Kouzzina to close 9/30/14; Trattoria al Forno Opens December '14

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

I really doubt this, actually. I don't think you have to be adventurous to enjoy Kouzzina, though it certainly doesn't cater to picky. Still, the place was always packed when we were there, as was Spoodles before it. Though, both were always good bets to get last minute reservations so maybe there's something to it. I don't know.

I tend to think it's more that the profit margin was off for Cat Cora to continue. Despite the success of the F & W festival and claims that people see the inebriated everywhere during that time, I think that Disney venues, being very family friendly places, maybe don't make as much money on alcohol sales as might happen in other locations, making it a daunting process to try to break even.

Most restaurants lose money on their food, especially those that feature high end ingredients, but they can usually count on making that up in alcohol sales despite a significant markup. Maybe not so at a place like Kouzzina, which has to compete with the close Epcot restaurants for customers, and people going to the Boardwalk to drink might be saving it for some of the clubs nearby. Plus, Cat Cora's wines were pretty bad. I like wine with dinner, but I would usually pass at Kouzzina. Though the Ouzo was good. Opa!

When I say I am an adventurous eater I am comparing myself to my mom and my son who are both picky eaters. I will try just about any cuisine and there is very little I won't try, they won't even try a lot of things and I think that's the same with a lot of kids.

[buzznwoodysmom]

Not sure exactly why, but my family was never interested in eating there. We are a pretty adventurous bunch when it comes to eating. One of my kids favorite things to do in Disney is to spend an afternoon trying new things in the different countries of WS.

We looked at the menu at Kouzzina's a few times and never found enough that convinced us to give it a try. Some other location always won out over this place.

For those of you who will miss it, I hope whatever replaces it turns out to be even better.

[Basket Mommy]

I never ate at Kouzzina. after looking at the menu, it never appealed to my taste. Frankly what is missing at the Boardwalk is a Quick Service location similar to the food courts in the value resorts. The food at the stands on the boardwalk is barely edible. The ESPN Club and the Big River Brew Works basically sell "Bar Food", The Flying Fish is a high end choice. Other than the small selection at the Boardwalk Bakery there is no true Quick Service.

I totally agree. So does Beach Club. We just returned from our 4th stay at BCV, and I find the quick service there and at Boardwalk to be completely lacking. When I'm exhausted at the end of the day, but I have quick service DDP credits to use, the marketplace food just isn't what I want, and I don't want to have to go all the way around the pool to get food at Hurricane Hanna's, either. I could see my family hopping on the boat to cross the lake to get food at a GOOD quick service location at BWV, though. Or even taking a slow stroll over the bridge. I really wish that Beaches & Cream had offerings that could count as quick service, too.

[SBETigg]

But the tricky thing with the Boardwalk restaurants is that they also cater to people enjoying the Boardwalk and not just guests of those area resorts. A quick service might be needed for the Boardwalk and the Beach/Yacht Club could use a much better one, too, agreed. But I think they would be better served to make those services internal to the resorts. Make a separate better quick service for the B/Y Clubs. Make one for the Boardwalk. But don't take away prime table service space to do it.

There are already plenty of quick service restaurants at WDW, and so many of them are essentially the same with just a few modifications. Plus, if you had a quick service place there, it would be competing with the carts that make up part of the Boardwalk atmosphere. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't do that. I would rather see another good table service place that fits with the area atmosphere (which Kouzzina, much as I enjoyed it, perhaps didn't quite do).

[PlutoPlanet]

Sad news. We ate at Kouzzina every year.

[#1donaldfan]

Wow !! That place didn't last long at all.

[Lindsey310]

I never ate at Kouzzina. after looking at the menu, it never appealed to my taste. Frankly what is missing at the Boardwalk is a Quick Service location similar to the food courts in the value resorts. The food at the stands on the boardwalk is barely edible. The ESPN Club and the Big River Brew Works basically sell "Bar Food", The Flying Fish is a high end choice. Other than the small selection at the Boardwalk Bakery there is no true Quick Service.

I feel the exact same way. And with so many dining choices at WDW it was hard for me to even give it a try. Looking forward to seeing what replaces it!!

[Basket Mommy]

Wow !! That place didn't last long at all.

We ate there (our one and only time) in 2010, and I'm pretty sure it had been open at least a year by then. Five years is long enough to decide if it works or not. Some restaurants don't even make it 6 months in the non-WDW world : )

[VacationDisney]

We will miss this place as we do Spoodles

We loved both places. Hope another great restaurant takes over

[TinkerbellT421]

Guess I am in the minority but I am not sad to see it go at all. We have stayed at the Boardwalk many times. Never cared to eat there, menu never seemed appealing to us, except this past trip in January. Our first and only time there which we determined as soon as we left. We went for breakfast, and while the food was okay (at best)....but for the money and what we received, we were both starving two hours later. I consider us average eaters, we do not over indulge and normally can go with only eating maybe twice a day while on vacation....we ended up eating an early lunch around 11:30 at Tony's in MK....normally we wouldn't have eaten again until dinner time after we have breakfast. It was a little disappointing to say the least.

