Most Over Rated Restaurant At WDW.

Mawg

Well-Known Member
I'm going to get bashed for this but I say almost all of them. I don't set my expectations high for theme park restaurants and Disney almost always surpasses them. I lived in San Francisco for many years and if I compare the meals I eat at Disney to other similar meals I had elsewhere and look at cost, I can always think of a place that did it better and cheaper. Now I must say most of my meals at Disney have been more memorable than others but that's because we are on vacation having the time of our life and the kids are so happy.
 

DVC4bestvacations

Well-Known Member
I'm going to get bashed for this but I say almost all of them. I don't set my expectations high for theme park restaurants and Disney almost always surpasses them. I lived in San Francisco for many years and if I compare the meals I eat at Disney to other similar meals I had elsewhere and look at cost, I can always think of a place that did it better and cheaper. Now I must say most of my meals at Disney have been more memorable than others but that's because we are on vacation having the time of our life and the kids are so happy.
Well said, I agree. Does the warm and fuzzy feeling justify the additional cost?? Or are we just a captive audiance??
 

Maddog57

Member
I certainly agree that Le Cellier is highly overrated. I would trace the original excitement to the fact that when it was a 1 table service restaurant on the DP you could get a steak for lunch.

In my opinion the most overrated restaurant is Narcoossee's. Back in the day (circa 1990) it was our favorite restaurant. We ate our first and last dinner there oneach trip. My last visit was in 2008 and I will never return. It is the 2nd most expensive restaurant on property and in my experience the servers there would not be qualified to work at a Denny’s. Every time we visited Narcoossee's post 2005 something terrible happened with wrong food being brought to the table and incidents with servers. The food went downhill also.
 

Sans Souci

Well-Known Member
Les Chefs des France.

My husband's beef tips were pure gristle. He kept bringing a napkin up to his mouth to discreetly discard the gristle. I had the veggie lasagna, which was just OK. We sat at the banquette at the back of the restaurant and the tables were tight. So tight, I would get my server's capacious back side in my face (Yes! Some French people are overweight, despite what the best-selling diet book, French Women Don't Get Fat, would have you believe.), when she served the adjacent table.

Oh and the people at the adjacent table? They had a Yorkie with them, yes that's right, a dog. The dog was sitting bare-a$$ed with its owner (no barrier between the seat and his butt-gross) on the banquette and was served its own meal a mere inches away from me. I understand some people need companion dogs for various issues, but please, put them in a soft-sided carrier when dining out. I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation. Her (adult) dining companions were dressed like a crazy mash up of a pirate and Adam Ant circa 1983. This was in mid-August.

So, Les Chefs des Frances get the most over-rated and the strangest dining experience from me.
 

Club Cooloholic

Well-Known Member
Les Chefs des France.

My husband's beef tips were pure gristle. He kept bringing a napkin up to his mouth to discreetly discard the gristle. I had the veggie lasagna, which was just OK. We sat at the banquette at the back of the restaurant and the tables were tight. So tight, I would get my server's capacious back side in my face (Yes! Some French people are overweight, despite what the best-selling diet book, French Women Don't Get Fat, would have you believe.), when she served the adjacent table.

Oh and the people at the adjacent table? They had a Yorkie with them, yes that's right, a dog. The dog was sitting bare-a$$ed with its owner (no barrier between the seat and his butt-gross) on the banquette and was served its own meal a mere inches away from me. I understand some people need companion dogs for various issues, but please, put them in a soft-sided carrier when dining out. I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation. Her (adult) dining companions were dressed like a crazy mash up of a pirate and Adam Ant circa 1983. This was in mid-August.

So, Les Chefs des Frances get the most over-rated and the strangest dining experience from me.

Gotta love an Adam Ant Reference!
 

JAG107

Active Member
It has to be Via Napoli for me, as I haven't been to any signatures yet. The pizza we got was pretty flavorless and cardboard-like, and another in our party was quite disappointed in the spaghetti he received. For this to be touted as such an authentic experience, with the fancy imported water to cook with and all of that, in the end we got a $40 pie that was only half eaten because we were so hungry. We won't be returning.
I will also vote Big River Grille as the most UNDER rated place on property, we love it there! NEVER had bad service or bad food, and you can't beat the ambience sitting on the boardwalk enjoying a micro brew and a heaping plate of nachos or a kobe beef burger!
 

DonaldDoleWhip

Well-Known Member
My most overrated restaurants are Jiko and Artist Point. Neither, in my opinion, are Signature restaurants, especially if they're going to be listed in the same category as California Grill. They're not even the best food option at their respective resorts.
Ironic - Jiko and Artist Point are my two favorite Disney restaurants, while California Grill is the one that I consider to be most overrated. ;)
 

DonaldDoleWhip

Well-Known Member
Ditto - and an addition... if folks that are not that awed by Artist's Point have NOT been there in 2012? They have ALSO joined the "Signature Restaurant Road to Recovery"... new Manager (a KEY element, and this fellow is SERIOUS), two (I think) new Chefs, and a return to higher quality Beef in their offerings. They haven't brought back the Classic Cobbler... but, on it's third incarnation, they've done a pretty fair job with the Pot Pie version. This data from 11-2012... and we've re-booked for 4-2013.
So does this mean your opinion on Artist Point has turned around somewhat since our conversation in September?

