Podcast - Overrated restaurants

[TCARON]

Totally agree with the teams recent assessment of restaurants that were great and always on our list for each trip

Some included:
Jiko
Le Cellier
Kona

All were favorites but no more for the same reasons given on the podcast.

We also now avoid:
Narccoossees
Victoria & Alberts - due to increase in price and ending Tables in Wonderland discount
Anything in Mexico
Yatchsman

We still enjoy:
Via Napoli
I'll Mulino - as recommended by Podcast team
Shula' - we split a steak
Blue Zoo
Rose and Crown
California Grill

Tom C

 

[Arielfan98]

I could not agree more with Le Cellier. Long before it began phasing into an "overrated" restaurant my family had been calling it that for years. Yes, the steaks are fabulous, but come on there's so many other places on property to order a phenomenal steak. On top of that, Le Cellier competes with M. Paul, which I've heard is fantastic.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Sad to see Kona on the list as we had a great meal (at least food wise - server wasn’t the most attentive) a few years ago and always found it a good (and easier ADR to get) to ‘Ohana (you can even get the bread pudding at Kona if you ask)

Surprised to hear about Jiko but guess that chef makes a big difference if he is also responsible for the uptick (per Pete) at Cali Grill

 

[rteetz]

Sad to see Kona on the list as we had a great meal (at least food wise - server wasn’t the most attentive) a few years ago and always found it a good (and easier ADR to get) to ‘Ohana (you can even get the bread pudding at Kona if you ask)

Surprised to hear about Jiko but guess that chef makes a big difference if he is also responsible for the uptick (per Pete) at Cali Grill

I haven’t done Kona for dinner but I still had a really good breakfast there last year.

Len Testa said he was just as Jiko and had a great meal. He complained about the terms and descriptions on the menu as something that could hurt people trying that place.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I haven’t done Kona for dinner but I still had a really good breakfast there last year.

Len Testa said he was just as Jiko and had a great meal. He complained about the terms and descriptions on the menu as something that could hurt people trying that place.

I am wondering if part of Pete’s view would s just that he had been there so often and had it down how he liked things and how the chef that was there did things, etc and now it just isn’t the same

 

[rteetz]

I am wondering if part of Pete’s view would s just that he had been there so often and had it down how he liked things and how the chef that was there did things, etc and now it just isn’t the same

That could certainly be part of it.

 

[Tonyz]

I certainly hope Jiko hasn’t gone downhill because it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. I mean you can make a decent argument that AKL has the best resort quick service, buffet, table service, and signature dining (not counting V&A) on property.

 

[smcabee]

I agreed with some of their choices. I don’t think it’s fair the main complaint of overrated given at Le Cellier was the price when the stated price in the podcast of $70.00 for the filet is $16.00 more than the actual cost. Too much money? Yes but let’s give the correct info. I also think Jiko is still a great meal and have eaten there multiple times with no drop off in food or service since the change in chef.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We dined at Jiko last month for our anniversary and it was fantastic. The food and service were just as good if not better than in the past. We have been dining here since it first opened.

 

[dwheaton]

Le Cellier is the one that has dropped the most for me. I still remember eating there in 2005 and it blowing me away. That's a long time, though. Le Cellier went downhill a while ago, unfortunately, but it's maintained the reputation. Jiko is on my list to do since we love the Animal Kingdom Lodge, so it was sad to hear about it on the list.

 

[loves to dive]

We were never fans of Le Cellier, it was a one and done for us and that was years ago when it was the "must do". The food was o.k. but not great for the price, the service was o.k. but again not great for the price and the place was so crowded you couldn't hear yourself think much less carry on a conversation. We weren't wowed by Jiko either. We had eaten there during the Wayanama (sp) Safari and really liked it so thought we would try it as just a restaurant. We went to the bar first and had a drink and appetizers, that experience was great. Our waiter at Jikos was just so, so, not bad but nothing to praise. Our meal was just so/so. I got fish, which was good and my son got the steak. He ended up not eating it all because it was just o.k. We both had wine flights, me a white, him a red and two of the wines in my white flight were two of the same reds in his red flight. The waiter didn't tell us this was going to be the case and there was no way I would have thought there would have been two reds in a 3 glass white wine flight. The bill came to about $150 or so, which we don't mind paying but without appetizers or dessert and a so,so experience, it is another one and done for us.

 

[Spencer Wright]

I would absolutely put 'Be Our Guest' in the overrated category (I cannot recall if it was mentioned in this episode, but it comes up quite often).

We went a few years ago and didn't have a horrible experience, but it was not even close to worth all the hype.

For those of us who are fans of John and Kevin's old dining reviews, it reminded me of their review of Le Cellier (the gothic basement); where it was like they were guarding the national archives. Like we tried to go on the bridge to take pictures waiting for our table and three CM's swarmed over and asked us what we were doing and who we were. That happened repeatedly, including when looking for the men's room. The whole entrance reminded me of that gate into North Korea with a Beauty and the Beast theme!

