Best "Splurge" Restaurant?

[wishdreambelieve]

Hi! First time posting on the DISboards! I have been a long time reader though!

My family and I (total of six people) are going to be taking a trip to Disney and Universal in late October. We have been to Disney before and we always do the dining plan, BUT it has been awhile.

This time we are not staying on property, therefore not doing the dining plan. So we are planning on doing one "pricey" restaurant while we are there. We planned on California Grill as it is our favorite, but it looks like it will be closed.

So my question is, what is the best more expensive restaurant you would recommend for our trip?

 

[Megs114]

Jiko, Narcossee's, and Artist Point are my favorites but it depends on what you and your family likes. If you are adventurous, try Jiko. Everything that I've had has been delicious. It might sound really out there but I promise it's good lol

 

[erinch]

Jiko is our "one date night for mom and dad" when we dump the teenage kids and dine in romance and calm. Our other has always been Bistro de Paris. Don't know how Monsieur Paul compares?

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Another vote for Jiko. Of the Disney restaurants that I've tried so far (we haven't done V&A yet but have it scheduled for our upcoming vacation), California Grill is second only to Jiko. I also think that Bluezoo at the Dolphin is a good alternative if California Grill hasn't reopened by the time your trip comes.

 

[Pakey]

The best is V&A. After that its the upscale restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin which are a lot more upscale than Disney's signatures. They are more adult and offer much more complicated dishes as they don't have dining plan constraints.
My personal favorite is bluezoo, then Il Mulino then Shulas.

Out of Disney restaurants I think the food is more sophisticated at Citricos but the atmosphere is more impressive at Jiko. However, my favorite is Flying Fish. To me it's the closest in atmosphere to Ca Grill.

 

[Pakey]

Jiko is our "one date night for mom and dad" when we dump the teenage kids and dine in romance and calm. Our other has always been Bistro de Paris. Don't know how Monsieur Paul compares?

Monsieur Paul is a pale imitation of the old Bistro and that's a generous statement.

 

[DisDreamsAshley]

Another vote for Artist Point. Some other favorites of mine are Narcoossee's and Flying Fish.

 

[robinbutterfly]

Flying Fish or Bluezoo

 

[EspositoScoresOTR]

We've never done Victoria and Albert's, but our favorite by far is California Grill. Just behind it are the Yachtsman Steakhouse, Bluezoo and Flying Fish.

 

[CarolMN]

....(snip)...... We planned on California Grill as it is our favorite, but it looks like it will be closed. ......

The CG will be open in late October. I don't remember when the rumored re-opening is scheduled to be, but it is either late August or early September.

It's just that they haven't made reservations available yet. Current thinking is that reservations will be available beginning in the next couple of weeks. Keep an eye on this thread if you really want to eat at the California Grill for your trip:

Official California Grill Open ADR Watch Thread

 

[hooch11bear]

From what I've read, California Grill should be open at the end of October. I would definitely recommend eating there. It is our favorite. So disappointed they won't be open when we are there.

 

[xrobx]

If I couldn't get California Grill, I'd go with Citricos, then maybe Artist Point.

 

[kgsmith]

Here's another vote for Flying Fish.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

We haven't tried Jiko or Artist Point but we have done California Grill and Victoria and Albert. Both were amazing, a truly incredible dining experience at both.

We prefer V&A because its smaller and more intimate. And although the food was incredible at California Grill, we had really horrible service/experience (probably the worst we have ever had at a restaurant). It was a good thing the food was worth it all.

So my vote would be for V&A

 

[Dreamsdocometrue9112]

Another vote for Jiko! By far our favorite!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Hi! First time posting on the DISboards! I have been a long time reader though!

My family and I (total of six people) are going to be taking a trip to Disney and Universal in late October. We have been to Disney before and we always do the dining plan, BUT it has been awhile.

This time we are not staying on property, therefore not doing the dining plan. So we are planning on doing one "pricey" restaurant while we are there. We planned on California Grill as it is our favorite, but it looks like it will be closed.

So my question is, what is the best more expensive restaurant you would recommend for our trip?

We had our 30th anniversary dinner at Artist Point, and I can't speak highly enough about how terrific it was-service, atmosphere, food, everything. It was pure perfection for us.

 

[mickeynut1]

We've had awesome meals at both Artist Point and Yachtsman Steakhouse.

 

[darkwing818]

The best is V&A. After that its the upscale restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin which are a lot more upscale than Disney's signatures. They are more adult and offer much more complicated dishes as they don't have dining plan constraints.
My personal favorite is bluezoo, then Il Mulino then Shulas.
.

Victoria & Albert's is the BEST hands down...

But can be pricey But worth it IMHO

 

[bwang123]

Jiko and Bluezoo.

 

[Fantasia79]

Monsieur Paul is a pale imitation of the old Bistro and that's a generous statement.

Ugh! I was dreading hearing if this was the case.

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