Sanaa -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Kidani Village -- AKL
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| Entrance and menus |
Sanaa has become one of my most favorite restaurants on WDW property. I love the variety of food, the ability eat flavorful, exotic dishes, and that it is extremely affordable. To me, it's a hidden gem at WDW. Located at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, Sanaa is a blend of Indian & African inspired flavors.In my most recent visits (May 2012), I noticed several new changes that have occurred on the menu and at the restaurant itself. To begin with, they now have special diets menus for gluten and dairy allergies/intolerances. In both instances that I went, I received a gluten free menu, and then the chef either went over the dairy free variations or the server brought me the dairy free menu, and we mixed and matched the options.
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| New Gluten Free Menu at Sanaa |
I like that they are now adding special menus to the restaurant. Restaurants like Jiko already do this, and it's nice to have a menu already mostly catered to your needs.There are also some menu changes--Butter chicken (a no no for dairy) is now on the menu and the chicken with cherries/fruit that my friend ordered once does not appear to be on the menu any longer either. Overall, the menu remains mostly the same (slight price increases also were noted).For both of my visits in May, I split the bread service/dip sampler with my non-GF dinner guests. They bring poppadoms for me (on a separate plate) and the remainder of the bread service to the other guest. On our first visit, Chef Trish really was amazing. The bread service typically comes with three sauces. She was kind enough to allow us to try most of the dips available. A few (like cucumber raita and tamarind) were off limits for me, but they were brought out for the other guest. That was ok by me because I still had most of the other dips to try. My favorite still by far is the roasted red bell pepper hummus. It's spicy and addicting! Both visits, I devoured that dip. I also like the coriander chutney. Yum! The mango chutney is also very nice--fruity and spicy at the same time. I didn't try the garlic chutney but my brother raved about it.
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| Dip sampler--two of the six were not dairy free/gluten free |
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| Dip sampler on another visit, this is the amount you typically get. Notice there are 2 of the red pepper hummus! |
On both visits, I also got the sustainable fish. It's one of my favorites; however, they have been tweaking the recipe. The changes to me, are not as favorable, but that's a personal preference. I personally loved the curry broth with the onions, zucchini, and squash. Now, the sauce is composed of fennel, tomatoes, mushrooms, asparagus, and onions (among others). I find the broth to still be lovely, but the curry flavor seems slightly more subdued likely due to the strong flavor of the fennel (which I don't really like). I love the asparagus addition though. Yum! The first time, I believe the fish was tile-fish and the second time, I believe, it was flounder. Both were very nice pieces of fish. I also asked for the dinner portion, which was the addition of shrimp and scallops. I love that version. So good. The only slight issue I had is that it seemed that they weren't as generous with the shrimp and scallops as they used to be. Still, it's a great deal for the price and very fresh.
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| Version #1 |
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| Version #2 |
On one occasion, I did get dessert (boy was I stuffed by the end). The same as in the past, the trio of sorbets. This included a coconut sorbet, mango sorbet, and my ultimate favorite raspberry mint sorbet. OMG so amazing. Note that the picture has chocolate sauce on the raspberry mint sorbet. Unfortunately, they had to bring me a second one, as this one had dairy filled chocolate sauce on it.
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| Sorbet sampler |
Overall, I always have high praise for Sanaa. It's a shame that it's not as well-known, especially considering how amazing the food is. The ambiance (animals right outside the window! Giraffes, zebras! Oh my!), the coziness, and the overall experience is top notch. I always give this a solid 9 out of 10, although it nearly edges into a 10 for me at the end of the day.Make this a stop on your next visit!
Babycakes -- Quick Service -- Snacks -- Downtown Disney
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| Gingerbread People... |
Holidays can be tough when you have food allergies. Parties abound and that usually means a lot of food, like cookies and snacks, that aren't special diets friendly. Even at WDW, it can be a little challenging when it comes to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and finding decadent holiday treats. Of course, WDW always provides options, like fruit (grapes and apple slices), but let's face it. If you're like me...you want some junk food! Never fear, that's where Babycakes Bakery comes in.I was so curious to see what kinds of allergy friendly items that Babycakes would have this year. I was there at Halloween and had the pumpkin spice cupcake (see the review here), so I was excited that they would have some holiday themed goodies. And they didn't disappoint. First up, the gingerbread people. They were rather crispy, and actually sort of tasted like a graham cracker to me. But they weren't bad at all. Just not quite what I imagined when I thought of gingerbread.
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| Sugar cookie...yum! |
The next seasonal item was a sugar cookie. This one I liked a lot. If you like crispy crunchy sugar cookies, this one is for you. The colored sugar was a nice touch. Yep, I could have eaten 2 or 20 of these things. They were good!!!Of course, Babycakes always carries cupcakes and various other goodies like their version of mounds. My favorite cupcake is the chocolate chip cupcake with mint frosting. Oh yeah...they are bliss!