The food was pretty good and the service was slow. They acted like they were guarding sacred recipes for food I could get at a convention!

It's one of the few dining locations I feel quite strongly about, in terms of being just plain bad!

 

[disneysteve]

I would absolutely put 'Be Our Guest' in the overrated category (I cannot recall if it was mentioned in this episode, but it comes up quite often).

We went a few years ago and didn't have a horrible experience, but it was not even close to worth all the hype.

I think BOG is a must-do, but only once. It is well worth it to get inside and see the place as it is gorgeous and exquisitely detailed. We've done it and I'm very glad we did, but I would never do it again.

The food was okay but not worth the cost. Plus we got seated in the lousy room with the tapestries and music box thingy. I wish they would redo that room and make it more like the others in terms of immersive theming.

 

[rteetz]

I think BOG is a must-do, but only once. It is well worth it to get inside and see the place as it is gorgeous and exquisitely detailed. We've done it and I'm very glad we did, but I would never do it again.

The food was okay but not worth the cost. Plus we got seated in the lousy room with the tapestries and music box thingy. I wish they would redo that room and make it more like the others in terms of immersive theming.

I agree although I’m interested to see if the quality changes with the new dinner menu and now that it will be two credits.

 

[Valencia Joe]

I think there are a lot of overrated restaurants that a someone ought to try at least once to get it out of the way. Personally, they are:
Whispering Canyon in the Wildnerness Lodge - food has gone really downhill at the place. Surprised that this was not on their list.
Be Our Guest - do it once.
Blue Bayou - yes, some may say it is sacrilege to include this, but personally it is way overrated and overpriced. Yes, do it once, but think about going back again considering the prices you pay for "meh" food.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

I certainly hope Jiko hasn’t gone downhill because it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. I mean you can make a decent argument that AKL has the best resort quick service, buffet, table service, and signature dining (not counting V&A) on property.

Totally agree with all you say, Tony. And I'm with you in hoping Jiko is not "lost". Granted it's been a long time for me, but always had awesome experiences - ambiance, service, and especially food there. Thought of that as one of my "go to" places to take someone for a special occasion if they didn't have some other place picked out. And totally agree with your thoughts on the other food options at AKL too. I tried to get on property there at last once every visit to do a meal, and just enjoy the ambiance there (same thing with WL, and OKW)

 

[Tonyz]

Totally agree with all you say, Tony. And I'm with you in hoping Jiko is not "lost". Granted it['s been a long time for me, but always had awesome experiences - ambiance, service, and especially food there. Thought of that as one of my "go to" places to take someone for a special occasion if they didn't have some other place picked out. And totally agree with your thoughts on the other food options at AKL too. I tried to get on property there at last once every visit to do a meal, and just enjoy the ambiance there (same thing with WL, and OKW)

Old Key West, huh? I've never been there and have no real inclination to... but you'd recommend it?

When is the last time you've been to WDW?

 

[disneysteve]

I think the price is really what kills it for so many places at Disney. They're charging a big premium because they are at Disney, which I understand of course. I doubt most Disney restaurants would survive if you plopped them down in the real world with the same food and prices. That would be a good topic for a show. Which restaurants could hold their own exactly as they are in Anytown, USA?

 

[Tonyz]

I think the price is really what kills it for so many places at Disney. They're charging a big premium because they are at Disney, which I understand of course. I doubt most Disney restaurants would survive if you plopped them down in the real world with the same food and prices. That would be a good topic for a show. Which restaurants could hold their own exactly as they are in Anytown, USA?

I believe they did have that discussion once. I think the AKL places would survive. But I don't think for example California Grill (at its current prices) would survive if it didn't have that view.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Old Key West, huh? I've never been there and have no real inclination to... but you'd recommend it?

When is the last time you've been to WDW?

Tony - I've always found the atmosphere at OKW to be SO relaxing, and laid back - whether I was staying there, or not. Not much to see/do beyond the main area (especially if you're not driving), but the main area itself is the draw for me. Olivia's has always had some great "down home" type food, warm, and friendly service, and atmosphere (they even have a small outdoor seating area, if the weather's cooperative). Have had many awesome meals here - all times of day (they used to be closed in middle of day, don't know if still the case). The takeout (Good's to Go) is not "all that and a bag of chips" as far as ingenuity of menu items, and it can take awhile to get your food, but you wait at a gorgeous water/marina area, hearing steel drum music around you, so what can be bad? And the Gurgling Suitcase (bar) is small, and always had some really nice bartenders, who remembered my name after a visit or two (don't drink anymore). The boat ride from there to Disney Springs (haven't been since it was Downtown Disney) is pretty, and relaxing. I've always found the store there (Conch Flats) to be fairly large, and the CM's friendly, and helpful. If you have a car, driving around the OKW property is very pretty. So yes - whether during my numerous stays (oldest DVC property, but units also the largest!), or just going there to eat, or relax for a bit, I've had some very nice memories there.

Unfortunately, I have not been since November '12. That's an even longer time for somebody who used to go every year, and was even blessed to be able to be there twice a year in some years.