2/16/20 2/16/20

City Works Eatery & Pour House Dinner Review

City Works Eatery & Pour House is the newest table service restaurant to open in Disney Springs. Officially opening on February 6, 2020, this sports bar style restaurant features 90 beers on tap, lots of hard ciders (for us GF folks who can't have beer), and classic American bar fare. Recently, the team at City Works Eatery & Pour House invited us to come visit the restaurant to check out their special dietary needs options.

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

*Disclosure: We were invited guests of City Works Eatery & Pour House for a complimentary dinner; however, I was not required to write this post and all opinions are my own.

Dinner at City Works Eatery & Pour House

Atmosphere

Located next to the NBA Experience and across from the House of Blues and Cirque du Soleil, City Works Eatery & Pour House definitely fits the vibe of this area of Disney Springs.

City Works Eatery & Pour House - Exterior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You can't miss the entrance area and brightly lit screens featuring sports games.

City Works Eatery & Pour House - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Both Brandon and I were pleasantly surprised by the interior of City Works Eatery & Pour House. I'm not sure entirely what I expected, but I suppose I thought it would resemble more of a classic sports bar. To me, the restaurant was extremely modern and chic.

There's plenty of seating in the restaurant for all types of guests -- including ample classic bar seating, high top tables, booths, and even outdoor seating.

Do take a look not only at your menu but also the giant billboard signs featuring all of their beers and ciders on top. It's pretty impressive!

We were seated at a high-top table, which we really liked. You can see that the tables were simple with cushy chairs.

I think Brandon mentioned this in our vlog, but the restaurant itself is surprisingly long. I have to admit that makes it feel quite unique from the other restaurants at Disney Springs. It definitely helps make the restaurant feel larger and also more open too.

The Food

City Works Eatery & Pour House is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, so they do not currently offer an allergy-friendly menu. But, the menu does indicate some dishes that are gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan. And, your server along with a manager will talk you through any options and special dietary needs accommodations including cross-contamination concerns.

City Works Eatery & Pour House - Hard Cider / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Both Brandon and I did decide to get drinks. It is a pour house after all! While Brandon opted for a Goose Island Beer Co. Bottlenectar beer (not gluten free), I opted for a glass of Ace Perry Hard Cider. Most hard ciders are gluten free, but of course, be sure to ask any questions you might have about potential gluten containing ingredients (such as added flavors).

Ace Hard Cider is labeled gluten free, and I have had their ciders on quite a few occasions. It's a nice option when you're looking for a gluten free alcoholic beverage. While this pear hard cider wasn't my favorite (a little to sweet for me), I think it's a solid option if you like a classic hard cider.

City Works Eatery & Pour House - Kung Pao Cauliflower — City Works Eatery & Pour House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up first, I decided to get the Kung Pao Cauliflower as a starter. This was marked gluten free and vegan on the menu. The dish includes roasted cauliflower, sweet peppers, green onions, garlic, ginger, arbol chiles, fried peanuts, chili oil, sweet and spicy tamari.

Because of Brandon's peanut allergy, I did ask about the peanuts and was told that they could be removed -- making the dish peanut free. Unfortunately, I was served a version with peanuts, so Brandon was unable to try this. Thankfully, his allergy is not so severe that he can't be near peanuts, but we did take proper protocols afterwards to ensure that both he and I were gluten free and peanut free to avoid any cross-contamination. Generally, we try to be as peanut free as possible to avoid any potential for allergic reactions.

Overall, I really liked this dish a lot. It was a little sweet and definitely quite spicy. I especially loved the combination of cauliflower and spices. It was a super unique appetizer, and I'm glad I tried it. I might actually consider ordering this with chicken or shrimp next time and making it my meal. It was the surprise hit of the dishes I tried.

City Works Eatery & Pour House - Food in image is NOT gluten free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW — City Works Eatery & Pour House - Food in image is **NOT** gluten free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because Brandon can have gluten, he decided to try the Pretzel Bites. These most definitely are NOT gluten free -- both the bites and the cheese sauce contain gluten (beer in the cheese sauce). Brandon said these were outstanding and would definitely get these again.

These were fish/shellfish free, peanut free, hazelnut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free.

City Works Eatery & Pour House - GF Cheeseburger — City Works Eatery & Pour House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I decided to get the Bacon Cheeseburger on a gluten free (and vegan) bun. The restaurant currently does not offer an allergy-friendly dedicated fryer. So, if you're gluten free or have other allergies, you'll need to choose a non-fried side. I ended up with a side salad with a house vinaigrette. The salad itself was nothing too special but it was a nice solid little side to the massive burger I ended up with!

This photo truly does not do this burger justice. It was huge! The thick-cut candied bacon was phenomenal. And, if you can have cheese, you'll love the combination of aged Vermont white and yellow cheddar cheeses. If you're dairy free, the only modification you need is to omit the cheese. The burger itself was solid, but the cheese, candied bacon, and the Hilltop Hearth gluten free bun really made it. I would definitely get this burger again.

City Works Eatery & Pour House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon decided to try the Filet Medallions which was marked gluten free on the menu. This dish came with pan-seared filet medallions, bleu cheese mashed potatoes, sauteed baby arugula, red wine demi-glace.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that Brandon scarfed his filet medallions down so quickly that I barely realized he was done. They were that good! Because we had both been cross-contamination with peanuts and gluten, we didn't share any dishes, so I didn't get to try this. But, Brandon raved all night about it.

His only suggestion was to reduce the amount of arugula served with this dish and increase the amount of mashed potatoes a bit. Of course, Brandon is a huge mashed potatoes fan, so he'll never turn down more mashed potatoes! If you're looking for an entree option, the filet medallions are a solid bet.

Brandon decided to get dessert, and the only real option that we could both get was the Root Beer Float. Served with regular vanilla ice cream and root beer, Brandon really said this was a nice dessert option. And, as you can see, it was a huge portion too!

If you want to see our full review as we dined, check out our vlog. It's another fun way to share the experience with all of you and our initial thoughts about the restaurant and our meal.

Overall

Both Brandon and I agreed that City Works Eatery & Pour House is a solid addition to Disney Springs. There really wasn't a sports bar style restaurant in Disney Springs prior to this. And, I think that will serve it well, as it's just another option for guests to choose from. Both of us really enjoyed our meal options -- though I think my one suggestion for the restaurant would be to consider a dedicated allergy-friendly fryer in the future. So many restaurants in Disney World offer this, and it's a nice feature that will encourage guests with special dietary needs to come visit even more!

A huge shout-out to the team at City Works Eatery & Pour House for inviting us to come to the restaurant and check things out. Special shout-out to our server Reuben and manager Riley who were both phenomenal! We're looking forward to visiting City Works Eatery & Pour House again soon.

What do you think of the special dietary needs options at City Works Eatery & Pour House? What would you want to order if you dined there?

1/2/20 1/2/20

Primo Piatto Dinner Review

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

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

Dinner at Primo Piatto

Atmosphere

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Food

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Overall

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

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

1/2/20 1/2/20

Contempo Cafe Dinner Review

Contempo Cafe, located in Disney's Contemporary Resort, is a quick service restaurant that serves classic American fare -- from burgers and sandwiches to pizza. Recently, we had dinner at Contempo Cafe with my family when they were on vacation at Disney World.

*This dining review took place in December 2019. It includes information about gluten free options, in addition to dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Contempo Cafe

Atmosphere

Contempo Cafe is located on the Grand Canyon Concourse of the Contemporary Resort. This is where Chef Mickey's, shopping, and the entrance for the monorail are all located. It's definitely a hub, and you'll find that Contempo Cafe is situated directly in the middle of it all.

Contempo Cafe Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In my opinion, the theme of the restaurant itself is pretty bland. There's really not much to it. It's some basic seating and an ordering area. But, what the restaurant lacks in theme is made up for by the amazing atmosphere of the Grand Canyon Concourse.

Contempo Cafe - Ordering / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of my favorite things about the concourse is watching the monorail and looking at the Mary Blair art designs. The 90 foot mural of It's a Small World is directly next to Contempo Cafe, and it's always so much fun to look at.

Contempo Cafe - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There is a good amount of seating in this quick service restaurant. But, it can get pretty busy. We did see a lot of guests ordering food to-go while on their vacations. We had a rather large party, so we were able to put together several sets of tables for our group of 10 people.

The Food

When dining at Contempo Cafe, guests with special dietary needs will need to speak directly to a manager about options. In the past, the restaurant did offer an allergy-friendly menu, but I haven't seen one for this location in years. In my opinion, talking to a manager or chef directly is a much better option at quick service locations, especially at resort locations where you can discuss options and modifications.

On our recent visit to Contempo Cafe, manager Kelsey was absolutely fantastic and really went above and beyond to ensure that both Brandon and I had safe and delicious meals.

Contempo Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I decided to order the Barbecue Chicken Pizza based on Kelsey's recommendation. It was served on Udi's Gluten Free Pizza Crust layered with Barbecue Sauce, Allergy-Friendly Chicken Tenders, Triple-Cheese Blend, and topped with a Kale-Apple Slaw. The pizza does normally come with caramelized onions, but Kelsey said she wasn't sure about potential cross-contamination issues.

Can I just say how wowed I was by this pizza? It doesn't look all that appetizing, but the flavors were absolutely incredible. I loved the combination of the crispy allergy-friendly chicken tenders with BBQ sauce, lots of cheese, and the Kale-Appple Slaw. The slaw was the real star of the dish! I would definitely get this again, and I'm so glad Kelsey convinced me to try it.

On a side note, if you're dairy free, the restaurant does carry Daiya brand dairy free & vegan cheese, as well.

Brandon's meal turned out to be a bit of a disappointment, but he was very appreciative that Kelsey worked to make sure his meal was safe. He really wanted the Contempo Smokehouse Burger but too many of the components were no deemed safe for his special dietary needs. He ended up with a Bunless Bacon Cheeseburger with Baked French Fries. This dish was gluten free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free.

As we learned, Contempo Cafe has a dedicated allergy fryer that cooks allergy-friendly chicken tenders in it and does not currently offer a vegan fryer. This meant that Kelsey needed to bake Brandon's fries. He actually really liked them and said he thinks he prefers the baked versions to the fried ones.

The restaurant also warned Brandon against many of the bread options due to potential peanut cross-contamination with the bread production. You'll want to talk to the manager about options and use your best judgement with regard to cross-contamination. We were able to get him a gluten free bun that was peanut free.

For dessert, I did try out the Flourless Chocolate Cake. This is naturally gluten free (contains dairy), but Kelsey did get me a fresh one that was not housed in the bakery case to avoid cross-contamination concerns. While it wasn't my favorite dessert, it was very good. If you're a chocolate fan, you will really enjoy this particular option because it's very rich and chocolatey. For those with peanut and tree nut allergies, Kelsey did advise Brandon to avoid this dessert.

