Most Recent Reviews
Review of Sanaa Lunch/Dinner - Kidani Village
Reviewed by Tanasigirl Review Date: 09/27/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
We ate here for the first time on September 16, 2016, for my hubby's birthday. It was a stellar experience!
The atmosphere is beautiful with highly decorated ceilings, Indian-style lamps and large windows affording a good view of the animals on the savannah. The staff is knowledgeable and very attentive.
The Indian Style Bread Service is a must do. My favorite bread was the Garlic Ginger Naan and the Papadum, which had a thick, spongy texture, but I found it interesting. We ordered all 9 accompaniments (for a mere $3 extra) and it was worth it. I wish I could tell you which dip I liked best, but the names don't help me remember. However, they serve them in order of hot to mild and I liked the medium hot the best. It could have been enough for a full meal for the two of us, but we bravely plowed on.
I ate the Tandoori Chicken and enjoyed the flavor. Spicy, but just the right inch. My hubby ordered the Potjie Inspired and his meat choices were the braised beef and spicy Durban shrimp. The beef was fork tender and very flavorful. The shrimp was spicy, but again, not too much for me to try a piece. We ended with a simple Indian strawberry sorbet.
I know some complain that the food is spicy, so remember that if you have a sensitive stomach. The menu is African and Indian-inspired. The name says it all.
It is not the easiest restaurant to get to. We had to take a bus from our resort, PORS, to the Animal Kingdom Park (or any other park, whichever bus comes first), then transfer to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The bus stopped first at Jambo House and since we love it so much, we wandered around there for a few minutes. It is a short walk to the Kidani Village or you can request a shuttle ride. It was a tolerable night, so we opted for the walk.
It was a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go back!
Pros:
Awesome!Cons:
Long travel timeReview of Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
Reviewed by Tanasigirl Review Date: 09/27/2016
Rating: (7) Recommended
We grabbed a quick Southwest Burger here on September 13, 2016, during the MNSS Halloween Party. By the later hours of the party, it was one of the few places still open and it's never been a favorite of mine.
That being said, the burger was the standard, fairly large-sized sandwich. My hubby and I were able to split it as a snack. It came with tortilla chips, which I thought odd, till I remembered the toppings bar. We had at least three salsas to choose from and that saved the meal. There are also many toppings for your burgers or salads.
The seating is spread out and like a maze, so if you have a group you may lose each other. It can be a bit noisy and it's always crowded.
Pros:
Convenient if in FrontierlandCons:
Food selectionReview of Skipper Canteen
Reviewed by Tanasigirl Review Date: 09/27/2016
Rating: (8) Recommended
My hubby and I ate an early dinner here on September 13, 2016, before the start of the MNSS Halloween Party. Of the three dining rooms, I can really only recommend the Library. The main mess hall is open air and can be a bit noisy and the other back room was near the waiter's station, so silverware clatter was constant. We asked nicely to be moved to the Library and were quickly and politely accommodated. In my opinion, it is the coolest room. Quieter, but decorated so beautifully with carved dragons and snakes. One circular table is surrounded by beautifully-mounted butterflies. Unusual stained glass light fixtures everywhere, even in the bathrooms. I loved the decor!
The food is fine, but nothing we got too excited about. I had the Tastes Like Chicken because it is! and it was a decent-sized portion of white meat that had been cooked a bit too long and the coating a bit too thick for my taste. My hubby had the Char Sui Pork and he enjoyed the flavor of the meat. The rice was a little bland and the Chinese broccoli was just okay. So, I would have liked maybe better side options or something to help it out.
Don't know if we will go back or not, but it's a nice one-time adventure.
Pros:
Decor, especially stained glass light fixturesCons:
Can be noisyReview of Beaches and Cream
Reviewed by Tanasigirl Review Date: 09/27/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
We ate a late lunch here on September 14, 2016, after a day at Typhoon Lagoon. My hubby had to be very persistent and check often for an open reservation time. If you don't have a reservation, you will wait. It is a small space.
The decor is old-fashioned, seaside ice cream parlor. Bright colors, white and blue tile and such.
We shared a Grilled Cheese and Tomato Bisque combo. When I go again, I will get my own. It was amazing and I would have loved more. Then we shared a No Way Jose, which has to be shared. I saw someone eat one by themselves and I'm not sure how they did that. It was massive. It's a hot fudge sundae with a big dollop of peanut butter. I can still taste it!
It may be a bit hard to get to unless you are staying in the Boardwalk area. We were staying at PORS and had a car, so we drove. The Beach Club has limited parking and we had to let them know we had a restaurant reservation in order to gain entry. Otherwise, you could take a bus to Hollywood Studios Park and then the boat to the Yacht and Beach Club. It would be a time-consuming, but nice trip.
Pros:
Grilled cheese and No Way JoseCons:
Small and tight seatingReview of California Grill
Reviewed by Tanasigirl Review Date: 09/27/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
We dined at the California Grill on September 14, 2016, for our anniversary. This was our second visit and the first since the renovations. Both times were seated in a back corner room by the window. So we were not in the main dining room with a view of the Magic Kingdom. However, it was quiet and romantic, and the view from our table was of the fireworks from Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I prefer it to the open, main dining room. We walked out on the top for a view of Wishes.
The renovations have updated the color and lighting, but overall nothing too noticeable. It is still a wonderful, upscale restaurant with the menu to match.
