I was just on allears.net looking at Kouzzina's menu(aka mapping out my plan of attack) and it said it was slated to close on 9-30-14...is this true?? I'm so sad 
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Kouzzina?
- Thread starter Courtney6682
- Start date
Yes. It is true.
Thank you! I'm so bummed
The Incredible Schmulk
Well-Known Member
Yeah, it was a real bummer. They're essentially replacing it with another Via Napoli, which bums me out even more. Via Napoli is fine, but do we really need yet another Italian restaurant, let alone a clone of one that is literally a fifteen minute walk from the Boardwalk? I would have been more excited for virtually any other cuisine in that spot. So very disappointing.Thank you! I'm so bummed
Yessss!!! I'm soooo with you @pugmalion1 !!! Via Napoli doesn't interest me at alllllll...my Grandmother is 100% Sicilian...soooo I rarely order Italian food lol...it never compares to Grams
The Incredible Schmulk
Well-Known Member
I have a bit of a general rule when it comes to dining out, and it goes doubly for Italian establishments: if I can make it better in my own kitchen, the meal isn't worth my time or money. My wife and I can make some mean Italian food, so Italian restaurants have a steep hill to climb to meet our standards. I understand where you're coming from.Yessss!!! I'm soooo with you @pugmalion1 !!! Via Napoli doesn't interest me at alllllll...my Grandmother is 100% Sicilian...soooo I rarely order Italian food lol...it never compares to Grams
Using that as a guideline, Il Mulino is the only spot on property that consistently surpasses expectations. It's a legitimately good Italian restaurant for any location, not just Disney. Portobello is okay and getting better. Via Napoli is probably a little below average, but it has a good price point for a Disney restaurant. After that, I find everything else to be unacceptable (exception for Tutto Gusto, which has decent food but is a bar, so it doesn't count).
The reality is that the place was simply not performing well. A restaurant in WDW generally has to do one of two things to be successful. They either provide exquisite dining at incredibly high prices (eg V&A) or turn a high volume.
The food at Kouzzina was good, but different. Different tends to be off putting to the masses and that pretty much kills being able to turn a high volume.
Honestly, I'm shocked she ever had a place or was an iron chef....She's not successful at anything.... She has two airport places and that is it.... You point about being different is true at Disney.... Disney guest, in general, are not the biggest foodies in the world...
She's done a tad more than that....
Not much... Look, anybody in the industry laughed when she was picked as an iron chef..... Alton Brown has more street cred with chefs.... She know has two airport places.... Killing it
I'm not going to cite everything, because you're obviously focused on "street cred" and the two airport restaurants, but a tad bit of research really is your best friend here....
tahqa
Well-Known Member
Her five year contract was up and Disney decided not to renew seeing as how the restaurant underperformed, she didn't meet her contractual obligations in regards to appearances at WDW AND she got a DUI on property that was hushed up. The food at Kouzzina was okay, but the service was indifferent and just not worth my time.
ABQ
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure her only DUI was one in Santa Barbara,where is there evidence of a 2nd on property DUI?
I have a feeling that the lack of appearances and legal issues kind of fall under the "in addition to" category (kind of like the brain eating amoeba and River Country).
Had the restaurant been booked solid 6 months in advance like BoG, she probably could have ran over someone at WDW and the restaurant would still be open. Disney knows it can stick a generic Italian place in the same location and make more money.
deanaandrich
Well-Known Member
We were totally bummed it closed- one of my favorite breakfasts on property. I loved that the food was different. We always had great food and service (locals so we ate there probably 5-7 times a year). Not looking forward to yet another Italian restaurant. I agree that Il Mulino is the best on property. I hope that everyone flocks to the new restaurant so I can continue going to Il Mulino whenever I want.
