It has been a fave of ours for a long time, but it had been a long time since we were down and a new chef and decor and well, we had to go find out if our glowing rec's to others were still valid. WOW WERE THEY!
First, the new decor is simpler, less kiddy/carousel-ish, but still has the flying fish and is more elegant and somehow more relaxed and relaxing. Secondly, the menu and service were all that one would want and more--ask for Joshua to be your server for a VERY friendly and well-informed evening.
Now the food..Just Plain WONDERFUL:
We began with the Kurobota pork belly appetizer, and yes pork belly has become a cliche all over including WDW, but this version, in a cherry gastrique with cubed gala apples? ASTOUNDINGLY perfect. Sweet, smokey, and full o' piggy wonderment. My darling who, alas, is allergic to pig, enjoyed the excellent dungeness crab croquettes, which might sound boring but wow--a two-day process to ensure the thinnest, crispiest crust around crab that TASTES like it just crawled out of the surf--superb, with a lemon-thyme coulis and microgreens. All this with the wonderful house bread that has tiny bits of nori in it for a breath of the sea salty accent.
Main events? She had the famous (and justly so) char-crusted NY strip steak (coated with spices, sugar, and thrown onto a 650degree oak grill that sucks in the smokey goodness AND instantly glazes and seals and chars the outside--awesome! With fingerlings, haricot vert, and sauce foyot (which is bernaise to which has been added amazingly reduced glace de viande! Yeah, beefy creamy wonderment, folks!) AND because of a scallop hankering, she added the "enhancement" of some of their Hokkaido scallops, grilled lightly and tender inside (which are also available as a full entree portion, too!)
Me? Had to try the brand NEW entree on the menu--a seafood rissoto with those scallops, shrimps, and calamari in a rich creamy spiced arborio that was just on the knife-edge of TOO rich but NOT over it--a rare balance indeed with all the seafood tender and perfectly cooked.
Dessert? My darlin' went for the superb assortment of cheeses (also possible as an appetizer) with goodies to accent them including some amazing honeycomb. Me? Had to go with the famous "Cocoa Breach"--imagine a wonderful chilly hazelnut cream filled crispy on the outside little muffin-ish pastry with, on top, a disc of chocolate that they then pour HOT fudge ganache into and through as it dissolves--similar to the caramel sauce thing done over at M. Paul at France but BETTER. The temperature, texture, and flavor contrasts made it a wonderful bit of variety-filled sweetness in every bite beginning to end.
Oh of COURSE we had great wines, and of COURSE a cocktail beforehand in the Abracadabar....but y'know, the food alone and the expert service and comforts made it the perfect amazing antidote to a hot, sweaty day of F&W Fest meandering around EPCOT and capped our flying visit to WDW with comfy elegance and flavors for happily ever after.
So please, I know there are a lot of contenders for "Best" at WDW, and I know most folks have to pick ONE high-end high-priced night to celebrate amidst their budget-conscious vacations at the World....trust me and choose this. We will continue to do so every visit we make!
First, the new decor is simpler, less kiddy/carousel-ish, but still has the flying fish and is more elegant and somehow more relaxed and relaxing. Secondly, the menu and service were all that one would want and more--ask for Joshua to be your server for a VERY friendly and well-informed evening.
Now the food..Just Plain WONDERFUL:
We began with the Kurobota pork belly appetizer, and yes pork belly has become a cliche all over including WDW, but this version, in a cherry gastrique with cubed gala apples? ASTOUNDINGLY perfect. Sweet, smokey, and full o' piggy wonderment. My darling who, alas, is allergic to pig, enjoyed the excellent dungeness crab croquettes, which might sound boring but wow--a two-day process to ensure the thinnest, crispiest crust around crab that TASTES like it just crawled out of the surf--superb, with a lemon-thyme coulis and microgreens. All this with the wonderful house bread that has tiny bits of nori in it for a breath of the sea salty accent.
Main events? She had the famous (and justly so) char-crusted NY strip steak (coated with spices, sugar, and thrown onto a 650degree oak grill that sucks in the smokey goodness AND instantly glazes and seals and chars the outside--awesome! With fingerlings, haricot vert, and sauce foyot (which is bernaise to which has been added amazingly reduced glace de viande! Yeah, beefy creamy wonderment, folks!) AND because of a scallop hankering, she added the "enhancement" of some of their Hokkaido scallops, grilled lightly and tender inside (which are also available as a full entree portion, too!)
Me? Had to try the brand NEW entree on the menu--a seafood rissoto with those scallops, shrimps, and calamari in a rich creamy spiced arborio that was just on the knife-edge of TOO rich but NOT over it--a rare balance indeed with all the seafood tender and perfectly cooked.
Dessert? My darlin' went for the superb assortment of cheeses (also possible as an appetizer) with goodies to accent them including some amazing honeycomb. Me? Had to go with the famous "Cocoa Breach"--imagine a wonderful chilly hazelnut cream filled crispy on the outside little muffin-ish pastry with, on top, a disc of chocolate that they then pour HOT fudge ganache into and through as it dissolves--similar to the caramel sauce thing done over at M. Paul at France but BETTER. The temperature, texture, and flavor contrasts made it a wonderful bit of variety-filled sweetness in every bite beginning to end.
Oh of COURSE we had great wines, and of COURSE a cocktail beforehand in the Abracadabar....but y'know, the food alone and the expert service and comforts made it the perfect amazing antidote to a hot, sweaty day of F&W Fest meandering around EPCOT and capped our flying visit to WDW with comfy elegance and flavors for happily ever after.
So please, I know there are a lot of contenders for "Best" at WDW, and I know most folks have to pick ONE high-end high-priced night to celebrate amidst their budget-conscious vacations at the World....trust me and choose this. We will continue to do so every visit we make!
main concern was we didnt want the kid to feel out of place as she's become very observant of her surroundings and in OPs original post they stated "elegant" and I worried she would be that far and few between kid that would stick out like a sore thumb which in turn would've made her uncomfortable throughout the meal. Looking forward to dining here. Another first for us will be HBD at DHS the night prior, then we're back to our usual dining choices 
