*This dining experience took place in July 2014.

There are a few locations at Disney World that I consider hidden gems – locations that are truly overlooked. To me, Boatwright’s Dining Hall is one of those hidden gems. Nestled in the main lobby building of Port Orleans Riverside Resort, guests will find this a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of so many Disney World restaurants.

In addition to the rustic atmosphere, guests will be blown away by the impressive array of comfort food with a Cajun and Southern twist served at Boatwright’s. And as a special diets diner, I’ve been even more impressed with the variety of dishes that are available too. I have two words that says it all…Crawfish Bites (and yes, they are gluten fee and dairy free). 

I recently stopped by Boatwright’s for dinner with friends and fellow bloggers, Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Amanda from Eating Out Without. Both Alexis & I got hooked on Boatwright’s after dining here for my birthday in February 2014. And when it came to deciding where to have dinner as a group, we knew just the place – especially since Amanda had never been before! We wanted to have a memorable mean and dining at Boatwright’s is always memorable.  

Prior to our meal, both Alexis and I made advance notice for a few requests – the crawfish bites appetizer (to be made gluten free and dairy free) and for something really exciting…fried chicken (and waffles in the case of Alexis, but more on that later). We recommend you contact Disney’s Special Diets Department for such requests. 

Once seated, we were greeted by our lovely server and Chef Tony who also brought us GNI brand rolls and some extra virgin olive oil with herbs. I am a huge olive oil fan, and anything of good quality with herbs is OK by me. Admittedly, I don’t think any of us at the table ate more than one of these rolls because we were saving room for the rest of the meal.  

First up were our appetizers. As I’ve mentioned (perhaps ad naseum), the crawfish bites here are outstanding and must do every time I visit. Perfectly seasoned, well fried, and smothered in a dairy free remoulade sauce…well, that’s just culinary perfection to me. It’s simple and so delicious. 

Typically, the crawfish bites are not gluten free or dairy free, and I’m always glad when I’m able to request them in advance. 

Chef Tony also brought out a delicious and fresh seasonal salad. With almonds, fresh strawberries and a beautiful balsamic vinaigrette, this was a new favorite for me. I have a bit of an obsession with balsamic vinegar and it paired well with the fresh fruit. Although I am always prone to ordering the crawfish bites, I may have to order this instead next time!   

For my entree, I asked for gluten free and dairy free fried chicken as did Alexis. Chef Tony turned her entree into an amazing version of chicken and waffles and asked me if I wanted to do the same. I decided to opt for the dirty rice with my entree, as I’m a huge fan of Boatwright’s version. However, after seeing Alexis’ chicken and waffles, I really wished I would have ordered that instead. Note to self…get chicken and waffles next time! You can see Alexis’ full review with pictures on Gluten Free in Orlando. I dare you not to want to order it after you see her photos!  

Amanda ordered the jambalya, a real favorite for me too. You can read her full review, including her review of the gluten free and dairy free version of French Onion Soup on her site. 

I have to say, I really enjoyed this. A lot. Crispy and crunchy with a gorgeous peach sauce on top (stone fruit being a huge favorite of mine), this was perfectly fried and well seasoned. The dirty rice was amazing as always, and I love that it’s made authentically. I have to be honest, I just kept going back to the chicken. It was so good.

Chef Tony mentioned that his recipe for gluten free fried chicken was inspired by a recipe from Posana Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina, and he tweaked my version to be dairy free as well. 

There are so few locations on property that can do something like this. Of course, there’s 50’s Prime Time and allergy chicken tenders at quick service locations. To have another spot that really hit the spot with a comfort food favorite, well that’s golden to me! I also quite liked that the chicken used was boneless. It made for a tender piece of nicely fried chicken. And the seasoning of course was fantastic, made simply and with a touch of Cajun seasoning, as Chef Tony told us. The base for the coating is Namaste, and they only different between mine and Alexis’ version was the addition of buttermilk to hers (which produced a more rich dark color and puffed up the coating).

