Mama Melrose's Review

I've been to Mama Melrose's twice and enjoyed the experience. It's a restaurant I don't often hear a lot about. That's part of the reason I didn't go for a long time. My family only made our first trip when we decided to try new and different things. And during our most recent trip, we did the Fantasmic Dinner Package there.

First, I'll mention the atmosphere. It's a VERY loud restaurant. A lot of Disney restaurants are crowded but this one always seems louder than the others. It's full of film memorabilia and knick-knacks. We have some small family-owned Italian restaurants near me and even though this isn't small that is the feel to it.

Now, let's talk about the important stuff-the food.

The appetizers came with the dinner package. My parents got the tuna and mussels while I got the tomatoes and mozzarella. I enjoyed mine. It's a nice light, but flavorful way to start a meal. My parents didn't like there's at all.

There was also a bread service of breadsticks and seasoned olive oil. Personally, I don't like olive oil on my bread, but it has nothing to do with its quality. The bread was warm and had a nice texture, but was a little bland. A basic bread doesn't have to be bland if done right.

I got the four-cheese pasta with chicken both times. And I love it. It's so rich and creamy. It's a fairly basic dish, but I've had it before where it's bland and watery. So, it can be messed up. This last trip my parents got the charred strip steak. I'm not a steak person so I didn't try it. But they both praised it. My dad actually said it was the best steak he ever had.

 The dinner package was the first time we tried dessert and it was a combination platter. The platter included tiramisu, chocolate cannoli cake, and an amaretto cheesecake.

My parents ate all of their tiramisus and enjoyed it, but I don't like coffee so I only ate the cream which was good. The chocolate cannoli cake was just ok. The cheesecake was the best dessert and wasn't rich. They were each like small samples which I prefer in a dessert.

Mama Melrose's is not my favorite restaurant or a must-do, but it's certainly a good option. I'm not eating there the next time I go, but I would in the future.

Have you eaten here? What did you think about it?

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Be Our Guest Review

Location: Magic Kingdom
Type: Counter Service
Rating: 5 Stars

This trip I made my second visit to Be Our Guest. I don't really like french cuisine so I don't have much interest in eating there for dinner. Back in 2013, we had to wait in line for 30-45 minutes to eat lunch.

It was actually the reservation we had the hardest time getting. It does suck having to make reservations for a counter service restaurant but it was worth it. We checked in and walked right on into the Beast's castle. Several people were trying to get in without reservations and were basically being turned away.

The ordering process was very easy and my food arrived fairly quickly. I got the carved turkey sandwich with pomme frites and the Master's cupcake for dessert. I don't normally get dessert at a counter service restaurant, but I needed to try the gray stuff.

Obviously.

My dad got the Croque monsieur with pomme frites and the Master's cupcake. My step-mom got the roast beef sandwich with greens and the eclair a l'orange for dessert. Unfortunately, I didn't ask about their food, but they did say they really liked it.

I loved my sandwich. Why else would I get it again? The turkey is moist and flavorful. The dijonaise and onions add a nice kick. I could use more of both, but I'm a huge fan of raw onion and mustard.

Then, there's dessert.

Denise got the eclaire a l'orange which she enjoyed, but that doesn't matter. What's really important is the grey stuff. Dad and I both got the Master's cupcake which is topped with the gray stuff. This cupcake was fantastic. The actual cake part was fluffy and just chocolatey enough. And the gray stuff was light but flavorful enough. They worked together and separately.

The theming in this restaurant is probably some of the best. It really feels like you stepped into Beauty and the Beast the movie. We've eaten in the West Wing before and it is very well done. I recommend checking it out, but it is kind of dark in there. It makes sense with the theming, but I personally don't like dark restaurants.

This time we ate in the room with the music box. The theming in here is more subtle but equally beautiful. I've never eaten in the ballroom. It's a very awe-inspiring room and I would like to eat there someday, but I'm always afraid it will be super loud.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Crystal Palace Lunch Review

Location: Magic Kingdom
Type: Table Service (Buffet)
Rating: 5 Stars

On this most recent trip, I had lunch at the Crystal Palace. It was a Sunday and our reservations were at 1:30 PM. I have eaten here before but not in a few trips and only for breakfast. So, it was sort of a new experience. And I was traveling with my dad and stepmom.

We checked in just before 1:30 and were seated in about 10 minutes. It was crowded, but they were cranking people through.

Our waiter (I wish I could remember his name) was amazing. He was friendly and fast, but would talk to the people at his tables. Maybe he was from up north because he had a very New York frantic energy about him. Being from the north that doesn't bother me at all. My only complaint-he kept bringing me sweet tea. I know it's a weird thing to complain about. And it's not really a complaint at all. He would bring me a new tea whenever I was like half-way done. I just ended up drinking a lot more than I normally would.

The food was delicious and definitely seasoned. The broccoli I had was very garlicky and the mashed potatoes had a lot of pepper. It wasn't too much for me, but it was pretty aggressive.

I got the ziti with meatballs from the kids' buffet and I loved it-especially the meatballs. The salad bar was diverse and also delicious. I got the caesar salad and Mediterranean salad.

Typically, I don't eat a lot of meat just because I don't really like the taste. But my parents partook of the meat carving stations. They got several kinds (sorry I don't remember which ones) but they raved about them.

For the most part, the dessert was good. The brownie was kind of dry so I only had one bite. Such a disappointment. The key lime pie and sugar-free raspberry tart were OK and would have been better if they were chilled. But the cheesecake was amazing. I am a cheesecake person, but normally it's so rich that I can't eat a lot. This was perfect. The flavors blended well and weren't too heavy or rich. I wanted to eat another piece when I finished.

Now, onto the characters. I'm not a huge character interaction person. I'm just awkward because I don't know what to do. At Crystal Palace, you meet Winnie the Pooh and friends. So, there was Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger. Just like the waitstaff they got around fast but gave time to the people and kids who wanted to do more. Tigger is always a crazy one to meet and this was no exception.

The character handlers were also great. They took pictures for you and would take several. I also saw a couple do things to make the kids smile in their pictures.

I really enjoyed my time at The Crystal Palace. The characters were entertaining and the food was delicious. Now don't get me wrong, it is expensive. You can find good food for a lower price, but if you are willing to spend the money I recommend it.

Thanks for reading!
Holly