Most Overrated Dining Experience in WDW

[Mickey'sGirl]

We had heard a lot of good things about the California Grill, but it was a big disappointment. The place was packed, it was extremely noisy and chaotic and the food just wasn't that good. The best part was going out onto the observation deck to watch the Wishes fireworks.

My thoughts exactly ...

You know, I have to agree with you on this.

CA Grill is DEFINITELY overrated. Again, our meal here was good, but not amazing. It should have been amazing for the price of it!

It should have been stellar.

[Hammer]

I have to disagree with California Grill being overrated. But again, I go there for sushi and the pork tenderloin with goat cheese polenta. I usually do not order anything else off the menu. Also, there are sections where it is not as loud. If you go past where the dessert prep bar is, there is a room with about 6-8 tables. It is nice and quiet! We found this room when they put us there with our Mom as it has it has more room for wheelchairs, though there were tables without people with wheelchairs.

Well, I know my choices are going to bother people, but my 2 overrated restaurants are Kona for breakfast and Flying Fish Café. Kona breakfast was okay, but not better than Grand Floridian Café or Captain's Grille for breakfast. I don't see the reason for the hype.

Flying Fish was just average when we went and both of us ordered seafood. The food was blah. Our server was just average and cared more about the table of businessmen next to us. Seafood and service at Narcoossee's was much better.

[johnO]

I love Ohana. Great atmosphere, Wishes at night, decent food. Ive never had a problem getting in, but then again, we usually trabel to WDW at less crowded times of the year.

Le Cellier, We enjoyed our meal here. The atmosphere was good and the service was good. Did it live up to the hype? No.

One thing ive noticed over the years is there is inconsitency at some restaurants. Boma comes to mind. We've eaten there probably four times. The first time was great, the second time was bad enough that I said we'd never return. But we did and it was great again. We went a fourth time and it was great.

[Mickey'sIrishPAl]

#1 Cinderella's Royal Table- Food was horrible and everything seemed rushed and not relaxing. Never again (unless Rapunzel appears there as my daughter loves her).

#2 San Angel Inn- Bland food, dark, and loud. I'd go back for margaritas and the salsa, but nothing more.

#3 O'Hanas breakfast- Although character interaction was fun and we got some great pictures there, I felt that the food offered was ordinary and not special especially in a Polynesian themed restaurant. I can get sausage links and Mickey waffles at our resort.

[disneynarula]

For me O'Hana is overated. I know it is a favorite of a lot of people. I just don't like the food at all. The only thing I really like was the appetizers they used to have. When I found out they changed it I cancelled my reservation. I figure I should let a real fan get a chance at their meat on a stick.

[#1donaldfan]

CRT and San Angel Inn !!!

[HackLaSalle]

Man two of my favorites are getting hit hard. I loved Le Cellier and thought it was the best steak I've had in my life.

Also a big fan of San Angel Inn.

As far as overrated I'd say Chef Mickey's if it was the ONLY place to see the Fab Five it may deserve the mad rush to get ADRs that it entails but it's not. And it's just basic breakfast buffet.

I don't know if anyone rates it highly but the worst meal I've ever gotten at Disney was at Sci-Fi Dine-In. However, the alcoholic milkshake almost made me forget it.

And for the OP DizneyFreak the chef just recently changed at Mama Melrose to someone with a more authentic italian training/heritage. So I'd give it another shot.

[darthmacho]

I also have not had a bad experience at Whispering Canyon and it's one of my top five for sure. We eat their almost every trip, and we're only skipping it to do Artist Point this year.

As for overrated, I'll go with 50's Prime Time. On our only visit, I found the menu to be heavy and our server to be a dud. I saw other more enthusiastic servers all around us. Oh well.

[DVC2004]

We did not like Le Cellier AT ALL. The service was fine, but the food was meh and the atmosphere, no. Cramped tables in a dungeon-like setting.

I don't care for WCC either, we had a bad experience there when we were celebrating special events. We told the server and the people at the podium, as well as noted it on our reservation and our server could have cared less. They made a bigger deal for a birthday at Chili's than they did for my son's grad AND b-day dinner.

I also dislike SciFi Drive In. Atmosphere was cool but the food was not even counter service quality when we went.

Lastly, Olivia's at OKW. I don't care for it. Tried it a few times, tried several things. No thanks.

[laprana]

CRT and Crystal Palace, for sure! We've tried CRT for both breakfast and dinner and the food at both meals was terrible! The atmosphere is cool, being in the castle and all, but definitely not worth the price in $$ or DDP credits! Have tried Crystal Palace twice for dinner and probably won't be back. The food was just OK, and it was mass chaos from the time we waited in line for 20+ minutes just to check in to the time we left. Service was terrible both times, too!

[i'm grumpy]

We always get the dud server at 50's. Last time they forgot to call us, haven't been back since. Also I agree the menu is too heavy for lunch in the heat.

[mommy2maddi]

I'd have to say CRT with Le Cellier being a close second. Neither one impressed me... definitely not worth the price

[DizneyFreak2002]

The Wave, San Angel Inn, Mayan Grill

The Wave wasn't impressive to me at all... Had breakfast there in 2009... We were the only ones there, so there was no noise... But the food was mediocre at best... I probably won't book there again...

San Angel Inn: We were going to have lunch there last year... However, after looking at their limited menu and high prices, we backed out... There really was nothing on the menu that sounded to appealing to us...