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| Cupcakes and Mounds bars (cupcakes are Mocha and chocolate chip mint) |
One thing I'd love to see Babycakes do this coming holiday season are some really fun cupcakes like peppermint ones. I'm thinking chocolate cupcakes with peppermint frosting (and candies--safe ones of course--in the frosting). Yum!Looking forward to seeing the new offerings this year, especially as they are branching out into the WDW quick service and table service restaurants!
Liberty Tree Tavern -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom
This report is a mash-up--one of what I received at Liberty Tree Tavern in October 2011 just before the vendor changes and one in December 2011 just after the changes. I suspect when I go back again for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (yes, it's my tradition to go there for the parties), it might be different again. The only difference was the rolls. Essentially, they said they were changing and the rolls they were changing to were not dairy free (they were gluten free), but they said they had a few Ener-G rolls left, so they gave me some in December before they ran out. Other than the note about the rolls by the chef, everything else was the same.I like Liberty Tree Tavern a lot. I actually kind of miss the character meal days when the characters got into the theme of things (especially at the Halloween party!) and when the CMs called your party by your name and location, "Here ye, Here ye...now seating the Smith party from the great state of Michigan!" But I digress. I still like it for it's hominess and the fact that they actually have mashed potatoes and gravy. I love gravy!
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| Salad with strawberry vinaigrette |
I also love their salad dressing. There salad is probably one of my top favorite salads on property (Ohana's honey lime dressing and Cape May's salad with citrus vinaigrette, cranberries, and candied walnuts are my other top favs). I just love the strawberry vinaigrette! Of course, I always have to watch out as far as portions on fresh salad (because of my Crohn's) but I always sample some. Yum!
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| Ener-G Rolls with Earth Balance (not Soy Free version) prior to vendor change |
I admit, now that I'm used to the Udi's rolls, I'm spoiled. I don't ever want to go back to the Ener-G rolls days. I feel bad because I know that Udi's rolls have eggs in them and can't accommodate to everyone. But they taste so darn good. I love them (and buy them at home now). The problem that I've had with Ener-G rolls is that they kind of turn into hockey pucks after they cool down. You really have to eat them warm or they are kinda yucky.
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| Turkey, pork tenderloin with a cranberry compote, green beans and cauliflower (mashed potatoes are somewhere under there) |
The thing I like about Liberty Tree is that the meal is always comforting, homey food. I like the mashed potatoes here (and the gravy!) and the roast turkey. They used to have ham, but now that has been replaced with pork tenderloin. I actually preferred the ham, but that's just me. I really didn't like the cranberry compote. Yuck. Sorry, just not my thing.
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| Raspberry sorbet with fruit |
Dessert at Liberty Tree consists of raspberry sorbet with fruit. This has been the same for the past three years. I actually like it a lot. It's refreshing. And I usually eat too much turkey, so I can go for the sorbet by the end.Liberty Tree Tavern is a really consistent restaurant. I will be curious to see if they offer Udi's rolls there when I go in September for the Halloween party. Stay tuned....A solid 8 out of 10 for this one for consistency and accommodation of food allergies (but bring back the ham guys!!!)
50's Prime Time -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Hollywood Studios
I love 50's Prime Time. I love gluten free/dairy free fried chicken. I dream about it!!! So good. 50's Prime Time has been one of those places that I have become very spoiled with such a wonderful meal. I always contact them ahead of time, so that they can make sure to make the gluten free/dairy free fried chicken and dairy free mashed potatoes (my favorite on property by the way!). Yum!Sometimes, I get green beans and carrots and other times the collard greens with bacon (depends on my mood). I've only received gluten free gravy once...but I wish I could get it more often. That gravy was divine. Here's an example of the standard allergy friendly fried chicken:
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| Gluten free/dairy free fried chicken with olive oil mashed potatoes and veggies |
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| House made brownie with rice dream |
It's a lot of food! I usually have to give myself time for dessert, but I usually manage :) They have a house made brownie (thank goodness, there is still a brownie that I can eat on property) with rice dream and sometimes syrup. Just depends on the chef and day (and how full I am).I recently went (May 2012) with an ADR but no contact ahead of time regarding the allergies. I was just curious how they would handle things, especially since I was not really wanting fried chicken at the time. When the chef came out, he said that he could do several of the options including the blue plate special (which was some type of pork chops with an apple chutney of some type). I opted for the Boneless Pork Tenderloin. It normally comes with mashed potatoes (which I really really wanted), but they said they could do a brown rice. Boring, but I decided to try it. I also got green beans and carrots.
