Originally Posted By Malin As the topic headline says, list your top 5 Restaurants at the TDR. These can include hotels and Ikspiari and are not restricted to just table service Restaurants. Please all contribute as I'm interested in seeing the results and if any patterns emerge.
Originally Posted By Malin Here is my Top 5 1) Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall 2) Grandma Sara's Kitchen 3) Zambini Brothers Ristorante 4) New York Deli 5) Cape Cod Cook-off While all the above are counter service Restuarants, each one offers decent food in nice surroundings.
Originally Posted By Mr X I'll have to break your rules just a tad for my number one pick, since it is not technically "at the TDR" but it IS the finest restaurant in town (finest restaurant meal I've ever enjoyed, in fact), and just a mere 3 minutes away by train (literally, since the restaurant sits in a hotel attached to Shin-Urayasu station) so it's certainly "do-able" on a TDR day (far moreso, in fact, than if you were to leave the Magic Kingdom to dine at Boma for example) if you're of a mind to dine there. 1) Teppanyaki restaurant, Brighton Hotel. 2) Ristorante di Canaletto, DisneySea. 3) Queen of Hearts, TDL. 4) Kua 'Aina, Ikspiari. 5) Monsoon Cafe, Ikspiari.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmmm, I have not yet been, but these are the ones I most want to try: 1. Club 33 2. Magellen's 3. Polynesian Terrace 4. Restaurant Hokusai 5. Blue Bayou Special mention to Canna, Queen of Hearts and indeed I want to try the Teppanyaki at the Brighton.
Originally Posted By SuperDry Great question! There are lots of ways to answer it, as in which you think are the 5 best, what your 5 favorite ones are, etc. Especially when you include Ikspiari, it's unlikely that very many people have eaten at anywhere near a small portion of the available options. Of the ones I've been to, I'll rank mine in order of being my personal favorites and/or ones I look forward to most going back to: 1. Himorogi (the teppanyaki restaurant at the Brighton Hotel). As far as Kobe beef (or more genreally, top-notch Japanese beef, whether it's from Kobe or elsewhere), it's tied for the best I've ever had. Plus, the price is very reasonable, being about half of what you'd pay in Tokyo or in the US. 2. Magellan's 3. Queen of Hearts 4. Grandma Sarah's 5. Nautilus Galley Actually, I pretty much like most offerings at the resort. A burger from counter service doesn't have the same expectation as a table service meal, but usually I'm happy with what I get given the setting. The two places I'd NOT recommend are: 1. Blue Bayou: I thought the quality of ingredients and the menu selection overall was of low quality. Certainly acceptable for such a setting in a theme park, but when there are lots of other better options, I'd go elsewhere. It's a shame that it seems that they're taking advantage of what they can get away with due to the setting. 2. Food menu at Teddy Roosevelt Lounge. I've not eaten in the SS Columbia Dining room itself, but only ordered from the limited food menu in the lounge. I thought it was way overpriced and the food wasn't that enjoyable at any price.
Originally Posted By Mr X Wow, that restaurant has a name? (I just always call it the Teppanyaki place at the top of the Brighton lol) Agreed 100% on the Teddy comment. It's very much worth going in for a drink, you MUST look around the place, but the food is lame and extremely tiny portions to boot. Have a nice cocktail or soft drink there, and then go outside and get one of the many wonderful snacks around the park instead!
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara Yes, the Teddy Lounge is grotesquely overpriced. Sailing Day Buffet is expensive, but you can have as much carved steak as you like for $35--a rarity in Tokyo. I love the Nautilus Galley (but then I'd walk a mile for Gyoza). I enjoy the Blue Bayou. The filet is good (not superb, but good) and the atmosphere is great. Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall is fun, the food is good, but it's very expensive and the portions are tiny. I also enjoy the Cape Cod Cook Off, which is just burgers and so on, but you can watch the Donald and the Boat Builders shows while eating--fun, and unique to the DisneySea park. You'll find this amusing, but one of my favorite places to eat is Huey, Dewey, and Louie's Good Time Cafe in Toontown. Great Mickey pizzas (individual size) and it's just a fun place to rest your feat and eat while outside. Some types of food just seem to taste better when you eat outside, and pizza and fries fall into that category for me. Don't discount all the restaurants in Ikspiari: Imahan on the top floor, and the Yakiniku (Korean Barbeque) on the 2nd or 3rd floor are both very good. Imahan is expensive: about $100 a person for Shabu-Shabu. The Korean Barbeque restaurant is less than half that (and very good). Make sure to try: various flavor churros (maple and honey-lemon are killers; sweet potato Mickey head snacks served in Tommorowland; "Mickey Smile," which is a custard-filled pastry served at Cleo's in Fantasyland; the Gyoza Dog at the cart in the passageway between Mysterious Island and Mermaid Lagoon; do NOT eat the shrimp doughnut served at the kiosk on the walkway between Port Discovery and Cape Cod (vile, YUK!); the gelato served in DisneySea on the curve of stores just as you exit the Harbor on the left side and are heading toward the American Waterfront area--they do a double-headed cone that is an antidote for the weary walker. So much good food to eat--it's a good thing you walk it all off or we'd all weight 500 pounds!
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I also enjoy the Cape Cod Cook Off, which is just burgers and so on >>> Not to mention that it is one of the only places in TDS that you can get "on tap" the sweet nectar that is Diet Coke.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Imahan is expensive: about $100 a person for Shabu-Shabu.*** Just an FYI for you, there's a Shabu-zen on the 4th floor of Shoppers Plaza at Shin-Urayasu station which is far cheaper and imho just as nice (they even offer an all you can eat option with various beef quality choices, still much cheaper than Imahan even for top quality and so I've only dined at Imahan once for this reason..Shoppers is where I always go for my Japanese boiled beef ;p).