Overall

While Contempo Cafe hasn't always been my favorite quick service restaurant on property, I was pretty impressed with the food on our recent visit. Not only were the gluten free options great, but the Disney Cast Members there really went above and beyond to help ensure we had a safe and delicious meal. We likely won't dine here a lot because it was a challenge for Brandon to find many options, but we're both glad to know that we can get a meal here if we're at the Contemporary Resort.

Have you been to Contempo Cafe? What did you think of the special dietary needs options?

1/1/20 1/1/20

The BOATHOUSE Dinner Review

The BOATHOUSE is a table service restaurant that is one of our favorites in Disney Springs. We often dine here with family & friends visiting or for special occasions, like birthdays. It's definitely become a popular dining destination for us because it has a lot of variety and accommodation for guests with special dietary needs and the quality of the food & service is top notch. Recently, we had dinner here twice -- once when a dear friend was visiting and another for Brandon's birthday celebration with his family.

*This post contains two dining reviews that took place in December 2019. It includes information about gluten free options, in addition to dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at The BOATHOUSE

Atmosphere

We love the theme of The BOATHOUSE, which is, of course, nautical in nature.

The BOATHOUSE - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

From the moment you walk up to The BOATHOUSE, you'll find lots of boats and waterfront decor.

The BOATHOUSE - Holiday Decorations / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I love that even during the holiday season they decorated with nautical elements.

Even inside the restaurant, the theming had a holiday flair.

The BOATHOUSE - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The BOATHOUSE has several different dining room areas -- each with a different look and feel. On Brandon's birthday, in particular, he requested that we dine near the back of the restaurant in one of the rooms that features a fireplace, dark wood, and dim lighting. As he refers to it, it resembles a much more modern version of the classic 1980s and 1990s look of a Red Lobster chain restaurant.

The Food

Though The BOATHOUSE is not owned and operated by the Disney Company and does not carry an allergy-friendly menu, we have been really impressed with their attention to special dietary needs accommodations.

I have to admit, I've heard a few horror stories from blog readers about their experiences here, but for us, our experiences have always been excellence. I do highly recommend speaking to a chef directly -- even if a server encourages you to just order from the menu. The chefs there are always very helpful and knowledgeable.

The BOATHOUSE / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On both occasions, our server and the chef offered me gluten free "rolls." Really, these are just Udi's gluten free buns heated up and served as a roll. The buns are both gluten free and dairy free, but the restaurant doesn't currently offer a dairy free buttery spread. You can get extra virgin olive oil instead. While these aren't the best bread service I've ever had, it is nice to have on occasion.

When my dear friend Kate visited, she and I both got the Grilled Fresh Fish Tacos served with Cabbage Slaw, Chipotle Crema, Pickled Red Onions, and Avocado Salsa. This dish is naturally gluten free (and can be made dairy free by omitting the crema). It was also peanut free and sesame free too based on Kate's allergies, as well.

I really love these fish tacos. Currently being made using swordfish, the flavors were outstanding, and the quality of the fish was excellent. I especially love the chipotle crema and avocado salsa, which our server brought us extras of on the side. This is a dish I've had several times and one I'll keep ordering for sure.

Brandon ordered the Filet Mignon Sliders with a baked potato on the side. Unfortunately, the restaurant does not offer a dedicated allergy fryer, so fries are out for both of us. But, Brandon really enjoys the baked potatoes they serve at the restaurant. This dish was fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free.

For those who have nut allergies, we were advised that there is potential cross-contamination for the rolls and buns served at The BOATHOUSE due to peanuts being in the same space where the rolls and buns are made. Both Kate and Brandon have peanut allergies and both felt comfortable eating these. But, those with peanut allergies should take care when consuming any bread products from The BOATHOUSE.

I don't normally get dessert at The BOATHOUSE, but I couldn't turn down the seasonal Chocolate Peppermint Mousse. This is gluten free but does contain dairy (and cannot be modified). Holy cow was this good! If you can eat dairy, this seasonal dessert is worth ordering. I absolutely loved the rich chocolate mousse and peppermint flavor. It was even more festive with the crushed candy cane on top. It was so good that I wish they had it year round!

During Brandon's birthday visit, I ordered the Broiled Wild Caught Swordfish Steak with Blackening Spice, Jambalaya Style Rice, Andouille Sausage, Crawfish Tails, and Louisiana Hot Sauce Butter. This is gluten free but does contain dairy and cannot be modified. The chef advised me that this is a newly GF dish too, as it used to contain gluten. But, they got so many requests for it to be gluten free, that they modified the recipe to make it naturally gluten free, which is great!

I was very impressed with the flavors of this dish. The swordfish was cooked perfectly, and the rice was excellent. If you like spicy food, this is definitely one to get. While I wouldn't get it all the time, this was a nice treat to enjoy on a special occasion.

Because it was Brandon's birthday, he went with a Petit Filet Mignon with salt crusted baby potatoes. His dish was not only gluten free but also dairy free, peanut/tree nut free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free. Brandon raved about the quality of the steak. It was definitely a great dish to celebrate his birthday with!

The BOATHOUSE - Dish is NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon also ordered the mac & cheese, which is one of his favorites. This dish is fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. If you can have gluten and dairy, this is a great cheesy decadent dish that Brandon always raves about.

For dessert, Brandon was served a birthday cupcake. This does contain gluten and dairy and to my knowledge, guests who are gluten free & dairy free do not have a birthday cupcake option. The chef assured us there were no peanuts or hazelnuts in the cupcake. Brandon said it reminds him of a hostess chocolate cupcake, so if you enjoy those you'll really like this birthday cupcake.

Overall

With lots of options, excellent seafood and steak, and attention to special dietary needs, The BOATHOUSE continues to be our go-to restaurant in Disney Springs. We both really love the food and have enjoyed our meals whether it was a light lunch or a birthday celebration. We'll definitely continue to frequent this restaurant with our friends and family.

Have you been to The BOATHOUSE? What has your experience been with special dietary needs dining there?

1/1/20 1/1/20

Kona Cafe Dinner Review

Kona Cafe, located in Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is one of our favorite go-to spots for an affordable dinner on Disney property. Brandon and I really enjoy the pan-Asian flavors highlighted in the meals at Kona. Recently, we had dinner at Kona on a few occasions -- once with a friend who'd never been before and once with my family who were at Disney World on vacation.

*This post contains dining reviews took place in November and December 2019. It includes information about gluten free options, in addition to dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

Kona Cafe is a true lobby restaurant, located on the second floor of the Polynesian Village resort's main building and lobby area.

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

With an open-air concept, you can actually view guests walking by and see the monorail entrance, as well.

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

Kona Cafe has bright colors and lots of Polynesian touches, though as I've mentioned in several reviews, I do think the restaurant could use a refurb. I feel like the decor is a bit stuck in the late 1990s as far as color scheme and patterns.

As you can see from the photos here, the restaurant is quite spacious, with lots of different types of seating. On our second visit, we were one of the last tables in the restaurant for the night, and I was able to get a few rare photos of the restaurant virtually empty.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Kona Cafe does carry an allergy-friendly menu. In addition to this, guests can also speak to a chef directly about questions, modifications, and other special dietary needs.

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

On both visits, our servers brought Brandon and I allergy-friendly rolls, which are Deanna's Gluten Free brand. These are both gluten free and dairy free. I have also been served both regular dairy-filled butter and Earth Balance vegan buttery spread. The Earth Balance is available upon request. Lately, Kona Cafe has been hit or miss on how well these rolls have been heated. Sometimes they're great and other times they are not.

Kona Cafe - GF Airline Chicken — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our first visit, I was determined to try something different because I often get sushi or a sandwich there. Based on the recommendation of our server, I ordered the Asian-Marinated Airline Chicken with Sticky Rice, and Bok Choy. It was supposed to come with an Asian glaze, but I was told the glaze contains gluten, so I was brought gluten free soy sauce on the side. This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

Of all the dishes I've had at Kona Cafe, this was my LEAST favorite dish. Not only was the chicken fairly bland, but the portion was oddly small. It doesn't look as small in this photo, but when it was brought to the table everyone started laughing because it was served on a large plate and looked even tinier. I would definitely avoid this dish and can't recommend it to anyone who visits Kona.

Kona Cafe - Beef Pho — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our second visit, I had the Beef Pho. This was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. Overall, I really enjoyed this dish, though I wouldn't say it's the best pho I've ever had.

The beef was extremely tender and flavorful, and I really enjoyed the vegetables in the dish. The weakest spot of the dish was the broth -- something that should be spot on for pho. It had a good amount of seasoning, but there was just something lacking in it. It wasn't bad enough that I wouldn't get it again. But, it also wouldn't be at the top of my list for gluten free dishes served at Kona.

On both visits, Brandon ordered the Pork Belly Noodle Bowl. This dish is marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies on the menu, and with some modifications (including swapping the bone broth out for vegetable broth) it was also cabbage free and chicken & turkey free.

This continues to be one of Brandon's most favorite dishes at Kona. He absolutely loves the pork belly and says the flavor combinations are always outstanding.

Overall

While my dishes were a bit hit or miss on these last two visits, both Brandon and I do very much enjoy Kona Cafe. I think the restaurant shines with their sushi, noodle bowls, and sandwiches. In the future, those will continue to be at the top of our list for dishes to try when we dine at Kona Cafe.

Have you been to Kona Cafe? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

1/1/20 1/1/20

Three Bridges Bar & Grill Dinner Review

Three Bridges Bar & Grill, located at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, has quickly become one of our favorite new restaurants on Disney property. Both Brandon and I love the food, the low-key atmosphere, and the affordable prices. Recently, we stopped by Three Bridges Bar & Grill a few times, once with my friend Christy from Pack Your Pixie Dust and another just before the December holidays.

Dinner at Three Bridges Bar & Grill

Atmosphere

Three Bridges Bar & Grill is located in the middle of Lago Dorado – the large lake at Coronado Springs Resort. And, the restaurant itself is actually inside a building labeled Villa del Lago.

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

The location feels remote yet close to everything. We always enjoy the nice stroll on the bridges that connect the restaurant to the mainland.

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

Three Bridges Bar & Grill offers al fresco dining. That means there is no inside dining room. While everything is open to the water and elements, don't let this deter you from dining there. When it's chilly out, they offer heaters, and when it's really warm out, they have lots of fans to help keep you cool.

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

Both Brandon and I especially love dining here in the evening time just after sunset. The views from the restaurant are incredible, and it's just a really lovely and pleasant way to enjoy a meal.

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

We do prefer eating at the traditional tables at the restaurant, but you can also sit at their standard bar area for drinks and food. There are lots of different seating options in the restaurant, which is great.

