Steakhouse 71 Lunch Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in April 2024. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies.

Lunch at Steakhouse 71

Steakhouse 71, located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, is one of our go-to spots for table service lunch at Disney World. We always find the options to be plentiful for our special dietary needs, the prices reasonable (for Disney!), and low-key vibes, which we always appreciate. On this occasion, we decided to stop by Steakhouse 71 for lunch to get our favorite Stack Burgers and try out a new gluten free and dairy free dessert.

Atmosphere

Steakhouse 71’s design elements are inspired by 1970s and Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s theming back when it was originally built. This restaurant was previously, The Wave (RIP), but now has a decidedly retro vibe to it.

Steakhouse 71 Restaurant Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The entrance includes lots of photos from concept art to construction photos. It definitely sets the tone and brings in the theme from the recently rethemed Contemporary Resort lobby area.

Steakhouse 71 Lobby Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Both Brandon and I especially love all of the concept art in the lobby. We both always say that we’d love to have versions of these at our house. They are gorgeous and remind us of all things 1970s.

Steakhouse 71 Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Inside the restaurant itself, the theming is a bit more understated. The seats are comfortable, and the décor is bright and inviting. That being said, it won’t win any awards for strong theming compared to some other restaurants on Disney property. We do the pretty monorail mural on one side of the restaurant though!

Steakhouse 71 Booth / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Around the restaurant area a large set of booths, meant for bigger parties. We’ve only sat at these a few times, when we dined with multiple family members. We do always like the booths as they feel a bit removed from the chaos of a busy restaurant.

The Food

Of course, what we love most about Steakhouse 71 is the food. This restaurant is owned and operated by Disney, so it does have an allergy-friendly menu. The lunch menu is different than the dinner menu, which is more reflective of a steakhouse. The lunch is much more low-key and includes lots of sandwiches and lighter bites.

Steakhouse 71 - Gluten Free Bacon & Eggs Appetizer / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Any time we go to Steakhouse 71, we have to order the Bacon & Eggs appetizer. This is one of Brandon’s favorite dishes, and it’s a great starter for those who can have dairy. It is marked Gluten Free and safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies.

The overall flavors of this appetizer are incredible. The pork belly is always so well cooked and has a beautiful sweet and salty flavor combination with a maple lacquered top and maple glaze. The grits are some of the best, if not the best, on Disney property — and the perfectly sous vided egg on top adds some richness to the dish too.

Steakhouse 71 - Gluten Free & Plant-Based Stack Burger / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entrée, I ordered the plant-based Stack Burger, which is not listed on the menu but is available upon request. This is a secret menu item that I can 100% get behind. I love that you can make this gluten free along with it being dairy free and vegan. The only modification needed is to swap out the bun for the GF vegan one (if the regular bun is currently dairy free & vegan).

One thing that we have noticed at Steakhouse 71 is that they seem to often have supply issues. On a previous visit, they didn’t have any safe gluten free fries, so I ended up with potato wedges for my side. Another time, I had gluten free bread instead of a bun. So, your mileage may vary on what your dish looks like.

On this occasion, I had the standard version — though we did find out that they baked our fries instead of fried them due to Brandon’s allergies and an issue with cross-contamination for him with the GF fryer. We do always recommend talking to a chef for questions.

Overall, I was so happy with the plant-based stack burger. The flavors, the cook of the IMPOSSIBLE burger, and even the melty Follow Your Heart vegan cheese is a bit of magic. Both Brandon and I love this version. We usually rotate whether we get this version of the beef burger version. This is a high recommend and a great GFDF option.

Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger (NOT Gluten Free) / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon’s entrée, he ordered the regular Stack Burger on the menu, which includes beef patties and pork belly, along with all the other accompaniments that I had on the plant-based version. This version can be made Gluten Free by swapping the bun and is marked Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. If you’re dairy free, you can also swap the cheese out for Follow Your Heart cheese, which I recommend!

As always, Brandon raved about the burger. We both think it’s one of the best burgers on Disney property. It’s everything you want in a smash style burger. I have had the GF version of this and can also say that it’s a winner.

Steakhouse 71 - Gluten Free & Plant-Based Banana Cream Pie / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, I had to try their new gluten free AND dairy free dessert — The Chocolate Banana Cream Pie. This dish comes with Milk Chocolate Mousse, Caramelized Banana, Vanilla Wafer, Macadamia Nut Crumble, Caramel Sauce, and Vanilla Bean Chantilly. It is marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut, Sesame Allergies.

Wow, was this a great dessert. The presentation was very unexpected from the description of the dish, but the flavors were all outstanding. I really liked the chocolate mousse and the caramelized banana inside was very tasty. If you do not like banana flavor, you’ll probably want to skip this dish, but if you like banana, it’s a must order. I also loved the macadamia nut crumble and the vegan caramel sauce.

This dessert is a bit on the sweet side, so I do wish Brandon could eat it (he’s allergic to nuts, so it’s not an option for him) as it seems like a good sharing dessert. But, I would definitely order this again.

If you want to hear more about our experience at Steakhouse 71, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

Steakhouse 71 continues to be one of our favorite lunch spots at Disney. Between the low-key vibes and the excellent options, we always feel really happy that we chose to eat there. The food is consistently good (even if some of the preparations aren’t), and that is a sign of a restaurant that’s one to go to. You can’t go wrong with either version of the stack burgers, and those are high recommends from us. With the new dessert, I think Steakhouse 71 has upped its game on GFDF options and a solid place to dine for lunch or breakfast or dinner. We always look forward to going back to Steakhouse 71 again.

Have you been to Steakhouse 71 for lunch? What was your experience dining there?

Story Book Dining Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in April 2024. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies.

Dinner at Story Book Dining

Story Book Dining at Artist Point, located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, has been a restaurant that has been at the top of Brandon’s wish list for a long time. We’ve also had tons of requests by readers to do a review of this location. Story Book Dining can be a difficult dining experience to book, because it is a pretty popular character meal. But, we managed to find a last minute reservation recently and finally decided to check it out.

Atmosphere

Story Book Dining is located in the restaurant space that formerly housed the signature restaurant Artist Point. Disney has kept the Artist Point name as a part of Story Book Dining’s official title, so you will see that featured at the restaurant’s entrance area.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon and I shared some wonderful meals at Artist Point, so we’re always a bit nostalgic for this location — and in all honesty, do miss the signature restaurant. Spoiler alert, we do also really like Story Book Dining too!

Story Book Dining at Artist Point Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The interior of Story Book Dining features most of the original decor from the original Artist Point theming. But, you can also see new highlights that reflect the character dining experience. We didn’t get a ton of photos, but you can see that there is greenery around the restaurant that is supposed to make you feel like you’re in the Enchanted Forest with Snow White and her friends.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Autographed Card / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because this is a character meal, there were no shortage of character experiences. We were given a pre-signed autographed card featured all of the characters that we would see during our meal. This included the Evil Queen, Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy.

Brandon with Dopey at Story Book Dining at Artist Point / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Snow White, Dopey & Grumpy also come to your table where they can sign autograph books or other items and take photos. The characters are timed throughout your meal, so they will come out periodically, and we saw both Grumpy & Dopey twice.

Sarah with Grumpy at Story Book Dining at Artist Point / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Of course, you have to get into the spirit of photos, so don’t forget to get your poses on! I was channeling my inner Grumpy when taking this photo!

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Invitation to Meet the Evil Queen / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy come to the table, you will receive an invitation to meet the Evil Queen at a designated location in the restaurant for a photo opportunity. Servers tend to keep an eye on the food pacing and breaks in the line for the Evil Queen. She can be very popular. Our server gave us the card in between our entree and dessert, which was the perfect timing.

Talking to the Evil Queen at Story Book Dining at Artist Point / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I love this candid photo of us talking to the Evil Queen. She was absolutely fantastic. The character interaction was amazing, and we had ample time to talk and take photos. If you’re going to Story Book Dining, do not miss out on meeting the Evil Queen.

Food & Drinks

As much as we loved all the characters at Story Book Dining, what we were most looking forward to and curious about was the food. This restaurant is owned and operated by Disney, so they do have an allergy-friendly menu. You can also speak to a chef at any time to discuss options.

On our visit, we spoke to Chef Chris, who was so helpful at answering our questions and talking through options. He mentioned when we went that the the allergy-friendly menu wasn’t fully up-to-date. He also said there were a lot of easy modifications they could make too. So, it can be really helpful to talk to a chef, especially if you have multiple dietary needs.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Gluten Free Appetizer Trio / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because of our special dietary needs, both Brandon and I had slightly different options throughout the meal. Shown here is my gluten free appetizer trio. This included:

• Wicked Shrimp Cocktail - Bloody Mary Vinaigrette, Seaweed Salad, Spiced House-made Seasoning

  Marked Gluten Free & Safe for Egg, Fish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies

• Hunter’s Pie - Turkey and Chicken, Cranberry Preserve, Crispy Sauerkraut

  Was not marked Gluten Free but currently IS gluten free and safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies (Chef Chris said this dish needed updating on the allergy-friendly menu)

• Wild Mushroom Bisque with Chive Oil

  Marked Gluten Free & Safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies

If you’re dairy free, you can get versions of appetizers with modifications. We have seen vegan versions of the bisque (where it’s similar to a consomme) — and Brandon was served a gluten free & dairy free cucumber salad that could be an option too.

Overall, all three of these items were delicious. My favorite was actually the mushroom bisque. I’m not usually a mushroom fan, but both Brandon and I were loving this soup. I also really loved the meatball that I had too. This was so flavorful, and I could honestly have made a meal out of the soup and meatball if I had a big bowl and platter of them.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Modified Appetizer Trio / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon’s version was heavily modified, because he is allergic to fish/shellfish, chicken & turkey. He was able to get the Mushroom Bisque with no modifications. And, in place of the other two appetizers, he was given a cucumber salad and a side of kids mac & cheese (not gluten free).

Brandon really enjoyed everything he got, and he even liked the cucumber salad, which he’s not normally a fan of.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Wild Mushroom Bisque / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We were both raving about the mushroom bisque to Chef Chris, so he popped back to our table with a few additional bonus cauldrons of soup. So good!

Also, how adorable are these little cauldron soup cups?! Such great theming for the restaurant.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Waterbook Sauvignon Blanc / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We did end up getting drinks with our meal on this visit. Story Book Dining and many of the dining locations at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge do have a large collection of Pacific Northwest wines. I ended up with the Waterbook Sauvignon Blanc from Washington.

It wasn’t my favorite Sauvignon Blanc but it wasn’t bad either. I would say a solid glass of wine and a white wine that would please most palates.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Smoking Mirror / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon got one of the specialty cocktails made for the restaurant. The Smoking Mirror included Johnnie Walker Black 12yr Whisky, Wildberry, Lime, and Rosemary Smoke. The presentation of this was great. But, Brandon said that was probably the best part of the drink. It wasn’t his favorite and was extremely sweet. He wouldn’t get this again but said he was glad he tried it.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Magic Mirror's Slow-braised Pork Shank / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I kept debating on what to order. I had originally planned on getting the gluten free & dairy free herb chicken dish on the menu, but Chef Chris said the pork shank was highly recommended and his favorite entree.

So, I ended up getting the Magic Mirror's Slow-braised Pork Shank. This entree was marked gluten free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. It does contain dairy.

Overall, I really liked this dish. I can see why it’s so popular. The portion size was huge, and the pork was very tender. It was falling off the bone and had a lovely sweet & sour type glaze on it. The grits were good but not my favorite. They had a pretty hefty amount of goat cheese in the. I’m not a big goat cheese fan, so next time I’d probably order the herb chicken entree instead.

If you love pork and want a hearty meal that’s a sizeable portion, this is a really good entree to get at Story Book Dining.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Royal Prime Rib Roast / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon’s entree, he ended up getting the Royal Prime Rib Roast entree. Chef Chris confirmed that the potatoes, carrots & jus were all good for his special dietary needs — along with the popover (aka Yorkshire Pudding).

This dish can be made gluten free by removing the popover. It is also marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies. Some components do contain dairy, but I suspect this is an easy one to modify GFDF.

Brandon liked this entree but didn’t love it. He did say it exceeded his expectations, as he’s not a big prime rib fan. So, if you’re a prime rib fan, you will probably love this entree. Chef Chris did say this is the #1 best seller in the restaurant.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Gluten Free & Allergy-Friendly Dessert Trio / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, we were each served our own unique trio of dishes. Mine was the gluten free and allergy-friendly dessert. It was also vegan. I got the following (some of which weren’t listed on the restaurant’s allergy-friendly menu):

• Fairy Tale Goosberry Crumble

• Rotted Apple (aka plant-based brownie)

• Chia Pudding

All of the dishes were gluten free, dairy free, nut free & vegan.

My favorite by far was the plant-based brownie shaped into a “rotted apple.” The flavors were great — perfect for a brownie bite. The chia pudding was my least favorite. I love pineapple, but I found the pineapple topping to be really bitter and the pudding itself wasn’t super flavorful. The gooseberry crumble was actually pretty tasty but super duper tart. If you don’t like that super tart flavor, you may not be a fan of this.

Overall, I really liked the dessert options and was impressed with the theming and inventiveness.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - Peanut & Tree Nut Free Dessert Trio / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon got the standard dessert trio, which were all safe for his peanut/tree nut allergies. This included:

• Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie

  Marked Safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies

• Miner’s Treasures - Cookies 'n Cream Panna Cotta, Chocolate Gems

  Marked Safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies

• “Poison” Apple

  Marked Safe for Fish/Shellfish and Sesame Allergies and Chef Chris cleared it for Brandon’s nut allergies too

Brandon’s favorite of his desserts was by far the poison apple. He did not like the gooseberry pie, and he thought the cookies and cream panna cotta was just OK. So, you’re mileage may vary on which desserts you like or want to skip.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point - The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

At the end of our meal, we were served a special “Hunter’s Gift to the Queen,” which included hand made chocolate hearts. We were told these were made in-house and didn’t contain any gluten. They told us we could also get Partake Brand cookies in place of the chocolate hearts if we didn’t feel comfortable consuming them.

We had no issues with the chocolates but were really glad that Chef Chris gave us options so we could make a decision about consuming what we felt most comfortable with.

If you want to hear more about our experience at Story Book Dining, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

Our expectations for Story Book Dining were pretty middle of the road, because we’re not always big fans of character meals and set menus. But, we were absolutely blown away by how good this experience was. From the character interaction being well spaced out to the outstanding special dietary needs options, we couldn’t have asked for a better meal experience. If you love the Snow White characters and want a chance to meet them, this is hands down a must recommend. Even if you’re not a big fan of these characters, we felt the overall experience for a character meal was excellent. We really liked the pacing of the meal, the character interactions (be sure to check out our vlog for the most adorable message Snow White left for Brandon’s dad), and the quality of the food & the options we had. Both of us would agree that we wouldn’t hesitate to go back again and would highly recommend it.

Have you been to Story Book Dining? What was your experience dining there?

1900 Park Fare Breakfast Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in April 2024. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies.

Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare

1900 Park Fare, located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is a beloved character dining location that has been closed since 2020. Guests have been long wanting to this location to re-open. And, finally, in April 2024, wishes came true with the reopening of this restaurant. In addition to some menu updates, this restaurant had a refurbishment and character changes. 1900 Park Fare is now inspired by wishes and features characters whose wishes have been granted, like Tiana, Aladdin, Mirabel, and Cinderella. With the restaurant finally reopening, we knew we had to go check it out. Brandon had never been, and I haven’t been in years. We managed to get a last minute breakfast reservation during the first few days the restaurant was opened, which was exciting.

Atmosphere

1900 Park Fare, like the Grand Floridian Resort, is inspired by the early 20th century. The restaurant used to feature a carousel, and that theme still continues with the refurbishment.

1900 Park Fare Restaurant Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We thought the updated decor fit well with the Grand Floridian’s continued refurbishment across the resort. It gave us Enchanted Rose Lounge vibes and was all very elegant and modern, with the vintage vibes still present.

1900 Park Fare Restaurant Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The main dining room continued this elegant look. We especially loved seeing all of the artwork of different Disney characters surrounding the restaurant.

1900 Park Fare Restaurant Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The seating areas were cozy and inviting. The booths were lined with beautiful fabric, and even the different designs on the backs of the chairs were lovely. Nothing felt overstated or gaudy, and we really appreciated that the restaurant seating wasn’t super close to each other. A big bonus!

The benches and booths also reminded us of the design aesthetic from Citricos which we really like too. All in all, we thought Disney did a great job with this refurbishment.

1900 Park Fare - Big Bertha / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Fans of 1900 Park Fare will be glad to see that Big Bertha, the turn-of-the-century organ from France that’s been at the resort since 1988 is still around!

1900 Park Fare - Sarah with Cinderella / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Of course, one of our favorite things about this meal was getting to meet the characters. We felt we had ample time to meet each character and the spacing of character time was very well done. We experienced a similar style at Story Book Dining recently and appreciated that Disney is giving character time a good flow, so that you’re also not feeling rushed to eat your meal.

1900 Park Fare - Brandon with Mirabel / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

It was also fun to see characters that we don’t always see at other locations, like Mirabel from Encanto.

1900 Park Fare - Brandon with Tiana / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Tiana’s new Bayou Adventure outfit was also incredible. Brandon and Tiana had a long talk about one of Brandon’s favorite Disney animated characters — Ray the Firefly.

1900 Park Fare - Sarah with Aladdin / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Aladdin was also wearing his prince outfit, which was fun to see too!

The Food

Of course, what we were really looking forward to was the food at 1900 Park Fare. This restaurant is owned and operated by Disney, which meant that they had an allergen breakfast guide for us to review. Restaurants that are all-you-care-to-enjoy typically have these guides to help you navigate the buffet, while other Disney restaurants typically offer an allergy-friendly menu.

As you can see from the guide, it labels the top 9 common allergens and indicates what allergens are included in various dishes from the buffet.

