I have been really not looking forward to this review because I know most people love Jiko and the reviews are generally excellent. However, this was not our experience. In fact this was the worst meal of our trip.
To start off we had a relatively early ADR. We were early again and the restaurant was practically empty. We were seated DIRECTLY behind the host stand. I couldn't believe this! We still had on our reservation that we were celebrating our anniversary and the restaurant was empty. You would have thought they would have sat us in a little more of a private location. And it wasn't because there was only one section with servers as we saw people seated in other areas.
So here we are each taking a turn looking at the wine list...
We decided to not order wine as I had developed a cold several days into our trip and it was increasingly causing me to not be able to taste very much. I went with a hot tea to drink instead... (which if on the dining plan is actually a good deal as they are not cheap if OOP). My lack of taste during this meal will come into play shortly...
Here is the Jiko menu...
This menu was not personalized as our other Signature Restaurant menu's had been.
Hunter ordered the Taste of Africa... Trio of Dips with Assorted Breads and House-made Naan
The first pic is of the breads and naan and the second of the dips.
The one on the left is an olive hummus dip. The middle one is a spicy Moroccan dip and the one on the right is a spinach dip.
Normally I do not like anything with olives but I think my taste buds were just dead from the cold and I couldn't really taste it. I couldn't tell that the Morraccan was spicy either. The little bit of taste that I got from the dips was good. Hubby liked them also. The textures were good and I liked the breads that went with them. Hunter didn't care for the flat crispy one but liked the others.
For my appetizer I had the Cheese plate.
Hunter and I both love cheese with him loving it even more than me and he really likes some strange cheeses. These chesses were more on the calm side of the cheese spectrum but they were enjoyable. We both enjoyed them. Some were firm, some soft and creamy... All were finished...
So you're probably wondering why this is our worst expereince... Well that all begins with our entree's.
Hunter ordered the Chermoula Tanglewood Chicken - with Goat Cheese Potatoes, Preserved Lemons, and Harissa
I ordered the Roasted Lamb Loin- with herbed cous cous, figs, sun-dried cherries and red curry sauce
Hunter had gone with the chicken because he had been eating a lot of beef and pork with other meals so wanted a different protein. His chicken when it came did not even look appetizing. He said the skin was black as in burnt not as in seasoned. The sauce looks like dirty water and he thought he would love the goat cheese potatoes but found them very distasteful. He had about 2 bites and was finished with his meal.
My Lamb was extremely gamey tasting. I have had lamb before so knew it can sometimes have a gamey taste but this was far more I had ever tasted before. Hunter tasted it for me since my taste buds were so dysfunctional and he said that it was definitely not just me and that it wasn't very good. I did eat about half of it since I couldn't taste it that much and was hungry. I did enjoy the cous-cous.
So we thought maybe dessert would bring the meal back together.. Luck was not on our side. The celebration dessert for Jiko was a Carrot Cake tpe dessert so Hunter planned on getting that s he loves Carrot Cake.... he goes to order it and the server says.. "I wouldn't choose that if I were you." Ummm.... why have something on the menu if the servers can't even take the order for it? ( I understand saying that you have a recommendation but to come straight out and just say pick something else?) Doesn't say much for the dessert if the "Celebration" dessert isn't worth ordering.
So he decided on the Sugar free option... an apple crostada.
He said this was actually decent but not awesome by any means.
I had the Lemon Curd
This was okay also. But who eats a dishful of lemon curd? I thought it would have more to it I guess.
Our service at Jiko was I think the worst we had at WDW. The attention was lacking. Nothing special here for us.
I would say it is unlikely that we would return.
But as I don't mind where I get my chocolate, I would still probably want one! Please post Hunter's desserts if you can. I am sure lots of us would love to see them.
And one of those root beer floats! 