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| Boneless Pork Tenderloin with rice and veggies |
When the entree arrived, it had a nice marker in it that noted allergy. That was the first time I'd seen that, and I appreciated that. That made it fairly clear that it was for me. I hadn't asked for mushrooms, but they arrived on my plate (I think some variation of mushrooms were on the regular dish). I am not a big mushroom fan, so I gave these to my mom, who really liked them. The boneless pork tenderloins were good. Tender, flavorful, nothing fancy though. I like their veggies there. The brown rice had cranberries in it. Not bad, gave it a little bit of a zing. But, I still would have liked to have had the mashed potatoes. Oh well.For dessert, I got the same house made brownie with rice dream and chocolate syrup; however, the server brought it too me with the m&m's on them, which are not safe! eek!!! They were all around the dish, not really on the brownie or the ice cream, so I gambled and had my mom give me a clean spoon and gave her all of the offending areas. I didn't get sick, so that was good. I think it was just a miscommunication and the server seemed a bit new.Overall, I love 50's Prime Time. Even when I didn't give any notice, I still found the food to be pretty good. Next time though, I'm going to plan ahead and make sure to ask for mashed potatoes!Also, don't forget to have a good time while you're there.....I love the 50's PT hijinks. I was once there with a friend who was so full from the meal that he joked he couldn't possibly eat anything for dessert except for water. Well, don't say things too loudly...Our Cousin Tom (one of my favorite servers) brought out a big o'le bowl of water for his dessert. Too funny!
50's PT always gets a solid 9 out of 10 from me. Love, love, love this place. Just make sure you contact them ahead of time (by contacting WDW Special Diets), and they will be able to accommodate you beautifully.
Sunshine Seasons -- Quick Service -- Lunch -- Epcot
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| Oak Grilled Fish with Seasonal Vegetables |
Sunshine Seasons offers a lot of great choices for food allergies. I really enjoy the grill section, where I've had some really great chicken. Sometimes it is a little bit of a miss, depending on the seasonality and choices. I wasn't a huge fan of the previous menu (see the review here), but I'm liking the new one a lot. One of my new favorite options is the Oak Grilled Fish with Seasonal Vegetables. So far, I've had it twice and the veggies include green beans and tomatoes with roasted potatoes. Yum! The fish, I believe was Mahi Mahi the last time I was there. What I like most about this option is that it is very light, yet filling. It offers a tasty alternative to burgers and fries. It typically comes with a black olive tapenade, but they weren't sure if it was safe or not, so I passed on it.The pork and chicken have some new options too, so be on the look-out for more reviews with those!And check out the new Enjoy Life! products that I found in May 2012 at Sunshine Seasons...
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| Enjoy Life! products |
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| More options from Enjoy Life! |
Ohana -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Polynesian
Ohana is one of my hands down favorite restaurants of all time at WDW. It's the best. I loved it before food allergies and I love it with food allergies. It's amazing. The attention to special diets is really great, and the food is so tasty! But, I've always had dinner here, never breakfast. This past July (2011), I decided to give it a whirl and see if it lived up to the dinner's standards.
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| Fruit platter |
Overall, I would say it did! If you like character meals, this is a good one. It's busy, but the kids seem to get a lot of character interaction in. It's also big enough that you don't feel overwhelmed by characters (at some character meals, like 1900 PF, I feel like I'm being constantly inundated with characters). And it's Ohana! I love the vibe there.Essentially, I got very similar food choices to Kona. The exception was a fruit platter, which I really enjoyed. I love grapes and pineapple, so I scarfed those down! My travel companions got a roll and bread platter which they liked.For my main breakfast, I got scrambled eggs, bacon, mickey waffles, and breakfast potatoes. Essentially, they really all tasted the same as Kona (in my opinion). I might have had ham in the platter, but I don't remember. I actually said something to the chef about the Mickey Waffles and he said that Kona got their Mickey waffles from their side of the kitchen. Interesting. Hadn't heard that before. Either way, they are my favorite Mickey waffles on property...to die for!!I would definitely go to breakfast at Ohana again. For me, I prefer Kona Cafe just because I like the calm quiet vibe and the food is the same as Ohana. I would go to Ohana if I wanted to do a character meal or had a special occasion for sure!I'd give it a solid 9 out of 10!
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| Breakfast platter...Mickey Waffles a plenty! |
Kona Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian
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| California Luau Roll from Kona Island Sushi Bar |
Many of you probably already know my obsession with Kona Cafe. I adore the breakfast here, and I really like the lunch too. However, I've never been a huge fan of dinner. Maybe it's the choices of dishes? I went once pre-allergies and was a bit underwhelmed by it. (of course, it has never deterred me from going to breakfast here!) But, it has been several years, and I wanted to give Kona Cafe another shot for dinner.One of my biggest wishes was to get some sushi. I emailed them ahead of time, so I knew that I could get something gluten and dairy free; however, I wasn't sure if they'd let me order it from Kona Cafe (instead of going to the sushi bar). I was very excited that this was indeed ok. I ordered the California Luau Roll which was crab, avocado, pineapple. Yum! I will admit the pineapple was an interesting twist, but overall, it was pretty darn tasty! My favorite sushi on property is still at California Grill, but this was a great option too.For my entree, I ordered the shrimp and scallops. The shrimp were supposed to be panko crusted, but both the proteins were grilled for me. They came with sticky rice and ponzu and spicy guava passion fruit sauce. The wasabi cream was not on the entree. Overall, I found it ok. Shrimp and scallops were great. Loved the rice. I just didn't really like the sauces much. The spicy sauce didn't appeal to me much, and I ended up eating around it. Pretty basic entree, good but nothing spectacular.