*One important note, especially for breakfast. Disney does currently mark oats as gluten free. While it’s possible a restaurant is using certified gluten free oats, most Disney locations use standard Quaker Oats which are not certified GF and are not safe for those with celiac disease. We recommend speaking with a chef about the oats being served at the location you visit.

While guests are always able to use this as a guide and eat directly from the buffet, if they feel comfortable, you can ask for items to be brought from the kitchen if you ask. This is our personal preference to avoid cross-contamination that can be more common at a buffet with shared utensils.

1900 Park Fare - Gluten Free & Allergy-Friendly Options / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this occasion, we spoke with Chef Marq who came to our table to discuss options. Chef Marq shared with us that he also has celiac disease, and we really appreciated a fellow celiac understanding why we might feel more comfortable having items brought from the kitchen instead of eating food from the buffet line.

The photo above shows the bounty of gluten free foods that Chef Marq brought to our table. We definitely did not go hungry!

1900 Park Fare - Gluten Free & Allergy-Friendly Potato Barrels / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The allergen guide indicates that the potato barrels (or tater tots, depending on what you like to call them) did contain gluten. Chef Marq let us know that he could make us safe tater tots in a dedicated fryer. Your mileage may vary on whether this may or may not be an option, so we always recommend speaking to a chef directly about this.

Chef Marq definitely didn’t disappoint on the potato barrel request. We had a giant bounty of freshly deep fried potatoes. These were made gluten free and marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies on the allergen guide.

While these weren’t anything fancy, we absolutely love a good potato barrel, and we admittedly ate almost all of them. Neither of us can resist them!

1900 Park Fare - Gluten Free & Allergy-Friendly Muffins / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We also got the Double Chocolate Muffins which were gluten free and marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies.

These are made in-house, and Chef Marq mentioned that a chef who was previously at the Galactic Starcruiser (RIP) came up with this recipe. Both of us were very impressed with these, and after the potato dishes we had, I think the muffins were one of the stars of the breakfast. So good!

We also had a side of Cheese Grits which are gluten free and marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. They do contain a lot of dairy. Neither of us thought these were that good. They were probably the only let down of the meal as far as the food options we got.

We also had a huge bowl of Fresh Berries. These are also gluten free and marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. We ended up topping these on our allergy-friendly Mickey waffles!

1900 Park Fare - Gluten Free Tofu Scramble with Vegetables / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We were very curious about trying the Spiced Tofu Scramble with Vegetables after seeing the review from Princess and the Bear on their YouTube channel. This was gluten free and marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies.

Overall, I really enjoyed this dish. I thought the spice level was great, and I loved all the fresh veggies in it. Brandon wasn’t a big fan of this.

1900 Park Fare - Gluten Free Potatoes / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

But, Brandon was a fan of all the potato dishes that we got at 1900 Park Fare. Up first was the Cheesy Potato Casserole which was gluten free and marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. This dish does contain dairy.

These potatoes were good but not the best cheesy potatoes ever. As Brandon said in our video, they are still a #thereitis in his opinion and a good potato option if you can have dairy.

The best dish we had during breakfast was the Beef and Potato Hash. This was gluten free and marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies. It does contain dairy (but might be able to be modified).

Both of us agreed that the beef in the dish was very flavorful and tender. The potatoes combined with onions, peppers & beef made it a very filling rich hash. We both thought it had excellent flavor and perfect seasoning. This was definitely a winner and a high recommend from us.

1900 Park Fare - Gluten Free Eggs Benedict / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Though not listed as an option on the allergen guide, I did ask Chef Marq if it was possible to get GF bread and make a version of eggs benedict that was safe for me. He said it would take some time, because he had to get bread from next door at Grand Floridian Cafe, but that it was doable. I SO appreciate how accommodating and willing he was to make this.

The only modification for this dish to be made GF was to swap the bread. The dish was also marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies. It does contain dairy.

It wasn’t the fanciest of eggs benedicts that I’ve ever had, but it was really solid, and I was so grateful that I was able to get it as an option. One of the many reasons that Disney chefs are so incredible!

1900 Park Fare - Gluten Free & Allergy-Friendly Mickey Waffles / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We also got some allergy-friendly Mickey waffles. These are gluten free and marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies.

The restaurant is currently using the Carbon’s Golden Malted Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Mix. Despite the name, there is no gluten (aka malt) in the mix. Our understanding that property wide, most locations are switching to this mix from the Bloomfield Farms GF mix that was previously being used. We’re bummed about this, because we find the mix to be a big downgrade. We haven’t had good experiences with the mix cooking well or having the best flavor profile.

Still, we’ll give Chef Marq some kudos for making sure the waffles were well-cooked on this occasion. It’s still not our favorite mix, but the waffles were decent on our visit.

1900 Park Fare - Gluten Free & Allergy-Friendly Mickey Waffles with Toppings / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For toppings, Chef Marq brought us 100% pure maple syrup, which you can typically request at most restaurants.

If you can have dairy, we highly recommend using the classic 1900 Park Fare Strawberry Soup, which is gluten free and marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies, as a topping. You can also add some whipped cream and fresh fruit for a full berry explosion on your waffles. It’s the hack you didn’t know you needed!

Of course, you can always just enjoy the strawberry soup on its own too.

If you want to hear more about our experience at 1900 Park Fare, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

We were really impressed with our breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. The characters, the theming, and the options that we had really made it an outstanding experience. If you have specific characters that you want to meet, you may want to prioritize seeing them at this restaurant. We felt the interactions were excellent, and we had plenty of time with each character too. The theming was lovely and while not a reason to eat at a location, we really did like how the team at Disney updated 1900 Park Fare. Of course, what we loved the most was the food. Chef Marq was so helpful and really made wishes come true with a safe and delicious meal. As always, use your own comfort and judgement when it comes to eating at a buffet or speaking to a chef. In terms of pricing, that is probably the one “negative” of the meal. Like all character meals, this one is pricey. Coming in at $54 per adult and $39 per child (ages 3-9), it isn’t cheap. But, we found it to be a good value based on our experience (especially if you have specific characters you want to see). We can’t wait to go back again to check out dinner options too.

Have you been to 1900 Park Fare? What was your experience dining there?

Toledo Dinner Review

*These gluten free dining experiences took place in January 2024 and March 2024. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies.

Dinner at Toledo

Toledo at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a table service restaurant with Spanish style food and a theming that is reflected of surrealist artist, Salvador Dali. It’s received national recognition and is currently listed as a Michelin recommended restaurant — one of only a few on Disney World property. Over the years, we’ve had outstanding meals at Toledo, and this review includes two of our most recent reviews from meals that we had with friends.

Atmosphere

Although we don’t have a ton of photos in this dining review of the interior of the restaurant, we can say that the theming of Toledo is so well done. We love everything about the inviting feel. It’s artistic and very inviting — and totally unique from many other Disney restaurants.

Toledo - Entrance Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We love the use of stained glass style touches from the entrance sign to the interior of the restaurant. There are lots of cozy benches and lots of amazing views of Disney World since it’s set on the rooftop of the Gran Destino Tower.

Toledo Restaurant Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We especially love the stained glass style ceiling, which changes colors during your meal. We also love the greenery in the restaurant, giving an al fresco vibe.

Food & Drinks

In addition to the amazing theming, what we really love about Toledo is the food. This restaurant is owned and operated by Disney, which means the restaurant has an allergy-friendly menu. Most of the menu can be made gluten free, even if the items aren’t marked GF on the menu, so be sure to ask your server or speak with a chef about options. We’ll include several easy to modify dishes in this review.

Toledo - Gran Gin Tonic / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We do love the different drinks at Toledo. If you’re a fan of gin & tonics, the Gran Gin Tonic is a unique option with gin, house-made saffron-orange tonic and soda water. The flavor profile is just a bit different than a standard gin & tonic and one that we’d recommend.

Toledo - Verdejo Wine / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

If wine is more your style, they have a large selection of Spanish wines by the glass and bottle. On our second dining experience, we split a bottle of Verdejo with friends and really enjoyed it a lot. If you prefer sparkling wine, their selection of Cava is also excellent.

Toledo - Gluten Free Pan Con Tomate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There are so many options when it comes to gluten free and allergy-friendly appetizers at Toledo. For something very Spanish inspired, the Pan con Tomate (i.e. bread with tomatoes) is a great gluten free and dairy free option. This is not marked gluten free on the allergy-friendly menu, but it can be easily made GF by swapping out the bread. Ours was served on GFDF bread. The dish is also marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies on the menu.

If you are a fan of tomato and garlic, you will really like this dish. It does have a pretty strong garlic presence, so if you have any intolerances or sensitivities to garlic, you’ll want to avoid this. This dish is also served cold and not hot, which may surprising if you’re not familiar with the dish.

Toledo - Gluten Free Flight of Four Pintxos / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On my first visit to Toledo with friends Laura from Five Hungry Travelers and Gina from Gluten Free Disney World, Gina and I split the Flight of Four Pintxos appetizers which can be made gluten free. It is also marked safe for Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu.

We did ask if it can be made dairy free, and while they can make a version of it GFDF, it may look very different than the version shown above. We’d recommend talking to a chef about whether this option might be a good fit for your special dietary needs.

Wow! This was a super surprising set of flavor profiles. All of the flavors were totally different, and this appetizer was just an absolute delight to try. I loved all the unique flavors and textures. I would definitely get this again and would recommend it for fellow gluten free diners who want to try a variety of flavors.

Toledo - Gluten Free Spaniard for Two / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When Brandon and I went with friends, we ordered our favorite Spaniard for Two charcuterie board. This can be made gluten free by swapping out the bread and nut free by omitting the almonds normally served with the dish. It is also marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu.

If you love a good charcuterie board, you can’t go wrong with this version. All of the meats are very high quality and super flavorful. The cheeses do include several non-cow’s milk options (sheep), so if you can tolerate those kinds of cheeses that may give you some options. The olives are always my favorite, but they are very garlic heavy, like the Pan con Tomate.

Toledo - Rioja-Braised Chicken / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On both visits, I ordered the Rioja-braised Chicken entrée which is marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. In terms of gluten free and dairy free dishes, this is an excellent one.

Toledo - Rioja-Braised Chicken / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I absolutely loved the different textures and flavors in this dish — a theme that was throughout all parts of our meals. The chicken was well seasoned and well-cooked. The rice was very tasty, and I loved the crunchy potato chips on top (because, of course, potatoes), and the pickled grapes were unexpected and added a nice vinegar punch to the dish. I liked it so much the first time that I ordered it on our second visit too!

Toledo - Marinated Hanger Steak /Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of our friends ordered the Marinated Hanger Steak entrée which was marked Gluten Free and safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. Our friend said the flavors were great and everything was well cooked. If you’re a shishito pepper fan, this dish does have peppers with it, which could be mild or could be spicy. If you like gambling with spice during your meal, this could be a good option.

Toledo - Filet of Beef / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Filet of Beef which is marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. It’s his go-to dish, and one he really enjoys. I had it on a previous visit and have to concur that the flavors are great in this dish. If you’re a steak lover, this is a good entrée to get.

Toledo - Brussels Sprouts Side Dish / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Don’t forget about sides when you go to Toledo! There are so many gluten free & dairy free sides or very allergy-friendly options. The Brussels Sprouts are a hands down winner. They are marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu.

In this photo, you can also see part of the Brick Oven Cauliflower entrée at Toledo. It’s marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. I was able to try a bite of this on my first visit, and it was so flavorful. A great gluten free, dairy free, and vegan option. And very hearty!

Toledo - Olive Oil Potato Puree / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For all our potatoholders out there, there are several potato options at Toledo. Brandon loves the Olive Oil Potato Puree which is marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. We have heard that the restaurant can make these dairy free if you ask too!

Toledo - Potatas Bravas Side Dish / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We also love the Patatas Bravas which are marked Gluten Free and safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. For some reason, on our recent visit, they didn’t give us a version with the aioli that is normally served with the potatoes, but they were still tasty.

Our version was made differently than they normally are too, because the fryer currently includes Brussels Sprouts that are flash fried. Brandon is allergic to vegetables in the cabbage family, so the fryer wasn’t a safe option for him (but the fryer is GF). We still loved these and really appreciate the chefs making an option that was safe for him.

Toledo - Blistered Shishito Peppers / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

If you’re a spicy food fan, don’t skip the Blistered Shishito Peppers. These are marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies.

Every time we’ve gotten these, our servers have told us that usually it’s only one or two spicy peppers in a bowl. However, every single time we’ve gotten these, we’ve had almost all spicy peppers. It’s definitely a gamble, and while we love the flavors, we might be skipping these the next few times we go to Toledo!

Toledo - Custom Gluten Free & Dairy Free Dessert / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert options, we were recently served a custom off-menu gluten free and dairy free dessert. This included a lemon curd style pudding, crumbled coconut topping, and fresh blueberries. We all agreed that this dish was lovely, and I honestly would love to see a version of this on the menu. It was light, refreshing, and a perfect end of the meal palate cleanser.

I do also enjoy the chocolate avocado mousse on the menu which is another gluten free and dairy free dessert option.

Although we didn’t vlog any of our meals, you can find some previous Toledo reviews up on our YouTube channel.

Overall

Toledo continues to be a great option for a moderately priced table service restaurant with great views, great theming, and a very special diets friendly menu. When we went with friends a while back, they remarked that it was their favorite restaurant of the trip, and they loved how it felt totally different from most Disney restaurants. If you’re looking for something unique with excellent food, you can’t go wrong with Toledo. We can’t wait to go back there again soon for more of their delicious options.

Have you been to Toledo? What was your experience dining there?

Three Bridges Bar & Grill Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in March 2024. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies.

Dinner at Three Bridges Bar & Grill

Three Bridges Bar & Grill, located at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, is a table service restaurant that serves Spanish-American style food in an open-air setting. If you’re looking for al fresco dining at Disney, Three Bridges is a great option especially when the temperatures are more mild in Central Florida. This restaurant has been a favorite of ours for years, but it’s been ages since we’ve dined there. We recently decided to get dinner here to check out the newer menu updates and items.

Atmosphere

Three Bridges Bar & Grill is located in the middle of the lake at the resort. It’s connected by several bridges that converge together. You can’t miss the large building and open are seating at Three Bridges.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill Building Exterior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We do always joke that it’s hard to know where Three Bridges is, because it’s not well-marked on the building sign. The only large sign says, “Villa del Lago” which is considered the “island” of the resort. If you see the large building, you’re know you’re in the right place though!

Three Bridges Bar & Grill Building Exterior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see from this photo, the restaurant’s exterior is very open with sweeping views of the resort. We always prefer a table closer to the water for great views and a bit of a breeze from the water when it’s a bit hotter out.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill Interior Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When it’s cooler, the restaurant does have heaters inside, as shown in the photo here. There is a good amount of seating, with lots of large tables, and in some areas of the restaurant cozy seats that are better for those just coming to the restaurant for drinks or a few small plates.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill Interior Decor / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We love the Spanish inspired theme of the restaurant. It has some lovely touches but also doesn’t feel overdone either.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill Bar Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

If you’re just looking for drinks, the bar has ample seating, and you can still order food there too.

Because Three Bridges Bar & Grill does not take reservations, the bar seating can be a great option if you’re looking at a longer wait and you’re with a small party. The restaurant does have a walk-up list that you join on the My Disney Experience app, which we did on this visit. We had a less than 5 minute wait before our table was ready, because the restaurant had just opened around 4:30 p.m.

The Food

Of course, what we were really looking forward to was the food at Three Bridges Bar & Grill. This restaurant is owned and operated by Disney, so they do have an allergy-friendly menu. You can also ask to speak to a chef if you have questions or want to discuss options too.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill - Brandon with Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Our server Carol was super helpful on our visit too and helped talk through the options as well. Because the menu has changed a lot since we visited last, she was great at walking through recommendations and updated dishes.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill - House-Made Guacamole / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because Brandon is on a guacamole kick lately, we had to try to the House-Made Guacamole with Tortilla Chips and Tajín. This appetizer was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu, making it a great GFDF option. The chips are made in a dedicated fryer.

Overall, I thought this appetizer was good but not amazing. Brandon loved it, mostly because of the Tajin. I thought that it tasted mostly like crushed avocado without a lot of additional flavor, but if you like avocado and are looking for a gluten free & dairy free appetizer, you’ll enjoy this.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill - White Queso Dip / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For our second appetizer, we decided to try the White Queso Dip with Chorizo, Roasted Peppers, Tortilla Chips. This was marked Gluten Free and safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. It does contain dairy and cannot be modified.

Neither of us really liked this appetizer. The previous version tasted very authentically Spanish inspired with Manchego cheese and slices of chorizo. This version, in all honesty, tasted like processed cheese dip and had a bit of a weird flavor to it. If you’re gluten free and can have dairy, we would recommend skipping this.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill - Plancha-Seared Mahi Mahi & Shrimp with Red Curry / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I chose the Plancha-seared Mahi Mahi and Shrimp which was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Peanut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. It does contain dairy in the Thai red-coconut curry sauce. If you’re looking for a gluten free and dairy free entree, I would recommend the poke bowls also served at the restaurant which are gluten free and dairy free as is.

This was an absolute wow of a dish for me. I do love all kinds of curry and Thai red curry is a flavor profile I love. Everything about this dish was well done and executed. The fish and shrimp were super flavorful and well seasoned. The grilled bok choy was outstanding, and I loved the addition of fresh mint and the crispy textures on the garnish. The dish was a bit spicy, but not overpowering. We like anything with a bit of a spice kick to it, and this one was perfect. I would 100% get this again and would recommend it to anyone who likes these kinds of flavors.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill Signature Burger (NOT Gluten Free) / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Three Bridges Signature Burger which can be made Gluten Free by swapping the bun. It was marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu.

