I will be staying with my mom at the Swan for the first time ever! And they have a lot of restaurants...
Which are good? Which are bad? Recommendations?
Which are good? Which are bad? Recommendations?
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Swan Restaurants?
- Thread starter bubbles1812
- Start date
Figgy1
Well-Known Member
@zurgandfriend where are you?? he knows!
epcotisbest
Well-Known Member
We loved Kimonos. Very good, small intimate setting and karaoke late night.
Sweet Melissa
Well-Known Member
Which are bad? None. The only meal I've ever had at a Swan/Dolphin restaurant that I would classify as disappointing was breakfast at Fresh Mediterranean Market. I'm not a buffet person, though.
MickeyPeace
Well-Known Member
And I'm here to say that Fresh is the best breakfast on property. You get endless amounts of whatever you choose to eat. Omelettes made with ingredients that you pick out and bring to the chef. Pancakes, oatmeal, grits, pastries, fresh fruit, fresh juices, coffee, tea, cereals, potatoes, sausage, bacon and more. All very fresh and in an airy setting with great views.
So there you go, differing opinions.
You will not be disappointed with any of the restaurants at Swan/Dolphin. The Dolphin also has a 24 hour deli style restaurant where you can also purchase protein bars/shakes, candy, wine and more. It's called Picabu. Enjoy!
Oh and the beds are the most comfortable on property.
dolce20
Well-Known Member
I'm a Swan/Dolphin person and stay there often. Here's my take:
Best kept secret for lunch - The Cabana Bar & Grill which is poolside at the Dolphin. Really chic little outdoor (yet covered!) bar and table area with a wonderful non-Disney cocktail menu and some seriously good light lunch items. We couldn't believe how much we enjoyed it here.
BlueZoo. I absolutely love it but here's a great way to get a taste of it without plopping down the big bucks - go there for really expertly-crafted cocktails at the super cool bar and order an app or two all while listening to these three sisters sing up at the front of the restaurant. They're there often tho their band name escapes me. Great atmosphere.
If you like karaoke, have fun (after 9pm?) at Kimonos at the Swan.
Shula's is a very good steakhouse although I like Yachtsman Steakhouse next door at the Yacht club a tiny bit better.
Fresh is fine for a well, fresh breakfadt buffet while Picabu is a quick in-and-out alternative if youre more of a bagel and run person. I find Il Mulino to be more hype than quality. Garden Grove is awful. The Fountain is not good.
Good luck and have fun!
Best kept secret for lunch - The Cabana Bar & Grill which is poolside at the Dolphin. Really chic little outdoor (yet covered!) bar and table area with a wonderful non-Disney cocktail menu and some seriously good light lunch items. We couldn't believe how much we enjoyed it here.
BlueZoo. I absolutely love it but here's a great way to get a taste of it without plopping down the big bucks - go there for really expertly-crafted cocktails at the super cool bar and order an app or two all while listening to these three sisters sing up at the front of the restaurant. They're there often tho their band name escapes me. Great atmosphere.
If you like karaoke, have fun (after 9pm?) at Kimonos at the Swan.
Shula's is a very good steakhouse although I like Yachtsman Steakhouse next door at the Yacht club a tiny bit better.
Fresh is fine for a well, fresh breakfadt buffet while Picabu is a quick in-and-out alternative if youre more of a bagel and run person. I find Il Mulino to be more hype than quality. Garden Grove is awful. The Fountain is not good.
Good luck and have fun!
Thanks to everyone for the recommendations. 