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| Shrimp and scallops with sticky rice |
Overall, I'd like to see the menu get changed up a bit here for dinner. The lunch menu was recently changed, and I really enjoy the menu choices for lunch. Breakfast, of course, is spectacular! I would walk not run to this place for dinner, but I give Kona Cafe a 9 out of 10 for their dedication to handling food allergies.
Ohana -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian
*Note: This review is from summer 2011, and the dessert offerings (i.e. gluten free / dairy free brownie) are no longer available.Just thought I'd give you another one of my Ohana reviews. Especially because lately, I've been able to get the shrimp from the BBQ! And they are my favorite...oh are they my favorite. I could eat them for days....but I digress. Onto the rest of the review...
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| Skillet with steamed white rice, broccoli, carrots and snow peas, grilled chicken skewers and cellophane noodles |
Ohana is one of my favorite restaurants. Who doesn't love grilled meats? And the ambiance? Forget about it! It's amazing. I love the family style meal and the overall vibe. Once I had to go gluten and dairy free, I was worried about food offerings. Would I be able to eat anything? But, it's been one of the best for food allergies. Things have changed and evolved over the past few years and so this review is pre-Nov. 2011 vendor changes. The only real change that I noticed after 11/11 was the switch from the above pictured bowl (no more noodles) to a more scaled back version (still it's a lot of food!). The last two times I've had to ask for grilled chicken skewers, because they tell you that the beef and shrimp are the two safe meats from the grill. I don't eat beef, so I always ask for chicken (I didn't once assuming I'd get the same bowl above, but didn't--lesson learned). It's not that they don't want to do it; they have all been very happy to, but I believe more that maybe they are cutting back? Too much waste? Hmm, who knows. In any event, make sure you ask if you want chicken skewers (or any other kind).Of course, the salad with the honey lime dressing is safe as usual. Love this. I can't usually eat too much salad because of the Crohn's disease, but I always have just a little here. That dressing is to die for! The chicken wings are also great. I usually don't eat all of mine, because there is just so much food! Essentially, they are the same wings as the rest of the party except they don't have the sauce (i.e. they only have the dry rub). I do know that both the salad and wings are gluten, dairy, and soy free (have been several times with someone who has a soy allergy).
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| Chicken wings, minus the sticky sauce. They are still quite delicious (and messy)! |
One of my favorites in this meal are the shrimp. See I told you I'd get back to them? They are so delicious. I loved the grilled flavor and the sauce. I can eat a LOT of these (once I only had shrimp to eat and had about 25-30 of them, no joke! And that included the rest of my meal--still not sure where my stomach stored it all that meal). They are just the best!
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| SHRIMP!!! |
It's amazing that after all this food, I somehow have room for dessert, but I seem to...everytime! I was really loving what I was getting for a while, which was the French Meadow gluten free/dairy free brownie, rice dream, nestle syrup, and cherry on top sundae. Yum! That's what I got this trip. But, they no longer serve this brownie since they switched vendors. The OMG I can't believe it's Gluten Free brand has dairy in it and no longer in the options. I've been getting the OMG gf/df chocolate chip cookie with rice dream, etc. Not quite as good, but ok.
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| Brownie sundae...I miss these! |
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| This is a gluten, dairy, and soy free variation. |
On this trip, I was with a friend who's GF/DF and soy free. This is what he got. I can't remember short of the lack of brownie what the other modifications were. The "ice cream" might be different than what I got; I can't recall. The last time I was with him, I know he had sorbet instead of this (that post-vendor change).Overall, I can't say enough great things about Ohana. I always feel like family here! 9 out of 10!
