Mom0012 Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 There is a new American Girl store that recently opened not too far from us. I would like to take my daughter there on her birthday. They have a Bistro. Should we go there for lunch or is the food terrible? Is the experience worth it even if the food is terrible? Thanks! Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy1k Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnsinkableKristen Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 We've been to the one in Dallas a few times and thought it was great. The food was really good (a little expensive, but we didn't feel ripped off or anything) and the service was wonderful. My DD talks about it all the time and wants to go every year for her birthday :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 We took the doll and the dd for tea in Chicago and had a great time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Yes, go, but make your reservations right now! It will book up very quickly, especially if it is new. The food is good (the menu changes seasonally, so I don't know what to recommend, but everything we have had was pretty good), not crazy expensive, and they make such a big deal over your daughter and her doll. If it is a special occasion, be sure to tell them when you make your reservation. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Go and JUST have dessert! Really, the food is mediocre at best and wildly over-priced, but you can get the whole "experience" just going in for the really fun desserts for a lot less money. We've eaten there several times, and every time I've regretted it. But the desserts are great -- big sundaes, milk shakes, fresh cookies -- and they don't disappoint. Make reservations for mid-afternoon, while most other kids are still at school. Have lunch somewhere else. Browse the store and look at all of the wonderful displays and drool over the fabulous stuff. Then take your doll and go into the restaurant (you can still have the little doll menu or tiny doll cup -- they change what they do for dolls occasionally), order drinks and big ol' desserts. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 The overall experience is great and the food is pretty good. We have gone the last 2 years for DD's and her friend's (2 days before DD's b-day) birthdays. We like the lunch a lot. We did go to 'tea' once last year and I thought it was very overpriced, it was almost as much as lunch but not nearly as much food. My friend is vegetarian and she says the pasta is good. I think the only thing we have had that I would say was bad, was the pizza. It was just, mushy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LND1218 Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I haven't been to the bistro only the cafe - the cafe food was wonderful every visit! The Bistro desserts sounds amazing! We may have to visit one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I haven't been to the bistro only the cafe - the cafe food was wonderful every visit! The Bistro desserts sounds amazing! We may have to visit one. I just looked at the Bistro menu for Atlanta :glare:. The lunch is $8 per person LESS than it is in L.A.. :glare::glare::glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 The birthday cake is fabulous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 And the cafe in LA is right next to Victoria's Secret so your girls can look at lingerie on huge posters while they eat. :001_rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share Posted August 12, 2011 Thanks for all the replies. I was kind of expecting everyone to say the food was terrible, so I'm happy to hear that most people think it's pretty good. We just have the Bistro near us and I thought that might not be great but that we could at least get dessert. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Thanks for all the replies. I was kind of expecting everyone to say the food was terrible, so I'm happy to hear that most people think it's pretty good. We just have the Bistro near us and I thought that might not be great but that we could at least get dessert. Lisa It's roughly Applebee's quality food. Perhaps the interpretation of "good" is variable. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 There are about five or six choices. The food's all right, but it's not gourmet quality. Portions are fairly small. I wouldn't choose to eat in that restaurant for the food itself; the AG experience was what my daughter and her friend were after. But once was enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted August 13, 2011 Author Share Posted August 13, 2011 It's roughly Applebee's quality food. Perhaps the interpretation of "good" is variable. :) Abbey - I knew someone had recommended going there for dessert only in the past and I was pretty sure it was you. I always respect your opinion and hoped you would give me some input here. Personally, I find there are very few places I enjoy eating out anymore that are within my budget, and Applebee's is not one of them. The more I think about it though, my daughter isn't going to care and I'm not sure there's anything else that's wonderful in the mall anyway. I definitely agree that "good" is relative. :001_smile: Thanks! Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted August 13, 2011 Author Share Posted August 13, 2011 There are about five or six choices. The food's all right, but it's not gourmet quality. Portions are fairly small. I wouldn't choose to eat in that restaurant for the food itself; the AG experience was what my daughter and her friend were after. But once was enough. Yes, this will definitely be a one-time birthday treat. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 We had fun, we went in New York. They had a special high chair for the doll, everything was fru fru and over the top. My daughter LOVED it! We went for lunch as that was the cheapest time. My sandwich was good, she approved of her mac and cheese, but she adored the hot chocolate (especial since her doll had a cup too!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted August 13, 2011 Author Share Posted August 13, 2011 So, the AG website says the meal costs $16.50 per person. I take it dessert is not included in that? Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 There is a new American Girl store that recently opened not too far from us. I would like to take my daughter there on her birthday. They have a Bistro. Should we go there for lunch or is the food terrible? Is the experience worth it even if the food is terrible? Thanks! Lisa The food at ours is actually surprisingly good. My daughter LOVES the experience. It's almost like a tea party. They bring treats out for the dolls and have little chairs for them. 2 things - it's expensive. And make a reservation! I went there with a friend last week for an end of summer lunch with our girls and it was a 2 hour wait without a reservation! And we popped in at 11:30 on a Tuesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigitte Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 We did the birthday party at the bistro in Atlanta for my twins last month. It was $18 for the adults and $28 for the kids. It included drinks (no alcohol) for everyone, an appetizer for each person, an entree, and cake & ice cream. The adults all had the salmon and it was better than I expected. The party favors, the service, and the over all experience were worth the price. It isn't a restaurant I would choose to go to in general, but I would do it again for my girls' bday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 It's roughly Applebee's quality food. Perhaps the interpretation of "good" is variable. :) Really? I had some sort of pasta that really was quite good. And I won't eat at Applebee's - I've had a couple horrible experiences there too gross to mention. I agree it wasn't gourmet and I wouldn't choose it for great food, but I did think it was reasonable quality and perhaps a step above Applebee's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 So, the AG website says the meal costs $16.50 per person. I take it dessert is not included in that? Lisa I believe they brought out a complimentary dessert for the birthday girl. I would definitely mention her birthday when you make the reservation. If you want to do a cake and favors, that's all extra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbeygirlsouth Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 It's been a long time since we've been (6 yrs) but I'll throw my 2 cents in. We visited the restaurant in NYC and we found the food to be good, not $17 worth for lunch, but it was good. I think we had a chicken flaky pie, salad, pink lemonade and chocolate mousse. Of course it is for the experience that one visits, and we spent a lot of time at the store, doll salon etc. As mentioned before however, once was enough for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 We did tea when we were in Chicago over the summer. The experience was a lot of fun. I agree the food was sort of meh and overpriced, but it was edible and we thought teatime was the most festive and the most economical of the choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 I took dd to the one in NY for her birthday 3 years ago. It was about eating in the AG store with the AG doll at the table in the special chair. It was not about the food. Dd really enjoyed the experience, but it was not about the food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 We went to the one in Chicago last summer. They had a complete gluten-free menu for my daughter. I really appreciated that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.