I'm a Sushi nut so Kimino's was always on the list... I like listening to karaoke even if I can't sing a lick 
Excited to try the others as well. We aren't doing any ADRs this trip so it'll be interesting to see what we get into but it's all good. I can't say no to a surprise trip booked one week in advance by my wonderful parents
I'm a Sushi nut so Kimino's was always on the list... I like listening to karaoke even if I can't sing a lick Excited to try the others as well. We aren't doing any ADRs this trip so it'll be interesting to see what we get into but it's all good. I can't say no to a surprise trip booked one week in advance by my wonderful parents
Sweet Melissa
Well-Known Member
It's unlikely that you would need advance reservations for any Swan/Dolphin restaurant. I don't visit during peak times, but I've never seen any of them completely booked unless a convention crowd is taking up a large portion of tables. Even so, all the signature restaurants have lounges and you can order their full menus at the bar.
By the way, I second Cabana Bar for lunch or even a light dinner. They don't always stay open late if it's slow, though.
By the way, I second Cabana Bar for lunch or even a light dinner. They don't always stay open late if it's slow, though.
dolce20
Well-Known Member
Please let me know what you think of the Cabana if you go!
Also, once you get there you can call downstairs to the Swan concierge to have hem make last minute "ressies" at the higher end ones (BZ, Shula, or my not fave Il Mulino).
Remember for late night munches, Picabu is 24/7.
Also, once you get there you can call downstairs to the Swan concierge to have hem make last minute "ressies" at the higher end ones (BZ, Shula, or my not fave Il Mulino).
Remember for late night munches, Picabu is 24/7.
NiarrNDisney
Well-Known Member
Bluezoo - Really hip modern restaurant for the trend set looking for great food and nightlife
Cabana Bar & Beach Club - Great modern alfresco dining spot with different choices not offered elsewhere (try the Crab Eggrolls)
The Fountain - Wonderful soda shop with great American favorites and deserts I personally like it better than Beaches & Cream (Portions are huge great for sharing)
Il Mulino New York Trattoria - Some of the best Italian food on WDW property
Kimonos - Awesome for Sushi and Japanese food also its cheaper than other restaurants serving the same style of food (i.e. Kona Cafe, Tokyo Dining/Teppan Edo)
Picabu - One of the best cafeteria styled restaurants on property and its open 24hrs
Cabana Bar & Beach Club - Great modern alfresco dining spot with different choices not offered elsewhere (try the Crab Eggrolls)
The Fountain - Wonderful soda shop with great American favorites and deserts I personally like it better than Beaches & Cream (Portions are huge great for sharing)
Il Mulino New York Trattoria - Some of the best Italian food on WDW property
Kimonos - Awesome for Sushi and Japanese food also its cheaper than other restaurants serving the same style of food (i.e. Kona Cafe, Tokyo Dining/Teppan Edo)
Picabu - One of the best cafeteria styled restaurants on property and its open 24hrs
MickeyPeace
Well-Known Member
The Fountain is great if you want large portions. They have good ice cream sundaes and I always order the tuna burger there. Also for those who want Starbucks coffee, right next to The Fountain is a little coffee/ice cream counter. They serve Starbucks there. Now I miss the Dolphin!
My husband and I once did a Swan crawl.
Started of at Bluezoo and did an app and a drink. I had the shrimp and grits. Then we went over to Il Mulino and had a glass of wine and the cold antipasto. We then went to Kimono's enjoyed the karaoke, ate sashimi, and had another drink.
It was fun. And there were other foods we would have tried, but the idea was a drink or two and an app or two at each place.
Started of at Bluezoo and did an app and a drink. I had the shrimp and grits. Then we went over to Il Mulino and had a glass of wine and the cold antipasto. We then went to Kimono's enjoyed the karaoke, ate sashimi, and had another drink.
It was fun. And there were other foods we would have tried, but the idea was a drink or two and an app or two at each place.
@Mrs. Toad. That sounds super fun! My mother really likes wine so I might suggest her doing something like that. (She has already informed me that I might be at the parks on my own sometimes lol, as she wants to lay at the pool).
Sweet Melissa
Well-Known Member
We do these kind of "progressive dinners" a lot at Disney World, and definitely do them more at the Swan and Dolphin resorts than anywhere else. It's a really great way to spend a night (or two or three) on vacation.