The Food

The biggest reason we go to Three Bridges Bar & Grill is the food! After our first visit, Brandon and I were a bit obsessed with signature burger which is truly phenomenal.

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

The restaurant does offer an allergy-friendly menu. But, I would highly encourage you to speak directly with a chef. The though menu doesn't list many gluten free items, almost the entire menu can be easily made gluten free (including sandwiches).

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

We usually speak with Chef Paul when we dine at Three Bridges Bar & Grill. Formerly at Disney's Port Orleans Resorts and the Hangar Bar in Disney Springs, you can expect Chef Paul to ensure you have great, safe options to choose from. On both visits, he went over the options for us. But, of course, both Brandon and I have a hard time NOT getting the burger.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill - GF Burger — Three Bridges Bar & Grill / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On both visits, both Brandon and I couldn't resist the Three Bridges Signature Burger. It comes with crispy potato, Manchego cheese, roasted garlic-lemon aïoli, arugula, and tomato served with smoked paprika fries or fruit.

If you're gluten free, the chefs will swap out the bun for a gluten free one (currently Bloomfield Farms brand) and fry the crispy potato and French fries in a dedicated fryer. If you're dairy free and gluten free, the only modification needed is to omit the cheese (and swap the bun out). On both visits, my burgers were gluten free and dairy free.

Brandon's burger was exactly as is on the menu, including the regular gluten-filled bun, with his fries being made in the dedicate fryer. His meal was fish/shellfish free, peanut free, hazelnut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free.

On our second visit, our burgers took just a little bit longer to prepare. As we learned from Chef Paul, this is because they now use the allergy-friendly fryer to fry gluten free churros, in addition to the other allergy-friendly fried items. The gluten free churros do contain dairy. So, if you're dairy free or have other allergy concerns with the Cup4Cup flour being used in the churros, you'll want to have the chef prepare a fresh pot of oil to fry your fries safely.

On our first visit, Christy from Pack Your Pixie Dust ordered the Grilled Sirloin Steak which was served on gluten free & dairy free Bloomfield Farms buns with pepper relish, 63° egg, and a chimichurri sauce on the side.

Christy and I shared samples of our meals with each other. And, we both agreed that while the steak was good, the burger was much better in terms of flavor. I do recommend asking for the chimichurri sauce (which we were told is not a regular accompaniment with the steak) to go with the sandwich. Both Christy and I thought the dish was too sweet without another sauce to compliment the sweet pepper relish. If you are a steak lover, this is a nice option.

Overall

We just can't quit the outstanding signature burger at Three Bridges Bar & Grill. Both Brandon and I love the flavors, and we really enjoy everything about the restaurant. One of these days, I will actually order something else besides the burger! There are a lot of other options, like the chicken wings, that I'd definitely like to try in the future. If you crave a good burger in a relaxed setting, you can't go wrong with Three Bridges Bar & Grill. One word of note, this restaurant is only open for dinner daily.

Have you been to Three Bridges Bar & Grill? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner Review

Liberty Tree Tavern, located in the Magic Kingdom, is a table service restaurant that serves Thanksgiving-style meals year-round. Recently, Brandon and I went to Liberty Tree Tavern just before Thanksgiving to celebrate the season with a holiday meal we didn't have to cook ourselves.

*This gluten free dining review took place in November 2019. It includes information about dairy free, fish/shellfish free, peanut free, hazelnut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free options too.

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern

Atmosphere

Because Liberty Tree Tavern is located in Liberty Square, the restaurant's theme is based on a colonial inn. The restaurant serves both lunch and dinner, with lunch including a la carte options and dinner serving an all-you-care-to-enjoy Pilgrim's platter.

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

I absolutely love the charm of Liberty Tree Tavern. It's been a restaurant that my family has been going to since 2003, and it holds a lot of nostalgia for me. I especially love that the colonial theme has pretty much stayed the same since the first time I visited the restaurant.

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

When you enter the restaurant, you'll notice a classical colonial scene, including a fireplace and lots of decor by the hearth.

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

During the holiday season, they also have a lot of colonial themed holiday decor. I really loved this Christmas tree which featured lots of fruit and hand woven decorations.

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

The restaurant's dining rooms are themed to represent important figures from American history. This includes:

Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
John Paul Jones
Paul Revere
Betsy Ross
George Washington

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

On this visit, we dined in the Thomas Jefferson room. On our previous visit, we dined in the Betsy Ross room, which I think might have been a bit better themed. But, the Jefferson room was quite charming. I especially loved the fireplace lined in toile designed tiles.

The seating area in the Jefferson room was fairly standard -- though we both felt the seating was a little close together. Still, you can see that the cozy room was filled with dark wooden decor, adding to the colonial theme.

The Food

Of course, the main reason we dine at Liberty Tree Tavern is the Thanksgiving-style food. Over the years, the menu has changed some, with different options being featured on the all-you-care-to-enjoy menu. The past several years has included allergy-friendly stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy -- definitely a big reason why we visit the restaurant!

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Liberty Tree Tavern offers an allergy-friendly menu. Guests with special dietary needs can also speak directly to a chef about options too. On this occasion, we looked at both the menu and talked to a chef directly too, as we had a lot of questions related to Brandon's special dietary needs.

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

As we started our meal, the chef brought Brandon and I the Declaration Salad to share. This is served family style, and our version was gluten free, dairy free, fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free.

The salad dressing was a honey shallot vinaigrette that was very mild but tasty. We both liked it a lot, though I thought it could have used just a bit more vinaigrette. You can, of course, always ask the chef and your server for additional vinaigrette if you need it.

Both Brandon and I were served our own platters, rather than sharing them. This is because we both have very different special dietary needs, and the chef wanted to ensure we both had a lot of options.

For my platter, I was served a Pilgrim's platter that included: roasted turkey breast, pot roast, oven roasted pork, mashed potatoes, herb rice stuffing, seasonal vegetables, and gluten free gravy. Everything on this platter was gluten free and dairy free.

I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving-style food, so I always love the Pilgrim's platter at Liberty Tree Tavern. My only slight complaint this year was the gluten free stuffing. I have been a pretty big fan of it in year's past. But, this year, I found the texture to be really gummy. The flavor was still good, but the texture was just a bit off. They also used different bread it seemed, and the stuffing was much chunkier than it had been before too. I'm not saying I wouldn't eat it again, but it definitely wasn't my favorite version of this stuffing. Everything else was fantastic as usual.

Liberty Tree Tavern - GF Mac & Cheese — Liberty Tree Tavern / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I had heard from blog readers that if you ask at Liberty Tree Tavern that you can get gluten free mac & cheese. I did ask our chef about this, and he brought me a plate of Amy's GF mac & cheese.

I wouldn't say this was anything to write home about, but it was nice that they offer this to gluten free guests. (Note that this version does contain dairy, and I do not believe they offer the gluten free & dairy free version of Amy's at this time.)

For Brandon's Pilgrim's Platter, they brought out a similar but slightly different version. Because he cannot have chicken & turkey, he couldn't have the roasted turkey, herb stuffing, or gravy. Generally, Brandon isn't a stuffing or gravy fan, so he was pretty OK with those omissions. His platter was fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free.

Both Brandon and I really enjoyed our platters, and we both said we thought the pot roast was the best part of the meal. You'll also notice from the photos that Brandon's meal has two allergy picks on the platter. The chef made sure to mark my food with one pick and Brandon's with two so that he could ensure neither of our food got switched in any way. That was a nice touch and definitely something I hadn't seen before.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Mac & Cheese — Liberty Tree Tavern / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon was also served mac & cheese, but he got the regular gluten-filled version. Like mine, he said his wasn't anything to write home about. We both liked having it as an option but it wasn't the best part of the meal by any means.

As you can see by this photo Brandon took of me, we were served a ridiculous amount of food. It definitely lived up to the Pilgrim's platter name. And, if you're still hungry after round one, you can actually order more of anything you like. We both opted to have small second helpings of our favorites like the pot roast and mashed potatoes.

Liberty Tree Tavern - GF Brownie — Liberty Tree Tavern / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, the chef brought me a gluten free brownie. This was the Sweet Street brand, which is one of the newer brands now served at Disney. Unfortunately, it does contain dairy.

Dessert really isn't the reason I come to Liberty Tree Tavern, and I'm usually way too full by the time we get to dessert. On this trip, I did eat a bit of this but only a few bites. The chef did bring me a side cup of raspberry sorbet too, which was gluten free and dairy free.

One of the things that we noticed on the allergy-friendly menu was that the dessert options listed the gluten free brownie and Oooey Gooey Toffee Cake as safe for peanut allergies. I knew that the Sweet Street brand GF brownie had a peanut cross-contamination warning, and as we confirmed with the chef neither of the dessert options were safe for peanut allergies -- despite being listed safe on the allergy-friendly menu. Because of this Brandon was served pre-packaged Enjoy Life Foods Cookies and raspberry sorbet.

If you have any type of nut allergy, I would highly recommend double-checking with a chef, as we were both pretty sure before talking to him that neither dessert was an option. Unfortunately, allergy-friendly menus aren't always accurate and can sometimes have misinformation, especially if the restaurant makes a product change.

Overall

While the dessert component wasn't great, the rest of the meal we had at Liberty Tree Tavern was. We both really enjoyed getting a Thanksgiving-style meal that was perfectly customized for both of our special dietary needs. And, I'm always really excited when I get to eat a restaurant that serves gluten free stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy! It's definitely become a yearly tradition to eat at Liberty Tree Tavern during the holiday season, but it's a great option year-round too.

Have you been to Liberty Tree Tavern? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Yak & Yeti Dinner Review

Yak & Yeti, located in Disney's Animal Kingdom, is our go-to table service restaurant in the park. Recently, we stopped by Yak & Yeti a few times over the holiday season, including once to use Brandon's birthday reward as Landry's Select Club members.

*This post contains two dining reviews that took place in November and December 2019. It includes information about gluten free options, in addition to dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Yak & Yeti

Atmosphere

Yak & Yeti can be found in the Asia area of the Animal Kingdom. And, its theme reflects its location acting as a home in the fictional land of Anandapur that has been turned into a restaurant.

Yak & Yeti Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Landry's did an exceptional job with the theme of this restaurant, and you'll be transported to a far off place the moment you walk up to the Yak & Yeti's entrance.

Yak & Yeti Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant includes two levels for dining. On our first visit, we dined on the first floor in an area that has posters and other artifacts related to traditional Bollywood films.

On the first floor, you'll also find various artifacts -- some in fact are actually from locations throughout Asia, which is really neat.

On our second visit, we dined on the second floor, which both Brandon and I prefer. We both remarked that the second floor seems to have a lot more artifacts and cozy areas to dine. But, no matter where you are in the restaurant, you're bound to enjoy the delightful and charming theme.

