*This dining experience took place in February 2016.

Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Boatwright’s, a table service restaurant at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort, has long been a favorite restaurant of mine — one that I definitely think is a bit of a hidden gem. With great comfort food with a Southern and Cajun twist, like chicken and waffles, and terrific special diets accommodations, I’ve enjoyed getting lots of great eats at Boatwright’s.

On this particular occasion, I dined at Boatwright’s for my birthday and was looking forward to a great meal. Boatwright’s does currently have an allergy-friendly dinner menu, and while there weren’t a ton of gluten free and dairy free items listed, I was confident that after speaking with a chef I’d be able to get some of my favorites like Crawfish Bites.

Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Before my meal, I was given Deanna’s Gluten Free rolls (formerly GNI Brand), with some Smart Balance buttery spread, which is vegan and gluten free. The rolls were heated well, though I do wish the restaurant carried Earth Balance, as I prefer that over Smart Balance.

Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For an entree, I ordered Colonel Peace’s Pieces, which is a combination of crawfish bites, okra, and oysters. The restaurant currently uses corn flour as it’s batter base for all orders, so this dish is naturally gluten free, which is very nice! My version did need to be modified to be dairy free.

The remoulade sauce is so good, and one I can’t pass up when I’m at Boatwright’s. It is both gluten free & dairy free naturally, though initially, I was told it was no longer dairy free. After confirming with the chef, it is still dairy free, as the remoulade is mayo based, I was able to enjoy it safely.

Overall, I did enjoy the appetizer, though I have to say I personally miss the crawfish bites. This version was good, and while I liked the okra, the oysters were not my favorite (that’s a personal preference). I also found the dish to be very underseasoned. Of course, nothing a bunch of remoulade wouldn’t fix!

Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I had my heart set on the chicken and waffles, which I have really enjoyed at Boatwright’s. Unfortunately, the chef was unable to accommodate my request, as they currently use Cup4Cup mix for their waffles which does contain dairy.

I ended up ordering the classic jambalaya, though found my dish to be a bit lacking. For some reason it did not contain sausage or shrimp, as it normally does. The flavors were good, but I would have liked to have had the other proteins in addition to the chicken.

You can read more about Boatwright’s from Alexis at Alexis’s Gluten Free Adventures, including her review of the gluten free chicken and waffles.

Overall, I still really love Boatwright’s, though my experience wasn’t as amazing as it has been in the past. It’s truly a nice hidden gem with interesting and unique offerings all set in a lovely atmosphere.

Have you been to Boatwright’s? What did you order when you dined here?

*This dining experience took place in December 2014.

It’s no secret that Boatwright’s Dining Hall is one of my favorite restaurants on Disney property. Since my birthday visit last February, I have dined at Boatwright’s more times than I can count and each meal has been amazing. That’s a testament to how great the restaurant, chefs, and menu are there.

When it came to a birthday dinner for my mom, I asked her what her choice would be, and to her it was no question – Boatwright’s. It just so happens that my mom’s birthday is also Christmas Eve, so we were celebrating both the holiday and my mom’s birthday that evening. The restaurant was definitely pretty busy, so as with any Disney dining, I recommend making ADRs anytime you want to dine at a table service location.

We were greeted by Chef Paul, who has prepared many of my meals at Boatwright’s and at other Port Orleans restaurants like Riverside Mill. I knew that I wanted to get the crawfish bites (of course) and the sweet-tea brined pork chop (now known on the menu as the Louisiana Lugger). You know you go to a restaurant a lot when you know what items you want to order before you even get there.

First up were GNI brand rolls with some extra virgin olive oil. I know I’ve said it before, but I will say it again – the Boatwright’s chefs really know how to heat these rolls up. Not heated up properly, these rolls can be less than great, but the chefs here always make sure they are well heated. The extra virgin olive oil is always a nice way to enjoy the rolls too.

Up next came my favorite crawfish bites. As always, these were outstanding. Crispy and delicious, I love the light batter and the freshness of the crawfish. And they are always perfectly seasoned at Boatwright’s. I have to hand it to Chef Paul; he really has the gift for salting his fried foods perfectly (as does Chef Tony). Some restaurants tend to under-salt their fried foods (Raglan Road never salts or grossly under-salts their fried foods), so this is just another testament to how great this culinary team is.

The portion size of this appetizer is pretty generous, so I always recommend sharing it with your dinner-mates. My family adores the gluten free version as well as the glutenous one, so regardless of your special dietary needs I can highly recommend them as a crowd-pleasing appetizer.

One important note about the gluten free (and dairy free) crawfish bites. The current menu version is more of a crawfish cake not the previous version of crawfish bites. If you would like to order the crawfish bites, I recommend contacting Disney’s Special Diets Department ([email protected]) at least 2 weeks in advance to request them. The restaurant can still accommodate with advance notice.

One of my favorite entrees at Boatwright’s is the sweet-tea brined pork chop with sweet potato hash. With the perfectly grilled pork chop to the sweet potato hash topped with crispy fried gluten free and dairy free onion straws, there’s nothing about this dish I don’t like. The onion straws absolutely make the dish (how can you not like an onion straw?!) and the chefs here know all too well that I love them (hence the heaping piles on my plate).

