1/18/21 1/18/21

Topolino's Terrace Character Breakfast Review

Topolino's Terrace, located at Disney's Riviera Resort, has quickly risen to be one of our top restaurants at Walt Disney World. With outstanding food, beautiful atmosphere and theming, and excellent special dietary needs accommodations, there's a lot to love about Topolino's Terrace. We first dined at the restaurant in August 2020, and after such a great meal we knew that we had to dine here for their character breakfast. During a mini-staycation at Disney's Polynesian Resort, we decided to enjoy a last minute brunch at Topolino's Terrace when we saw a late morning reservation open up.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in September 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Breakfast at Topolino's Terrace

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a late breakfast seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closes for breakfast at 11:15 a.m. currently). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We also utilized online restaurant check-in when we arrived at Topolino's Terrace. Online check-in includes using your My Disney Experience app to check-in yourself. It’s super easy, and I hope Disney keeps this going forward too.

Disney's Riviera Resort itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. In addition, there were many portable hand sanitizer stations for guests to use. We also saw cast members regularly cleaning surfaces and restrooms throughout our visit.

In terms of the crowds, we found that the resort itself was moderately busy compared to our visit the month before. The restaurant was also a bit busier in the waiting area, as the character meal is quite popular. However, there were very few tables with diners at them by the time we ended our meal, and we both felt the social distancing was excellent in the restaurant.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Resort, Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian, and Riviera Resort. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

Topolino's Terrace is inspired by the French and Italian Rivieras. Beautifully decorated, bright, and refined, both Brandon and I fell in love with the decor of this restaurant the first time we dined there. Located on the top floor of the resort, the restaurant has outstanding views of the Walt Disney World Resort, and it has a lovely outside observation deck that's perfect for fireworks displays too.

Topolino's Terrace - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In the evening time, it has a slightly different feel as the lights dim and the Florida sunsets brighten the dining room. In the daytime, the restaurant is bright and chipper -- perfect for a character breakfast.

The restaurant includes standard seating and spacious booths. During our character meal, we were seated in one of these booths, and we absolutely loved the seating and social distancing it provided.

Topolino's Terrace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Speaking of social distancing, at the time we dined there, Topolino's Terrace was offering a character meal experienced that was slightly modified due to COVID-19. This meant that characters did not come to your table to take photos or sign autographs. But, that didn't mean the interactions weren't just as good.

In fact, as an adult couple, both Brandon and I actually preferred the social distancing experience because we could still interact with the characters but could still enjoy our meal during the experience. Topolino's Terrace also offers an adorable show/presentation throughout your meal and that was really fun for all ages too.

The characters at the time of this review included Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck. Each one of the characters is dressed in outfits related to an artist outlet, such as poetry, painting, and dance. Currently, you can only see the characters in these outfits at Topolino's Terrace.

Our favorite by far had to be Donald Duck. Daisy Duck was a close second, as both the ducks were super sassy and personable. If you want to see more of the show, character interaction, and restaurant interior, be sure to check out our YouTube vlog for videos from the visit.

The Food

Like most restaurants at Disney World, Topolino's Terrace does offer an allergy-friendly menu. We also spoke directly to a chef to ask questions, including ordering dishes that could be modified to be gluten free -- but weren't listed on the allergy-friendly menu. We always recommend speaking directly to a chef for this reason.

One word about coffee if you need a bit of caffeine to start your breakfast. If you're gluten free or dairy free, most of the specialty beverages won't be an option here, as we were told they use a shared coffee maker and cannot guarantee allergy safety or cross-contamination. They do offer dairy free milk options, but I was told that plain coffee was my best choice for a safe option. Brandon was able to get a mocha on our visit, but I stuck to iced tea rather than order a plain coffee.

After speaking with a chef, Brandon and I were brought a basket of breakfast pastries to share. This visit we were served Udi's Gluten Free brand muffins, including a double-chocolate chip and blueberry muffin. We were also served Kinnikinnik brand allergy-friendly donuts with a vanilla glaze on them.