The current version is totally different from the previous one. Brandon’s version was modified but the standard version comes with: Bacon Marmalade, Sun-dried Tomato Jam, Smoked Gouda Queso, Crispy Vegetables, and Arugula served with Smoked Paprika Fries. His version had the crispy vegetables and arugula removed, and I suspect the GF version would require the crispy vegetables to be removed too.

Brandon said he liked this a lot, though we both agreed it seemed very greasy. He said he preferred the original version but would order the burger here again and would recommend it.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill Paprika Fries / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

He raved about the paprika fries, which have always been a winner at Three Bridges. They do have a dedicated fryer for those who are gluten free and dairy free to enjoy the fries.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill - Gluten Free Churros / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, we had to get the Gluten Free Churros. Sadly, they are no longer listed on the allergy-friendly menu as an option. But, the good news is that they are still available. You do have to ask your server or a chef for these when you go. They are also not currently available, at the time we’re writing this review, for guests to order through mobile order on the My Disney Experience App. We’re not sure why they have made these less accessible to get, so we’re hoping that they’ll be added back to the menu and the app in the future.

These churros are still made in a dedicated fryer. They are made using Cup4Cup gluten free flour mix, which does contain milk in it, so it also not dairy free — and can’t be modified.

The churros were outstanding on this visit. Both Brandon and I agreed that they were well seasoned and well fried. They came with three dipping sauces: Tequila Caramel, Spiced Chocolate Sauce, and Mango-Chamoy. I really loved the Mango-Chamoy and enjoyed the Spiced Chocolate Sauce but didn’t love the Tequila Caramel. I do love that the sauces here are totally different than the ones at Nomad Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom — the other location at Disney that serves GF churros.

If you’re gluten free, these are a must-get and a high recommend from us!

If you want to hear more about our experience at Three Bridges Bar & Grill, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

Three Bridges Bar & Grill is a solid table service option, that we highly recommend especially if you’re staying at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. They have a variety of special diets options, quite a few gluten free & dairy free dishes, and of course, gluten free churros! We also really loved the relaxed vibe and chill setting at the restaurant, especially when it’s “cooler” out in Central Florida. We definitely won’t wait as long as we did this time to visit Three Bridges Bar & Grill again.

Have you been to Three Bridges Bar & Grill? What was your experience dining there?

Summer House on the Lake Brunch Review

*These gluten free dining experiences took place in February 2024. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies.

Dinner at Summer House on the Lake

Summer House on the Lake is the newest restaurant in Disney Springs. And, it has quickly moved up in the ranks as one of our favorite spots there for gluten free options. After having an amazing dinner there, we decided that we needed to check out the brunch options. Brunch is served from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the weekends and includes both breakfast and some of the regular dinner menu options. This review covers two visits that we made for brunch and highlights lots of gluten free and special diets friendly options.

Atmosphere

Summer House on the Lake has a theme that reflects endless summer beach / lake vibes. We love how bright and open the entire restaurant is.

Summer House on the Lake Entrance Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because of the theme, they do have ample open outdoor (but covered) seating areas in the front and back of the restaurant. We dined here on a couple of chilly days and one warmer day. On the warmer day, it was the perfect weather for outdoor covered seating. On the other days, it was really chilly. They do have heaters outside and fans, so plan accordingly if you’re dining here on a Florida winter day or a hot summer day.

Summer House on the Lake - Outside Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because there is outdoor seating attached near the main dining area, we found the restaurant got really cool when the weather was chilly out and hot when it was warm out, because the doors are open. I don’t know how that will play out in the summer time, but it was noticeable on our visits.

Summer House on the Lake Interior - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The indoor seating area is so bright and inviting. We love the cozy seating — and oh so much wicker!

Summer House on the Lake - Interior Lighting / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Even the light fixtures are wicker! Summer House on the Lake has done a great job keeping the beachy theme going inside and outside of the restaurant.

Food & Drinks

Summer House on the Lake is not owned and operated by Disney, so they don’t have an allergy-friendly menu. Based on our recent visits, we have found that the restaurant has good protocols in place, and the managers are very helpful at navigating the menus. Because it is a newer restaurant, if you have a lot of questions or a specific dish you’re interested in, you may want to talk to a manager directly.

Summer House on the Lake - Brunch Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The brunch menu has a solid variety of options. I’m a sucker for breakfast food at restaurants, while Brandon prefers the more lunch or dinner type options. There was definitely something for everyone and at various price points.

Summer House on the Lake - Signature Guacamole / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We didn’t want to repeat the same items we got at our dinner at Summer House on the Lake, so we decided to get more “brunchy” items. Up first was the Signature Guacamole with Chips and a Trio of Salsas. These were gluten free, dairy free & safe for Brandon’s Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Chicken/Turkey & Cabbage Allergies. It should also be vegan, although we did not confirm that. Our server did indicate that the chips were made off-site and not at the restaurant but were gluten free.

At $17.95, it was a bit on the pricey side. However, I’ll say that they were very generous with the amount of guacamole we received and the salsas and chips. Brandon loved the guacamole, and I really enjoyed it too. It was very well seasoned with both salt and lime. If you like very citrusy guacamole, you will enjoy this version. That being said, I always feel like guacamole is subjective and dependent on who is making it. But, for us, this was a home-run.

Summer House on the Lake - Salsa Trio / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We both also enjoyed the salsas and found that the salsa verde was our favorite. The pico de gallo was pretty standard, and the Salsa Ranchero was very good — with hints of smokiness and a pleasant level of spiciness.

Side note: We learned that for a while they were putting chicken stock in the Salsa Ranchero that was included in this trio. They are no longer using chicken stock, but we were so surprised to learn that this was even a thing. Definitely double-check this if you’re vegetarian or vegan or have any poultry allergy when you go.

Summer House on the Lake - Cheesy Dream Puffs / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Of course, Brandon insisted we order the Cheesy Dream Puffs. These are gluten free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, chicken/turkey free, and cabbage free. They do contain both egg and dairy and cannot be modified. Brandon will tell you that these are a must-order any time that you go to Summer House on the Lake. I can’t disagree with him. These are pretty amazing!

Summer House on the Lake - Breakfast Tostadas / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For a breakfast option, I ordered the Breakfast Tostadas with pulled chicken, silky black beans, ranchero sauce, jack cheese, and sunny-side-up eggs. These are gluten free as is but do contain dairy. If you’re dairy free, you’ll want to talk to a manager or your server about potential modifications.

Overall, I really loved these. The chicken in ranchero sauce was so flavorful, and the combination of the beans with the sunny-side-up eggs made for a rich and decadent brunch option. The side of guacamole and limes added some freshness to the dish too. I would absolutely get this again. It was that good!

Summer House on the Lake - Prime Cheeseburger (NOT Gluten Free) / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Prime Cheeseburger which came with fries. This was safe for fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies. If you’re gluten free, this can be modified to be both gluten free and dairy free. The restaurant doesn’t have dairy free cheese right now, but you could get a burger minus the cheese. The fries are made in a dedicated fryer just for French fries.

Overall, Brandon really enjoyed his burger. He said it was well-cooked and flavorful. He also liked that they cut the burger in half, so it was a lot less messy. He said he’d get it again for a lunch or dinner option.

Although I forgot to take photos, be sure to check out our YouTube video on this brunch. I also ordered the gluten free chicken strips and wow, were they delicious!

Summer House on the Lake - Aperol Spritz / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On my second visit to brunch, I dined here with a friend. We decided to get some boozy brunch drinks. Summer House on the Lake has a great variety of drink options. I ended up with an Aperol Spritz, which was delicious and very refreshing. My friend got the Grapefruit Spritz which was also very tasty. The restaurant also has classic mimosas too.

Summer House on the Lake - Grilled Avocado / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We’ve been hearing nothing but rave reviews about the Grilled Avocado with Salsa Matcha, so I knew we finally needed to order it. This is a great gluten free, dairy free, and vegan option that doesn’t require modifications.

I have to admit that while I enjoyed this, I wasn’t blown away by the grilled avocado. The flavors were nice, and I liked the salsa matcha, but it wasn’t anything that I’d probably order again. I’d actually just get the signature guacamole over this version. Still, I’m glad I tried it, and I love anything that’s naturally GFDF and avocado based.

Summer House on the Lake - Brussels Sprouts / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

What I would order again are the Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. These are gluten free but can be made dairy free and vegan by omitting the cheese.

Wow, were these incredible. So much flavor! My friend and I ate the entire plate of them and have zero regrets. So good. If you like Brussels Sprouts, order these!

Summer House on the Lake - Mexican Hash Browns / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I wanted to try a different breakfast entree and decided to get the Mexican Hash Browns at the recommendation of our server. These are gluten free and can be made dairy free with easy modifications.

This dish looks deceptively simple, but it ended up having a lot more flavor…and heat…than I was expecting. I really enjoyed the layers that you found beneath the egg and hash browns. There was guacamole, cheese, and oh so many jalapeños! I really liked the fresh bright flavors — and it was very filling. If I had to choose breakfast entrees, I’d still get the Breakfast Tostadas over this dish, but it was still very tasty and a solid entree.

Summer House on the Lake - Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our first brunch visit, our server told us that the restaurant did not have any gluten free pancake options. But, our friend Gina from Gluten Free Disney World had gotten them on a previous visit. On this second visit, I asked again and was told that they do have GF pancake options but no GF waffles. So, of course, I had to try them!

I got the gluten free Buttermilk Pancakes which were made with Bob’s Red Mill GF Pancake & Waffle Mix. The pancakes do contain dairy and cannot be modified. You can also get the blueberry pancakes GF too. Overall, I really enjoyed these. It tasted to me like they added some vanilla extra to the pancake mix. They were very well cooked and so flavorful. They served the pancakes with 100% pure maple syrup, which was great too. I would get these again if I were craving pancakes.

The only downside is that they were $15.95 and came with zero sides. I would have loved to have received some fruit or a breakfast meat on the side for the price point.

If you want to hear more about our experiences at Summer House on the Lake, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

Summer House on the Lake did not disappoint for brunch options. While I think both Brandon and I prefer the full lunch/dinner menu over the brunch, I’m so glad that we have another brunch spot at Disney. The food was great, and we really liked the variety of options that we got. If you’re planning on going to Summer House on the Lake a few times, be sure to sign up for their rewards program. We’ve already received a birthday reward and several $10 coupons for our next visits. If you’re coming on vacation and looking for a new spot in Disney Springs with gluten free and special diets options — definitely consider adding Summer House on the Lake to your list!

Have you been to Summer House on the Lake? What was your experience dining there?

Summer House on the Lake Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experiences took place in January 2024. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies.

Dinner at Summer House on the Lake

Summer House on the Lake is the newest restaurant to open in Disney Springs. This table service location is operated by the Lettuce Entertain You group of restaurants, which has restaurants primarily based in Illinois and Chicago, with a few locations in other states. Everyone was eagerly anticipating this restaurant, especially since it’s in area that has been long vacant since Bongo’s closed several years ago. Brandon and I dined here a few weeks after the restaurant opened and Brandon’s mom joined us too.

Atmosphere

The restaurant has the vibes of endless summer — with a bit of a retro theme along with bright colors and very open and airy seating areas, including ample outdoor seating both in the front and back of the restaurant.

Summer House on the Lake Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We love the beachy and almost Mid-Century vibes to the decor, which are highlighted from the moment you walk up to the restaurant.

Summer House on the Lake - Bar Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Inside the restaurant are two bar areas — one in the main dining room area and one in the front near the cookie bar and host stand. We absolutely loved the theme here. It truly feels like you’re on the front porch or a breezy enclosed lanai. And, if you love wicker furniture, it’s everywhere at Summer House on the Lake!

Summer House on the Lake Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant has large signs that proudly proclaim, “yes to rose” wine and also tell you what to expect from the vibe of the Summer House on the Lake when you dine there. Who doesn’t want to be relaxing on a sunny day at a lake?!

Summer House on the Lake Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The lighting in this restaurant were A+ too. All of us commented on how bright and open everything felt, and I am personally a sucker for anything that has a Mid-Century vibe to it.

Summer House on the Lake - Lighting / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The main dining area had a lot of wicker lighting too, which lent itself well to the outdoor feel.

Summer House on the Lake - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We all liked how the restaurant had a good mix of that lake vibe along with beachy themes. It fit in well with Florida and what many people might expect coming to a summer themed restaurant here.

Mama Joy at Summer House on the Lake / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

And, you can see from this photo, Mama Joy was enjoyed herself immensely on this visit. Plus, you can see a bit more of the main dining area, which was very bright and open — and spacious.

Food & Drinks

Summer House on the Lake is not owned and operated by Disney, so they don’t have an allergy-friendly menu. But, based on our visit, we were pretty impressed with the protocols they have in place. We also love that their menu proudly notes that most items can be made GF.

Summer House on the Lake Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our visit, our server asked after greeting us if anyone had special dietary needs. She then noted that they take special diets very seriously and that a manager was available to talk to us about options and protocols. The manager, Rich, was super helpful and talked through the many questions that we had included asking about dedicated fryers for GF guests, ingredients, and cross-contamination.

We learned that all special diets orders are cleared by the managers to ensure that meals are prepared safely for guests and orders also have allergy picks included. Rich also noted that they have three fryers - one strictly for the few gluten-filled items, one solely for French fries, and one for fried items like fish and chips. You’ll want to double-check when you dine at Summer House on the Lake, especially if you have any specific allergies or concerns with a potential shared fryer (like dairy). More on that later in this post.

In terms of GF options, the manager said almost everything can be made GF with the exception of a few items, like the meatballs and crispy wontons.

Summer House Rose / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We started our meal off with drinks while we were waiting for the manager and deciding what to order for our meals. I got the Summer House Rose 9 oz pour. This is their house rose. Overall, I liked the rose. It wasn’t my favorite rose that I’ve ever had, but it was crisp and refreshing — and not overly sweet. This would be the perfect type of wine to enjoy on a hot day, especially if you’re sitting outside.

If you’re not a rose fan, you might consider the other wines at Summer House on the Lake. Brandon’s mom really enjoyed the glass of chardonnay that she got.

Summer House on the Lake - Rose Wine Display / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Summer House on the Lake was definitely all about the rose. There were displays of various rose wines all over the restaurant.

Summer House on the Lake Rose Wine To-Go / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You can even get bottles of rose to go too! We didn’t on this visit, but I could totally see us doing that on a future visit to Summer House on the Lake.

Summer House on the Lake - Endless Summer Old Fashioned / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon got the Endless Summer Old Fashioned with Brother's Bond Whiskey, lemon demerara, and orange bitters. If you drink whiskey, this could be a good option for you. Brandon liked it but didn’t love it and said it was very citrusy. Summer House on the Lake definitely had a summer feel to all of their drinks and the menu.

Summer House on the Lake - Cheesy Dream Puffs / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We started our meal with two starters. The first were the Cheesy Dream Puffs. We had heard rave reviews about these from fellow gluten free friends Alexis’s Gluten Free Adventures, Gluten Free Disney World, and Pack Your Pixie Dust. These rolls are naturally gluten free. They do contain dairy and egg and cannot be modified.

Wow! These dream puffs were truly the stuff dreams were made of. They didn’t disappoint at all and well exceeded all our expectations. We all thought the flavors were great. We especially enjoyed the sea salt, black pepper & rosemary on top of the rolls. The texture was also fantastic, and the cheese flavor was perfectly balanced. I think we all agreed that these are a must-order again.

Summer House on the Lake - Truffle Fries / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We also got the truffle fries which were gluten free and safe for fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey, and cabbage allergies. They do contain dairy but might be able to be modified to be dairy free by omitting the cheese.

As Brandon says with any food he loves at Disney, these were a #thereitis moment. Even Brandon’s mom said these were outrageously good. All three of us agreed that these are a must-get appetizer, and I have a feeling we’ll be getting these every time we go to Summer House on the Lake. If you’re gluten free, these are a fantastic treat.

We did confirm with the manager that the fries are made in a dedicated French fry only fryer. If you are dairy free or vegan, this is great to know, because it means you can have plain fries without worry of cross-contamination with any of the other fried items at the restaurant.

Summer House on the Lake - Gluten Free Pizza / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

With so many choices at the restaurant, it was hard to decide what to get. But, we were super curious about the GF pizza. We did learn that the pizza crust is a combination of gluten free flours and cauliflower. If you are on a low FODMAP diet or can’t have cauliflower like Brandon (it’s in the cabbage family of vegetables), then this would not be a safe option for you. The manager also told us that they don’t currently have a dairy free/vegan cheese option.

I decided to try the GF Margherita Pizza. Priced at nearly $19.95, this was a pretty pricey pizza, so I probably wouldn’t get it again unless I was really craving pizza, but I was glad that I tried it. The pizza itself was surprisingly good. Brandon’s mom tried it and called it a "pleasant surprise.” The sauce was very flavorful, and I loved the addition of coarse sea salt on top of the pizza.

Side note, if you get this and take it home, it does not reheat very well, even with an air fryer. So, I would say eat this all at the restaurant instead of taking any leftovers with you.

Summer House on the Lake - Grouper Fish ‘n’ Chips / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my main entree, I ordered the Grouper Fish ‘n’ Chips. The manager told me that these were both gluten free and dairy free, though I realized after we got home that I had forgotten to ask about a shared fryer. The fryer itself is a dedicated GF fryer, but the manager told us that the GF chicken strips did contain dairy (buttermilk). I assume that the chicken and fish may be fried in the same fryer. We will double-check this on a future visit and would encourage you to double-check/confirm especially if you have a dairy allergy or do not want to consume anything with cross-contamination.

The manager also told us that the fish and chips here are naturally gluten free and dairy free for everyone who dines at the restaurant. How cool is that? So, the recipe is the same across the board — which makes it great for everyone.

The menu does indicate that this dish comes with malt vinegar fries. I asked for plain French fries, assuming that the malt fries were not safe, because malt contains gluten. When I got my entree, I did take a bite of the fries first and noticed a decidedly malt vinegar flavor to them. I asked our server who removed them from the table and double-checked with the manager.