Like the crawfish bites, if you are interested in onion straws you’ll want to contact Special Diets at least two weeks in advance to request. And trust me, you’ll want to. They are worth the extra email or two!

I don’t tend to get desserts at restaurants, and this night I had a homemade gluten free and dairy free German chocolate cake waiting at home for my mom’s birthday, but Boatwright’s does carry several options for gluten free and dairy free diners.

Overall, my mom was really excited to spend her birthday at Boatwright’s (she even got a special dessert for the occasion) and spending our Christmas Eve there was even more special. Thanks to Chef Paul and the entire culinary team for a wonderful holiday meal!

Have you been to Boatwright’s Dining Hall? What’s your favorite menu item?

*This dining experience took place in August 2014.

When it comes to my favorite restaurants on Disney property, I have to say it probably boils down to two. These are the two that I consider the ones I could eat at nightly and not be bored or disappointed. One is Sanaa and the other is Boatwright’s Dining Hall. Both have decidedly unique culinary themes and both are a bit spicy (and condiment heavy, which I adore). I also consider both of them to be a bit of hidden gems on property; both very affordable and delicious. 

And they are equally popular with my family and friends. Case in point? This meal was requested by my friend for his birthday! Yep, people love Boatwright’s. What I love most about it is the food is excellently prepared and delicious. Port Orleans resort restaurants in general are all about real food. Boatwright’s, to me, is pure comfort food, with a Cajun and Southern twist. And they have crawfish bites and remoulade. Enough said.

On this particular occasion, we were greeted by Chef Tony. He had been making up a beignet storm at the August Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW meet-up that afternoon; let’s just say the meet-up and the beignets were very popular! It was a terrific meet-up, and I’m so glad the team at Port Orleans really worked to accommodate our group.

At dinner, one of the first things that Chef Tony did was bring me out a basket of GNI rolls and some extra virgin olive oil with herbs. This is, as it always is here, a perfect combo. The GNI rolls were heated really well (more bonus points for Boatwright’s!) and I love having some variation with the olive oil. 

Of course, I really can’t go to Boatwright’s and not get crawfish bites. I think it’s literally impossible. Chef Tony served them up with a huge serving of remoulade (ah, the culinary team here knows me all too well). Our group shared these, and everyone agreed they are delicious.

Every time I eat these, I have visions of a crawfish Po’ Boy made at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory using these in my head. That would be so amazing.  

For my entree, I ordered the sweet tea brined pork chop with sweet potato and bacon hash. The onion straws do normally contain gluten and dairy, but with advance notice (2 weeks through Disney’s Special Diets Department), they are able to make these along with the crawfish bites gluten free and dairy free. 

I’ve had this dish several times, and this is officially my favorite dish on the menu. Those onion straws are my culinary jam. Breaded in Namaste pancake and waffle mix with some spice added to it, these were heavenly. And, as you can see from the photo I was not lacking in the portion department with these either. They truly add a nice crunch to the dish, and I’m so grateful that the team can make them for me here. Onion straws for the win!

The sweet potato hash is excellent. Combined with the flavors from the pork chop and the onion straws, the dish just is perfection. And the portions are huge! One thing I know, you will never leave hungry at Boatwright’s!

Boatwright’s continues to impress me. I can’t believe it took me until this year to dine there. It has quickly come up the ranks as one of my favorite places to dine, and yes, I’m quickly going through the menu options! With big flavors and comforting dishes, I look forward to my next meal and more to come!

Have you been to Boatwright’s? What dishes do you order there?

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, at least that’s what this brunch junkie thinks! I am always looking to try new breakfast options at the Disney parks & resorts restaurants, and recently I got a chance to visit Riverside Mill not once but twice for breakfast. Work conferences sure have their advantages some time!

On my first visit, I met Chef Ron. He asked me what I was interested in for the day, and I decided to go with a modified version of the adult Bounty Platter which normally comes with scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, bacon, sausage and a biscuit. I switched out the sausage for more bacon and added in Udi’s Gluten Free toast with Smart Balance vegan margarine. 

The bounty platter is more or less the same at most quick service locations with slight variations of the breakfast potatoes. I enjoyed the spicy (but not too spicy) breakfast potatoes at Riverside Mill. Overall, a very solid meal. 

For breakfast number 2, I went a little more sweet with allergy Mickey waffles. Culinary intern, Chef Emma, greeted me. I know her well from my copious amounts of gluten free, allergy friendly beignet orders and it was great to catch up with her. I ordered the allergy Mickey waffles (made here with Namaste pancake and waffle mix) and a side of scrambled eggs. 

I have to say, these were the crispiest Namaste waffles I’ve ever had on Disney property. I usually find these are less crispy than Bob’s Red Mill allergy Mickey waffles, but these were outstanding on crispiness. I still prefer Bob’s Red Mill pancake mix (personal opinion, not based on the quality of the product) but these were very well done. The side of strawberries was another sweet treat and ordering a side of scrambled eggs really balanced out the sweetness nicely.