We get the donuts a lot on the Disney Cruise and are big fans of them, so those were a definite hit. The muffins we could take or leave as they're just OK in our opinion. As an aside, guests are often served butter and spreads, including a hazelnut spread. Because Brandon is allergic to hazelnut, we were not served any side accompaniments.

Topolino's Terrace - Gluten Free Crustless Quiche — Topolino's Terrace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I had heard from Paleo Disney that you could order the Quiche Gruyère gluten free upon request. When I spoke to the chef, he said that it was an option but that it would take a bit of extra time to prepare. The gluten free version of the quiche is crustless, so it is more like a frittata, and it does contain dairy.

I have to say that this was definitely worth the wait. The frittata included a house-made pancetta and gruyere cheese and was really flavorful. The textures were also great. The roasted potatoes were outstanding, and my surprise favorite side was the salad. Light and refreshing, it went perfectly with the rich flavors of the GF quiche. I would absolutely request this dish again, and it might be one of the best breakfast entrees I've ever had at Disney World.

At Topolino's Terrace, you typically order one single entree. However, I did ask if I could pay an upcharge to try the large allergy-friendly Mickey Waffle. On this visit, the chef said it was no problem to order it as a second dish and that there would be no extra charge, but your mileage may vary when you visit.

The allergy-friendly Mickey waffle at Topolino's Terrace is unique in that it's a large waffle versus the smaller individual waffles you get throughout Walt Disney World. The only other location I've ever seen a large allergy-friendly waffle at was at Disneyland at Steakhouse 55.

This version came with Roasted Apple, Chantilly, and Orange-Maple Syrup. It can be made dairy free by omitting the Chantilly whipped cream. I was absolutely blown away by this waffle. The accompaniments were really flavorful and added a lot of flavor. I especially loved the orange-maple syrup. The roasted apples were a nice touch too. The waffle itself was really good -- a little dry -- but the flavors were great (and the accompaniments helped with the dryness).

When I asked about the mix, I was told that Topolino's Terrace is currently using Bloomfield Farms gluten free pancake and waffle mix. One of my biggest tips is to ask before you order about allergy-friendly waffle mixes as some on property are better than others. Overall, I would not hesitate to order this again because the flavors were all excellent.

Brandon opted for the classic Two Eggs-Any Style served with roasted potatoes and bacon. This was safe for peanut/tree nut, fish/shellfish, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies. It can also be made gluten free and dairy free too. While nothing special, Brandon said the entree was great. He really liked the potatoes and bacon and said he'd definitely get this again.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Topolino's Terrace for their character breakfast, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

Topolino's Terrace offers wonderful meal options for dinner and breakfast. If a character breakfast experience is something that you're interested in, we can't recommend Topolino's Terrace enough. We found the character experience to be great, the food and special dietary needs accommodations outstanding, and the theming to be excellent. We especially loved the unique characters and the upscale breakfast offerings. It was a great experience, and we're looking forward to going back to the restaurant for another fun character breakfast again soon!

Have you been to Topolino's Terrace for their character breakfast? What was your experience dining there?

9/6/20 9/6/20

Topolino's Terrace Dinner Review

Topolino's Terrace, located at Disney's Riviera Resort, reopened in July 2020 after the Disney Parks & Resorts closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the parks & resorts closing, we hadn't had a chance to have dinner or breakfast yet at Topolino's Terrace since the resort itself has only been open since December 2019. So, when we were able to find a reservation for the restaurant recently, we decided it might be a good time to finally dine there.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in August 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Topolino's Terrace

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made our reservation a few days before we dined at Topolino's Terrace. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a 5:05 p.m. seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant opens at 5 p.m. nightly). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We also utilized online restaurant check-in when we arrived at Topolino's Terrace. Online check-in includes using your My Disney Experience app to check-in yourself. It’s super easy, and I hope Disney keeps this going forward too.

The Riviera Resort itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. In addition, there were many portable hand sanitizer stations for guests to use. We also saw cast members regularly cleaning surfaces and restrooms throughout our visit. The resort itself was moderately busy but social distancing was fairly easy in most places (except the lobby, which is a bit on the smaller side). The restaurant was extremely quiet during our visit and the social distancing for diners made it feel even less crowded, which was great.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Contemporary Resort, Old Key West Resort, and Riviera Resort. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

The Riviera Resort and Topolino's Terrace are inspired by the European Riviera. The restaurant is specifically inspired by both the French and Italian Riviera. The most notable aspect of this inspiration is the different food options.

