"The Feast of Maximum Occupancy" - Reviews - Flying Fish w/pix

[CanadianPaco]

Thanks for your reviews! You went to places we are thinking of trying!!!

 

[skunk]

I agree. Anything off the beaten path of the dining plan seems to get much less attention around here. This trip, we ended up eating at most of the Swolphin restaurants, except for Splash Grill and Kimonos. And I still have reviews coming later for The Fountain, Il Mulino, and Garden Grove (breakfast). Hopefully, those will help some of the other out of the way places get some much needed attention.

Stayed at the Dolphin for DW's birthday mid December. Decided to leave Epcot and try to watch 2nd half of Packers/Bears and get a bite to eat at ESPN. No luck getting in. Options? Then I remembered your review of the Dolphin Cabana Bar. Loved the chicken blt, margarita, and seating by the quiet pool. Oh yeah, they have 4 tv's in the bar area, so we saw the end of the game as well. Highlight of the afternoon. Thanks!!

 

[Robert P]

He has returned!! Happy New Year, Scorpio!

Glad to see that you're back!

Thank you both. A belated Happy New Year to you all.

You were lucky. I waited 45 min past my ADR time at Yachtsman. The more I think of it, the madder I get. When I was finally sat down, I sat for along time with no drink refill, my filet was cooked incorrectly, and I was literally rushed through my meal.

I won't go back. Ever.

My feelings about the Yachtsman have been slipping as well. We've dined there 3 times now. Gotten the cheese plate twice. Both times, nobody has either brought me, left me, nor explained to me the cheeses specifics once they arrived. Same two vists, drinks sat unfilled, despite mostly hovering service. One very very good experience offset by two lackluster ones does not add up to paying those prices for their steak. It definitely gets a rest next trip, TIW (DDE) or not.

Great reviews.... I'm interested in trying new places on our next trip especially some of the ones you have eaten at.

Thanks for your reviews! You went to places we are thinking of trying!!!

We don't always follow the most beaten path for WDW dining, so it's good to hear that our somewhat unusual dining itinerary is helpful for people. Thanks for reading.

Stayed at the Dolphin for DW's birthday mid December. Decided to leave Epcot and try to watch 2nd half of Packers/Bears and get a bite to eat at ESPN. No luck getting in. Options? Then I remembered your review of the Dolphin Cabana Bar. Loved the chicken blt, margarita, and seating by the quiet pool. Oh yeah, they have 4 tv's in the bar area, so we saw the end of the game as well. Highlight of the afternoon. Thanks!!

I'm glad my info was helpful. I was quite captivated by 'It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown' on our visit, so I guess I didn't even think of them showing the game(s) there. I guess I learn something every visit, even when I write these reviews. Glad you found an alternative spot. (ESPN gets wicked crowded at times, and we have stayed away for many years now based on terrible service and food during our last visit. We've talked about trying it again, but those crowds are always a damper.)

 

[MyTalula]

I'm loving your reviews!!

They are making me extra excited for our upcoming Dolphin stay. I'm patiently awaiting your Il Mulino review, I have really high hopes for our meal there!!

 

[Robert P]

REVIEW: Flying Fish

SUMMARY: We felt like fish in a barrel

This was a weekday dinner ADR for a party of 5 (3 adults, 2 children) at the early hour of 6:00 p.m. It was a nice day, weather wise, so we had no problems walking over from BC/BCV. Total walk time between 6-8 minutes. We arrived at the podium at 5:51 p.m., and were told it would be just a few minutes, so we were not given a pager. The restaurant was quite full, above 80% by my guess. While we people-watched to pass the time, I observed that our usual seating locations, those coveted round tables near the pillars, were all occupied. Didn’t think anything of it. My mistake….

As the hostess escorted us to our seats, there was a foreboding feeling in the air. It proved to be well warranted. We were seated at a four top table with a fifth chair pulled up, beside some wooden service cubicle area (i.e. the barrel). This was absolutely the smallest four top I have ever seen. It was too small to seat 5 people, even 3 adults and 2 children. It was too small to seat 5 Oompa Loompas. I dare say it was too small to comfortably seat 5 Keebler Elves, and they live in a hollowed out tree for gosh sakes. Really, it was ridiculously small.

While I think our hostess should have realized that this situation didn’t look right, I knew the place was quite full, and other tables for our group likely were not available. As we had plans after dinner, I didn’t want to delay the meal by having to wait for a large table to open up. I also second guessed myself, and thought that maybe this would work out okay (Note to self: stop trusting those moments of optimism).