Cinderella's Royal Table

They get away with ripping people off because they know they can... It is too much in demand... I hope when Be Our Guest opens, this pulls a lot of people away from CRT... Not that I'll ever eat there for maybe they will improve on the food quality...

Le cellier

A continuing trend...

Coral Reef, 1900 Park Fare (dinner)

Coral Reef was another place I wanted to try but haven't... One review I read said it was no better than a Red Lobster... So I have refused to try the place...

1900 Park Fare: Didn't have dinner there, but maybe part of the problem is how they treat their dining... Everything seems to have become too generic and quality of the food has declined...

Le Cellier, Kona, Chef Mickey's, CRT

Le Cellier scores more points than the Thunder did against the Heat...

California Grill

I had California Grill the one year I decided to buy the dining plan... I thought the food was good but not signature dining worthy... I won't eat there again unless I buy the dining plan, but I have no intentions on ever doing that again...

Kona for breakfast and Flying Fish Café

I dunno... There is something about the Kona breakfast I really love... The Tonga Toast!!!

Ohana, Le Cellier, Boma

Ohana used to be my favorite restaurant... The last two times I ate there (years ago) I felt the quality had gotten really poor.. I hope they have improved everything since then.. I'd like to try the place again...

Le Cellier: enough said LOL....

Boma: Ate there once, in 2009, and LOVED TI

Cinderella's Royal Table, #2 San Angel Inn, #3 O'Hana

Starting to see a lot of the same restaurants pop up... As for the Ohana breakfast, you are right.. it is plain, just a regular breakfast nothing special...

O'Hana

Ohana may be in the running for second place here...

CRT and San Angel Inn !!!

Close between CRT, San Angel and Ohana now....

Le Cellier, San Angel Inn, Chef Mickey's, Sci-Fi Dine

And for the OP DizneyFreak the chef just recently changed at Mama Melrose to someone with a more authentic italian training/heritage. So I'd give it another shot.

Le Cellier: I had the pork chop and thought it was good...

I agree with Chef Mickey's... I just don't think it is worth the price...

Sci-Fi: I wasn't disappointed, but, the food we ordered came out cold... We sent it back to be heated, and once again, came back cold...

Mama Melrose: Thanks for the info... Maybe I will try it out again...

50's Prime Time

50's seems hit and miss... If your server is a dud, you really can't join in and have fun there... The food is just ok, nothing to brag about...

Le Cellier, WCC, SciFi Drive In, Olivia's

I lost count on Le Cellier's votes LOL...

CRT, Crystal Palace

I agree with you about Crystal Palace dinner... I'd do breakfast there but the dinner leaves a lot to be desired...

CRT, Le Cellier

Le Cellier is really running away with this...

[fanofdisney]

I would echo CRT as so many others have mentioned... don't need to say anymore right?

Also, LeCellier. Years ago I think LeCellier was awesome then I think they got too busy and their heads too big. They will have the people no matter what.

We have been to O'hana 3 times. The first time it was great, I think that was 2001. Then a few years later we went again and it was good but not anywhere near what it was our first trip then tried it again in 2008 and won't go back. Those were all for dinner. We did go to the breakfast once in addition to these and thought it was good.

I would also say SciFi. We tried it once and haven't been back. I have been thinking about giving it another chance but have decided to try other places instead

[LandFan]

Another vote for O'hana!
LTT (lunch is ok - but the packaged dinner is... very packaged and with no characters anymore it is totally not worth it.)
WCC (great salad - average other food, awful and boring service. No fun at all)
Cali Grill (yeah, I know, I'm gonna hear about this one, lol. We just thought it was good food but eh - nothing to write home about - nothing SPECTACULAR about it)
Boatwright's
50's Primetime - can actually be boring (same as WCC) and the food is average.

[Gator]

And for the OP DizneyFreak the chef just recently changed at Mama Melrose to someone with a more authentic italian training/heritage. So I'd give it another shot.

Really!?! That's good to know. I went the first time back in 2006. They had a pork dish there that was the best thing I'd ever tasted. The next time I went, it was off the menu and the food was just ok. I may have to book this one.

[BugeyedMuggy]

Cali Grill, LeCellier and Ohana.

[disneynarula]

Cali Grill, LeCellier and Ohana.

Yes, yes, and yes.

They were all fine but way overrated in price and reviews!

[Disney Doll]

Ohana- we like it just fine and do eat there from time to time, but I'm not sure why it's so insanely popular.

Coral Reef- maybe an off night, but the food and the service was lacking. We won't risk it again.

San Angel- dark & cramped dining room, horrible food. We've decided that the over abundance of really great family owned Mexican restaurants at home has us spoiled.

[MrPeetrie]

One of my most overrated dining experiences is with Whispering Canyon Cafe... I read so many positive reviews about this place that I had to try it out one night... I thought the restaurant would be a great place to have my last night in WDW meal with friends because of the "terrific" atmosphere I always read about... The atmosphere was terrible...

Wow! We think this place has an amazing atmosphere. Then again, we have two rumbuxious little ones so we're used to eating with chaos.

I'll agree, though, about the meat not being properly cooked. Ours wasn't on our first trip either. On our most recent trip, however, instead of ordering the family platter, we ordered individual meals and they were DELICIOUS!!!!!