[DisneyGiant]

I will miss it. It was our go to breakfast spot when we stayed at Boardwalk. Yummy fig compote French Toast for me and lots of Mickey Waffles for the kids.

That French Toast was DELICIOUS!!!!

This restaurant was one of our "nice to do's" - I didn't think that the food was that adventurous - I can give picky eaters a run for their money!

We were going to eat at the Flying Fish this July - but I think I'll change it to Kouzzina since it will be going away forever.

Opa!

[Travis1717]

We really enjoyed Kouzzina for breakfast, so this is a huge bummer for me!

[angua85]

This makes me so sad. This was always our first night meal.

Sue

[Figment!]

The replacement for Kouzzina at Disney's Boardwalk is tentatively scheduled to open December 8, 2014.

From October 1 through December 7,2014; the Flying Fish Cafe will offer a Breakfast seating while the former Kouzzina location is renovated.

First Peek at Trattoria al Forno, New Restaurant for Disney’s BoardWalk

by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
The Official Disney Parks Blog
July 15th, 2014

With opening planned for December, we’re sharing the first details for Trattoria al Forno, the new restaurant for Disney’s BoardWalk.

A “trattoria” is an Italian restaurant serving simple food, and “al forno” is Italian for “food baked in an oven,” and this new spot will showcase Old World techniques, including handcrafted mozzarella made daily, cavatelli (small dumpling-shaped pasta) and a variety of Neopolitan-style pizzas baked in wood-burning ovens. Neopolitan pizzas, by the way, are pizzas in the classic style of Naples, Italy, with simple tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella.

A beautiful Italian flywheel slicer slices paper-thin Italian meats, served with a variety of olives and caponata. Satisfying pastas, velvety seasonal risottos and fresh seafood and vegetables will celebrate the delectable diversity of Italian cuisine with authentic ingredients and recipes from Italy’s various regions.

Italy is just half the size of Texas but has wonderfully diverse cuisine, and Trattoria al Forno will showcase dishes from Italy’s various regions – for instance, braised beef Bolognese with house-made cavatelli from Bologna, semolina tagliatelli carbonara from Latium (more specifically Rome), pork chop alla Milanese named after the city of Milano. And you’ll find classic Italian favorites: chicken breast alla Parmagiana with tagliatelle pasta; shrimp with garlic, capers and anchovy butter with polenta; whole roasted fish with roasted vegetables; baked lasagna; grilled steak; slow-cooked lamb shank with polenta; and eggplant rollatini.

A seasonal risotto will always be on the menu, and vegetarians will appreciate the ruffled campanelle pasta with green beans, roasted potatoes and Genovese pesto.

Add a classic Italian dessert with an after-dinner cappuccino for a perfect ending. Look for tiramisù, lemon panna cotta with almond crunch and berries, gelatos, and the signature bomboloni (Italian donut holes) with dark chocolate and vanilla gelato.

Wines will be 100 percent Italian from historic wine regions including Tuscany, Veneto and Piedmont, with over 60 offerings by the bottle and more than 25 wines by the glass – Chiantis, Super Tuscans and fine Italian white wines such as Prosecco, Pinot Grigio and Moscato. Signature cocktails and Italian beers and sodas round out the drink menu, with a signature-blend Italian coffee roasted just for Trattoria al forno.

[SBETigg]

Sounds a lot like Via Napoli. Do we need two? Though, maybe we do. Good pizza is a rarity in the area and good Italian isn't a big Disney specialty, yet. So... keeping an open mind.

[kakn7294]

I'm sad to see Kouzzina go and even sadder to see it replaced by what sounds exactly like Via Napoli. I likely won't be making a stop there.

[Mitzie]

From October 1 through December 7,2014; the Flying Fish Cafe will offer a Breakfast seating while the former Kouzzina location is renovated.

Do we know what that breakfast menu might be at this point or if they are taking reservations? We will be at YC the end of October and might be interested in breakfast...

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I'm sad to see Kouzzina go and even sadder to see it replaced by what sounds exactly like Via Napoli. I likely won't be making a stop there.

I thought the same thing ... we like Via Napoli, but why do we need two? (especially so close together).

[Mitzie]

I think I have the answer to my own question. On the official WDW website when looking at Flying Fish there is a breakfast menu listed...looks alot like some of the Kouzzina choices.

[TheDuckRocks]

I can't help but wonder if Trattoria al Forno will be owned by the Patina Restaurant Group. They currently have Tutto Italia and Via Napoi at WDW and run 5 places at Downtown Disney at Disneyland including Naples Ristorante. I did go to their website but there was no mention of any new openings though.