Really exceeded my expectations which is fantastic. I rated it against FoodLoop at Europa-Park on three different categories consisting of atmosphere, delivery and food quality.
The overall atmosphere in the restaurant is phenomenal. It's a totally unique experience and even though that was a given prior to opening, it's the little touches I didn't anticipate that make it all the more special. The videos that play on the wall every 10 minutes or so (perfectly timed; not too frequent to appear as intrusive - yet not too irregular for you to miss on a flying visit) are perfectly synced with the lighting around the restaurant, the colour changes reflecting the coaster on the screen.
The transition of lighting according to time of day is a little jarring and I'd prefer it if it was to be eased upon diners, but once in full effect really adds to the experience. I'm also a MASSIVE fan of all the old audio, ride music including Air and even the old Thunder Rock Rally Radio gem. <3
The concept art of the coasters that take pride of place on the wall do are essentially what give it a name and whilst it may serve as a treasure trove to us geeks, it will give the general public something different to look at and gives the restaurant its title, rather than the track the food is delivered on. On this front, the Rollercoaster Restauraunt takes the atmosphere crown.
The delivery is a little on the disappointing side compared to FoodLoop. The tablet system isn't as thorough and precise as FoodLoop's appears to be, and one per four diners could be frustrating if you weren't made aware of the menu prior and had no clue whatsoever as to what you wanted to eat. Once ordered however, the food and drinks arrived in a very timely manner that bowled over expectations. The track it's delivered on however doesn't serve as much as a spectacle that FoodLoop does, doing so in a more graceful manner with the loop right above the entrance rather than acting as a centre piece. Our table were lucky enough to have the loop, yet we were nowhere near it. Had the track layouts offered a little more of a wild journey and sense of erratic style, I'd have forgiven the tablet system and given the delivery crown to the Rollercoaster Restauraunt - however FoodLoop easily pips it to the post.
That leaves food quality. At no point over the evening did I see anyone other than a woman opposite us on the table complain about their food. She came across as the type of person who complains about the slightest of faults in her food and was whining about ice cream portions compared to her child's, yet I couldn't fault my portion when it arrived after I ordered dessert. I ordered the 10oz steak and was thoroughly impressed with the quality, finally bringing the premium standards of the resort hotel food offerings onto the theme park. The ice cream was also more of an ice cream compared to when I ordered the same at FoodLoop, which was more of a mousse. Overall, I vastly prefer the food at Rollercoaster Restaurant and give it the crown for food quality, however there is a point to be made between the two.
FoodLoop is more of a fast food service set in a sit down restaurant type of environment, and the offerings there reflect that standard. Rollercoaster Restaurant is exactly what it says on the tin: a premium product with prices and food quality reflecting that. The only niggle I had is as Martin said, the price of Peroni is staggering and I can only hope this is a mistake that will be rectified.
Another concern I have is the size of the toilets. They are insanely small and I can appreciate the size is limited, but I can see this area struggling when the restaurant is at maximum capacity.
The table you're sitting at can easily make or break the experience it seems. As mentioned earlier, we had the table with the loop nestled very nicely in the back corner. Despite being located next to the toilets, this wasn't a off-putting factor and having the ability to observe the whole restaurant and the food being delivered everywhere else was superb. I suspect sitting on the long, rectangular tables doesn't make for a pleasant experience, particularly with strangers who will have to pass your food down to you at the end. As proven on our table, sitting with poorly disciplined children can make the process of retrieving your food a ball-ache. One rotten brat in particular was frequently stealing the cards which state whose food belongs to who, rotating the table when we were trying to retrieve our food and stood over us regularly. There is an element of privacy with the tables being segmented into fours, however this can easily be eliminated when it comes to having the food delivered.
A nice touch is the 'Facts' section on the tablets which make for a good reading for the general public when waiting for food. The issues however are blatant, with the cells being too small for the information being contained within them, and Thirteen also supposedly opening in 2009. And if the images are anything to go by, all the rides are food and SW8 is going to look remarkably like a ham salad.
The walkway created for the restaurant connecting the hotels to the park is certainly a highlight. The system of admitting guests in through the walk is great and will inevitably be a much better option than the Woodland Walk. I'm led to believe this will come next year be an official annual pass and hotel guest entrance, whilst also allowing any guest out at the end of the day. The time saved rather than having to hobble down the Woodland Walk in total length or make your way back to Towers Street to then use the monorail made a noticeable difference, and the quality of the stencilled signage on the pathway is much higher than the bog standard Leek Signs job. There's a somewhat, and I dread to use the word... but magical feeling about it that makes you smile as you walk along it.
Galactica and the Coffee Lounge being open for guests also makes for a nice treat, but I can see these being cut due to low guest usage which is fair enough (I also felt for the staff who had to stay behind on Galactica). Hopefully these do remain open on peak occasions and throughout the summer.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Whilst having an evening meal would be a once in a while treat rather than a regular occasion, I would quite like to try the lunch menu and would happily scimp out on the children's menu to save money whilst also enjoy the experience, as their portions seem satisfactory.
It gives me great happiness that I can finally write something positive for once after the park has been decimated by ride cuts and ridiculous fence erections this year. It is a point in the right direction and I really do hope guest feedback reflects this, even though we know full well the powers above won't give a flying cahoot and cutbacks will still be inevitable.