We started with the Spicy Kazan Roll, which was a large portion and the spicy sauce in the middle was to die for! It was almost a meal in itself. My husband enjoyed the swordfish, but my pork was the best. I had never had lacquered belly before (it needs a new name lol), but it was my favorite part. Fork-tender and flavorful.
Excellent service as before and we didn't wait long for our table even though we arrived early for our reservation. It was a very memorable meal.
Pros:
Food with a ViewCons:
NoneReview of Gasparilla Island Grill
Reviewed by Tanasigirl Review Date: 09/27/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
We grabbed a snack here on the evening of September 12, 2016. We like to tour the monorail resorts on our first night, so we popped in and shared a Cuban panini with cucumber salad. Very flavorful and plenty for me and my hubby.
The best part about this little gem is the view of Cinderella's castle from your table. You don't have to pay the big bucks to have a nice, relaxing view.
Pros:
Nice viewCons:
NoneReview of Trail's End Restaurant
Reviewed by Tanasigirl Review Date: 09/27/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
We ate here on September 17, 2016, and it was our first time. We love Ft. Wilderness Campground and this gave us a reason to come by and wander through.
For a buffet, it is the most reasonably priced in WDW. No characters and that's fine with me. Rustic atmosphere with very attentive and pleasant staff. Buck met us at the door and asked if we'd ever eaten dinner with a buffalo. Well, we have now, at least its head.
The food is standard, comfort-food fare. I really liked the fried chicken because the coating was light and crispy. The brisket was great. Ribs were just okay. The mashed potatoes, mac 'n cheese and salads were fine. It is not the huge, expansive menu of most buffets in WDW. They have real brewed iced tea and even sweet tea for us Southerners. A very pleasant surprise.
The only downsides (besides eating too much) were the small area where the food was displayed and the dessert selections. The area was pretty tight most of the evening and although there were tables open and people waiting outside, the staff brought them in incrementally to keep the buffet area from getting unmanageable. At least they were addressing the issue. The desserts, while looking nice, were mostly flavorless. I ended up with the apple pie/cobbler as the better option with ice cream on the side.
It can be a time-consuming commute to enjoy all this food. We were staying in PORS, so we took a bus to the Magic Kingdom and then a boat to the campground. It is a short walk from the marina to the restaurant. Of course, being a beautiful night with a full moon, we had no complaints. Just plan ahead and you'll be fine. Tell Buck we said "hi."
Pros:
Great price for a buffetCons:
Long commuteReview of Kona Cafe Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Tanasigirl Review Date: 09/27/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
With ADR, we ate here on September 12, 2016, as we toured our way through the monorail resorts. A favorite first-night pastime. We decided to share two appetizers since the sweet bread and macadamia nut butter cannot be ignored.
We shared our favorites sticky wings and the California Luau roll. The sticky wings have a wonderful Polynesian glaze with just the right amount of mustard drizzled on top. Over time the portion size has gotten smaller, so I think this time we got 5 wings. The sushi was excellent. I had not had this one before with the pineapple included.
The restaurant is on the second floor of the lobby and is open-air, so it can be a bit loud at times. It has never stopped us from coming. Great wait staff and nice atmosphere to enjoy.
We were staying at the PORS, so we took a bus to the Magic Kingdom and then rode the resort monorail around to the Poly. Easy-peasy.
Pros:
Sticky wings!!!Cons:
Can be noisyReviewed by Tanasigirl Review Date: 09/27/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
We attended our first MNSSHP on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. It was a very low crowd from what I gather, so we had no trouble with lines at all.
We were allowed in the park at 3:45. They move you to the right and you go behind the shops of Main Street for a second to get your treat bag and your first handful of treats. We had a couple of fast passes and an early dinner reservation to keep us busy till the party started at 7.
The monsoon lasted from 5-7, but it didn't slow us down. They canceled the first parade and closed a few rides for lightening. Otherwise, we ran from one ride to the other until the rain finally stopped and the party could begin.
We were not interested in characters or candy stations, just the atmosphere, fireworks, and parade. It was fun to see how elaborate some are with their costumes. We did a little, but just to fit in.
The Happy HalloWishes were tremendous! Loved the Oggie Boogie part. The Headless Horseman and the ghost outside the Haunted Mansion were unable to join us due to the weather, so that was a bit sad. But we watched the Boo to You parade from Frontierland and that was the best thing we did. Much lower crowds and the zombie version of the Dapper Dans was very entertaining.
They list all these restaurants that are to be open, but they don't stay open very long. So, we ended up at Pecos Bill late at night, which is not a favorite.
All in all, a great night for us. We were there from 3:45 pm till about 1 am. If you can do those hours and can keep a chill attitude, it's a lot of fun. We sat up at the train depot from about 12:15 till 12:45 just watching the lighting on Main Street change color.
Oh and go early in the season and in the week like we did. Much more manageable crowds. Boo to you! Happy Halloween!
Pros:
Great parade and fireworksCons:
MonsoonReview of Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar
Reviewed by Tanasigirl Review Date: 09/27/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
Our first visit was September 14, 2016. It is a small inside bar with more seating outside on the water. We really wanted to sit in the diving bell, so since we got there at opening time, we were able to. Very cute decor telling the adventures of Jock. Even saw Reggie's cage.
My hubby and I shared two appetizers for lunch and the portions were just right. We had the Calimarion (calamari) and it was very well done. We also enjoyed the Rolling Boulder sliders. Great flavor!
It was a quiet day, so a very pleasant stop.