The Food

Because Yak & Yeti is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have a traditional allergy-friendly menu. They do, however, offer a gluten sensitive menu for guests. If you dine at Yak & Yeti, I always recommend that you speak directly with a chef.

Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As I learned awhile back, the gluten sensitive menu is not necessarily safe for those with celiac disease, as some items are actually made in shared fryers. On both visits, we looked at both the gluten sensitive menu and spoke directly with a chef.

On our first visit, both Brandon and I got noodle bowls. I ordered a beef and shrimp noodle bowl (a modified version of the vegetable bowl listed on the menu), which was made using rice noodles and gluten free tamari sauce. This dish was both gluten free and dairy free.

While I really enjoyed this dish, it's not my favorite at Yak & Yeti. In fact, the previous time we visited, I had a modified Teriyaki Beef and Shrimp Stir-Fry from the seasonal menu. And, it was by far my favorite dish that I've had at Yak & Yeti in a while. Unfortunately, it's no longer on their seasonal menu, so I opted for a noodle bowl instead. It's definitely a solid option and one I try to get every once in a while.

Brandon absolutely loves the noodle bowls at Yak & Yeti. He ordered the beef noodle bowl, which was made fish/shellfish free, peanut free, hazelnut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free. The big differences between my bowl and his was the GF tamari sauce and the omission of bok choy and shrimp. His dish was also made with rice noodles.

As per usual, Brandon really loved this dish a lot. He got it again on our next visit, though the chef that time made some slightly different changes to the vegetables in his noodle bowl.

Yak & Yeti - GF Consomme — Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our second visit, I wasn't feeling like a super heavy meal, so I decided to try one of their new salads and the Chicken Consomme soup. The soup is both gluten free and dairy free and contains Chicken Broth, Tofu, Onions, and Carrots. I've had this on several visits, and I do really enjoy it. I would say that the flavors are very mild and understated, but it's definitely a nice change of pace for something lighter. Like everything at Yak & Yeti, the portion for the soup was really big too.

Yak & Yeti - GF Wedge Salad — Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I ordered the Asian Wedge Salad which is gluten free and contains Baby Iceberg Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Carrot Ginger Dressing, and Pork Belly. I also opted to add Grilled Cilantro-Lime Chicken to the dish too.

The chef recommended this to me, and while I was a bit dubious at first, because the flavors sounded a bit odd to me, I was actually pretty impressed with the salad. I absolutely loved the carrot ginger dressing, and the addition of pork belly was a great one. Oddly, the blue cheese worked really well, and all of the flavors ended up making for a great meal. Next time, I probably would just order a salad and not get any appetizer (like the soup), because this salad was legitimately huge. Yak & Yeti definitely does not skimp on the portions.

Yak & Yeti - Noodle Bowl — Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon went with the beef noodle bowl again on our second visit. This time, the chef only included carrots, green onions, and some cilantro instead of the vegetable medley he had on the first visit. Brandon loves both carrots and green onions, so he was pretty good with this vegetable medley. As per usual, he really enjoyed his noodle bowl a lot.

Overall

Yak & Yeti has been a consistently great option for us for a table service meal when we're visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom. We both really enjoy the pan-Asian food, and we've been pretty impressed with the options and the attention that the chefs give to guests with special dietary needs. It's definitely a location we'll keep going back to again and again.

Have you been to Yak & Yeti? What do you think of the special diets options there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

T-Rex Cafe Lunch Review

T-Rex Cafe, located in Disney Springs, is a restaurant owned and operated by Landry's. Recently, I had lunch at T-Rex Cafe with my family while they were here on vacation at Walt Disney World. My nephew loves dinosaurs, so we knew this would be a fun place to have a meal with the whole family.

*This gluten free dining review took place in December 2019. It also includes information about dairy free options.

Lunch at T-Rex Cafe

Atmosphere

Like Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex Cafe has a pretty impressive theme. T-Rex Cafe is entirely dinosaur themed, so you'll see lots of giant dinosaur animatronics throughout the restaurant.

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

I didn't get a chance to take many photos, but as you can see from the few I took here, the restaurant is massive. I loved all the bright colors and fun theme. My nephew and niece, in particular, really loved this, so it's great for kiddos.

The restaurant does have a "show" about every 20 minutes or so, with a big meteor shower. The kiddos in our party were a little nervous about it at first, but after a while, they were having a blast with the animatronics and the meteor showers.

T-Rex Cafe - Ice Cave / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In addition to the main area, there's a really cool section called the Ice Cave. This was a super cool area, and I hope to eat in there one day.

The Food

Like Rainforest Cafe, I wouldn't say the food at T-Rex Cafe is going to high-end by any means. But, the restaurant does have quite a few options, with a good amount of variety for guests who are gluten free and dairy free. Because it is not owned and operated by Disney, T-Rex Cafe doesn't have an allergy-friendly menu. But, Landry's restaurants at Disney, like Yak & Yeti, have been quite good at accommodating special dietary needs.

I did speak with a chef directly, and he told me that I could have a variety of options from sandwiches to steaks and salads. The restaurant does carry gluten free pasta and allergy-friendly buns (in this case, Udi's brand), though the restaurant does not have an allergy-friendly fryer.

T-Rex Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, I opted to get the Paleozoic Chicken Sandwich. Served on a gluten free & dairy free bun, it came with marinated chicken breast, candied applewood smoked bacon, swiss cheese (which is lactose free), lettuce, tomato, and mayo. The sandwich was gluten free, and I could have made it dairy free by omitting the cheese.

Because there is no dedicated fryer, I couldn't have the fries. But, there were a variety of sides I could get, like mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and seasonal vegetables. I opted for coleslaw since we were dining at lunch, and I didn't want something super heavy.

Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised by this sandwich. The portion was huge (enough to feed a dinosaur!), and the flavors were excellent. I really loved the candied bacon, and the chicken was perfectly cooked. I would definitely get this sandwich again.

Overall

With a fun theme and decent special diets options, T-Rex Cafe makes for a great family-friendly choice for a meal in Disney Springs. My family, especially my nephew and niece, really loved it. And, I definitely enjoyed my meal. While it's not a restaurant I'd go to all the time, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was at T-Rex Cafe. As Landry's Select Club members, Brandon and I may have to go here a bit more in the future.

Have you been to T-Rex Cafe? What did you think of the special diets options?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Restaurantosaurus Lunch Review

Restaurantosaurus, located in Dinoland U.S.A. in Disney's Animal Kingdom, is a quick service restaurant with a charming dinosaur theme that serves classic American style food. Recently, I stopped by Restaurantosaurus with my family (who were at Disney World on vacation) for lunch.

*This gluten free and dairy free dining experience took place in December 2019.

Lunch at Restaurantosaurus

Atmosphere

Dinoland U.S.A. is one of my favorite themed lands in any Disney park. I just love the charm and retro vibe of this dinosaur themed land. Restaurantosaurus fits right into this theme with a quick service restaurant set to resemble a dino-themed dorm room for the paleontology students who once stayed at Dinoland U.S.A.

Restaurantosaurus / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

If you or your family love dinosaurs, this is a great place to visit and eat.

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

I especially love how the building and rooms look like essentially a summer camp bunkhouse filled with lots of paleontology decor. From the books to decorative elements and photos, there's a lot to look at and explore while you're dining there.

Every inch of the restaurant fits into its theme, with so many great hidden and not so hidden dinosaur touches.

For even more fun, I highly recommend dining in the Hip Joint. It's a rec-room style space that is supposed to be the entertainment room for the paleontology students who stayed there. From the outside, you can see part of the rec room is actually housed in a vintage RV. It's definitely very cute and super fun.

The Food

When it comes to meal options, Restaurantosaurus serves standard theme park fare -- including burgers, fries, sandwiches, and chicken tenders. If you have special dietary needs, you'll find an allergy-friendly menu for the restaurant. Guests can also speak to a manager at any time to discuss options too.

On this visit, I decided to go with something super simple -- the allergy-friendly chicken tenders. These tenders are gluten free and dairy free (and cover other allergens, as well, such as fish/shellfish and peanut/tree nut). The allergy-friendly chicken tenders are fried in a dedicated fryer, as are the French fries. If you have any questions about the frying process, be sure to speak to a manager about it.

The allergy-friendly chicken tenders at this location were Ian's Brand. I always really enjoy these chicken tenders, and I really love how crunchy they were on this visit. The manager did a great job frying these and not over or under cooking them.

This may sound odd, but I almost always eat my allergy-friendly chicken tenders with Ken's Steak House Cocktail Sauce, when a Disney owned restaurant has it. The sauce is marked gluten free and is also dairy free too. I don't know what it is, but I just really love the combination of the fried chicken tenders with this cocktail sauce. I found this pre-packaged sauce at the restaurant's toppings bar. But, in many Disney restaurants, you'll need to ask for it, as it's located behind the counter.

Overall

While nothing fancy, I always appreciate Restaurantosaurus' casual theme park options. It's definitely my go-to place in the Animal Kingdom for burgers and allergy-friendly chicken tenders.

Have you been to Restaurantosaurus? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Rainforest Cafe (Animal Kingdom Park) Dinner Review

Rainforest Cafe is a chain of restaurants owned and operated by Landry's with two locations at Walt Disney World. This review is specific to the location at Disney's Animal Kingdom, though Brandon and I have also been to the Disney Springs location too. We recently had dinner at the Animal Kingdom location as we had several Landry's Select Club rewards that we needed to use before the end of the year.

Dinner at Rainforest Cafe

Atmosphere

The Rainforest Cafe chain has been around since the early 1990s. And, I've been to several locations throughout the U.S. When we dined at the Animal Kingdom location, we were told by our server that it's the largest Rainforest Cafe. After dining in there, I can definitely believe it because the restaurant is pretty large.

Rainforest Cafe Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While all Rainforest Cafes have a similar look and feel, each one is somewhat unique. The location in Disney Springs, for instance, has a giant volcano attached to it, while the Animal Kingdom location is more tropical in nature.

Rainforest Cafe Holiday Decorations / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of the things I really enjoyed about this visit and the restaurant's theme is that they actually decorated a bit for the holidays. I joked that it felt like we were dining in the Jingle Cruise (the holiday overlay of the Jungle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom) because many of the animatronics had holiday attire one.

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

There was definitely a lot of great atmosphere, and every 20 minutes or so, you can expect the restaurant to have some type of "show" that happens and the animatronics come to life.

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

We went on a weekday, about an hour before the park closed. The restaurant itself did have quite a few people in it, but the spacious seating area didn't make it feel too busy or crowded.

As you can see, there was a lot to look at throughout the restaurant. So, no matter where you're seating, you're bound to get a fun view.

Rainforest Cafe Waterfall / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Continuing the Jungle Cruise theme, I present to you the backside of the Rainforest Cafe waterfall!

The Food

Because Rainforest Cafe is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, a chef will come and speak to you about options. The chef we met on this visit was very friendly and helped talk through what options might be safe for each of our special dietary needs.

