Where's the beef? Not on Mouse Buffets.

[DisneyMusician2]

Found this poking around on the Dorothy Lane Market Website. It elucidates my point:

Now for your Butcher’s tip of the day:

With all the popular demand for the rib roast comes some very good opportunities. In Meat 101 you learn that for every rib sold, one must sell an equal amount of the other primal cuts. This is simple case of supply-and-demand economics gives us an opportunity to off er a whole New
York Strip roast at a very attractive price. The Strip Lion is a boneless cut of beef, USDA prime grade, and can be roasted just like a Prime Rib. It is boneless, so it is easy to serve and the cooking time will be less because the roast is not as thick. Steaks can be cut to achieve the proper size roast. So, if you are looking for the most juicy, tender, clean taste in beef to serve your holiday guests, choose USDA Prime Grade Prime Rib or New York strip roast for your gathering. It truly is something to celebrate.

 

[yankspy]

$28.99?!?!

Amazing. I think when it opened in 2001 dinner was about $15.99 (and we got 20% off with DDE).

As to all the folks with beef and fries, it doesn't surprise me. I saw one adult eating nothing but fries and chicken fingers from the kids' buffet on my last visit. A lot of folks with very simple palletes (i.e. they think chicken on a pizza is exotic, eat burgers plain and have no clue what a risotto is) tend to make up a large portion of WDW diners. Sadly, that has helped them dumb down the dining property-wide.

Food prices have also gone up considerably since 2001. People seem to be eating more as well. Disney is not necessarily the only place where restaurant prices have raised significantly

Sounds more like preperation (and carving) problems than a problem with the cut. Possible a quality of the beef itself problem as well.

A strip loin is not a cheap cut of meat. Go price out some shell steaks at the buchers. You can take the best cut of beef from the best cow, and cook it wrong and it will be horrible.

I have had some "prime rib" that was downright nasty. In fact I find most prime rib poor because it seems restatuants can get away with it. They advertise "prime rib" and people just flock in, thinking a prime rib is some sort of wonder meat.

-dave

Nope, it is not cheap at all. I also agree that a lot has to do with preparation. A good chef can take the cheapest cut of meat and find a way to make it delicious.

I would have to agree - this is a preparation problem, not a problem with the cut.

Not that strip is necessarily the same prime rib, but it also is not the inferior cut that many here have made it out to be. Let us not forget that the loin cut is what filet mingon is made from, not the rib cut.

If it is a New York Strip Loin cut, that is a much higher quality piece of meat than most are. We are not talking about beef chuck steak, unless I miss my guess. Jut looking for some clarification from someone who knows the quality of the cut, as several loin cuts are considered to be superior to prime rib.

When it comes to beef, quality is very subjective. A standing rib roast may be a little more expensive but that does not mean that it is inferior. It is also hard to tell just by comparing cuts. There are other factors to consider when it comes to comparison, aging, grade, etc. In many cases it comes down to individual tastes. Some people prefer a marbled piece of meat for the extra flavor that the marbling imparts, and some prefer a leaner piece of meat. Prime Rib in general has gone down in overall quality in the past decade. It used to be a given that it was a "bone in cut" which just is not the case anymore. Restaurants in general lose a lot of money on Prime Rib because it is impossible to accurately portion it. In this particular case it does not matter since portion means little at a buffet.

 

[CapnStinxy]

I'm not a butcher but I have more than a passing familiarity with cuts of meat. Yes, the term "prime rib" is overused. Let's say what most carving stations have is a "carved ribeye." Also, I have seen myself loin cuts which were more expensive than ribeye. All else being equal, I think ribeye makes a better cut for buffet service than loin: its wider cross-section and higher fat content mean its harder to overcook, and the fat keeps the meat more moist and flavorful under the heat lamps, and given that it's carved too soon and most of its juices are lost. Those advantages can also be disadvantages to cost-conscious restaurant service. More fat means more shrinkage during cooking. it's also going to take longer to cook, meaning more overestimation in prep and thus waste. Since most buffet diners think in terms of slices of meat, not ounces, the wider cross-section means more ounces per service, or else slices so thin that they appear stingy and diners ask for even more.

So, the strip loin may be more expensive per pound, but I think it's still a cost-cutting measure. I also don't think Boma's kitchen has a selective incompetence in cooking only whole cuts of beef, so I have to blame the beef at least in part. I'll still call it a net decline.