Cobbler aside (it's not this or this anymore, but at least it's not this ;)), I've been really impressed by some of Artist Point's latest offerings, such as the oak-smoked venison carpaccio (and Cobbler 3.0 is far better than the version they introduced around 2010). IMO, the food is very unique and creative for a Disney restaurant, and they do a great job incorporating flavors from the Pacific Northwest. It makes me really happy to hear that you feel better about AP as of November. :)
 

GMRO

Active Member
We had a cruddy meal at the new Mexican TS- made ADR stating that it was our Disneymoon- of course they tried to seat us inches away from a toddler & family with Jr. having a major creaming fit. The hostess acted like we were demanding the world when we asked to be moved. Then the waiter was less than chummy the second that we declined wine or a big meal. Neglectful service and so-so food. The salsa tasted like tomato PASTE- acidy yucky & no discernible veggies:(

Are you of true Mexican heritage???

You realize that the "Mexican Food" you eat prepared by american cuisine and salsa you like is not true of its origin right?

I've found the food there to be of origin though not by American "taste" standards.

Just asking....

Far as the screaming kid, the staff/server should have moved your party once you made the request. Everyone pays to be served and to have a magical time. I would have made the same request. If parents don't know when their kids are all "disney'ed" out for the day and should remove them from the parks for a nap both you and I should not have to suffer thru it. I would have left or asked to speak to a senior CM about the situation.
 

Hulacat

Active Member
Are you of true Mexican heritage???

You realize that the "Mexican Food" you eat prepared by american cuisine and salsa you like is not true of its origin right?

I've found the food there to be of origin though not by American "taste" standards.

Just asking....

Far as the screaming kid, the staff/server should have moved your party once you made the request. Everyone pays to be served and to have a magical time. I would have made the same request. If parents don't know when their kids are all "disney'ed" out for the day and should remove them from the parks for a nap both you and I should not have to suffer thru it. I would have left or asked to speak to a senior CM about the situation.
1) BFF's familia es 100% Mexican & I don't expect their fabulous food at ANY "Mexican" restaurant. I love eating at her Mom's place & the family there has "adopted" DH and I. They pride themselves on being great cooks, and their parties are all about making everyone happy with a huge spread of great food from their amazing culture.
But even compared to the average local place (and regardless of the authenticity) , the meal was NOT good. If I am telling you that the salsa tasted like tomato paste, I am not making any exaggeration- it was just sad salsa & the rest of the meal was "meh".
2)They did move us after we asked but seemed startled that we minded.
 

real mad hatter

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Good to hear you got moved to a different table.

Far as mex food, I can do without it no matter who preps it. It's runny, messy and bland to me.
You ain't had the real McCoy dude.And that coming from a Scotsman.;) Chicken Avocado with lime juice flambé tequila is the Alamo of Mexican dishes.Honest! ;)
 

DonaldDoleWhip

Well-Known Member
Absolutely turned around. When a Sig takes positive steps to correct the "cut expenses" (and quality) demon, they deserve praise. About three years ago, the Brown Derby went through a similar learning experience - and recovered STUNNINGLY. Interestingly, the same cure was employed: a new Manager with a quality attitude, and some new chefs to support the vision (in fact, it must be miserable for a quality oriented chef to get stuck with a "save money and damn the quality Manager :().

Nope, AP is back on track as a real, god honest sig. We're going to wait about a year, then give LeCelier and M. Pauls another chance... perhaps they will learn from the BD & AP :).
That's great news (and about Brown Derby too)! It's so nice to hear news of restaurants on the right track, and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Le Cellier and Monsieur Paul eventually. The prices at both locations certainly went up, but how about the quality of food and overall dining experience? ;)
 

Stellajack

Well-Known Member
From HS, the worst meal I have ever had was at Mama Melrose. It was an extreme disappointment. No, wait. . I forgot. . .we made a treaty sealed with blood that we will NEVER return to the SCI-FI.

Also, Whispering Canyon @ WL is a 'no go' for us now. The food and service has steadily deteriorated over the last several years and certainly not worth the effort to get over there.
 

Club Cooloholic

Well-Known Member
Are you of true Mexican heritage???

Far as the screaming kid, the staff/server should have moved your party once you made the request. Everyone pays to be served and to have a magical time. I would have made the same request. If parents don't know when their kids are all "disney'ed" out for the day and should remove them from the parks for a nap both you and I should not have to suffer thru it. I would have left or asked to speak to a senior CM about the situation.
Yup, if Walt Disney was alive he would be saying "Get that Kid out of here, he's disturbing the adults" LOL
 

awoogala

Well-Known Member
Mama Melrose- awful.
Le Cellier- overpriced steaks, and I didn't want steak, ordered the squash ravioli- awful. the only thing edible was the pretzel bread, which is cheaper in germany! I do not get the obsession with this place.
 

awoogala

Well-Known Member
LC for sure :). But I think there may be a NEW star in this category... Be Our Guest :).
have to agree. the food was decent quality, but they need to hire some chefs who were not trained at Mcdonald's...what they did to the steaks was just...murder.
 

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