mcsue
21 Apr 06, 07:41 PM
We’ve dined at JIKO quite a few times and it continues to stay one of our top five favourite WDW restaurants.
The atmosphere is upscale but not too overly dressy and there’s always a lively buzz, but it’s not intrusively noisy. The décor is very contemporary in style yet the restaurant is still quite intimate.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/disney_oct05_akl_277_Medium_.jpg
We were seated on the raised level right at the back of the room, which seems to have a little more space between tables. Also it was a good vantage point for my nosy habit of seeing what other diners were eating!
To start with Paul chose the Lentil Pastilla with Sweet and Sour dipping sauce.
I had a taste and thought it was like a spicy veggie sausage roll in phyllo pastry.
They were a bit too filling for a starter and a tad dry without the dipping sauce, which I have to say was delicious, and gave the Pastillas a real zing.
I had to have the Kalamata Olive and Cheese Flatbread. I really could eat this everyday!
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_142_Medium_.jpg
I’m not at all sure about the bread at Jiko. It’s good fresh bread, but it’s a bit sweet for my personal taste. Apparently it’s the only item on the menu they don’t make in house.
I still don’t like the tandoori butter either.
I didn’t even think to ask for plain butter, but I’m going to next time.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_149_Medium_.jpg
For his entrée Paul had the Tandoori Tofu with Grains and Veggies. Although you can’t see them hidden beneath the spinach, carrots, fennel and peppers, it was a bit heavier on the mixed grains this time and therefore extremely filling, but he still enjoyed it.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_147_Medium_.jpg
I chose the Chermoula Chicken with preserved lemons, olives and cloves of roasted garlic. It was served with mashed potatoes and topped with a dollop of fiery, red Harissa sauce.
The two part-boned chicken breasts were fresh-tasting and juicy. They’d been rubbed with oil, herbs and spices before being roasted to crispy-skinned perfection!
I could tell there was soured cream in the mashed potatoes but couldn’t discern the other flavour – I later found it to be artichoke oil. They were gorgeous. Well, it was all gorgeous and I can’t wait to eat it all again in May.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_148_Medium_.jpg
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_154_Medium_.jpg
For dessert Paul had the Pistachio Crème Brulee with Chocolate-layered bottom. He declared it sublime, along with various other accompanying groans of pleasure.
I had Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate-Caramel sauce Peanut Butter Ice Cream. It was very nice, but I prefer the Crème Brulee.
Paul had a coffee with dessert but I was far too full up!
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_166_Medium_.jpg
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_167_Medium_.jpg
Oops didn’t tell you about the wine. It was nice to be able to drink a bit more with our meal as we only had to wobble our way upstairs to bed!
I had a couple of glasses of Fairview Viognier and then couple of glasses of Rustenburg Five Soldiers ’02, a Chardonnay from Stellenbosch, which I can thoroughly recommend; it was very dense, and quite heady but not overly heavy with oak.
Paul had a couple of glasses of Rudi Schultz Shiraz ’02 also from the Stellenbosch region and a glass of Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir from Walker Bay.
I love the wine selection at Jiko. The servers are well trained, knowledgeable and always ready to help you make a choice. They are happy to bring a few bottles to the table for you to taste even if you are just ordering by the glass.
The atmosphere is upscale but not too overly dressy and there’s always a lively buzz, but it’s not intrusively noisy. The décor is very contemporary in style yet the restaurant is still quite intimate.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/disney_oct05_akl_277_Medium_.jpg
We were seated on the raised level right at the back of the room, which seems to have a little more space between tables. Also it was a good vantage point for my nosy habit of seeing what other diners were eating!
To start with Paul chose the Lentil Pastilla with Sweet and Sour dipping sauce.
I had a taste and thought it was like a spicy veggie sausage roll in phyllo pastry.
They were a bit too filling for a starter and a tad dry without the dipping sauce, which I have to say was delicious, and gave the Pastillas a real zing.
I had to have the Kalamata Olive and Cheese Flatbread. I really could eat this everyday!
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_142_Medium_.jpg
I’m not at all sure about the bread at Jiko. It’s good fresh bread, but it’s a bit sweet for my personal taste. Apparently it’s the only item on the menu they don’t make in house.
I still don’t like the tandoori butter either.
I didn’t even think to ask for plain butter, but I’m going to next time.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_149_Medium_.jpg
For his entrée Paul had the Tandoori Tofu with Grains and Veggies. Although you can’t see them hidden beneath the spinach, carrots, fennel and peppers, it was a bit heavier on the mixed grains this time and therefore extremely filling, but he still enjoyed it.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_147_Medium_.jpg
I chose the Chermoula Chicken with preserved lemons, olives and cloves of roasted garlic. It was served with mashed potatoes and topped with a dollop of fiery, red Harissa sauce.
The two part-boned chicken breasts were fresh-tasting and juicy. They’d been rubbed with oil, herbs and spices before being roasted to crispy-skinned perfection!
I could tell there was soured cream in the mashed potatoes but couldn’t discern the other flavour – I later found it to be artichoke oil. They were gorgeous. Well, it was all gorgeous and I can’t wait to eat it all again in May.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_148_Medium_.jpg
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_154_Medium_.jpg
For dessert Paul had the Pistachio Crème Brulee with Chocolate-layered bottom. He declared it sublime, along with various other accompanying groans of pleasure.
I had Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate-Caramel sauce Peanut Butter Ice Cream. It was very nice, but I prefer the Crème Brulee.
Paul had a coffee with dessert but I was far too full up!
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_166_Medium_.jpg
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/disney_oct05_akl_167_Medium_.jpg
Oops didn’t tell you about the wine. It was nice to be able to drink a bit more with our meal as we only had to wobble our way upstairs to bed!
I had a couple of glasses of Fairview Viognier and then couple of glasses of Rustenburg Five Soldiers ’02, a Chardonnay from Stellenbosch, which I can thoroughly recommend; it was very dense, and quite heady but not overly heavy with oak.
Paul had a couple of glasses of Rudi Schultz Shiraz ’02 also from the Stellenbosch region and a glass of Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir from Walker Bay.
I love the wine selection at Jiko. The servers are well trained, knowledgeable and always ready to help you make a choice. They are happy to bring a few bottles to the table for you to taste even if you are just ordering by the glass.