Originally Posted By vbdad55 <1.) Bistro de Paris; 2.) Coral Reef; 3.) Tutto Italia; 4.) Tepan Edo; 5.) Le Cellier; < no cali Grill Spirit ? here are mine fwiw: ( price not factor) 1. Cali Grill 2. Jiko 3. Blue Zoo 4. Coral Reef 5. Le Cellier haven't been to Bistro in a few years so won't rank and I'm not a fan of french cuisine - and have not been to Tutto Italia yet.
Originally Posted By jmuboy Coral Reef has too much "land food" and not enough "sea food" IMHO.....and I don't even eat sea food.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome I haven't been to Coral Reef in about 8 or 9 years, I guess. I got a steak, just "eh". I've not felt a need to go back, obviously! I don't eat seafood. Denise
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I don't understand why folks would assume Bistro is the more casual location at all. A cafe usually in my experience beyond Disney is casual ... often a coffee-shop type place or slightly better. BTW, for all the newbies here (or DoM, in some cases) there used to be three resturants in the French pavilion. The terrace area of Chefs de France -- where the columns are -- was outdoors with a canopy and called Au Petit Cafe. I never got a chance to dine there, as it didn't take reservations, but always wanted to. When Chefs got its big rehab about a decade ago, they just enclosed it to add capacity to the larger location.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<no cali Grill Spirit ?>> No. I was just listing EPCOT locations. You know I love the Ca Grill. <<here are mine fwiw: ( price not factor) 1. Cali Grill 2. Jiko 3. Blue Zoo 4. Coral Reef 5. Le Cellier haven't been to Bistro in a few years so won't rank and I'm not a fan of french cuisine - and have not been to Tutto Italia yet.>> My overall faves are: 1.) Victoria and Alberts; 2.) California Grill; 3.) Narcoosee's; 4.) Bistro de Paris; 5.) Artist Point; (I have a feeling Blue Zoo and Shula's would be included or close, but I haven't dined at either yet. I have done Todd English's Olives at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and it is great and I have been to Shula's locations in South Florida and Los Angeles and have had great steaks at all of them.)]
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Coral Reef has too much "land food" and not enough "sea food" IMHO.....and I don't even eat sea food.>> Like most WDW restaurants, Coral Reef has had its menu greatly dumbed down over the years. There was a time when the menu was printed every day and had dozens of options. They also had a display case where you could see the fresh seafood behind glass. I love the place and, other than some crab and California roll, I don't eat seafood. But you're right there definitely isn't enough seafood on the menu. Having a pork chop on the menu and not having lobster is really a joke. I did see a bit of improvement this time as prime rib (which was thrown on about 2-3 years ago to appeal to simpler diners) was gone and king crab legs (which two members of my party had and said were excellent) were added. But it's nowhere like what it was. FWIW, I had a steak and it was excellent. They've also (keep this quiet or the consultants will see this) improved the house salad tremendously, adding apple and doubling its size.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <VB, it was a list of Epcot restaurants only.< Doh ! my bad - sorry. 1. Coral Reef 2. Le Cellier 3. Biergarten 4. ? hard to say 5. ? hard to say Since I have not eaten at Tutto Italiano I cannot rate it, nor Tepan Edo ( although I will go there next trip) Alfredo's would not be among my faves there, nor San Angel Inn - really saw both as very average.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <My overall faves are: 1.) Victoria and Alberts; 2.) California Grill; 3.) Narcoosee's; 4.) Bistro de Paris; 5.) Artist Point; (I have a feeling Blue Zoo and Shula's would be included or close, but I haven't dined at either yet. I have done Todd English's Olives at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and it is great and I have been to Shula's locations in South Florida and Los Angeles and have had great steaks at all of them.)]< I'm willing to bet you'd bump Narcoosee from the list for either of these, I did. The reason I didn't list Shula's is I have a hard time listing a restaurant that is exactly the same in many other locations - but it is consistently good.
Originally Posted By Mr X I would love to try Shula's but, price aside (I've paid more for a steak anyway..painful though it may be!), I just never find myself at DisneyWorld with a dinner jacket...and they require them (I assume Arthur's (still around?) and Victoria & Alberts does too?). Bummer.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^ main reason I don't frequent V& A's more often - this is my 'down' time where I don't have to be 'on'. I spend too much of the year as it is in suits - day and night when on biz trips or having to attend this or that. WDW is one of my escapes from that - so I rarely bring a jacket with me... Mr X - Shula's is 1st rate and while the prices are steep, there are places you'll pay more and get less quality than Shula's. I've been to numerous and the quality is consistent - hope you find yourself with a chance to try one.
Originally Posted By Mr X Yeah, I've checked out the menu a few times and it looks AWSOME... And I have paid dearly for good steak, so the prices don't scare me (I would probably feel more comfortable now that you've given a recommendation...the one thing I HATE doing is paying a lot for a disappointing experience!).
Originally Posted By Mr X Yeah, I've checked out the menu a few times and it looks AWSOME... And I have paid dearly for good steak, so the prices don't scare me (I would probably feel more comfortable now that you've given a recommendation...the one thing I HATE doing is paying a lot for a disappointing experience!).
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I live in Chicago ( former butcher to the world ) and home of many a great steakhouse ( Gibson's / Gene & georgetti/ Chicago Chop House) and start of many of the chains- (Morton's / Eli's )- and I would rate Shula's with any of them. Zagat Steakhouse Rankings Steakhouse Food Quality Rating Morton's 25 Chicago Chop House 24 Gibson's 24 Giannotti 23 Gene and Georgetti 23 Lawry's Prime Rib 23 Eli's 22 Riva 21 Saloon 20 Magnum's 19 Butcher Shop 17
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I would love to try Shula's but, price aside (I've paid more for a steak anyway..painful though it may be!), I just never find myself at DisneyWorld with a dinner jacket...and they require them (I assume Arthur's (still around?) and Victoria & Alberts does too?).>> I am 99.9% sure Shula's doesn't require a jacket. If the ones in SoFla don't and the one at the Sheraton LAX doesn't, I doubt the one at the Dolphin does. Arthur's 27 at the Buena Vista Palace closed down 3-4 years ago. I believe they are just using the space for private functions, which is a shame as the view is one of the best at WDW. And, yes, a jacket is required at V&A's, but the food is more than worth dressing up for. Heck, I'd wear a dress for it!
Originally Posted By Mr X Interesting. I notice that Ruth's Chris steakhouse is not on the list...I read some rave reviews on that one too (since Shula's is unlikely this vacation)...not so great though?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I have found Ruth Chriss to not be as consistent city to city....they are like everywhere now and any time you get that large - quality is an issue sometimes. I believe they have over 100 sites now -- the one in Chicago I have never had an issue with, we ate at the one in Indy a few years back and the quality was just not the same. It's why I left it off my list. I have had biz associates give mixed reviews dependent on location also.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 and I have never had to wear a jacket at any Shula's I've been to ( not been to the one at WDW though )
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I have never been to a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. But I've been to many Morton's from coast to coast and have yet to be disappointed. It's great that there's one within walking distance of DL now!
Originally Posted By Mr X About Shula's and the jacket...I probably have old info. I'm certain a jacket was required at one point, which is the very reason I never ate there when I was in Orlando for a period of time. *sign*
