Garden Grill -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Epcot

Well, as you saw my previous review of the Garden Grill, I really enjoyed this place. The food was fabulous, the ambiance was unparallelled! Great character interaction and an overall calm and dare I say relaxing character meal! I was very much looking forward to this meal there. However, it was a bit disappointing, unfortunately. I think perhaps it may be due to the seasonality of the menu and the chef's prerogative on meal offerings.We were great by Chef Aeran, who quite honestly, seemed less than thrilled to be assisting me. I told her the last time I went there that they had made me safe potatoes--she told me this was absolutely untrue and that they gave me incorrect food (um, well I didn't get sick or have a reaction, so I'd say the crushed potatoes in olive oil were fine lol). Oh well. The last time I also got an AMAZING blend of veggies--this time I was told I could only get plain broccoli (the veggie offering this time was swiss chard, which was very prevalent in the Living with the Land ride at the time). I can't imagine why she couldn't make sauteed swiss chard for me, but alas it was not going to happen. She said the fish dish was perfectly fine as was the salsa on top of it. I was brought turkey with gravy, smashed plain potatoes (not very flavorful), plain broccoli, seasoned rice and fish. I was able to eat the salad with oil and vinegar and the ener-g rolls. Dessert was a french meadow brownie.The salad, as usual, was excellent and very fresh. It didn't have the bacon bits in it, which was a missing piece to it, to be honest! anything is better with bacon!!!

Garden salad..fresh and yummy! But where's the bacon!?

 

Ener-G rolls and um, the corn I didn't eat out of the salad (Crohn's folks don't usually digest these well, so I don't eat corn!)

My main meal--not as good as the previous trip!

 

The turkey was really good, as usual. The gravy outstanding. The potatoes were bland, as there was no seasoning (salt and pepper would have been nice), as was the broccoli. The fish was OK. I liked the rice, but the fish was very overpowering taste wise. I like most fish, but I found this to be less than a mild fish, which I expected a more mild fish, as the last time (I think it was Tilapia) on the last trip, which I love). It wasn't horrible, but maybe it was the combination of seasonings that I didn't like too.

 

Overall, it really wasn't a bad meal, but more disappointing, as the previous trip was outstanding. I think that this place is dependent on what's in season, and so each meal is going to vary. Overall, I'd like to try this again. I love the atmosphere and the salad. The character interaction is beyond amazing. It will be a bit before I try it again.Overall, a 6 out of 10 for this trip, for a less than thrilled Chef and lackluster food.

**This dining experience took place in May 2011. 

Garden Grill -- Table Service -- Epcot

Dale and I at Garden Grill!

This was our first time at the Garden Grill, and I have been wanting to dine there for years. Boy, we have been missing out!!! This is one of my new favorite places. It was soooo good. First of all, it's got great character interaction (yes, I got lots of pics with the characters) and it is such a nice calm environment. I love going around the Land! Upon arrival, we were greeted with menus and also birthday cards. How nice! Last year, we didn't really get anything special on our birthday trip, so we were quite surprised this trip (we got a LOT of great birthday meal experiences). Chef Tom came out and talked to me about the dietary restrictions. He was very helpful. I was able to get a lot of the regular offerings, though some slightly modified. First up were the Energ-G rolls (I had brought my Earth Balance margarine but forgot it at the hotel room! This restaurant did not have any on hand) and a garden salad. They made one big salad for all of us, with the dressings on the side (and no croutons). I had oil and vinegar for mine. This was an excellent salad too--very fresh and lots of yummy add-ins to it (bacon, egg, tomato, cucumber). I usually have to take it easy with the salad, but I admit, I scarfed a lot of it down.

Garden Salad...YUM!

Ener-G tapioca rolls

For my main plate, Chef Tom brought me crushed garlic potatoes, turkey, plain grilled fish with sauteed fresh veggies. I could have also had the steak, but I do not eat steak at all. I would be really sick if I did. It was all very good. Actually, it was one of my favorite meals of the trip. The veggies were nice and soft and so flavorful, and I ate a lot of them. The fish was mahi-mahi, and very tasty. They even gave me gluten free gravy on the side for the turkey and mashed potatoes, which was nice. I was very full by the end of the meal!!!

Main course: Garlic crushed potatoes, GF gravy, turkey, grilled mahi-mahi, and sauteed veggies...one of my favorite meals of this trip!

Dessert options were limited, but I had my standby brownie, which is always very good.

Birthday brownie! The waiter sang to us!

Chef Tom was so accommodating and very helpful. He even came by later to check in and see how the food was. Overall, I cannot say enough nice things about this restaurant. Both the food and service were impeccable. I give this a 9 out of 10 (only because of the dessert option). My mom and stepdad said the food they had was also extremely good, and we all liked it so much I switched ADRs for my April/May trip to add in this restaurant again. Loved, loved, loved it!!