1900 Park Fare -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian
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| Chef brought out a bounty of food--all prepared in the kitchen, not off the buffet |
I admit, while I like character meals, I have to be in the mood for a character breakfast. I get a little cranky before I get food in the morning; sorry Mickey, but it's true. However, I have been wanting to try out 1900 Park Fare for breakfast for a while. (I've eaten dinner here pre-allergies).One of the biggest things that I noticed at this breakfast is that there were not that many items that I could eat straight from the buffet. Meaning it was either filled with gluten or dairy (or both). I could have items from the carving station (like ham, which I love) or fruit. Otherwise, everything else was off limits. The chef said he would make everything in the back for me. I asked for scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon, and of course, Mickey waffles! (yes, you are probably all well aware of my Mickey waffle obsession).Overall, the food was good. Nothing special; just basic breakfast food. Except the bacon. OMG it was rockin'! Kouzzina is the other restaurant that I really like the bacon. It's not that greasy puny type that you often get; this was very meaty delicious bacon. My family even were jealous (yep, they got the other kind of bacon). I wondered why the difference in the bacon, but I didn't argue. It was too good. They were a wee stingy on the Mickey waffles, but no big deal, I did have a lot of food to eat.
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| Ham from the buffet carving station. Very good! |
In general, I would give this restaurant a 8 out of 10. Food was good and plentiful (and safe). If you like character meals or have kids, they'll love this one!
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| Me and Winnie the Pooh--No rumbly tummies here! |
Flame Tree BBQ -- Quick Service -- Lunch -- Animal Kingdom
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| Pork sandwich with coleslaw on a Udi's GF/DF bun...so good! |
I love it when I get recommendations from readers. This recommendation, in particular, is one I wish I would have tried a little sooner. However, I'll note that the Udi's GF buns are what make this sandwich taste so good. It's a big step up from the Ener-G tapioca rolls (sorry, I've never been a huge fan). I will say though that it's a bummer that these don't cover all of the top 8 allergens because they are really really good.So on to the food....As usual, I headed to Flame Tree BBQ and asked the cashier to speak with the manager. The manager was very kind and went over the ingredients with me (I knew that I wanted the sandwich). Having been here before, I also knew that the coleslaw was safe, so no substitutes on this order (a rarity for me). The manager did tell me that none of the sauces at the condiment bar were deemed safe, as they had modified food starch in it, and it couldn't be determined where the starch was derived. I never take chances with that, so no sauce for me. Not that this sandwich needed it. I'm glad they serve it as dry BBQ without the sauce; that way you have the option of adding sauce or not. Thankfully, this was very tasty pork, so it didn't need it in my opinion. That bun, OMG that bun. I feel bad everytime I sing it's praises because I know that many folks can no longer enjoy a bun at WDW because of the vendor change. But, I gotta say, I love these. They actually taste like bread. My mom tried some of the bun, and even she liked it! It's that soft texture and fluffiness. It doesn't become a hard dense hockey puck like the Ener-G rolls. Those things could take out a window or a small child if someone threw one!The coleslaw here is also great. It's got a bit of heat/spice to it, and I enjoy it a lot. The only downside is that I hate coleslaw outside on a really hot day, and now that summer is beginning here in Florida, I wouldn't want to eat it much. Something about heat and mayo turns me off! But in the winter time...delish!Overall, I was so pleased to try this one out. Thank you, GF Girl, for your awesome recommendation! I'm so glad I got the chance to check this out. Now a new favorite on my list!!! Definitely a 9 out of 10!
Cape May Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Beach Club
*New menu changes at Cape May Cafe have taken place recently (since I was there in February).
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| New shrimp salad (was ok), some sadly overcooked clams, and roasted yukon golds (yum) |
As many of you know, I love Cape May Cafe. I love that there are a lot of options for me here. The one problem I've always had is cross contamination at buffets, but the chefs here are always willing to make me something in the back (including very tasty and usually very large portions of fish).My brother came to visit, and he wanted to check out Cape May for the crab legs (they are delicious!). When we arrived, I could tell there were some changes on the buffet. Some of the changes are ok, but most I was a little bummed about.First up, no more peel and eat shrimp. WHAT!? I love peel and eat shrimp, so I was pretty bummed about this one. They had a tropical shrimp salad/ceviche type dish in its place. It was ok. A little heavy on the peppers imo. Next up, no spicy cabbage....WHAT!? One of my favorite dishes--spicy cabbage with bacon. What could be better? But, alas...the cabbage is gone. On to the baked chicken (had some sort of spice rub on it)....gone too...SAY WHAT?! Three of my favorite things--gone. They didn't really have any chicken substitute that I remember, except for the plain drumsticks on the children's buffet side. Yep, I was pretty bummed. They also changed out the potatoes from baby reds to baby yukon golds. Those were good still. I love yukon golds, so this change wasn't so bad. They've changed their mussel sides and now they have a beef stew (which my mom said was ok, but not great). The stew was supposed to be safe, but I don't eat beef, so I didn't try it.
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| Udi's Gluten Free/Dairy Free Rolls with Earth Balance Vegan Margarine |
I will say, that overall, it was still a good dinner, but I found the changes to be disappointing. The chef did make me some fish from the back--it was salmon. The last several times I've gone, I've had sea bass, which I found better than the salmon. The one good change was the addition of the udi's rolls with Earth Balance vegan margarine. This was great. It was disappointing for those who can't have these rolls as there is no substitute, but I was glad to have them.
