✅ Food is phenomenal and consistently good
✅ Service is great every time
✅ The restaurant ambience, surroundings and theming is beautiful
The restaurant is stunning! Our server said each part of the restaurant has its own story, and there's so much to see. They really put a lot of effort into building this place. When you go, ask your server to show some of the awesome details. They have these huge brick oven-fire ovens, so I knew I had to try a flatbread if they offered one.
Our server greeted us and offered us some hot towels to freshen up. After that, we decided to order some drinks. While Jiko boasts the largest collection of South African wines outside of South Africa, we're not particularly fond of wine, so we opted for the delicious "Kungaloosh" beer. This unique beer is exclusively available at Walt Disney World, and you can only find it here, at the Nomad Lounge and the Skipper Canteen.
Our server brought over the bread service. Giraffe bread and Egyptian flatbread with Jiko butter and black salt.
The giraffe bread was stunning! The Egyptian flatbread, which had a taste similar to pitta bread, was also delicious. Our server offered us more, but we didn't want to overdo it with the bread. The bread service can vary, though. On our most recent trip, we only got the giraffe bread.
To start we ordered the Wild Boar Tenderloin and the Duck Confit Flatbread.
The duck flatbread was absolutely amazing! It was probably the tastiest flatbread I've ever had. The combination of honey, cheese, and the perfectly crisp dough was just divine. The boar tenderloin, while not our usual choice of meat, was also incredible.
For our entree, we opted for the Venison and Filet.
The filet is a little bit of a hit-or-miss. It's the safe choice for those who don't want to try the unique dishes on the menu, but it's still a good option. One time, while I was halfway through my filet, there was a lot of gristle. I told my server and the chef said it wasn't acceptable and took it off the bill. But that sort of thing can happen anywhere, anytime. The filet is a bit small in my opinion, but it was delicious and cooked really well each time. It comes with a separate side of mac and cheese, which was just as good.
The filet is tasty, but the star of the show here is the venison. It's my go-to entree now. The accompaniments change from time to time. On my previous visits, it was a parsnip puree, but this time it was "Tomato Emulsion, Ofam, Pepper Relish, and Dukkah." It's hard to describe the flavours, but it was amazing. If you're a bit hesitant about the menu, which can sound a bit strange, trust the chefs. Both versions were equally delicious.
We are always too full for any dessert, but as it was my other half's birthday on the last rip, so our server brought us over a little happy birthday treat, which was very nice (although we had no room).
We did end the night with a couple of after-dinner cocktails. We tried the Zebratini on our first visit years ago and absolutely love it. We have one after every meal here now.
Our meals at this restaurant have been absolutely amazing every time we've been there. Even when there's been a minor issue, the staff has always been quick to fix it and make sure we're taken care of. The service has been top-notch each visit. They always remind us to take our time and enjoy the flavours, and they make sure our drinks are never empty throughout the night. Our greeter, whose name I think was Farai (I was so captivated by you that I didn't check your name tag), was fresh from Africa and working in the US for the first time. It was great to see how passionate and enthusiastic he was about the restaurant, so I'm glad he got the chance to work there.
Jiko is probably the closest thing you can get to a perfect meal. The food was all stunning and unique, the service excellent, and the restaurant's ambience was beautiful. The meal cost is on the pricey side - usually $200-$250+ before tip - but it's available for 2 Disney dining table-service credits. It is a phenomenal meal and a great fine dining experience that included unique and delicious dishes. We now return to Jiko every trip, and I'm already looking forward to it on our next visit.