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Just an FYI for you, there's a Shabu-zen on the 4th floor of Shoppers Plaza at Shin-Urayasu station which is far cheaper and imho just as nice (they even offer an all you can eat option with various beef quality choices, still much cheaper than Imahan even for top quality and so I've only dined at Imahan once for this reason..Shoppers is where I always go for my Japanese boiled beef ;p). >>> I predict that they are going to rue the day that you posted this information on the Internet. Sometime soon, someone might show up and take them up on their "all you can eat beef" offer and throw the entire day's stats off kilter.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I predict that they are going to rue the day that you posted this information on the Internet. Sometime soon, someone might show up and take them up on their "all you can eat beef" offer and throw the entire day's stats off kilter.*** lol, I know. Just ask the Sheraton at TDR..they used to have a totally fun, happening bar called "Isn't It?" (I think?), and made the mistake of offering all you can drink beer or cocktails for around $20 including live entertainment... When the local foreign crew found out about that, they nearly bankrupted the place lol. Now it's a quiet bar with very high prices and not much fun at all.
Originally Posted By TokyoSweets ***Just an FYI for you, there's a Shabu-zen on the 4th floor of Shoppers Plaza at Shin-Urayasu station which is far cheaper and imho just as nice (they even offer an all you can eat option with various beef quality choices, still much cheaper than Imahan even for top quality and so I've only dined at Imahan once for this reason..Shoppers is where I always go for my Japanese boiled beef ;p).*** We like that place too the price is very good! My top five restaurants are: 1. Oceano 2. Magellans 3. Bellavista Lounge 4. Pierre Hermé Paris Salon de Thé in Ikspiari 5. S.S. Columbia Dining Room and Teddy Roosevelt Lounge Maybe number 5 is cheating? I really like how the two compliment each other and even though some menu items at Teddy Roosevelt Lounge are pricey it's fun to go for a cocktail and enjoy the atmosphere especially when they have something fun on the menu like a special dessert set. The restaurants that I really want to try next are Canna, Ristorante di Canaletto, and Silk Road. Speaking of restaurants the dinning voyage stamp rally at the hotels is starting again soon!
Originally Posted By Mr X Sweets, if it's decent weather do ask for an outdoor table by the canal at Canaletto..makes all the difference!
Originally Posted By barboy Top 5.....? --not to be a stick in the mud but in what way do you mean 'top 5 Restaurants'?? ....the 5 that we tap the most? ....the 5 that we enjoy the most? ....the 5 that we fully believe would be our favorite even though we have not tapped them yet usually due to cost impediments or availability/time constraints? ....the top 5 for overall enjoyability coupled with value. There are many ways to interpret top 5.
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara You rock, Mr.X--I'll have to try that. I'm a shabu-shabu addict and always order two plates of beef. My Japanese friends have grown accustomed to my gajin behavior! And, yes: Ristorante di Canaletto is excellent and recommended. Avoid Zambini Brothers unless you like your Italian food at the level of Pizza Hut or Dominos.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***You rock, Mr.X--I'll have to try that. I'm a shabu-shabu addict and always order two plates of beef.*** Glad to be of help. And yes, I'm the same way. Can't get enough of that boiled meat! Do head over the Shoppers and try that place, it's very nice. And your wallet will thank you!
Originally Posted By Malin --not to be a stick in the mud but in what way do you mean 'top 5 Restaurants'?? Sorry I thought the title was clear enough, but its your personal favourite Restuarants at the Resort. You choose the reasons for liking them so much, from the quality to the price, and share them here. Interesting to see quite a few people choosing Table Service Restaurants, which I have always been advised from doing, as the quality is nothing special for what you pay, and the portions are small.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Interesting to see quite a few people choosing Table Service Restaurants, which I have always been advised from doing, as the quality is nothing special for what you pay, and the portions are small.*** Well, I would guess that stems from the usual assumption about "top 5", meaning the five "highest quality" places. Barboy brings up a good point there. But, I would love to see him offer up his various "top 5" choices based on "tap the most", "enjoy the most", "overall enjoyability coupled with value" etc... BB, if you offer up yours, I would be happy to counter with mine. See how that makes this talk even more fun and interesting?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well, to me I always would prefer a table service place, I like to be waited on, and often food is cooked fresh. I am not sure about TDR, but certainly all the other resorts, the TS have a better ambiance as well.
Originally Posted By Mr X Personally I don't bother with table service at TDR all that much...believe it or not you get somewhat "waited on" even at the counter service places. Sure, you have to move through the line to select and order, but then someone carries your food to a selected table, and someone else rushes forward to bus you tray for you when you are done, odds are if you need something all you have to do is look up and wave and a cast member will rush to your table to inquire as to what you'd like and fetch it for you as well, or even stop you as you get up to go to the condiments island in order to fetch it for you... in any case they are most attentive even going so far as to play games with your kids and there are very nice touches all around with nary a tip in sight! And for me the table service places, while very nice, do tend to be rather paltry with the portions. I hate to sound like an ugly American on this one, but when I pay some bucks I like to leave a restaurant full or at least relatively so... It's all such a trade-off, it's hard to compare Tokyo table service to say, Epcot or other dining places in the Disney kingdoms. I generally opt for snacking around at the TDR, since they do offer great quality from top to bottom in that sense.