The manager did come back to the table and discussed it with me, while they were remaking my meal so that I could have plain GF fries. He confirmed that the malt flavor is a powder that does not contain gluten. We encountered this at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival the past few years at the Fry Basket booth, so I knew that this was a thing, but it was good to get more info from the manager. It’s definitely something to know about, and of course, everyone should use their own comfort and judgement when consuming items. Thankfully, I didn’t get sick from our meal, and we learned important information to share with all of you.

In terms of flavor, ya’ll. Can I just say how good these fish & chips were?! They were super crispy and not overly greasy (which can sometimes be hard with some of the fish & chips that I’ve had). The flavor was incredible, and the fish was perfectly seasoned. You definitely get more than enough fries with the meal — and my only complaint was that I would have liked maybe a bit more fish and less fries. The tartar sauce was excellent too. The coleslaw was fine. Nothing to write home about but fresh and crisp, like a coleslaw should be.

In terms of ordering this again, it’s a hands down yes. I would say that price point wise, this is on the high end compared to the fish & chips from Raglan Road and Cookes of Dublin.

Summer House on the Lake - Center-Cut Filet Mignon / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon’s entree, he got the Center-Cut Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes and crispy onions. This can be made gluten free and was safe for fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies. Brandon did like this entree, but he said price point wise, it was not worth the $52 cost. The portion was on the smaller side, especially the potatoes. He said he was glad that he tried it, but he wouldn’t order it again.

Summer House on the Lake - Gluten Free Cookie and Brownie / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We did also get both of the gluten free desserts to-go, because we were too full. Both the chocolate chip cookie and brownie were gluten free but contain dairy. Unfortunately, the restaurant does not currently have a GFDF dessert. The vegan cookies are not gluten free either. We both agreed that this is one big let down at this restaurant. The options were definitely limited. Thankfully, there is Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC right there in Disney Springs, if you’re looking for a 100% gluten free, dairy free & vegan bakery.

We did talk to the team at Summer House on the Lake, and like the regular menu, they do take great care at minimizing cross-contamination. The cookies and brownies were in a separate area and require glove changes, etc.

In terms of flavor, the chocolate chip cookie was a big miss for me. It was extremely dry and had an unpleasant texture and taste. It seemed like they were using the Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose GF Flour that contains chickpea flour. The cookie had a strong chickpea taste to it, and overall was just not good. I would not recommend this and would skip it. The cookies from Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC or even the GF Chocolate Chip Cookie from Sprinkles Cupcakes are far better.

I did really enjoy the GF brownie though. It was super rich, fudgy, and decadent. If you like a good brownie, you’ll enjoy this one.

If you want to hear more about our experiences at Summer House on the Lake, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

We were absolutely blown away by the amount of gluten free options available at Summer House on the Lake. There were so many items to choose from that it was hard to decide. We also really enjoyed everything that we got and found the quality to be excellent. The team at Summer House on the Lake were friendly and super helpful at navigating the special diets options too. Probably the only downside was that the menu is a bit on the pricey side, so that’s something to know and consider when dining here. That being said, we did find several more affordable options that we would get on our next visit or more frequently. We are definitely planning to go back again soon to try more menu items and brunch. We’re glad to see this restaurant as another excellent option for table service dining in Disney Springs.

Have you been to Summer House on the Lake? What was your experience dining there?

Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experiences took place in November 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies.

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern

Liberty Tree Tavern, located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom, is a table service restaurant that serves up Thanksgiving style fare, family style. It’s been a family favorite for years, and for the past several years, Brandon and I have been making it a tradition to dine here a week or two before Thanksgiving so we can enjoy holiday inspired food that we don’t have to cook at home. It’s become on our favorite traditions, and we recently had our yearly meal here and got to check out some new menu updates.

Atmosphere

There’s no doubt that Liberty Tree Tavern would meet the approval of patriotic Muppet, Sam Eagle, with its colonial inspired theme and decor. Because it is set in Liberty Square, the restaurant’s exterior and surrounding area is highly themed.

Liberty Tree Tavern / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We do love how this restaurant hasn’t changed much in the many decades that we’ve been dining here. There’s something very nostalgic about Liberty Tree Tavern.

Liberty Tree Tavern Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The interior is filled with colonial inspired decor. The main lobby area includes a large fireplace, kitchenware, and lots of heavy dark wooden features.

Liberty Tree Tavern Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The dining room areas are the same. One of the unique features about Liberty Tree Tavern is that the restaurant has 6 distinct dining room areas named and designed after important people in American history. This includes:

• Benjamin Franklin

• Thomas Jefferson

• John Paul Jones

• Paul Revere

• Betsy Ross

• George Washington

On this visit, we were seated in the Paul Revere room.

Liberty Tree Tavern Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We definitely recommend checking out the restaurant and the various themed areas. Each area is different and has some very cool historic inspired decor.

The Food

Like most restaurants owned and operated by Disney, this restaurant has an allergy-friendly menu. But, you can always speak directly to a chef to discuss options, including modifications.

Liberty Tree Tavern Allergy-Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, we did speak to a chef directly, so that we could double-check the dishes for some of Brandon’s uncommon allergies, as well as ask about a few items not marked on the allergy-friendly menu. The chef was super helpful and reviewed the ingredients with us and showed us the information on the iPad that he brought with him to the table.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Gluten Free & Allergy-Friendly Rolls / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up first, we were served gluten free and allergy-friendly rolls. These were gluten free, dairy free & allergy-friendly. The Bloomfield Farms brand rolls were topped with a “butter garlic” spread that can be made both dairy filled and dairy free, if you ask. They have Earth Balance vegan buttery spread on hand and can make the butter garlic topping dairy free easily.

In terms of flavor, I absolutely loved the addition of the butter garlic topping on these. Super flavorful and really made the rolls a bit more special.

Brandon was served regular gluten-filled rolls on this visit but was advised that they were made in a facility that has peanuts and tree nuts. If you have a nut allergy and are not comfortable with this, the allergy-friendly rolls are a great option.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Gluten Free Salad / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In addition to the rolls, we were given a house salad to start. This salad included: Mixed Greens, Apples, Cranberries, and Cheese tossed and a House-made Dressing. It was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies.

If you’re dairy free, the only modification needed for this dish is to omit the cheese. If you are like Brandon and allergic to vegetables in the cabbage family, we were glad to see that there was only mixed greens in this.

Both of us really liked this salad a lot. The diced apples were a nice addition, and we both thought it was a nice fresh way to start our meal.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Gluten Free Platter / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Of course, you’ll want to make sure you don’t load up too much on salad and allergy-friendly rolls, because the real star of the show is the main patriot platter. This will vary depending on your special dietary need. The gluten free version shown above included:

• Roasted Turkey

  • Marked Gluten Free & safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies

• Oven-Roasted Pork

  • Marked Gluten Free & safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies

• Pot Roast

  • Marked Gluten Free & safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies

• Mashed Potatoes

  • Marked Gluten Free & safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies

• Herbed Rice Bread Stuffing

  • Marked Gluten Free & safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies

• Green Beans

  • Marked Gluten Free & safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies

• Cranberry Sauce

  • Not listed on the allergy-friendly menu but Gluten Free, Dairy Free & Allergy-Friendly (we recommend double-checking ingredients)

• Gravy

  • Marked Gluten Free & safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies

• Mac & Cheese

  • Not listed on the allergy-friendly menu but Gluten Free version is available upon request. They do not currently have a dairy free option.

Even though some of the items on the allergy-friendly menu aren’t marked dairy free, be sure to speak to a chef or ask your server, as many dishes can be easily modified (like the turkey & pork).

Overall, I can’t say enough good things about this entree. Everything is so flavorful, well-cooked, and feels…well, special. It’s rare to find gluten free & dairy free stuffing, gravy & even good GFDF mashed potaotes out at a restaurant. And, to be able to enjoy a full Thanksgiving style meal out someplace is such a treat.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Allergy-Friendly Platter / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon’s version was somewhat modified, but no less delicious. Because he is allergic to chicken & turkey, he couldn’t have the stuffing, gravy, or the oven roasted turkey — but, he still had plenty to enjoy. He had roast pork, pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, and gluten-filled mac & cheese.

Both of us agreed that the meal was just as good as it always is. We both love the pot roast, and I can’t get enough of the stuffing & gravy.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Gluten Free & Allergy-Friendly Cake / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, we were both pleasantly surprised by an updated menu item that is now gluten free! The Johnny Appleseed's Warm Apple Cake is now both gluten free & dairy free — and vegan. It was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut, and Sesame Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. The dessert does contain coconut milk in the house-made whipped topping. Since coconut is classed as a tree nut by the FDA, the dessert isn’t listed as tree nut free, but we confirmed with the chef that there were no tree nuts in this dish.

Overall, we both really liked this dessert a lot. I thought it could use a bit of warming up, but the flavors were excellent. Given our options for desserts at Liberty Tree Tavern over the years have been usually sorbet or fresh fruit, we were so thrilled to see a tasty gluten free and dairy free dessert on the menu. I hope they keep this one, because it’s such a great addition.

If you want to hear more about our experiences at Liberty Tree Tavern, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

Liberty Tree Tavern continues to be a favorite for us — especially during the holiday season at Disney World. If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving style food and lots of great special diets options, you won’t be disappointed by Liberty Tree Tavern. We thought this year’s menu update included some plussed up dishes, and we especially loved the updated rolls and dessert options. Plus, everything was just so tasty! We definitely recommend this restaurant if you’re looking for a good table service option in the Magic Kingdom and are already dreaming about our next seasonal visit in 2024.

Have you been to Liberty Tree Tavern? What was your experience dining there?

Rix Sports Bar & Grill Breakfast Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in August 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Breakfast at Rix Sports Bar & Grill

Rix Sports Bar and Grill, located at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, is a 3rd party owned and operated restaurant that serves up casual fare at breakfast, lunch & dinner. We have eaten at Rix Sports Bar and Grill on multiple occasions for lunch and dinner but never for breakfast. On this visit, we decided to check out the gluten free and food allergy friendly options for breakfast.

Atmosphere

In terms of theming and atmosphere, Rix Sports Bar and Grill is a bit on the basic side. It does have some elements of a sports bar with lots of TVs but otherwise, the theming is pretty lackluster all around. It feels like this location could definitely use a refurbishment in the coming years.

Rix Sports Bar and Grill / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant is located near the resort’s quick service restaurant, El Mercado, and Maya Grill — one of our go-to’s on Disney property for safe Mexican food options.

Rix Sports Bar and Grill Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see from the photo here, the dining room is pretty basic. There’s not a lot of theming, but then again, if you’re just looking for a good sports bar and a quick bar type meal, this could be a great go-to option if you’re staying at Coronado Springs. Brandon’s parents really enjoy it, and we can see how the no frills and casual vibe could appeal to many.

The Food

Because Rix Sports Bar and Grill is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, you can always speak directly to a chef to discuss options, including modifications. On this occasion, we did speak to a chef to discuss options.

We’re glad that we did too, because we found out that most of our meal would need to be prepared over at El Mercado due to a lack of a dedicated fryer for safe breakfast potatoes and dedicated waffle maker for the GF and allergy-friendly waffles. Because of this, the chef did let us know that the meal would take a bit more time to prepare. This was great information to know about, and honestly, after our meal, we both said next time we’d just go get breakfast over at El Mercado instead, since many of the same options are available and for a somewhat lower price point.

Gluten Free Rix Omelet from Rix Sports Bar and Grill / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I opted for the custom omelet. I got ham, spinach, and onion in my omelet, and it was topped with regular cheese. The chef did note that they have non-dairy / vegan cheese options at El Mercado that he could use if I wanted it. That was great to know that there is a dairy free cheese option on hand too! My omelet also came with the gluten free and allergy-friendly hash browns made at El Mercado in a dedicated fryer instead of the herb butter house potatoes which are coated in gluten (why are we putting gluten in breakfast potatoes?!).

Overall, I liked the omelet. I thought it was tasty but nothing too special. The star of my entree were the hash browns. They were super crispy and reminded me of the McDonald’s hash browns from my childhood and pre-gluten free days.

Gluten Free Toast from Rix Sports Bar and Grill / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I was also served gluten free toast with some prepackaged butter and jam. It was a nice addition to the breakfast, and I’m always glad to see a 3rd party owned restaurant offering GF bread options.

Gluten Free Country Beef Skillet from Rix Sports Bar and Grill / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Country Beef Skillet served with scrambled eggs and sirloin steak. Instead of the breakfast potatoes that are normally served, he was also served gluten free hash browns so that we could share our entrees. His entree had a chipotle salsa on it that was smoky and spicy. We were told by the chef that it was the same one served at Maya Grill (but that has been recently taken off the menu there). Overall, Brandon really liked his entree, and we both agreed he had the winning dish of the meal.

Gluten Free and Allergy-Friendly Mickey Waffles from Rix Sports Bar and Grill / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We decided for a bit of sweetness to split the gluten free and allergy-friendly Mickey waffles. These were made in a dedicated fryer over at El Mercado. I did ask if we could get the plantains and Dulce de Leche sauce that comes with the French Toast entree on the menu and the chef said that was an easy addition. The waffles themselves were gluten free and allergy-friendly but the sauce did contain dairy. Unfortunately, the restaurant does not serve 100% pure maple syrup and only had table syrup on hand that was corn syrup based (and that wasn’t very tasty, in my opinion).

The waffles themselves had some cinnamon in them which added a more unique twist. While we both liked the flavor, we both felt the waffles themselves were a bit undercooked and gooey. I’m not sure that I would recommend these or would get them again based on the ones that we had.

If you want to hear more about our experience at Rix Sports Bar and Grill, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

While we are glad that Rix Sports Bar and Grill fills in a need for a table service breakfast option at Coronado Springs, it’s not one of our favorite breakfast options at Disney. Most of the food was just OK, and we found that most of our meal actually had to be prepared at El Mercado next door which added a bit more of a wait time to the meal. That being said, the chef there was super accommodating and so helpful, and we appreciate that they are working hard to ensure safe options. However, we’d probably recommend El Mercado overall at Coronado Springs for breakfast, unless you’re looking specifically for that table service experience or a slightly larger menu.

Have you been to Rix Sports Bar and Grill? What was your experience dining there?

Rosa Mexicano Breakfast Review

*These gluten free dining experiences took place in August 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Breakfast at Rosa Mexicano

Located at Disney’s Dolphin Resort, Rosa Mexicano is the resort’s newest restaurant — opening in 2023 and replacing Fresh Mediterranean Market. It is a chain restaurant that originally opened in 1984 and serves authentic Mexican cuisine with several locations across the U.S. Brandon and I went with his parents and sister shortly after they opened, and we didn’t have the best experience. But, we wanted to give it another chance after the restaurant had a bit of time to get more settled at its Disney location. This review covers two different visits for breakfast including one with our friend Gina from Gluten Free Disney World.

As an important note: The Swan & Dolphin Resorts do not have complimentary parking. Typically, if you dine at a restaurant at the resorts, you can get your parking validated to cover any charges. However, as of the writing of this blog post, the resort is not validating parking for breakfast. They will validate your parking ticket for dinner (i.e. after 5 p.m.) only. Parking is expensive at $34, so we recommend either taking Disney transportation or a ride share to this location if you are interested in breakfast specifically.

Atmosphere

Rosa Mexicano has a modern aesthetic highlighting Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. It’s bright, inviting, and has ample seating for large and small parties. We especially like some of the corner nooks further back in the restaurant.

Rosa Mexicano Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The entrance does feel a bit retrofitted given the space and design of the Dolphin resort, but once you are seated in the restaurant, it is very different aesthetically from the original Fresh Mediterranean Market restaurant.

Rosa Mexicano Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The only slight negative that Brandon and I feel about the restaurant’s seating is the location of some two-top tables. We’ve had a few less than ideal seats in this restaurant and feel that two-top tables are wedged in places where there probably shouldn’t be a table.

Rosa Mexicano Bar Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

If you’re a fan of bar seating, the restaurant offers a large wrap-around bar where you can order drinks, small bites, and full menu items.

The Food

Because Rosa Mexicano is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, you can always speak directly to a chef to discuss options, including modifications.

Rosa Mexicano Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Rosa Mexicano does have GF notes in their menu along with information about nut allergy warnings. On the first visit for breakfast, Gina and I did ask to speak to a chef, because we had several questions about the menu, especially if the churro waffles could be modified to be gluten free.

Now that the restaurant had been open for a bit, we found the servers to be much more attune to special dietary needs and offering to have a chef come and speak with guests. On this first visit, the chef was so helpful and talked through options, including making a GF churro waffle hack for us!

Gluten Free Chilaquiles Divorciados at Rosa Mexicano / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Gina and I both knew we wanted to order a sweet and savory option on our first visit. We split the Chilaquiles Divorciados which were marked gluten free and vegetarian on the breakfast menu. The version we were served did include dairy. We didn’t ask about dairy free modifications, but I suspect that this could be easily made dairy free.

Both Gina and I really enjoyed this dish. The tortilla chips (made in a dedicated fryer) were so flavorful, and the verde and guajillo sauces were both delicious. These are the same ones used for enchiladas at dinner and pack a lot of flavor in every bite. And of course, anything topped with lots of avocado is good by me. We both agreed that we liked this dish and would get it again.

Gluten Free Huevos Rancheros at Rosa Mexicano / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On my second visit with Brandon, I got the Huevos Rancheros which were also marked gluten free and vegetarian on the menu. Between the two breakfast entrees, I have to admit that I think this one was just a bit better. The crispy tortillas (made in a dedicated fryer), the refried black beans, and fresh salsa all made it a perfect flavor combination. The crispy potatoes were also exceptional and were extra crispy. This is a dish I would order at every breakfast at Rosa Mexicano. So good!

If you’re dairy free, this breakfast entree would need some modifications but could probably be easily made DF if requested.

Gluten Free Eggs Your Way at Rosa Mexicano / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon tends to prefer a standard breakfast option, so he decided to order the Eggs Your Way on our visit. He got scrambled eggs, a ton of bacon, and the same breakfast potatoes that I got with my entree. This was marked gluten free on the menu and can be made vegetarian by swapping out the breakfast meats and easily made dairy free too.

