Dining Reviews Sep 2008 & Feb 2009 Update 8/13 - Complete!

[disneyfav4ever]

LOL My mother wouldn't buy me dessert in Disney when I was a kid either.

I remember my mom yelling at my grandma for buying me a Mickey bar one day because I "didn't need it." I also remember sneaking off with my cousin in Tomorrowland to go get ice cream. Maybe that's why I almost always need to get dessert with my meal now.

 

[BriarRosie]

Nice 50's Prime Time pics, but when you mention you were a kid in 1999, it started to make me feel ancient. The crab cake looked terrific, as did the chicken. I actually prefer the smaller version of the s'mores, because I always had to share them if I wanted them in the past. They were exactly a double portion, IMHO.

And you can get a vanilla Coke at Beaches and Cream.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Nice 50's Prime Time pics, but when you mention you were a kid in 1999, it started to make me feel ancient. The crab cake looked terrific, as did the chicken. I actually prefer the smaller version of the s'mores, because I always had to share them if I wanted them in the past. They were exactly a double portion, IMHO.

And you can get a vanilla Coke at Beaches and Cream.

If it makes you feel any better I was actually 15, which didn't seem that young then, especially since I'm the oldest "kid" in my family, but now it seems kind of young.

 

[irongirlof12]

more yummy food thanks for sharing

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I was looking for a thread from a few years ago, and came across this; http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=936658 How much my reviews have changed since my first trip. I didn't even add pictures then, how boring! And to think I thought those were good.

 

[kschafer]

I followed you over here from the food porn thread. I am really enjoying your reviews and descriptions! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

This was my sixth time eating at Brown Derby. Like four of my previous visits I had booked it with the Fantasmic dinner package, and even though it isn't the greatest value per credit, it's one of my favorites.

My ADR was for 3:45, but I checked in early, and was seated promptly at 3:25. Being only four hours after lunch, I wasn't that hungry, but due to the timing of the show I had to eat early anyway.

My waitress that day was Lynn, and she was nice. She brought a book the restaurant had about the restaurant, and I looked at it while waiting for my food.

For my appetizer I had the seared sea scallop.

The scallop was well seasoned, and cooked perfectly. It was served over butternut squash risotto, which I loved, and apple-cranberry compote, which went well with the rest of it. A very nice seasonal dish.

I seemed to be craving fish that night, so for my entree I had the grilled Atlantic salmon.

First of all, I have to say the grill marks on this were perfect, and fish is like the most annoying thing to grill ever without having it fall apart on you. It was cooked nicely, without being too over done. It was served over marcarpone polenta, with gorgonzola and a balsamic glaze. Delicious. It was also topped with an olive tapenade, which I didn't care for that much, but I'm not a big fan of green olives.

For dessert I had the flourless chocolate cake.

I'd had this once before, in 2007, but it had changed slightly since then. This time it came with a scoop of sel gris (salt) caramel ice cream, and red wine sauce. I am always so intrigued when there's a "savory" dessert on the menu, which is why I had to get this. The cake was just as rich and delicious as I remembered it, and the sauce and ice cream went well with. Very interesting flavor combinations that went well together.

 

[TigerKat]

I'm looking forward to trying Brown Derby for lunch in October!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

This morning I went to the Magic Kingdom. I had an 11:30 ADR for lunch at the GF Cafe, but was having so much fun, (can't remember at all what I was doing though,) that I did not want to leave the park to go to lunch. I was starving though, and realized then that I had not eaten since dinner the day before. Needless to say I got on the boat going to the Grand Floridian pretty quick after that.

I was lucky, the boat was there as I was leaving the Magic Kingdom, and after the short walk from the boat landing to the main building I was quickly checked-in and seated right away.

My server that day was Robert, and though he was nice, this is where I had my biggest faux pas this trip, at least as far as my meals went. My entree and appetizer were served to me at the same time. And I don't mean I was served my appetizer, and then two minutes later got my entree. The guy, (who was not my server,) brought them out together.

The only reasonable explanation I can think of is that perhaps they thought there were two people dining, and that the appetizer was someone's entree, and that's why they were served together.

Under any other circumstance I would've sent the entree back until I was ready for it, but since I really wanted to get back to the park as quickly as possible, I just decided to keep them both then.

For my appetizer I had the crab cakes.

These were good. Not the best ever, but probably the best I've had at any one-credit restaurant. There was enough crab meat without there being too much filler for me to be happy, and they were cooked well and had a nice taste to them. They were served with mango relish, which was good, but ice cold. I would've liked it to be slightly warm, or not even warm really, but like room temperature, since it was quite odd to take a bite of a hot crab cake followed by ice cold relish. The portion was quite generous as well, one would have been plenty, though I had no problem eating both.

For my entree, which I really ate inbetween devouring the two crab cakes, I had the orecchiette pasta of the day.

There was lots of pasta, a somewhat decent amount of shrimp, and lots of veggies, which included carrots, zucchini, and tomatoes. It was all mixed with a light tomato-based sauce, which was very thin and runny. It was good, but nothing amazing.