Topolino's Terrace - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant is located on the 10th floor of the Riviera Resort. Upon exiting the elevator, you'll find yourself in front of the restaurant's entrance. This is currently where cast members will take your temperature prior to you dining in the restaurant. There were also several hand sanitizing stations, as well (and the restrooms are nearby too).

Topolino's Terrace - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Both Brandon and I were absolutely wowed by the decor in Topolino's Terrace. We both loved how modern, clean, and bright the restaurant was. Both of us loved the color palette of the chairs, carpet, and lighting.

In addition to plentiful traditional table seating, there were also several cozy booths and ample bar/lounge seating.

We both felt the restaurant was elegant and chic. And, we both felt the ambiance reminded us of the Disney Cruise Line with the music and decor. In short, we both really loved the restaurant's decor.

Topolino's Terrace also has a moderately sized terrace with outstanding views of Walt Disney World. This would be the perfect location to watch fireworks when they are restarted again, while enjoying a delicious cocktail.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Topolino's Terrace currently offers an allergy-friendly dinner menu. We were also told by our server, Christopher, that we could speak with a chef at any time. As far as protocols and offerings, we found the restaurant to be just as accommodating as they are during normal times.

The menu itself is a bit limited right now. So, it's a good idea to look at both the allergy-friendly menu and the regular menu too. There are often dishes not listed on the allergy-friendly menu that can be adjusted to fit a special dietary need, if you ask.

As someone who is an unsweetened iced tea fan, I have to do a quick shout-out to Topolino's Terrace for serving decent iced tea -- which is sometimes hard to find on Disney property. If they had used iced tea ice cubes like they do on the Disney Cruise Line at Palo and Remy, that would have made this iced tea perfect!

Their cocktail menu is also not to be missed if you enjoy a cocktail with your meal. Brandon loved the Riviera Resort branded ice cube in his drink, the Modern Fashioned -- a take on an Old Fashioned.

For those with special dietary needs, there are a variety of cocktails that can work with your specific needs -- whether you're gluten free, vegan, or have food allergies. We both especially loved that the cocktails available at Topolino's Terrace were a bit more unique than we've seen at some other Disney restaurants that serve standard cocktails.

Prior to our meal, we were served an Amuse Bouche that was safe for both of us to eat. I described it as a fancy loaded baked potato -- which is exactly what it looked like. The amuse bouche included a tiny new potato, pickled red onions, cheese, parsley, and creme fraiche. It was made safe for gluten/wheat, fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

We both really loved this little tasting that was brought to our table. And, it definitely got us both really excited for the rest of the meal that we were about to enjoy.

Next up was the complimentary bread service. Because of our special dietary needs, we were each brought our own bread service and bowls of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. For my bread service, I was given Bloomfield Farms Allergy-Friendly Bread which is free of the top 8 common allergens (including gluten and dairy).

While the bread itself was good, it was the extra virgin olive oil that really blew me away. The quality and taste of the olive oil was outstanding. I was so impressed by the flavors. In fact when our server Christopher told us that the Reserve Jean Reno olive oil that they use is also available for purchase for $35 a bottle (you can also get an additional 10% off if you're an Annual Passholder), I decided to actually buy it. It's not something that I would normally do, but I was so excited to have this olive oil at home -- as it's perfect for homemade gluten free bread service!

Topolino's Terrace - Bread in Photo is NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW — Topolino's Terrace - Bread in Photo is **NOT** Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon was served the French Style bread called Epi as his bread service. He was told this was a safe option for his nut allergies. Brandon really enjoyed this bread and said it was an excellent bread option.

As a starter, Brandon and I decided to share the House-Made Ricotta served with Tomato, Aged Balsamic, Cracked Pepper, and Basil. It is marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu and can be made gluten free by swapping out the bread accompaniment for a GF alternative (in this case, the Bloomfield Farms bread that I had).

