Two Foodies, More Tables and Disney At Christmas (Yes, it's STILL about the food!)--A TR - Page 21 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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This review is the closest I've been to being interested in BOG. The food always looks so-so and just seems like a lot of hype over an effect or two. But now...maybe!
Congrats on finally being seated in the West Wing Room! We've never had lunch here because so far I've found the reviews of the sandwiches to be quite mixed. The atmosphere is the big draw here.
You might just go there near the end of the lunch timespan and only get dessert and a drink, KimmyAnn. The coffee and iced tea are both good, and truly the desserts are really yummy and worth their prices.
Drew had the chocolate cream puff the time before this. He really liked that, too. A rich, dark chocolate mousse in the pastry. He doesn't like strawberries, but the strawberry-cheesecake cupcake gets rave reviews.
If you want more of a lunch, the French onion soup is pretty good, we thought. The only place we've found better was reasonably enough at Chefs de France. I didn't have it, but Drew said theirs had both better cheese and definitely better bread. I've seen raves for BOG's potato-leek soup, too.
Soup, dessert and a drink could make a pretty reasonable BOG lunch for not that much money, Disneywise.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
I'm with some of you as I was not overly impressed with my first experience at BOG back in Spring, 2014 as you may remember from my TR! The service was very laxed and not attentive to me in any way as perhaps being a single diner. It almost seemed the server just wanted to get me out of there for a bigger party as I felt rushed. I guess they don't know that was my 11th trip to the world with some 90+ days staying in the WDW resorts. This is info they should be provided with, when dealing with their guests as I think it's important.
I received my app (potato leek soup, which I loved) before I got my beverage...about a good five minutes difference and actually had to get up from my table to yield her. My main course which was mustard crusted lamb had too much mustard flavor and sauce as bathing in it. The temeing was great, but they need to work on the service, coordination of the meals and some quality food issues still as this was nearly two years ago!
I may return here, but not soon as there are so many better choices in WDW as well as many new ones I want to try!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
It's interesting how people have had very mixed experiences here with the food and the service, and yet so many people still enjoy eating here. I think that's a real tribute to the theming. I think it's a beautiful restaurant and I've had some lovely food here.
Both my husband and myself had the pork dish at lunch and found it wonderful. It was very moist and tasty.
Thanks for rubber-stamping my impression that the pork might please me. I believe I will order it next time.
And yes, I heartily agree with Cheryl that what draws people there initially and pulls back others like us is the spectacular theming. Really, they could charge 10 bucks a head between mealtimes just to come in to see the place, and I bet plenty would pay that and think it worth the price.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
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Hands down, Tutto Italia is THE BEST use of one TS credit per person as far as we're concerned. In fact, I'd rather not think about what a waste of a TS credit breakfast or lunch at BOG is compared with lunch or dinner at Tutto Italia. I'd almost give the edge to BOG dinner because of how fantastic its theming and atmosphere are. But not quite, since the service at TI is stellar and the food little short of that.
Anyway, after two lunches at Tutto Italia, we decided to see if dinner was just as amazing. As we hoped, it was, which is why I said dinner there might actually tie with Citricos for Best Meal This Trip.
To start, the approach to the restaurant is simply lovely at night. We had a late ADR for us for Tutto Italia, since we planned to do Osborne Lights first and then walk/scoot from DHS through the IG and around the lagoon to Tutto Italia. Fortunately, the weather proved perfect for both seeing Osborne Lights and then walking back past BWI and on to Tutto Italia by 7:30. We've been in Epcot at full dark various times before, but with all the holiday decorations and the lights, the walk was that much more magical after dark.
A good part of the pleasure of dining at Tutto Italia is that we've been seated almost immediately after arriving every time we've eaten there even when the restaurant was fairly busy. Such efficient management is a delight. Giuseppe, our server, was rather like your best friend's charming dad. His manner seemed more that of a man welcoming guests to dinner in his home. He was very well-informed about the ingredients of each dish we inquired about and seemed as passionate about the food as Valarie was at Citricos only in a dignified, almost courtly fashion.
I was feeling somewhat cranky and tired by this point, having gotten much too warm while touring Osborne Lights. It was still nearly 80 that night, unusually hot for December. Credit goes to Giuseppe's manner and then some for helping me to relax and unwind. I'd have hated not to have felt up to doing justice to the superb meal that we anticipated.
Drew began with a favorite, the Prosciutto di Parma, thinly sliced Parma ham which like any prosciutto is very salty. This, he said, was intensely flavorful and balanced beautifully by ricotta cheese and dried figs with wonderfully crisp crostini for spreading and indulging.
Still feeling overheated and not terribly hungry, I wasn't sure I felt up to trying the seafood salad I'd thought I wanted as my appetizer. However, the menu description of the Insalata di Mare proved irresistible as was the salad itself. Composed of shrimp, squid, octopus, celery, onion, small potato quarters and capers in a deliciously lemony vinaigrette, it was almost better than the octopus appetizer I enjoyed so much previously at Coral Reef. This is another appetizer not to be overlooked if you like creative seafood combinations.