This was a fantastic meal, and I was entirely too stuff by the end to order dessert. We also as a group took a leisurely stroll to Port Orleans French Quarter for beignets. One of my favorite things to do post-dinner at Boatwright’s is walk the resort. It’s really gorgeous and will make you feel like you’ve been transported somewhere else.   

Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Boatwright’s. It has consistently been one of the best Disney restaurants I’ve been to. The food is always outstanding, the chefs amazing, the servers excellent, and the prices really reasonable. 

I’d give this dining experience a solid 9.5 out of 10. Next time I have got to request the gluten free and dairy free chicken and waffles! If you have special requests, you’ll need to make arrangements at least 14 days in advance with Disney’s Special Diets Department. A huge shoutout to Chef Tony for making our meal experience extra magical, as always! 

Have you been to Boatwright’s? What are your favorite special diets menu offerings there? 

*This dining experience took place in April 2014 and also includes a gluten free only review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.

I have to admit that when I find a restaurant that I like at Disney, I tend to be a repeat guest, and Boatwright’s Dining Hall located at Port Orleans Riverside has quickly become one of those places for me. I actually think it’s quite a hidden gem on property, and I like it better each time I go back!

Boatwright’s culinary theme is definitely a mixture of New Orleans and Southern cuisines — something I’m always a fan of. It’s definitely comfort food which is both appealing to broad range of diners and very friendly on the budget.

On this particular visit, I brought a friend and fellow GF diner who was working at the Gluten-Free Living Conference held in Orlando. He’s also a huge Disney fan and loves restaurants like Boma. He and his family frequently stay at Port Orleans Riverside but had not eaten at Boatwright’s before. Well, you know that I had to change that!

We were greeted by Chef Paul who also took care of my party during my birthday meal at Boatwright’s, and it was great to see a familiar face. He went over the various options available to us (see my previous post on my birthday for a full list). I had a couple ideas of options that I was interested in after my birthday dinner and it was a hard decision to make! 

However, I knew we had to get the Crawfish bites that I had my on birthday and I had made sure to let the chefs know ahead of time that I wanted these (they are normally not GF/DF). I’m not even sure how I could go to this restaurant and NOT order these!

While we waited for our crawfish bites, we were served some GNI brand rolls with extra virgin olive oil. Now, I’ve probably commented on this ad nauseum, but heating up GNI rolls is essential in making these taste good. Otherwise, the texture gets totally crumbly and weird (and unpalatable in my opinion). I have to say, these were perfectly heated! And I am a big extra virgin olive oil fan with bread, so this was definitely a great accompaniment.

Ah, crawfish bites. So delicious! I think it’s pretty clear that I love all things deep fried (really, who doesn’t?!) These honestly are just deep fried perfection (and well seasoned too). Deep fried and seafood just go together. Add in the remoulade sauce…and you just can’t go wrong! As you can see in the photo, there were two sides of remoulade sauce. My friend and I shared this appetizer so there was a bowl for each of us of remoulade. But, you know me…I honestly could have eaten them both myself!

As an aside, if you took all of these components and made them a Po’Boy, I would be in some serious GF/DF heaven. That would be amazing!

It took some serious decision making but I ended up ordering the Jambalaya. It was fantastic. It did have to be slightly modified because of me being GF/DF but it was still fantastic! I andouille sausage was excellent and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. Seafood has that tendency to get overcooked and this was not the case with this dish. If you like Jambalaya, then you simply must try this version! And be prepared to be full. The serving is quite large.

My friend had about as much of a challenge trying to decide what to order as I did (testament to how many great options there are for GF & DF diners). Chef Paul recommended the Blackened fish, which was mahi mahi, and the sides from the Andouille-Crusted Catfish – which included dirty rice, seasonal vegetables, cayenne-butter sauce (which was removed) and a chive aioli.

My friend, awesome person that he is, asked that it also be made GF/DF so that I could try it too. This is another reason I love having friends with special diets – Most of my friends will make sure things are safe for others in the party so we can share.