Rainforest Cafe - Sarah with Menu — Rainforest Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The menu is quite large, both literally and figuratively! There were many items from salads to pasta and steaks that could be easily made gluten free (and dairy free).

Rainforest Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I ended up ordering the Bollywood Chicken & Shrimp dish which included Sautéed Chicken and Shrimp, Stir Fry Vegetables, Spicy Curry Sauce served with White Rice. The chef told me that this dish is naturally gluten free as long as you omit the fried shallots normally served on top. I really enjoy curry so I was excited to try this option.

While I did enjoy this, I found the curry to be very spicy. I'm a big spicy food fan, and this was almost too spicy for me. So, if spicy foods are not your favorite, I would definitely recommend avoiding this. I'm not sure I'd get this again, simply because I thought the spice level was just a bit too much. I think I prefer the salmon I got at the Rainforest Cafe at Disney Springs over this dish.

Brandon opted to get something simple and easy to make allergy-friendly for him -- The Primal Steak. This dish is not only gluten free, but it's also fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free too. The dish normally comes with mashed potatoes and a choice of another side, but Brandon decided he wanted double mashed potatoes that night. He said the steak was excellent, as were the mashed potatoes. And, as you can see, the portion was huge too!

Overall

While it wasn't the best meal I've ever had at a Rainforest Cafe location, both Brandon and I agreed that both the food and that the special dietary needs accommodations were solid. The chef seemed very willing to make a variety of dishes and provide several suggestions to us. And, the food was overall fairly good. While I didn't necessarily love the spice level on my curry, it was a sizable portion with good flavor. I would probably try something else on our next visit, but it's definitely worth going back again -- although Brandon and I do prefer Yak & Yeti (another Landry's restaurant) located in the Animal Kingdom.

Have you been to the Animal Kingdom Rainforest Cafe location? What did you think of the special dietary needs options?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Teppan Edo Dinner Review

Teppan Edo, located in the Japan Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase, is a Teppan-yaki-style restaurant that offers a fun and unique Japanese dining experience for guests. Brandon and I had dinner with blog reader Sarah C. and her family at Teppan Edo this past summer for the first time ever and really loved the experience. Recently, we went back with Brandon's family for a fun and delicious meal.

*This dining review took place in November 2019. It includes information about gluten free, dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Teppan Edo

Atmosphere

Teppan Edo is located in the Japan Pavilion in the World Showcase on the second floor above the Mitsukoshi shopping area. It shares space with Tokyo Dining, as well. So, when you enter the restaurant area, you actually walk through the Tokyo Dining area before heading into Teppan Edo.

Teppan Edo Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Unlike Tokyo Dining, when you enjoy a meal at Teppan Edo, you'll be seated at a table with 8 other guests. This means it's communal style dining, similar to Biergarten in the Germany Pavilion. This is a great restaurant to go to if you have a large party, because you can virtually have an entire table/grill station to yourself. On this visit, there were four of us, so we were half of the table we were seated at.

Teppan Edo - Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

During the meal, you choose what protein you want, and your meal is prepared in front of you by one of the very talented chefs. If you have a special dietary need, your food will typically be prepared in the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination, especially if you have celiac disease or other allergies.

Teppan Edo - Menu & Napkin / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As we began our meal, we were all given hand wipes and menus to choose our proteins from. Before the chef came out, the manager did meet with Brandon and I to discuss options with us. Though we got to watch the cooking, which is really the biggest reason to dine at Teppan Edo, all of our meals were prepared directly in the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination. I inadvertently glutened myself on our last visit, so on this visit, we made sure everything was as safe as it could be.

Teppan Edo - Cooking / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As I said, the real atmosphere here is the cooking. And, Chef Rumi did not disappoint. She was so fun and really did a great job not only cooking for everyone but also at getting us involved in the cooking fun.

From volcano onions to Chef Rumi singing Disney songs, the entire meal was fun from start to finish.

Everyone in our party had a great time, and Brandon's family was super impressed by the experience.

In addition the photos here, you can watch the video that Brandon took of our dining experience and see for yourself how much fun Chef Rumi and our dining experience was.

The Food

Teppan Edo, is not actually owned and operated by Disney, so the restaurant does not carry an allergy-friendly menu. But, as I mentioned earlier, at Teppan Edo, a manager will come speak to you about special dietary needs options.

Both Brandon and I have been impressed by how seriously the restaurant takes special dietary needs. They went over all of the options and made sure that our chef, the servers, and everyone in between were aware of our order to ensure our safety. Because of all of our special dietary needs, the manager made sure all of our food was prepared in the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination on the grill.

Teppan Edo / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up first, the entire table was brought Garden Salads to start. Brandon was served a garden salad with the traditional dressing that included soy sauce in it. I was served a similar salad, and the only difference was that I was served a gluten free yuzu dressing. It was very citrusy and had quite a vinegar punch to it, but I really enjoyed it. Brandon has said that the salad at Teppan Edo is one of his very favorites. He loves vinaigrette and light, bright flavors.

Brandon's salad was dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free. My salad was gluten free and dairy free (and likely free of many other allergens too).

For those who are gluten free, you'll be served Kikkoman gluten free soy sauce upon request. I really enjoyed having this for my rice and vegetables.

For my entree, the kitchen prepared Scottish Salmon which was served with spicy yuzu, Yum Yum sauce, stir-fried vegetables, and steamed white rice. My meal was entirely gluten free and dairy free. I ordered this on our previous visit, and while I was tempted to try something new, I just loved the salmon so much that I had to order it again. From the rice, to the vegetables, the salmon, and the sauces, I absolutely loved everything about this meal. Honestly, it's something I could eat every single day and not bored! It was so flavorful, delicious, and filling.

Teppan Edo - Steak — Teppan Edo / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon opted for the NY Cut Steak, which came with a Soy-Ginger Sauce, Yum Yum sauce, udon noodles with stir-fried vegetables, and steamed white rice. His meal was dairy free, fish/shellfish free, peanut free, hazelnut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free. Like my meal, his was also prepared in the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination. He also loved his meal, and he especially loves the steak and udon noodles. Both of us agreed that this is one of our favorite kinds of meals.

Overall

Both Brandon and I have quickly become huge fans of Teppan Edo. I always avoided the restaurant fearing that I wouldn't have a lot of options or that it would be a challenge to eat there safely. But, we have been been very impressed by the level of attention the restaurant takes to ensure that we have a safe meal. While we don't necessarily get to eat the food that's prepared at the table, we still both love watching the show and participating in the fun. Overall, it continues to be a new favorite and a restaurant we'll definitely be back to again soon.

Have you been to Teppan Edo? What was your experience dining there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Whispering Canyon Cafe Dinner Review

Whispering Canyon Cafe, located in Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort is a table service restaurant that offers hearty Western-style fare in a unique setting that includes colorful cast members who treat you to good food and hilarious shenanigans throughout your meal. Recently, I had appetizers and dessert there with my friends Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures and Christy from Pack Your Pixie Dust.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in November 2019. It includes information about dairy free options too.

Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Atmosphere

I absolutely love Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, especially during the holiday season. Both Whispering Canyon Cafe and the lodge have a fantastic design and rustic feel to them.

Whispering Canyon Cafe Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I really loved seeing all the seasonal decor throughout the restaurant and the resort.

Whispering Canyon Cafe - Holiday Decorations / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I somehow didn't manage to get many photos that night though, so if you're interested in seeing more about the restaurant, I recommend checking out my previous lunch review that I wrote. I included a lot more photos and discuss the theme in more detail.

The Food

On this visit, none of us wanted anything too heavy, so we opted for appetizers and dessert instead of a full meal. One of these days, I do want to go back for their dinner skillets, especially since they've added some new options.

Whispering Canyon Cafe Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Like most Disney-owned restaurants, Whispering Canyon Cafe does have an allergy-friendly dinner menu. You can also always speak to a chef or manager at any time to discuss options. On this visit, we ordered directly from the allergy-friendly menu because we ordered just a few simple dishes.

Whispering Canyon Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For a while now, I've been wanting to try out the "Burnt Ends" Nachos which are marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. Christy and I decided to split these because we both really enjoy nachos.

Overall, we both really enjoyed these, though I think the weakest part of the nachos was the cheese sauce. I'm always super excited to see a nacho cheese stye sauce, but this one was pretty bland. And, I think we all agreed that the brisket, pulled pork, pico de gallo, and tortilla chips were all really good, despite the so-so cheese sauce. I would still get these again and split them as a starter -- though I wouldn't want to order them for a full meal.

For dessert, Christy and I attempted to split the Whispering Canyon Pioneer Chocolate Cake, which is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. But, when it came to the table, we noticed it looked pretty burnt. In fact, we tried to eat it and neither one of us could get it out of the dish. We each took a bite and decided that the cake was indeed completely burnt and inedible. This was a real shame because I'd had it on previous visits and thought it was delicious. Because it was late, and we'd eaten a lot of nachos, we opted to send the cake back and not get a replacement. It was definitely a bit of a bummer to see the cake so poorly prepared.

Overall

While I do generally enjoy the food at Whispering Canyon Cafe, this visit had hit or miss dishes. The nachos were definitely a dish I'd order again. And, while I've had delicious versions of the Pioneer Chocolate Cake before, this time the dessert was completely inedible. I might try to get it again, but it will be a long time before I do so. I think the restaurant shines with its Western fare, so I would recommend Whispering Canyon Cafe for breakfast or dinner if you like BBQ style or Western inspired meals.

Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What was your experience when you dined there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Kona Cafe Breakfast Review

Kona Cafe, located in Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is a table service restaurant that serves classic American fare with a Polynesian twist. Brandon and I both really enjoy Kona Cafe for breakfast and dinner. Recently, I stopped by the restaurant to try out the new gluten free and dairy free Tonga Toast sliders, which I had heard about as a new offering from my friend Alexis at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures.

*This gluten free dining review took place in December 2019. It includes information about dairy free options too.

Breakfast at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

Kona Cafe is located on the second floor of the Polynesian Village Resort lobby area. With an open concept, it is essentially a lobby restaurant in the truest sense.

Polynesian Village Resort Decor / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I do love taking a look at the lobby's decor when we dine at Kona Cafe. The refurb they did a few years ago to the resort incorporated some phenomenal new touches. I especially love the decorative lights in the main lobby area.

As you can see, the restaurant is fairly open. And, you'll have good views of the monorail and other lobby area activity. I wouldn't say the decor is very fancy, but it does have a subdued Polynesian twist. I personally think the restaurant could use a refurb itself, as some of the decor is pretty dated and looks like the restaurant hasn't been updated since the late 1990s. Despite the dated decor, the restaurant is charming overall.

