Originally Posted By vbdad55 Well get this, was just in the Wisconsin Dells - for a volleyball tournament my daughter was playing in last weekend )- and the resort we were in Chula Vista - has a 'premium' steakhouse on the grounds called Kaminski Brothers. ( Think Shula's here for comparison) - I had the Australian Lobster tail which was excellent -- however they had Copper River Salmon on the menu - ala carte mind you now ( you do get a small Caesar made table sideside) for $48 if I remember correctly, on the menu. So the sticking up of American in the restaurants not limited to WDW. <a href="http://www.chulavistaresort.com/kaminskibros/" target="_blank">http://www.chulavistaresort.co m/kaminskibros/</a> btw RT - I can't remember the whole spiel but I know there is a connection between this place and some steak house in Minneapolis - but can't remember which. and I had to tell the staff at the resort that I had my doubts that this was a 5 star restaurant as they told me when I entered...they insisted it was. Now it was good, even Shula's good, but 5 -star -- Wisconsin must have a different point system.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <a href="http://mobiltravelguide.howstuffworks.com/fivestar.php#restaurants" target="_blank">http://mobiltravelguide.howstu ffworks.com/fivestar.php#restaurants</a> 5 star ( mobil ) hotels and restaurants - maybe the Four Seasons & Lake Buena Vista will one day be on this list --
Originally Posted By DAR It's kind of strange, but for me I really have no desire to eat at one of the high end restaraunts on the property. There's nothing wrong getting the best dinning experience possible, especially for those prices. But I'd rather go to one of the more moderate places.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<If you want to be really anal and pull up an example or examples where things appear to be better now, that's fine. Realize there are always exceptions.>> I wasn't really anal. I didn't check any other Epcot menus to find out "winners" and "losers". I chose Le Cellier because I knew it was a very popular Epcot restaurant. <<Oh, and let's not forget the $45 salmon on the menu at Artist Point. Yeah, salmon.>> At times you are just flat out wrong, and it gets darned irritating that you will never admit it. From the June 2007 Menu: <<Our Signature Plate - Cedar Plank Roasted King Salmon with Haricot Vert, Carmelized Onions, Pork Belly, Butternut Squash and Lemon Grass Glaze $32>> You can always blast old Trippy for not knowing what he's talking about, but admit that the great inside-man might occasionally have it wrong? No way!!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I wasn't really anal. I didn't check any other Epcot menus to find out "winners" and "losers". I chose Le Cellier because I knew it was a very popular Epcot restaurant.>> Yes. It's one restaurant. And I'll admit the menu has remained fairly consistent there over the years ... except for the price increases (well, those are consistent too!) <Oh, and let's not forget the $45 salmon on the menu at Artist Point. Yeah, salmon.>> <<At times you are just flat out wrong, and it gets darned irritating that you will never admit it.>> Not true at all. Every once in a while I get it wrong ... I'm a well-meaning spirit but not a perfect one. But if you're going to correct me, you're going to have to do it when I'm actually wrong. <<From the June 2007 Menu: <<Our Signature Plate - Cedar Plank Roasted King Salmon with Haricot Vert, Carmelized Onions, Pork Belly, Butternut Squash and Lemon Grass Glaze $32>> Trippy, I don't know where you got that menu (likely Deb Wills' site) but I can tell you it isn't the one that was offered on the middle of last week. The signature salmon was $45. Do you want to call to Artist Point to find out? Keith Gimball is still manager, I believe. <<You can always blast old Trippy for not knowing what he's talking about, but admit that the great inside-man might occasionally have it wrong? No way!!>> I don't think I ever 'blast' you and if I do, I apologize. Some nuances get lost on the net ... but again, I don't like being corrected when I'm right. It's annoying. And it wastes time.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Spirit, Yes, the menu was from Deb Will's site. The menu was dated June 07, and as you know the information on Deb's site is some of the most accurate you will find on the net. Now, could she have made a mistake? Yes. Could the price have changed during June? Yes. Could the Spirit perhaps be remembering wrong? Yes. I don't know that any one of those is more or less likely than any other one. I did notice that the June 2007 menu had a Chef's Choice Fixed Price Dinner listed at $47. Is there any way that might have been what you are remembering? All of us... you, me, vbdad, etc. base what we "know" on our impressions, personal experiences, memories, etc. Sometimes two people looking at the same thing will see two entirely different "facts". That is why I like using information like that presented at Deb Will's site. It is totally impartial and has been proved to be very accurate over time. Let's look at the Conch Fritters at Olivia's. Like vbdad, I truly enjoyed them and was disappointed when I heard they were taken off the menu. But was that a sign of Disney menu's being "dumbed down"? I'm not so sure. I went to the "Wayback Machine" archive site linked to on the first page of this thread. I found that an October 2003 menu had Shrimp Fritters, but no Conch Fritters. A January 2005 menu had no Fritters at all. A December 2005 menu had Conch Fritters but no Shrimp Fritters. The March 2007 menu again shows no Fritters at all. Now that disappoints me, and it disappoints vbdad. But does it mean the menu is being dumbed down? Or does it just mean that the chef figured "OK... we've tried Shrimp Fritters, and not enough people ordered them to make it worthwhile. We tried Conch Fritters, and not enough people ordered them to make it worthwhile either. Maybe people just don't like Freaking Fritters. I guess we'll take them off the menu"? We all have our own perceptions of what things are like. I try to find factual reference information not to show anyone up, but to try and get past the individual experiences that color ALL OF OUR perceptions of what is "fact".