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| Pan Sauteed Salmon--Pretty Good--And a Large Portion to Boot! |
Dessert was still the OMG...I can't believe it's gluten and dairy free cookie (btw, chefs need to heat these up--they are so much better that way--they're pretty hard to eat when they are rock hard) with rice dream. Nothing specactular.
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| Dessert--GF/DF Cookie (needed to be reheated) and Rice Dream with Fruit |
Overall, I'm demoting Cape May down to a 6 for now. The clams were seriously overcooked (in multiple batches too) and the changes for me, weren't that great. I still like this place a lot, but I think we'll wait for a while before we go again. For now, it's probably off my regular circuit of restaurants. Bummer!
Boma -- Table Service -- Breakfast -- AKL
I hadn't been to Boma since the new special diets changes had been made, and I was curious, especially since they carry a lot of the Kinnikick products there. And I lovveeeee their chocolate chip muffins (it's a bit of an obsession). They also usually have the donuts on hand, which is very nice.
**This dining experience took place in April 2012.
Olivia's -- Table Service -- Lunch -- Old Key West
*Sorry, I was so hungry that I forgot to take pictures!I like eating at places off the beaten path, but have never wanted to venture to Olivia's simply because I thought it would be too remote. During my sister's recent visit, she requested Olivia's because the menu sounded good and also because her daughter's name is Olivia (and she would get a kick out of it). So, off to Old Key West we went. We decided on lunch because it seemed reasonably priced and had fairly good menu options.Unfortunately, I've been having gallbladder problems (yep, it's going to have to come out), so I need to eat not only gluten free/dairy free, but also low-fat. So, I've been more conscious when eating at WDW in the past month or so.Upon arrival, the chef greeted us and asked what I would like. I think I could have had a lot of the menu options (modified, of course), but worrying about the fat content, I asked for something custom. I really wanted something light (i.e. not a heavy burger). I was interested in something seafood (which can have a higher fat content). We agreed on a seafood salad sandwich with the mayonnaise on the side and a fruit salad instead of fries.What I received was quite good--crab salad with old bay in it (or some similar type of seasoning) and mayo on the side. I also had fresh fruit--strawberries and blueberries. The crab salad was on a udi's bun (which I now love!); I ate it open face sandwich style--meaning I only ate 1 part of the bun.The others eating with me liked their sandwiches; my mom got the Cuban sandwich (which she said was very good) and my sister had the shrimp po'boy (which she loved). Overall, I didn't find the food to be amazing, but it was solid.I would give this a 7 out of 10 for options, service, and general ambiance. I hope I get a chance to go back there sometime with less dietary restrictions (related to the gallbladder), and so I can post some pictures!
Cosmic Rays -- Counter Service -- Magic Kingdom
Nine Dragons -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Epcot
**Sorry, another post with no pictures--which reminds me...I need to get new batteries for my camera, as I have a couple of new restaurants to go to soon.So, I've always been on the fence about going to Nine Dragons. I was always afraid it wouldn't be anything special, or would be something similar to food I could get outside of WDW. We decided to test it out one day for lunch. On the one end, I was glad I had something to eat; on the other hand, I was shocked and surprised that they didn't include gluten free soy sauce!? It's very strange to me that both the China and Japan pavilion can't provide as good of options as other restaurants on property (geez, even Yak & Yeti had GF soy sauce!). I realize that they are non-WDW owned restaurants (at least I don't believe China is), but neither is Yak & Yeti and they provide it. But I digress...The other thing that was different is that they did not have the chef come out. The server told me that I essentially had options of chicken and broccoli with a clear sauce and several other clear sauce combinations and Kung Pao chicken. None of the soup was safe. So, I ended up with chicken and broccoli with a clear sauce and white rice. I will say, for a lunch portion it was just right (but I hope they are more generous at dinner). The dish itself was good. Nothing spectacular, but good. I just wished I had brought some to-go packs of GF tamari--truth be told, it needed GF soy sauce. The other diners accompanying me did not have allergies, but they enjoyed what they got--although my mom said she thought the hot and sour soup had too much vinegar in it.Overall, I probably wouldn't do this too often--maybe if I couldn't think of anywhere else to go or couldn't get an ADR. The food wasn't overly different and/or impressive, but ok. I just wish they would get on board with a variety of options. I think I'll stick with going to PF Chang's instead (and my family agreed with this opinion).I'd give it a 6 out of 9 for solid food but real lack of variety, chef interaction, and catering to food allergies.
Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian
**No pictures for this review, as my camera batteries died on this day trip.It's been a while since my updates...sorry everyone! Work and relocation have made my year so busy. I'm hoping in the new year, things will get slower so that I can add more reviews!I just got a chance to try out the new Udi's goods. Ok, I'm sold on the buns!! I'm still confused why Chefs are so upset over the changes -- Udi's does seem to cover a lot of food allergies. The desserts are definitely not an improvement--sorry the "OMG It's gluten free!" stuff isn't that great (although ask them to warm them up for you--much better)But on to Kona...As many of you know, this is one of my most favorite breakfast restaurants on property...tasty food and affordable! Best Mickey waffles ever! Dinner has always been rather blah to me, so I decided to try it for lunch after seeing the menu.I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the Island Chicken sandwich, minus the bacon and swiss cheese. It came with sweet potato fries, but I asked for regular fries instead. I also got the curry mango mayonnaise on the side. The sandwich was very good. I looooved the curry mango mayonnaise. Wow! So tasty, I used it for the sandwich and dippping of the fries. The chicken was nicely grilled and the bun (Udi's) was the best GF bun I've ever had (my mom even said it tasted like regular bread). Next time I'll add the bacon! The chef also let me test taste the slaw made with bacon -- very good and subtle bacon flavor (it was tossed w/bacon grease).Overall, I would recommend this restuarant. The server we had was great -- she was very diligent about my allergies and she and the chef were on top of things when the cooks accidently put my chicken on regular bread (we had a little bit of a wait b/c of this).I'd give this a 9 out of 10. I'd like to try some other lunch options next time! Breakfast and Lunch are outstanding here!
Babycakes NYC -- Downtown Disney
Just a quick photo and review from Babycakes. They have some new items that I really like. The first is there "Wonder buns" aka cinnamon buns. They are yummy! I love the cinnamon and sugar combo...they make a great afternoon snack with tea or a sugary breakfast.Also check out the "mounds" that they make--copycats of the "Mounds" bars. Fantastic!I also just had the pumpkin cupcake. It wasn't my most favorite cupcake, but I really like the cinnamon frosting. That was fantastic! I think my biggest gripe with the cupcake was the flour mix. They use Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Flour and it has a really nutty chickpea flavor, which I'm personally not a huge fan of. It was still good, but I make my own pumpkin muffins that I personally think are better But that's just me.Overall, loving some of the new treats--can't wait to see what they have for the holidays!
Cooke's of Dublin -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Downtown Disney
Fish and chips...the real deal!Oh my...there are some things in life that cannot be duplicated...the taste of fish and chips is one I have longed missed since going gluten free/dairy free. I've had some good copy-cats, but the traditional fish and chips (well minus the malt vinegar, which I miss) has long eluded me. Until I heard a rumor on one of the boards that mentioned that they had true fish and chips gluten free/dairy free from Cooke's of Dublin. I almost yelped for joy; I was so excited. I've been long wanting to check it out, but haven't had the chance. Until now....and it was amazing!I have to say, Cooke's of Dublin is very popular. I was there around 1:30 p.m. and there was a huge line out the door. And no seating. Yikes! I was staying at one of the DVC villas for a night for the Halloween party, so I thought I could take it to go (which I did). When I made it to the cash register, I was told that yes they did have the gluten free fish and chips (and that the fries/chips are always gf). Hurrah! I placed my order then for the fish and chips and waited. Luckily for me, the wait wasn't too long--and actually quicker than some of the other folks in line!Now for the tasting...I actually ended up just sitting down at Downtown Disney at ate there. I just couldn't wait! I have to say, the fish and chips were worth it. Yum! The fish was mild and flaky. Sure the fish was deep fried and slightly greasy, but that is what you expect from fish and chips. The chips were actually really really good. They tasted more like hand cut (thick) homemade fries. delicious!I would not hesitate to eat at Cooke's of Dublin again, if I have a fish and chips urge. In fact, I would be curious what other options they might have. Next time I'll have to ask!Now, if only the UK pavilion could get a GF version; I'd be happy!
