Why some restaurants are must do's and others aren't
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RoonieRooToo · 05-21-2009, 08:11 PM

I was telling DH tonight about how Le Cellier is so impossible to get an ADR for and how popular and well loved it is. He was a bit non-plussed at first. We have eaten at Le Cellier and where it was very good, we wouldn't rate it as must do as it appears it is for many. So we were thinking about what restaurants are our must do's and why.

DH's theory on why we aren't as enamored of Le Cellier is that we have easy, cost efficient access to pretty fantastic beef all the time here. We get a side of beef each year from our rancher buddy and it's pretty darn spectacular. But is Le Cellier really all about the beef for some?

Our favorite restaurants are more about the fresh fish and other dishes than beef when we visit WDW. So I'm wondering if the favorites are driven by where people come from and what they typically have access to fresh and at it's yummiest.

So what is your favorite WDW restaurant and do you think it is about the food there vs what you normally get at home?

**Colexis Mom** · 05-21-2009, 08:32 PM

My favorite food wise is 'Ohana. I love the salad, the sticky wings, and the grilled meat. I think Le Cellier is so popular because it's a steal on the dining plan. For what you pay per person per day, you are usually eating twice that value there! IMO.

RoonieRooToo · 05-21-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

I think Le Cellier is so popular because it's a steal on the dining plan. For what you pay per person per day, you are usually eating twice that value there! IMO.

I hadn't thought of that! Definitely a possibility.

HiddenMinnie68 · 05-21-2009, 11:49 PM

Everytime we come back from a WDW trip, we say, "we'll definitely do that restaurant next time". Sometimes we do and sometimes we don't as we always want to try others, but don't want to miss our favorites. I don't like being locked into the same thing every year. But I also think it's kind of like going home. I don't necessary think it's the fact that the restaurant is totally fabulous - it just brings back good memories. I love that feeling.

So for us, we like places that are completely different from anywhere we can get outside of the World, like Crystal Palace b'fast for instance. I'm sure I could find a better tasting breakfast, but it's just the atmosphere and the memories that keep us coming back. And because most WDW restaurants are unique, they just seem that much more special. At least IMHO

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Sue M. · 05-22-2009, 01:45 AM

My two fav. restaurants are Kona, and Boma. i guess for the flavors. I also enjoyed our meal at Le Cellier.

Happymommy · 05-22-2009, 02:03 AM

Our "must-dos" are Crystal Palace Breakfast, Tutto Italia and Olivia's.

I love the breakfast Lasagna at Crystal Palace, and eating early in front of the castle, in that beautiful open bright restaurant.

When I was a kid, we always ate in Italy--- never once did we miss this restaurant, so it just brings back memories for me. Plus, the food is really good.

Olivia's feels like Florida to me. It feels laid back, and has that vacation feel to it. Love it.

We'll be hitting all three in the next week! Can't wait!

tkm1005 · 05-22-2009, 08:25 AM

We don't seem to have any must do's anymore. Now I just try to mixup our dining to get different experiences...but for the most part there isn't any food that is so much better at Disney than at home, its about the characters, theming etc.

**chezp** · 05-22-2009, 10:37 AM

Ours is definitely about food we don't get at home, as our must-dos include the California Grill and Boma.

Schnortz's wife · 05-22-2009, 10:54 AM

I haven't done Disney since 1993, before the dining plan, when you could just call in the morning and get a reservation at Le Cellier. (I remember it was good!)

I can't say what my "must do" is since I don't have one - yet. When planning our ADRs, I chose different restaurants for different reasons. We're doing Chef Mickey's, Hollywood and Vine, and the Crystal Palace because they're buffets (which our girls love) and two of them have characters (which I'm sure all of us will love.) I chose Akershus because of the princesses, although I'm also looking forward to the food at Norway since that's part of my heritage and I like that kind of food! We're going Whispering Canyon not because the food is special, although it sounds good, but because it's at the WL where we're staying and it sounds like fun. Our reservations at O'hana and Raglan Road are definitely because they're food that's uncommon and unusual for us. It is definitely more appealing because of that.
It's the same reason I wouldn't choose Sommerfest or Biergarten. Here in Wisconsin you can get really good German food anywhere, along with the music and dancing. It would be my last choice of food when on vacation.

JoanneS · 05-22-2009, 10:55 AM

We usually try to eat at restaurants that we haven't tried, but my favorites so far have been Tutto Italia and 50's Prime Time.

I love Tutto Italia for the food. It reminds me of the food my friend's Italian grandma used to make.

I love 50's Prime Time for the comfort food and the fun you have when you eat there. The pot roast is really yummy!

disney_duke · 05-22-2009, 12:54 PM

The only must-do for every trip is Crystal Palace for breakfast. I try to get the first or one of the earliest reservations. NOthing beats that walk up Main Street with only a handful of people. Love that! To me, that's worth every penny. Plus, when we're done, we're already so close to some of the biggest attractions so we can really get a head start on lots of the crowd. Not to mention the puffed french toast and the rest of the yummy selection. I always leave stuffed! I suppose Eeyore may have something to do with it too.....

hockeyguysmom · 05-22-2009, 03:50 PM

I have been listening to the WDW today podcasts & they just did an episode on LeCelier & Yachtsman. Their explanation to the popularity of LeCelier is that it is that it is 1 TS credit as opposed to Yachtsmans 2 TS credits. Also, LeCelier is one of the smallest dining rooms so spots are really limited.

I haven't eaten at either yet but am interested in trying a dinner on the next trip where the guys can get steaks.

After our last trip Tusker House for breakfast is our new must do.

coastgirl · 05-22-2009, 05:43 PM

That is such an interesting question, and an interesting thread, thanks for starting it!

For us it's not really about the food; it just has to be ok, and we find the quality is good most places. My own must-do is Ohana breakfast, b/c it was our first-ever character meal for a Stitch-crazy family, and I love the Poly but can't afford to stay there! I did like Boma b/c the flavours are so unusual, but for the most part, if I want ethnic food I go to a "real" ethnic restaurant. That said, I loved the staff and the entertainment at Marrakesh. I think I will try for Le Cellier next time, but more for the challenge, and b/c I'm Canadian and curious. ;-) So, yeah, I agree with the PP who said it was about the theming and the characters.

RoonieRooToo · 05-22-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coastgirl

I think I will try for Le Cellier next time, but more for the challenge, and b/c I'm Canadian and curious. ;-)

That made me laugh. I totally get trying to get the ADR just for the challenge. Haha.

jchappa · 05-22-2009, 06:20 PM

For us, we can't miss Restaurant Akershus and it has nothing to do with the characters. This was the first table service DH and I ever had at WDW, back when we had to scrape up spare change to afford any meals and way before this was character dining. I fell in love with the Norwegian food. We like trying different places and we can get nothing like this in east Texas. The atmosphere is wonderful and it is a nice relaxing dinner for us with exceptional food.