 

[Erin_Akey]

According to Orlando Sentinel's ex-restaurant critic (a very good one at that) Scott Joseph, Disney has removed prime rib from their buffets across property and replaced it with cheaper, lower quality strip loin.

And in typical balls as big as basketballs Mouscastyle, the Disney exec quoted in his blog says it was all because of guests complaining they were getting too much beef at the buffets and it didn't give them a chance to enjoy the (cheaper) other offerings.

Only Disney. Only Disney.

This is WalMarting.

The price of a buffet at WDW has probably doubled in a decade yet the quality keeps dropping.

Come on out management apologists. We all know the fatties who make up so large (pun intended) a majority of Disney's guest population all told Disney survery takers that they'd much rather have more cheap greens and chicken nuggets rather than prime rib.

Magical.

This is both hilarious and ridiculous. Several points- quite sure I will be alone in my opinions, but that is okay.

1. Anyone with such a wonderful and diverse pallet would realize that a buffet is not where you go to enhance it, except for Boma. It has some amazing things that my family like to try. The buffets are more for the character experiences and for the kids. LIFE GOES ON WITH NO PRIME RIB ON THE MENU. I PROMISE! (good grief)

2. Your broad generalization of the majority of Disney guests being, as you put it, "fatties", is extremely inappropriate. I am sure that your svelte physique is mystifying, but to say such awful things about those who may have a few extra pounds, and to assume they do not have a good pallet is nothing more than rude and irresponsible at best. Not cool at all.

3. There are HUNDREDS of restaurants to choose form in WDW. If the buffets do not serve prime rib and you world turns by whether or not you get to eat prime rib, then surf the menus and make a reservation at a place that serves prime rib. Problem solved!!!

4. Even in WDW, the economy DOES cause things to be cut. This is of course a down cycle for Disney and if they can save some money by not serving Prime rib, then go for it! i would much rather lose that from the menu of a buffet then lose something actually worth talking about.....

JMHO........:xmas:

 

[CoasterKing]

WDW1974 - Do you work for Universal?

ROTFLOL :ROFLOL:

CoasterKing

 

[WDWmazprty]

I agree, there are tons of places in the World to get Prime Rib, a buffet is not one of those places you should expect to get it.

 

[PhilharMagician]

This is both hilarious and ridiculous. Several points- quite sure I will be alone in my opinions, but that is okay.

1. Anyone with such a wonderful and diverse pallet would realize that a buffet is not where you go to enhance it, except for Boma. It has some amazing things that my family like to try. The buffets are more for the character experiences and for the kids. LIFE GOES ON WITH NO PRIME RIB ON THE MENU. I PROMISE! (good grief)

2. Your broad generalization of the majority of Disney guests being, as you put it, "fatties", is extremely inappropriate. I am sure that your svelte physique is mystifying, but to say such awful things about those who may have a few extra pounds, and to assume they do not have a good pallet is nothing more than rude and irresponsible at best. Not cool at all.

3. There are HUNDREDS of restaurants to choose form in WDW. If the buffets do not serve prime rib and you world turns by whether or not you get to eat prime rib, then surf the menus and make a reservation at a place that serves prime rib. Problem solved!!!

4. Even in WDW, the economy DOES cause things to be cut. This is of course a down cycle for Disney and if they can save some money by not serving Prime rib, then go for it! i would much rather lose that from the menu of a buffet then lose something actually worth talking about.....

JMHO........:xmas:

Boma is not the only diverse buffet on property. Biergarten, 1900 Park fare, Chef Mickey's & Hollywood and Vine all have quite differant food options on their buffet's. Boma is absolutetly a wonderful restaurant and maybe one of the best on property, but it cannot be singled out as the only one with a diverse menu.

I do not know how the economy needs to cause cuts in a restaurant quality when every seat is occupied. Nearly every restuarant on property is fully occupied through it's open hours every morning, noon and night of every day of the year. If the restaurants are always full, then the economy does not effect it. Income remains the same, overhead increases only energy, salaries or food prices increase and over the past 2 months energy and food have seen drops.

The only effect on the restaurant's $$ would be from DDP and free dining. Since the inception of this dining plan we have see the menu's go through constant reductions and food replacements. Any of the expensive item on the menu's have since disappeared like lobster. The last place to have lobster available was Captain Jacks @ DTD and that was finally removed early this year. WDW's restaurants are probably one of the largest profit centers on property (minus free dining).

This is a matter of Disney capitalizing and making more money where they can. I hope the free dining disappears and they continue with promotions like the pay for 4 get 3 free. This might allow the food service side of WDW to realign itself again and get back to what it was just 5 years ago.

