Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney

My fiancee, Debbie, and I dined at Victoria and Albert's while staying at
the Grand Floridian in mid-December.  I am posting both the full menu and
my review of the meal for anyone who is interested.  (The menu is posted
separately). 

Victoria & Albert's serves a seven course, fixed price meal at two seatings
nightly, with a capacity of 56 people per seating.  Each table is served by
a maid, Victoria, and a butler, Albert.  Entry to the restaurant is through
a parlor-like room featuring a fireplace and a harpist.  Upon being seated,
the menu is first presented verbally by Victoria & Albert, and then a 
souvenir copy, printed on parchment and personalized with the guest's name,
is presented to each member of the party.

Some overall comments before the blow-by-blow details:  Service was superb.
There was never an empty water glass or bread plate at our table, although
there was never the sensation of waiters hovering about the table.  The 
pace of the meal was perfect to my tastes; I don't like waiting around for
the next course after having completed something, but I don't want to feel
rushed either.  While much of the menu sounds exotic, I feel that I have
fairly basic tastes in food, and I thoroughly enjoyed everything.  There
was no confusion about which fork to use; the table was cleared, crumbs
scraped, and reset with new china and silverware for each course.

An hors d'ouevre was served first (not listed on the menu), which was
grilled pompano on a bed of seaweed with three kinds of peppers.  Throughout
the meal, bottled Vittel water and warm french bread was constantly 
replenished.

After the hors d'ouevre, a choice of three appetizers was served.  Debbie
and I both had the rabbit, which was served over angel hair pasta and 
very tasty.  (No, it did not taste like chicken!)

Next came a choice of two soups; Debbie had the Corn and Crab Chowder, 
while I had the Oriental Consomme'.  Both were good, but we both liked the
chowder better.

For the main course, Debbie had the Beef Tournedos and I had the Duck.  
They were both very enjoyable, and I only wish we had been with a larger
party so that we could have sampled the other entrees as well.

After clearing the entrees, we were asked if we wanted coffee with our
desserts, which at first seemed a premature question.  After replying yes,
the brought a fascinating coffee maker to our table, where we watched our
coffee percolate for the remainder of the meal (trust me, this is more
interested than it sounds).  The machine consists of a glass globe filled
with water, on top of which is placed a glass brandy-snifter shaped contained
filled with coffee grounds.  A glass tube connects them.  A burner is lit 
under the water globe, and water rises up the tube to mix with the grounds.
After watching the sludge bubble for some time, the burner is extinquished
and the water (passing through some sort of filter, I assume) seeps back
down into the lower chamber.  The container of grounds is removed, and what
is left is a coffee pot which is used for serving.  While this was taking
place, however, we continued to eat . . .

The salad course was probably the least interesting to both of us.  The  
salad leaves had a decidedly bitter taste, which seems to be a popular
thing in several upscale restaurants I have eaten at lately.  Not to my
particular liking, but that's just a matter of taste.

A cheese course was then served, which consisted of Royal Stilton cheese
on a slice of something akin to banana bread, a poached pear, and a shot-
sized serving of Sandeman's Founders Reserve port.  I enjoyed this; the
cheese was a little too sharp for Debbie's taste.  The port was excellent.

For the finale, we both had the Chocolate, Chocolate Almond Souffle, which
was exceptional, along with the coffee we had been watching for the last
several courses.   

After dessert, chocolate truffles were served and Debbie was presented with
a long-stemmed red rose.  We also had Victoria and Albert join us in the
parlor for a picture in front of the fireplace, as a final memento of the
evening.

---------

I felt that a dinner here was something I would enjoy doing once, just to
have the experience.  Having done it, I now feel it's something I'd like 
to do every year; it was really the most special part of our week at Walt
Disney World.  

The price for all of this is $80 per person, or, if you prefer, for $105
per person you can have the Royal Pairing, where each course is accompanied
by a wine selected to complement it.  It ain't cheap, but we felt it was
well worth it.

 
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney