L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante closing permanently!

Blackie Pueblo · Post by **Blackie Pueblo** » Apr Mon 09, 2007 7:04 pm

Sadly I too have never been able to enjoy this restaurant. My wife and I always use to check it out, but it DID seem a bit pricey. Perhaps if I ever make it back to EPCOT we will try out the new place. We shall see. What was the reason for the closing again?

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Come check out my short stories at http://www.myspace.com/blackiepueblo

Post by **rdeacon** » Apr Fri 20, 2007 8:37 am

Here is an update:

wdwmagic.com wrote:Further to the 9 March 2007 update below, the contract with L’Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante for the operation of the restaurant in the Italy pavilion will reach its conclusion on August 31, 2007. Patina Restaurant Group will become the new operator for the restaurant from September 1, 2007, and they will open a brand new restaurant concept in Fall 2008. The new restaurant opening in Fall 2008 will feature signature dishes, interactive experience, and a variety of wines, and will also participate in the Dining Plan.

So no Olive Garder....lol

Rich

foldmama · Post by **foldmama** » Apr Fri 20, 2007 10:20 am

I just read on another site that the Patina Restaurant Group will be taking over the restaurant in the Italy Pavilion. It also says that the Patina Group is one of the original operating participant's at the Downtown Disney area at Disneyland. Is anyone familiar with their restaurants?

Mr.ToadWildRider · Post by **Mr.ToadWildRider** » Apr Sat 21, 2007 11:11 am

rdeacon wrote:Here is an update:

wdwmagic.com wrote:Further to the 9 March 2007 update below, the contract with L’Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante for the operation of the restaurant in the Italy pavilion will reach its conclusion on August 31, 2007. Patina Restaurant Group will become the new operator for the restaurant from September 1, 2007, and they will open a brand new restaurant concept in Fall 2008. The new restaurant opening in Fall 2008 will feature signature dishes, interactive experience, and a variety of wines, and will also participate in the Dining Plan.
So no Olive Garder....lol

Rich

I wonder what they mean by "Interactive experience" ?

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Apr Sat 21, 2007 4:43 pm

I wonder what they mean by "Interactive experience" ?

...Animator's Palate

...

Most of the other pavilions have some sort of cultural musical group and San Angel Inn even has a mariachi band that plays while guests are dining (If Italy has a music group then I haven't had the chance to see them

). So, maybe it will be themed to be like an Italian opera house with singers. I think there's a famous historical opera house in Venice (which is what the Italy pavilion is modeled after). I remember Busch Gardens Williamsburg having a dinner and show type resturaunt in their Italy section.

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Apr Sat 21, 2007 10:47 pm

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! Not Opera!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAHAHA Just Kidding. I would rather see a small Italian group walking around from table to table singing in Italian than Opera.

jcodirewolf · Post by **jcodirewolf** » Apr Sun 22, 2007 8:44 am

Mr.ToadWildRider wrote:
I wonder what they mean by "Interactive experience" ?

With the way things have been going at Disney I would guess. Animatronic Lady and the Tramp, with a Sou-Chef singing to them, since Tony is unavailable.

johno

hayzer · Post by **hayzer** » Apr Sun 22, 2007 8:51 pm

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! oh, HI i'm Justin H, and im new here!

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Apr Mon 23, 2007 2:36 am

Mr.ToadWildRider wrote:I wonder what they mean by "Interactive experience" ?

The Three-Eyed Martians' Authentic Italian Pizza Experience?

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Apr Mon 23, 2007 8:47 am

Captain Schnemo wrote:
Mr.ToadWildRider wrote:I wonder what they mean by "Interactive experience" ?
The Three-Eyed Martians' Authentic Italian Pizza Experience?

My guess is a racing theme with Luigi and Guido zipping around a track on the walls of the restaurant. Maybe some car exhaust fumes for 'ambiance'.

In all seriousness, I've heard some good things about the company they're partnering with for this in terms of their other restaurants, though I have no personal experience. I hope they can resist the urge to make it goofy (not to be confused with Goofy... though he doesn't need to be there either).

