"Adults only" dinner :-) Quick help needed!

[lynninpa]

Which would you pick for an "adults only" dinner? And why?!
Note: This would be for an early dinner and therefore the fireworks need not be considered. Thanks!
California Grill
Artist Point
Narcoossee's

 

[MickeyNicki]

Victoria and Alberts

 

[BlindTyldak]

Any particular park, or anywhere in the World?

 

[GretchGraham]

Narcoossee's

 

[lynninpa]

Victoria and Alberts

Thank you, MickeyNicki. However, I did something wrong and posted my question before completing it.

 

[Amyrlin]

Artist point

 

[lynninpa]

Narcoossee's

Could you please tell me why?

 

[lynninpa]

Artist point

Could you please tell me why?

 

[Amyrlin]

Several reasons, it is one restaurant that has fewer children around, maybe because it is the one out of the three that does not have a fireworks view. AP also has a good wine list and there is some variety in the menu.

Narcossees also has the atmosphere, and although when we have been the children there are well behaved, for us it is the menu that is a let down. The menu is a bog standard steak and seafood restaurant but at inflated prices. When we went the food was truly terrible, but some reviews are saying there has been an improvement. It is just not as good as AP. This is always a let down for us.

Cali Grill is very good food usually, but the we have always found this is the restaurant of the three with the most children strollers and accompanying paraphernalia. Excellent food, but very noisy.

 

[sleepydog25]

Which would you pick for an "adults only" dinner? And why?!
Note: This would be for an early dinner and therefore the fireworks need not be considered. Thanks!
California Grill
Artist Point
Narcoossee's

Artist Point, and here's why:
1) Great food. It's not your typical menu, either. You can get a steak there, sure, but their signature items are cedar plank salmon and buffalo filet. Both are excellent. Check out their menu if you haven't done so, already. You may choose a Chef's Selection (prix fixe) meal, as well.
2) Ambience. Rustic elegance is what I'd call it, reflecting the theme of WL itself. If you request a window seat (a solid possibility given you plan to dine early), you'll have views of the lake and/or the waterfall outside the back of the main lobby.
3) Service. We've had nothing but exemplary service there. The servers have all been knowledgeable about the menu and the wine list, and they won't hesitate to make your dining experience wonderful.
4) Wine list. AP carries topnotch wines from the Pacific Northwest including some delicious WA syrahs and chardonnays and sensuous OR pinot noirs among many offerings. They also offer wine flights. A couple of years ago, my wife and I were having a hard time trying to decide among a few wines for our flights. Our server brought out the four bottles in question and proceeded to let us sample each to help us choose--she did this without prompting. Now, THAT is good service.
5) Pace. Too many places emphasize table turnover, especially with the advent of the DDP. Not AP. Typically, the dining experience there is treated more continentally, i.e., you won't be rushed. Some diners don't like such a slow pace, but we love it. We make AP our adults-only meal for the last night of our WDW visit, and we enjoy taking our time with the wine selection (then taking our time finishing off the bottle! ), menu selections, and then savoring every bite with some adult conversation about how well the trip has gone. Last visit, we took our coffee to the balcony just outside the window seat we had and watched the geyser erupt. It was that relaxed of a night. We usually take at least two hours to complete our meal.
6) Coffee. According to our server three weeks ago, AP gets a particular coffee bean that no other restaurant on property does. They use this bean in their French press coffee served tableside, and it may very well be the best coffee in all of WDW.
7) Crowds. AP remains one of the least crowded restaurants that we've found. I hesitate to say this as I never want to see it get fully discovered. To be honest, usually there are more kids during earlier ADRs, but even then they are well-behaved. As one poster noted, since you can't see fireworks from there, then it reduces the thrill for many. Second, AP requires 2TS under the DDP, further winnowing the crowds. Third, being a signature restaurant, it's a bit more upscale than most other venues, and they've recently begun to enforce their "business casual" dress code. All of these add up to keep the numbers at AP very manageable.
8) Convenience. This likely won't apply to you, but we stay at VWL, so AP makes complete sense for us, especially as we leave our young daughter at the Cub's Den right there at WL. She loves being able to go there instead of having to sit quietly at a dinner table. We love knowing she is mere steps away having a good time while momma and I can reflect on the day's and week's events without a box of crayons lying about the table.

Other than these reasons, we can't fathom why anyone would want to go to AP. Stay away! It's awful! P.S. If you go, I recommend the buffalo sirloin, ordered medium rare (anything else will toughen the meat) paired with a nice syrah. Wifey would likely opt for the salmon and the classic pairing of a pinot noir. We both agree the berry cobbler is the best dessert they have. Good eats!