Hitting the Beach (Club) - Dining Report/Signatures
Our diners:
Sherri, Birthday Girl
Sean, Accommodating Husband
Dates: October 4- October 9 2011
Signature Dining:
Yachtsman Steakhouse, Yacht Club:
We had high hopes for the Yachtsman Steakhouse. We love the Signature restaurants and we've nearly tried them all (except Artist Point, next trip for sure). Staying at the Beach Club seemed a perfect time to try Yachtsman Steakhouse.
We're not strangers to fine dining or steakhouses. I dined at Shula's at the Dolphin last year, and gave it high marks for food, service, and atmosphere. But I knew that Yachtsman Steakhouse might be more along the lines of the other Signature dining experiences and not necessarily comparable to the deluxe steakhouse experience, so I kept an open mind.
For starters, the hostess was rude. Not an auspicious beginning, but we were in good humor and ready to wait a while if necessary. We showed up twenty minutes early and were told they were running well behind. We ended up watching people keep coming in and being seated almost immediately, while we continued to linger with our buzzer over drinks at the attached Crew's Club lounge. Not an unpleasant wait-- there was a place to sit, and people to watch. Still, I had to get up and ask about our table twice because it seemed we had been overlooked, and both inquiries drew a snippy response from the hostess. Finally, forty minutes later (seriously), we were seated.
Our server was friendly, if not overly informative. By the end of the meal, we knew what her drive to work was like, her cat's grooming habits, and her sons by name. TMI.
I started with Lobster Bisque, with Celery Mignonnette, Salt Cod Aïoli, and American Osetra Caviar. It was a tawny brown that tasted oddly more like butternut squash soup than lobster bisque, but tasty nonetheless. No sign of the caviar. Maybe it was blended in.
My husband started with the Charcuterie Board, advertised as Smoked Duck Sausage, Venison Terrine, Black and Blue Beef Tartare, Artisanal Cheese, and Accoutrements. There was no tartare. Instead of the venison terrine, there was a chicken liver puree. This is a big difference from what the menu listed, and we were never informed of the substitution until it was placed in front of my husband (and even then, the server acted like it just came that way all the time). Charcuterie board, big disappointment.
Moving on to main meals... husband ordered the Prime New York Strip Steak, a 12-oz Strip Steak, Peppercorn Brandy Sauce, and Carmody Potato Gratin. This was delicious, if a little too peppery, and definitely a better choice than mine, the 16-oz Boneless Rib-Eye, Sweet Potato Beignets, and Red Wine Butter. The sweet potato beignets were interesting, very good, but far too sweet to accompany the steak, more like a dessert. The rib eye? Too sauced in red wine butter, and while I expect ribeye to be marbled with fat and have some occasional toughness, this ribeye had far more fat and inedible parts than it did flavorful meat. I was disappointed.
But the biggest disappointment was in the side dishes. We ordered mushrooms, and Brussels sprouts to go with our meals. The mushrooms were unbearably salty. The Brussels sprouts? Far too overcooked and heavily sauced in a remoulade (yes! remoulade!) that had no place being served with Brussels sprouts- it's just not a flavor match. It sounds quibbly, but it was slightly distressing that the staff did not know how to properly turn out Brussels sprouts. No wonder most people don't like them. They're often served improperly cooked, as they were here. I expect more from a Signature restaurant. A shame.
For dessert, we both had the Crème Brûlée with Fresh Berries and Rolled Chocolate. We love creme brulee. This one was tolerable, but freezer cold in the middle. Another letdown.
The verdict: We have had far better meals at some of Disney's non-signature venues. With the exception of the New York Strip, the quality of the cuisine, the atmosphere, and service, did not live up to our Signature standards. We won't be returning to Yachtsman Steakhouse.
Bistro de Paris, France, World Showcase- my birthday dinner!:
It was pouring all day at WDW with no sign of letting up. We dressed up anyway, and completed our ensembles with ponchos and umbrellas for the walk over. No idea why Illuminations and park closing were put off until 10 pm this evening. Columbus Day crowds? But we had a late reservation, so it was lovely to be seated near the window, have some dinner, and still watch the action around World Showcase before and during Illuminations.
The tuxedoed waiters and white tablecloths always make me feel like I'm in a fancy place, and not a mere theme park restaurant. I love Bistro, and the meal did not disappoint. Even though our neighbors, celebrating an anniversary, were so inebriated that the husband could not do math to pay the bill, and the wife fell asleep twice face down in her plate- goodness!
Because it was my birthday, it seemed right to indulge in the Cake aux lardons, Gruyère et olives, salade verte, compote d’onions et tomates- Savory cake with bacon, Gruyere and olives, mixed greens, onions tomato chutney to start. Bacon cake! Do the French know how to eat, or what? It was actually more of a savory biscuit, a little heavy, but very good.
My husband started with the Jambon Serrano, Cèleri rémoulade et pointes d’asperges- Serrano ham, celery root remoulade and green asparagus. Also good, but he still spoke fondly of the last appetizer he had at Bistro (an escargot cassoulet) that obviously did not top this one in his book.
For the main meal, I chose Rouget Atlantique en écailles de pommes de terre, épinards, sauce romarin- Red snapper in potato “scales”, baby spinach, rosemary sauce. The rosemary sauce was prevalent and a tad strong, but the fish was so delightfully presented and perfectly cooked that it all worked together well. There's a similar dish at the Boardwalk's Flying Fish, but the presentations are different enough.
My husband had the Filet de bœuf grillé forestier, sauce Bordelaise, purée de pomme de terre- Grilled beef tenderloin with mushroom “crust”, Bordelaise sauce, mashed potato. It was all so good.
It was getting late and we were about the only ones (one other couple) left in the dining room, so we decided not to order the souffle, which takes extra time, for dessert. I had the Moelleux au chocolat noir et amandes, croquant feuilletine, glace vanille. Warm chocolate and almond cake, feuilletine, vanilla ice cream, praline sauce. Delicious! But rich, and I was so full. My husband had some ice cream. And they presented a decorated plate with a candle for me to blow out on my birthday, which was an extra awesome surprise. Best birthday ever. Even while facing a walk "home" in the rain.
The verdict: Tres magnifique! If you haven't tried Bistro de Paris, add it to your list. Though, keep in mind that it does not accept dining plan and there's no children's menu.
See also:
Quick Service Report
Table Service Report
