Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten -- Day One

This series of guest reviews comes from blog reader Jaime. Her enthusiasm, excitement and love for Disney just shine through in her trip report, and I think you'll agree when you read them. Speaking with her before her vacation, I was just so excited to hear her recap when she returned. Jaime provided a thorough trip report, so I have broken it up by days. You'll want to make sure to read them all (I'll link to them in each post)! Thank you again, Jaime, for your awesome reviews! 

BackgroundHi, I’m Jaime.  I’m 45 and live just outside of Chicago.  Thanksgiving, 2013, found my new husband, Ethan, and I driving to Walt Disney World for our first Gluten-Free trip.  I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy in June and, in a huge show of support, Ethan went GF with me.  While I’m extremely lucky that my allergy is minor (it was only discovered because I was having a contact allergy to something else), the other benefits of being GF were a surprise to us both: my migraines are gone, my PMS symptoms have almost completely vanished, and both our ragweed allergies have diminished significantly!  Plus we both felt this odd sense of being ‘clear’, physically and mentally… it’s a strange sensation to describe.I’m a WDW Vet – this was trip #39.  Ethan has spent a total of ONE DAY in a Disney park in his life (I took him to EPCOT over a quick Super Bowl Weekend trip earlier this year), and he had never been to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios.  I have a lot to show him!After being diagnosed with the wheat allergy, I scoured the internet for advice.  I made ADRs and changed ADRs and read more dining reviews and made more changes.  We packed GF snacks and food for the car ride (I made tuna salad sandwiches for dinner – you have to love how GF bread doesn’t get soggy!)  I also made one of my (not so) Famous Peanut Butter and Swedish Fish Sandwiches!  Don’t judge – it’s like a portable peanut butter & jelly!Day 1: Tuesday, November 26, 2013We arrived in Orlando and headed to Animal Kingdom Lodge.  I wanted to show Ethan around (this is where we’re staying on our next trip) and grab lunch at The Mara Food Court.

Photo copyright Jaime J.

Ethan and I perused the menu for a few minutes while in line (and came up with a couple of possibilities) and when it was our turn to place our order, I just said “We have a food allergy.”  The cast member immediately asked us to hold on one second, she was going to call for a chef.  It took a few minutes for him to come out, but he was full of apologies (it wasn’t that long!).  He asked what the allergy was and said there was a lot we could do.  He mentioned the fries were GF.  He asked what we were thinking about and mentioned that they keep Udi’s pizza crusts in back for the flatbreads.  We had both decided we didn’t want to go too basic by ordering a burger or chicken nuggets this early in the trip (and we had dinner scheduled in 3.5 hours, so we were going to split this meal).I decided to push it a little and asked if he could do the chicken pita sandwich: chicken breast served on a warm pita with sun-dried tomato hummus, cucumber, tomato, and mixed greens with mint yogurt sauce with choice of Couscous or French Fries.

Photo copyright Jaime J.

The chef looked up at the menu, tipped his head back and forth while he thought, and announced “Yes, I can do that!”We were given a pager, got our drinks, and headed outside to a table.  It took 7 minutes total for the pager to go off!  I really thought it would have been longer.  I went back for our tray and it was on a separate surface than someone else’s – I shouldn’t have been shocked by the care they took, but I was!The sandwich was delicious (the sauce was a little spicy) and, with the fries, plenty to share!

Photo copyright Jaime J.

Photo copyright Jaime J.

Dinner tonight is at The Wave in the Contemporary Resort. 

Photo copyright Jaime J.

There were many things on the menu that looked good to me: Herb-salt Seasoned Beef Tenderloin - with tomato-green bean salad with Cypress Grover Creamery Lamb Chopper Cheese and citrus-herb butter, Thompson Farms Pork Tenderloin - soy-pineapple honey marinade, pineapple salsa, bonito and cauliflower mash, and the Dry-rubbed Flat Iron Steak - au gratin potato and winter vegetables.The waitress (Diane) took our drink order and said a chef would be right out.  About 5 minutes later, she came back and asked if anyone had come out.  Um, no.

Photo copyright Jaime J.

I didn’t think the restaurant was all that busy, but when Chef Tom came out, he appeared rushed and stressed.  He apologized for the wait, but was looking around the restaurant as we talked, so the sincerity of it fell kind of flat.  He checked what the allergy was and asked if we had anything in mind.  I said I had heard good things about the pork and the flat Iron Steak.  He said the pork was out because of the sauce, but he could do it plain.  So I chose the flat iron steak.  Ethan chose the beef tenderloin.Chef Tom called Diane over and gave her our orders within earshot.  After he left, she went over them one more time to make sure.  I appreciated her care with the order.  She left to go get GF rolls for our bread service.  I have to admit to being surprised, and I can only attribute that to the fact that neither of us has had more than 2 hours of sleep in the last day and a half.  Of course, when the bread service comes, they were out of rolls and we got GF bread.

Photo copyright Jaime J.

Photo copyright Jaime J.

Is that Udi’s? It doesn’t look like it to me, but I’m not good at telling the different breads yet.  And the butter was yummy!We were exhausted and famished and finished the bread and butter off very quickly.  The entrees took about 10-15 minutes.Ethan’s beef tenderloin:

Photo copyright Jaime J.

And my flat iron steak:

Photo copyright Jaime J.

Both were cooked perfectly and this would have been an amazing dinner if we weren’t so tired.  The au gratin potatoes were fantastic.  It turns out I’m not a fan of winter vegetables.  We will go back, just not anytime soon.Stay tuned for Day 2 of Jaime's review!!

Everything Pop -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Pop Century

*This dining experience took place in December 2013.

Sign for Everything Pop in the resort elevators

Everything Pop, located in Disney's Pop Century Resort, offers a variety of options for guests with special dietary needs. As the resort's main dining location, they offer quick service fare that is fast, tasty, and convenient. Their breakfast options include many classic staples like waffles and scrambled eggs. The best part is that the chefs here really work with guests to create custom and safe dishes for those who have particular dietary needs.On this particular occasion, I visited for breakfast while staying at Pop Century. I had eaten dinner here the night before, and while the chef had been very helpful, I ordered something that wasn't my favorite dish I'd eaten there (see that review HERE). I was very excited for breakfast though, because I knew they had my favorite allergy Mickey waffles. You know I just can't go to breakfast and not get them!

It was a fairly busy morning (around 8 a.m.) as guests were getting ready to go to the parks and resorts for the day. I found a cast member who then paged a chef for me. I totally spaced on getting the chef's name in the morning (someone stayed out at Epcot a little late), but he was very helpful. He basically asked me what I wanted, and I told him I knew I wanted some scrambled eggs, bacon, and allergy Mickey waffles. Easy enough. After writing down my order, he brought over a page for me and told me to come back when it went off. I took this as an opportunity to wander the location for special diets grab and go options.

Paging Mr. Morrow...Mr. Tom Morrow...oh wait, I'm not in Tomorrowland!

I found several options, including the OMG It's Gluten Free brand brownies (gluten free only) and chocolate chip cookies (gluten and dairy free) as well as the Lundberg Rice Chips, Larabars, Rocky Mountain Caramel Corn, and Surf Sweets. Someone recently asked me if I had seen Surf Sweets on property lately, and this is the first time I have in a while. I was glad to see them here!

Special Diets grab and go items

I did not notice any Babycakes NYC mini cupcakes or even any gluten free beer options. Although it was early in the day, so perhaps it wasn't stocked.

Bounty platter modified

Essentially, the chef gave me the Bounty Platter (served at most quick service locations) modified. I had scrambled eggs, which were fairly good, bacon (sadly the stringy Disney bacon), sausage (which I did not eat), Udi's toast and allergy Mickey waffles. Interestingly enough both Art of Animation and Pop Century's allergy Mickey waffles are a combination of mixes; they use Namaste AND Bob's Red Mill together. Personally, I prefer just the Bob's Red Mill alone but these weren't bad. Everything tastes better Mickey shaped right? I was not given any regular maple syrup but rather the syrup that they carry in the main condiment area (it has corn syrup in it). I did notice they had Sugar Free maple syrup on hand.

I've been given this syrup many times on property. It's gluten free and certified Kosher. I still prefer the fully leaded pure maple syrup!

Overall, I found the breakfast at Everything Pop to be pretty decent for a quick service meal. It wasn't anything special, but it was safe, tasty, and a good solid quick service meal. I would definitely get breakfast here again.Have you been to Everything Pop for breakfast? What's your favorite special diets breakfast option?

Pop Century Resort Review

Big Wheel Keep on Turning!

I recently had the opportunity to stay at Pop Century Resort. Working with my Destinations in Florida agents, I was able to enjoy a one-night stay at the value resort. The team at Destinations in Florida made this process easy from start to finish and truly worry free on my end. This was a nice break from handling the travel myself. As a DVC member, I typically stay in DVC villas, so it was really neat to stay at Pop Century. I hadn’t actually stayed at this resort since 2005 when I went on a family trip with my brother! Funnily enough, we both now live in Florida (he lives in Orlando), so he popped by when I had dinner and he said it was a total time warp!

But back to my travel experience. First off, check-in was a breeze. I checked in later in the day, and it wasn’t very busy, despite the fact that the Pop Warner cheerleaders and football players were there, which can often mean busier crowds. The cast member who assisted me was helpful and easily got my magic bands connected and ready to go. This was a first for me, as I have had my magic bands shipped to me and activated prior to my stays. The process was much simpler than I anticipated. I did not receive any room keys on this visit, as they are phasing out the keys for the magic bands. I have to admit, I did kind of miss those keys, but the magic band experience couldn’t have been better.