Brandon absolutely loved the breakfast potatoes with this entree, and he said the rest of the dish was great too. I think we both said the breakfast here was one of our new favorites at Disney World.

Gluten Free Churro Waffles at Rosa Mexicano / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The absolute star of both breakfasts that we had were the gluten free, egg free, fish/shellfish free, dairy free, and peanut/tree nut free Churro Waffles. The waffle mix is made in-house at the restaurant and does contain soy (and cannot be made soy free).

These are available if you ask your server or a chef and include GF waffles made in a dedicated waffle maker with fresh cinnamon sugar sprinkled on the waffles and served with various sides including a Mexican chocolate sauce, fresh fruit, fruit sauce, and whipped cream. The restaurant also makes plain GF Mickey waffles too, but we do highly recommend the churro waffles because of how incredible they taste!

Note: Some of the sides do contain dairy (the Mexican chocolate sauce and whipped cream). If you’re dairy free, you’ll want to order with fresh fruit and fruit sauce. The restaurant also has 100% pure maple syrup in individual bottles available for guests too.

Gluten Free Churro Waffles at Rosa Mexicano / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In terms of flavor, omigosh. These are absolutely outstanding. Best GF Mickey waffles at Disney?! Based on our experiences that answer is yes! Gina and I were in GF Mickey waffle heaven on our first visit. They were so good that I had to make reservations for me and Brandon to go ASAP after that visit. They were just as good as the first time. If you want a slightly different Mickey waffle experience and some amazing toppings, you won’t be disappointed by the GF Churro Waffles at Rosa Mexicano.

If you want to hear more about our experiences at Rosa Mexicano, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

We can’t say enough good things about our breakfast experiences at Rosa Mexicano. The food was outstanding and the addition of the GF Churro Waffles is probably the highlight from 2023. They were that good. Our service on multiple visits to the restaurant have been excellent too, and our experiences with the chefs have also been great. The only downside to breakfast at Rosa Mexicano is the lack of validating parking for non-resort guests who are driving. It’s such a deterrent from us wanting to go again, because we can’t justify paying close what our meal cost just to park there. If we were staying on property or going to a park nearby, we would definitely recommend it for a unique GF Mickey waffle experience and fantastic breakfast offerings.

Have you been to Rosa Mexicano? What was your experience dining there?

Maya Grill Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in May 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Maya Grill

Maya Grill, located at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, is a table service restaurant owned and operated by the Palmas Restaurant Group. It serves up authentic Mexican cuisine along with Tex-Mex style options so there’s plenty of great options to choose from. It’s one of our favorite restaurants for a low-key and safe meal as Orlando locals, and we were excited to dine there recently after they launched their new updated menu.

Atmosphere

Maya Grill has been at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort for years. You can find it a short walk from the old lobby area of the original side of the resort (not Gran Destino Tower).

Maya Grill - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because it’s been around for so long, it does a bit of a dated theme. However, that theme does really blend in well with the resort’s general theme and aesthetic, so it never looks out of place.

Maya Grill - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The interior has plenty of seating options from booths to tables. The restaurant is inspired by Mayan culture with motifs representing fire, sun, and water. Yes, everything feels a bit on the dated side, but we both actually quite like the retro feel.

Though not shown in our photos, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that this restaurant has live music with a guitarist every single night, which really adds to the theme and vibe.

Maya Grill - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In the main dining room area, you’ll see large towers and even architecture that looks like a Mayan temple. The restaurant also has lots of windows around the restaurant for natural lighting.

The Food

Because Maya Grill is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, you can always speak directly to a chef to discuss options, including modifications. The new menu does have a few notes about special dietary needs such as fish/shellfish, pork, and nuts. However, we would highly recommend speaking to a chef, because the menu is new and it’s possible ingredients and dishes may change (and some dishes may not be listed as containing an ingredient like fish/shellfish but actually do…more on that later).

Maya Grill - Brandon with the Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Normally, we tend to prefer Disney owned restaurants, because of their special diets protocols. But, we have been consistently impressed with our experiences at Maya Grill. The chefs and the servers have always been very good at making sure our special diets are accommodated, and we feel safe about options.

On this visit, we spoke with Chef Gilberto who reviewed some of the menu items with us and made recommendations. There are definitely options or easy modifications, so it’s always worth talking to a chef.

Maya Grill - Chips & Salsa Trio / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of the things we love most about Maya Grill is that you can get safe tortilla chips. Being gluten free, I have found that getting safe tortilla chips isn’t always the easiest — even at Disney — because of restaurant’s not using or having a dedicated fryer. It’s gotten better at WDW over the years for this, and I’m so glad that Maya Grill has a dedicated fryer just for tortilla chips.

We decided to order the Chips & Salsa Trio which came with three salsas: Salsa Roja, Smokey Chipotle, and Avocado Verde. This is probably the most allergy-friendly appetizer and is gluten free, dairy free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, chicken/turkey free & cabbage free. It’s also plant-based/vegan.

Chips and salsa are always a hit with us, but this version was outstanding. The avocado salsa verde was my favorite — it’s tangy and only moderately spicy. The chipotle salsa is Brandon’s favorite — it’s smoky and definitely very spicy. The salsa roja is probably our least favorite (and it’s still very good!) mostly because it’s so mild. If you’re a non-spicy fan, the salsa roja will be the winner for you.

We used to always get the chips, salsa, and a side of queso. But, with three salsas in this appetizer, we definitely felt the portion and options were plentiful.

Maya Grill - Golden Zama / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In addition to a new food menu, the restaurant also has a new expanded drink menu. We visited on Cinco de Mayo, so we had to try drinks — to celebrate!

I ordered the Golden Zama with Bacardi Ocho Rum, charred pineapple, fresh squeezed lemon juice, & orgeat. This is essentially a Mai Tai and was really good. I loved the fresh pineapple and combination of flavors. I would definitely recommend it and get it again.

Note: If you are allergic to nuts, especially almonds, you’ll want to avoid this drink as orgeat contains almond and is not recommended for those with nut allergies.

Maya - The Serpent / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon’s drink, he ordered The Serpent which the menu described as coming with Michters Bourbon, Ancho Reyes Verde, Aperol, Pineapple chunks, lemon juice, three chile organic simple syrup, lemon bitters & fresh mint. However, when his drink arrived, it looked totally different than it was described. We couldn’t find another drink on the menu that had fresh thyme, so we’re wondering if they’re still working on the drinks and supplies.

Brandon said this drink was good and definitely had bourbon and aperol in it. He liked it a lot but did note that it was on the small side.

Maya Grill - Yuca Fries / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because the restaurant’s menu is entirely new, we wanted to try out a few options. We confirmed with Chef Gilberto that the yuca fries were safe for both of us and made in a dedicated fryer. These are not listed on the menu as a side dish, but you can request them easily.

The yuca fries are gluten free, dairy free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, chicken/turkey free, and cabbage free. We did not confirm they are vegan, but I would guess that the chimichurri is also vegan and safe.

Overall, we liked these but didn’t love them. That’s mostly because the yuca fries got cold and hard very quickly. We both agreed that the chimichurri sauce was very good and super flavorful. A word of caution on garlic. If you are garlic sensitive or have a garlic allergy, you’ll want to avoid the chimichurri. There was a lot of fresh garlic in it, and it was very strong.

Maya Grill - Fresh Catch / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I wanted to try something new on the menu and ordered the Fresh Catch. This rotates whatever seasonal fish is available and on this visit it was mahi mahi. This dish is gluten free and can be modified to be dairy free.

I really enjoyed this dish a lot. The fish was very well seasoned and cooked — falling apart and very flaky. The roasted potatoes were crispy on the outside and super tender on the inside. The broccolini was good (although never my favorite vegetable). I loved the cilantro crema and the pickled onion and radish on top of the dish, which added great flavor and texture. I would definitely recommend this dish and will be getting it again.

Maya Grill - Steak Quesadillas (NOT Gluten Free) / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon’s entree, he chose the steak quesadilla tacos. The version he ordered was made using flour tortillas, but if you’re gluten free, you can make this dish GF by swapping out the tortillas for corn. This is Brandon’s go-to entree at the restaurant, and he was SO glad it was still on the menu. He said everything was very flavorful and just as good as always.

One note for those who are allergic to fish/shellfish or can’t have gluten. The steak marinade currently being used by the restaurant is no longer safe as is for either of these special dietary needs. The steak contains both oyster sauce (gluten & fish/shellfish concern) and Worcestershire sauce. Luckily, Chef Gilberto said they can make a version of the steak safe for both of these special dietary needs by cooking plain steak instead a marinated version, so be sure to ask a chef or server about this. The steak is the same for the fajitas too, so you’ll need to modify that dish, as well.

On this visit, Brandon got a side of cilantro rice and refried beans instead of his normal favorite French fries. Though not on the menu, you can still get fries, but you’ll need to request them (and they are made in a dedicated fryer). Brandon didn’t really love the rice, and he skipped the refried beans and gave the dish to me. We had asked the chef to put them in a container so that I could try them, because both the rice & beans are both gluten free.

I personally loved the refried beans and would recommend them, if you like pork fat flavored refried beans. The pork in this is prominent, so skip if you don’t like that flavor profile. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, these beans won’t be a safe option currently.

Maya Grill - Akan’s Mule / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon capped out our meal with another drink — Akan’s Mule. This was the restaurant’s take on a classic Moscow Mule and was made with Milagro Reposado, Lapsang Souchong smoked black tea syrup, guava puree, fresh lime juice & ginger beer.

Brandon is a fan of mules and said this was good but that he preferred his first drink over this. Next time, he’d probably get a different drink.

If you want to hear more about our experience at Maya Grill, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

Maya Grill continues to be a favorite for us at Disney. We love going here for a low-key, safe, and tasty meal. The servers are always friendly and helpful, and the chefs have always been very accommodating too. We love that there is live music, and the restaurant never feels overly crowded. So, if you’re looking for an easy-going restaurant, you can’t get more chill than Maya Grill. We really enjoyed the new menu and are looking forward to going back again soon to check out more options. If you’re staying at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, we definitely recommend Maya Grill for one evening of your visit.

Have you been to Maya Grill? What was your experience dining there?

Rosa Mexicano Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in April 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Rosa Mexicano

Rosa Mexicano is the newest restaurant to open at Disney’s Dolphin Resort. It replaced Fresh Mediterranean Market (formerly Kitchen), which was located in the same spot in the resort. This restaurant originally opened in 1984 in New York City (and still operates there) and has several locations across the U.S. We had heard good things about Rosa Mexicano’s gluten free options, along with the ability to accommodate special dietary needs. Since we both really enjoy Mexican cuisine, we decided we had to check it out. On this visit, we went with Brandon’s parents and sister to help celebrate their anniversary.

Atmosphere

When arriving to the restaurant, we were all very pleasantly surprised by the decor. Everyone agreed it was very pretty and chic and modern.

Rosa Mexicano - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You will find many murals and paintings of Frida Kahlo throughout the restaurant and prominently featured in many of the dining room areas.

Rosa Mexicano - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon loved the lighting in the restaurant, which really added to the modern vibe. Overall, we all agreed that the restaurant was bright and inviting and definitely felt modern and fresh.

The Food

Because this location is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu or the same special diets protocols in place. The restaurant is, however, known for being able to accommodate — especially for gluten free diners. The menu itself does list GF options on it. One word of caution though. Items like the tortilla chips are marked GF, but they must be made in a dedicated fryer. Otherwise, the standard chips will not be safe and risk cross-contamination. More on that later in this review!

Rosa Mexicano - Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because this was a new restaurant for us, and we were sure what options would be available to Brandon, we really wanted to speak with a manager or chef. For the most part, any non-Disney owned location at the WDW resort will typically provide this as an option, especially because Disney is known to be so accommodating for special dietary needs. Unfortunately, we had a lot of challenges with our server on this visit being willing to let us speak to a chef or manager. He was insistent that he could navigate our special dietary needs but also gave us a ton of mixed information.

Because we did not feel comfortable with the information given, we really had to insist on speaking to a manager or chef. Ultimately, we were able to do so, but it was a pretty frustrating experience. We have spoken to other friends who have been who did not have the same experience, which is reassuring. We always recommend that you use your own comfort and judgement when eating someplace, and if you do not feel comfortable, ask to speak directly to a chef or manager. The chef was very helpful and really made us feel more at ease dining at the restaurant. As we always say, be your own advocate whenever you don’t feel safe!

Rosa Mexicano - Chips & Queso / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The chef confirmed with us that if you are gluten free or have allergies to make sure you get the chips made in a dedicated fryer. Otherwise, cross-contamination may occur. We did find the wait time for this to be a little bit longer, which was fine with us, as long as they are safe! Just watch out for any chips brought to the table when you are seated.

We requested the Chips & Queso which is marked gluten free on the menu and vegetarian. It does contain dairy, and as of right now, there are no dairy free cheese options in the restaurant. We confirmed with a chef that it was safe for Brandon’s special dietary needs, so if you’re allergic to fish/shellfish or peanuts/tree nuts, this should be good for you too.

Overall, we liked this but didn’t love it. We both agreed that the tortilla chips were very unevenly cooked and some were not fully cooked at all. The queso was tasty but not our favorite version on Disney property. For that, we’d recommend Maya Grill or Three Bridges Bar & Grill at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort for better versions. We agreed that we’d probably get again but it wasn’t our favorite.

Rosa Mexicano - Wine / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I did get a glass of wine at the restaurant, because I wanted to try the Mexican wines available. I opted for a Rose, “Casa Jipi, Rosado Barbera, Valle de San Vincente, MX.” Overall, I liked this but didn’t love it. It was actually very cool to try a Mexican Rose, and the flavor profile was different than some other rose wines. If you like rose, I’d recommend it.

Rosa Mexicano - Enchilada Tasting / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I opted for the Enchilada Tasting which comes with your choice of three types of enchiladas. I decided to get the Roasted Chicken Suizas with salsa verde, Beef Brisket with red guajillo sauce, and Chihuahua Cheese also with the red guajillio sauce. This dish was marked gluten free on the menu. The enchiladas do contain dairy.

I have to say that my expectations for this dish were exceeded, because all three enchiladas were super tasty. My favorite was the chicken enchilada and salsa verde, but I would not hesitate to get all three of these again. Each was super flavorful and had different flavor profiles. If you like enchiladas and can have dairy, these are a high recommend from me.

My entree was also served with a choice of Mexican or white rice. I got the Mexican Rice, and it was pretty good. Not my favorite or anything special, but good.

Rosa Mexicano - Steak Tacos (NOT Gluten Free) / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon got both a steak mac & cheese along with the tacos shown above. Though the ones in this photo are on a flour tortilla, the chef did confirm you can get corn tortillas instead, and these would be gluten free. Brandon liked these but didn’t love them. They were served pretty plainly, because Brandon is not a big fan of certain sauces, so next time he’d probably skip these or ask for salsa.

If you want to hear more about our experience at Rosa Mexicano, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

While we enjoyed the food we had at Rosa Mexicano, all of us agreed that there were some real challenges during our dining experience with service and special dietary needs accommodations. Because this is a new restaurant, we would wait to go back for a while to dine here. The restaurant seems to be still getting its footing, and we are hoping that over time that the special diets protocols will be a bit easier and clearer. If you do like Mexican cuisine, we’d recommend heading to Maya Grill, La Hacienda de San Angel, or San Angel Inn at Disney World. All of those locations have been operating for a long time and have good protocols in place (and tasty food!). We do look forward to going back again in the future, but if you’re looking for a restaurant on Disney property, we would probably recommend another location instead, unless you’re staying at the Swan & Dolphin resorts.

Have you been to Rosa Mexicano? What was your experience dining there?

California Grill Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in April 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at California Grill

California Grill, located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, is a signature restaurant at Disney with a long reputation for being one of the top restaurants on property. Situated on the 15th floor of the resort, this restaurant has epic views of Walt Disney World and is one of the most sought after locations to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks. It’s also well-known for its food and is even listed as a Michelin Guide recommended restaurant in Central Florida. So, you know it’s good!

Recently, we went to California Grill for dinner. The current offering is a 3-course fixed price set menu, and we wanted to see how it was for guests with special dietary needs.

Atmosphere

California Grill is inspired by California wines and cuisine. It also takes inspiration from Disney with art and photos inspired by Mary Blair that really ties together the rest of the theme of the Contemporary Resort.

California Grill - Wine Fridges / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When you first arrive on the 15th floor, you’ll see an impressive amount of wines displayed. If you’re a fan of California wines, you can find a variety of options here (by the glass or bottle), and many wines that you can’t find at any other Disney World restaurant.

California Grill - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The main dining room is probably the most common place that you’ll be seated at in California Grill. But, did you know that there are side rooms that you can dine in too? On this occasion, we were seated in a side room with excellent views of the Magic Kingdom and a much cozier and quiet vibe.

California Grill - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We really preferred this location, because it was much quieter. When we left the restaurant, we noticed a significant difference in the noise level from this room versus the main dining room. If you have preferences on noise level or want something a bit more cozy, we do recommend requesting to be seated in this room.

California Grill - Table / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Like many signature restaurants, California Grill has lots of unique touches — including these branded napkins. We both agreed that it’s a nice added part of the theme.

The Food

Like most restaurants owned and operated by Disney, California Grill does have an allergy-friendly menu. Of course, you can always speak to a chef if you have questions or want to discuss additional options or modifications for your special dietary needs. On this visit, we did not speak with a chef and worked directly with our server on options. But, she did offer to have a chef come speak with us if we preferred.

California Grill - Brandon with Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We do recommend if you have multiple dietary needs or have questions about ingredients to speak to a chef directly. After talking to our server, we did notice a lot of things on the menu that aren’t marked for our special dietary needs but that could be easily modified for us, so next time we’d probably speak to a chef to discuss other options.