I forgot to point out the addition of holiday pricing last year. This is BS, but WDC knows they have the market cornered and they will still fill their restaurants to capacity.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Its probably been injected full of growth hormones and female gibblets, best not eat it anyway.

 

[IMPoppins]

This is both hilarious and ridiculous. Several points- quite sure I will be alone in my opinions, but that is okay.

1. Anyone with such a wonderful and diverse pallet would realize that a buffet is not where you go to enhance it, except for Boma. It has some amazing things that my family like to try. The buffets are more for the character experiences and for the kids. LIFE GOES ON WITH NO PRIME RIB ON THE MENU. I PROMISE! (good grief)

2. Your broad generalization of the majority of Disney guests being, as you put it, "fatties", is extremely inappropriate. I am sure that your svelte physique is mystifying, but to say such awful things about those who may have a few extra pounds, and to assume they do not have a good pallet is nothing more than rude and irresponsible at best. Not cool at all.

3. There are HUNDREDS of restaurants to choose form in WDW. If the buffets do not serve prime rib and you world turns by whether or not you get to eat prime rib, then surf the menus and make a reservation at a place that serves prime rib. Problem solved!!!

4. Even in WDW, the economy DOES cause things to be cut. This is of course a down cycle for Disney and if they can save some money by not serving Prime rib, then go for it! i would much rather lose that from the menu of a buffet then lose something actually worth talking about.....

JMHO........:xmas:

:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

 

[jjgoo]

We were at Boma last week and I can also confirm that is was Strip Loin and not Prime Rib. I can also confirm that the previous post of the meat being over done and not juicy was in fact a cooking problem.

The pieces of meat we had (not much because we were really interested in all the other flavors Boma has to offer) were cooked to a nice medium rare, and were juicy and flavorful. As I am not a big fan of Prime Rib I was much happier with the Strip Loin.

I will just take a moment also to agree with all of you that have said that Boma is one of the best buffets in existence. We love trying all the soups and different African dishes. No prime rib is no big deal.

 

[mcjaco]

2. Your broad generalization of the majority of Disney guests being, as you put it, "fatties", is extremely inappropriate. I am sure that your svelte physique is mystifying, but to say such awful things about those who may have a few extra pounds, and to assume they do not have a good pallet is nothing more than rude and irresponsible at best. Not cool at all.

Although I'll disagree with the term fatty, he is right on. The general public has gotten heavier. And lazier. One look at all the stupid EVC being rented supports this.

 

[Erin_Akey]

Although I'll disagree with the term fatty, he is right on. The general public has gotten heavier. And lazier. One look at all the stupid EVC being rented supports this.

Over the last few decades the general public has definitely gotten heavier and yes our kids do watch a lot more tv and play video games etc., but that has ZERO to do with what he was referring to at all.

I know a lot of overweight people who have great pallets and it was just a moronic thing to say. A person's size has zero to do with their knowledge and appreciation of good food. Comments like that irk me, and it would be the same about any generalization of any group of poeple. Tall, short, fat, skinny, smart, dumb, rich, poor, etc. It just was tacky and out of line and made no sense to me. Just my opinion......

 

[patrok65]

hey it could be really bad up here in nyc they are about to put a fat tax on any soda that is not diet. Also 21 bucks for a buffet is not that expensive most buffets by me r usually about 40 to 80 depending on the event an the ones that r about 21 usually r the multi national ones.

 

[lighteningqueen]

I hate to be negative but we just got back from nine days at the World.. The food was horrid this time. We decided not to do the Dining Plan. We saved so much more money. Our meals were way below good. 50's Prime Time was our best meal. The roast was great as usual. O'Hana's was fat and few and far between, never replaced noodles. I ate the salad for 29.00.. Food raw and fatty, Whispering Canyon, boring Fatty, cold. No entertainments really. Quiet.
Crystal Place Break Good
1900 park faire Break Good
Tusker, the best flavor breakfast, great waiter.. they make sure you are not missed by the characters and hold them if you are off at the buffet. Best meal along side 50,s all 9 days. But 19.00 for eggs a bit high. Something has to be done about the quality of the food on the grounds of all parks and resorts. Such high prices and low quality of foods. It will be a while before we return. Not enough new things to keep you excited about being there. I do not know how people go 2-4 times a year much less every year. This was our 2nd time and we really were disappointed that things had run down or were not really refurbed.. Gift shops had lots of really good and new merchandise, but prices this year have kept people from buying them. They ran a 50% off sale starting on Thursday because no one was buying I am guessing. But as soon as the sales began then the shops were packed and people waiting to buy. Tells you something doesn't it.