Magic Bands!

Once I got the magic bands set up and the check-in process complete, I headed to dinner at the quick service location, Everything Pop! It is both a dining location and a gift shop. You head through the Everything Pop entrance, through the gift shop and into the quick service dining location. The restaurant contains several different sections the Bakery, Grill, Market, Pizza, and Ethnic. There are a lot of choices for guests. You can read my review of both dinner and breakfast in separate blog posts (click HERE for dinner review and HERE for breakfast review).

The location proved to be excellent at working with guests with special dietary needs, including my gluten free & dairy free needs, as well as guests with other needs as well. For instance, I asked them about kosher food offerings, and they explained that process for guests. Essentially guests who are kosher should contact the Walt Disney World Special Diets Team in advance so that they will notify the resort ahead of time. Kosher meals come from a company in Miami called Weberman Products that are Glatt Kosher and are certified by Orthodox Rabbinical Council of South Florida (O.R.C.) and by the National Koshruth organization (N.K.) (for more information visit their site: http://www.webermanfoods.com/) They are prepared safely for guests who adhere to kosher diets. These meals are pre-made in the kosher facility and re-heated on the Disney premises. The chef whom I spoke with at Pop Century said that they like to make sure guests give advance notice so they can get as much variety as possible. Without advance notice some options just might not be available. It's always wonderful to see how Disney is able to accommodate guests with a variety of dietary needs.

Wow, that's a big yo-yo!

One thing I should note is the theme of Pop Century Resort. It’s set to the theme of 20th Century American pop culture. It was originally set to be two resort areas: the Legendary Years (1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s) and the Classic Years (1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s). Unfortunately, this never took shape in the wake of reduced tourism during the early 2000s. Since it opened in 2003, the resort has remained the Classic Years. The land planned for the Legendary Years was later used to build the recently opened Art of Animation Resort. (You can read a review of my meals of breakfast HERE and lunch HERE)The cool part about this resort is that it’s set-up similarly to the All Stars Resorts. This means, they are motel-style buildings that have giant reproductions of phrases and images from the coordinating decade. I stayed in the 1970s area of the resort which meant a giant foosball setup in the lawn, 8 track staircases (how cute is that?!), a giant Mickey Mouse phone and more. I’ve also stayed in the 1950s area which had bowling pin staircases and even a jukebox. Even the swimming pool was bowling pin shaped! Here are some photos from the resort. As you can see, the decor is really fun. The front desk, concierge, arcade, and quick service location are all housed in what’s known as the Classic Hall. It was very close to the room I stayed in.

The rooms at Pop Century are available as a single king size bed or two double beds. I had a room with two double beds. I have a double size bed at home, so size wise it was perfect for me. However, it could be a little crowded if you had two adults. It’s a nice size for a smaller group or small family and it would work really well if you had two adjoining rooms, one with two double beds for the kids and one with a king size bed for the adults.

The room’s decor reflects the same theme of the building exteriors, so as you can expect there were touches of the 1970s in the room. The setup offers a comfortable space for a vacation. And check out the adorable toiletries! Anything Mickey shaped is OK by me.

Overall, I really enjoyed this resort. It was terrific for a single night and as someone who has stayed there on vacation, a great week long vacation spot. In fact, we saw lots of folks decorate their windows with holiday themes, and I could tell they were staying for an extended amount of time. Love that! Though we didn’t use the bus transportation, it seemed to move quickly with lots of buses coming to and from the resort. Bus stops are located in front of the Classic Hall, so it’s very convenient to get your morning cup of Joe and head to the bus for a full day of park touring.And what I really enjoyed was working with the team at Destinations in Florida. They made it super easy from start to finish! Of course, you can find out more information and receive a free quote from Destinations in Florida by going to this link: http://destinationsinflorida.com/gluten-free-dairy-free-disneyHave you stayed at Pop Century Resort? What are your thoughts on this value resort location?

Everything Pop -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Pop Century

*This dining experience took place in December 2013.

Set in the Classic Hall of Disney's Pop Century Resort, Everything Pop is your one stop shop for shopping and dining. With a variety of food stations and many grab and go items, Everything Pop offers quick service fare that fits all types of appetites and meal needs. Many of the food items served are are reminiscent of days gone by -- from fried chicken to lasagna and even tie-dyed cheesecake. But what's a guest with special dietary needs to do? Luckily, the team at Everything Pop can provide lots of options for guests with dietary needs.On this particular visit, I was staying at Pop Century Resort and wanted to grab a late bite for dinner. It was nearly 8 p.m., so to say I was hungry is an understatement. Luckily, the quick service location is open from 11 a.m. - midnight so I had plenty of time to get a hot meal.

Upon arrival, I found a cast member who was located in the middle of the quick service ordering area. Often a cast member is placed there to assist guests with questions, including contacting a chef from the kitchen for those with special diets. The CM paged a chef who then came out to assist me. Chef Fred went over the options with me and told me that they had a variety of things that they could make.One of the first things he offered was gluten free & dairy free pizza. They have several kinds of alternative non-dairy cheeses on hand. He said they can also make them flatbread style without the cheese. I wasn't in the mood for pizza or a sandwich, which I've had before at Pop Century, and he suggested the roasted chicken entree (which would take a bit because they had to make the green beans dairy free), the create your own salad option, or the coconut curry shrimp (this last one needed no modifications). I opted for the coconut curry shrimp as I am a big fan of all things curry. The chef then went to the station and got the dish for me.

Chef getting my coconut curry shrimp

Once I got my meal, I made a beeline to a table to eat! Of course, even at 8 p.m. it was fairly busy in the restaurant. Luckily, there is plenty of seating to be found.

Coconut Curry Shrimp with rice

The entree itself came in a take-out container, almost like the ones you would get at a Chinese take-out restaurant. This meant my pictures didn't come out that great. Sorry! One thing I will say is that the food was not very temperature hot. It was however, spicy hot! Flavor wise it wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I would say it was mediocre. Still, it was a very filling meal served in a large portion. Guests who are craving really authentic curry should stick to locations like Sanaa. My family got the roasted chicken, and I kind of wish I had gone with that! That being said, I've enjoyed some of the sandwiches I've had at Everything Pop (I really liked the tuna salad sandwich). This dish was just OK. Also, not the best thing to order at 8 p.m. when you have Crohn's. My tummy wasn't super thrilled with that choice!Overall, I did find that the location offered a lot of variety; I just made a less than stellar choice for myself. Chef Fred was very willing to customize and make me something that was tasty, and I really appreciated that. I've also heard rave reviews about Chef Jose who works here in terms of customization and special diets offerings!I also had the chance to visit for breakfast during this visit and found the breakfast offerings more my speed.Have you been to Everything Pop for a quick service meal? What were your favorite special diets dishes?

Cooke's of Dublin -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Downtown Disney

*This dining experience took place in December 2013.

 Getting proper fish and chips when you're gluten free & dairy free is a real feat. There are only a few locations on Disney property where you can get such a dish and Cooke's of Dublin, located in Downtown Disney, is the only quick service location that you can get them at. Set to resemble an Irish fish and chips shop, Cooke's of Dublin offers a charming place to dine with authentic pub grub that happens to be gluten free & dairy free.It had been a very long time since I had been to Cooke's of Dublin--my personal preference being Raglan Road Irish Pub next door. But, I was busily prepping for a holiday meet-up and I wanted to get something fast and delicious. I was also craving fish and chips big time!

 We arrived at Cooke's of Dublin early, around 11 a.m. when they opened. This was nice because it wasn't busy at all yet. It normally gets quite packed, so I try to go during the off-times. I checked in with a cast member and explained that I was gluten & dairy free. She kept forgetting the dairy free part, but I knew that the fish & chips were safe, so I went with those. Afterwards I did ask what other gluten free options they had and she told me the following:

• The Original One & One - Fish & Chips $10.95
• Georges Bank Atlantic Scallops $12.95
• Cold Water Shrimp $11.95
• Battered Chicken Tenders $9.95
• Double Dipped Onion Rings $5.00
• Fresh Chips $5.00

And I also knew that you could get the Garlic and Parmesan Skinny Chips $5.00 (gluten free only) thanks to my friend Alexis over at Gluten Free in Orlando.It was nice to know there were so many options. And gosh darn it, I wish I had gotten the shrimp or scallops. They looked and sounded really good! (Now I have an excuse to go back!)

The fish and chips are essentially the same as the ones you get next door at Raglan Road. You also get the thick cut fries, as well. I will say that my fish was not salted at all -- meaning they didn't add any salt after it came out of the fryer, so the breading was a little blander than it normally is (nothing smothering it in GF/DF tartar sauce won't fix!). The french fries were very fresh and very hot! I will say that overall, it was a little greasier than the fish and chips I usually get at Raglan Road. However, considering that you're saving about $10, it's not a bad choice when you're on the fly. Plus, who am I kidding, anything that's gluten free & deep fried makes me swoon!Overall, I'd say this is a good choice for gluten free & dairy free diners. I will say that the staff isn't quite as knowledgeable about multiple special diets but thankfully, it's a very GF/DF friendly place. I'm very curious to try the scallops, shrimp and even chicken tenders (you know I'm a chicken tender connoisseur).I'd give this particular visit a 7--for solid food, lovely atmosphere. I would definitely go back again to try the other dishes but maybe stick to Raglan Road for my staple fish and chips, unless I'm in a hurry!

Biergarten -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Epcot -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

 The Germany pavilion in Epcot makes you feel like you are in Munich for Oktoberfest. There’s a lot of charm to this spot in the World Showcase and Biergarten, the pavilion’s table service location, really embodies this essence. The restaurant is set to resemble a German Oktoberfest celebration, complete with an Oompah Band and communal dining. I had heard lots of great reviews for vegetarian dining from the Disney Hipsters, Adam and Andrew, and also lots of gluten free diners. Believe it or not, I had never been to Biergarten, so I decided to stop by for lunch as a part of the Candelight Processional Dinner Package (more on that in another post).Biergarten is set far back in the pavilion. It’s located next to Sommerfest which is the quick service location that serves bratwurst, currywurst and macaroni & cheese among its offerings. I occasionally pop by this location because I really enjoy the bratwurst on a gluten free/dairy free bun (which varies) and sauerkraut (you can read a review about this restaurant HERE). When we went to check in to this location, I saw the prices for meals—for an all-you-care-to-eat location, I thought it was pretty reasonable! Way cheaper when you compare some of the other buffet or family style locations. Plus, if you are a Tables in Wonderland card holder, you get 20% off or 10% off for Annual Passholders.

 The restaurant check-in was super busy, and we tried to check in 30 minutes early but were told to come back 15 minutes before our ADR. Wow, that was actually a first for us. So, we wandered around the World Showcase for a bit, and then came back to check-in. The cast members give you the spiel about siting with other diners (which we knew ahead of time) and also climbing stairs. As we saw when we got in the restaurant, it would be slightly more difficult if you had mobile challenges, as there were levels of seating. Once our pager went off, we were taken into the restaurant with a group of 5 plus our group of 3.I’m not going to lie, seating is a little weird, especially if you have an odd numbered party.  We sat towards the railing at our table and our table-mates sat closer to the walk-way. Once seated our server clarified who was in each party and then took drink orders. She also told me she would get the chef for me. The rest of the table went to get in line – which was a good idea because it was crazy busy in there. Evidently the Candelight Processional dinner package meant the 1 p.m. time frame was nutso!

 The chef came over and offered to walk me around the buffet. He basically went over the options which were safe and which to stay away from. Pretty much all of the non-breaded meats were safe (i.e. bratwursts, sausage, cold cuts, pates, etc.) Most of the veggies were safe too with the exception of the cold potato salad, macaroni gratin, and some other items. All but one sauce for the carving station were gluten free & dairy free (aka sweet mustard). Soups were definitely out--dairy and gluten filled cream based soups! Dessert basically off-limits except the fruit compote which came in individual ramekins. Then the chef pretty much was going to walk away; but I wanted to ask if they had bread or buns (which I knew they had) and dessert options. He said he could get be a bun and maybe some cookies. I’ve heard really wonderful things about the chefs here from others, but this chef was pretty disinterested. I’m sure he was totally slammed in the back, but I felt like he was just trying to get through with me as quickly as possible.Heading back to the buffet, I saw several areas that felt like big cross contamination risks to me, especially because it was so busy. I actually waited and asked for fresh plates and serving spoons as they came out because they were replenishing things really quickly. For instance, I scored fresh roasted chicken (which was in between fish in a sauce, meatballs, and schnitzel – a gluten free nightmare!) and also fresh sausages and even fresh German potato salad (my favorite thing of the day). So, it definitely pays to ask. I stayed away from the salad area as much as possible.

 While walking back from the buffet stations, the Oompah band started. Did I mention how amazing these guys were? Totally charming and totally awesome. Not only was it great to have some live entertainment, but they also got the audience involved too. Plus, they sang Christmas songs. Talk about getting in the holiday spirit!

Really bad photo of the Oompah band!

As far as the food goes, it was actually fairly good. First off, I adored the plates and bowls. How cute are they? Loved the designs, and they very light plastic plates, so you wouldn't feel too horrible if you dropped one. As you can see from my plate, I had a menagerie of food items plopped into one. This was because I honestly didn't want to make a second huge trip (although I did go back for more bratwurst and German potato salad).

 Here are some of the things I got: Bean salad (which was green beans and other white beans with some type of vinegar sauce), pickles (FYI these were amazing! They were like a spicy bread & butter pickle that they make in-house), German potato salad (can you say lots of bacon?!), roasted root vegetables (parsnips, carrots), sauteed green beans and red onions (I'm still not sure what was in this but wow, it was good), roasted chicken, carved pork tenderloin, Bratwurst, some other type of wurst (which I hated and promptly gave to my family), sauerkraut, applesauce, mustard (not sweet), and curry ketchup (I adore curry ketchup!!). I did got back for seconds on several things, so I was definitely very full by the end of the meal!I will say that it's a good thing that I eat meat because I'm not sure a gluten free vegan or vegetarian would have many options. There are good options for vegetarians but add in another special diet and it seemed much harder.

I love the tea in the "beer" steins!

 The roll that was brought to me was Ener-G and it was not at all heated well. I'm fairly convinced they shoved it in a microwave and it turned hard instantly. Still, smother anything with some curry ketchup and it's good! (which is obviously what I did!).For dessert, I sampled the fruit compote (sorry I forgot to take photos), which were really yummy. Sweet but tart at the same time, I found the mixed berries (including strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries) to be really nice after a heavy meal. I also got Enjoy Life cookies and a Boom Boom Bar (which I love) for the road. That Boom Boom Bar was the perfect snack on my drive home from Disney!Overall, I liked Biergarten for the ambiance and the decor. Our table mates were not at all chatty and really weren't interested in interacting with our party, so it made for a weird vibe. It would be awesome if you had your whole family there or a big group of friends (which I plan to do). Food-wise, I would say it was OK. I liked a lot of the dishes but I also didn't love all of them. The roasted chicken was dry and bland and some of the sausages were just plain gross but I did find things I liked. I also wish the chef on this visit would have made more of an effort to help ensure cross-contamination risks by perhaps bringing me more items from the back--though I was able to work around that myself. Of course, the Oompah Band alone makes me want to go back again! We caught not one but two shows that afternoon!For this visit, I would give it a 7 for ambiance, charm, and fairly decent offerings.Have you been to Biergarten? What was your experience?

California Grill -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Contemporary

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

Set atop the top floor of the Contemporary Resort, California Grill offers guests not only an amazing view of the Magic Kingdom but also a taste of culinary and seasonal offerings. Long hailed as one of the best places to dine on property, it was with great fanfare that this location went down for a lengthy refurbishment this past year. Having re-opened early this fall, many guests have been flocking to California Grill to see the new decor and taste items from the new menu. I finally was able to dine at this location after much anticipation.If you have read my past blog posts, you'll recall that I had my 30th birthday celebration dinner at California Grill. I adored the sea bass dish that I had, as well as the sushi (which California Grill is renowned for). I also had one of my favorite desserts there--a custom chocolate cake with non-dairy chocolate mousse and raspberry coulis. See that full review HERE. So, it was with great expectations that I went into this meal experience. It also happened to be my brother's 30th birthday meal celebration with friends & family, so it was an extra special night.

I love the new Mary Blair inspired decor

The first thing to know when you head to California Grill is that the main check-in is located on the 2nd floor of the Contemporary Resort. From there, you receive a pager and are taken by a cast member to the top floor of the resort to the restaurant. Once there, you can either spend time in the lounge enjoying a cocktail or wait for your seat to be ready. Our pager happened to go off while we were in the elevator, so we were seated quickly. It was also an early reservation 5:20 and the restaurant was not very busy yet.It was exciting to see the changes made to the restaurant. I like the wide openness of it and the new bright colors. It is said to be Mary Blair inspired (Mary Blair is a prominent Disney artist; you can see her touches all throughout the Contemporary Resort - including the large mural by the monorail - and by her work on rides like "It's a Small World."). Overall, it was a very big redesign. Everything is very streamlined and chic.

We had a large party (9) and were seated against one of the walls with a nice view of Walt Disney property. It's really impressive, especially as it gets darker! One of the new things I noticed was that there were iced containers located next to various groups of tables. This turned out to be where they serving their "house water" and keeping it here to chill. Someone posted that they use super purified water that is filtered 5 times. Our server didn't say, but it came out in big glass bottles that were then poured into our glasses.Speaking of our server, I have to say she was particularly unpleasant. I had been hearing some horror stories about the new California Grill staff and I have to say that unfortunately she lived up to those stories. She kept skipping over certain people at our table for drinks and was very grumpy. She seemed really grumpy after our orders and it only went downhill from there. Now our group was a family based one - we also had two children with us, one was 9 and the other was 11. As far as kids go, these two are extremely well-mannered and well-behaved. They are very polite and never fussed at the meal. They were also very engaging with the server which seemed to be off-putting to her. The kids certainly didn't notice but I was disappointed by her general lack of niceties. (*Note: at the time of day there were a lot of families with kids around in the restaurant).I was given a special diets sushi menu. This is kinda cool! It was nice to see that they gave some options right away for guests interested in sushi. It wasn't the clearest special diets menu I've ever seen but at least it was something. I was surprised then to learn that they didn't have any special dietary menu (some locations do this for ease for the guests & servers).

Special diets sushi offerings - see the menu transcribed HERE

When I started to talk about my special diet with the server her response was "We DO NOT bring the chef out." and that she would be working with me on this. I mentioned that I did not feel comfortable with this given Disney's policy is that chefs or managers consult with guests who have a special diet. This turned into the "We're not a typical Disney restaurant therefore the same rules do not apply" conservation began. Still, I insisted that I talk to a chef. When one came out, he seemed like this is not something they normally do (again, surprise on my end). He basically wouldn't give me any ideas of what to order for any portion of the meal, except dessert (I'll get to that in a minute). He said that they would "just substitute" whatever needed to be substituted. It was really quite strange overall. It was almost edging on the experience I had once at Jiko (which I have hailed as the worst dining experience I've ever had on property...see that HERE). But, I was optimistic. For dessert, the chef said my option was a pomegranate lime sorbet with fresh & seasonal fruits (he suggested pears). He did not take my order but rather told me that I would need to tell the server and they would coordinate. Again, this was feeling very strange given Disney's normal procedures.Meanwhile, the server brought out the GNI brand rolls with extra virgin olive oil. Nothing really special to report on these. These were the same old rolls I get most places. Luckily, they did heat them properly.

GNI Brand rolls with extra virgin olive oil

I decided to order the Bell & Evans Chicken which normally comes with mashed yukon gold potatoes, Braised Lacinato Kale, Caramelized Onion Jus. Mine came out with smashed sweet potatoes and the other accompaniments. It also had some type of mild chicken sausage patty on the bottom (imagine my surprise when I discovered it!). The chicken itself was encrusted with spices (and was skin on) including fresh sage. There was only one bone included in the piece of chicken and the remaining portion was boneless (much easier to cut that way but ensures that flavor). 

Bell & Evans chicken

When I first bit into the chicken, I assumed the crust had some type of breading to it and I just wanted to confirm that it was safe. The server again did not want to get the chef and said that it was safe. "Just trust me." Clearly, she doesn't know what it's like to live with a special diet. Once I felt safe eating the dish, I found it to be delicious. It was very flavorful with a rich complexity that you don't often see in many dishes outside of signature dining locations. The chicken itself was perfectly cooked and the seasonings were outstanding. The kale was delicious and well sauteed as were the onions. The mashed sweet potatoes were good and complimented the dish, though I think the yukon golds would have been better. In general, everyone seemed very pleased with their meal choices which ranged from the filet of beef to the pork two ways to sushi and flatbreads. I think the only dish that seemed to be less than well received was the three-meat signature meatball dish. I decided to forgo sushi this time or another appetizer for the dessert, as the sorbet sounded intriguing and even more intriguing with the fruit. The server basically said gluten & dairy free options are fresh fruit or this sorbet only. When it arrived, I was very disappointed that 1) it didn't have any fruit with it as the chef had mentioned and 2) that it was literally just scoops of sorbet (and not pretty scoops either). I was just a wee bit shocked given that many restaurants that are not signature dining locations go out of their way to make visually appealing presentations even just of sorbet. 

Pomegranate Lime Sorbet

 Just so you can see for comparison how many of the other desserts looked like, here's a non special diets dessert....

This is NOT gluten free & dairy free - this is the Sundae Sampler dessert

Taste-wise, the sorbet was good. It was very limey and I enjoyed it a lot. But, it was also really sweet. It needed some other taste profile to counter-balance the extreme sweetness. 

Gorgeous view of the Magic Kingdom!

As far as the meal went, I enjoyed the food that I did eat very much. I thought the entree was really excellent and I almost wish I would have gone for sushi instead of the dessert option. As my brother put it, food was terrific, service was terrible. I'm hoping that this location is working on improving this, as I keep hearing very consistent feedback from others indicating the same disappointments service wise. I'm also still very disappointed by the chef and servers lack of concern and/or communication with me about special diets options. They really made me feel like an after-thought and that I was putting them out at this meal. It's not something that I normally get at Disney, and quite honestly it will likely deter me from heading to California Grill for a while. I can easily head to so many of my favorite places that have just as high quality offerings but better service overall. It's a gorgeous location and terrific for special occasions but if this is their special diets accommodation, I personally would go elsewhere. I'd rate this particular experience the following: food here an 8 (it lost a point for me because of the dessert, but would otherwise have been a 9) and 6 for the lousy service.  Have you been to California Grill yet since the location re-opened? How as your experience?

Trail's End -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Fort Wilderness

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

 Howdy folks! This was my first time visiting Fort Wilderness (can you believe it?!), and I've been long wanting to visit Trail's End Restaurant. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews on special diets offerings but consistently I've heard that it's a very affordable restaurant with hearty fare. On this particular occasion, my family and I headed to Trail's End for lunch where the menu is a la carte.For those who might not be as familiar with Fort Wilderness Campground, it is comprised of cabins which guests can stay in, as well as locations for folks to bring in their campers & RVs. It really has a nice rustic feel to it, and truly encompasses that "camp" feeling. I felt a little bit like I was back at summer camp! Since our family had never been, we really want to explore as well as eat our meal. So, we made sure to hit the Settlement Trading Post across the way on our way out after lunch. We also just meandered a bit and looked at the grounds. It really does feel like you're totally removed from Disney property, which is kind of a neat thing for this resort! I'm so hoping to go check out the evening campfire now & maybe even the holiday sleigh rides!But back to lunch! Meals served at Trail's End are buffet all-you-care-to-eat for both breakfast and dinner, but lunch is a la carte. The fare is a bit rustic inspired - yes, there are s'mores on the menu! It also has a bit of a BBQ & Southern feel to it (they have Shrimp & Grits on the menu & Po' Boys). I was really curious to see how they handled special diets.

Inside of Trail's End - Yep, it feels like summer camp!

We checked into the restaurant and were seated within about five minutes. We didn't have much time to sit on the porch, but they did have checkers & rocking chairs (a bit like you would see at Cracker Barrel). That seemed like a great place to sit and relax. Once we got inside, we could definitely see the rustic theme continuing. I loved the wooden slats in the chairs and the overall campground cantina or mess hall feel. Breakfast was just finishing up, and we could see a lot of people still enjoying that. I have to say, the decor was rather charming, as were the cast member uniforms. They all had on jeans and blue shirts with bolo ties. Now, in general, I think bolo ties are a little bit outdated but they really did fit in here!

 Our waiter Ken took our drink orders and then notified the chef. One thing I really loved about the drinks -- Masons Jars!!! I really miss these from Whispering Canyon Cafe. The fact that they still have these makes me excited. And yes, it totally fits the theme of this location.

Yes, it's only water, but it's in a Mason Jar by golly!

Once the chef came out he went over the menu. I had to keep reminding him that I was gluten free AND dairy free, not just gluten free but it seemed like I had a good amount of choices. He didn't tell me there were any safe appetizers (now I hear they can make or get gluten free bread. I know Hoop Dee Doo Review usually has Babycakes on hand, though this may have changed). Some of the options he said were safe:

• Salad with Fresh Berries and Grilled Chicken Breast (minus the blue cheese)
• BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich (on a GF/DF bun)
• Angus Chuck Cheeseburger (on a GF/DF bun)
• Shrimp & Grits (ONLY GF)
• Chicken & Waffles (served with grilled chicken instead of fried chicken, allergy friendly waffles--I have heard reports that it may be possible to get fried chicken GF but only at opening if the fryer hasn't been used--this was not offered to me, and I really wasn't up for fried chicken, but it would be nice to know if this is still the case)

Nothing was really standing out to me, except one thing...candied bacon. Yep, you read that right. Candied bacon. Non-meat eaters, I'm sorry I'm going to go on a shameless rant about bacon. I love good, thick cut and flavorful bacon and this one sounded sooo intriguing. The only problem is that it was topping the cheeseburger, and I don't really eat beef (maybe a burger a few times out of the year but that's it), so I really didn't want the burger. I asked if they could make a grilled chicken sandwich instead and top it with the bacon. The chef said he could, and this made me really excited! And it was totally worth ordering. I also was able to get their french fries. Their house fries are a blend of sweet potato & regular fries which is actually one of my favorite fry combos! If you've read one of my lunch reviews from Kona Cafe (see one HERE), you'll see I have actually asked for that combo before!

Chicken Sandwich with that glorious candied bacon - minus my fries. Don't worry I got a ton of them!

First up came the sandwich. I guess they had to make my fries separately in a dedicated fryer (or a pot, not sure) so mine were taking a bit. They wanted to make sure I got my sandwich though first. The bun they served was Udi's, which I prefer as far as the buns served on property. It's nice and thick and works just perfectly for a hearty sandwich. The chicken itself was grilled but had been marinated in some herbs. It was quite flavorful and the grill flavor, of course, is very nice. I asked for mayonnaise to top my sandwich is about the only accompaniment I felt I needed with the bacon & chicken. The red onion & lettuce also worked well as accompaniments. I ate the pickles on the side -- they were sweet, bread & butter pickles and I'm not sure I would have wanted them with the sandwich. Then, there was the bacon....can this post be an ode to candied bacon? (I think it already is!) This bacon was the BEST! It was thick cut first off, which was very good. As you've heard me mention many times, I like the thicker meatier bacon versus the stringier cafeteria style bacon. This was a really nice meaty bacon. Candied bacon is usually made with brown sugar and that's exactly what this tasted like. My mom makes these chicken bite appetizers made with chicken, brown sugar, chili powder and bacon and it so reminded me of that! The amount of bacon to sandwich ratio was quite generous.

That's a lot of fries!

Now, when my fries came out, I couldn't believe the portion size. Yikes! That was a lot of fries. I really liked how they were mixed together and really well seasoned. They had some sort of house seasoning on them that was salt, pepper, and likely some garlic or onion powder maybe. They were really good & piping hot. The sweet potato fries weren't too soggy, which can be really tricky. The only thing that might have made them better? The curry mango mayonnaise from Kona Cafe...Ok, I know that's not happening! But it sounds good to me!My family ordered the Po' Boy & BBQ Pork Sandwich and both seemed to like it. My mom says her favorite BBQ pork is still Flame Tree but that this was her second pick for that sandwich. My step-dad like the Po' Boy a lot too.Overall, I thought the restaurant itself was charming. The breakfast buffet from what I could see looked pretty basic but not terrible. We really enjoyed the lunch. The restaurant was very slow when we were there and it was a welcome treat to have such a calm & quite restaurant on property! We all agreed we would definitely come back for lunch again. I thought the lunch menu was quite good for meat eaters, vegetarians & vegans would have a hard time I think.

 Rating wise, I would give this a solid 7 out of 8. I almost bumped it to an 8 solely for the candied bacon but I think a 7 is a solid rating for good service, decent gluten free & dairy free menu offerings and quality of the entrees. We'll definitely go back again for lunch. I'm quite convinced I will be ordering candied bacon every time I go (even for breakfast!)Have you been to Trail's End? What do you think of this table service location?

Kona Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

Modified Big Kahuna

This is just a brief review of my breakfast at Kona Cafe in Disney's Polynesian Resort. I recently visited with blog reader Laurie & her family. It was awesome to catch up with them and also to grab a great breakfast with others who have a special diet. Laurie is gluten free and her daughter is dairy free.Upon arrival, we were greeted by Chef Johnny who I know quite well from my ridiculous amounts of visits to Kona Cafe! He took Laurie & her daughter's orders (Laurie got breakfast potatoes & sausage and her daughter ordered allergy Mickey waffles) - I, of course, go the Big Kahuna modified, as usual. I asked for extra ham instead of the sausage and scrambled eggs. And, since I was running the Jingle Jungle 5K the next morning I was ready to carb it up!This was really good, as usual. The allergy Mickey waffles were nice and crisp and very tasty. I always enjoy the ones that are made here (and also served at Ohana--they use the same waffle maker!).Overall, I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 for this meal. Definitely one of my favorites made even better by my visit with Laurie & her family!Have you been to Kona Cafe for breakfast? What's your favorite breakfast dish to order there?

Boma -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

Boma: Flavors of Afirca located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House - is probably one of my most favorite breakfast buffets on property. With African inspired cuisine, Boma offers traditional breakfast offerings and dishes with a twist. Not surprisingly, this location can also easily accommodate guests with special diets offering options like allergy Mickey waffles, custom omelets, and more.On this particular visit, I was celebrating the completion of the Jingle Jungle 5K at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This runDisney race took place early that morning, and I wanted to celebrate my race accomplishment with a nice hearty breakfast. My family happened to be staying at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village, and this seemed like the perfect place to celebrate! I can tell you that many other guests also decided to visit Boma too to celebrate because it was packed and also packed with fellow racers!Our server let us know that the chef would be coming out to greet me, and based on her description, I assumed it was Chef Chris whom I've met a lot at Boma; however, I was greeted by Chef Vickie who was also helping out that morning (I did see Chef Chris in the kitchen though). She took me through the buffet and showed me the items that were safe. These included: grilled asparagus (my favorite), chakalaka, grilled tomatoes (no pap this time--they used butter in it that day! boo!!), carved ham, quinoa, custom omelets, breakfast potatoes, bacon and sausage, and fruit. In addition, they can usually make whatever your heart's content is in the back, and that morning I asked for: Allergy Friendly Mickey Waffles, Custom omelet with ham & onions, and breakfast pastries that are GF/DF (they typically carry Udi's and Kinnikinnick on hand).While Chef Vickie was preparing my dishes in the back, I ran the buffet for the few safe items I was interested in. Boy, the buffet line was huge! I snagged: grilled asparagus, ham, quinoa, breakfast potatoes, bacon, and fruit. I also got to enjoy the Jungle Juice which is the fruit juice they serve at the buffet. It's pretty sweet and not something I'd normally drink every morning, but it really hit the spot post-race! It's a mix of orange juice, passion fruit juice, and mango juice! Yum!

View of the Boma buffet pods

 First up was the buffet options. I adore and I mean adore the grilled asparagus. It is so good. Even when it's not the most seasonal asparagus, it's still delicious. The open oak grilled fires really impart a lovely grill flavor. I always make sure to grab a bunch of the asparagus. The ham was also really good, though the piece I had was a wee bit fatty. The breakfast potatoes were really well seasoned that morning which was good because they have been a little under-seasoned in the past. The bacon was just the same old stringy Disney bacon.

 I also really enjoy the hot quinoa, especially with some brown sugar and raisins. In case of cross contamination, ask for brown sugar and raisins from the back as this pod also contains oatmeal which is not gluten free.

 I also really enjoy the fruit at Boma. For some reason their pineapple is some of the best on property. It's a hands down must for me whenever I visit.

 Now up for the items made in the back. The first was my omelet and Mickey waffles. The omelets at Boma are always really good. I very much like the ham that they use in the omelet--it's minced extra fine and so you get ham in every bite! This time the onions were really not finely chopped at all (which they usually are), so it was a little onion heavy. Otherwise though, great as usual. Now the waffles are good here -- not as good as Kona or Kouzzina but good. I asked for Earth Balance but I did not get served Earth Balance. We tasted it (yes, the whole table test-tasted it) and determined it was some type of margarine (my guess is smart balance--which is supposed to be dairy free now). I actually skipped this one and just ate the waffles smothered in syrup. Nothing wrong with that!!

Kinnikinnick Donuts & Muffins - my favorites!

Next up were my favorite breakfast pastries -- the Kinnikinnick muffins & donuts. I rarely get the chocolate chip muffins these days, and I was soooo beyond excited that they brought out the chocolate chip muffin. I also really like the cinnamon sugar donut and the glazed donut!Let's just say I totally pigged out at this breakfast! It ended up being my meal of the day! As you can see, I got a lot of great breakfast options and many of them were prepared in the back to ensure safety and minimized cross contamination risks. It was great to really celebrate my race accomplishments at this location and especially with fellow racers.Overall, I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 for this visit. Our server was a bit non-existent which was a bit of a bummer and the crowds were higher than normal but overall, it was a terrific meal -- one I wouldn't hesitate to go back to for breakfast again. It's also a fairly reasonably priced buffet - $18.99 (character breakfast are typically around $23.99 or more!) and I definitely ate a lot of food! A great post-race choice!

Liberty Tree Tavern -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

Hear ye, Hear ye! Liberty Tree Tavern located in Disney's Magic Kingdom provides traditional American fare in a colonial setting. With a rustic setting, you'll feel like you've settled into colonial New England. One of the terrific things about this location is that gluten free & dairy free diners can enjoy a Pilgrim's Feast of their own complete with gluten free gravy and dairy free mashed potatoes.On this particular visit, I was attending the 2013 Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and our tradition involves eating at Liberty Tree Tavern. For us, it's convenient for the party (our family always makes an early dinner reservation, so we have plenty of time to enjoy MNSSHP) and filling. In fact, it's my family's go-to spot for both the Halloween party & Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It's also a terrific location for Thanksgiving celebrations.Our server said he was very familiar with GF/DF guests and that the chef would come out to assist. We did have a rather lengthy wait, and during that time our server brought over salad and said, "I know this is safe, so I'm bringing it to the table." Now, Disney protocol does typically mean that the servers do not bring over food until a chef has cleared it. This guy seemed a wee bit bossy about the whole thing, and I just smiled & waited for the chef. I was pretty confident that they had not changed the salad dressing and that it would be safe, but I like to play it safe and wait to confirm with the chef. Once the chef came out, he did confirm that it was indeed safe. He also told me that they had the dairy free mashed potatoes ready, as well as the gluten free gravy. Our table actually asked for only gluten free gravy because they prefer it over the glutenous version! Chalk one up for GF gravy! He also said they had a variety of seasonal vegetables which they would also bring over.

GNI Brand rolls with Earth Balance

First up, though were the salads and the GNI brand rolls. The rolls were heated fairly properly, so they weren't bad. Of course, I smother them in Earth Balance & dip them in gravy. I'm fairly convinced the gravy would make anything taste good! But, really, these weren't bad at all.

Salad with strawberry vinaigrette

I have to say that the strawberry vinaigrette dressing here used to be amazing. It's really declined in quality over the past few years--primarily seasoning and flavor-wise. It seems like the strawberry is very muted now and the flavors are just very bland. I wish they would just brighten this dressing back up to where it used to be.

Gluten free gravy

The gravy, of course, is the hit of the table. It's great topped on dairy free mashed potatoes and even the turkey. For me, it's the big winner in this meal. I like the dairy free mashed potatoes, but they always seem to lack salt. The gravy does wonders for it!

 In terms of offerings, gluten free & dairy free diners get the dairy free mashed potatoes, steamed green beans, seasonal vegetables (more on that in a minute), and roast pork, roast turkey, and roast beef. I don't eat the beef, but it does always seem a little rare and usually is the least eaten thing at our table. The roast pork is not bad - this version had a slightly rosemary seasoned taste to it - though I have to say I do miss the ham. The roast turkey breast is the big winner at our table as always, and it is very moist and flavorful.

 And now onto those seasonal veggies. I've been saying how most of the meal was under-seasoned, well this was the one exception. It was totally and utterly over-seasoned. Really salty and weirdly seasoned with some sort of almost Italian seasonings. It didn't match the flavor profiles of any of the other components to the deal and was almost aggressively in its flavor. And I was so disappointed too because I adore squash and zucchini and had had an amazing version at a prior visit in the fall 2012. This was not my favorite. I'd like to see the simple sauteed version of this again. I also have to say Liberty Tree has a penchant for odd sides. The last visit, they had broccoli rabe with the meal. Broccoli rabe?! Totally doesn't fit the theme! I'll give the chefs kudos for branching out but not so much on the execution of these dishes.

 Dessert at Liberty Tree is always raspberry sorbet with fresh fruit for me. I don't hate it, and I actually don't mind it at the end of this meal because I'm always usually really full. But just once, in a dream world, I'd love to have a GF/DF cranberry Johnny Appleseed Cake!Overall, I'd give this experience a 7 out of 10. While it has some nice offerings for GF/DF diners, there are a few things I'd love to see improved upon. Of course, it will always remain our holiday tradition at Disney but I do hope that they can work to make the options here just a little more special. That gluten free gravy though is the hands down winner of the meal!

Sommerfest -- Quick Service -- Lunch/Dinner -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in October 2013.

 Just a brief updated review from Sommerfest located in the Germany pavilion in Epcot. I had a strange craving for a bratwurst with sauerkraut recently and decided to pop by the pavilion for a quick bite. I've sort of been craving German food ever since I made ADRs for Biergarten for December 2 (Candelight Processional dinner package - I can't wait to see Neil Patrick Harris rock it this year...LEGEND...wait for it...DARY!). Thanks to Adam & Andrew from the Disney Hipsters who told me that they have terrific vegetarian options, now I'm dying to try this place out. Plus, they have an Oompah band! That may be more legendary than CP (sorry Neil!). But, I digress...I headed over to Sommerfest for a bratwurst mostly because I could get one on an Udi's bun, which I really like. It's not vegan but it is gluten free & dairy free and it tastes yummy! When I got to the kiosk, I almost asked if the new Currywurst menu item was gluten free, but it was a very very busy Food & Wine Festival evening, so I decided to just go with my standard bratwurst order. On this occasion, I told the cast member that I wanted the bratwurst with the gluten free & dairy free bun, and she told another CM who was in the small kitchen. The last time I went they radioed a chef and they brought out the bun. This time it seemed that they had them on hand in a separate section of the kitchen. Interesting. And even more interesting was that it wasn't Udi's! It looked like Ener-G rolls or something similar because it didn't look at all like the GNI rolls I'd had in the past. *Later it was confirmed that it was an Ener-G bun.

New buns

I've been hearing some rumors percolating that there are new rolls/buns in the mix lately and some say that they are not GNI or Udi's but possibly the OMG It's Gluten Free Brand and that they still contain egg. I've not heard anything first-hand myself, but this was definitely a bun I hadn't had before. (Interesting side note, though I found out it was Ener-G and I've had lots of Ener-G rolls & bread, I've never had the buns! So funny how that happens right?)One big problem was that it was not heated really at all. So it was really crumbly and dry. It was also kind of styrofoamy and hard to chew. I ended up just getting a fork and eating the sauerkraut and bratwurst on its own because the bun was kind of difficult in general. As far as the brat goes, it was quite good. I still like it because it's really mild and doesn't seem to upset my stomach too much.Overall, I'd give this particular experience a 6 out of 10--mostly because the bun wasn't the greatest. I will try to find out if that Currywurst is GF because that sauce sounds & looks amazing (I'm a sucker for all things curry!).Have you noticed new rolls/buns/bread in the parks?

Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*These dining experiences took place in October 2013. This is a compilation of two meal reviews for Kouzzina breakfast. One includes a gluten free, dairy free, and soy free review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.

Allergy Mickey waffles with pecans!

Kouzzina offers guests a taste of the Mediterranean with an emphasis on Greek cuisine. Breakfast options continue this theme with various dishes that include peppers and feta cheese among other ingredients. And while cheese is a no-go zone for me, there are plenty of gluten free & dairy free items from which I can choose from.On the first visit I went to recently, I went with a friend who is gluten free, dairy free, and soy free. He came in for a visit (he used to live in MCO but moved back to Chicago) and he was craving Kouzzina. Of course, I never turn down a breakfast that includes allergy friendly Mickey waffles and good ones at that.Chef Paul took care of us on this particular visit and my friend decided to get the allergy friendly Mickey waffles and an omelet with sausage and bacon in it. They use extra virgin olive oil for their eggs at Kouzzina, and he said the omelet was really good.

Omelet with sausage and bacon in it

I actually decided not to get the allergy friendly Mickey waffles and got just the turkey sweet potato hash. I have a serious turkey hash obsession lately. I also got the Udi's toast with Earth Balance vegan margarine. After getting my entree, I noticed that the sweet potatoes weren't cooked as well as they normally are and the hash itself had been overcooked a little--there was a little bit of burnt on the bottom. And the eggs were beyond hard poached. Yikes! Still, it wasn't terrible enough that I wouldn't eat it or would send it back. It was the first time I've ever had that happen, and I will chalk it up to a busy day in the kitchen. In my second visit, I didn't have this problem.

Toast that was not very toasty! Still good though!

Turkey sweet potato hash

Which brings us to visit #2. This time I was with my family and we decided to get breakfast again. We were staying at the Boardwalk for the Special Diets Dessert Party weekend and it was a great convenient way to get a meal.Chef Paul was on duty again this time and I decided this time to get the allergy friendly Mickey waffles (you know I couldn't go too many visits without them) and with the American with scrambled eggs, bacon and Udi's toast with Earth Balance.

Happy little Mickeys!

The only sort of hiccup I had at this meal is that I accidentally got served real butter. I didn't realize it until I spread some on my toast and thought it looked different (my own fault I didn't realize it earlier but I was tired!) - I took one small bite to see and thought it was butter. I then gave it to my parents who also confirmed it was indeed butter. Chef Paul did come out and profusely apologize for the mistake--he said he was trying to make sure that I got all the other components on his dish that this slipped through. I will say that these things do happen, but it is a reminder that you need to be vigilant when it comes to your dietary needs and food allergies! Even places you go to all the time can make a mistake here and there. Kitchens are busy places, and we just have to really try to be diligent consumers! I'm lucky it was just a piece of bread wasted and that I didn't get sick!

Pecans, Honey, Maple Syrup and BUTTER (not Earth Balance)

Much more toasty this time around!

American - scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes

Overall, I was pretty pleased with my second breakfast. Despite the slight dairy issue, everything this time was well cooked and tasty. I might switch things up again and try the breakfast skillet next time or even an omelet, but it's nice to know that this entree continues to be one of my favorite easy breakfasts at Kouzzina.I'd give my first visit a 6 due to some spotty food and a poor service experience (with our server not the chef). My second visit I would give a 7, despite the dairy being brought to my table--primarily because the food otherwise was delicious and well cooked.Kouzzina continues to be a standard favorite for me for breakfast, and I'm looking forward to my next visit and trying something new!Have you been to Kouzzina for breakfast? What's your favorite breakfast dish?

Lotus Blossom Cafe -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Epcot -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in October 2013.

The China pavilion in Epcot provides a taste of Chinese cuisine. Lotus Blossom Cafe, the quick service location, serves fare such as orange chicken and shrimp fried rice. While its offerings are fairly limited for guests with special diets, I was able to order one item off the menu.Visiting this location was a whim really. I was craving some kind of Asian food, and while we initially thought about going to Sunshine Seasons, my brother and I decided to explore the World Showcase which led us to Lotus Blossom Cafe. I knew from Adam & Andrew from the Disney Hipsters that the Hong Kong Style Vegetable Curry over Rice was not vegetarian (bummer), and I honestly didn't expect there to be any options that were gluten & dairy free. Lotus Blossom Cafe does not at all seem particularly authentic, so I figured I'd be batting a thousand at this location.When I asked the cast member at the order stations, she said that she would get the manager. The manager came out and I told him what my special dietary needs were. Basically, he said there was one gluten free & dairy free option (and not vegetarian or vegan) which was the Shrimp fried rice without the egg roll and without the spicy cabbage which accompanied it. He said that they could add a fountain drink or a bottle of water with it at no charge. So, I decided to try the shrimp fried rice with the water.I will say that it came out really quickly, so they must have this ready to go on hand (the shrimp fried rice, in general). My brother ordered the same thing but with the egg roll and it also came out really quickly.

Ordering inside Lotus Blossom. It was really quiet in here.

In terms of taste, the shrimp fried rice was really bland. It reminded me a bit of the kind of Chinese food you get in the mall--which I admit, I sometimes crave as a GF/DF diner but obviously can never eat. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't good either. It was just boring and bland. Now in terms of portion, I will say it was quite large given the price $9 and I was full by the time I was done but not necessarily satisfied.

Shrimp fried rice

Would I eat here again? Probably not. 1) There are really no options for me other than the fried rice and I also still can't believe they don't have one vegetarian option! 2) The food really wasn't very good. I will say the manager was really nice but that doesn't make up for the lack of food options here. Overall, I'd probably give this a 3 out of 10 for the fact that the options really don't exist in this location and what I did get wasn't very good. I have so many places outside of Disney where I can actually get Asian food and I can also make pretty good versions at home myself. I'd bypass this location!

Tutto Italia -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Epcot -- World Showcase

*This dining review took place in October 2013. It includes a gluten free & dairy free review, as well as a gluten free & yellow food coloring review.

 Tutto Italia is a quintessential authentic Italian restaurant. From the tiled floors, to the gorgeous chandeliers, and dapper dressed servers, you will be transported to a fancy restaurant in Rome immediately. Having not dined at this location in many years (and prior to a special diet), I had no idea what to expect from this location. I learned not that long ago that Italy is one particular country that is very adept at handling Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance, and I was pleased to see that this location took extra steps to ensure that as well.

Gorgeous tile work!

One of the things that surprised me when we arrived is that the restaurant actually has a gluten free menu. I can't say that I've really seen many non-Disney owned locations carry such a menu, so this was nice. What's different about this location versus Disney owned ones is that the chefs do not come out to talk to you. In fact, we were assisted by the manager of the restaurant. He immediately came to our table and discussed some of the options with us. My friends (one of whom is GF) had dined here before, but it sounded like the GF menu was fairly new as they hadn't seen it before.

You can see a textual version of this menu HERE

There were a few dishes that were immediately out for me as a dairy free diner--Definitely no mozzarella or panna cotta. They said they could do the pasta dish without cheese (always good). I ended up going for the salmon because I thought it sounded good & was also very easily made GF/DF (safe choices are always my best bet). My friend ordered the insalata mista, which is also dairy free. And he shared with the table. It was really fresh and light. I would definitely consider ordering this (though it was a little pricey!).

Gluten free & dairy free bread in the background with EVOO & insalata mista

Now the manager also said they had bread on hand for gluten free diners. I asked specifically if it was also dairy free because I've encountered some imported bread that was not safe. He swore up and down that it was, but I still sort of questioned it (and we couldn't flag him down later). Though, after my friend & I both tasted it, we both thought it tasted like Schar. I didn't feel sick or get any scratchy throat, so I'm thinking it was OK.

Gluten Free (and likely dairy free) bread

The table also had extra virgin olive oil (very high quality) and green pitted olives. They were very good because they weren't briney at all and were very mild.

Our entrees came surprisingly quickly, and mine looked gorgeous! The colors were very vibrant and the fish looked beautiful. My initial reaction was though that mine wasn't safe because of the sauce on the top of the fish. It looked creamy (turns out it was just a really good emulsion), so I made sure to ask the servers to see if they could find out what was in it before I ate it. No taking chances on the entree. According to them it was parsley, orange citrus, and some type of vinaigrette. It definitely had a nice citrus punch to it and really complimented the meal nicely.

Check out that sauce! this was sooo good.

Taste-wise, I was really glad I got this dish. I personally find pasta almost too filling (I rarely eat) so this was perfect for me. The potatoes, artichokes, and olives were also really well balanced for the whole dish. This to me would be the dish I'd order again. Definitely a hands down winner.

Classic GF pasta dish!

My friend really enjoyed his pasta dish. In fact, he said it's the only pasta he's had properly al dente. That's really hard to do with GF pasta because it often becomes quite mushy. This seemed really hearty in terms of texture, so I'm not sure how they make it (other than it's rice pasta), but it seems like the Italian exported pasta is really substantial. Now my friend easily reacts to gluten and often feels sick by the end of a meal if he's been hit. This happened to him at Via Napoli but not at Tutto Italia. One of the warnings for Via Napoli was the flour in the air from the pizza. I would say that probably a safer bet would be to dine at Tutto Italia like we did for safer GF offerings.

Trio of breads

Interestingly enough, we asked for gluten free bread after the 3 pieces we were given were done, and they brought out a trio of breads the second time around. Now, this made me wonder if the 1st round was the GF/DF bread and these two contained dairy. I admit, I was nervous about that. We asked several times, but the servers could only tell us that it was the allergy bread. Um, not helpful guys! I tried a small corner of each and wasn't overly impressed, so I just abstained from the bread consumption. The middle one was like Cinnamon Raisin and the far right one was sort of sweet (but mildly sweet). Not really a challah but sort of that similar eggy bread/with a hint of sweetness.

Panna Cotta with cherries

My friends ordered dessert & split it. The panna cotta they got looked pretty good (no sure worth $12 but good!). The syrup and cherries on top also looked quite nice, and they said they were almost candied. It would be nice if they had a few more dessert options and maybe something GF/DF!

Dining room

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Tutto Italia. I was nervous to eat here but overall, they had some nice offerings. If you're just GF, I think you will have a better time here, as there weren't a ton of GF/DF choices but still at least there was something. I wouldn't consider this a vegan friendly place. But the fact that I navigated an Italian restaurant safely makes me happy. I can't step foot into most outside of the 'world.' I'd give this a 7 out of 10 for this experience with safe offerings and some tasty food. Boun Appetito!

Cosmic Rays -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in October 2013.

Ordering area of Cosmic Rays

Cosmic Rays is an out-of-this-world futuristic inspired quick service location in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. It offers standard quick service fare from burgers, fries, and sandwiches, to soups and salads. It also offers a few other heartier meal options such as rotisserie chicken. The location offers several "Bays" from which to choose these options and there are many choices for gluten free & dairy free diners.On this particular visit, I checked in with a manager who seemed much more attentive than the previous time I visited. On the last visit, I actually chose not to eat at the restaurant because the manager refused to let me look at the ingredient binder!! I was really nervous about this visit given the previous manager's lack of knowledge or accommodation (which is actually rare for Cosmic Rays). I was greeted by the manager who seemed to somewhat knowledgeable. He went over the ingredients binder with me and also said that the French fries were safe (they used to not be, so maybe I missed this? I don't dine at Cosmic Rays often). I ordered a chicken sandwich (grilled) with an Udi's bun. I also asked if I could get condiments made for me, and he suggested the fixins' bar, and I told him that this is a very high risk for cross contamination. I asked for lettuce and grilled onions.

Bay 3, where I ordered my chicken sandwich

It did take a fair amount of time for the food to show up, which was OK but still I wish they had pagers up there. It's really tight in the aisles waiting for food here, and we got in a lot of people's way. In any event, we finally got our food and grabbed a seat. This place ALWAYS seems busy!!

Grilled chicken sandwich with fries and fixins'

One of the things that I always think after I eat at Cosmic Rays is that I'm underwhelmed. It just seems "blah." We had initially planned on going to Be Our Guest, but the line to get in was huge, so we skipped it. We should have gone back to Pecos Bills or Columbia Harbour House in my opinion. The sandwich itself was plain and mediocre. I'm always glad to have a bun, so that's at least nice. The onions were sort of half crunchy and half sauteed, so the texture wasn't great. And the fries were just OK. Later I had a stomach ache, so I'm wondering if the fries were truly safe or if I just ate something that irritated my stomach (this was one of those hard to tell situations).

Chicken sandwich

Overall, I would say that this is an OK choice mostly because they have a lot of options but taste-wise it's not my personal favorite. I will say that it's so-so and that I think there are some better choices in the Magic Kingdom. I also have had a few weird manager interactions lately, so I'm not sure what's going on there.I'd give this a 6 out of 10--for mediocre food & service.

Jiko -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge

Jiko Interior

*This dining experience took place in October 2013. It includes my gluten free & dairy free review as well as reviews from blog readers Linda & Brandon T. with a gluten and soy free review and gluten free review. Thanks again to Linda & Brandon and their friend Andrea for joining me for dinner!

Picture of open kitchen at Jiko

Jiko: the Cooking Place is located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House and offers African inspired cuisine at a signature dining location. The interior is set to mimic the African sunset and the lighting aptly changes throughout your dining experience. This location offers terrific gluten free & dairy free offerings and even has special menus for specific dietary needs, making it much easier to order items off the menu. On this particular occasion I visited with several blog readers who also have special dietary needs and really enjoyed the experience with them.My previous experience at Jiko had been several years ago, and it was bad. And I mean BAD. The worst dining experience I've ever had at Disney. Which is unfortunate for a variety of reasons. You can read that review HERE. So needless to say, I was a bit nervous about dining here. It's been about 3 years, and I figured at this point, hopefully things had improved. Our server discussed drink options with us and then brought over the chef. The chef was very nice & really knowledgeable. He also brought us out special dietary menus, which was very helpful in making decisions about what we might want. It helps not making decisions on the fly when there are so many choices! We were actually able to keep our menus, and I have scanned versions of the gluten free menu HERE and the dairy free menu HERE. I also enjoy being able to match things up & cross reference the sheets quickly. Very handy.First up, our table split the Taste of Africa sampler. Essentially this is a variety of dips & lentil pappadums. We also received extra pappadums for the table, so we had a lot! I will say that the dip sampler seems a lot stingier than it used to be. It seemed fairly small for the price, and between 3 of us splitting it, we did OK mostly because our entrees came quickly. We did not get a really good description of the dips, but there was a Kalamata olive hummus and several other spicier dips (I think they still have the chermoula and some others). In my opinion, the dip sampler at Sanaa is vastly superior both in taste and in quantity. For $10 you get all the dips at Sanaa which is a lot!

Lentil Pappadums

Taste of Africa sampler

For our entrees, both Linda and I ordered the Maize crusted monkfish. Linda is gluten & soy free, so she was able to get the tomato butter sauce that this dish normally comes with, while mine was prepared dairy free and had a rich tomato sauce. All other components to our dishes were the same.

Gluten free & Dairy free version of maize crusted monkfish

For my part, I will say that I like this dish very much. It was on the menu at my last visit (and what I ended up ordering) and I found it to be quite good. The vegetables were perfectly sauteed and very flavorful. The tomato sauce was nice and light. And the fish was perfectly cooked and very well seasoned. I like the maize crusted coating on it. This is one of those entrees that I would definitely order again.

Gluten free & soy free version of maize crusted monkfish

I know that Linda loved her fish dish and said she really enjoyed it a lot. I was glad that she enjoyed her version as much as I did!

Wonderful dinner with terrific company!

Brandon and Andrea both ordered the Filet Mignon on the menu, which has been known to be very good. Andrea doesn't have a special diet, but she seemed to really enjoy her entree. Brandon didn't love his filet, but it just goes to show you that everyone has different tastes and food reviews are certainly relative!

Gluten free beef filet mignon

Brandon also ordered the tomato soup, which he said had a very smoky almost BBQ sauce flavor to it. My guess is that they roast the tomatoes in the wood fired oven.

Tomato soup

For our desserts, I chose the coconut milk panna cotta which was made with soy milk & coconut milk. Linda ordered the flourless chocolate cake. Her dessert looked incredibly rich and delicious!

Flourless chocolate cake

Coconut milk panna cotta

I will say that I wasn't wowed by my dessert. I found the taste to be a little strange, and I think they could have made a nice tropical mix of fruit with the mango coulis which would have played better with the panna cotta. The plain fresh berries didn't seem to mix well, in my opinion. I also had a slight stomach ache after dinner, and I wondered if the soy milk might have been Kikkoman (which I heard later that it used to be) and is not gluten free. In general, I wouldn't order that particular dessert again.Overall, I did enjoy the meal. I really loved my entree, and I know Linda did too! The appetizer sampler was good, but I think I have been spoiled by Sanaa way too much and have high expectations of a dip sampler. The only thing I really didn't love was the dessert.In general, I would definitely visit Jiko again, but my personal preference both for type of food, price, and atmosphere would be Sanaa hands down. This is a great special occasion place to visit, and I very much thank Linda, Brandon, and Andrea for joining me the night before my first 5k (review HERE). It really made the meal special!

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans French Quarter

*This dining experience took place in October 2013.

View of lobby in Port Orleans French Quarter

This is a brief review of POFQ's quick service location Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for breakfast. As I've mentioned in my recent reviews, this is the place to be for New Orleans inspired cuisine on property. From the Mardis Gras vibe to the amazing beignets, there's just a terrific vibe in this resort & restaurant.On this particular visit, I stopped by with my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando (http://glutenfreeinorlandoflorida.blogspot.com/). We caught up right before my very first runDisney race (Happy Haunted 5K), and it was great to indulge in some beignets before I got myself prepared for the big race day. We both knew we were going to get the now famous GF/DF beignets that Chef Tony & the rest of the POFQ team serves up. I may have a slight beignet addiction right now!We were lucky because Chef Tony was also at the restaurant that morning, and we were able to say "hi" and chat briefly. He's been a very busy guy with Food & Wine Festival season doing culinary demos, Party for the Senses, and even being in the cranberry bog! So, it was a nice treat to be able to say hello!Another Disney CM took our beignet order, and I also ordered some scrambled eggs & bacon as well. As much as I love the sweets I knew I needed some pre-race day protein, particularly as I was heading to the expo center to pick up my bib and then meet up with some friends which meant food might be elusive for a while!And, of course, I was not disappointed. These beignets were amazing as always. I will say that right now I think the recipe is just right! I love the puffiness of them and how light they are. The chewiness that I mentioned the 1st time I had them has definitely gone away. These are just terrific! I have to say anything deep fried and smothered in powdered sugar is just A-OK to me!

Beignet deliciousness!

Scrambled eggs & bacon

As far as my eggs & bacon, I'm going to give some big credit to the CM who made these. I believe her name was Molly. These were really good! I'm going to say probably the best cooked QS scrambled eggs that I've ever had. I'm not kidding! They were delicious. Not overcooked and flavorful! I was very pleased with these. It's rare that a QS doesn't completely overcook my scrambled eggs (and I can't fault them, they are handling large quantities), so this was pretty awesome! The bacon was the typical bacon you get in the QS locations. Nothing special, but hey, bacon is bacon right?!Overall, I found this to be a really nice morning breakfast. I have to say the beignets just knock it out of the park as a breakfast choice! It certainly gave me a nice sugar boost to get through the rest of the day, which was very busy!I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 as far as QS go, this is one of my favorites! The fact that I can get beignets morning, noon, and night makes me swoon!Have you tried the fabulous allergy friendly beignets yet?

The Wave -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Contemporary Resort

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

Entrance to the Wave

The Wave is located in Disney's Contemporary Resort and it's culinary viewpoint is sustainable and seasonal items. This is one of the locations that I often visit for breakfast when I'm staying at Bay Lake Tower, my home DVC resort. Their breakfast offerings include a variety of gluten free & dairy free products from companies like Udi's and Kinnikinnick.On this particular occasion, we stopped by for breakfast after attending Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party the evening before. We were all tired and looking forward to a relaxing breakfast close to our hotel room. I've been to the Wave several times previously, and I've usually been moderately satisfied with my choices and service. Unfortunately, this particular experience wasn't as magical as it could have been.One thing to note is that this location serves both a buffet option & an a la carte menu. We chose to go for the menu option rather than the buffet. To me, it hasn't been one of the best breakfast buffets, so I'd rather go for the menu. After our server greeted us, she seemed mildly disappointed we weren't ordering buffet. The chef came in the meantime and also seemed pretty put out that he had to come over. In fact, he barely spoke to me. I'm sure that it's very busy in the kitchen and that it can be stressful. Maybe he was having a bad day. Regardless, he was very curt with me and didn't seem willing to offer much. He really wanted me to get Mickey waffles and I didn't want them because I have had really good pancakes here before. I asked if he could make the banana walnut pancakes I got before and he said he could. I also asked if there was ANY chance he could do the sweet potato pancakes. His response was, "Well if we have sweet potato that hasn't been mixed yet..." and then proceeded to walk away. I got banana walnut pancakes so I assume that meant they didn't have any available or he just didn't want to make them. Yikes!

As you can see it was REALLY busy in here...

Our server was also basically non-existent for our meal. And this rarely happens unless a restaurant is slammed. Now this restaurant is never slammed and quite frankly most of the people were getting the buffet, so I'm not sure what the issue was.

Banana walnut pancakes and bacon

After getting my breakfast, I investigated the pancakes. They were basically Bob's Red Mill pancakes with sliced bananas and walnuts. I liked the version I got the time before because the chef had basically pureed the banana into the batter, so it was like banana bread flavor all throughout the pancake. This was banana flavor here and there. But overall, they were good. The bacon, on the other hand, was another story. I have no clue what they did to this bacon but it was terrible! Even the worst quick service bacon was better than this. It was very stringy, greasy, and just had a weird flavor, like it was slightly off. Honestly, for a place that touts local, sustainable and seasonal, they can't have good bacon!?My family also didn't really love their meal. They thought it was adequate but not really worth the price or effort. We all agreed that we would rather take the monorail next time to another resort to get breakfast. I'd happily head over to Kona for breakfast over this any day! It's just a bummer because honestly, I see a lot of potential in this restaurant, but it's just not at the level it should be. Really disappointing.Overall, I'd give this a 5 out of 10. This experience just wasn't good from start to finish. While the pancakes weren't terrible, just about everything else wasn't very good. I wish I could say better things about the Wave, but it's definitely off my skip list for now.Have you been to the Wave? What was your experience there?

Good's Foods to Go -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Old Key West

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

View from Good's Foods to Go of Old Key West

This is just a brief review of the quick service location at Old Key West. I recently went there (see older review HERE) and got the same thing, so this is a fairly brief and similar report. On this particular visit, I knew that I wanted to get the allergy friendly chicken tenders & French fries. The menu here is rather limited so this is always my go-to choice. There was a fairly long line and once I got to the front I let them know that I had a special diet and that I wanted the chicken tenders. They still needed to page the chef, so that they could make all of this happen. Chef Julie from Olivia's came by to greet me and took my order. I would also see her the next day at Olivia's for breakfast (see review HERE). She said it would be a few minutes and then went to make the tenders. While I waited, I noticed that this location also has the new Rapid Fill soda machines installed.

I will say that it took a pretty long time for the tenders. I kind of almost wonder if they didn't have a dedicate fryer heated up because it took longer than normal. But once I got them, I was very excited. They were piping hot (I mean HOT, we had to let them cool down a lot). They were delicious as always and well cooked. The fries were also very hot and fresh.

Love those allergy chicken tenders & fries!

Overall, I like this location for the quick service that it is. It's a limited menu, so I would say you will have minimal options, but the nice thing is you get to talk to a chef from Olivia's which I love. The other conisderation is that this is an outdoor seating only area and the kiosk itself is usually very full. It tends to take longer than normal to order food here, so don't expect to be in a hurry here. I'd give this a 6 out of 9, primarily for limited menu and overall wait times of the kiosk (regardless of special diet) and no indoor seating.