Since it's opening on April 22, 1998, Disney's Animal Kingdom has offered guests thrilling rides, a safari trek second to none, Broadway-style shows and exotic animals. However, the one thing it did not offer was a fine table-service restaurant. All it had were counter-service. There is the Landry's owned Rainforest Cafe, a fine restaurant at the entrance of the Animal Kingdom, but it was not "In the Park" so to speak. Guests had to go through the turnstiles and get their hand stamped to return to the park. However, on Wednesday the 14 that all changed as the anxiously anticipated "Yak and Yeti" restaurant made it's debut. After many months of construction the eatery opened, but on a quiet note.
Since I could not be there for the "Soft Opening," my wife and I arrived today at 10:00am to review and sample the new menu. When we arrived, the restaurant was empty since no reservations are being taken now until the New Year, only walk-ins for lunch and dinner are accepted. I asked a cast member if I could take pics before the crowds came in and he introduced me to the General Manager Marty Sherman. Mr. Sherman had Aaron, one of the training crew and guide for the restaurant take us on a grand tour of the new place. The Imagineers and designers outdid themselves. As with the story and legend of the Yeti and Expedition Everest, the Yak and Yeti also has a story. Many years ago, it was a Hotel owned by a very rich and famous ruler named Anjun. However, his hotel was not doing as well as expected so he decided to turn it into a fine restaurant and in doing so, all the rooms transformed into dining areas are themed to the rooms they replaced. The themed rooms are magnificent and there are artifacts and statuary all around, all of which are authentic items from Asia. Even the lighting fixtures in each dining room are different, each reflecting the rooms they originally occupied.
The rooms include the Movie room, the Master Bedroom, an aviary room, library etc. The rooms have from between 5 to 10 tables and the eatery seats 250. The building appears to have been around for years, distressed wood, broken tiles repaired with concrete, walls with cracks, all which give the guests the feeling of being in a restaurant in Nepal. The areas are comfortable and spacious. There is one room, the Veranda room that will be in top demand. The room is an addition to the Hotel for extra space and has a beautiful bamboo ceiling, carvings of animals over the windows, tiled floors and eight windows in which to view the park while you dine. The room is large and comfortable and according to Aaron, the only place you can see the whole parade while dining.
The management and staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome. We began our lunch in the Veranda room. At 11:30, the tables were beginning to fill up. Our server Megan was a delight. Not only did she make some great suggestions from the menu, she was a Disney history buff like myself. We must have chatted 15 minutes before even ordering. Our original intent was to enjoy a quick lunch, however, manager Marty Sherman and the staff had a nice surprise for us. We began with the Dim Sum Basket ($12.99).This was a large bamboo basket with Pork Pot Stickers, Shrimp Siu Mai, Cha Su Boa and Pork siu Mai, all steamed on a banana leaf. The portion was huge, enough for two or even three to enjoy. Everything was light and never overly spiced. It is served with a soy lime dipping sauce that was unique and extremely tasty! Our surprise came when several servers with additional appetizers appeared, the Chef's favorites for us to sample! We enjoyed the Wok-Fried Green Beans ($6.99). This is a huge portion of beans with just a hint of bread coating served with a sweet Thai chili dipping sauce. I am not a fan of green beans, but after tasting this dish, I almost finished them by myself, they are addictive like potato chips. There is enough for three people.
The next dish was Pork Pot Stickers ($7.49) pan seared or steamed with that great soy lime dipping sauce. Ours was pan seared, tender, and crusty. This dish also will serve 2 to 3. There was so much to eat, we forgot about the entrees. Our original order of Maple Tamarind Chicken ($17.99) and the Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli ($16.99) was accompanied by the Chef's highly recommended Crispy Mahi Mahi ($19.99) and the Crispy Honey Chicken ($15.99) Our experience with Asian style food was always so-so, it was usually over-spiced, or under, or too much MSG. All the dishes we enjoyed were just perfect. My wife is a very finicky eater, the only fish dishes she eats are scallops and lobster, and she was hesitant to try the Mahi Mahi. One bite and she was hooked, I have never seen her enjoy any seafood dish so much.
The meal ended with two fabulous desserts… The Trio Sorbets ($5.99) consisting of a Mango, Lemon and Raspberry scoops and a delicious and unique dish of Fried Wontons ($7.99) which were filled with cream cheese and skewers of fresh pineapple, vanilla ice cream and honey vanilla drizzle. I highly recommend this; it was hard to stop eating them, as full as we were.
I must admit this experience exceeded our expectations. The food was amazing, we could not find fault with any of the dishes served. The seasonings, the flavors just blended perfectly. So, where did all of this culinary magic come from? Executive Head Chef Faithy B. Harris came to our table so we could give him our personal Kudos on such a fine and varied menu. Mr. Harris has been head chef for 10 years and has a staff of 72 assistants and chefs under him for the Yak and Yeti and the counter-service restaurant next door. He personally designed the menu and all dishes on it. He stayed for a while and chatted, but had to return to the kitchen as the guests started pouring in.
I usually rate our dining experiences by four criteria…Service, Food, Atmosphere, and Value. It is not often that I give a rating of 10, but in good conscience the Yak and Yeti rates 10's across the board. Our experience was that enjoyable! The themed restaurant, was the most unique on property, every dining room different. The service was impeccable, our server and assistants were always around, and we never had to look far for that extra cup of coffee. The food, as stated above was unique and flawless. The value is a definite 10! The prices are standard resort prices, but the portions were big, even the appetizers can be shared. You got your monies worth, and even the biggest eater will not go away hungry. In addition, judging by the exuberance of the staff and Management, I am confident it will continue. Disney has another big hit on their hands, one that was sorely needed in the Animal Kingdom.
The service here is family-style. Everyone receives a plate and the individual orders are placed in the middle of the table, giving everyone a chance to sample if they wish. The Yak and Yeti offers a full service bar which has a fine selection of Sake (Japanese rice wine), regular wines, non-alcoholic drinks, beer and specialty drinks. A children's menu is available. They accept the Disney Dining plan and DVC discounts, but not the Disney Dining experience. Reservations are not being accepted until the New Year, but walk-ins are welcome. I would like to thank General Manager Marty Sherman, our Server Megan, and "Tour Guide" Aaron for a memorable experience. Next week we will review the counter-service next to the Yak and Yeti. My suggestion…Get to the Yak and Yeti as soon as possible, because it will be hard to get into very soon!
For pictures of the new restaurant, click here.