The Food

Of course, the real reason I visit Kona Cafe is the food. On this occasion, I stopped by myself on a weekend to see if the restaurant could accommodate the Tonga Toast sliders. In addition to speaking with a chef (which I always highly recommend), the restaurant does carry an allergy-friendly breakfast menu.

The allergy-friendly menu is a bit more limited than the actual offerings available. In speaking with a chef, I have been able to get the macadamia nut pancakes gluten free and the Polynesian Egg Platter gluten free and dairy free served with an Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC donut too. On this occasion though, I had my heart set on gluten free Tonga Toast Sliders. I was very excited to learn that yes, this is currently an option at the restaurant.

To go with my Tonga Toast sliders, the server brought me both 100% pure maple syrup and house-made Strawberry Compote. The compote has always been gluten free, but they now have made it dairy free and vegan too.

Our friends at Vegan Disney World reported on this a while back, and it was great to check it out in person. I have heard (though I didn't confirm with the chef on this visit) that the compote now has coconut milk in it. If you're interested in this compote, I would recommend double-checking with a chef. I will say that I personally found the strawberry compote very sweet, so a little bit goes a long way in my opinion!

When the gluten free and dairy free Tonga Toast Sliders arrived at my table, I will admit that I wasn't that impressed by the look of them. They looked a little "burnt," and I was worried that they wouldn't be that tasty. But, once I took a bit, I was hooked. The sliders are made using Deanna's Gluten Free (and dairy free) rolls and are stuffed with banana, deep fried in a dedicated fryer, and smothered in cinnamon-sugar. Wow!

I have never had the original Tonga Toast, but I was pretty impressed by this dish. It wasn't very pretty looking, but the taste was great. I preferred my sliders topped with maple syrup, but I know the strawberry compote is the classic way to enjoy this Kona Cafe favorite. I would most definitely get this dish again, and I really hope they keep it on the menu. Interestingly enough, there's seems to be some inconsistency with how it's made. While I got the sliders, I've actually seen several photos of a stacked version made with gluten free bread slices instead of the rolls. So, your mileage may vary on which version you get.

Overall

Kona Cafe is always a fantastic place to get breakfast or dinner. And, with the addition of the gluten free and dairy free Tonga Toast sliders, there's even more of a reason to get there during breakfast hours. Whether it's this new breakfast treat, the GF macadamia nut pancakes, egg platter or one of their other special diets options, you'll be pleased with whatever breakfast option you get at Kona Cafe. I can't wait to go back again soon to try the Tonga Toast sliders again soon!

Have you been to Kona Cafe for breakfast? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

12/30/19 12/30/19

The Mara Lunch Review

The Mara, located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House, is a quick service restaurant that serves classic fast food fare with an African twist. It's long been one of my favorite resort quick service restaurants on Disney property. Recently, I had lunch at The Mara while my family was staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge on vacation.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in December 2019 and includes information about dairy free options too.

Lunch at The Mara

Atmosphere

The Mara is named for a river flowing through Kenya and Tanzania. And, you'll see decor in the restaurant that follows this theme. In fact, as you enter the restaurant, you'll see touches of an African reserve, which leads you to the resort's pool area.

The Mara - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I do love how charming the restaurant's interior is with wooden beams and light fixtures resembling trees.

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

On this visit, I did not spend a lot of time in the restaurant because I took my lunch to-go back to my family's DVC villa. As you can see from the photo, the restaurant has a lot of theming, even in the ordering area.

The Mara - To Go Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because it was December, there were quite a few holiday decorations up too. I love this holiday wreath near the to-go station.

The Food

Like many Disney owned restaurants, The Mara does have an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. You can also speak directly to a manager or chef trained to accommodate special dietary needs orders. I always recommend this if you have additional questions, multiple dietary needs, or want to see if items can be easily customized. On this visit, I spoke with one of the managers and also looked at the allergy-friendly menu.

The Mara - Allergy Ticket / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, I didn't want anything too heavy, because my family was heading to the Magic Kingdom after lunch. With this in mind, I ordered the Mara Salad which is marked gluten free on the allergy-friendly menu. Once I ordered this with the manager, she gave me a pager and an allergy order form to take with me to the cash register.

Because I have been able to reintroduce dairy back into my diet, you'll notice I only had gluten listed. But, if you have multiple dietary needs, they will each be marked on the order form.

The Mara - Gluten Free Salad — The Mara / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, I opted for the Mara Salad which is marked gluten free on the allergy-friendly menu. I believe it could easily be made dairy free by omitting the feta cheese and possibly adjusting the dressing.

The Mara Salad was really excellent. It came with House-grilled Chicken Breast sliced over a bed of Mixed Greens with Red Onions, Lentils, Chickpeas, Cucumbers, Tomatoes and Feta served with Chili-Cilantro Vinaigrette Dressing on the side. I found the salad extremely hearty and very flavorful, and I would definitely get it again.

If you're dairy free, I recommend talking to a chef about options at The Mara. The restaurant does carry allergy-friendly chicken tenders which are both gluten free and dairy free, as well as sandwiches that can be easily made gluten free and dairy free too. On my most recent previous visit, I ordered the turkey and avocado club sandwich which was made gluten free and dairy free by swapping out the bun.

Overall

While it wasn't anything fancy, I really enjoyed the Mara Salad at The Mara. It was much heartier than I expected and a great lunch or light dinner option. The dressing was extremely flavorful, and I really loved all of the components together. I would definitely get this and many of the other unique quick service options at The Mara. It's a great go-to restaurant, especially if you're staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Have you been to The Mara? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

11/3/19 11/3/19

Three Bridges Bar & Grill Dinner Review

Three Bridges Bar & Grill located at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is one of the newest restaurants to open at Disney World in 2019. Like Geyser Point Bar & Grill at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Nomad Lounge in the Animal Kingdom, it serves a variety of small plates and entrees at affordable prices in a lounge style setting. Brandon and I had been wanting to go to Three Bridges ever since it opened. But, neither of us wanted to brave the summer heat. So, we finally stopped by when the temperature and humidity were a bit more manageable this early fall.

*This post includes includes 2 dining reviews that took place in September. It includes information about gluten free, dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Three Bridges Bar & Grill

Atmosphere

Three Bridges Bar & Grill is located in the middle of Lago Dorado - the large lake at Coronado Springs Resort. It's a bit confusing, but it's actually inside a building called Villa del Lago.

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

It's a pleasant walk from the lobby or the newly opened Gran Destino Tower at the resort. We especially enjoyed the light walk across the bridges to Three Bridges Bar & Grill in the evening around sunset.

As you can see, the views are quite beautiful at the restaurant during sunset. Of course, the views are great during the day too, but we really like dining there in the evening time.

Once you arrive at Villa Del Lago, you'll notice menus and a bar/lounge area. This is the entrance to Three Bridges Bar & Grill, though I'm not sure you actually see that name or signage anywhere -- adding to the confusion.

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

From the restaurant area, you can see where the bridges intersect, giving Three Bridges Bar & Grill it's name.

During the day and evening, the restaurant has great lighting and views of the lake.

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

While they do have lots of comfy chairs and seating, I think I prefer the regular tables when we're ordering more than just drinks. The comfy seating areas are definitely better for ordering a few small items to share and drinks.

Do be sure to ask for a seat by the edges of the restaurant if you want those unobstructed views. We found some of the interior seating to be a little crowded & close together and much preferred the tables on the sides of the restaurant.

In the evening-time, they also have a fire pit lit too. Though you can't see it well in this photo, it is super charming and gives the restaurant a cozy vibe when it's darker out.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Three Bridges Bar & Grill does offer an allergy-friendly menu. I admit that I was a bit surprised to see one, as some of the lounge locations like Geyser Point Bar & Grill do not have allergy menus. Of course, you can also always speak with a chef whenever you dine at a Disney owned location to discuss additional options and modifications.

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

Because the allergy-friendly menu didn't have a lot marked gluten free and because we wanted to discuss options for Brandon's special dietary needs, we did ask to speak with a chef. We were both glad to see Chef Paul at Three Bridges Bar & Grill. If you've followed my reviews over the years, you'll recognize Chef Paul from Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter and most recently at the Hangar Bar in Disney Springs. It was great to see a chef who always goes above and beyond for guests with special dietary needs, and we both knew we'd be well-taken care of during our meal.

Chef Paul did note that many of the dishes are gluten free or can be easily made gluten free. The french fries are made in a dedicated allergy-fryer, and the tortilla chips can be too. You can also get gluten free buns for the sandwiches. I definitely recommend talking to a chef when you go to Three Bridges Bar & Grill because there were definitely more options than I expected both for gluten free and gluten free & dairy free options.

On our first visit, both of us had been eyeing the Three Bridges Signature Burger which comes with Crispy Potato, Manchego Cheese, Roasted Garlic-Lemon Aioli, Arugula, and Tomato. Chef Paul made me a gluten free and dairy free version by omitting the cheese and swapping out the bun for a gluten free one.

The burger was absolutely fantastic and probably one of the best burgers I've had at Disney in a while. The burger was super flavorful and well-cooked. I really loved the addition of the crispy potato on the burger which added some nice texture and crunch. And, of course, ever the condiment queen, the roasted garlic lemon aioli was outstanding. The smoked paprika fries served on the side were really tasty (and great with the smoky tomato mayonnaise that came on the side).

I did ask Chef Paul about the gluten free and dairy free bun because I knew it wasn't Local Oven or Udi's brands. I found out that property-wide, they are slowly adding in Bloomfield Farms gluten free buns. He said that D-Luxe Burger was the first location that offered them and that other locations are slowly getting them. That makes a lot of since because I had this bun back in early summer at D-Luxe and couldn't quite figure out what brand they were using. Overall, I really enjoyed this new bun, so it's definitely a great addition to the GF bun options.

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

Brandon also got the Three Bridges Signature Burger with Crispy Potato, Manchego Cheese, Roasted Garlic-Lemon Aioli, and Arugla (he opted for no tomato). It was served on the regular gluten-filled bun and was safe for fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies. The only major differences to his burger from mine was the different bun and addition of cheese.

Like me, Brandon really loved this burger (so much so that we came back a week later to eat there!). He wasn't as big of a fan of the smoky tomato mayonnaise but otherwise both of us agreed everything about our burgers was fantastic.

Pro tip: If you like the allergy-friendly fries, you can also order a side of them. Brandon did this on all our visit because he liked them so much.

On our second visit, Chef Paul was not at Three Bridges Bar & Grill, but the chef on duty did make sure to make us safe burgers. We both got the same thing the second time because we really did enjoy the burgers that much. This is a photo of the gluten free version I was served.

Unfortunately, as sometimes happens, Brandon was served a gluten free bun. While he didn't hate it, he would prefer a gluten-filled one when he can have them safely.

