Favorite WDW restaurants?

I haven't reviewed Victoria & Albert's lately, not on the flog, although I recently posted news about chef Scott Hunnel being named Culinary Professional of the Year by Sante magazine. That's a vote of confidence by his peers, and not an insignificant achievement.
Vicky & Al's is as posh as restaurants get -- here or anywhere else -- and last year Disney management finally recognized that the restaurant was special and no longer allow children under the age of 10 to dine there. (I applauded the move -- if a couple is going to spend well over $300 for a romantic dinner, it shouldn't be interrupted by children, who can be disruptive even when not misbehaving. And I would imagine others on a site called WDW For Grownups would agree.)
Hunnel changes the menu regularly, so I can't really recommend a particular dish. But you can go knowing that everything will be wonderful.

We had a little back and forth about the no kids rule on this thread a while back.

I really am looking forward to someday trying V&A's, but it is hoity toity? I'm always worried there will be too much attention paid to me (I know, I'm weird). Same reason I don't like staying in Bed and Breakfasts.

I'm afraid if you don't like having attention paid to you, Bali, V&A isn't your place. It's quiet and there are at least two servers tending to your table.
In the early days of the restaurant, 20 years now, each table was served by a man and a woman whose name tags read either Victoria or Albert, which I found really annoying. Especially if you wanted to complain about your server later and you call the restaurant and say you had really lousy service but you made a point of writing down their names. Of course, that isn't a problem here -- service is first-rate, and, yes, very attentive.

Well, they cut your meat for you, of course, and then stand by with a corner of a napkin to daub your mouth after each bite. Very attentive.

Don't feel bad, I was kind of wondering the same thting!

No, no, not making fun. I'm actually the same way -- I don't want servers to hover. But I want them to notice that the water or wine glass needs tending, and I want them to try to refill them without being noticed. And a good server, when, say, refilling a water glass, also looks to see what else needs to be done, where the guests are in the meal, what comes next, do they need new silverware, a clean napkin, are there crumbs on the table. All of this can be done in a flash, with the servers then leaving the area to let the guests enjoy one another's company in private. That's good service!

This is why I've often expressed as a significant part of my "who-to-hire-for-any-job" theory that I want someone who's been a successful restaurant waiter. The successful restaurant waiter MUST master all of the skills you want in a good employee:

1. The ability to multitask
2. Composure and clear thinking in stressful situations
3. The skill to relate to and work politely with even the most difficult people
4. The ability to assess a situation and anticipate all needs quickly and efficiently
5. Time management
6. An uncanny sense of intuition
7. The ability to mediate and diffuse tense situations into win-win situations

A good waiter can do all of that!

Great list, Bali. I'd add to it the ability to "read" the guests and adapt to to their level of needs.

Adaptability is actually a really excellent point. A lot of waiters have a "schtick" that they use regardless of who they're dealing with. That can get annoying if you're trying to have a different kind of experience than they're trying to convey. How much does the quality of service factor into most of your reviews Scott? I've often found that I literally enjoy the food less if the service is poor.

I agree. I had a bad waiter (talk about a "schtick" that didn't work with everyone!) at Whispering Canyon and have had cringed about that restaurant ever since.

I've never thought about it quite that way.

It's one of the great problems of wait-staff. If they're good at that job, they'd probably be good at a higher paying job, so they wind up in that higher paying job. Although, I imagine that if you work at a top notch restaurant, your income is quite good.

I would think the same. That's the same reason why it's difficult to keep really good staff in retail jobs.

Service is a huge part of any restaurant review I do. Because I've done time as a waiter, I know what a difficult job it is. It truly is demanding.
But I also know how easy it is for a waiter to turn a disappointing experience around and make it better. A good server can make a bad situation instantly better.
Recently I was served some seafood that had spoiled. I pointed it out to my server who, rightly, removed the plate immediately, asking if I would like to order something else. I said I would need to see the menu again. So he left, but instead of returning immediately with the menu, he went to fetch a manager. Several minutes went by while I waited to see a menu -- and my lunch guest sat eating -- before the manager could be found. I wasn't all that upset about the spoiled food -- things happen -- but I became annoyed at having to wait before I could order something else. If that waiter had had the proper training, his manager would have told him to fix the problem first and then come find her so she could follow up.
And it's true, Brad that bad service can make good food less enjoyable. Conversely, great service can make mediocre food taste a little better.
Unless the seafood has gone severely south.

It would definitely have to be some very fine service to convince me I enjoyed spoiled seafood.

That's another requirement in a server (and it could be added to bali's list of good employees as well) -- ability to make good judgment calls and decisions at the drop of a hat, and without the prodding from authority figures.

Here are my top ten
1 California Grill
2 Brown Derby
3 Le Cellier
4 Fultons (although I do not eat seafood)
5 O'Hana's
6 Kona Cafe (so far we have only had breakfast here)
7 The Sci-Fi (for lunch)
8 Tonys
9 The Plaza (for a burger
10 The Crystal Palace (again we have only ever had breakfast here)