Arthur's 27

[Katys Grandad]

For the overall experience I still like Sharrow Bay but there are now a lot of places up there which can match it and perhaps even better it on food.

The restaurant I referred to in Virginia is Fossett's in the Keswick Hall hotel near Charlottesville. It's in the same hotel group (Orient Express)as Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir. Absolutely wonderful food with spectacular views over the Virginia countryside. They even have sticky toffee pudding!

I agree the Gulf Coast seems to offer better quality. We have a few favourites in Naples but nothing particularly memorable.

[Tonish]

We're on a subject I feel confident on here. I spend a fair chunk of my time in the better UK restaurants - mostly in London (it's one of the tragedies of my job). I haven't found anything in the States to compare.

I'm not knocking them (too much), I just love everything about the US, but their concept of fine dining is very different from ours. I don't really understand why, but it is undoubtedly not as good.

For poet123's question - best UK restaurant I've been to is Gordon Ramsay's. I haven't found anywhere to match it. (Although I haven't tried The Fat Duck yet).

Tonish

[poet123]

We liked Sharrow bay for the accomodations we had a lovely split level suite overlooking the lake which could not be beaten, but we were actually not as impressed as we thought by the food! and we felt the service was overly intrusive.

I had a silky dress on and my napkin slipped fom my knees 3 times each time as I bent to retrieve it I was almost flattened by a waiter! and a fresh napkin appeared on a silver salver from stage right! I was paranoid in the end about dropping it again.

Breakfast was not as organised as it should have been and all the staff were french with a limited grasp of the language which made communucation somewhat difficult at times.

The Fat Duck is memorable but not really to my taste! chemical formulae and food are different things to me! I agree about Gordon Ramsay though, very impressive food and atetion to detail.
Our favourite is Millerhowe, but Seaham Hall(Northumberland) is close and for relaxed gourmet dining Linthwaite house Lake District) takes some beating

[Susan J]

Arthurs - still good
Seasons 52 on SAnd lake Road is good as is Christini's.
THe everglade type one in Gaylord is good and there is a good steak restaurant in Orlando name of which escapes me, and another trendy one is HUE in downtown.
In all of them, the food is of a similar standard. It is not a holiday to compare food for food snobs, but as a person who knows a little of what they are saying - they are all much of a muchness, and some are cheeky with prices -don't waste your money!!

[Katys Grandad]

I completely agree Susan. It is rarely worth paying some of their inflated prices for not very special food.

The best value is defintely to be found at restaurants at the lower end of the market. Fortunately, there is no shortage of these in the Orlando area.

[poet123]

I agree the restaurants in Orlando are all very similar even those at the top end of the price bracket and for that reason we usually do what everyone else does and eat at the moderately priced ones such as Outback.Tony Romas, etc.
To have an opinion though you do need to try the more expensive ones and then decide if they are value for money.
We save our money in the US and eat out at the more well known restaurants in the UK such as those previously mentioned because we enjoy our food and wine. I dont think that classifies us as food snobs as we dont eat there every week and are happy to eat at moderate places in between. Mind you I draw the line at the Golden Corral so ........! with plastic plates and glasses!
The reason we are trying Arthurs is that it is our Anniversary and we are staying in the hotel for the night before we fly home.

[Newhomebuyer]

Ask for a table by the window as you can see all the Disney fireworks in the distance.
They used to position all the tables for 2 at the window.

[Katys Grandad]

Be sure to report back for us and have a great anniversary!

[poet123]

there will actually be 5 of us inc our 3 children!! unless they want to eat in the steak restaurant downstairs (they are 21, 17 and 8) so that may be possible as the middle one is not too keen on the dress code of long trousers!
I have booked a window seat but I am afraid of heights! so I am not too sure how relaxed I will be sitting so near the window. Hopefully I will manage.
I will report back, and thanks for the good wishes.