Originally Posted By nbodyhome <a href="http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=53&Itemid=90" target="_blank">http://www.mousesteps.com/inde x.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=53&Itemid=90</a> I didn't really expect to like it so much, but I did! Excellent food. Denise
Originally Posted By Labuda WOOT! Thanks, Denise! Looking forward to my lunch there Monday! And as for your entree - I hope that's on the lunch menu! I WANT THAT!
Originally Posted By nbodyhome I'll be there for dinner again on Monday. I think the entrees are very similar for lunch and dinner, though maybe smaller portions (just from scanning the menu quickly). The potatoes were SO good! The steak too. Denise
Originally Posted By smeeeko wow! that looked fantastic and I like the veggie instead of bread thing.. beets are yummy! (how was the dip though??)
Originally Posted By MPierce Glad you liked it Denise, also happy to hear there is some more room between the tables. It seems like they've already changed the menu up some. I'm anxious to see the different things that they now offer. Their waite staff is really getting the shaft on the DDP. I guess they will really be happy to see the included tip end in January.
Originally Posted By smedley Thanks for sharing Looks good (although the price seems a little steep if not on the plan) Great pictures as always, your eye for composition is excellent!!
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle Yes, thanks for sharing your pictures! I'm going to be on the plan in November, so I think I'll have to make a dinner booking here. I'm a sucker for Italian food, and it looks/sounds pretty yummy.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome Smedley - thank you, I had put my camera down for 6 or so years, so the photos hopefully will get better too. Liberty Belle - you should definitely try it! It's a great meal for the dining plan (I'm going back Monday). MPierce - I suppose on the DDP, at least the servers get a tip of some sort! But definitely not as high as they should at some restaurants right now. Denise
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 That tip situation sounds absurd ... and another way to screw workers. Although it clearly isn't that way everywhere. Boma included the 18% tip ... and honestly, I'd never tip more than 15% there unless the server did something amazing because all they do is bring you a drink or two or three.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle >>Liberty Belle - you should definitely try it! It's a great meal for the dining plan (I'm going back Monday)<< I ended up booking it this morning, based largely on your review I had one more sit-down meal to book anyway, and when I heard about this I couldn't resist. So thanks again!
Originally Posted By nbodyhome There are some restaurants which aren't owned at all by Disney. Mexico would be one, I was told maybe France as well. Raglan Road, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, those also would have the lesser tip. I'd read about it months ago. You can look on your receipt and make sure. So, did you get any mushrooms, Spirit, with your mushroom filet? You already know I didn't! Denise
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Denise, no 'shrooms ... but I think you know that after dinner tonight! They have changed the mushroom stuffed filet to one that had mushrooms with it to one that sits on a mushroom risotto ... tasty, but not like what they had. As to Tutto Italia, I dined there with family and a special friend tonight. The food and service were wonderful. The place has been freshened but not in a huge way. The food was wonderful ... everything ... in presentation and taste. That said, dinner for five adults (although one shared an entree), four appetizers, four desserts and four Cokes came out to $270. For Italian?!??! In a theme park?!??! Again, it was great ... but it also was free as we're on the DDP. I can't imagine going there, buying a $14 salad, $25 pasta dish, $14 dessert and $3 Coke on a regular basis ... even if this place takes DDE ... it's wonderful, but those pricepoints basically make it the most expensive location in Epcot. Again ... most people don't expect to pay mid 20s for pasta unless they're in an expense account resturant or, perhaps, in Vegas.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I can't imagine going there, buying a $14 salad, $25 pasta dish, $14 dessert and $3 Coke on a regular basis ... even if this place takes DDE ... it's wonderful, but those pricepoints basically make it the most expensive location in Epcot. Again ... most people don't expect to pay mid 20s for pasta unless they're in an expense account resturant or, perhaps, in Vegas. < exactly my feeling - now price point wise make that Veal Marsala with a side of pasta etc and I'm listening ( with DDE) - other than that I'd really have to be in the mood for pasta.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I can't imagine going there, buying a $14 salad, $25 pasta dish, $14 dessert and $3 Coke on a regular basis ... even if this place takes DDE ... it's wonderful, but those pricepoints basically make it the most expensive location in Epcot.<< My sentiments precisely. Being G-Fan's birthday, we decided to make it a special ocasion and do dinner there yesterday on EPCOT's 25th anniversary, mostly because of the positive review Denise gave here. Now mind you... the food was pretty good and the servers we had were efficient and personable. But in the end, we felt we were paying more for the ambiance, rather than the meal experience. WE both agreed the food was tasty and adecuately presented (for a theme park sit down), but the price did not match the portions we got. For that reason, we decided to skip dessert. Our dinner for two, sharing one appetizer, two main entrees, and two diet cokes (we don't drink alcohol) was close to $75, *before the tip!* This was particularly distressing because days ago, we both had an excellent dinner, with appetizer and dessert at Mangianno's (sp?) in another unlike touristy trap spot, Pointe Orlando on International Drive, where the service was excellent, the ambiance was very New York-style, the food portions were huge, and the bread was pipping hot.... all for less than $48 for the two of us. Even if I participated in the Dinning Plan, I feel Tutti Italia is not a good deal. Mind you.. I am not really into sit-down experiences when cavorting in theme parks, and as a local, I do not care to hang out at the WDW hotels either. The point is, I don't mind paying the full price when I know the price matches the meal I am getting. But I refuse to overpay as well. Tutti Italia feels overpriced, even after the discounts many enjoy with the Dining Plan. But to end in a positive note.. yes, the food is great at Tutti Italia, but overpriced.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<But to end in a positive note.. yes, the food is great at Tutti Italia, but overpriced.>> This is really the the whole point in a single sentence.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Maggiano's has 4 locations in Chicago ( and I believe may have started here )- and for a 'chain' is as close to home style Italian as you are going to get in other than a family owned place - and food is excellent and portions are amazing.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> That said, dinner for five adults (although one shared an entree), four appetizers, four desserts and four Cokes came out to $270. For Italian?!??! In a theme park?!??! Again, it was great ... but it also was free as we're on the DDP. << That's my point exactly. With very inflated prices more, and more people will continue to rant, and rave about what a great deal the DDP is. I just wish people would see the DDP for what it really is. In my opinion it is ruining almost every aspect of dinning at WDW. You will have to excuse me. Anytime I see an opportunity to express my dislike for the DDP I seize the moment.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I understand completely -- it is the dining equivalent of the Poo playground
Originally Posted By danyoung >...we don't drink alcohol...< After years of trying to understand TDLFAN, I finally see the root of the problem!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I understand completely -- it is the dining equivalent of the Poo playground << That is really strong words coming from you vbdad. >> After years of trying to understand TDLFAN, I finally see the root of the problem! << TDLFAN has strong opinions about many things, and he is very adamant about consuming alcohol. Sometimes I wonder if Carrie Nation was his Great- Great- Grandmother.
