Of the table service restaurants in CityWalk (CW), Hard Rock Hotel (HRH) or Portofino (Port), which would you recommend for a nice dinner on a non-park day?
Select 1 or 2. Please reply with any additional advice or commentary!
I havenât been to them all but those are the two best ones I have been to. But I wouldnât take young kids to Bice. An outdoor table when the opera singer comes out on a nice night is amazing. Cowfish is good fun for kids and adults.
I put all the TS options on the poll for completeness, but weâll probably steer clear of the chains (Margaritaville, Bubba Gump, Hard Rock Cafe, etc.).
I voted for Toothsome, but Cowfish wasnât bad at all.
I have a personal Thing in that I donât like to do Event Dining while on vacation that I can get the same or better at home. So, any chain-ish place is automatically eliminated. I live in Texas so anything âMexicanâ is automatically out. The food at Cowfish was really good, but mostly we got sushi rolls (I know our choice, it is what we like) and we can get excellent sushi at home. The unique atmosphere and happy memories is what puts Toothsome over the top for me. Just donât get the shakes.
DD and I have opera season tickets. Someone coming to our table singing opera ⊠well, weâd be so happy weâd probably give the singer a dayâs worth of adulation. ETA: I remember now, I think they donât come to your table. But still.
ETA2: Weâd had a bad experience at Big Fire. This was back when they still sold dining plans and we had the one that included TS. There was a problem with their gas. So anything needing the grill or an oven was out. I get that Stuff happens. But they waited until AFTER weâd gotten our appetizer to tell us that 90% of the menu was impossible and no steaks at a steak place. Based on the reaction of the guy at customer service, I suspect that the gas only a problem for customers on the dining plan. I hadnât watched for other people being served steaks, but in hindsight there were lots of happy customers there, so maybe.
Ok I forgot we had been to Toothsome! It was neat but didnât wow me as much as I thought it would. I think I was mostly impressed by the ability to get a cheeseburger with a side of sushi!
Since you have already been to Cowfish, I voted for Mama Dellaâs and Bice. I know people say that Bice is expensive but it ended up being cheaper for us (much cheaper) than Big Fire. We loved our meal when we shared an app and had each ordered pasta.
The french toast burger thing at toothsome is AMAZING the garlic potatoes on the side are 15/10! some of the best character interaction we have had anywhere in Orlando on both visits there.
My DH would add BBQ to that list. He will not let us eat BBQ in Disney or Universal. But yes as Texan I agree, we have the best Tex-Mex and this includes Cali (where they donât know what queso is?!?!) But I do think the Mexican in Epcot is good, itâs more authentic Mexican though and not Tex-Mex at all. Itâs much more like what I ate in Central Mexico
The menus are similar but not identical and the price points are pretty similar too, so what would you say are the differences between the two? Ambiance? Casual vs. formal? Adult vs. family-friendly? There must be something differentiating them, since theyâre in the same hotel!
To me, that is the difference. It is a resort restaurant, when ai have been there no one was overly dressed, but more resort casual. It does have amazing service, great enough to notice âwow, this is great serviceâ.
I like the food, but I donât compare it to Capa.
Mama Dellaâs is one of my favorite restaurants ANYWHERE. I dream about that food, especially the mussels appetizer.
The Palm has the best Lobster Bisque I have ever had. My DW makes us go to so many restaurants just to try their Lobster Bisque, as itâs her favorite food. I have had plenty. I enjoyed a good steak, cocktails and risotto there. It is very expensive.
I voted for a third. Sorry!
The Kitchen has an awesome breakfast buffet. I try to go on every departure day if I have time. I like my dinners there, but would go to the other two for dinner instead.
I know I am about to bragâŠsorry!
However, I have eaten and reviewed every restaurant on your list except Bice. I have opinions on all of them!
I gave you my more upscale/âniceâ favorites.
Iâll eat Antijtios every trip, but itâs just typical Tex-Mex food.
I really dislike Big Fire. The food is overpriced for what you get. The cocktails are amazing though.
Funny, I almost included BBQ on my No list. I didnât because we will try BBQ from an area that is proud of it at a place that is supposed to be the best. Their best is always about average Texan.