California Grill - Allergy-Friendly Bread Service / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For the bread service, I was brought gluten free, dairy free and allergy-friendly Bloomfield Farms brand rolls. These were accompanied by a tomato and chive olive oil and a side of butter with sea salt. If you’re dairy free, you can ask if they have non-dairy buttery spread on hand during your visit too. Overall, I liked the tomato and chive olive oil more than the butter, which was not that flavorful.

Brandon did get house made bread, which they noted was safe for his special dietary needs but made in house where nuts may be present. Brandon is typically comfortable with items like this, as long as they do not contain nuts, but we recommend using your own comfort and judgement on consuming items like this. Brandon could have had the Bloomfield Farms brand rolls too, because they are also nut free. He really enjoyed his bread service, even if it’s not typically his favorite part of a meal.

California Grill - Wine / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For the meal, I decided to do the wine pairing, because I have never tried it before at California Grill. There are several wine pairing options on the menu, currently, at a variety of price points. I opted for the entry-level Signature Wine Pairing at $39 per person. This included 3 glasses of wine — one per course. My first wine with my appetizer was Grgich Hills Estate Sauvignon Blanc. I really liked this wine and found it to be very refreshing and light — perfect for my sushi appetizer.

California Grill - A Little Whistle Cocktail / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon did get several drinks. The first was called A Little Whistle with Whistle Pig 10 Yr. Rye Whiskey, White Grapefruit Juice, and Basil. This was a very divisive drink for Brandon. In fact, in our video review, he called it “grotesquely good.” He said it was extremely sour due to the grapefruit juice and very strong on the whiskey. Although he drank it and said it was good after a few more sips, he also said he probably wouldn’t get it again.

California Grill - Old Fashioned / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Old Fashioned fans, Brandon also got the Sonoma Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned with Sonoma Distilling Co. Bourbon, Vanilla Maple Syrup, Angostura Bitters and Luxardo Gourmet Maraschino Cherries with an Orange Twist. He really loved this drink and said he would 100% get this again. He also liked that the restaurant served his drink with a large ice cube so it didn’t dilute his drink over time.

California Grill - Gluten Free Sushi / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my appetizer, I got the Rainbow Roll with Tuna, Salmon, Hamachi, Avocado, Mango, and Pickled Watermelon Radish. This is marked safe for Milk and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. It can be made gluten free by swapping out the regular soy sauce for GF tamari.

If you are a sushi fan, I would recommend any of the sushi dishes from California Grill. The quality is always very high, and I have never had any version of sushi at this restaurant that I didn’t like. The rainbow roll had some great flavors, and I would definitely get this again. And, it was a very nice size portion for an appetizer too!

California Grill - Gluten Free Sea Bass / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I chose the Black Sea Bass with Grilled Petite Squash, Creamy Red Quinoa, Squash-Yogurt Purée, Charred Onion Butter, and Citrus Agrodolce. This dish was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. Although I did not ask on this visit, I have a feeling this could be easily made dairy free by omitting the sauce or making minor modifications.

I really loved this fish dish. The fish was extremely well cooked and super flavorful. I’m not normally the biggest quinoa fan, but it worked well in this dish. The vegetables were amazing (but I’m also a big fan of squash and zucchini), and I really enjoyed the sauce and hints of citrus on the plate too. I would highly recommend this dish for those who enjoy fish.

Although not shown in this photo, my second wine pairing was the Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc. It was equally bright and light, and I thought it paired very well with the sea bass.

California Grill - Filet Mignon / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon’s entree, he got the Oak-fired Filet of Beef with Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes, Braised Carrots, Golden Raisin Vinaigrette, and Cabernet Veal Jus. This was marked Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. If you’re GF, this dish can be modified to be Gluten Free. Brandon’s dish was missing the golden raisin vinaigrette, and we were guessing that there was an ingredient that he couldn’t have in that.

Overall, he really loved this entree. He said the sauce was amazing and actually raved about the potatoes and carrots. If you’re a steak fan, you really can’t go wrong with a well cooked filet.

California Grill - GF Creme Brûlée / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Dessert was probably the only slight disappointment of our meal. If you have read or reviews or seen our videos, you know that I do not really like creme brûlée. Even though I can have dairy now, it’s a dessert that just doesn’t appeal to me. The only GF dessert option on this menu currently is creme brûlée or a side of sorbet and fresh fruit. I decided to give it a try to see what it was like, because every once in a while I get a version that I don’t mind.

The Citrus Crème Brûlée was not marked GF on the menu but can be modified to be Gluten Free. It is also marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies. It does contain dairy. If you’re gluten free and dairy free, your only option currently is sorbet. That’s a shame, because there’s an interesting plant-based dairy free dessert on the menu that sadly is not GF.

Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this dish. The best part, in my opinion, was actually the white sangria sorbet, which was very flavorful. It definitely made me wish I had just gotten that sorbet with some fresh fruit. Brandon also didn’t love his dessert (Meyer Lemon Chiffon Cake) and was also limited in his options, because of his nut allergies. I think we both agreed that this was the weakest part of the menu for us, and made us wish that they had the a la carte menu back instead of a fixed price menu, where you have to get dessert.

For my final wine pairing, I received the Dolce Fortified Wine, which was a modification to my pairing, because the restaurant was out of the typical dessert wine paired with the Signature Wine Pairing. This was an outstanding dessert wine — not too sweet and almost more like a cognac than dessert wine. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.

If you want to hear more about our experience at California Grill, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

We both really enjoyed our meal experience at California Grill. Our server Ashley was outstanding, and we loved our first two courses of the meal. While dessert wasn’t our favorite, we would still recommend California Grill if you’re looking for a signature restaurant, especially for a special occasion. If you want to see fireworks, it’s a perfect spot for that too. It is quite pricey with drinks added on to your meal, but on point with many of the other signature restaurants for three courses. It definitely exceeded our expectations, as we haven’t always been that big of California Grill fans, and we are looking forward to going back again. We do hope they switch back to the a la carte menu, but we would still recommend it with the 3-course menu if you’re considering if for your upcoming trip.

Have you been to California Grill? What was your experience dining there?

Toledo Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in April 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies. It also has information about low FODMAP diets.

Dinner at Toledo

Toledo, located at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, is a table service restaurant featuring Spanish inspired food. It’s located in the Gran Destino Tower of the resort and is on the top floor — which means amazing views of the Walt Disney World Resort. Toledo was recently added to the Michelin Guide as a recommended restaurant in Central Florida. So, it’s definitely a location on Disney property with great food and a great view!

Atmosphere

Toledo is inspired by the surrealist art created by Salvador Dali — from the food to the decor. You’ll see bright colors and impressive stained glass in the restaurant.

Toledo - Entrance Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant is very inviting and depending on the time in which you dine, the interior can completely transform from day to night.

Toledo - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our recent dining experience there, we had dinner around 5 p.m. when the restaurant opened. In the photo above, you can see that everything is bright and light feeling — with wrap around windows which brings in plenty of natural light.

My favorite part of the restaurant is the stained glass in the middle of the restaurant along with the trees lining the center of the restaurant too.

Toledo - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

If you dine here in the evening, the lighting in the center of the restaurant makes the restaurant have a totally different feel and vibe. As you can see from this visit we took on a previous visit, the interior has this warm, rich color palate from the stained glass later in the evening. It’s very charming and even a bit of a romantic place to dine.

The Food

Like most restaurants owned and operated by Disney, Toledo does have an allergy-friendly menu. Of course, you can always speak to a chef if you have questions or want to discuss additional options or modifications for your special dietary needs. On this visit, we did not speak with a chef because we ordered dishes that we had had before.

Toledo - Sarah with Allergy-Friendly Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The allergy-friendly menu does list a lot of gluten free and even gluten free & dairy free options. Many dishes can be modified and adjusted too, if you ask. We have found the chefs at Toledo to be very accommodating on our visits.

Toledo - Gluten Free Version of the Spaniard for Two Appetizer / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

To start our meal, we had to order the Spaniard for Two. This appetizer is a pricey one (currently $38), but it’s a great sharing platter. We enjoy it because the quality of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments is very high. It’s by far our favorite charcuterie platter on Disney property.

This platter is marked safe for fish/shellfish, peanut, and soy allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. But, don’t be afraid to ask about modifications!

Though it’s not marked GF, it can be made gluten free by simply swapping out the bread for GF bread (shown above in the photo). If you have a tree nut allergy, it can be made tree nut free. The platter typically comes with sliced almonds, which can either be removed or placed on the side for those who can have tree nuts. If you’re dairy free, you can omit the cheese; or, if you’re lactose intolerant, they do have both a goat cheese and a hard cheese that would both be good for those with intolerances. If you’re on a low FODMAP diet, this restaurant has a lot of garlic and onion. The olives, for instance, have an impressive amount of raw garlic in them — so tread carefully, if you are sensitive to garlic.

Overall, we both highly recommend this appetizer. It’s a must get for us, and just so good!

Toledo - Scallops / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I chose the scallops entree with vegetable purée, olives, harissa vinaigrette, and roasted carrots. This dish is marked gluten free and safe for egg, fish, peanut/tree nut, milk, and soy allergies.

I love that this dish is made to be both gluten free and dairy free. If you like seafood, and especially scallops, it’s a dish that I would recommend. Everything was well-cooked and very flavorful.

The only slight negative to this dish is that it’s a bit on the smaller side. In fact, every time I order it, the server asks me if I want to order a side dish because of this dish being a smaller entree. Because we shared an appetizer, and I got dessert on this visit, I was perfectly fine with the portion size, but it’s something to know about if you’re only ordering an entree.

Toledo - Filet of Beef / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon’s entree, he got his favorite filet of beef with olive oil-potato purée, forest mushrooms, date jam, and sherry vinaigrette. This dish is marked gluten free and safe for fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, and soy allergies. The potatoes do contain dairy, but you should be able to swap out the potatoes for a dairy free option if you wanted to order this entree.

Brandon always enjoys this dish and recommends it for any filet fans. It’s not his favorite filet on property, but it’s a solid option and is at a more reasonable price point than some filets you find (especially at signature restaurants). He loves the mashed potatoes and also the date jam, which he says there’s never enough on the plate!

Toledo - Chocolate Avocado Mousse / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I don’t often get dessert at Toledo, but I decided that on this visit, I wanted to try the chocolate-avocado mousse again. I liked it but didn’t love it on a previous visit. This dish is marked gluten free and safe for fish/shellfish, milk, peanut, and soy allergies.

This is another Toledo dish that I love is naturally gluten free and dairy free. I will say that compared to the previous time I had this, I think this version was better. I loved the strawberry basil sorbet, which was super fresh and flavorful. The chocolate avocado mousse was very chocolately, and though I could tell there was avocado in the dish, it wasn’t super noticeable. The coconut crumble added some nice texture, and the aquafaba meringues did too.

I would recommend this dessert, though it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re just gluten free, the Classic Crema Catalana is also another option for you. It’s basically Spanish style creme brûlée, which I am not a fan of. On the kids’ menu, the Strawberry Mousse Mickey Tart and Fresh Strawberries is another gluten free (but contains dairy) option.

Toledo - Espresso / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon is not the biggest dessert fan, so he skipped dessert and went for an espresso. If you like coffees, the ones at Toledo are very nice and Brandon would recommend.

If you want to hear more about our experience at Toledo, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

We both really recommend Toledo for those with special dietary needs. The options are plentiful, and we have always had good experiences with the chefs being able to modify and accommodate too. Plus, the food and the atmosphere is pretty great. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced table service restaurant with some outstanding views, you can’t get any better than Toledo. And, since Michelin recommends it, you know it’s good too! Toledo continues to be a high recommend from us, and we are looking forward to our next visit.

Have you been to Toledo? What was your experience dining there?

Sanaa Dinner Review

*This review includes gluten free dining experiences from April 2022 and November 2022. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Sanaa

Sanaa, located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village, is one of our favorite table service restaurants on Disney property. We absolutely love it for the amazing food (which includes a very special diets friendly menu) and the theme. We especially love dining here for an earlier dinner, so that we can get great views of the animals out on the resort’s savanna, which you can see from the restaurant’s windows. This review includes two visits we made to Sanaa, including one visit after the restaurant updated its menu.

Atmosphere

Sanaa’s theme is meant to evoke a traditional spice market, and you’ll feel like you’re in an open air market with the large tree structures built throughout the restaurant.

Sanaa Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Sanaa means “work of art” in Swahili, and you’ll also see many different pieces of artwork throughout the restaurant.

Sanaa Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There’s so much to look at in the restaurant, and I especially love the tree structures in the middle of the restaurant. No matter where you are seated in Sanaa, you’ll have a lot to look at!

The Food

Like most restaurants owned and operated by Disney, Sanaa does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can also always speak directly to a chef about options, especially if you have questions or wish to discuss modifications. On our first visit to Sanaa in this review, we did speak with a chef, because the menu was new, and we weren’t sure what options Brandon might have because he has allergies outside of the top common allergens, which are listed on the allergy-friendly menu.

Sanaa - Allergy-Friendly Bread Service / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

A must anytime you go to Sanaa is the gluten free & allergy-friendly bread service. This includes a gluten free & allergy-friendly naan bread and a variety of sauces. Both the bread and all of the sauces, except the cucumber raita, are gluten free, dairy free, and vegan. If you have a tree nut allergy, it is not listed as tree nut free because the bread contains coconut oil (and coconut is classed as a tree nut by the FDA).

We both absolutely love the allergy-friendly bread service. The gluten free naan bread has evolved over the years, and recently, we’ve noticed it’s been changed up a bit due to supply chain issues (it is typically made using Cup4Cup’s Wholesome Flour Blend). But, it’s always super tasty, and we both love the difference accompaniments.

My favorites are the red pepper hummus, coriander chutney, mango chutney, and tomato date chutney. Brandon’s are the tamarind chutney, red chili sambal, and jalapeno-lime pickle. Brandon definitely prefers more of the spicy sauces!

Sanaa - Potjie Inspired Dishes / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our first visit, I opted to get the newly updated Potjie Inspired bowls. I got the Pork Vindaloo and the Sukuma Wiki (braised greens). Both were marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies. I was also served a side of basmati rice.

Overall, I really enjoyed both of these new dishes, and I was excited to see another gluten free and dairy free meat option on the menu. The pork was very flavorful and not as spicy as I was anticipating. It did have a little bit of spice to it, but it was very pleasant and super flavorful. The braised greens with stewed tomatoes were also very good. If you like dishes like collard greens, you will enjoy this dish. I would definitely get both again and would recommend them.

Sanaa - Zanzibari Vegetable Curry with Shrimp / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our second visit, I tried the Zanzibari Vegetable Curry with Shrimp. This dish can be made with just vegetables and not protein, making it a gluten free, dairy free & vegan option. The version I had was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Milk, Peanut, and Sesame Allergies. It does contain coconut milk.

I really enjoyed this dish. It had a nice blend of vegetables, and the curry sauce had a nice flavor. It was a little tangy, and a little sweet. The spice level was fairly mild. Adding shrimp or even chicken is a nice option for the dish too. Overall, I may have preferred my entree from our first visit, but I would definitely get this again too.

Sanaa - Grilled New York Strip / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One slightly disappointing thing from the new menu is that the restaurant (at the time we visited) no longer had a safe potato option on the menu. Brandon’s New York Strip entree typically comes with an African inspired mashed potato, but unfortunately, it contain chicken broth. Instead, the chef swapped out his sides for kids’ mac & cheese and a side of basmati rice. Brandon is not a big rice fan, so next time we will ask for a different side if we can. The dish as marked on the allergy-friendly menu is listed as Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

Overall, he said this dish was good but not amazing — simply because it wasn’t really the entree it should have been due to the modifications made for his special dietary needs. He liked the steak and the mac & cheese but probably wouldn’t order again for a while.

Sanaa - Lamb Kefta (NOT Gluten Free) / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In fact, on our second visit, he actually ordered several appetizers instead of an entree for his meal. He ordered the Lamb Kefta which is marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies. It can be made gluten free by omitting the couscous that comes with the dish.

Brandon absolutely loves this appetizer and recommends it highly, especially if you enjoy lamb. He said that he will probably continue ordering a variety of appetizers on the menu to make up a meal, because the bread service is often so filling too (and we always order the bread service!).

If you want to hear more about our experience at Sanaa, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

We highly recommend Sanaa for guests with special dietary needs. There’s so many options on the menu, and we absolutely love the allergy-friendly bread service. Though the menu may sound a bit adventurous, we definitely encourage guests to give it a try. Brandon is admittedly a bit fussier on food options, and even he really enjoys the food at Sanaa. If you’re looking for a table service restaurant with a great theme and great food, Sanaa is one to add to your list! We always look forward to dining at the restaurant and recommend it to our friends visiting the Disney Parks & Resorts too.

Have you been to Sanaa? What was your experience dining there?

Kona Cafe Dinner Review

*This review has information from several gluten free dining experience that took place in November 2022, February 2023, and March 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies. It also has information about a low FODMAP meal from one visit too.

Dinner at Kona Cafe

Kona Cafe, located at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, is a table service restaurant that serves up meals inspired by the South Seas. If you’ve read any of our blogs or watched our YouTube videos, Kona Cafe is one of our favorite reasonably priced table service restaurants at Disney World. It’s also the home to what Brandon considers to be the best mashed potatoes on Disney property (as he calls them #konamazing). This blog post will highlight several meals that we’ve had at Kona Cafe over the course of a few months.

Atmosphere

Kona Cafe was refurbished in fall 2022, and reopened in late fall with a refreshed theme. While both of us kind of miss the delightfully 90s feeling decor of the original Kona Cafe, we both agreed that the new refurbished version is a big improvement.

Kona Cafe - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you approach the restaurant, you’ll see a large entrance with a new Kona Cafe sign. The photo above was taken before the sign was added, but it gives you a sense of what the restaurant’s exterior now looks like.

As a “lobby” style open restaurant, we like that there’s some aspects of the location that’s enclosed. We personally don’t love sitting near the sides of the restaurant where everyone walks by.