We both also noticed the fries seemed a bit different on our second visit. We were not sure if they just ran out of the other fries or if something had changed, but they were definitely slightly different. They reminded us of the ones you can get at D-Luxe Burger too. Both of us preferred the first batch we had and will ask on our next visit about the differences.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill - GF Vegan Chocolate Avocado Pudding — Three Bridges Bar & Grill / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I also asked about the dessert options on our second visit. Chef Paul had mentioned the chocolate avocado mousse on the kids' menu was gluten free, dairy free, and vegan. So, you know I had to try it!

I have to say that I wasn't overly impressed by this. I knew it would not be super sweet or chocolatey because of the avocado but I found the flavors to be a little too earthy for my taste. It wasn't bad, but it's not something I'd order again. But, if you are gluten free, dairy free, or vegan, you might want to give it a try. One word of caution, it's a very tiny portion for $3.

Three Bridges Bar & Grill - Iced Tea — Three Bridges Bar & Grill / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Side note, if you are an iced tea drinker like I am, I have to give Three Bridges Bar & Grill a shout-out for serving actual tea. So many locations serve Gold Peak Tea which is not particularly the tastiest. This tasted like proper brewed iced tea, and I'm definitely a fan.

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

On our second visit, Brandon also got the Cortado (espresso with steamed milk) as an after-dinner coffee drink. He was a pretty big fan of this and said he'd definitely get it again.

Overall

We were super impressed by the quality of the food and options at Three Bridges Bar & Grill. While it's not a huge menu, we were glad to see that the chefs at this restaurant really went above and beyond to help ensure we had options and dishes we'd enjoy. We both are looking forward to going back again soon to try other dishes besides the excellent burgers served here.

Have you been to Three Bridges Bar & Grill? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

11/2/19 11/2/19

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (Disney World) Lunch Review

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo is a quick service restaurant located in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Disney's Hollywood Studios. During the first few days of the land opening, we had both breakfast and lunch at the restaurant to check out all of the options available to us as guests with special dietary needs.

*This dining experience took place in August 2019. It includes information about dairy free options and fish/shellfish, peanut, and chicken & turkey free options.

Lunch at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

Atmosphere

Docking Bay 7 is themed after a working hangar bay. There is actually a bit of a storyline that goes with the restaurant's theme -- though I admit, I would not have known about it if it hadn't been listed on Disney World's official page about Docking Bay 7.

The story is that Chef Strono “Cookie” Tuggs runs the joint and prepares dishes with ingredients all across the galaxy. So, many of the dishes you find at Docking Bay 7 are said to be inspired by all of Chef Cookie's adventures.

Docking Bay 7 - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The building for Docking Bay 7 does look a bit nondescript. But, you'll find a sign that helps guide you to the restaurant.

Docking Bay 7 - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The inside is much more interesting, with lots of seating options set to resemble cargo and engine parts that you'd expect to see in a working hangar bay. I really loved the booth areas that were a bit more tucked away from the busy restaurant crowds. These cargo container seats are really clever!

Docking Bay 7 - Decor / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You'll also see some nods to the restaurant's theme and back-story with various open cargo boxes that include different "food" items. Here we found some fish and other food containers.

Docking Bay 7 Dining Room / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Although I expect the crowds have thinned out a bit at Docking Bay 7 since opening weekend, do take note that it can feel very crowded very quickly in this restaurant. The layout is a little funny, and it definitely doesn't feel spacious. As you can see from this photo, early lunchtime was definitely fairly busy when we went.

The Food

Like most Disney owned and operated restaurants, Docking Bay 7 does carry an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. Do be sure to always double-check this menu and speak with a chef if you have any questions about options or have special dietary needs not covered by this menu. Because of our special dietary needs, we made sure to talk to a chef directly about options.

Docking Bay 7 / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Chef Quan helped us on both of our visits. While I opted to order a gluten free dish from the menu, we did need to find out if there was anything that Brandon could eat at the restaurant. He is allergic to fish, shellfish, peanuts, hazelnuts, cabbage, and chicken & turkey. Because most of the options either contained shellfish or chicken, we weren't sure there'd much he could choose from.

Chef Quan was very helpful, though he did mention that there's limited options at the restaurant because they wanted food that could be easily and quickly prepared for guests -- anticipating that the restaurant would be really busy. With this in mind, he said options and customization would be a bit of a challenge. But, he really worked hard to ensure Brandon could eat something at Docking Bay 7.

For my entree, I decided to try one of the three gluten free options on the menu -- the Roasted Endorian Chicken Salad (formerly labeled the Roasted Endorian Tip-Yip Salad). This was marked safe for gluten/wheat, fish/shellfish, and peanut allergies. It does contain dairy and cannot be modified. The salad comes with Marinated Chicken, Mixed Greens, Roasted Vegetables, Quinoa, Pumpkin Seeds, and Green Curry Ranch.

Overall, if you can have dairy, this is an excellent gluten free option. I was really impressed by the hearty portion (there was a ton of chicken in the dish) and the flavors were surprisingly good. I had heard hit or miss reviews from Disneyland about this dish -- especially because some of the ingredients in the salad were warm while others were cold. While I definitely noticed the temperature differences, I still thought the salad was pretty good. I also didn't think the ranch or curry flavors were too prominent -- though if you don't like either of those, you might want to skip this one.

I would definitely get this dish again -- though I really want to try the shrimp and noodle salad options after reading Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures' review in her most recent trip to Disneyland. The shrimp and noodle dish on the adult and children's menus are both gluten free and dairy free.

After talking to Chef Quan, it looked like the only safe option that would work for Brandon's special dietary needs was the Smoked Kaadu Pork Ribs with a slight modification. Chef Quan actually made a fresh batch of potatoes for Brandon to substitute for the cabbage slaw (which he is allergic to). This was really nice of the chef to do so that Brandon could also try the food at Docking Bay 7.

The Smoked Kaadu Pork Ribs typically comes with Sticky Pork Ribs, Blueberry Corn Muffin, and Cabbage Slaw. In this case, Brandon had potatoes instead of the slaw. With this modification the dish was safe for fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Docking Bay 7 - Kaadu Ribs & Muffin — Docking Bay 7 / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Generally, Brandon said the ribs were good. Neither one of us are fans of ribs and eating meat off the bone, and Brandon said this was not exactly the easiest thing to eat. The muffin was nothing to write home about. And, he said the best part of the entree were the potatoes. Because it was just so-so, Brandon said he'd probably prefer to get food elsewhere next time we visit Hollywood Studios.

Overall

While we were both glad to be able to eat something at Docking Bay 7 for lunch, neither one of us were all that impressed with the food. I liked mine a bit more than Brandon did, but knowing that he really could only get one dish doesn't make either of us want to prioritize eating there in the future. I do want to get back to try the shrimp and noodle dishes, but I'm not sure I'll do that anytime soon. Still, I'm always super glad there are special dietary needs options at any Disney restaurant. This one is just not our personal favorite for options and variety. Even though it's not our first choice, I'm still glad we went. And, huge thanks again to Chef Quan for helping ensure we had safe options there!

Have you been to Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo in Disney World? What did you think of the special dietary needs options?

10/26/19 10/26/19

Coral Reef Dinner Review

Coral Reef, located in The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion in Epcot, is a table service restaurant that serves seafood and steak options for guests with views of a living coral reef. Brandon, his mom, and I recently had dinner at Coral Reef one evening while we were picking up our annual passholder coasters and magnets during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in October 2019. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Coral Reef

Atmosphere

Coral Reef is inspired by the living seas and features views of the coral reef located in the pavilion.

Coral Reef Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When you arrive at the restaurant, you'll notice lots of bright vibrant colors to set the stage as you begin your journey "under water" into the restaurant.

Coral Reef Lobby / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Once you enter the restaurant's lobby, you can see that it resembles the ocean floor. I have to admit that the restaurant's interior does feel a bit dated -- though the lobby portion is less so than the actual interior.

Coral Reef Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While we all agreed that you can get nice views of the coral reef & aquariums from anywhere in the restaurant, since this was Brandon's mom's first visit to the restaurant, we requested a table near the front.

You can request this when you check-in to the restaurant -- though there may be a bit of a wait. We were also told by the cast member during check-in that they would try their best to honor this request, but that's it's not always a guarantee. Thankfully, the restaurant was a bit slow when we dined there, and we had no issues getting a table near The Seas marine life.

Coral Reef Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our previous visit, we sat at a table near The Seas and found the chairs to be really uncomfortable. This time we were seated in a much more comfortable booth. We all agreed this was far more comfortable and relaxed way to experience the restaurant and would actually request a booth straight away the next time we go.

Coral Reef - Table / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see, the interior of the restaurant features lots of blues, purples, and other sea-inspired colors. I do hope that someday they refresh the restaurant's decor because it really is a bit outdated.

The Food

Of course, the main reason we came to Coral Reef was dinner! Because it is owned and operated by the Disney Company, Coral Reef does have an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. You can also always ask to speak with a chef directly whenever you dine there.

Coral Reef - Allergy-Friendly Rolls — Coral Reef / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Before our meal, we were brought out bread service. I was served Ener-Ggluten free and allergy-friendly rolls, which are also dairy free, vegan, and free of the top common allergens. These were well-heated on this visit -- making them a nice way to start the meal. If you're just gluten free, you'll be served butter with the rolls. If you're dairy free, be sure to ask for some Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread.

Brandon was also served the house rolls, which looked like pull-apart Parker House style rolls. Both Brandon and his mom didn't think they were very good and said they were pretty bland.

Coral Reef - GF Shrimp & Grits — Coral Reef / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On my previous visit, I ordered the Mahi-Mahi which is a gluten free and dairy free dish. But, on this visit, I was leaning towards trying the Shrimp & Grits because I'd heard such great things about it from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures.

The Shrimp & Grits includes Sauteed Shrimp, Cheddar Cheese Grits, Local Corn Succotash, Andouille Sausage, Creole Spice Emulsion and is marked safe for gluten/wheat, fish, peanut/tree nut, and soy allergies. This does contain dairy and cannot be modified.

Overall, I was really impressed by the shrimp & grits entree. It wasn't my favorite version of the dish, but it was really good. Everything was really flavorful, and I was shocked at how big the dish was. The amount of shrimp in it was excellent. If you like seafood and enjoy a bit of spice, this might be a good dish for you. I would definitely order the shrimp and grits from Coral Reef again.

Coral Reef / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because the menu is heavy on the seafood and Brandon is allergic to both fish & shellfish, his options were pretty limited. Thankfully, he's a big steak fan, so he ordered the Grilled 10-oz Top Sirloin Steak. On the allergy menu, it comes with Olive Oil-Mashed Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables and is marked safe for gluten/wheat, egg, fish/shellfish, milk, peanut/tree nut, and soy allergies.