 

[lighteningqueen]

WOW patrok65.. Buffets in Texas are not even close to those prices 8.99. Not many around though. We want and have great steak houses that you can get great quality steaks for 9.95-12.95.. including a baked potatoe and salad. Guess we are lucky here. GOOD GREAT Food and low prices. But we also do not have Casinos, resorts, etc to warrent buffets other than Golden Coral, not so good...

 

[CBOMB]

I agree, there are tons of places in the World to get Prime Rib, a buffet is not one of those places you should expect to get it.

I'm confused now. Exactly what should we expect at a buffet?

 

[unkadug]

I'm confused now. Exactly what should we expect at a buffet?

If its a Gambling Buffet...http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article.cfm?contentID=168525

10.) Dinner rolls

This classic meal starter makes the list just for being as reliable as Old Faithful. Often served in a basket with those little delightful plastic butter cups, dinner rolls are a must at any gambling buffet, but don't eat too many, far better items deserve your attention.

9.) Caesar Salad

Larger buffets, like the ones found at The Mirage or Treasure Island, serve handmade salads of your choosing, but when confronted with buffets that serve only pre-made salads, Caesar salad is the way to go. Always there and always good, a Caesar salad is the perfect compliment to the dinner roll and small enough to leave room for the massive amounts of food to come. For added fun, enjoy a Caesar salad at Caesars Palace.

8.) Soft-serve ice cream cone

Great for the kids and even better for sweet-toothed adults, soft-serve ice cream is a perfect end to a perfect buffet experience. Grabbing a twisty cone on the way out the door makes you feel like you got your money's worth and the cone serves as an excellent vessel for walking through the casino while trying to work off that huge meal.

7.) Various Asian-style chickens

Who knows if these delectable-sauce-covered meats are actually chicken, but get over that fact and you have a plethora of options ranging from sweet to spicy. General Gau's or General Tsu's, who knows the difference, just choose the orange chicken version to be safe or ask the server for sweet and spicy "chicken" to get the best of both worlds.

6.) Fried rice

Nothing like a steaming plate of rice with all the buffet's leftovers stuffed into it. Fried rice is impossible to resist, especially since it mixes so well with whatever else you pile on top of it. My second trip the buffet always ends up mostly fried rice, especially if I can find the variety that comes with large egg pieces. Some buffets offer vegetarian-style fried rice, perfect for those who shun the meat.

5.) Spaghetti and meatballs

This one is for the kids. There are plenty great Italian meal offerings at most gambling buffets, but not every young person likes Alfredo sauce so it's important to have an old stand bye on call. Spaghetti and meatballs appears at every buffet so for your kid or the kid in you, make sure you remember this one if the rest of the spread scares you.

4.) Sushi

I don't quite get the appeal, but the raw fish line at most buffets seems to be packed. Weird chunks of uncooked fish surrounded by rice and wrapped in seaweed seem to get most people's mouth watering. I'll take their word for it, but given the prices of sushi outside of the buffets, if you like raw fish, take advantage of the all-you-can eat deals at the casinos and munch away.

3.) Cheesecake

A good buffet will have a cheesecake spread second to none. This popular dessert offering comes in many delicious varieties, ensuring something for everyone. As a nice bonus, grab a couple different versions and share with your friends in family, or better yet, eat them all yourself and laugh at the casino willingness to let you eat as much dessert as you want for one low price.

2.) Lobster tails

Surf and turf can be a daunting restaurant selection at a casino, especially given the hefty price tag it's often assigned, but at the buffet, you can pile your lobster tails high, right next to your prime cuts of beef. Grab a few tails if lobster is your thing and consider taking the casino for a ride by eating a whole army of this ocean treasure.

1.) Prime rib

This is the undisputed king of the buffet. Cheap prime rib in Las Vegas is as likely as hot summer days, but buffets allow for the added bonus of eating the king of all meats with some lobster and fried rice to boot. Buffet chefs often cut your prime rib right off the bone when you ask for it, ensuring your hunk of cow meat is served exactly the way you like it. Unless you're a vegetarian, not selecting prime rib is a sin akin to not going all-in with aces. You just don't do it, especially when you can say all you can eat baby.

 

[WDW1974]

WDW1974 - Do you work for Universal?