Originally Posted By Mr X Oh. Thanks. Maybe the price issue has to do with the fact that Spirit forgot about the 3 cocktails that accompanied the meal?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN How can you people remember all of that menu changes stuff? ...and I thought I was the ultimate Disney geek here. Sheesh!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Now that disappoints me, and it disappoints vbdad. But does it mean the menu is being dumbed down? Or does it just mean that the chef figured "OK... we've tried Shrimp Fritters, and not enough people ordered them to make it worthwhile. We tried Conch Fritters, and not enough people ordered them to make it worthwhile either. Maybe people just don't like Freaking Fritters. I guess we'll take them off the menu"? < Could be true, but they've never left the menu at Vero Beach. And the 'story' I got about the shrimp fritters was that conch was in short supply so that's why they changed ( from the wait staff at Olivia's) yet 5 days later when I asked the wait staff at Shutters in Vero Beach they said there was no shortage...... Also, being the pita that I am , I did bother to talk to the chef trip before last ( last time was the first time I did not go to Olivia's during a trip ) - after I had inquired about a few of what I considered signature dishes and why they were no longer on the menu....he responded he could try and make a close replica of them if I would like, but that the menu was set with x number of items which is what he had 'all' the ingredients for. That doesn't sound to me like someone who controls their own menu......and in response I went elesewhere last year --we always ate at Olivia's upon arrival - however the trip before last it felt like many of us were just settling for what was on the menu -- not the way I want to start a trip. An Old Key West restaurant without conch is like an Old Chicago restaurant ( if they themed one ) without deep dish pizza or Chicago Style Hot Dogs.... also even beyond that - cutting the menu from 15+ entre's to 6 - 7 is dumbing down in my opinion... could I be wrong -- sure, but at least as far as Olivia's is concerned I truly believe I am not.
Originally Posted By jmuboy I'm with you TDLFAN....I can't remember menu changes. Some comments though: - No lobster at Coral Reef is absurd - $48 dollar Salmon....also absurd
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Could be true, but they've never left the menu at Vero Beach. >> Undoubtedly true. And I don't know how to put this gently, but don't you think the average Vero Beach visitor is perhaps a tad more discerning and adventurous that the typical WDW diner? Let's not forget... Joe WDW probably thinks Wal-Mart is just as good as Target, and that a Conch is something he sprays for in his mobile home. He maybe even thinks the Pooh Playground is OK too!! (P.S. I know I’ve been a jerk and stereotypical here, but it was to make a point, OK??) (P.S.S. If I ever saw a damned Conch in MY house, I’d get out the spray too!!) LOL
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <And I don't know how to put this gently, but don't you think the average Vero Beach visitor is perhaps a tad more discerning and adventurous that the typical WDW diner? < not really in that many of the people I have met at Vero has either gone from, or is going to WDW, so unless they go thru some kind of metamorphasis, they are one in the same. <He maybe even thinks the Pooh Playground is OK too!! < Oh no, you didn't go there ??????? sorry need time to stop throwing up before I can respond to this part
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<$48 dollar Salmon....also absurd>> Yes, I agree. And I'm still convinced it occurred only in the mind of The Spirit. (Who is a great guy but I really think jumped the shark on this one. Not even Disney would charge $45 for freaking Salmon. After all, people have to buy the stuff, and who would buy it at $45??)
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The same people who would pay that price at the freakin' Wisconsin Dells for Copper River Salmon.... those prices exist out there folks - ( I can't speak to A-P - as I actually have never eaten there ) - but when I see it -- ala carte no less - for that price in the Dells ( talk about a different audience there ) - I can believe it anywhere
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<After all, people have to buy the stuff, and who would buy it at $45??>> And if they did, they deserve what they get. WDW is not like the Dells where there is ONE nice restaurant in town. You don't like the price of salmon at WDW, you move on.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Want to talk about Yakitori House (quick serve, I know but I used to love the place and find it inedible now) serving mystery chicken pieces (assorted thigh and dark meat because at their pricepoint they simply can't offer breast meat and make their quotas!) << That place was a little Gem, much better than a lot of table service restauraunts at Epcot. Sadly no more. >> Oh, and let's not forget the $45 salmon on the menu at Artist Point. Yeah, salmon. << ABSURD!!! The only thing I can say is I use to really look forward to the dining experience at WDW. I just kind of feel it's mediocre now. The Roaring Fork use to be a great little lunch spot. They had a special every day at a reasonable price, something that was not on the main menue. One day they would have something like a roast beef open face sandwich, next day something else. this last trip they no longer had the lunch special.
Originally Posted By DAR <<WDW is not like the Dells where there is ONE nice restaurant in town. You don't like the price of salmon at WDW, you move on.>> I think the Dells has two nice restaraunts now. Actually I haven't been up there in about six years.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< <And I don't know how to put this gently, but don't you think the average Vero Beach visitor is perhaps a tad more discerning and adventurous that the typical WDW diner? < not really in that many of the people I have met at Vero has either gone from, or is going to WDW, so unless they go thru some kind of metamorphasis, they are one in the same. >>> You have a flaw in your logic, vbdad55. RoadTrip was saying that the average/typical WDW visitor doesn't go to Vero Beach. Your observation that the average Vero Beach visitor also goes to WDW is completely different.