But, Brandon did ask if he could order swap the olive oil-mashed potatoes for the loaded mashed potatoes on the regular Coral Reef menu. He was able to do this with no issues for his special dietary needs. Overall, he said the dish was really good -- and like my shrimp & grits, he had a huge portion of steak.

Brandon's mom also ordered the Caesar Salad for her starter, which included Romaine Lettuce, Parmesan Cheese, and Caesar Dressing. It was marked safe for gluten/wheat, peanut/tree nut, and shellfish allergies. Although I didn't try it, Brandon's mom did say it was a really good version of Caesar Salad. So, if you're a fan of this type of salad it might be worth ordering.

For dessert, Brandon couldn't pass up the chance to get a chocolately dessert. He's not a big dessert fan, but he loves chocolate flourless style cakes. And, the Chocolate Wave dessert at Coral Reef is one he really enjoys. This includes chocolate curls and raspberry cream and is marked safe for gluten/wheat, fish/shellfish, and peanut/tree nut allergies. If you love chocolate cake, this is definitely one to try. It's very rich and a perfect way to end a meal.

Overall

While we wouldn't say the food is anything fancy, we have been pleasantly surprised by the food at Coral Reef. On both of our recent visits, we have found delicious and tasty options that cover our special dietary needs and leave us satisfied. Even better? We really enjoy the atmosphere and spending a leisurely dinner watching the marine life at The Seas. If you seafood that isn't super pricey, this may be a good option to dine at when you're in Epcot.

Have you been to Coral Reef? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

10/26/19 10/26/19

Restaurant Marrakesh Dinner Review

Restaurant Marrakesh, located in the Morocco Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase, is a table service restaurant that serves Moroccan cuisine. Recently, Brandon, his mom, and I had a spur of the moment dinner at Restaurant Marrakesh. Brandon had never been, and I hadn't been in years, so this was a great chance to see what special diets options were available to us both.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in August 2019. It includes information about dairy free options and information about fish/shellfish, peanut, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Restaurant Marrakesh

Atmosphere

If dining at a restaurant with lots of unique theming is something you're interested in, you can't get better than dining at Restaurant Marrakesh. The restaurant's beautiful exterior and interior make it a great place to enjoy a meal.

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

The restaurant is situated pretty far back in the pavilion, making it a beautifully hidden spot in the park.

Restaurant Marrakesh Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

From the moment you walk up to the restaurant, you'll find yourself transported to a Moroccan oasis.

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

As beautiful as the exterior is, the interior is even more beautiful. I love all of the intricate details, and especially all of the detailed tile work throughout the restaurant.

From floor to ceiling, you can see beautiful patterns and designs that reflect Moroccan style.

Restaurant Marrakesh - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I also love the brightly colored walls and carpet that surround each table. Everything is beautifully and artfully presented.

Restaurant Marrakesh - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Though we had seats at a standard table, I loved the tables with benches built in. The bright fabric and design looked very inviting and cozy.

Restaurant Marrakesh - Musician / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Of course, one of my favorite parts about Restaurant Marrakesh is the live entertainment. It's changed over the years (and has sometimes included a full band). On this visit, there was one musician along with a belly dancer who came out once during our meal.

Brandon took a video of the belly dancer and live music for those who might be interested in seeing the entertainment highlights from our visit to Restaurant Marrakesh.

The Food

Restaurant Marrakesh is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, which means they don't currently offer an allergy-friendly menu. But, they will have a chef come and talk to you about special dietary needs options. Our server also seemed pretty aware of gluten free options that might be available too.

Restaurant Marrakesh - Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Both Brandon and I took a look at the menu and had some questions for the chef which we discussed when he came to the table. I have had hit or miss experiences with chefs at the Morocco pavilion in the past -- both at Restaurant Marrakesh and Tangierine Cafe. But, on this visit the chef was very helpful and accommodating.

Restaurant Marrakesh / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Both Brandon and I were served a bread service before our meal. I was served Ener-G gluten free and allergy-friendly rolls, which are also dairy free, vegan, and free of the top common allergens. This particular brand of roll really needs to be heated well to be tasty. And, thankfully, on this visit, they were extremely well-heated and very tasty. The only thing I was missing was hummus. On our next visit, I will definitely be asking for a side of hummus with the bread service!

Restaurant Marrakesh - Bread — Restaurant Marrakesh / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon was served the regular bread service and was told that this was peanut free. He said it was quite good. And, both Brandon and his mom seemed to enjoy it.

On this particular visit, I had my eye on the Chicken Kabobs which came with grilled chicken breast, olive salad, and yellow rice (instead of the couscous that normally comes with the dish). This is both gluten free and dairy free.

I very much enjoyed this dish. While the chicken was a little on the dry side, the flavor was excellent. I also loved the marinated olives and the yellow rice served with it. This is definitely a dish I would order again. If you're curious about other dishes, I have also had the Lemon Chicken Tagine on previous visits and also enjoyed it too.

Both Brandon and I were a little concerned about options for his special dietary needs at Restaurant Marrakesh. But, we were able to find an option that worked well for him. Brandon is allergic to fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey. The proteins were the biggest concern with cross-contamination. And, luckily, the dish he was interested in was a safe option.

Brandon ordered the Grilled Beef Tenderloin Shish Kebab. This is normally served with mixed vegetables and yellow rice. But, Brandon asked if he could substitute the rice for roasted garlic mashed potatoes instead -- which the chef said he was happy to do. Brandon said this was an excellent dish, and he was still raving about it days later too!

In addition to being safe for Brandon's special dietary needs, this was also gluten free too. The potatoes contained dairy, but you could easily order it the traditional way with rice and vegetables for a dairy free option.

Overall

We were both pleasantly surprised by how accommodating Restaurant Marrakesh was on our visit. And, even better, the food was quite good too. I wouldn't say it's our favorite place in the World Showcase, but it's a solid option that we both said we'd like to go back to again soon. As an added bonus, there is often a lot of availability at this restaurant for walk-up dining if you don't have a reservation too. We were both glad we got to go on this visit and get to check out the current options for guests with special dietary needs.

Have you been to Restaurant Marrakesh? What did you think of the options there?

9/29/19 9/29/19

The BOATHOUSE Lunch Review

The BOATHOUSE, located in Disney Springs, is a table service restaurant that offers guests a taste of fresh seafood and signature steaks. Although it's not owned and operated by the Disney Company, this is one of our favorite restaurants in Disney Springs for their excellent food and special dietary needs accommodations. Recently, I stopped by for lunch with Brandon's mom on a shopping day in Disney Springs.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in September 2019. It includes information about dairy free modifications.

Lunch at The BOATHOUSE

Atmosphere

The BOATHOUSE is one of those restaurants that I initially didn't think I would like in terms of atmosphere. But, after our first meal there, I fell in love with the nautical theme, and especially all of the different themed dining rooms.

One of the things I love about the decor is that there is something for every preference and taste. Whether it's dining at the colorful bar area or enjoying a meal in a brightly lit room or even dining in a boat, the theming options in The BOATHOUSE are pretty fantastic.

The Boathouse Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We often dine either outside or in one of the dining rooms with lots of dark wood (and that reminds me of old school decor from the Red Lobster restaurant chain from the 1980s and 1990s). On this visit, we were seated in a brightly lit dining room with lots of nautical touches.

The Boathouse Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Both Brandon's mom and I really liked this room and especially how bright and cheery it was for lunch time.

The Boathouse - View / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

It also offered a nice view of the boat launch area and outdoor seating. I do recommend outdoor seating at The BOATHOUSE when the weather is nicer, but when it's summertime, we prefer to eat indoors.

The Food

Because The BOATHOUSE is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, they do not offer an allergy-friendly menu. But, you can always ask to speak with a chef when you dine there. I highly recommend this because they can discuss a variety of options with you and are very knowledgeable.

The Boathouse - Beverages — The Boathouse / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The BOATHOUSE also offers a variety of drinks from terrific non-alcoholic beverages like iced tea (which is some of the best on Disney property) to various alcoholic offerings. On this visit, I had a Bellini, which is peach puree with sparkling wine. It was really good and perfect for lunch time.

The restaurant also serves gluten free and buns as "rolls" if you are interested in a bread service option. They have been using what I believe are the commercial versions of Udi's Gluten Free rolls for a while. The restaurant does not have a non-dairy vegan buttery spread on hand, so be sure to ask for extra virgin olive oil if you cannot have dairy. For me, I can sort of take or leave the bread option. But, it's always nice to have, especially if you're feeling a little hungry.

On this visit, I decided to order the Grilled Fresh Fish Tacos with Grilled Swordfish, Green Papaya-Jicama Slaw, Guajillo Sauce, and Spicy Avocado Salsa Verde. I was told that this is naturally gluten free and does not require any modifications -- though would, of course, take proper precautions to prepare my meal safely. The sauce does contain dairy but can be easily omitted. You can read about the gluten free and dairy free version from our friend Celiac and the Beast.

This was a really tasty entree, and I had been wanting to order these tacos for a while. I'm definitely glad I did because the flavor was fantastic and the fish was super fresh tasting. Each component was great. And, I appreciate that the The BOATHOUSE prides itself on making all of their own sauces in-house. You can definitely tell a difference. I would absolutely order these again.

I realized as I was writing this review that I forgot to write up a review from our visit there this summer with Brandon's parents for Father's Day. On that visit, I ordered the "Yacht Club" Club Sandwich on a gluten free bun. This included Roasted Turkey Breast, Cucumber, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado, Chipotle-Honey Mayo, and Swiss Cheese. Normally it comes with French Fries, but since The BOATHOUSE does not have a dedicated allergy-friendly fryer, I opted for a Caesar Salad without croutons.

While I did like this sandwich a lot and found it to be a nice light option, I'm not sure I'd get it again. There's a lot better options in the restaurant for gluten free guests that are tastier are a bit better value in terms of the cost. If you're gluten free and dairy free, this may also be a good option. You could order minus the cheese and substitute the mayo if this version contains dairy.

The Caesar Salad on the other hand was excellent. You can tell they make the salad dressing in house too and the traditional way -- with anchovies. I would definitely get this again. On a side note, always ask the chef to prepare this directly and in a clean bowl. I had a friend order this at The BOATHOUSE once who was glutened with leftover crouton crumbs in her salad. I discussed this at length with the chef at The BOATHOUSE, and he assured me that he would make sure that I did not get croutons in any way in the salad. Thankfully, mine was correct. But, my friend's experience was a good reminder to always discuss concerns with a chef.

Overall

The BOATHOUSE always continues to be a great option for a good gluten free and special diets meal in Disney Springs. I really appreciate that there are chefs on hand to discuss options and that there are a variety of entrees with different price points -- making it affordable to eat a lunch or dinner here. It's a restaurant we continue to go to with family and friends for special occasions or just on a simple shopping trip in Disney Springs.

Have you been to The BOATHOUSE? What do you think of the special dietary needs options there?