No.

Do you?

Or do you just sit home listening to Bon Jovi all day?

 

[WDW1974]

I'm not a butcher but I have more than a passing familiarity with cuts of meat. Yes, the term "prime rib" is overused. Let's say what most carving stations have is a "carved ribeye." Also, I have seen myself loin cuts which were more expensive than ribeye. All else being equal, I think ribeye makes a better cut for buffet service than loin: its wider cross-section and higher fat content mean its harder to overcook, and the fat keeps the meat more moist and flavorful under the heat lamps, and given that it's carved too soon and most of its juices are lost. Those advantages can also be disadvantages to cost-conscious restaurant service. More fat means more shrinkage during cooking. it's also going to take longer to cook, meaning more overestimation in prep and thus waste. Since most buffet diners think in terms of slices of meat, not ounces, the wider cross-section means more ounces per service, or else slices so thin that they appear stingy and diners ask for even more.

So, the strip loin may be more expensive per pound, but I think it's still a cost-cutting measure. I also don't think Boma's kitchen has a selective incompetence in cooking only whole cuts of beef, so I have to blame the beef at least in part. I'll still call it a net decline.

When prime rib has been a STAPLE on WDW buffets for as long as they have existed and even the WDW chef quoted in the story says there will be a significant savings from the move ... there is NO doubt why this move was made.

I'm see folks here playing 'Know Your Cuts of Beef' and I feel like I need a drink of something strong.

Disney is doing this to save money. Period.

You can believe whatever you choose, but reality says this is all about money.

 

[WDW1974]

This is both hilarious and ridiculous. Several points- quite sure I will be alone in my opinions, but that is okay.

I am always happy if I can make people smile. Clearly I did so here.

1. Anyone with such a wonderful and diverse pallet would realize that a buffet is not where you go to enhance it, except for Boma. It has some amazing things that my family like to try. The buffets are more for the character experiences and for the kids. LIFE GOES ON WITH NO PRIME RIB ON THE MENU. I PROMISE! (good grief)

I agree that buffets are not known for diversity. Boma actually is. That's why it's the only pricey Disney buffet I do regularly.

But it has been dumbed down over the years in favor of simpler offerings.
A large portion of WDW's guests are from the mac'n'cheese, plain burger and chicken fingers crowd.

Life may go on without the prime rib (no need to be a drama queen!), but the point is that it is a cutback. Charge more, offer less quality.

2. Your broad generalization of the majority of Disney guests being, as you put it, "fatties", is extremely inappropriate. I am sure that your svelte physique is mystifying, but to say such awful things about those who may have a few extra pounds, and to assume they do not have a good pallet is nothing more than rude and irresponsible at best. Not cool at all.

Your opinion. I have lost two relatives due to morbid obesity and don't like to sugarcoat/PC things. I have never seen a place with so many obese and morbidly obese people as WDW. That's just an observation. And usually when I see them they are eating unhealthy, fattening 'comfort' foods.

Oh and thanks for the compliment and while I did lose 25 pounds in China this summer, I still am 25 pounds overweight so I know about struggling with weight.

3. There are HUNDREDS of restaurants to choose form in WDW. If the buffets do not serve prime rib and you world turns by whether or not you get to eat prime rib, then surf the menus and make a reservation at a place that serves prime rib. Problem solved!!!

Wow. Erin, you're a genius. You know I dated a gal named Erin once. Even took her to WDW and put her up at the Poly. I don't think much of her these days ... just an aside.

I am so tired of people missing the point.

WDW is LOWERING QUALITY WHILE RAISING PRICES! That is the issue. It isn't simply taking prime rib off of buffets.

4. Even in WDW, the economy DOES cause things to be cut. This is of course a down cycle for Disney and if they can save some money by not serving Prime rib, then go for it! i would much rather lose that from the menu of a buffet then lose something actually worth talking about.....

JMHO........:xmas:

Except you obviously subscribe by the 'if it doesn't bother me ...' school of thought. Well, I don't. I look at the big picture.

I hate most seafood as I have allergies and can't eat 95% of what swims ... so I shouldn't care less if Disney removed shrimp or lobster or crab from menus and put tuna or fish sticks in their place, right? Wrong. because I realize that WDW is bigger than simply my needs/wants and should be run in a way that makes most guests get the most from their hard-earned vacation dollars. I understand that many people dig quality seafood, so I'd yell just as loud if they pulled something with that.

(And they're probably working on it now!)