Kouzzina by Cat Cora -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*Note: This review includes a gluten/dairy free review and a gluten/dairy/soy free review.**This dining experience took place in summer 2011. I've been interested in Kouzzina for a long time. I am a big Food Network fan, so I was intrigued by Cat Cora's (Iron Chef) restaurant. I've always been on the fence about the menu. I wasn't sure if it would be easily catered to food allergies and honestly, it hasn't appealed to me that much, food wise. However, my friend who is gluten/dairy/soy free said they did a great job for dinner there and that it was very good. So, we decided to check it out for breakfast. Boy, am I glad we did! This is a new favorite for breakfast! My whole family (allergies and otherwise) loved it! Surprising flavor combinations and tasty food. Plus, it was very calm, quiet atmosphere, which was nice.We were greeted by Chef Brad (who I swear I've had at another restaurant), who was just great. He was really very helpful. We did another customizable menu. I ordered scrambled eggs (which are all cooked in Greek extra virgin olive oil already, a plus!), roasted potatoes, bacon, and a side of Mickey Waffles, with pecans and honey. Boy, was this to die for. I literally scarfed it all down, and I usually don't eat my whole meal. The eggs were the best I've had on property. I loved the flavor of the evoo, and you could tell it was a very high quality evoo. The roasted potatoes were cooked with rosemary and sea salt...they were addicting!!! My mom and step-dad both snuck some of these from my plate (without contaminating it, of course). The bacon was nothing special, but good. Now onto the waffles! Gotta love Mickey Waffles. However, the addition of the pecans and honey were awesome. The pecans are a new must. I would actually probably just do the pecans and get regular maple syrup, but it was a nice twist. I ate everything except for a few potatoes and half a mickey waffle (and Chef Brad gave us four each!!!). Wow, stuffed and very happy! Oh and did I mention they had Earth Balance here! Soooo happy! (note it was not the soy free Earth Balance)
Mickey waffles with pecans (before the earth balance butter and honey added)Now my friend ordered something similar. He got a customized meal. Eggs over easy, sweet potato hash, and bacon. The chicken sausage has soy in it, so he was not able to get this. He also go the mickey waffles, with pecans, but no honey. He had sugar free maple syrup. He like everything except the hash (which looked different from my step-dad's sweet potato hash) and had a combination of potatoes and a lot of red peppers. He really loved his meal. Another clean plate!!
On a side note, my folks really enjoyed their meals--the Stacked Kouzzina breakfast (they loved the kalamata olive bread) and the waffle w/pecans, honey, and marscapone cheese.A definite 9 out of 10! Awesome place--we'll be here again! Highly recommended.
Sci-Fi Dine In -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Hollywood Studios
*Note: This review includes a gluten/dairy free review and a gluten/dairy/soy free review.
There's nothing like taking a nostalgic trip back in time...I love the retro themes at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Second only to 50's Prime Time Cafe is Sci-Fi Dine In. It's a little hidden restaurant nestled near Star Tours at WDW. I've only been once, back in 2004 and prior to food allergies. We loved the theming, but I've been reluctant to go back since allergies, not sure how good it would be. I wish I had more pictures to share of the inside--it looks like a 50's Drive In theatre complete with cars turned into tables. It's really dark in there though! Pictures are hard to take. However, I was able to get some food shots in, so enjoy!We were greeted by Chef Richard, who quite honestly, seemed a wee bit cranky that day. He was very helpful for me with the gluten/dairy allergies, but not quite as helpful for my friend who is gluten/dairy/soy free. Basically, if you have a soy allergy, this may not be the best restaurant for you. I was able to get most offerings, or modified offerings, but my friend was told that if he had a problem with Soy Lecithin, which he does, that he could not have anything grilled, due to the soy spray they use on the grill. They also use a soy based oil for the fryers, so even though they have a dedicated fryer, he couldn't have the french fries. My friend said in the past he was able to have both the grilled items and fries, so maybe this has changed. In addition, he didn't really have a lot of options for shakes for him. He ended up "gambling" (perhaps I would not have done and the chef told him he probably shouldn't do) with the grill and ordered a burger (which looked pretty good) and got a salad with olive oil instead of the fries. His burger looked good, nice and juicy. I don't recall if he got the mushrooms and sauteed onions with this. I know he did have the tapioca roll and bacon on it. He said it was really good. Not sure on the sick part, but at the time he seemed OK. The salad was nothing special. It was shredded lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes.
For my options, I could order a lot of things. I got a chocolate "milkshake" which was Tofutti (I believe from the taste) and probably soy milk or rice milk. It was a bit soupy, rather than a thick milkshake, but it was good. Nothing special, but good. Heck, it was a milkshake, so I was happy. It's nice to have something nostalgic like this. I wish they weren't so stingy on the portions of the milkshake (what happened to the spare tin with extra shake?!), especially for $4.99 at the current price.
I got a custom order for my lunch. I got a grilled chicken sandwich, with no bun, lettuce, tomato, and bacon. I also got the avocado mayonnaise that accompanies the turkey sandwich on the menu. The chef said it had egg in it--another one of those, eggs are not dairy conversations...I am always amazed by this. He gave me a large portion on the side! Good thing, I could dip fries in it..yummy! The sandwich was good. Nothing special, but good. I liked being able to mix and match from the menu. The burger was out, since I really rarely (as in once a year have a burger) eat beef. I didn't want deli turkey and the chicken dish came w/bruscetta toppings and it did not sound good to me. So, this was a great option.
Overall, this is a basic burger and fries kinda joint. It's the ambiance that really brings you there. Food was OK, chef was a bit cranky, but overall a fun experience. Expect a wait for this place--it's almost always packed. I'd give this a 7 out of 10.