Both of us had minimal expectations for this appetizer, and we were blown really blown away by the flavors. The house-made ricotta itself was super mild in flavor but rich and creamy. The tomato jam, balsamic, and olive oil really brought added depth to the dish and shouldn't be skipped over.

Both of us said we wouldn't hesitate to get this again -- although I am looking forward to trying some of their other appetizers as their menu re-expands after reopening.

For our entrees, both Brandon and I ordered the exact same dish -- the Filet Mignon with Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Charred Torpedo Onion, Forest Mushroom Puree, and Vinaigrette. This dish is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut, and Soy Allergies. It was also made safe for cabbage, hazelnut, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Both Brandon and I were blown away by this entree. And, without exaggeration, both of us said this might be one of the best steaks that we've ever had on Disney property. The steak is grilled on an oak fire, and you can definitely taste this flavor throughout the steak. Cooked perfectly and seasoned perfectly -- it was exactly the kind of steak you want and expect from a signature dining experience.

The accompaniments -- especially the truffle mashed potatoes -- were all fantastic too. Both of us agreed that it would be hard not to get this every time we have dinner at Topolino's Terrace. It was that good.

While we don't normally get desserts at restaurants, we both couldn't resist the ones served at Topolino's Terrace. I had heard such great things about the Gluten Free Pistachio Mousse from my friend Alexis at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures, that I had to try it. If you're gluten free & dairy free, the Fruits of the Forest dessert modified is an option too (and it's one that I want to try the next time we visit).

I was particularly wowed by this gluten free dessert. The presentation and flavors were just outstanding. The mousse itself was light and creamy with a pleasant taste of pistachio (which I love). I also loved the Morello Cherries on the side which added a bit of sweet & sour punch to the dish. If you're gluten free, this is a fantastic dessert option.

Topolino's Terrace - Dessert in this Photo is NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW — Topolino's Terrace - Dessert in this Photo is **NOT** Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon's dessert, he opted for the Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake which was recommended by our server Christopher. It was made safe for Brandon's nut allergies. As far as flourless chocolate cakes go, Brandon said this was an excellent one. If you are a chocolate fan and can eat gluten, this is going to be a great option for dessert.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Topolino's Terrace and the Riviera Resort, check out our vlog that we recorded on our YouTube channel.

Overall

We were absolutely blown away by our experience at Topolino's Terrace at Disney's Riviera Resort. Both Brandon and I agreed that the restaurant might just be our favorite signature restaurant on Disney property right now. From the incredible theming to the outstanding food (and variety of special diets options) -- everything about Topolino's Terrace was excellent. We also would be remiss if we didn't mention our server Christopher, who was one of the best servers that we've ever had at Disney World. He made our meal a really wonderful experience. Both of us can't wait to go back to Topolino's Terrace for dinner again -- and the character breakfast too!

Have you been to Topolino's Terrace? What was your experience dining there?

1/2/20 1/2/20

Primo Piatto Dinner Review

Primo Piatto is a quick service restaurant located in the newly opened Riviera Resort at Disney World. Like the resort, the restaurant is inspired by the European Riviera. Recently, Brandon and I stopped by the resort to have a bite to eat at this new restaurant and check out the special dietary needs options.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in January 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as a review of fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Primo Piatto

Atmosphere

This was our first time at the resort, and not only did we really love the resort's decor, but we really liked the charm of Primo Piatto.

Primo Piatto Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You can enter the restaurant from both outside and inside. I loved the exterior entrance sign at night.

Primo Piatto Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of the things we learned quickly during our first visit was that the restaurant is quite small. The seating area is comfortable but with the holiday crowds, it felt very crowded. This photo was taken later in the evening after the crowds dwindled a little and the restaurant was nearing closing time.

Speaking of small, the restaurant only has two cash registers to order from. Not once in the entire hour we were there did the line ever not back up and go out the door. This definitely seemed to present a major challenge in the flow of ordering at the restaurant, and I hope they'll be able to adjust it a bit as the restaurant continues to get its footing.