Drew's entree was a very interesting combination of braised beef short ribs, a large meatball and sweet sausage in a fantastic red sauce. Sweet Italian sausage doesn't mean sugary as I once ignorantly thought but rather seasoned with basil instead of hot peppers. These three were served on a bed of the smoothest, creamiest white polenta I think I've ever tasted. I suspect this was another meal where Drew was sorely tempted to lick the plate, it was that delicious.
I was certain I'd been transported to foodie heaven upon cutting into my roasted half chicken. Honestly, it was the best roast chicken I've ever had! The skin was a crispy golden brown and not one bite of the meat was dry as so often happens with roast chicken. I'm not a huge fan of risotto, but the creamy white pool of it you see in the foreground topped with chunks of carrots and potatoes was excellent. It didn't get much attention from me, however, since I was intent upon devouring every edible morsel of that fabulous chicken.
Continued, next post...
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 02-21-2016 at 06:16 PM..
Drew as usual at Tutto Italia couldn't resist the cannoli for dessert, and I must say theirs is unbelievably good with not only an attractive presentation but flaky, tender pastry and a wonderfully flavored sweetened ricotta cheese filling containing tiny dark chocolate chips.
I was far too full to have my favorite chocolate panna cotta with Amarena cherries, regrettably so because it is a simple but incredible dessert. Once again, I settled for a raspberry sorbet, refreshing but not remarkable, although I did like the white and dark chocolate curl served with it.
I truly can't understand why anyone who enjoys really good Italian food wouldn't want to eat at Tutto Italia. With our first lunch there in '13, we were hooked and simply cannot leave it off our ADR list. That such excellence can be had for a single TS credit per person is truly Disney magic!
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 02-21-2016 at 06:18 PM..
Update: Be Our Guest Breakfast, a major disappointment
There's regrettably not much to say about Be Our Guest breakfast which was disastrous for Drew and not that great as far as I was concerned. Consequently, we didn't bother taking pictures. Luckily, everything we had is pictured on All Ears.
As some other PassPorters have remarked, the pastry assortment looks much better than it tastes. (Click on the blue-lettered name of each to pull up the photo.)
Drew ate the cheese danish and chocolate croissant while I poked at the remaining pastries and decided to play it safe with a plain croissant. None was very good, all edging toward stale, in fact. Not an auspicious beginning, to be sure.
This had creamy enough scrambled eggs, but they were only just warm with about three skimpy spinach leaves, definitely not as much spinach as shown in that photo. The egg-to-puff-pastry ratio was far too low besides There seemed to be a ton of pastry although it was flaky and tender. What the plate lacked in presentation, it enlarged upon with the quality of the sides, two thin slices of very dry ham and oddly flavorless roasted plum tomatoes. After a bite of each, I didn't bother. Neither did anything for the dish as a whole.
Drew, however, got by far the worst food. He announced upon trying his open-faced bacon and egg sandwich that it was as stone cold as if it had been pulled directly from a fridge and served. The fruit cup was actually warmer, he added. When he gave me a sample, I found he wasn't joking.
With nary a CM in range by that point, naturally, we decided just to eat what we could and get on with our day. Drew said the sandwich was actually very good otherwise with thick, smoky bacon and perfectly soft-poached eggs.
As we were leaving, a CM in the Ballroom asked me how we'd liked our food, so I decided to tell her the truth. She called the asst. manager who took careful notes and offered Drew another sandwich which we declined, explaining that we just wanted to get on with touring. He apologized profusely, assured us that the kitchen would definitely hear about food that unsatisfactory, and refunded one credit which we appreciated and didn't really expect since Drew had eaten the sandwich.
Were BOG CM's more readily available when you need something, we would have sent the sandwich back immediately, of course. This is a longstanding problem with BOG QS in our experience. When you need help, you too often get attitude as I did upon asking for help opening the milk pitcher lid at lunch or simply can't find a CM at all.
Sadly, the breakfast which we thought we'd really enjoy was one of the most unsatisfactory meals we've ever had at WDW.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 02-21-2016 at 10:26 PM..
Glad you had a great dinner at Tutto Italia as I've dined there previously on a couple of occasions and have enjoyed it! But, I must say, being in the NYC area that there are better Italian choices close by, but TI is still quite good!
Sorry, to hear about your BOG experience! I dined there for dinner two years ago and found the service to be off at times and rushed as well being a solo diner as it seemed to me they wanted to get me out of there! I loved the potato leek soup, but my entree (lamb) was not great! Will return eventually, but so many other better options in WDW!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
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We've never had lunch here because so far I've found the reviews of the sandwiches to be quite mixed. The atmosphere is the big draw here. 
I didn't have it, but Drew said theirs had both better cheese and definitely better bread. I've seen raves for BOG's potato-leek soup, too. 
The service was very laxed and not attentive to me in any way as perhaps being a single diner. It almost seemed the server just wanted to get me out of there for a bigger party as I felt rushed.
I guess they don't know that was my 11th trip to the world with some 90+ days staying in the WDW resorts. This is info they should be provided with, when dealing with their guests as I think it's important. 
My main course which was mustard crusted lamb had too much mustard flavor and sauce as bathing in it. 
The temeing was great, but they need to work on the service, coordination of the meals and some quality food issues still as this was nearly two years ago!
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I dined there for dinner two years ago and found the service to be off at times and rushed as well being a solo diner as it seemed to me they wanted to get me out of there! 
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