I was speaking to Dan about this yesterday since we're visiting tonight (and no doubt was what caused this topic to be started!).
I wouldn't consider myself a huge food fan really. I like my food yes, but wouldn't exactly consider myself a connoisseur by any means! That said though,I do really consider this menu to be extremely bland. The winter menu, although better still wasn't what I would expect from the resort, but at least there was something to excite me on there. If they're truly set in creating a magical experience, then surely the restaurant should be offering something a little more exciting than prawn cocktail, soup and melon for starter!
I don't buy that the "quirky" stuff want selling though. Whilst I can't comment on the likes of the much earlier stuff, I saw plenty tucking into snails in the times I've eaten there. Considering how often explorer's is closed, a bit more variety wouldn't go amiss.
Why is there no modern twist on some of the more traditional dishes? The steak is just...steak, the fish and chips just fish and chips. Yeah the fish and chips is presented in a nice way, but that's not really sold to you on the menu (and beyond the difference presentation it's nothing to write home about!). A stay at the hotels isn't exactly cheap most of the time, so it would be nice to see some more effort into the food offering.
My theory is that the menu is deliberately simple over main season. As those who have been to the hotels over main season will have no doubt seen, it's often difficult to get a table in SGR as it's booked up fairly early on. It wouldn't surprise me if the menu was deliberately limited and the dishes simplified to maximise the number of people they can get served and through the door. Should the winter menu see the return of less "spoons like" food in a few months, I would imagine this theory would have some weight!