Which Table Sevice restaurants should be avoided?

[Phonedave]

Which ones are no good :hurl: or have a bad reputation?

I don't want to make any bad selections with my reservations.

Thanks

Again, it is going to be up to personal likes, and somtimes luck of the draw as to what is "good" and "not good"

So, having said that, here is my take on some of the more popular places that have been mentiond.

Ohana - way downhill, just bad service (forget about not refilling sides, how about forgetting to bring 2 of them) and not good food. Overcooked meats, greasy noodles (after I reminded them of them) just not good.

Sci-Fi - I don't like the car seating, you can't talk to each other (and yes, I know about the picnic tables) and the food is nothing to write home about.

San Angel Inn - Spotty Menu - there are some gems on there (Sopa Azteca leaps to mind) but they are buried under a load of clunkers. Good service and wonderfull atmosphere.

Brown Derby - Food has dropped a notch since they DDP mayhem, and prices have ticked up - still not bad, but now no longer worth the price. Lunch used to be a good option here, but they jacked the lunch menu prices to insane levels recently.

Le Celliar - Good, but not up to all the hype.

Tony's Town Square - Olive Garden in disguise. If that appeals to you - great. If not, welcome to my world

Garden Grill - left a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak. I have had good food here in the past, but last time it seemed off. OVercooked steak, and somthing was just not right. We left feeling like we did not need to revisit the place. I am not sure why.

Yak & Yeti - I was only there once, as was very disappointed. Menu seemed like it did not know where to go- Is it American Chinese, Thai, Polyneasian, a TGI Fridays clone? Some food was hot (temperature-wise and other room temp) It was shortly after opening, so maybe there were still getting the kinks out. Ill give it another shot someday.

The following have all been - in my opinion and experence - good or above (some way above). Places that I would go to again. Some may not be my first (or even second) choice, but I would pony up the bucks to eat their chow.

Le Chefs de France
Biergarten
Rose & Crown
Marakesh
Teppan Edo
Norway
Boma
Artist's Point
Whispering Canyon
Turf Club
50's Prime Time (knowing what you are getting into)
Crystal Palace
Liberty Tavern
V&A
Tusker House
Plaza Restaruant

I don't think the Royal Table is worth the price. Some people have a fascination with eating in a castle. My opinion (and its an opinon) you get a better show and about the same quality food at Medieval Times.

-dave

 

[disney4life2008]

I think O'hana is hit or miss with people. However, the ambiance and view (for the price) are WELL WORTH IT. I agree, the food is not necessarily the best - but I enjoy traveling to the Polynesian and sitting in Ohana. I love it. Just do not eat anything the day you go - I made the mistake of having a small lunch and it ruined me at Ohana.

 

[blackthidot]

In 2006 I ate at Ohana and it was good I just got violently ill afterwards...Im trying it again though!

 

[krankenstein]

My personal favorites are Ohana, Biergarten, Boma, and Plaza.

The only place that I have ate at and will not go back is Sci-Fi.

As a side note, Tappen Edo is another one that I probably will not go to again. The food is good, but it isn't anything special. I can get the same food for a cheaper price at home. Same with San Angel. :shrug:

 

[corey154]

I don't like San Angel, the atmosphere is so cool but as a mexican food lover i didn't like the choices, then when i got my food it wasn't that good and i found it over priced for what you get. BUT BUT BUT...you have to try things for your own b/c alot of people don't like Tony's, I went in June and our food was really good, we had a great server, and we liked the atmosphere. We'd do it again in a heartbeat. We normally don't do alot of table dining in the parks so I can't give you a great opinion on too many places. One of our must do's is Biergarten though. We really love it. Good luck!

 

[nolatron]

I've only had one bad experience with a table service place. A few years ago we ate at Le Celliar and I had the surf and turf. It was good, but a little while after we left the meal we were passing Japan and I found myself running up the restaurant restrooms for an emergency evac if you get my drift. I'm not saying to never go there, just sharing my experience.

My wife and I have our likes and dislikes, but that's ours, not yours. I think you'll really have to try every place to judge for yourself. As you can see, some people love one place, while others hate it. It's just all down to personal tastes/preferences, and I think that you shouldn't base a decision to eat (or not to eat) someplace based on someone elses taste/preferences. You might miss one of the best meals you've ever had if you skip a place because of what others think.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Goofycanuck]

Avoid Hollywood and Vine. It felt and tasted like I was in a High School cafeteria.

 

[disney4life2008]

Boma is a place I would suggest to try for Dinner but the Breakfast service was really bad (I have done both). My frunch juice got refilled ONCE and my server was more attentive to families and groups than me (I dined alone). I also found hair in the eggs on the buffet line - I told the manager who instanly had it removed.

 

[Sloan]

concur on 2

The two that seem to keep coming up that I agree should be avoided:

San Angel Inn - I too have been there a couple of times because the atmosphere is so appealing, but I've never been impressed by the food, and one time my guest had a very unpleasant reaction .... :hurl:

Coral Reef - mediocre food at best, overpriced, and just plain weird to be eating seafood while watching the sea life swim by the window ...:lookaroun:

 

[urbanvegan]

I agree, San Angel Inn is VERY underwhelming.

 

[wdwwdeagle]

What is so bad about the Plaza at MK?

Maybe it was just an off night, but our hamburgers were dry and the corned beef in the reuben was very fatty. The waitress did a poor job, as well.

It just seemed like counter service food that was double the price. We've gotten burgers from Pecos Bill's that were way better and much less expensive. As always, jmho.