For my dessert I had one of the mini desserts. The year before I had been given a choice of two mini desserts, this year I was only offered one. I don't know if the server just didn't think to offer me two, or if it was a change at the restaurant to only one dessert per person. I didn't really care though so didn't ask about it, though I'm tempted to the next time I eat there, since then I would've gotten to try all the mini desserts there are.

Today I had the tiramisu.

This was good. Not the best I've ever had, but I was quite happy with it.

Coming up next Citricos!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm looking forward to trying Brown Derby for lunch in October!

It is so glad. I know you'll enjoy it.

 

[donaldtutter]

We are eating at the BD with FDP in Sept. We are really looking forward to it. Thanks for the review.

 

[tlynk]

Excellent reviews!

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Great update! Brown Derby is one of my husband favorite meals. He was asking if we were going to eat there in December and I told him no b/c I really wanted to try a few restaurants.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

We are eating at the BD with FDP in Sept. We are really looking forward to it. Thanks for the review.

Excellent reviews!

Glad you're both enjoying the reviews.

Great update! Brown Derby is one of my husband favorite meals. He was asking if we were going to eat there in December and I told him no b/c I really wanted to try a few restaurants.

I always have the hardest time choosing where I want to eat between favorites, and restaurants I want to try.

 

[SweetMommy]

Great reviews! The fish does look mighty yummy!
I don't want to burst your bubble though...........but fish that is grilled at a restaurant is ultimately cooked in the oven for a couple of minutes first to firm it up so it doesn't fall apart on the grill. That way it will look super pretty for you

 

[oybolshoi]

Thanks for the Brown Derby review ... that's a new one for us this fall - we're having lunch there one day. The scallop was on my radar and your picture is making me hungry ... it looks so tasty!

 

[irongirlof12]

you are 'the master' of disney food reviews love 'em so keep them coming

 

[funkenzie1]

My lunch reservation was for 11:30, which I arrived for on time after spending the morning at MGM. (And yes, I know it's now Disney Hollywood Studios, but it will always be MGM to me.)

that is the same for me.one time i was talking to my mom and she said hollywood studios and i was confused.then i went on the dis and it all clicked.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Great reviews! The fish does look mighty yummy!
I don't want to burst your bubble though...........but fish that is grilled at a restaurant is ultimately cooked in the oven for a couple of minutes first to firm it up so it doesn't fall apart on the grill. That way it will look super pretty for you

Don't burst my bubble! You mean Disney just doesn't grill everything perfectly with pixie dust?

Thanks for the Brown Derby review ... that's a new one for us this fall - we're having lunch there one day. The scallop was on my radar and your picture is making me hungry ... it looks so tasty!

Brown Derby is so good. This trip coming up will be my first trip not eating there, (not because I don't want to, just because it's a short trip, and I can't eat everywhere.)

you are 'the master' of disney food reviews love 'em so keep them coming

Thank you!

My lunch reservation was for 11:30, which I arrived for on time after spending the morning at MGM. (And yes, I know it's now Disney Hollywood Studios, but it will always be MGM to me.)

that is the same for me.one time i was talking to my mom and she said hollywood studios and i was confused.then i went on the dis and it all clicked.

I also get people saying the Studios, and I'm thinking MGM, and they're talking about Universal. At least it's not as bad as the people who think the Magic Kingdom is Disney World.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I originally had a 7:05 PM dinner ADR, but after spending the afternoon at MK with her, and deciding we wanted to go shop at DTD that night I showed up at Citricos as soon as the opened, at 5:30. After a short wait, which couldn't of been more then five minutes, I was seated.

I started my meal with a Citricos bellini, which was peaches and raspberries blended with sparkling wine.

Yummy, and very refreshing. As you can see, I also had my regular diet Coke with my meal.

For my appetizer I had the cheese course trio.

The three cheeses were lemon ricotta from central Florida, Corsu Vecchiu from Corsica, (some French island,) and Oregon blue, from Oregon. Served with the cheese were raspberries, honeycomb, fig cake, and raisins. The ricotta was all right, it didn't have a very strong flavor, and didn't seem to make much sense on the plate, as I see ricotta as more of a cooking cheese, and not an eating one. The Corsu Vecchiu I liked a lot. It tasted somewhat like a cheddar, and was very nice. The Oregon blue was the best blue cheese I have ever tasted. I need to find someplace to buy this locally.

For my entree I had the braised short ribs. (Sorry, the picture's a little blurry.)

The short ribs were cooked perfectly, the weren't too well done, and were very tender. They were served over vanilla parsnip puree, with a blood orange demi-glace. The vanilla parsnip puree sounded a little odd to me, (all the more reason to try it IMO,) but it was good, and the vanilla was not overpowering. The demi-glace was very tasty.

For dessert I had the seasonal berry gratin.

Lots of strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries in a champagne and grand marnier sauce, which reminded me of creme brulee with the "crusted" top. This was so good. I really love berries, and they were completely out of season then at home, so I hadn't had any in quite awhile, so this really hit the spot.

Overall Citricos is close to the top of my list of favorite signature restaurants, and I will definatly be returning there again.

Next up - day five, with lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern and dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse.