Turf Club Bar & Grill -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Saratoga Springs

*This dining experience took place in August 2015.The Turf Club Bar and Grill located at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort is one of those hidden gem restaurants on Disney property. Quietly tucked away at this sprawling resort and located near the golf course, it's a nice break from all the excitement and noise often found when touring the theme parks. It's a cozy restaurant with a bit of a dark interior but an atmosphere that really is perfect after a long day in the park.On this particular occasion, I was dining at Turf Club Bar and Grill solo after a long day of work and wanted something comforting and filling. As I was seated by server gave me one of the new allergy friendly menus for the restaurant. They also asked if I wanted to directly order off that menu or speak with a server. Since many items did not note dairy free, I asked to speak with a chef.I was pleasantly surprised to see Chef Jenny Sly come out to speak with me. Chef Jenny is terrific and has been at various locations on property including Ohana and most recently Boma. She went through the menu with me, and I decided to order Grilled Salmon with Teriyaki Glaze, Cilantro Jasmine Rice, and Seasonal Vegetables. I opted to skip an appetizer as most were very heavily dairy based.While waiting for my entree, Chef Jenny also brought out some rolls with extra virgin olive oil. Immediately, I noticed these were Ener-G rolls, which I often find to be very unappealing because of the lack of heating them properly. They are also the type of gluten free roll that you need to eat pretty immediately because they seem to get hard very quickly, as they are tapioca based.However, Chef Jenny assured me that these rolls would be nice and soft, and she wasn't kidding. I was blown away by the gluten free bread voodoo that she put on these rolls because they were unlike any Ener-G roll I've ever had (and Chef Jenny did confirm they were Ener-G). They were piping hot, well heated, and stayed soft the entire time. I wouldn't hesitate to get these again at Turf Club.My entree was equally well-cooked and seasoned. The salmon was perfectly cooked -- something that is so important to seafood. The rice was a lovely compliment, as were the sauteed veggies. Add in some teriyaki sauce made with gluten free soy sauce, and you have a really tasty meal.Overall, I really enjoyed my meal at Turf Club Bar and Grill. The food I had was well-cooked, the ambiance was quiet and relaxed, and the service was also great. It reminds me that I need to dine here more.Have you been to Turf Club Bar & Grill? What are your favorite dishes to order?

Pinocchio Village Haus -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in August 2015.Pinocchio Village Haus located in Disney's Magic Kingdom is a charming restaurant -- one that I've visited many times but actually never eaten at. I've never been keen on the options available, which have always seemed limited at best.Recently, blog reader Priscilla G. shared the new allergy friendly lunch and dinner menu from Pinocchio Village Haus. After reading the new menu, I saw there were at least a couple of options to choose from. And good thing too, as I recently stopped by the restaurant to grab lunch.When I got to the cash register to inquire about special dietary options, the cast member presented me with the new allergy friendly menu. I could quickly see that the Mediterranean Salad was on both the gluten and dairy free menu options, and I asked to order it. The cast member did not flag a manager, but rather, flagged gluten and dairy in the order and gave me a pager, which would alert me when my food was ready.About 10 minutes later, my pager went off, and I was greeted by a manager who served my food on a green tray (to denote food allergy) and saw that my salad contained what looked like "cheese." She confirmed that it was Daiya cheese. The one thing they did not tell me was that I needed to grab the salad dressing from the condiment bar. I quickly found the dressing noted as safe (and double-checked the ingredients) but found it odd that they didn't tell me this.As far as the salad, I found it to be just OK. It wasn't my favorite quick service salad but certainly not the worst (one of my least favorites being the Garden Harvest Salad at Columbia Harbour House).I actually don't prefer the non-dairy cheese on my salad, so I have to admit I picked off the Daiya cheese (though the other diner with me - who is not gluten or dairy free - actually really liked the Daiya shreds, so I think I'm just picky in this regard).Overall, I would probably dine at Pinocchio Village Haus in a pinch, though it wouldn't be my first choice for a Magic Kingdom quick service location. My go-to is always Columbia Harbour House, but if I was with others dining at Pinocchio Village Haus I know now that I have at least a few options when ordering, which is great.Have you been to Pinocchio Village Haus in the Magic Kingdom? What did you order when you dined there?

Sanaa -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village

*This dining experience took place in July 2015.Sanaa located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village has long been one of my favorite restaurants on Disney property. I'm such a fan of all types of Indian-inspired food, so I've always been impressed with the palate of flavors that Sanaa presents its guests. I love how approachable the food is, despite being a bit exotic for most folks. And, it doesn't hurt that they offer amazing gluten free and dairy free offerings, set in one of the most gorgeous restaurant settings at Disney World.On this particular visit, my mom and I stopped by for lunch during a very full day of shopping in Orlando. Shopping clearly makes me hungry, and I couldn't think of a better place to grab a bite than Sanaa. It's been ages since I've been, so it was long overdue.After we were seated, I was given one of the new allergy friendly menus that have been appearing throughout the Disney restaurants. The first thing that popped out on the menu was gluten free AND vegan naan. WHAT!? Yes, you read that right, gluten free and vegan naan. Sanaa has long been serving a gluten free naan, but it has been very dairy-filled, which meant I had been still eating falafel chips.Of course, ever the skeptic, I asked to speak with a chef, as I was very curious if this bread was really gluten free and dairy free, or if this was too good to be true. Chef Michelle let me know that it was indeed gluten free and vegan. The restaurant now uses Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Flour instead of cup4cup. I hadn't planned on ordering bread service that on this visit, but gluten free and dairy free naan. I had to have it.We ordered the full bread service with all the dips (minus the cucumber raita which contains dairy), and I was excited to see 5 pieces of naan available with the bread service. This girl loves a good carb, especially one smothered in delicious dips and chutneys.Overall, I have to say, I was pretty pleased with the naan. It was a bit more like flatbread, rather than traditional naan. But the flavors were delicious, and the chickpea flour, in this instance, works really well with the Indian flavors. They were also piping hot from the oven (which is where they prepare them), so I enjoyed immensely. My favorite dips, of course, continue to be the coriander chutney, mango chutney, and the roasted red bell pepper hummus. These are my hands down musts every time I order bread service. I also enjoyed the pickled garlic and the tomato date chutney a lot too. My verdict on the naan? Really good (not amazing but really good), and something I wouldn't hesitate to order again.For my entree, I went with the Durban Shrimp and Goan Seafood Curry. I have to admit, I still very much miss the green curry shrimp and wish it was still around, but I do also really enjoy the Goan Seafood Curry. The first time I tried it, it lived up to its goan (aka spicy) name, but since then it's become very toned down and is quite mild, in my opinion. Which works perfectly with the spicy Durban Shrimp which is ridiculously but deliciously spicy. If you do not like spicy food, avoid this one.Overall, I was really pleased with my meal at Sanaa. It's hard not to love everything about this restaurant - from the food, the special diets accommodations, to the atmosphere. All that was missing on this visit was an African Starr Mint Mojito.Chef Michelle said the dinner menu has changed quite a bit, so I can't wait to check it out sometime soon, especially so I can order the bread service again. They are also working to tweak the recipe, so I can't wait to see how it changes and evolves. If you're curious about other folks' thoughts on the new gluten free and vegan naan bread, check out Alexis' review from Gluten Free in Orlando!Have you been to Sanaa? Are you looking forward to trying the new gluten free and vegan naan? What about the other offerings on the menu?

American Q -- Dinner -- Table Service -- B Resort & Spa

*This dining experience took place in June 2015.If there's one thing I know, I love a good barbecue. From side dishes to smoked meats, there's just something comforting about anything cooked low and slow. I can't say that I've found a great barbecue place on or near Disney property... until now! Thankfully, I can now get my gluten free and dairy free barbecue fix at American Q, located at the B Resort & Spa.The B Resort Resort & Spa located just outside of Downtown Disney and is considered a Downtown Disney Area Hotel. Many of you readers have asked me about the dining options at these hotels for gluten free and special diets diners, and I was thrilled to finally get to check out American Q. This barbecue themed restaurant opened in late summer 2014, and I had been hearing rave things from friends and online from sites like Inside the Magic and Disneyways.com.First things first. When you arrive at B Resort, parking is valet. But, not to worry! If you're dining at American Q, it's free (that's my favorite kind of valet)! Just make sure to take your parking ticket to the American Q team and have them validate it for you. I love this added benefit provided by the resort. This means, parking is easy peasy when you dine at American Q.Of course, after getting out of your car, you'll be intoxicated by the smells of barbecue. In fact, my mom and I both remarked how amazing it smelled, just standing outside of the hotel entrance. Probably the only other hotel that has such amazing smells is Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge which has great restaurants like Boma and Jiko.American Q has it's own side entrance, and you'll find cozy chairs to sit and relax at if you're early for your reservation. Or, you could enjoy the American Q bar...just sayin'!After checking in, my mom and I got a chance to take a look at the buffet, which is set up on a flatbed truck. How cool is that? The food looked delicious, and I was excited to see what options would be available to me as a gluten free and dairy free diner. My friend Leah from Our Florida Project had visited American Q, and she told me that they had loads of gluten free options, which made me very excited about my meal.Our server Ryan greeted us and gave us a full overview of the restaurant, which was great. Essentially, guests have a few options for ordering dinner at American Q. The first, is a la carte. They have a variety of options on the a la carte menu - from ribs to fajitas and everything in between. The other options involve the flatbed buffet.Remember that flatbed truck I mentioned? This buffet is available in two ways. You can choose to just take part in the flatbed buffet with unlimited salads and appetizers. If you choose the full buffet, you get to dine from the flatbed buffet truck AND you get table side carvings of a various smoked meats. This options is a reasonable $34.95, and believe me, well worth it!The restaurant also includes a full bar with some interesting cocktails, like Margarita Thyme (which includes blackberries and thyme) or the Pineapple Mojito. I personally can't resist a mojito, so I ordered the Pineapple version to check it out. It was fabulous, and even better, if you dine between 4-7 p.m. it's happy hour and 1/2 price!After ordering drinks, Chef John came out to talk to me about the options available to me as a gluten free and dairy free diner. Surprisingly, the flatbed truck offered a lot of great choices. The seafood salad, roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes, sweet potato salad, collard greens, and salad bar were all great options for me. They even offered to make me some dairy free corn on the cob, as the version on the buffet was soaking in butter (which my mom proclaimed one of the best versions of corn on the cob she's ever had).All of the table side carved meats are gluten free. The only item that isn't dairy free is the vegetable brochette, which can be made dairy free upon request. The barbecue sauces are all made in house and are gluten free, but do contain dairy. If you're a dairy diner, don't worry, the meats are still absolutely delicious even without the sauces.We were the first folks at the buffet that evening, so I was the first person to dine off the buffet, which helped with cross-contamination concerns; however, the culinary team there is great and were very willing to bring things from the back, upon request.As we were digging in to our first round off the buffet, Executive Chef Justin Leo came by to say hello and to talk a bit about the restaurant. Chef Justin has worked for the Disney Company - serving as Executive Chef at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. He's also worked at Hilton Bonnet Creek and the Swan and Dolphin. Because of this, he's had background and training with Disney's food allergy protocols and even trained chefs on this while working at various resorts. His knowledge and experience really shined through as he talked about food allergy accommodation at American Q.Chef Justin explained that the restaurant works to incorporate styles of barbecue from the U.S. and Latin America - which fits my initial description to my mom of American Q, "Brazilian steakhouse style but with barbecue!" They also like to utilize a lot of Florida local products from the meat (which is high quality and grass fed) right down to the types of wood they use to smoke the meats. They make all of their sauces from scratch and really focus on authentic flavors. And their smoking all of their own meats daily, starting at 6 a.m.!Chef Justin also mentioned that while their dinner is not only gluten free friendly, they also have terrific gluten free and dairy free options for breakfast. They serve gluten free pancakes and Mickey waffles (hurrah!) along with providing staples like gluten free toast. As Chef Justin noted, they do have a lot of special diets guests, so being able to accommodate them is important. Of course, now that I know they have so many great breakfast options, you can bet I'm going to visit for breakfast!So let's dig into the food! (Vegetarians, I warn you now...this post is going to be meat heavy. Look away if you do not want to see copious amounts of barbecued meat. Though, don't be too discouraged! If you visit American Q on Monday nights you can enjoy an entirely vegetarian buffet with their Meatless Mondays).First up - the flatbed buffet. My first plate consisted of seafood salad, a roasted sweet potato with brown sugar and cinnamon, sweet potato salad, and grilled asparagus. The seafood salad was divine. Filled with bright citrus flavors and a bit of a bite from the red onion and peppers, this was a definite hit in my opinion. It was a bit messy with peel and eat shrimp and more, but don't let that deter you from trying it.The roasted asparagus was delicious. Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies. I could have also chosen the roasted mushrooms, which were on the same buffet tray, but I am not a big fan of mushrooms.The sweet potato salad was served cold and definitely a nice change from traditional potato salad. I love the red onion in this.My favorite item on my first plate was the roasted sweet potato with brown sugar and cinnamon. The roasted potato was outstanding with great flavor and texture. This was a great compliment to the salty components on my plate.While we were enjoying our buffet, American Q manager Agnes brought over some Swine Candy for us to try. Made of smoked bacon roasted with molasses & spice, this was absolutely hands down my new favorite dish. I'm not going to lie, I may or may not have had a food moment when I tried this. If you readers know anything about me, you know I love bacon and candied bacon especially. If you go to American Q, even just for drinks. Do yourself a favor. Order Swine Candy.After my bacon revelation, I hit the other side of the buffet, which included salad. Most of the items like mac & cheese were not safe for me to eat, but believe me I did not lack any food options throughout this meal. One thing I loved were all the meat options as toppings for the salad bar which included, ham, turkey, chicken, and bacon. As a former Midwesterner, meat-filled salads are pretty commonplace on a salad bar there. Though ranch dressing (the Midwest salad dressing of choice) was not safe (dairy-filled), I enjoyed the balsamic dressing a lot.The collard greens served at American Q were outrageous. My mom and I both agreed that these collards were some of the best we've had in ages. They are not vegetarian, so be prepared for a very meat heavy collard green (which wade them even more delicious, in my opinion).If you can imagine, I was already getting really full but we hadn't even started with the BBQ meats. At American Q when you want the servers to bring you table side carvings, you put up a sign. When you're taking a break, the sign goes down. There's always time for more Q!Of the table side carvings, we tried out the following:

• Confit of Smoked Turkey Leg
• Bacon Wrapped Boneless Chicken Thigh
• Smoked Pork Shoulder
• Picanha of Beef
• Smoked Chimichurri of Turkey Thigh
• Carolina Style Flank Steak
• Brisket of Beef with Texas Bark
• Vegetable Brochette
• Grilled Pineapple

We loved all the meats, but I have to say that my favorites were the bacon wrapped boneless chicken thigh (everything's better with bacon!), smoked pork shoulder, brisket of beef with Texas bark and grilled pineapple.As you can see, I had plenty of options to choose from as a gluten free and dairy free diner at American Q, and best of all? It was all delicious! My mom and I both proclaimed this to be a restaurant we have to take my whole family to dine.We absolutely adored the ambiance, the food, and American Q team. I have to say a big thanks to Chef Justin, Chef John, server Ryan and manager Agnes for making our meal delicious, safe, and memorable. We will definitely be back to American Q, and hopefully soon!For more information about American Q located at the B Resort & Spa, check out: http://www.americanq.com/

I was hosted at this dinner as a guest of American Q. I was not required to write this post and all opinions are my own.

Rebel Hangar -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in June 2015.Star Wars™ Weekends is one of my favorite times of the year at Hollywood Studios. I'm a huge Star Wars™ fan and love all the special events surrounding Star Wars™ Weekends. Last year, Disney launched several new dining experiences including the Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast which was super fun, and equally fun when I went this year in 2015. I love the character interaction and Star Wars™ theming!Of course, you can imagine how excited I got when they announced this year's newest Star Wars™ Weekends dining experience - the Rebel Hangar. In fact, it was so popular, the initial ADR slots available booked up quickly (I heard around 2 hours!). I was lucky to snag a reservation for the very final weekend of Star Wars™ Weekends.Set in a blocked off section of the Backlot Express, the Rebel Hangar offers drinks and small plates. It is definitely not a full dinner location. Of course, my family and I had enjoyed a very filling meal at Mama Melrose earlier in the day for lunch, so we were totally fine with a few small plates.It was a very hot June day, and one thing we noticed about the Rebel Hangar is that there is indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor was blissfully air conditioned while outside was pretty muggy (exactly what you expect on a Florida June day). We didn't ask for a particular seating but were glad to be seated indoors.The theming isn't overly flashy, but each table contains some type of Star Wars™ model and there were loads of Star Wars™ touches throughout the dining area. Essentially, they did a bunch of small touches to overlay the existing Backlot Express interior.In terms of options, there were several available to gluten free diners. Thankfully, Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando had shared her experience at the Rebel Hangar and listed the gluten free options available to guests. Some dishes, like the Pomme Frites (aka French fries) contained dairy (parmesan cheese). After speaking with a chef, I decided to get the Slider Sampler which contained barbecued chicken and barbecued chicken sandwiches along with house-made chips (which were gluten free & dairy free). The sandwiches were modified to be dairy free (removed coleslaw) and served on GNI brand buns.While we waiting for our food, we got to experience some unique entertainment. As we sat and chatted, we noticed that several characters began to come into the Rebel Hangar. Initially, we thought the characters were going to go around to tables for photographs and autographs (much like the Star Wars™ Galactic Dine-In or the Star Wars™ Character Dinner at Hollywood & Vine; however, we realized they were all sitting at a table playing cards!It was super cool to watch this, and I almost wonder if Disney is testing this kind of experience for new restaurant experiences. It was nothing like I've ever experienced before at Disney. Generally, they were performing a "skit" while several Disney cast members stood by so people didn't engage with them (more than taking photos), and another cast member was recording the scene with an iPhone.The characters engaged in a card game for about 10-15 minutes and then were interrupted by members of the Empire (aka Stormtroopers!) after a fight broke out and several of the characters were arrested while the card game was broken up. It was pretty neat to watch -- almost like Disney dinner theatre!Pretty shortly after the characters left the Rebel Hangar, our food came out. My slider sampler looked really good, but I have to say it was a bit hit or miss. I loved the house made potato chips. Those were delicious! The beef brisket slider was very tasty but I found the barbecued chicken slider to be rather bland. In both cases, the buns were horribly heated and very dry and crumbly. Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando also noted this in her experience, so it sounded like they just had some challenges heating the buns. Overall, I wouldn't say I disliked the slider sampler, but I'm not sure I'd order it again if the Rebel Hangar came back next year.My family ordered the Pomme Frites and really enjoyed them. They liked the presentation, the seasoning (garlic & parmesan) and the garlic aioli. Next time, I would see if they could make the fries dairy free and still offer the aioli.One final experience at the Rebel Hangar were the Jawas. As you know from my meals at the Sc-Fi Dine-In Galactic Breakfast, I adore these fellas! They were, of course, looking for shiny things to trade with us, though this time we came up empty handed. Still, they were great fun coming through the restaurant interacting with guests.Overall, I really enjoyed the Rebel Hangar Lounge experience. The food wasn't anything special but we had a great time, and we really enjoyed the character atmosphere. If Disney offered this again next year, we'd definitely go back for an affordable and fun way to participate in character dining (note: Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando did not experience any characters when she visited, so this may be subject to availability).Did you get a chance to go to the Rebel Hangar this year? What did you order when you dined there? 

Mama Melrose -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in June 2015.  Oh Mama Mia! Mama Melrose located at Disney's Hollywood Studios reminds me of the classic New York Italian restaurants. With great atmosphere and delicious smells coming from the wood fire, it's a wonder that it's been five years since I've eaten at Mama Melrose! After reading reviews from Alexis at Gluten Free in Orlando, I knew I needed to make a reservation to try Mama Melrose again.I love that Mama Melrose has a backstory (who knew, right?). You can read all about it on the Disney Food Blog along with non-special diets dining reviews (great for looking at photos of the restaurant). When we arrived, it was just after lunch opening (11:30 a.m.) so the restaurant was fairly quite early on. You can see from my photo, the charming lighting and rustic cozy tables.After being seated, I was given the restaurant's allergy-friendly menu. It's amazing to see how many restaurants have already released these throughout the parks and resorts. You can see the different ones I have listed on the blog on the menus page.One thing that I've learned very quickly with the new menus is that you can and should still consult with a Disney chef. In fact, our server suggested it (she also had celiac disease so totally understood the process). They also recommend that anyone with multiple special dietary needs, like me, always check with a guest. When I dined at ABC Commissary recently, they wouldn't even take my order unless I talked to the manager.One thing to note about the menu - the Flatbreads are not listed as gluten free. They can make gluten free pizzas/flatbreads using Udi's Gluten Free crusts. I did not ask if they had dairy free cheese, but I believe that they used to.Dairy free is always a challenge, and with the new menus they tend to be very dairy heavy. However, when I talked to Chef Will, he was great at coming up with dairy free options. The mixed green salad for example, could be made without cheese and was another great appetizer option (I actually ordered it, but they forgot to bring it out until I was halfway done through my meal so I didn't actually eat it).Most of the entrees could be modified for dairy free. The pasta with vodka sauce for instance could be made with just a marinara sauce. After some discussion, I opted for the Satlimbocca which was very dairy heavy but became modified with the removal of cheese and subbing the mashed potatoes for a gluten free pasta and a melange of sautéed vegetables. So, if you're feeling uncertain, definitely check with a chef and see what options you can come up with.The restaurant also carries the GNI brand rolls, which they served with extra virgin olive oil and herbs. These rolls are great when they are well heated, but this time they were sadly very dry and crumbly. Of course, the olive oil and herbs helped make them palatable. As I mentioned, I didn't get my salad, but I was thrilled when I got my entree. The grilled pork was really delicious (great grill flavor) and the salty prosciutto ended up getting cut up and tossed with my pasta. The pasta was actually quite good and well cooked (not gummy or mushy at all). And I loved the vegetables sautéed in olive oil with salt, pepper, and some garlic. Chef Will used a combination of broccoflower (super delish!), broccolini, sundried tomatoes, green beans, carrots, and onions. The dish wasn't too heavy, and I felt very satisfied after eating it.Overall, I really enjoyed my meal at Mama Melrose. I wouldn't say it's the best Italian I've ever had, but it was good. Chef Will was also super nice and very accommodating with the dairy free options. My family also all loved the food they got, and everyone felt pretty satisfied with the meal overall. We'd definitely go back, and I won't wait another 5 years between visits!Have you been to Mama Melrose? What did you order when you dined there? 

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans French Quarter

*This dining experience took place in June 2015. Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory located at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort completely evokes New Orleans. With vibrant music playing in the background, N'awlins inspired fare, and Mardi Gras style theming, you'll swear you landed on Bourbon Street when you dine here. I've enjoyed many meals here, but of course, Sassagoula's claim to fame are the gluten free beignets. I've spent entirely too many visits here covered in powdered sugar after eating these deep-fried gems, so to say it's a favorite spot to visit is an understatement.On this particular occasion, I stopped by to grab lunch (and beignets, of course!). Chef Tony greeted me with the new allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu available at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory. You can also check out their breakfast menu here on the blog too. There were quite a few choices for both gluten and dairy free, and options to customize others not on the list as well. On a previous visit, I had a chicken sandwich (Po'Boy style) so this time I opted for the fish sandwich, which was a favorite of mine over at Riverside Mill (hello, remoulade!)I told Chef Tony to surprise me with a side dish, and he brought me out a bounty of French fries with a side of Remoulade (which is dairy free, as it is mayonnaise-based). Ah, I love it when the chefs at Disney restaurants know you all too well.This sandwich itself was delicious. The bun (which was Local Oven) was nicely toasted and worked really well with the sandwich (and the perfect vessel for remoulade goodness). The fish that day was Mahi Mahi, which is a fish I enjoy a lot. It has a great texture and isn't too flaky like cod or tilapia. It really holds up well in sandwich form.The fries were standard Disney fries but became transformed immediately when using my extra remoulade as a dipping sauce. If you like sauces, I can highly recommend this...mayonnaise-based sauces and fries were made for each other!Of course no visit to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory is complete without an order of beignets -- and these did not disappoint (really, how can anything deep fried and covered in powdered sugar?!). I love that these are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soy free, and vegan! Want to recreate them at home? You can totally do that with the recipe from Port Orleans French Quarter!As always, I enjoyed my lunch at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory. They are consistently terrific at handling special dietary needs, have unique options like beignets, and the food is excellent. It's definitely one of my favorite resort quick service locations!Have you been to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory? What did you order there?

Olivia's -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Old Key West

*This dining experience took place in May 2015.Olivia's located in Disney's Old Key West Resort is one of those restaurants I love to dine at. With a charming atmosphere and relaxing vibe, you'll feel like you are in Key West any time you dine here.In fact, I've dined here so much, the chefs and servers tend to recognize me. The team here is known for remembering faces of frequent Disney Vacation Club vacationers, and I'm sure as a special diets diner they remember you even more. After we arrived, we were greeted by Chef Corey who said, "You've been here a bunch of times before, haven't you?" Why yes, yes, I have!Because I've been there many times, I knew exactly what I wanted. The poached eggs and hash have been a staple of mine for the last several times I've visited. I love sweet potatoes and hash, plus poached eggs. Well, those are a win-wins for me. The only thing I can't get with this dish is the Hollondaise sauce, which isn't a huge loss for me, given how tasty everything else in this entree is.In addition to the hash and poached eggs, I also got Udi's Gluten Free white sandwich bread toast along with Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread (they do not carry the soy free version). I'm so glad that Olivia's carries both of these products, as they make the breakfast complete.The dish on this visit was delicious, though my eggs were a little more hard poached than I would have liked. I love a good runny poached eggs with hash and toast any day!Overall, Olivia's continues to be one a great location for a quiet and relaxing breakfast at Disney. It's truly a hidden gem of a restaurant, one that has great atmosphere, service, and food.Have you been to Olivia's? What did you order when you dined there?

ABC Commissary -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in May 2015.Hurray for Hollywood! ABC Commissary is Disney's Hollywood Studios dining location to the stars, and you'll feel like you walked into a film lot commissary when you dine here. I love the California vibe, with real palm trees inside the restaurant. This restaurant is filled with loads of seating, and most importantly... air conditioned! Having recently dined here during a very hot Star Wars Weekend, I can attest to the joys of dining indoors on a hot day.On this particular occasion, I wasn't very hungry, as I had dined earlier in the day at Sci-Fi Dine In for the Star Wars Galactic Breakfast where I ate as much as a Wookie, so I didn't need a meal that was really large. My family wanted to go to ABC Commissary, as it's an easy quick service location with solid meal options. I enjoy dining there because they have allergy friendly chicken tenders and most recently, they launched an allergy friendly menu.Though the menu covers multiple special dietary needs, when I arrived at the ordering podium, the cast member radioed a manager, because I have multiple dietary restrictions. However, I am told that if you only have one dietary restriction, you can order directly from the menu without consulting with a manager (though you can ask for one, if you wish). There are several options available to gluten free and dairy free diners (like burgers, chicken club, or even roasted salmon); however, I ordered my favorite allergy friendly chicken tenders.Allergy orders arrive on green trays and are brought to you by the manager. On this visit, the wait was a bit lengthy, but that was because there were several special diets orders being prepared.As always, I enjoyed the allergy friendly chicken tenders and fries from ABC Commissary. They aren't as crispy as the ones made at Columbia Harbour house, but they are definitely still really excellent. That's one of the many reasons that ABC Commissary made my Top 10 Quick Service Restaurants at Disney World with a Special Diet list.Have you been to ABC Commissary? What did you order when you dined there?

Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast Gluten Free and Nut Free Menu

Note: This menu was introduced as part of Star Wars™ Weekends Dine-In Galactic Breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine-In in 2015.*This menu is strictly gluten free and nut free. If you have other dietary needs, please discuss them with a Disney chef who can assist you with options available. 

Menu pricing is fixed - $49.99 Adults, $31.99 Children (ages 9 and under)

Star Wars Breakfast PastriesBlueberry Muffin, Double Chocolate Muffin, and a donut Anchorhead AppetizersGreek yogurt parfait with fresh berries or Seasonal fresh fruit with berriesEntreesThe Dune Sea - Scrambled eggs, crab, asparagus, and gruyere cheese with roasted tomatoes and avocadoThe Kessel Run - Grilled beef tenderloin on baby spinach with bacon and cheddar custard on a roasted tomato with roasted fingerling potatoesTatooine Sunrise - Scrambled eggs, Nueske's bacon, sausage, and roasted fingerling potatoesSci-Fi Waffles - Waffles topped with bananas, brown sugar, and whipped creamAckbar Surprise - Smoked paprika-dusted shrimp pan-seared and served with cheesy grits, chorizo oil drizzle Mos Eisleys Morning - Egg white omelet with shiitake mushrooms and caramelized onions, garlic roasted fingerling potatoes, and Greek yogurt with berriesKids' MenuKenobi Cuisine - Scrambled eggs, Nueske's bacon, sausage, and roasted fingerling potatoesGamorrean Goodness - Waffles topped with bananas, brown sugar, and whipped creamPhotos of the Menus:As always, make sure to contact a Disney Cast Member when ordering so that they can ensure the best standards for dealing with cross contamination, etc.

If you have a new special dietary needs menu and want to share it with readers, you can send it to me via email at gfdf.wdw@gmail.com

Star Wars Character Breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine-In 2015 — Table Service — Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in May 2015.Note: The Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast is a special character dining experience that took place during the 2015 Star Wars™ Weekends.Last year, Star Wars™ Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios offered several new meal experiences: Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast and Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars™ Dine at Hollywood and Vine. I dined at both locations and had a great time, especially at the Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine In! For the 2015 Star Wars™ Weekends, we decided to make reservations for the Sci-Fi Dine-In Galactic breakfast for the first Star Wars™ Weekend. We were excited to get into the weekend spirit with a terrific early morning breakfast. Before we arrived, we made sure to get our ride on. Nothing says Star Wars™ Weekends like an 8 a.m. ride on Star Tours! After our flight to Endor, we headed to the Sci-Fi Dine-In. The check-in area was busy, but we only had a short wait (about 10 minutes or "light speed" in Star Wars-speak) before we were moved to the photo line. The Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast is pricey $49.99 per person (for adults) and $31.99 per child (under 9), but we found that for a once a year experience to us, it was worth it. First up, before you get seated, you get moved to a photo opportunity with Boba Fett and Darth Vader (who are not walking around the dining area). Last year this photo opportunity was included with your dining experience; however, as I later learned -- this year it was not. That was a bummer because if I had known I would have asked to have the Photopass photographer take a photo on my iPhone. Boba Fett and Darth Vader really got into character and before you knew it, Boba Fett was pushing you out of the way...Puts a whole new meaning to the Star Wars quote "Move along, nothing to see here." Sci-Fi Dine is set to resemble an old drive-in, so you get to sit in "cars." I love the atmosphere and the big screen showing Star Wars™film clips is really fun! They even showed previews from the latest Star Wars™film coming out in December 2015. After being seated, I was presented with a gluten free and nut free menu for breakfast. Because I am also dairy free, the server said they would get the chef to go over options. The breakfast was very similar to last year's offerings, so I had a good sense of what might be available. I didn't ask about the waffles, but last year they were Van's gluten free waffles, not the allergy Mickey waffles I adore. If you're curious about where to find allergy Mickey waffles at Disney, check out my Allergy Mickey waffles location guide. I decided to order the Tatooine Sunrise, which is what I ordered last year. However, I subbed out the regular scrambled eggs with the eggs, crab and asparagus from the Dune Sea entree. I also asked for a side of the paprika dusted shrimp from the shrimp & grits entree, which I got last year (and were delicious). You can read the full gluten free and nut free menu offerings at Sci-Fi Dine In Galactic Breakfast on the menu page (including the kids menu).While waiting for our first course, which was breakfast pastries, we took in the sights and sounds of the Sci-Fi Dine In! And of course, several characters including Storm Troopers, Jawas, and Greedo were wandering about throughout the meal to take photos, sign autographs, and (in the case of those pesky Jawas) trading shiny things! The breakfast at the Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast is a la carte with several courses brought to your table. Up first is a pastry course. I was served three items:

• Udi's Gluten Free Blueberry Muffin
• Udi's Gluten Free Double Chocolate Muffin
• Kinnikinnick Vanilla Glazed Donut

I was brought the plate before the chef could explain, so make sure to ask if you are unsure about products. As a side note, it's really dark in Sci-Fi Dine In, so as a part of your meal, you get a light saber glo stick! Of course, photos require a lot of flash, so be prepared. The next course served is fruit or a yogurt parfait. Since yogurt is out for me, the only dairy free option is fresh fruit. Last year, they offered a fruit bowl that was almost entirely melon. Sure, the Melon shaped Yoda head was adorable but melon is not my personal favorite. In fact, it's my least favorite fruit. I asked if I could get mixed fruit or strawberries and was brought a fresh bowl of strawberries for my fruit option. While we were waiting for our entree, our friends the Jawas decided to make an appearance (they stopped by twice at our table; they knew a good trading group when they found it). Jawas like shiny things (last year, they brought me a spoon... because well, it's shiny!) and they loveStar Wars™ inspired items. Case in point, last year we traded Star Wars™Magic Band decor. This year, it was all about pin trading, and the first round we got a Phineas & Ferb pin, which got later traded for a Star Wars™ coin/medallion. Remember folks, there's no harm in trying to trade up with the Jawas. My entree and side dish arrived, and good thing -- I was as hungry as a Wookie. The bacon and sausage were delicious (no stringy Disney bacon there!) and the roasted potatoes with garlic were just as delicious as the year before. The crab and asparagus scrambled eggs were yummy, and something I'd definitely get again. And the shrimp was equally delicious. Throughout the meal, we took photo breaks with Greedo and the Storm Troopers. Though, I had to keep telling the Storm Troopers that my breakfast was "not the breakfast they were looking for." Those silly Storm Troopers never learned...Last year's breakfast ended with a special dessert, which was not included at this year's breakfast. I don't think any of us missed it, as we were all pretty much feeling like Jaba the Hutt after our breakfast. We definitely did not go hungry.Overall, my family loves this special breakfast experience at Sci-Fi Dine In during Star Wars™ Weekends. It's one we'll continue to go to every year because we had so much fun! I was pleased to see the new gluten free and nut free menu this year and hope they continue to improve the offerings each year! If you want to read more about the breakfast and see other photos, check out the Disney Food Blog for non-special diets related info from last year. Have you been to the Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast? What did you think of the offerings? 

Boma: Flavors of Africa -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge

*This dining experience took place in May 2015.Boma: Flavors of Africa has long been regarded as one of the best buffets at Disney World, and they are well-known for their delicious brunch. In fact, the Disney Food Blog ranked high on their, "The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney: Breakfast" list. While the options featured on the Disney Food Blog aren't exactly gluten free and dairy free friendly, there are tons of special diets friendly meal offerings at Boma brunch, which is one of the many reasons it's my personal favorite breakfast buffet on Disney property. Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando also enjoys this buffet breakfast, and you can read about her previous visits, including the gluten free Bananas Foster & Pecan Praline Mickey waffles, on her blog. On this particular occasion, my visit to Boma was a special request from my mom. We were celebrating Mother's Day, and this was her pick for brunch. My entire family loves Boma because the food is so delicious and the offerings are different than a typical breakfast buffet (though you will find a lot of common brunch options available).Usually when I dine at Boma, I see Chef Frank, Chef Chris, or Chef Vickie but on this visit Chef Norma helped me out. She was just as terrific as the other Boma chefs and really went above and beyond to make my breakfast delicious and safe. Typically, the chefs will walk the buffet line with you, pointing out safe items for your special dietary needs. Of course, it is a buffet, so cross-contamination is always a potential risk. The culinary team is terrific at bringing items from the back for you. On this visit, a good portion of my food came from the back to avoid cross-contamination. I usually get the carved meats and grilled items from the buffet but ask for the rest from the back. That includes omelets and allergy Mickey waffles. First up was the carving and grill station. Both the carved turkey and ham on the breakfast buffet are safe to consume and oh so delicious. Their ham is probably my most favorite on property. I also love the grilled tomatoes, grilled asparagus (which was insanely good on this visit), chakalaka (stewed tomatoes and peppers), and pap (which is now completely dairy free, only using water to make it). The breakfast meats on the buffet (sausage and bacon) are also gluten free and dairy free. Chef Norma mentioned that the tater tots are gluten free and dairy free but are placed directly next to the bread pudding and offered to bring me fresh tater tots from the back. I have to say that I loved the seasoning on the tots. The African spices along with the fried tots was the perfect combination. Ever since Chef Frank introduced me to the banana walnut gluten free and dairy free Mickey waffles, I've been hooked. Made with banana chips and toasted walnuts and piping hot real maple syrup, these are easily my favorite thing about Boma brunch. This time, I restrained myself and only ordered two. Chef Normal also brought out an Udi's blueberry muffin and some Enjoy Life Cookies. They also still have Kinnikinnick donuts on hand, and I should have asked for one. I haven't had them in ages, and they are always a delicious breakfast treat. Of course, I did not go hungry at this breakfast by any means. I also got a ham and onion omelet. I get this every time I go to Boma (for like 5+ years). I love the diced ham they have here and the finely chopped onions. Best omelets EVER! Another staple is the hot quinoa. I was told by Chef Normal that they oatmeal they use is now gluten free, but she wasn't able to tell me the brand (I know that Bob's Red Mill and Ancient Harvest are currently being used on property, as of this post). And lastly (as if I hadn't eaten enough at this point), I had fresh pineapple. This is another must-do when I dine at Boma. I get it every time, and I swear there pineapple is some of the best.  Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boma. It really is one of my Disney must-do's! I usually visit several times a year because it's just that good. If you are more of a dinner person, they also have a wonderful dinner buffet as well. Have you been to Boma? Which do you prefer -- breakfast or dinner? 

Sunshine Seasons -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in April 2015.Sunshine Seasons located at the Land Pavilion in Epcot's Future World continues to be one of my favorite quick service restaurants on Disney property. In addition to getting a chance to consult with the culinary team instead of a manager, this quick service dining location is also known for being fairly flexible at customizing dishes during lunch and dinner. For several years now, their grill station has also been entirely gluten free and usually only has one item that contains dairy (the mashed potatoes). So you can imagine what a great go-to quick service this is in Epcot.Over the years, I've rotated ordering the rotisserie chicken, slow-roasted pork and grilled fish (which used to be mahi mahi). And on this particular occasion, I decided to go with the grilled salmon which I had not had on their menu before. When ordering, the chef confirmed with me that everything was gluten free and dairy free, with the exception of the mashed potatoes which contained dairy. Even the sauces that accompany the dishes are gluten free and dairy free. That's win-win!The grilled salmon typically comes with roasted potatoes, green beans with garlic, and a tomato chutney. I decided to skip the chutney on this visit, primarily because I haven't loved the sauces that Sunshine Seasons makes over the years. I found that the simple grilled fish, potatoes, and green beans were still flavorful.The grilled salmon was nicely cooked (a little overcooked, but I did expect that a bit) and the roasted potatoes were delicious. I enjoyed the green beans a lot, as they were full of garlic. If you are not a garlic fan, you might want to ask for another side with your entree. The cast members at Sunshine Seasons are always willing to swap sides too!Though I didn't get dessert, I loved that directly next to the grill station is a special diets grab and go section with lots of sweet treats, including Enjoy Life Foods Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies. They have quite a few gluten free and dairy free options (and many free of other allergens, as well).In addition to the grill station, there are also other gluten free (and dairy free) options at the other stations. You can read about the soup & salad options and the Asian noodle station options on Gluten Free in Orlando's website.Overall, I love being able to stop at Sunshine Seasons. They serve quick service meals that aren't just burgers and fries, and I love having that option when I'm in Epcot.Have you been to Sunshine Seasons? What did you order when you dined there?

Artist Point -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in April 2015. Artist Point, located in Disney's Wilderness Lodge, is a signature dining location with Pacific Northwest inspired food and decor. It's been several years since I've been to this restaurant, and after reading Eating WDW's recent review, I was hoping to go back soon. As luck would have it, my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando had also been hoping to visit Artist Point, especially after reading about the new allergy-friendly dining menus being launched at signature dining locations at Disney in April. So, when she invited me for dinner, I of course said yes! Disney's Wilderness Lodge is one of my favorite resorts. I adore the theming and the general look and feel of the resort. Each of the restaurants has a distinct theme to them, and Artist Point reflects the Craftsman style of the early 20th century. The decor is simple and understated, which I love given the sprawling window views of the lodge grounds. After being seated, we were given the new allergy-friendly menu for Artist Point, which includes the top 8 common allergens: gluten/wheat, dairy/milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish. Our server noted that we could also order items not on the special diets menu and that the chef could work to create something delicious. Because of the new menu, the chef does not come typically out, unless we requested (which we did, to ask questions).One interesting thing to note is that our server indicated that some dishes on the regular menu were indeed gluten free or allergy friendly but not listed on the new menu, which seemed a bit strange; however, my guess is the restaurant chose to feature the most allergy-friendly dishes on their new allergy-friendly menu, rather than just gluten free dishes. I had been eyeing the Pho on the menu, which was not on the allergy-friendly menu. Pho is typically gluten free and dairy free, so I was curious as to why it wasn't listed. Alexis and I also had some questions about the no sugar added cobbler. When the chef came out, he mentioned that the Pho was gluten free & dairy free and that he could substitute rice for the rice noodles, if I wanted. I opted to get the pho with the rice noodles, since that is how it is traditionally served and how it was listed on the menu. I debated about getting the salmon but decided the pho sounded delicious (and after ordering the seafood hot pot the last time, I didn't think I would be disappointed ordering it). Alexis ordered the salmon (which looked delicious) and you can read her full review on Gluten Free in Orlando. First up, we were brought GNI brand rolls. I really like these rolls when they are properly heated, but on this visit (like the last time I went to Artist Point), they were not. In fact, one of my rolls was still cold in the middle. I was served extra virgin olive oil with my rolls, and I missed the version I had the last time that had turmeric in it. When my entree arrived, I have to say that I was fairly impressed by the giant prawns in my dish. Like the last time I visited Artist Point, they were served with the heads on, which may be unappealing to some. Pro tip: ask for an extra bowl. Between the mussels and head-on shrimp, I needed all the extra room I could get. The broth itself was very flavorful and a bit spicy. The broth was red curry based, and I loved that the dish contained fresh ginger and garlic. The seafood was cooked perfectly, and the shrimp were outrageously good. If only I could get those on a regular basis! My only complaint for this dish was the bowl in which it was held. It was a bit too fancy and oddly shaped for the rustic and messy deliciousness that is pho.For dessert, I decided to order the berry cobbler. I had heard rave reviews of this, and I was excited to try it (though less thrilled that it was sugar free - I'm not personally a fan of sugar free substitutes). The chef said this was made using a product called "one to one" which I'd never heard of & the crust was made with Namaste.I have to be honest in that I was disappointed with this dessert. It wasn't very warm and the cobbler crust seemed almost stale to me. It was dry, crumbly, and not particularly tasty. The shining stars in this dessert were the berries (which I love regardless of what dish they are in) and the house-made sorbet that had huge chunks of fresh berries in it. It's unfortunate that my experience wasn't so great, but I've heard so many great reviews of this, that I'm hoping I just had an off day experience. I'm not sure I'd order it again. At $11, it was pretty steeply priced, and I think that I'd rather go make a trip to Port Orleans French Quarter for gluten free and food-allergy friendly beignets. I enjoyed my meal at Artist Point, though I can't say that I'd probably go there again anytime soon. There are loads of places on property, like Sanaa or Boatwright's that I enjoy more. For signature dining, I would probably choose Jiko, Hollywood Brown Derby, or California Grill over Artist Point. It's not that it was bad by any means, but my personal taste prefers those other restaurants. I also did just visit Portland, OR for a week where I had amazing Pacific Northwest fare, so my experience may have been a bit shadowed by that. I will say that if you're looking for a quiet and romantic signature dining experience, Artist Point fits the bill quite nicely. The new allergy-friendly menu is proof that the menu has a lot of offerings for those with special dietary needs. Have you been to Artist Point? Will you go now that they have new allergy-friendly menus?

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

*This dining experience took place in March 2015.Cooke's of Dublin located in Disney Springs (aka Downtown Disney) has to be my favorite quick service location at Downtown Disney. Sharing some kitchen facilities with Raglan Road Irish Pub, Cooke's of Dublin offers a convenient way to grab your fish and chips and other Irish fare. One of my favorite things about Cooke's of Dublin is that they offer tons of gluten free (and dairy free) options including many fried options. Of course, I tend to prefer dining in at Raglan Road, but Cooke's of Dublin is my go-to when I need a delicious meal quickly at Disney Springs. If you're looking for a full review of Cooke's of Dublin, check out the review on the Disney Food Blog. There are tons of photos and background about the restaurant itself. (note: the food featured on the Disney Food Blog is not gluten free or dairy free). On this particular visit, I wanted to grab dinner after a work seminar before I headed home but didn't really want to go to a table service restaurant. And, I was craving fried shrimp. Cooke's of Dublin was definitely the obvious choice for my meal. When I arrived, I noticed that some of the menu options had changed and that the fried scallops & chips (which I adored) was no longer on the menu. This is such a bummer that they no longer carry this, but never fear. You can still get your fried scallops and sweet chili jam craving fixed by heading next door to Raglan Road. Raglan Road is still serving the scallops as an appetizer option. I placed my shrimp & chips order at the counter and always double-check with the staff that the batter is still gluten free and dairy free. I have to admit that the wait for this was a bit longer than normal, which was a surprise as the restaurant wasn't that busy (it was the end of Spring Break, so that was surprising). When it arrived, I could tell that my shrimp looked over-fried; however, it wasn't until I ate them that I realized how over-fried they were. They still tasted good enough, but weren't as delicious as they normally are due to the over-frying. Still, I had condiments on hand to smother the poor shrimp which helped.I've never had a bad frying experience at Cooke's of Dublin before, so I'm chalking this one up to some weird kitchen fluke and would still definitely get the shrimp & chips again. Cooke's of Dublin now has a gluten free dessert option (not dairy free): zucchini cupcakes. You can see photos and read about this new treat at Gluten Free in Orlando's website. Or, you can stop around the corner to Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC and grab tons of delicious gluten free and allergy friendly treats (which is exactly what I did!). Have you been to Cooke's of Dublin? What did you order when you dined there? 

Splitsville -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in February 2015.Splitsville is a great place in Disney Springs (aka Downtown Disney) to grab a bite to eat and spend the afternoon bowling. It's one of my favorite places to meet up with friends without having to go to the parks. Whether you're just eating or dining and bowling, it's sure to be a retro-inspired blast. Splitsville debuted new gluten free menu items in 2015, and I had a chance to get a sneak peek of them back in November. The new ahi tuna bowl is one of my favorite things at Splitsville, and I, of course, am a huge fan of the fantasy roll sushi. On this particular visit, I stopped by for a light dinner and knew I wanted to get a sushi roll and a rice bowl to split. It was a tough call to not order the fantasy roll, but I decided to try the spicy tuna which is made with spicy mayo, cucumber and scallions then drizzled with sriracha hot sauce. I love spicy tuna, so it was the perfect new roll to try. With 8 pieces, this might be a smaller entree if you ordered it as a meal, but it was a great pre-rice bowl appetizer. The tuna was very fresh and the spicy mayo worked really well with the sriracha. Of course, srirarcha is good with anything in my opinion! I would definitely order this again, although I have to admit next time I'm going back to the fantasy roll or ahi tuna rice bowl. They are just too good to pass up.Splitsville's rice bowls are very popular, and I have to say they are really delicious. I am a huge rice lover and a fan of all things stir-fry, so they are a perfect dish for me. I like that they have a good variety in rice bowls, so there's something for everyone. You can read about the rice bowls and some of Alexis' favorites over at Gluten Free in Orlando. This rice bowl was quite good, though I still was wishing I had ordered the ahi tuna rice bowl. What can I say? I love tuna and rice! Overall, I enjoyed my meal at Splitsville and the gluten free offerings available. The staff always seem knowledgeable about gluten free options and are willing to consult with the kitchen on dairy free alternatives as well. I can't wait to go back and order my beloved fantasy roll sometime soon! Have you been to Splitsville? What did you order when you dined there? 

Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in March 2015.It's been quite some time since I've been to the Polynesian Resort and Kona Cafe. The biggest reason has been the ongoing refurbishment/construction of the resort. The resort itself still has a fair amount of construction to be done, but on this visit, I got to see all the progress they've made. The lobby has been completely redone and has some gorgeous new lights and terrific looking new furniture. The one thing it's missing is the old water fixture but I'm glad to see they have a small one, as an homage to the former lobby.On this particular occasion, I visited Kona Cafe for lunch. After admiring the new lobby (and the soon to be opened Trader Sam's Grog Grotto), I checked in for lunch at Kona. The staff noted my special dietary needs, though I was given a regular menu instead of the special diets menus that I've received in the past. When I server came to the table, she said she would need to get the chef because of having multiple dietary needs involved in my order. I'm not sure if the special diets menus are still at Kona, though I suspect they are and aren't given out to guests who have multiple dietary needs, unless requested. I'll have to check on this the next time I'm there.I was greeted by Chef Johnny, who has been a chef at the Polynesian for sometime now. He was at Kona for a very long time but then moved to Ohana. However, I'm told he bounces back and forth between restaurants now.   For my lunch, I ordered my favorite lunch item - the Kona Island Chicken Sandwich with sweet potato fries and curry mango mayonnaise. The curry mango mayonnaise is the best and so delicious on the side as a dipping sauce with the sweet potato fries.Overall, the entree was really good. The only real downfall for me was the GNI brand bun. It was really tiny for my sandwich, and it was also not heated very well (which meant it was beyond crumbly). I'd love to see the Local Oven bun or even the Udi's Gluten Free bun as an alternative, as they are both much larger and also less apt to be crumbly. The bacon used for the sandwich is terrific thick-cut bacon, and it all combines together for a great sandwich.I was pleased to see that my favorite curry mango mayonnaise was still at Kona, as was the Island Chicken Sandwich. I will definitely pop by again for lunch because this is consistently one of my favorite sandwiches on property. Have you been to Kona Cafe? What do you like to order when you dine there?

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop -- Snack -- Table Service -- Beach Club

*This dining experience took place in March 2015. Located in Disney's Beach Club Resort is Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. This ice cream parlor reminds me of those classic 1950s ice cream and soda shops -- complete with hamburgers & fries, milkshakes and amazing sundaes (and let's not forget the infamous Kitchen Sink - a gigantic serving for four of literally every sundae item the restaurant has). It's been a while since I've dined at Beaches & Cream, in fact my last review here on the blog was from 2011. That was when I discovered the awesomeness that is the Beaches & Cream peanut butter sauce! Beaches & Cream has two options for ice cream goers. The first is the traditional table service where you can order ice cream treats and a savory items like burgers and fries. The second is a quick service counter style, located directly next to the table service seating area and accessible by a separate door. This place is pretty darn busy, and it used to be that you could only get walk-ups to dine here. That's right, no ADRs! Luckily, that has now changed and you can make reservations to enjoy a visit here. On this particular occasion, we actually did not have a reservation but stopped by to see if we could get a walk-in. Luckily, we were able to get counter seating which was terrific. Before we were even seated, I notified the hostess of my special dietary needs, and she marked our ticket with "allergy." Once seated, the manager came out to discuss options for me. Since I love the peanut butter sauce, I asked if I could have a modified version of the No Way Jose ice cream sundae. She said not a problem, and offered me a choice of Tofutti (which they have in chocolate and vanilla) and Rice Dream (in vanilla only). The No Way Jose typically comes with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, so I opted for the Tofutti. When you order special diets sundaes or food at Beaches and Cream, they will prepare it entirely in the back to avoid cross contamination. Watching the servers make sundaes at the counter, I can definitely attest to the high level of cross contamination that posed there.  After a fairly minimal wait, I was brought out a huge sundae. I was not prepared for the size of this thing! Tons of non-dairy ice cream smothered with peanut butter sauce, chocolate syrup and chocolate chips was the way to go. I'm fairly certain I didn't speak for a good 15 minutes while I ate this sundae. If you like peanut butter and chocolate this is the combo to get.*Note: A blog reader mentioned that they were told the chocolate chips were not safe to consume for dairy free special diets; however, I was told by the manager that the chocolate chips only contained soy (likely soy lecithin). I didn't feel sick afterwards, so I'm hopeful that these are indeed a safe option! The manager did not include the peanut butter morsels on my sundae, which did contain dairy (same with the whipped cream).Overall, I had a great sundae at Beaches and Cream. It's a great go-to sundae stop, and they do have a large variety of options for toppings. I'm looking forward to going back again in the summertime when I need a sweet (and cool) treat!Have you been to Beaches and Cream? What did you order when you dined there? 

San Angel Inn -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Mexico -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in March 2015. San Angel Inn, located inside the Aztec Pyramid of the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase, is a beautifully themed restaurant with an impressive atmosphere. Always set to resemble twilight, the interior of the building is dark (which you'll see reflected in my poorly lit photos), but that adds to the charm of this restaurant. Even more charming is the fact that the boats from the Gran Fiesta Tour slowly meander around the restaurants waterfront view. If you've ever been to Disneyland, you'll recognize this as a similar restaurant style to Blue Bayou. I had not dined at San Angel Inn in many years. I don't recall being particularly wowed by the food on the first visit, and I love going to La Hacienda de San Angel with it's sparkling World Showcase Lagoon view and amazing dishes, so it's not surprising that it's taken me this long to go back. After reading Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando's review of San Angel recently, I knew it was time to make a reservation and see what new offerings were available to gluten free and dairy free diners.When we arrived, the hostess mentioned that the menu noted gluten free and dairy free offerings, and I was excited to see that the menu had these choices listed - though the dairy free options were basically only one item. Of course, I learned that this is not the case, so I'd love to see the restaurant come up with a menu that more accurately reflects the gluten free and dairy free offerings.  Our server Martin was amazing. After being seated, he inquired about my special dietary needs - noting that the chips might not be safe for me to consume due to cross contamination. He said that sometimes they fry churros in the same fryer, so he would need to check with the chefs on whether today was a safe day or not. This is definitely an important thing to look out for, and I was so glad he wanted to ensure my safety. He seemed very knowledgeable in gluten free dining and celiac disease, which is awesome. Martin reported back that the chips were indeed safe that day, and he brought out a fresh basket along with two kinds of salsas. Like La Hacienda de San Angel, you get a salsa verde and a salsa roja (green and red salsas) -- both delicious. The red salsa was a bit sweet and smoky (definitely chipotle-based) and the salsa verde was much milder and a little tangy (thanks to the tomatillos in it). I'm glad that these were OK for me to consume that day because chips and salsa are a must at a Mexican restaurant!  For my entree, I ordered the enchiladas verdes de pollo. These chicken enchiladas with green sauce were fantastic. The only modifications I needed for dairy free were removing the queso fresco (cheese) and sour cream. I really loved the red onion garnish and the chicken inside was very good. I loved the black beans and rice -- although I have to say I preferred the rice that La Hacienda de San Angel is now making that is not salsa/red sauce based.Having recently spent a week in Mexico, I have to say that this reminded me of a lot of the dishes I got while on vacation. It was a little pricey but overall would be something I'd order again. I'd love to see something like this in a quick service restaurant. We need our version of Rancho del Zocalo (from Disneyland), especially given that La Cantina de San Angel Inn is no longer very gluten free friendly.  There weren't really any dessert options for gluten free and dairy free diners, but gluten free diners will find that there are several options. Of course, there's always an after dinner margarita at La Cava del Tequila! I was very impressed with how my server and the culinary team handled my special dietary needs -- especially given that this restaurant is not owned and operated by the Disney Company. They did a terrific job of making sure that my meal was delicious and safe! You can find out more information on their website at: http://www.sanangelinnusa.com/Have you been to San Angel Inn? What were your favorite menu offerings? 

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in February 2015.Ah, Boatwright's Dining Hall. Every time I go I am treated to a great meal, and this time my meal was epic. That's because I finally got to indulge in a little thing called chicken and waffles. Yes, honest to goodness deep fried chicken and waffles. But before I get into all that deep fried goodness, let me back up with my entire meal experience. On this particular occasion, I was celebrating (a bit belatedly) my birthday. Last year, I went to Boatwright's Dining Hall for the first time on my birthday, so it seemed fitting to make it a part of my birthday tradition. It was great too because almost all of my friends who dined with me the year before were able to come to dinner this year. Many of them also have special dietary needs, so it's fun to see what everyone gets. You can read Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando's review of our dinner on her website. Alexis had ordered chicken and waffles on a previous visit to Boatwright's, and while I also got the fried chicken, I didn't get the waffles (huge mistake on my part), and for this visit I wanted to make sure I ordered this for the birthday celebration. Because of this I requested the chicken and waffles in advance. The restaurant asks that you request at least 2 weeks in advance through Disney's Special Diets Department. This ensures that they have all the ingredients on hand and everything will be ready for you when you arrive (trust me, you don't want to go and be disappointed you can't order this or the crawfish bites).  After we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted by Chef Paul who came prepared with a huge basket of GNI brand rolls and extra virgin olive oil. This restaurant consistently heats the GNI rolls really well, so they make for a terrific pre-dinner starter. My gluten-filled eating family and friends enjoyed the house-made cornbread, and I have to admit I secretly hope that one day Boatwright's will also make a gluten free and dairy free version for special diets guests.  For an appetizer, I ordered the crawfish bites -- of course! This time, I was pleasantly surprised to taste some new spices on the crawfish bites. The new seasoning added even more of a cajun/creole feel to the dish, and I really enjoyed the bit of spice it added. Of course, how can you really go wrong with anything that's deep fried and seafood? The remoulade with its creaminess mellowed out the spice of the crawfish bites. Luckily, I split these with other diners, which is a good thing because I am pretty sure I'd be able to eat the entire plate myself. And good thing I saved room because I needed it for the deliciousness that is chicken and waffles. I have to say that this dish totally exceeded my expectations (which I have to admit were pretty high after hearing Alexis rave about it). The chicken itself was super crispy (Chef Paul used a batter that included an egg wash and Namaste all purpose gluten free flour) and very well seasoned. I've said it before, but I will say it again - Chef Paul is an expert at seasoning fried foods! The waffles were also extra crispy on the outside. When combined with the sweetness of the maple syrup and the salty fried chicken - the combo was just out of this world. It's been years since I've had proper chicken and waffles, and I am so excited that I can now order it at Boatwright's Dining Hall. I'm pretty sure this will be a regular on my entree rotation along with the sweet tea brined pork chop (another favorite). When it comes to dessert, I'm always too full to get dessert here. Of course, if I had room I would probably run over (or maybe slowly stroll depending on how full I am!) to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory at Port Orleans French Quarter for the gluten free and dairy free beignets. They are so good. Boatwright's does have several options, so if you're looking for dessert you'll definitely have a few items to choose from (if you're gluten free, you have to check out the bananas foster - it gets rave reviews!).One again, I have to say a big thanks to the Boatwright's team for making my birthday dinner wonderful. I can't wait to visit again soon!Have you been to Boatwright's Dining Hall? What is your favorite menu item to order there?