Jiko - The Cooking Place
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: (407) 939-3463
- Price:
- $$$
- Hours:
- Daily 5:30pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Jiko - The Cooking Place – by Karina Dominguez
The Scene
A spacious room of calming dark browns, deep blues and gold overlooks the pool area of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The helpful staff don colorful African clothes from their native countries, one of the few hints to the restaurant's theme. Piping hot breads come from large clay ovens that serve as a centerpiece of the jiko, or cooking place.
The Food
The menu is a delicate mix of African dishes spiced with Eurasian flair. Shrimp and spicy hummus are baked in a flaky pastry shell along with ngo gai (saw-leaf herb) and arugula. Delicate steamed sea bass, wrapped like a gift in a banana leaf, is enhanced by asparagus puree, mushrooms and apples. Herb-crusted, oak-grilled beef tenderloin, cooked perfectly, sits on a bed of macaroni topped with Indaba red wine sauce. Finish with delicate and rich chocolate and vanilla cr¿me brulee--a perfect ending.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkThe more than 60 selections of wines by the glass and the bottle are all from South Africa. The cinsaults and house wines are from wineries on Cape Indaba. Check out the collection in the glass case near the front entrance.
The ExtrasWander around Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.
User Reviews for Jiko - The Cooking Place
08/06/2007 Posted by brdave
This is a great restaurant if you're looking for something different. The African cuisine is outstanding, but not necessarily for everyone... some of it is a bit exotic. The "Taste of Africa" is an enjoyable appitizer. I didn't like every "taste," but it was fun trying. They have an amazing wine collection. Knowing nothing about African wine, I asked for a recommendation. The waitress brought me two choices, and both were so good that it was difficult to choose. The theming of the restaurant is Disney at it's best. No matter when you're there, it feels like the sun is setting. The hostess did a fine job of explaining the details of the artwork. One of the best at Disney.
Pros: Food, wine, service, theming
Cons: Be willing to try something different
06/19/2007 Posted by mcnh63
We went here for our anniversary. The food and atmosphere is just wonderful. The service was excellent . Don't let the mac and cheese on the menu fool you.... it's different from what you have had before.
Pros: food and service
Cons: expensive... but expected
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