Overall, I found Riverside Mill to have excellent special diets breakfast options. Everything was well cooked and seasoned and easily modified. 

If you ever get a chance to visit Port Orleans Riverside Mill for lunch or dinner, I highly recommend it. I’ve had lunch here several times, and they have both been terrific and unique dishes. 

Have you been to Riverside Mill for breakfast, lunch or dinner? What are your favorite dishes here?

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.

Riverside Mill, located in Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort, offers up quick service with a Southern and Cajun twist. Set to resemble a working cotton press, I really enjoy the atmosphere of this location – in addition to the great food offerings available. 

On a previous occasion, I stopped by here for lunch and had the mahi sandwich, which was great. On this visit, I was stopping by for another lunch while on break from a work conference. Never one to order the same thing twice in two visits (unless it’s crawfish bites, then I’m always ordering them!), I wanted to try something different from Riverside Mill for lunch. While browsing the menu, the Carved Cajun Turkey Sandwich caught my eye. 

I was greeted by Chef Paul, whom you’ll recall from my other visits to Boatwright’s and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for beignets. Chef Paul always does a great job (as do all of the chefs at Port Orleans), so I knew I would have a great meal. We went over options, and when I mentioned the Carved Cajun Turkey Club Sandwich I learned that it had a Cajun mayo and was made with house-roasted turkey breast, not deli style turkey. Well, that sold me quickly! I also ordered it with a side of coleslaw.

Well, I gotta say, this was one of my favorite quick service sandwiches. The house-roasted turkey breast was killer. It was nicely seasoned and not dry. Everything is better with bacon, and this sandwich was no exception. What made it complete for me was the Cajun mayo. Yes, you know I love a good condiment and this was another winner for me. Next time, I’m getting fries with this as a dipping sauce (I think I say that every time I’m at Port Orleans and I try one of their sauces). 

I was so glad to see that the coleslaw was not a mayonnaise-based slaw. Those can be overpowering, bland, and heavy. This was a light, vinegar-based slaw that was just a little sweet. It was the perfect accompaniment to the turkey sandwich with it’s robust Cajun mayo. 

Overall, I was thrilled to find this sandwich on the menu. I am always impressed when a restaurant takes the time to roast their own meats, as opposed to using deli meats. Chef Paul said they also cook their roast beef for the roast beef sandwiches in-house too. This team really knows what they are doing here. 

Port Orleans Riverside Mill and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory are two fantastic quick service locations and some of the best on property. They really take the time to make quality meals that go above and beyond the burgers and fries realm (which, of course, you can always still order there and are also delicious). 

I’m looking forward to getting this sandwich again. It just might have to be a repeat on my next visit!

Have you been to Riverside Mill? What special diets offerings did you order there?

*This dining experience took place in August 2014. 

Visiting Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort makes you feel like you’re transported back to the days of Mark Twain and riverboats, with a distinctly Southern feel. The restaurant is set to resemble a working cotton press and has massive amounts of working gears that are powered by a large water wheel. It’s pretty impressive to say the least. It’s also a massive food court with lots of seating and Southern inspired menu.

On this particular occasion, I stopped by for a quick lunch before a meetup over at Port Orleans French Quarter for my favorite gluten free and food allergy friendly beignets. I also had dinner planned for Boatwright’s with friends, so it was a very Port Orleans inspired day! 

While the food at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory is decidedly New Orleans, the menu at Riverside Mill is a little more standard for a food court, with a few standouts with Southern flare including a Muffuletta flatbread and a Southern fire chicken sandwich. I was having a hard time deciding what to order.

I was greeted by Chef Page, and I asked him what might be safe to eat. We discussed several options including the Southern fire chicken sandwich and the Mahi sandwich which sounded really interesting. I opted to go for the Mahi sandwich which came with fries from a dedicated fryer. It was rather busy at the food court, so I took the time while I waited to explore the restaurant a bit. There are lots of amazing details in there!

Once my meal came out, I got a seat and dug in. The Mahi sandwich had Cajun seasoning on it and was seasoned nicely. Served on a Local Oven brand bun, this was a fairly substantial sandwich. The sandwich was topped with coleslaw and a remoulade sauce (which is mayonnaise based). You know how I feel about condiments and this sandwich satisfied my sauce cravings. Now if I would have asked for some remoulade on the side for the fries… 

The French fries were the standard fries you get at Disney World, so nothing special there. But had I dipped them in remoulade…genius! 

The restaurant itself had quite a few offerings available to me, which was terrific. I liked the food a lot here and I love the atmosphere. It’s a great place to dine and enjoy the atmosphere and for a quick service it has a lot of charm to it. I enjoyed my Mahi sandwich a lot and would definitely order it again without hesitation.

Overall, I’d give this a solid 7 out of 10. I am looking forward to grabbing breakfast here soon, when I stay at Port Orleans Riverside for a work conference. I do have to say that I think I prefer Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory’s menu overall, but happily would dine at Riverside Mill again for lunch or dinner.

Have you been to Riverside Mill? What did you order there?