Kona Cafe - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant now features large murals and bright but slightly muted colors. We think this color scheme works well with the resort’s overall theme and looks very inviting.

Kona Cafe - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We also love the stone walls with bright Hawaiian floral designs. This mirrors a lot of the resort’s overall theme too. You’ll also see in the photos that the booths and chairs have all been refreshed too.

Kona Cafe - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The lightly colored wood and the whicker lighting all blend in well with the rest of the resort and the light fixtures outside the restaurant. Overall, we both agreed that the refurbishment was nicely done.

The Food

Like most restaurants owned and operated by Disney, Kona Cafe does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can also always speak to a chef directly if you have questions about the menu, including modifications, or have special dietary needs not covered by the allergy-friendly menu. At Kona Cafe, we typically speak to a chef because of Brandon’s special dietary needs.

Kona Cafe - Sarah with Allergy-Friendly Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Currently, Kona Cafe does have a dedicated allergy-fryer for gluten free options, like French fries. But, the fryer is also used for frying chicken. So, if you’re Brandon and have a rare chicken allergy, you won’t be able to get fries from this fryer safely.

Usually, the chefs will make Brandon fries from a pot of oil that they heat up, so that his fries aren’t made in any of the fryers. We always recommend asking and double-checking when you dine at a restaurant, especially since menus and options can change (which may impact a fryer’s safety for your special dietary needs).

Kona Cafe - Allergy-Friendly Rolls / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Most Disney owned restaurants typically carry gluten free and allergy-friendly rolls for bread service. Kona Cafe is currently serving the Bloomfield Farms brand rolls — found at most locations property wide. These are also served with regular butter or non-dairy buttery spread. These have always been well-heated at Kona Cafe and a nice way to start the meal.

Kona Cafe - Salmon / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Kona Cafe has updated it’s menu over the past six months. I was very excited to try the Verlasso Salmon which was marked safe for Egg, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Shellfish Allergies. If you’re gluten free, this dish can be easily made GF by simply removing the crispy wontons served on top of the fish as a garnish. Easy peasy!

This dish has quickly become my favorite Kona Cafe entree. The bamboo rice is super flavorful and pairs well with the fresh tasting edamame succotash. The Fresno chimichurri adds a bit of spice and an herby punch to the dish. If you are a fan of salmon, I would highly recommend this dish.

Kona Cafe - Modified Salmon / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For a few months in 2023, I had to go on a low FODMAP diet, which is a bit more restrictive than my normal diet. Because I needed to avoid foods like onion and garlic, I spoke with a chef about making a somewhat simple and customized dish. I was able to get the Verlasso Salmon with some sticky rice and sautéed bok choy. It was served with a side of gluten free tamari.

What I loved most about this dish was that even though it was very simple, the flavors were still amazing. The salmon was perfectly cooked and seasoned simply with salt & pepper. I love bok choy and could eat sauteed bok choy just about any day, so this was the perfect vegetable side to my entree.

One of the things I love most about Disney is their ability to accommodate all types of special dietary needs. This is the perfect example of how Disney chefs work to create something tasty and safe!

Kona Cafe - Stir-Fry Noodles with Shrimp / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On another visit to Kona Cafe, I dined for lunch and ordered the Kona Stir-Fry with Shrimp. This dish is made with rice noodles and GF tamari and is marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies. If you’re allergic to shellfish or are vegan, they also have versions with chicken and tofu too.

Overall, I liked this dish but didn’t love it. I’ve had better versions of the noodles at Kona Cafe. I found the thin noodles versus the thicker ones that they used to use were a bit overcooked and quite gummy in texture. I also didn’t love the vegetable blend which included a lot of peppers. Next time, I might ask if I could get a version that includes bok choy or some different vegetables.

Kona Cafe - Big Kahuna Burger (NOT Gluten Free) / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On each of our visits, Brandon has ordered the Big Kahuna Burger. His version was served on a gluten free bun, but this entree can be made GF by simply swapping out the bun and cooking the fries in the dedicated GF fryer. It is also marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies.

Brandon really enjoys this burger a lot, though we both agreed we miss the Crispy Cheddar Burger that used to be on the menu. If you’re dining at Kona Cafe at lunch, Brandon often gets the pork belly noodle bowl with the jasmine broth (which does not contain chicken), so that’s another high recommend from him.

Kona Cafe - Brandon with French Fries / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

If you’ve ever read another review of ours or watched one of our videos, you know Brandon loves the Kona Cafe mashed potatoes. On one of our visits, he came up with the idea to dip his fries in mashed potatoes. If you’re also a potato fan like Brandon, it’s a must!

If you want to hear more about our experience at Kona Cafe, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

We always recommend Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. We love the food and how accommodating the restaurant is for special dietary needs. The price point compared to some other table service restaurants is also a bit more reasonable — and we feel the portions are pretty large too. If you like pan-Asian style food, we definitely recommend Kona Cafe. And, of course, you know it’s got to be good when we gave it a unique hashtag! #konamazing

Have you been to Kona Cafe? What was your experience dining there?

Skipper Canteen Dinner Review

*This gluten free and food allergy dining experience took place in July 2022. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies

Dinner at Skipper Canteen

Skipper Canteen, located in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom, is a table service restaurant inspired by the classic Disney attraction — The Jungle Cruise. It’s been one of our favorite table service restaurants in the Magic Kingdom since it opened. The special dietary needs options are extensive and taste great, and we love the theme. On this visit, we decided to eat here for a late afternoon/early evening meal after a busy day in the park.

Atmosphere

Because Skipper Canteen is inspired by the Jungle Cruise, the theme and overall atmosphere is some of the best of any Disney table service restaurant. We love how the theme starts from the moment you see it in Adventureland.

Skipper Canteen Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant is located near the Jungle Cruise attraction — that’s because your friendly Jungle Cruise skippers are also your servers at the restaurant!

From the moment you enter the restaurant’s waiting area, you’ll be treated to vintage music and see lots of memorabilia and decor about the origin of the Skipper Canteen and the world famous Jungle Cruise. We definitely recommend taking a look at some of these artifacts while you’re at the restaurant.

Skipper Canteen Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There are three dining rooms at Skipper Canteen: The crew’s mess hall (the first room you’ll see when you enter the restaurant), the Falls Family parlor, the S.E.A. Room (dedicated to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers).

Skipper Canteen Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Our personal favorite dining room is the S.E.A. Room — and we love that you enter that room through a secret bookshelf! Be sure to stop and take a look at some of the books or ask your skipper what their favorite book is.

Skipper Canteen Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, we were excited to hear that we were seated in the S.E.A. Room. It’s has some great theming, and we love taking a look at all the decor throughout the room.

Skipper Canteen Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Since this room is themed to the S.E.A., you’ll see lots of nods to the society, which is so fun.

The Food

In addition to the amazing theme in this restaurant, we also love the special dietary needs options — especially since a lot of the menu is naturally gluten free and dairy free. Like most restaurants owned and operated by Disney, Skipper Canteen does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can also speak to a chef at any time if you have questions or want to discuss options. On this visit, we did speak directly to a chef, who went over the menu and ingredients with us.

Skipper Canteen - Veranda Fried Rice / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For a starter, I opted for what ended up being a huge portion of the Fried Rice with Spicy Chili-Garlic Shrimp served over Pork Fried Rice with Eggs and Peas. This dish was not marked on an allergy-friendly menu — at the time we dined there, it was listed on their “not so secret menu” that you are given along with your main menu. The chef confirmed that this was gluten free and dairy free at the time of our visit and made with GF tamari.

I absolutely loved this dish and could see just ordering this along with another appetizer on a future visit. It was so filling! The flavors were incredible with the savory pork and perfectly cooked shrimp topping the rice. It did have a strong taste of sesame oil, so if you’re not a big fan of sesame or allergic to sesame, you’ll want to avoid this dish. It’s definitely one of my favorite dishes at Skipper Canteen now, and I would recommend it highly.

Skipper Canteen - Cheese Bread / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ended up ordering another “not so secret” menu option — the Brazilian cheese bread with a chimichurri cream cheese sauce. We confirmed that these were gluten free, fish/shellfish, peanut/tree, chicken/turkey free & cabbage free. They do contain dairy.

I did try one of these and thought they were pretty good (though tastier when dipped in the chimichurri sauce). Brandon loved these and said that he would definitely order them again. In terms of portion, we both agreed that these are a shareable appetizer and could for a whole table.

Skipper Canteen - GF Fried Chicken / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I got my favorite entree at Skipper Canteen — "Tastes like Chicken" Because it is!. This dish includes Crispy-fried Chicken with Sweet Chili Glaze, Stir-fried Vegetables, and Jasmine Rice. This was marked gluten free and safe for fish/shellfish, milk, and peanut allergies.

I love that this dish is naturally gluten free and dairy free — with no modifications! It’s made using cornstarch as the batter, so it’s super crispy. I do recommend getting the sauce on the side to avoid soggy chicken (which I forgot to do on this visit). I always love the flavors in this dish, and everything on this visit was super flavorful and well-cooked.

Skipper Cantee - Perkins Thai Noodles (No longer on the menu) / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the now retired Perkins Thai Noodles dish with tofu and steak. Sadly, this dish was removed just a few weeks after we dined at Skipper Canteen. This was such a great allergy-friendly dish that was gluten free, dairy free, and even vegan (if ordered with tofu only).

Brandon was in love with this dish (despite it being quite spicy) and was super sad to hear it was no longer available. The new noodle dish, “Skipper Dan’s Dan Dan Noodles,” also look good but not currently listed as gluten free, so we’ll need to see if it can be modified to be GF when we visit next.

Skipper Canteen - Panna Cotta / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, I decided to try Panna-Connie's Congo Lime Delight. I’m not really a panna cotta fan, but I really wanted to try it because it was so allergy-friendly. It was marked gluten free and safe for egg, fish/shellfish, milk, peanut, sesame, and soy allergies.

I have to say that while this was an interesting dish and I applaud the restaurant for their creativity and desire to try something so allergy-friendly, this was not a dessert I really liked. I loved the mango-lime sorbet on top — but the panna cotta itself had a very unpleasant texture. I would not order this again and probably just skip dessert on a future visit.

Overall

We always love eating at Skipper Canteen. Not only is it a fun restaurant theme, but the food is delicious and very friendly for our special dietary needs. We both also find that getting Asian food out gluten free and with Brandon’s allergies can be tricky, so this is a menu that really appeals to us both a lot. We definitely need to go back there again soon! If you’re looking for a table service restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, we would highly recommend Skipper Canteen.

Have you been to Skipper Canteen? What was your experience dining there?

Jiko Dinner Review

*This review has information from several gluten free dining experience that took place in April 2022, December 2022, and January 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Jiko: The Cooking Place

Jiko: The Cooking Place is a signature table service restaurant located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort. During the Disney Parks & Resorts closures, Jiko remained closed for quite a while and reopened in early 2022. The restaurant has long been a favorite of ours, and we were very excited to finally be back for a meal at Jiko a few months after it reopened.

Atmosphere

Jiko’s theme and decor encompasses everything we love about Disney design and especially the design at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s warm and inviting with unique touches that are distinctively Disney.

Jiko Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The twin wood-burning ovens in the open show kitchen act as the centerpieces of this restaurant and help set the mood for a restaurant that features subtle light changes over the course of your meal to reflect the African sunset.

Jiko Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

No matter where you are seated in Jiko, you’ll get to experience the theme and decor.

Jiko Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We love the seats located near the windows of the restaurant that overlook a small pond and have a great view of the show kitchen.

Jiko Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The seats here are so cozy, and on two of our three visits, we were seated in this area. They are the perfect spot for watching the sunset outside and inside the restaurant.

The Food

Like most restaurants owned and operated by Disney, Jiko does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can also always speak to a chef directly if you have questions about the menu, including modifications, or have special dietary needs not covered by the allergy-friendly menu. On our three visits, we spoke to a chef on one occasion and ordered directly through our server on the other two occasions.

Jiko - Painted Wolf Wine / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

If you enjoy wine, you’re in for a treat at Jiko. They have one of the largest collections of South African wines outside of South Africa. I have had several different red wines during our various visits and all of them have been really wonderful. I recommend asking your server for recommendations or to look at the suggested pairings marked on the menu.

Jiko - Old Fashioned / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon enjoys many of the cocktails at Jiko including their version of an Old-Fashioned.

Jiko - Allergy-Friendly Bread Service / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For the bread service, they offer gluten free and allergy-friendly Bloomfield Farms brand rolls along with a whipped goat cheese butter. The is one of Brandon’s favorite butters on Disney property, because he really enjoys goat cheese. It’s not really my favorite, so I would recommend if you’re dairy free or not a fan of goat cheese to ask for non-dairy butter or olive oil.

Jiko - Wild Boar Tenderloin / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The appetizer that we almost always get at Jiko and recommend to other guests is the Braaied Wild Boar Tenderloin with Creamy Pap, Tomato Chakalaka, and Herb-smoked Oil. There is also a gluten free tapioca crisp on the top as a garnish. This is marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. It does contain dairy in the pap.

The flavors in this dish are incredible. The wild boar is always so flavorful and grilled to perfection. The richness of the boar pairs really well with the creamy pap and the chakalaka. We both everything about this dish and highly recommend it as a starter.

Jiko - Beef Short Rib / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our first visit after Jiko reopened, I ordered the Botswanan Seswaa Short Rib with Hominy, Sea Peas, Mushrooms, and Carrots. This dish is marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Sesame Allergies. It does contain dairy.

As far as dishes go, I liked this dish but didn’t love it. I found the short rib to be a bit too fatty for more personal preference, but everything was flavorful and tasty. I especially liked the hominy and peas served with this dish. It’s not one that I’d get again, but if you like short ribs, I would recommend it.

Jiko - Filet Mignon (Mac & Cheese NOT Gluten Free) / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On all of our visits, Brandon got the same entree — the Oak-grilled Filet Mignon. The dish is marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. It was also made safe for Brandon’s chicken & turkey allergies (the sauce does not contain chicken sauce) and cabbage allergy. Because Brandon is sensitive to dishes in the cabbage family, we have been able to swap the side vegetable out for a safe option, like carrots.

If you’re gluten free, you can get a modified version of this dish — without the mac & cheese. They do not have a GF mac & cheese option, but they did tell me that I could get another side in its place if I were interested in this dish.

Brandon always raves about this filet and the mac & cheese. If you’re a filet fan, we would both suggest this, as it’s consistently one of the best filets on property.

Jiko - Sustainable Fish / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On another visit, I opted for something different. I got the Sustainable Fish with Winter-spiced Potato, Persimmon-Cranberry Greens, Citrus Yogurt, and Fruit Relish. This is marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Peanut/Tree Nut, Shellfish, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. It does contain dairy. If you’re DF, this would be a dish that could likely be modified by swapping out the potatoes and the yogurt.

I really liked this dish for something different and something lighter than the heavy beef dishes that I’ve had on other visits. The fish was well cooked and seasoned, and I really enjoyed the sautéed greens. I would definitely get this dish again and would recommend it for seafood lovers.

Jiko - Holiday Special Entree with Ribeye Steak / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

During the Christmas holiday, we had dinner at Jiko, and I ordered the holiday special. This was a limited time entree served during Christmas and New Year’s. It included a bone-in Ribeye, green beans with almonds & lemon, duck-fat roasted potatoes, roasted radicchio, and a cherry wine sauce.

It was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanuts, and Soy Allergies. This did contain dairy in the green beans, but our server actually mentioned how easy this dish was modify for special dietary needs.

This was by far my favorite dish that I had of our three visits. I’m a little bummed it was a limited time menu option, but I think it’s on our list for holiday reservations during the 2023 season. The ribeye itself was really well cooked and had so much flavor. The duck-fat roasted potatoes were heavenly, and seasoned so well. I also loved the grilled radicchio which did have a bitter taste but paired well with the richness of the rest of the dish. And, you can’t go wrong with sautéed green beans. If you’re at Jiko during a holiday and this is on the menu, get it!

Jiko - Kilimanjaro / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, every single visit, I have to get the Kilimanjaro with Single-Origin Ghanaian Dark Chocolate Mousse, Pistachio Financier, Pink Peppercorn Meringue, Cocoa Nib Crunch, and Ras el Hanout Pineapples. This dish is marked Gluten Free and safe for Fish/Shellfish, and Sesame Allergies. It does contain dairy. If you’re dairy free, I would recommend the African Drum 'Beets' dessert which is gluten free, dairy free & vegan.

The dessert is hands down one of my favorite on Disney property. I love everything about this dessert — from the fluffy meringue with a hint of peppercorn to the ras al hanout and pineapples. It’s got a lot going on, and I have to get this every time we eat at Jiko. The flavors in this dessert are unique and might not be for everyone, but it’s one I recommend trying at least once. The flavors might surprise you…in a good way!

Jiko - After Dinner Coffee / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon is not a big dessert fan, so he often skips dessert in favor of a coffee. But, he has ordered some dessert drinks, like this African inspired Irish coffee style drink. We always recommend if you have special dietary needs to double-check the liquors, especially in Brandon’s for things like nut, to make sure they are safe for you.

If you want to hear more about our experience at Jiko: The Cooking Place, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

We are always so impressed by the quality of the food, the theme, and service whenever we dine at Jiko. If you’re looking for a signature dining location at Disney World, it definitely ranks as one of our favorites. We always enjoy the variety of options and the relaxed atmosphere. If you have special dietary needs, we have found the restaurant to be very accommodating and easy to adjust for our dietary needs and preferences. We can’t wait to dine at Jiko again!

Have you been to Jiko: The Cooking Place? What was your experience dining there?

Narcoossee’s Dinner Review

*This gluten free and food allergy dining experience took place in April 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Narcoosse’s

Narcoossee’s, located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is a signature table service restaurant that recently opened in April 2023 after being closed for refurbishment. The last time we dined at Narcoossee’s was in late 2020, and neither one of us were particularly impressed by the experience. However, after seeing the updated allergy-friendly menu, we were very excited to give this restaurant another visit. We dined at Narcoossee’s about a week after the restaurant reopened.

