Originally Posted By Rebekah This topic is for discussion of the 6/16/2003 news item <b><a href="http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2003/06/16/smallb2.html" target="_blank">OrBusJrn: Flying Fish Cafe Restaurant Review</a></b> The <I>Orlando Business Journal</I> offers a review of Disney's Flying Fish Cafe located at Disney's Boardwalk.
Originally Posted By DisneyLogic Being a Disney Vacation Club home resort owner at Boardwalk, the Flying Fish Cafe is well known, and I try to take one dinner there each holiday at WDW. I concur with the review in its appraisal of the Flying Fish as excellent cuisine with the following exceptions. I would NOT try to do a "family" dinner there. While I'm sure the head chef could whip something together to please any pair or trio of Young Folk who found the menu Mysterious and Distasteful, this aspect would distract from enjoying the meal. There are just too many other restaurants comparable to Flying Fish which do offer Young fare easily. Narcoosees in the Grand Floridian up near Magic Kingdom is one. Spoodles on the Boardwalk and next door to the Flying Fish is another. Save the Flying Fish for an intimate dinner out for two. Yes, it's expensive -- which is why Narcoosees is in the same league -- but the food and the wines are top notch. While good they aren't as adventurous as the California Grille of Days Olde (atop Contemporary Resort), and that can be a Goode Thing. And the prices, while not cheap, are not astronomical. Besides, who that's sensible eats at Boardwalk or in World Showcase worrying about $10 here or there. (Okay, okay, there's the Liberty Inn over near American Adventure but that's a throwback to America's common roots, cuisine which Main Street in Magic Kingdom specializes.) Incidently, if you don't know about the Disney Vacation Club, you should Check It Out, particularly if you are a Disney fan and spend LOTS of vacations at WDW. That's what we do and why we bought. Just click on the link titled "DVC" someplace over in the column to the left of this.
Originally Posted By Rsey103 >>While good they aren't as adventurous as the California Grille of Days Olde...<< Have there been changes at the California Grill, DisneyLogic?
Originally Posted By DisneyLogic Yes, the chef of the California Grill changed in July of 2002. See the story at <a href="http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2002/07/15/focus2.html" target="_blank">http://orlando.bizjournals.com /orlando/stories/2002/07/15/focus2.html</a>
Originally Posted By Rsey103 Thanks for the reference to the article. Interesting----the new chef sounds qualified for the job, doesn't he?
Originally Posted By Mr X VERY interesting, considering that the NEW chef at California Grill came from 6 years at Flying Fish Cafe in fact! Wow. Interesting turn of events. Unfortunately I've never dined at either establishment, but DisneyLogic how different (in a good or bad way) is California Grill under the new guy? Just less "adventurous"? What do you mean by that (I'm definitely an amateur when it comes to fine dining, but always interested in learning more!)? Also, a little off topic but a good friend of mine once mentioned that Spoodles (also haven't eaten there) is not very good at all. Anyone have an opinion about that?
Originally Posted By DisneyLogic Actually, the basis for my opinion on the California Grill is something the new chef said before he took charge. I haven't been able to visit WDW since June-early July of 2002. I don't know if performance is consistent with what he said. I don't recall the exact words but there was something about things being still delectable but more mainstream. Regarding Spoodles, it depends upon taste and upon the luck of the day, but Spoodles has been a regular spot for my family ever since we had our DVC home resort at Boardwalk. This means, typically, in a two week vacation we'd go there two or three times. Part of it is that my kids, both teens, love the Mediterranean food. Part of it is that the chef and waiters/waitresses go out of their way to accomodate my wife, Helen, who, unforunately, cannot each much of anything solid in the way of food because of a health condition. On the latter, the chefs at Spoodles and the California Grill were so wonderful they got What Would Walt Do nominations from us. See <a href="http://www.whatwouldwaltdo.com/Pages/castmembers/Honored/tom.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.whatwouldwaltdo.com /Pages/castmembers/Honored/tom.shtml</a> and <a href="http://www.whatwouldwaltdo.com/Pages/castmembers/Honored/john.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.whatwouldwaltdo.com /Pages/castmembers/Honored/john.shtml</a> for details.
Originally Posted By Mr X Awsome reply! Thank you so much for writing back. Sorry to hear that your wife Helen has trouble with her health. I hope that she's doing well these days!? It was so very nice to hear that they (the chefs at Spoodles and California Grill) went the extra mile to make the evening an enjoyable one for her and your whole party (very "Disney", and the deserve your nomination 100 percent!). If that isn't "Disney Magic" (which means, to me, having EVERY guest feel at ease, comfortable, have any of their needs or wants met, and be treated like a "VIP"), then I don't know what is! Very nice to read your links, DL. Thank you for providing them.