Post by **rdeacon** » Apr Mon 23, 2007 11:49 am

Quick update:

The Patina Restaurant Group, already has ties with Disney. They have several restaurants in Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort. It looks like they had the inside track.

If anyone has been to: Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, Napolini, Catal, the Uva Bar and Tortilla Jo's Dining Room, Cantina and Taqueria at Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort, please let us WDW-ites know what we should expect.

Rich

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Apr Mon 23, 2007 2:24 pm

My guess is a racing theme with Luigi and Guido zipping around a track on the walls of the restaurant. Maybe some car exhaust fumes for 'ambiance'.

Don't give them any ideas!

They'd jump at a chance to throw in more pixars characters

DISNEYman · Post by **DISNEYman** » Apr Tue 24, 2007 2:05 am

^^While I haven't heard very good reviews of Naples in Downtown Disney (slow and inconsistent service, mediocre food), I have heard decent reviews of Tortilla Jo's and Catal/Uva Bar in Downtown Disney. Tortilla Jo's seems to get mixed reviews, but my friends claim it's decent fare. However, the one thing about Patina restaurants that is always mentioned is the prices aren't justified all the time, so I guess it will fit in at Disney World!

Note: That isn't a fair statement only because I have never truly sampled WDW "quality" food.

Post by **spaulo** » May Wed 02, 2007 4:02 pm

If anyone has been to: Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, Napolini, Catal, the Uva Bar and Tortilla Jo's Dining Room, Cantina and Taqueria at Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort, please let us WDW-ites know what we should expect.

Been to all of these...

Naples -- Not bad. Better Italian fare than most chain places, not as good as a real mom-and-pop joint. Service fine in my experience, great ambiance, good wine selection (though focused mainly on Italian wines)

Napolini -- Take-out version of Naples. Reduced menu, and I don't know if they serve alcohol or not. The food that is available is the same as Naples, from the same kitchen, but the fact that you can get it to go in about 5-15 minutes makes it a cut above other food you can get that quickly/conveniently

Tortilla Jo's -- Fun atmosphere, great theming. Stay away from the pickled onion and cauliflower side dish that adorns most of the meals, it's hothothot and I love heat. The food is, like Naples, good-not-great... better than most chain restaurants or even theme park fare, but nothing compared to that Mexican place you love back home (if you're from California, or Arizona, or whatever)

Catal -- PHENOMENAL ALL THE WAY AROUND. My fiancee and I are huge, huge steak fans, and we have no problem splurging... Ruth's Chris is our standard, and we usually partake of Morton's or Lowery's if they're available. However, the filet mignon at Catal blew us out of the water. The side was incredible too, a twice-baked potato stuffed with braised short rib. Good lord! Huge wine selection, impeccable service, I would put it up with ANY restaurant in its price range (15-30 gets you most entrees, some higher)... in fact, when we're down there for our Honeymoon in a couple weeks, we're opting for a romantic dinner here instead of the brand new Ruth's Chris just a block south on Harbor, which I guess only really tells you something if you know how much we love Ruth's Chris!

Uva Bar -- Same food/kitchen/wine selection as Catal, reduced menu, outside, beautiful lighting, THE place to grab a drink after the parks close in Downtown Disney. Often busy, and not without reason.

EDIT:
I just remembered something about the Naples sit-down experience that may be tainting some people's view points... it's almost two totally different restaurants, upstairs and down. Downstairs is loud, lots of kids, crazy atmosphere and the aforementioned balloon jerk. Upstairs, especially on an evening nice enough to sit out in the open-air area (they have heat lamps if necessary) is much nicer, quieter as far as noise (you can, of course, hear the performers down on the "street" in DTD) and I never saw the balloon jerk come upstairs while I was there (eaten there three or four times).

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » May Fri 04, 2007 8:05 am

WOW!! It's really closing. My DW and DSs have some very fond memories there. Also it's the only place I ever been that knew how to spell my last name correct without asking.
As for the food, being FBI (Full Blooded Italian) and from Brooklyn. We have better Italian food in our kitchen...LOL.