Atmosphere

Narcoossee’s is a free-standing building located near the ferry dock at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. It includes waterfront dining with really lovely views of the Magic Kingdom.

Narcoossee’s Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The building itself looks inviting and has the same Victorian theme as the rest of the resort.

Narcoossee’s Waterfront / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When you dine at Narcoossee’s, don’t miss out on the beautiful views from the outdoor walkway area. We love hanging out in this area, especially in the evening time. The Seven Seas Lagoon adds a nice breeze, and it’s just fun to watch the ferry boats sail by.

Narcoossee’s Waterfront View / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The outdoor area of Narcoossee’s is also great for watching the Electrical Water Pageant and the Magic Kingdom fireworks in the evening. As you can imagine, reservations for later in the evening are popular and do book quickly, so be sure to make a reservation if you’re interested in seeing the fireworks from the restaurant.

Narcoossee’s Interior & Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

During Narcoossee’s refurbishment, the restaurant was brightened up significantly. No more dark wooden features that made the restaurant feel drab, and honest, very outdated.

The current interior includes light and dark blue colors along with light greens. As one cast member told us, the restaurant is inspired by land and sea — with the main lobby area representing “the land,” and the restaurant’s main dining room, “the sea.”

Booths at Narcoossee’s / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We like the addition of cozy booths throughout the restaurant too. If you had dined at Narcoossee’s prior to its refurbishment, you might also recall the quirky bar seating area. Everything is now level and much more inviting.

Narcoossee’s Tableware / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The sea inspiration is reflected in the tableware too. All of the plates and cups have some sort of blue or gray coloring too them. We both said that we wished the napkins had the unique branding to them that other restaurant’s, like Citricos, has but overall, everything was very nice and we felt was a step up from the previous design.

The Food

Of course, what we were most excited for was the food. Like most Disney owned and operated restaurants, Narcoossee’s has an allergy-friendly menu. You can also speak to a chef at any time to discuss options and modifications. On this visit, we spoke with Chef Alfred, who we recognized from his previous time at Citricos.

Narcoossee’s Allergy-Friendly Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

And, like our visit to Roundup Rodeo BBQ recently, Chef Alfred brought out an iPad with the ingredients list to go over options with us and discuss any concerns or questions we might have. One interesting note from our visit was that if you are vegetarian, vegan, or have meat allergies, like Brandon, there are some surprising limitations from the menu.

For instance, the mushroom risotto actually contains chicken broth (not great if you’re vegetarian) and the loaded mashed potatoes weren’t safe for Brandon’s fish allergy, because they fry the pork belly in the same fryer as fish. I was a bit disappointed that they couldn’t modify this on the fly, but we had plenty of options to eat.

Narcoossee’s Water Bottle / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Similar to California Grill, you are served a carafe of water at your table. We weren’t offered options during our visit, but we have heard that you can get both still and sparkling water at the table. Brandon is not a big sparkling water fan, but I am, and I always love finding locations that offer sparkling water as a complimentary water option.

Narcoossee’s - GoGi “Goldie” Chardonnay / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We did order cocktails on this visit. I ordered the GoGi “Goldie” Chardonnay. GoGi Wines are a part of the Disney Family Wines (which are listed on the wine menu) — it’s actor Kurt Russell’s wine label. I am a big fan of the GoGi Wines, especially the chardonnay. It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for a seafood meal.

Narcoossee’s - Old-Fashioned / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon opted for the classic Old-Fashioned cocktail. He was said it was a nice Old-Fashioned, but he was most excited for the Grand Floridian branded ice cube. We always love these kinds of additional touches when it comes to cocktails.

We did talk to one of the cast members involved in the beverage menu at the restaurant, and they noted that all of their cocktails were inspired by the turn-of-the-century theme of resort, which is very fun. They also make a lot of the syrups and accompaniments in-house, which we both agreed is a nice touch. Neither of us are fans of the standard Disney bar menu, so it’s nice to see restaurant’s that have their own unique takes on cocktails.

Narcoossee’s - Allergy-Friendly Bread Service / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For bread service, I was given the Bloomfield Farms brand gluten free and allergy-friendly rolls. Brandon did get gluten-filled bread, but if you’re concerned with any potential nut cross contamination, we recommend the Bloomfield Farms rolls.

If you’re dairy free, the restaurant does carry non-dairy butter and extra virgin olive oil as options for your bread too.

Narcoossee’s - Ocean-Inspired Charcuterie / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because Brandon is allergic to fish and shellfish, we both opted to order our own appetizers this visit. We often split appetizers as a couple, but we found the appetizer menu to be a bit limited for Brandon. So much, so that he had to order the cheese plate, which was listed on the desert menu.

For my appetizer, I ordered the Ocean-Inspired Charcuterie Board with Ahi Tuna Pastrami, Charred Octopus, and Lobster Sausage. This was marked Gluten Free and safe for Peanut/Tree Nut and Sesame Allergies. It does contain dairy.

Overall, I was very impressed with this appetizer. The flavors of all three seafood options were terrific, and each had a unique flavor profile. The charred octopus was actually my favorite — with strong grill flavor. I’m not normally a big beet fan, but the beets worked well with this dish. And, the octopus itself was not rubbery at all. It had a firm but pleasant texture, and I think would win over many guests who might not consider octopus.

The ahi tuna had unique pastrami seasoning flavors, and the texture was almost close to jerky. It was very pleasant and did not have any fishy taste at all. Tuna is such an approachable raw fish, that I think most seafood fans would enjoy this.

Lastly, the lobster sausage was perhaps my least favorite, but it was still really great. It did have a light and almost spongy texture — likely due to the texture of the lobster and what it was bound with. It had a spicy harissa sauce with it, which was the perfect accompaniment to the sausage.

I would definitely recommend this appetizer, and it’s a perfect dish to share if you’re dining at a table with seafood lovers.

Brandon with the Narcoossee’s Cheese Plate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon initially planned to order the brisket and ricotta tortelloni from the appetizer menu, but Chef Alfred reviewed the ingredients and noted that there was chicken stock in the dish. Since the appetizer menu was so seafood heavy, we asked if Brandon could get the cheese plate from the dessert menu. After reviewing the ingredients, Chef Alfred said that was no issue.

Usually, Brandon and I split a charcuterie board, so he was very excited to have all the cheese and prosciutto to himself. This is a dish that can be made Gluten Free and was marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. Overall, he said this was an outstanding cheese plate, and we both agreed that it was a step up from the version we had at Narcoossee’s a few years ago.

Narcoossee’s - Yuzu-Ginger Salmon / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I chose the Yuzu-Ginger Salmon with Sambal White Asparagus, Coconut Jade Rice, and Lemon Grass-Thai Basil Emulsion. This was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Milk, Peanut, and Shellfish Allergies.

If you’re looking for a gluten free and dairy free entree that packs a punch with flavor, this is the perfect dish for you. The smells from this dish were incredible. And, the flavors were so amazing. There was a lot going on, but everything paired very well. The fish was cooked well, and the portion was quite sizable. This was a dish that I would definitely get again and highly recommend if you like salmon and flavors like Thai green curry or yuzu.

Narcoossee’s - 12-oz New York Strip Steak / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the 12-oz Prime New York Strip Steak with Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Rainbow Vegetables, and Red Wine Demi-Glace. He was able to eat the red wine, but the chef served it on the side. This dish was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. It did need some slight modifications on the vegetables, as Brandon is sensitive to veg in the cabbage family, like broccoli.

Overall, Brandon said he liked this dish but didn’t love it. New York Strip is not his favorite cut of beef, as he’s not a big fan of too much fat. But, he said it was well cooked, and he loved the rainbow carrots. He also really liked the red wine demi-glace too. Next time, he might order the pork chop or see if he could order the filet instead of the NY strip.

Narcoossee’s - Mashed Potatoes / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Chef Alfred was very kind, since Brandon couldn’t have the loaded mashed potatoes, and brought him a side platter of regular mashed potatoes. Brandon said these were good but nothing too special. If you’re gluten free, mashed potatoes will be an option, but they do contain dairy.

Narcoossee’s - Berry Pavlova / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Even though I was already so full, I couldn’t pass up the gluten free dessert option — a Berry Pavlova with Yuzu Crèmeux and Anglaise. This was marked Gluten Free and safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. It does contain dairy and might be able to be modified to be dairy free (e.g. removal of the anglaise and crèmeux). We would recommend talking to a chef about options.

Overall, I was blown away by this dessert. I loved that it was something different, and I always enjoy pavlova as a dessert option. The berries were very refreshing, and I loved the hints of mint topped on the fruit. The yuzu crèmeux added a bit of citrus punch, which I also loved. I could take or leave the anglaise, but if you like a vanilla sauce, you’ll enjoy this. I would highly recommend this dessert, if you’re looking for something a bit different at the end of your meal.

Narcoossee’s - Raspberry Sorbet / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the only gluten free and dairy free, as is dessert — the Raspberry Sorbet. This is the default allergy-friendly dessert, and is the standard raspberry sorbet you see all across Disney property.

Brandon always enjoys sorbet, but I have to admit that I was a bit bummed that the restaurant didn’t make their own house-sorbet with some interesting or unique flavors. That feels like a missed opportunity to me. Still, if you’re looking for a palate cleanser at the end of the meal, this might be a good option.

If you want to hear more about our experience at Narcoossee’s, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at the newly reopened Narcoossee’s. While we both wouldn’t rank this high on our favorites for signature dining, we both felt the menu was vastly improved and that there were many interesting and unique options to choose from. If you’re a seafood fan, this is a great option. If you’re allergic to fish/shellfish or don’t like seafood, we might recommend another restaurant. Despite some limitations for Brandon’s options, we both agreed that we would go back to this restaurant without hesitation and would recommend it to others. We were glad to see the refreshed decor too which feels so much more bright, inviting, and modern. We’re looking forward to going back to Narcoossee’s in the future.

Have you been to Narcoossee’s? What was your experience dining there?

Space 220 Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in May 2022. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Space 220

Space 220, located in Epcot near Mission: Space, is a table service restaurant themed to…you guessed it, space! Opening in September 2021, it quickly become one of the hardest to get reservations for dining in Epcot. So, you can imagine how excited I was when I finally got a reservation for Space 220 for dinner. Brandon loves all things space, so we was beyond excited for this meal.

Atmosphere

The space theme of the restaurant fits right in with its location in Epcot. Situated right next to Mission: Space, you’d swear this restaurant has been here right alongside the attraction since day one.

Space 220 Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When you arrive at Space 220, you currently show your restaurant reservation to a cast member outside of a main walkway. Once they’ve confirmed your reservation time, you will be asked to proceed down a long and winding exterior hallway to the restaurant’s main entrance.

Space 220 - Space Elevator Boarding Pass / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When you arrive to the restaurant’s main entrance, you’ll officially check in with a cast member who will give you a boarding pass for the space elevator to get to the restaurant. This gives you a bit of time to explore the waiting area and get excited for your upcoming space elevator ride.

I won’t give anything away to spoilery in this review, but if you are curious about what the space elevator experience is like, check out our YouTube channel for the video review we did.

Space 220 - Vegetables Being Grown in Space / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One you’ve made it to the “top” of the spaceport and the restaurant, you’ll be taken down a long hallway where you’ll see some space grown lettuce and other fun details.

Space 220 - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, we were seated in the main dining room area — though it’s important to note that we originally had reservations for the lounge seating (shown below). The lounge is located in the main restaurant, and you can order from the main menu, as well as the lounge menu. The cast member who seated us told us the restaurant wasn’t that busy, so we were moved over to the main dining side.

Space 220 - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Photos definitely do not do the restaurant or the experience justice. We really enjoyed seeing all the cool things from the viewports. Though our seat was located in the far back of the main dining area, we still had a good view, and you can always walk around the restaurant too — which we did after our meal.

Space 220 - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Here is the photo of the lounge area of the restaurant. As you can see, it still has a good amount of seating, and you can also still view a lot from the viewports.

Space 220 - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Here’s a photo that shows just how close the lounge is to the main dining room area. Whether dining in the lounge or the main dining room, you’ll get plenty of good views, food, and space vibes!

The Food

Space 220 is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, so it does not have an allergy-friendly menu. The Patina Group, which operates the restaurant, also operates several other Epcot dining locations and is very familiar with special dietary needs. That being said, expect that the protocols may be slightly different, and you may discuss option with a manager versus a chef. On our visit, the manager assisted us with questions, but we know many guests who have also talked to a chef. So, your mileage may vary. If any time you would prefer to speak with a chef, we recommend letting your server or manager know.

Space 220 - Atmospritz / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In between ordering, we did order drinks. For my first drink, I ordered the Atmospritz which comes with New Amsterdam vodka (I recommend swapping out Tito’s Vodka because it’s a great GF brand), Aperol, Blood Orange, Orange Juice, Prosecco, and Cotton Candy.

Overall, I thought the presentation of this drink was fun (who doesn’t want a drink with a bit of a show?). They added the cotton candy to my glass and then poured the liquid on top of it. Flavor wise? It was good but not one I’d get regularly. I am not a big fan of sweet drinks, and this was definitely a bit on the sweeter side. Still, it’s a fun option if you like mixed drinks.

Space 220 - Orion Old Fashioned / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the classic old fashioned — one of his favorite drinks. He really enjoyed this a lot. If you’re an old fashioned fan, this is the one to get at Space 220.

Space 220 - Big Bang Burrata / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Space 220’s main dining area is a fixed price meal which includes the following: Lift-Offs (Appetizer) + Star Course (Entrée) + Supernova Sweets (Dessert). The cost is currently $79 per adult, so it’s on the pricey side. Because we had made reservations for the lounge originally, our server said we could order either the fixed price meal or the lounge items, which was nice. We decided to do the fixed price menu, because we were sure when we’d be back at the restaurant again.

For Brandon’s appetizer, he chose the Big Bang Burrata with Burrata di Mozzarella, Grilled Artichoke Hearts, Arugula, and Sunflower Seed Romesco. The manager told us that this was also gluten free, and they confirmed that it was safe for Brandon’s fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, and chicken/turkey allergies. As an aside, Brandon has learned that because he is allergic to cabbage, he is sensitive to vegetables in the cabbage family, so on a future visit, we’d skip the arugula and ask for a different lettuce option, like romaine instead.

Brandon raved about this dish — most specifically, the burrata! The photo here doesn’t do it justice, but Brandon was served a huge portion of burrata in this appetizer. He said he would definitely get this again.

Space 220 - Neptune Tartare / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my appetizer, I ordered the Tuna Tartare, which is no longer listed on the current Space 220 menu. This was modified to be gluten free and was naturally dairy free. While the tuna itself was fresh, I felt it lacked a lot of seasoning — probably because most of the sauces typically served with it were not GF. I was also missing some different textures because of the modification too.

I wouldn’t have ordered this again if it were still on the menu, so I’m glad to see some different potential options now listed for future visits.

Space 220 - Paper Straw / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because I know that paper or biodegradable straws can be a concern for those who are gluten free, here is a photo of the straws that were used when we visited Space 220. Phade indicates on their website that their products are gluten free.

Space 220 - Galactic Salmon / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I ordered the Galactic Salmon, which was gluten free. It does appear that this menu item may have been slightly changed/updated since we visited, but I would definitely recommend this dish. The presentation alone was super cool. It came out with a cloche (cover) that was filled with smoke. The aromas coming from the fish were incredible, and everything definitely had a smoky taste. I would definitely order this or a different version of it again.

Space 220 - Filet Mignon / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the filet mignon which came with mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, and a red wine reduction. The manager confirmed that there was no chicken stock in the reduction, and everything else was safe for Brandon’s allergies. It was also gluten free, which is great. If you’re gluten free and dairy free, this could be an option that could be easily modified too.

Space 220 - Fried Potato Wedges / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because Brandon is a connoisseur of potatoes, we had to order a side of Roasted Potatoes, which we confirmed were gluten free, dairy free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and chicken/turkey free. They were fried in a dedicated fryer.

These potatoes were…well, out of this world. We both absolutely loved them and would not hesitate to order them again. As Brandon would say, these were a “hashtag #thereitis.”

Space 220 - Celestial Cosmpolitan / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We were living it up that night in space, because we ended up getting a second set of drinks. I ordered the Celestial Cosmopolitan, which is no longer listed on the Space 220 menu. It was your standard cosmo, so I can see why it may have been replaced.

Space 220 - The Nebula / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon’s second drink was the Nebula with Maker’s Mark, Pineapple, Honey, Passion Fruit, and Angostura Bitters. Both drinks were a hit with Brandon, so if you’re a whiskey fan, you can’t go wrong with either of his drink choices.

Space 220 - Chocolate Gelato / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, Brandon opted for a simple bowl of chocolate gelato. To his surprise, he absolutely loved this and said it was the perfect way to end a meal. The gelato is gluten free and peanut/tree nut free but does contain dairy. The restaurant does typically have sorbet on hand for dairy free guests.

Space 220 - Chocolate Cheesecake / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my dessert, I got the modified gluten free chocolate cheesecake. This does contain dairy. If you’re a chocolate lover or like cheesecake, you will enjoy this dessert. It was quite rich and decadent. I would recommend it to any GF guests, and given there’s fairly limited dessert options for those who are gluten free, this would probably be my top pick of the ones available.

If you want to hear more about our experience at Space 220, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.

Overall

We really enjoyed our meal at Space 220. The food quality exceeded our expectations, and I was pleased to see more gluten free options than I anticipated. We also felt like the restaurant did work to ensure our safety throughout our meal. And, of course, if you’re like Brandon and you love space, this is a great themed restaurant for you. In fact, Brandon is still talking about wanting to go back again. We had such a fun night there, and we definitely want to check out the updated menu too. If you are on the fence about this restaurant or aren’t into the theme, there are plenty of other great options at Epcot. But, we’re definitely glad we went and look forward to going back again.

Have you been to Space 220? What was your experience dining there?