Primo Piatto contains lots of bright open space that makes it very feel airy and light. It definitely has a European cafe feel to it. I did also really like that they had a variety of seating options including booths and high-top tables.

Primo Piatto - Sarah at Booth — Primo Piatto / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I absolutely loved the art, photographs, and pops of color & design in the restaurant. My favorite had to be the colorful fabric on the benches in the seating area. You can see how vibrant and rich the designs were in this photo of me that Brandon took.

*Unrelated to the theme or food, I should mention that if you're going to visit Disney's Riviera Resort and are driving or renting a vehicle, parking can be a challenge. Currently, the resort is quite strict about guests visiting who do not either have a dining reservation or are not staying at the resort. In fact, we were advised we could not park at the resort because of this. We were able to visit by entering through Caribbean Beach Resort, but it's worth mentioning, particularly if you're interested in dining at Primo Piatto which is a quick service and does not offer reservations. This is a fairly common practice at Disney resorts during peak times and is alway good to remember.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Primo Piatto does carry an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. Guests can also, at any time, speak with a manager at this location about options. We spoke with cast member Taylor who was just a delight. She also has food allergies and really went above and beyond to assist us with options.

The only bummer of this visit was that the restaurant isn't currently offering their after 4 p.m. dinner options. We were told by several cast members that Primo Piatto hopes to bring these back after the holiday season. I hope that is true because some of the dishes sounded really good.

Primo Piatto / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Once we placed our order with Taylor, we were given a place tracker to take with us to a table. All orders at Primo Piatto are made to order, and we were told they would bring the meals to our table. Taylor did advise us that we might have a slight wait time as the restaurant was both very busy and because we were getting baked allergy-friendly fries. While it was a slight wait, I wouldn't say it was excessive by any means.

Because the after 4 p.m. entrees weren't available, Brandon and I decided to get burgers on our first visit. I ordered the Riviera Burger which normally comes with Grilled Portobello Mushroom, Swiss Cheese (lactose free), Caramelized Onions, and served on an Allergy-Friendly Bun. I did ask for my burger to have the mushroom removed, as I'm not a huge fan.

This burger was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies. If you're dairy free, you can omit the cheese to make this dairy free or order with vegan cheese (I believe they carry Daiya brand currently).

Overall, I was very impressed with the burger. The flavors were really good, and the quality of the actual burger was excellent. My favorite part was by far the Swiss cheese & Caramelized Onions. I would have liked to have had some type of sauce on the burger or some type of lettuce to bring it all together as it felt like there was one slight thing missing. This might have been because I omitted the portobello mushroom, but I would have liked just another texture or taste profile to add to the burger. But, I would definitely get it again.

The baked fries were just OK, in my opinion. Brandon really loved them, but I wasn't overly impressed. Next time we go, we'll be sure to ask about the Romano Parsley which we were told was safe but was missing from all of our fries.

Brandon ended up ordering the Bacon Cheddar Burger which came with Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Aged Cheddar, and served on a regular gluten-filled bun. Like me, Brandon really enjoyed his burger and thought the actual burger patty itself was excellent. I think he was a little jealous of my cheese, as he said he thought mine looked tastier. But, he did say the bacon was really good. He also loved the baked fries.

His sandwich was safe for fish/shellfish, cabbage, peanut, hazelnut, and chicken & turkey allergies. I could have also ordered this gluten free, and dairy free guests could get this dairy free by omitting the cheese.

Overall

Both Brandon and I were highly impressed by our first visit to Primo Piatto. We really enjoyed the quality of the food, felt the prices were fair for what we received, and appreciated how helpful the cast members at this quick service restaurant were. Despite a few hiccups trying to park at the resort, we would definitely go back to Primo Piatto. We both want to try to go back soon, especially once they relaunch the after 4 p.m. dinner options, which sound great! I look forward to future visits to this great new quick service addition to Disney World.

Have you been to Primo Piatto? What was your experience dining there?

Topolino's Terrace Character Breakfast Review

Breakfast at Topolino's Terrace

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Topolino's Terrace Dinner Review

Dinner at Topolino's Terrace

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Primo Piatto Dinner Review

Dinner at Primo Piatto

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW