Crazydisneygirl
Active Member
We have going to Brown Derby in September (make reservations next month). REason is my hubby wants it and for the fantasmic dinner ticket. How is the food?
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Which Signature Restaurants Should We Book?
- Thread starter goofyyukyuk
- Start date
- Jiko
- Tiffins
- California Grill
- The BOATHOUSE
- Narcoosee's
- Artist Point
- Yachtsman Steakhouse
- Le Cellier
- Monsieur Paul
- Hollywood Brown Derby
1. Flying Fish- Have yet to have a bad meal. Limited menu but what they do they do well. The Desserts are the best on property. My ONLY complaint is this restaurant can sometimes be loud.
2. Jiko- Very diverse menu, well done, amazing atmosphere.
3. Boathouse- Broad menu but if you stick with Seafood or steak, they are extremely good. Great drink menu. Service is always good and friendly. Can also be very loud at times and seem hectic.
4. Yachtsman- One of the more relaxed places, simple menu that is executed well. Service has been hit or miss lately but not too bad. The food makes up for it.
5. Tiffins- Add in the Nomad Lounge and this place is top notch. Great food on a very challenging menu, well presented, great flavors, and service is great. As with any "theme park" restaurant, the atmosphere can easily be ruined by people who do not understand "signature" etc. But, it makes up for that in quality.
6. Narcoosees- Love the view, love the laid back atmosphere, love that they take dress code and behavior seriously. The Brunch is wonderful. Menu has some gaps here and there and can be on or off now and then but they always make up for mistakes.
Those are not to be missed for me. The next few all have things which make them be ones Ill try now and then just to see if its gotten better.
7. Cali Grill- THE most pretentious restaurant on property. Victoria and Alberts as well as Monsieur Paul have nothing on " the place to be seen" restaurant. Menu is all over the place because they cant figure out who they are. Its not executed well either. Service is generally poor. When it opened Cali was amazing, but, has since swirled into the chasm of place to be seen, not place to eat. And that sucks because of the view and potential.
8. HBD- HBD tries really hard not to be a "theme park" restaurant and for years it would have been on my not to be missed list. Now its not there. Last 3 trips there the food has been average and service some of the worst in the parks. I hope they get this one resolved.
9. Le Cellier- Another restaurant that started out amazing and has since suffered from the theme park curse. Food quality is all over the place which is a mystery because the menu is rather pedestrian. The wine selection is some of the best around and the servers are wonderful. The ambiance, some of the best on property. But even when it was good, nothing ruins a nice quiet expensive meal like a screaming child running rampant through the restaurant. I have seen this a lot the past few times there and I get its a theme park, but still. Unfortunately the food has slumped so much its not worth it anymore. Better choices around World Showcase and just outside the gateway.
10. Artist Point- I had such high hopes for this restaurant. Good menu, amazing view. Tried it 4 times before I gave up and started eating at Whispering Canyon and the new Geyser Point. VERY Sanitized, average service, and below average preparation of a simple menu.
11. Monsieur Paul- Food..Amazing..Service..Hit or miss..Atmosphere Sometimes is warm and welcoming, other times can be very stuffy. The ONLY reason this is really in the bottom group is value. For what you pay, the quality and quantity are not worth the price. Pay more and go to Victoria and Alberts.
And FWIW, V&A is absolutely amazing if you are willing to spend the money. Chefs Table/Wine Flight..Once in a lifetime experience.
Dutch Inn '76
Well-Known Member
I think the Brown Derby is the best restaurant in a park on property. We tend to spend ALL of our time in the parks, so I really haven't tried many of the places out of the parks. I know that Le Cellier and Monsieur Paul are disappointing every time I get drug back in.
Brown Derby is the only restaurant in a park that feels almost like it's just a great restaurant somewhere. I have not tried Tiffins yet.
Average at best compared to other signature restaurant places at Disney....
joejccva71
Well-Known Member
I had my dining reservations all set, but friends kept telling me "make time to go have dinner at Jiko"....."you HAVE to go to Jiko for dinner"...."if you don't go and try Jiko you are doing yourself a DISSERVICE!".
Holy crap, ok ok ok. I changed one of the reservations and am trying Jiko lol.
I think Jiko is like one of the best signature restaurants in all of DW according to quite a few people.
Holy crap, ok ok ok. I changed one of the reservations and am trying Jiko lol.
I think Jiko is like one of the best signature restaurants in all of DW according to quite a few people.
Otterhead
Well-Known Member
I thought Jiko was very nice. Upscale versions of Boma food. My big issue with Jiko was that they made a huge, huge deal about their exclusive, extensive wine cellar of South African wines and their expert sommelier service; when I went, I asked to see the sommelier to make a recommendation of what wine to pair with my meal. A lady came over and said "uh, well, you've got fish, and that's good with white wines. So maybe a white wine?" and left. It was laughable. I hope you'll have better service
I also found Brown Derby to be fine. Perfectly okay, nothing special, honestly. Not worth the high prices. But would be a good choice for a Fantasmic combo.
Tiffins is nice, and the best restaurant by far at Animal Kingdom, but you'll find many of the same dishes at a lower price and a much more fun atmosphere at Skipper Canteen.
I've never had a bad experience at Le Cellier. California Grill is really wonderful -- delicious food that's worth the price, relaxed & excellent servers, very comfortable while still feeling upscale, great drinks.
joejccva71
Well-Known Member
I thought Jiko was very nice. Upscale versions of Boma food. My big issue with Jiko was that they made a huge, huge deal about their exclusive, extensive wine cellar of South African wines and their expert sommelier service; when I went, I asked to see the sommelier to make a recommendation of what wine to pair with my meal. A lady came over and said "uh, well, you've got fish, and that's good with white wines. So maybe a white wine?" and left. It was laughable. I hope you'll have better service
Wow yea I would have done the same probably. Although I'm also going to probably eat at Shula's. I really hope they know their wines cause for the amount of money that dinner will be, they better lol.