The service was quite good, though I don’t recall any names. After ordering drinks and two appetizers, here is what the table looked like:

Now, this picture could symbolize many things:
a) the contrasts between young beverages and old.
b) the hilarity of placing a martini beside chocolate milk
c) the sly humor involving a coloring sheet for a place mat
d) the harmony of WDW, where such diverse items seem to be harmonious
e) that the table was ridiculously small, and this is the result
f) any two of the above
g) any three of the above
h) all of the above


Appetizers:
Cheese plate – served as it should be, with decent portions and cheese menu provided….

Calamari – delicious, with that great Asian ginger sauce

Entrees:

Potato wrapped red snapper – perfect, though I felt the red wine sauce wasn’t as amazing as it usually is. Could have just been my surly attitude after dodging chocolate milk and balancing plates for the previous 30 minutes…..

Pork dish – details elude me, but very good

Clams – not my favorite choice for a meal out, but very nice

As usual, the food was great. No real surprises, better or worse. Service was solid. If not for the table crampiness we experienced, which were totally out of place for a signature restaurant, this would have been a great dining experience. After juggling glasses and balancing plates like an act from the Ed Sullivan Show, this meal only gets a ‘really good’ rating.

As an aside, there were some similarities in what we ordered here this night and at the Yachtsman Steakhouse the night before. When stacked up side by side, the difference is obvious.


Just for the sake of comparison:

Yachtsman cheese plate

Flying Fish cheese plate

Yachtsman kids pasta

Flying Fish kids pasta

Flying Fish definitely stays on the ‘must do’ list for future trips, and I vow not to ever accept a ridiculously undersized table again, even if it means waiting a few more minutes to be seated.

 

[hmgray95]

Boy, those comparison pictures between FF and Yachtman's really say 1000 words, don't they! Great update, and I too would have been disappointed to have been seated at a too small table...especially when you've got kids there as they always seem to require twice as much as space as they should! I hope to get to FF someday....once my rugrats are a little older and not so noisy that is!

 

[oybolshoi]

I love the cheese plate at Flying Fish - not only do they provide five generous portions but it's always an intereting mix of cheese, as well.

Glad to read that your dinner was good even though the seating arrangements were ridiculous ... although I did enjoy the juxtaposition of chocolate milk and martini.

 

[happymomof1]

Hello, smart reviewer! I thoroughly renjoyed your review and had Deja Vu when I saw the pic of your table, crammed up, like a can of sardines should be. In my experience, I quickly ended up with a newly poured glass of wine in my lap, and didn't get to enjoy my meal. I'm glad you at least got to eat yours. I look forward to future, well written pieces by you.

ps-I'm not sure if you are paid for your thoughts in everyday life, but if not, you have quite a talent to be shared.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Just read your food review and loving it. Thank you for the comparison of the cheese platters and the kids pasta. I like the look of the 2 from Flying Fish. I showed my 4 yr old son of the 2 pasta and he liked the one of the Flying Fish so we will go there and I know my husband always gets a cheese platter. Thanks for sharing your amazing food report.

 

[eliz991]

Great review, as usual! I'm tempted to switch my Fulton's ADR for Flying Fish now (did Fulton's because my friend loves lobster).

(i will not play with my adrs 15 days out....i will not play with my adrs 15 days out....)

 

[mandibc11]

We will be staying at the Boardwalk in May, and are still debating whether to do Flying Fish for dinner one evening. 6 Days in Disney doesn't quite allow dinner at all the places I'm eager to go back to - or try for the first time!

 

[auntfrannie]

Fresh (breakfast) – located at the Dolphin

But, the concept of pick your own items seemed to overwhelm some of my fellow diners this day, as the 2 people in front of me when I got there took forever to select 2-3 measly items, and get them perfect positioned in their little metal cup. Apparently, the ultimate omelet requires the ingredients to be arranged in some harmonious feng shui order, prior to be dumped into the pan and squirted with olive oil.

Thanks so much for the laugh-out-loud commentary! After a miserable day at work, this cheered me up! Now back to work...finish your reviews!

 

[Uncleromulus]

After reading these reviews, I'm wanting more than ever to get back to WDW in May!!
Looked like a healthy tablespoon of sauce on the kids pasta at YSH!!

 

[creativeamanda]

Flying Fish is definitely an awesome meal, but I agree that table was ridiculous!

I think the cheese sampler is in the stars for us in June.

 

[Poppinsme]

I finally get to read your reviews.

And THIS is why we cant wait to eat again at FF.
Cheese glorious Cheese. (sing to "Food Glorious Food")