 

[roadtripper]

I think it depends very much upon if you have a dining plan or not. First time we had deluxe DP and ate so much we could barely finish at any restaurant. Akershus was great for dinner(try the vegetable stuffed ravioli), but not good for breakfast. CRT was awesome for us, food was OK but entertainment was nice for the kids. Garden grill had great food but 5 of us were extremely crammed in those tables and the rotating thing is not neat at all. It rotates way too slowly to make an entire trip in one meal. Ohana has always been a favorite. San Angel did not disappoint because once we realized it was authentic central american food(the server had no idea what nachos were!) we wanted to sample what they eat in central america.
If you are on the dining plan have fun and sample new things, Disney is one place where you can eat what other cultures eat on a regular basis. If you go into it with an open mind and are willing to taste the foods offered it's an enjoyable experience. I would not recommend many restaurants without the dining plan, way too expensive for a family of five. Also, if you like McD's and such and have no desire to try new dishes then do not pay for the dining plan and stick to cheap mass prepared counter service meals that you will enjoy.

Places we will not go again:
Yak and Yeti
Rose and Crown-even the illuminations on the patio experience left us wanting something else.
Morroco- OK food but dirty place and not well run.
Crystal Palace-unless you are there for the characters, food is bad even for a buffet.
Hollywood and Vine for character meals- horrible!
Hoop Dee Doo- not worth 2 meal credits, kids were very bored.
Wolfgang puck Express- had to work way to hard to get a seat
Chef Mickeys for breakfast- don't get why people love this so much, there are at least 3 other places with the same characters and better buffets!
Planet Hoolywood- 1 hour and 15 minutes for TGIFridays type food at twice the price.


Definite must do's
Coral Reef- always had good food and entertains kids
Ohana- fireworks view is OK but is not the same without the booms
Tusker House for breakfast at least
Boma- both TH and Boma had great buffets and TH had characters and games as well, be prepared to try new things at Boma.
Whispering Canyon- don't go if you don't like to have fun! Breakfast fun does not start till after 9:00
Liberty Tree for lunch, dinner there is family style but still OK.
Maya Grill at Coronado springs- incredible food and portions but bus back to a park needs some help
Cosmic Rays- for quick serve meals, get an 8 ckn finger meal for 1 kids credit, 2 of these and 3 kids are fed and we saved 1 QS credit.

 

[lighteningqueen]

I agree, San Angel Inn is VERY underwhelming.

Just plain NASTY is the perfect words for that place. Sorry MHO...

 

[lighteningqueen]

roadtripper some of those cheap mass counter service places are far better than some Table services. Thank heavens there are some of those counter services out there or else some familys could not go to Disney to eat. The food even at the CS places are very overpriced. But the TS are about double what they should be.

 

[Phonedave]

My personal favorites are Ohana, Biergarten, Boma, and Plaza.

The only place that I have ate at and will not go back is Sci-Fi.

As a side note, Tappen Edo is another one that I probably will not go to again. The food is good, but it isn't anything special. I can get the same food for a cheaper price at home. Same with San Angel. :shrug:

I listed Teppan Edo as a place I would eat again, but I agree, it's nothing that great. There are much better Teppan places around here for the same price. But it's not a bad place either, it could just be so much better.

-dave

 

[happymom52003]

Here are my personal opinions, but I agree with everyone else...it is impossible to know if you'll like a place without trying it. Every single restaurant will have people who hate it, love it, and everything in between.

Worst meals we've had on property: (going off of food, not service)

Tony's-will never, ever even attempt to eat there again
San Angel Inn- might eat there again in the future, but ONLY for the atmosphere and if they have some menu changes.
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern- had dinner there a few years ago and loved it, but had lunch there on our recent trip and none of us...not even our kids....could eat what they gave us...and we are not picky! It was bad enough that I am not willing to eat there again unless they bring back the character dinner.
Dinner at CRT- We think breakfast is average, lunch is really good, and dinner is horrible.
Sci Fi Cafe-As much as we loved the atmosphere and the cherry cokes, I'd have a hard time convincing myself to eat there again. The only way would be if my kids begged.

Best meals we've had on property:

Narcoose's- Probably the best meal I've had on property...ever.
Artist Point- Very close second to Narcoose's
Hoop De Doo- I'd go for the food alone! The fact that they have a fun show while you eat is the icing on the cake!
Whispering Canyon Cafe-Really good, if not great food.
Garden Grill- We think the food is really good...but not "great"....but the character interaction we've had there beats any other character meal on property.

Edit: Forgot to list lunch at CRT as one of our very favorite meals. We'd do it every trip, if only we could get reservations! I've had really bad luck getting an adr there on our last few trips.

 

[kch4095]

I totally agree about San Angel Inn. However, we absolutely love the Cantina across the way. It is our favorite quick service option.

 

[Mouse Man]

Honestly the Mrs. and I have eaten there about 5 years in a row and always were very satisfide with the food and the service. We also love the atmoshpere as well. The Hoop de-doo review is always fun and the food has been delicios, the down fall is they have gotten rid of the honey butter. The Sci-Fi is a great place for lunch, how can you go wrong with Burger, Fries, Cherry Cokes and and Ice Cream Sundays,

Now I do not know why every one braggs about the crystal palace. It's OK food and nothing to rave about. The Cape May Buffet is so much better.

 

[worldfanatic]

Yachtman's steakhouse isn't bad. Just not worth the high prices.
This is especially evident after a visit to Shula's next door at the Dolphin.
Which in my opinion, is a far superior steakhouse.

 

[LarryStoken]

It sounds like the food at San Angel Inn at Mexico/Epcot and the Sci-Fi at MGM is almost universally despised.