The Turf Club Bar & Grill is fast becoming a mainstay for Cindy and I when we visit Disney World. Not only is it a nice restaurant, it has also been very convenient for us.

We have stayed at the Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa several times, and being that The Turf Club Bar & Grill is their resident Table Service restaurant, we've dined there several times.

Our first visit, in December of 2008, was lunch. We had the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. It was actually our first meal there after arriving. We had lunch and it was just ok. I'm pretty sure Cindy was pleased with her meal (can't remember what it was), but I had the corned beef sandwich, and was very disappointed.

Now, you have to understand, I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and I am used to really good corned beef... and this wasn't it. It didn't even resemble what real corned beef was supposed to look or taste like.

The saving grace was actually a couple of things

1. We got in without needing a reservation, and
2. The service was really good

We saw other things on the menu that we wanted to try, so later that week, we went for dinner. This time our experience was reversed... Cindy had a burger, that she was NOT pleased with, but I had some type of salmon salad that was delicious!

And this was the second time we got in WITHOUT having reservations! We then agreed that since it was so convenient to eat there, without having to reserve several months out, we would eat at The Turf Club Bar & Grill whenever we visited Disney World, especially when we stayed at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

The next time we went to Disney World was a year later, in December of 2009, and we again stayed at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and of course we ate at... you guessed it... The Turf Club Bar & Grill.

This time our experience was absolutely awesome! We both liked our meals, and ironically, we had lunch, right after settling in from arriving.

And again, we got in WITHOUT having reservations!

We had appetizers. Cindy had the crab cakes with mango salsa, and I had the mussels. We both enjoyed our entrees and desserts. We paid extra because we had the regular Disney Dining Plan, (but that's another story.)

To top it all off, our server Tracey, was fantastic. Not only did she take care of us in top Disney World fashion, the three of us chatted as though we were old aquaintances... I don't know about you, but that makes for a really nice dining experience for me.

Later, when we were leaving, the manager, Kevin came out, and we chatted with him for a while.

All and all, Cindy and I both enjoy going to The Turf Club Bar & Grill, and both rate it five (5) stars.

If you want good food, really great service and no waiting or reservations, then The Turf Club Bar & Grill is definitely recommended.

We'll be going back this July (2010), and this time with a nice size group... Guess where we're staying?... Yep, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa... and guess where we're going to take our guests... at least once?... Yep, The Turf Club Bar & Grill.

After arriving in Disney World, and checking-in at the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, Cindy, Renae (my daughter) and I waited on the rest of our group. Once we were all together, we decided to get a bite to eat at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa's resident table service restaurant, The Turf Club Bar & Grill.

It was a great dining experience, as Cindy and I expected. The rest of our group (my mom Martha, my daughter Renae, and my sister and brother-in-law, Dianne and Jeff), had a really good time as well.

I asked if Tracey was working, so my family could meet her, but she was off.

We were seated, and our server, Linda made the experience very enjoyable for all. I started picking with her right from the start, and she didn' miss a beat. Since this was most of my groups first time, not only at The Turf Club, but at Disney as well, I was really pleased at how Linda made them comfortable and really enjoy their first dining experience at Disney World. Kudos to you Linda! :-)

And then there was Kevin...

Oh yeah, remember Kevin, the manager? He came out and we all just had an absolute ball. I don't know if he remembered me. He said he did, and he put on a convincing show if he didn't. I think he sincerely enjoyed spending time with us as much as we enjoyed him.

Now just as important, let's not forget about the food... After all, that's the reason we were at The Turf Club Bar & Grill in the first place. Right?

Well, just as several times before... The food was Awesome! I had Steamed Mussels again for my appetizer. I highly recommend them. For my entree, the Seared Yellowfin Tuna, and for dessert, the Berries.

My mom had the Onion Rings With Dips for the appetizer, and the Classic Reuben Sandwich for her entree. She couldn't eat it all, so she portioned it off for several days when she needed a snack... That's my mom! :-)

There was quite a variety on our table. I can't remember what everyone had, but I do remember that Cindy had the Crab Cakes for an appetizer, and the Spiced Salmon Salad for the entree. Topping it all off with the Chocolate Lava Cake for dessert.

Jeff (my brother-in-law) tried the Mussels, for his first time ever, and loved them so much, he had them at several of the other restaurants.

The bottom line is that everyone really enjoyed the food at The Turf Club Bar & Grill, and although we went to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show only a few hours later, it was still a good call to start them off at The Turf Club Bar & Grill.

Cindy and I stick with our 5-star ratings of The Turf Club Bar & Grill.

Julius Covington, Sr.
Julius@AllThingsDisney.com

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