut to me. If you want a character meal, GG is the clear choice. If not, go for Teppan Edo. The two experiences are very different. Since we have kids, the character meal wins every time. Someday when they are older, we may get around to trying Teppan Edo.

HOW CUTE IS MICKEY!!! EEEEEE!

We like to character meals so that is part of the interest.

 

[disneygirl76]

Years ago I brought my daughter for her 2nd birthday and we had a ball, once they knew it was her birthday they were absolutely wonderful to her. Don't know why we haven't been back but honestly I would definately go back.

Thanks! Its always great if you want to go back to a place!

 

[lebeau]

HOW CUTE IS MICKEY!!! EEEEEE!

We like to character meals so that is part of the interest.

The characters spend a ridiculous amount of time at your table. Since the restaurant seats fewer guests than most character meals, you get a pretty steady stream of characters. And who's better than Mickey, Pulto and the chipmunks? For character meals, you really can't do any better than GG.

 

[buseegal]

with a small party we enjoyed GG but when we were a party of 11 a different story. we were seated at 2 tables for 4 each and they squeezed in 3 more including 2 highchairs. no room to put food platters with all the plates. worse meal of the trip enjoyed characters but they could not make up for the seating