Did I Do The Right Thing??

[allie5]

As some of you may remember, I had booked the Yachtsmans Steakhouse for our "special" Christmas Day dinner spot.

A few weeks ago, DH came accross a website that listed Orlando's top dining spots. V&A's was somewhere near the top, and the next WDW restaurant on the list (in the top ten as well) was the the California Grill. The Yachtsman's was something like 74th. So then DH wants to know "Why hadnt I booked the Cali Grill if its soooo much better" etc etc. Told him not to go too much by these polls and that I did a lot of research on the Yachtsmans and its meant to be great!!

By then though, he had planted a seed of doubt, and everywhere I turned I seemed to stumble over recent reviews from people who said they had had mediocre or poor meals here. I also found some photos, one which showed a steak that was probably asked for rare, so was swimming in blood juices. DH went off alarming at this (he only eats steak if its incinerated!!) and I was persueded to change our PS to the Cali Grill.

Please tell me Ive done the right thing!! Personally, I was quite happy with my choice of the Yachtsmans, but DH is happy as a clam now we ARENT eating there!! I know he will flip at the Cali Grill menu (Sushi is another one of his pet hates!!) so Im sensing trouble! Im hoping that they will have a traditional turkey offering!!

Can anyone offer any thoughts about the California Grill? Would they be able to cook DH a plain (well done :eek: ) steak if he asked? And yes, I do see the irony of him wanting to eat in one of Orlando's BEST restaurants when he will only eat plain, well done beef :D . He may of course be tempted with the Sushi (if they covered it in batter, deep fried it for 10 mins and served it up with fries and tartare sauce ) :lol: .

Thanks!
Allie

[dcfromva]

allie5,
We had a mediocre meal served at Yachtman Steakhouse (food was salted to the state of brine! :eek: and DS's lobster was the consistancy of rubber. Though I do have to say the steak was ordered medium well and it was cooked perfectly through :) )--it was for DS's birthday several years ago... It used to be a favorite restaurant of ours, but we haven't been back for dinner since (we have gone for a desserts only a couple of times). I'm sure that it was an odd night out, I am sure it could happen anywhere. But, I felt a shrug of the shoulders by the server wasn't the way to deal with such an expensive, disappointing (inedible) meal. I hesitate to mention this though because it was several years ago that it happened and others have gone since and have wonderful dining experiences.

Constrast that with The Flying Fish. This is a restaurant over at the Boardwalk. On our most recent visit, DS ordered the lobster bisque and it was too spicey for him to enjoy--this was not the fault of the restuarant and we didn't say anything. But, the server noticed that DS had only comsumed a little bit of it. She asked if he liked it...He told her he really didn't care for it. She took it off the bill and she even offered to get him a different appetizer! (It is called the Flying Fish, but they also have steak dinners, too). Link to the Flying Fish Thanksgiving Menu (http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/menuffctg.html) I haven't seen the Christmas menus, yet.

I like the California Grill, too. We had Thanksgiving Dinner there several years ago--at that time, they served a "traditional" Thanksgiving Turkey dinner, with a California twist :). Here's this year Thanksgiving menu--seems pretty normal :) (http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/menucgtg.html)


-DC :ears:

[val darnell]

Allie I've only got good things to say about Yachtsman, we have been there 2 years running and the food was simply gorgeous, done to perfection (mind you I like mine medium) even my granddaughter's steak was beautifully cooked. I haven't eaten at the Contemporary so shouldn't really comment on that but I absolutely love Yachtsman and they are really good with children.

[Keith]

ok... my honest take on the restaurants.

Firstly, v&a is in another class to both yachtsman and cg. It just is. There's no comparison. I'm a VERY fussy eater but even I stopped asking v&a for "no xyz" because I found out that whatever they cook I seem to like it. It's *that* good (but also *that* expensive).

Quality of food at Yachtsman is much better than CG in my very humble opinion. Like your husband, I like plain steak <G> nuked... I've gone through periods of asking for it medium or medium-rare to please the "well done kills the taste" crowd <G> and I'm back to having it well done and enjoying it! CG has yet to do me a nice, tasty, well done steak. It's been fine yep, but it feels like they cooked it quickly to get the meal on the table and it's always just been ok. I've never ever thought OOOOO *MUST* go to CG because I miss the food there. On the other hand YS has cooked the steak perfectly every time for me. Helen tends to have the lamb and that's amazing too. On the table next to us at YS time before last was a woman who said she wanted a "very rare" steak. She must have sent it back three times because it was overcooked and let me tell you, each time I peaked as it was going back and it was next to raw every time <ewwww>. Nevertheless the staff were nice and polite, they apologised each time, they ended up sending out a chef who chatted and they got it right. YS is next to V&A at wdw in my opinion (although next to is a bit generous... v&a is still in another class)

On the other hand atmosphere wise, sometimes CG can be amazing.. fireworks going off in the distance, kids excited etc.

I don't think you'll regret CG.. it'll be fine, you'll have a great time.. yes they'll do your DH a well done, normal steak :) no problem at all... but IMHO you'll be missing out on better food (though potentially less atmosphere) at Yachtsmans.

Ps. no way I'd ever put CG in the top 10 in orlando for food... I probably would put it up there for overall experience. Likewise, there's no way YS deserves to be at 74.

[uscwest]

Wow, this thread is interesting. We have eaten at all 3 places. As everyone says Victoria & Albert is in a class by itself. So it isn't even fair to compare it to California Grill and The Yachtsman Steak House. Now, that said, I don't go to CG for steak. If I want a great steak at WDW then I'm off to the Yachtsman. CG is wonderful in its own right for many other wonderful dishes. I can't vouch for the quality of a well done piece of meat at any WDW restaurant however, as I am one of those who orders my steaks RARE.

[OKWTink]

Yachtsman's Steakhouse has a bit of a reputation for serving one's steak (of whatever cut) in the manner that the diner requests. They don't give "attitude" or lecture the diner on the finer points of eating steak cooked other than requested.

They have been known to have an off night or two, to be sure! When I want excellent beef, that is where I go.

Here are a few shots of the restaurant. The interior, the entry, the little glass walled room where the meat is kept, and a shot of the desserts (including a special birthday dessert) are attached below.

Hope it gives you a feel for the place.

I don't think CG is a bad idea by any means, but I do think if your husband enjoys good solid food that isn't overly fussy, he will be much happier at the Yachtsman's Steakhouse.