So, I have to say….I nearly asked my friend to switch. OK, not really, but honestly this dish was outstanding. Like beyond outstanding. The mahi mahi was perfectly blackened and perfectly cooked. I adore asparagus (I’m probably a bit of a weirdo on that one. I adore asparagus and not just on things like Eggs Benedict). And the dirty rice was ridiculously good. Chef Paul mentioned it was made with chicken liver (which is how it’s traditionally made). I know that many people might think that doesn’t sound appetizing, but if you’re a meat eater I would encourage you to try this dish. It will totally change your mind!

Note to self…next time order this dish!

Dessert options for me included non-dairy ice cream and an Enjoy Life Foods cookie “fondue” of sorts. Given that I was a bit full, I opted for no dessert this time but my friend got the Bananas Foster without the angel food cake. 

Apologies for a really bad photograph!

Despite the awful picture that I took – this dish looked really delicious and according to my friend was amazing. Actually, I don’t think he talked the entire time he ate it…it was that good! I have also heard rave reviews about the Bananas Foster dessert from Alexis at Gluten Free in Orlando too, so I think that means it’s a winner! And her review has a great photo of the Bananas Foster too!

As I mentioned early on in this review, I truly think Boatwright’s is a hidden gem on property. Not only is the food amazing and affordable, but the culinary team there is hands down one of the best. They really take the time to make sure they go through the options with you and ensure safety for your meal.

I can’t thank Chef Paul enough for the great meal, and I’m looking forward to heading back again soon (yep, I’m already planning my next visit).

I give this experience an easy 10 out of 10!

Have you been to Boatwright’s? What were your favorite dishes for special dietary needs?

*This dining experience took place in February 2014 and includes my gluten free & dairy free review, a gluten free & yellow food coloring review, and a vegan review.

Vegetarian Jambalaya Photo Copyright Disney by the Numbers

Located near the lobby of Port Orleans Riverside lies Boatwright’s Dining Hall, a hidden gem of Disney restaurants. Serving New Orleans/Cajun inspired fare, I have long been wanting to dine at this location for dinner. I hadn’t been to this resort or the restaurant since 2006, when I made a Mother’s Day trip to Disney with my mom. We loved the charming and relaxing atmosphere of the resort, and we also enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Boatwright’s (which is no longer served).

When I was deciding where to go for my birthday celebration dinner, I immediately thought of Boatwright’s. I have been spending entirely too much time lately at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory next door at Port Orleans French Quarter getting those fantastic gluten free, dairy free, egg free (and vegan) beignets. But, it had been prompting me to want to try dinner at Boatwright’s. So, my birthday dinner celebration was set. Friends and family joined in on the fun, including Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Tony from Disney by the Numbers. Both of them have special dietary needs too, so it was cool to see what they ordered on the menu.

First up, I have to apologize that I didn’t take any photos of the restaurant. Apparently, I was too busy having fun to take photos. But, it’s an impressive and cozy restaurant — built a bit like a shipyard. We had nice seating on the top level of the restaurant, near the warm fireplace (very appreciated after a cold rainy day) — with a roaring fire, it was the perfect back drop.

Chef’s Tony & Paul took care of our table during the meal, and let me tell you they did a stellar job. This was one of the best meals I’ve had at Disney in a very long time. First up, they went over the menu offerings. For appetizers, gluten free (and some modifications for dairy free) included: shrimp and grits (not dairy free), the French onion soup (minus the crouton & cheese – this one might still not be dairy free), the house salad minus the croutons (not dairy free – this one has a green goddess dressing – which looked fantastic), and spinach salad (minus the crouton). These also sounded great, but as soon as I heard that they could make the cajun-seasoned crawfish bites gluten free & dairy free…well, you know which one I chose!

Normally, the cajun-seasoned crawfish bites are not gluten free & dairy free – but if you contact the Walt Disney World Special Diets Department ahead of time, they can arrange to make it safe for you. Of course, you now I couldn’t pass up something battered and deep fried and smothered in remoulade sauce (we’ll get to that momentarily). I have to tell you, this appetizer is hands down one of my favorites on property now. These were outrageous. First up, it’s a huge portion (which I had no problem scarfing down), second it was piping hot and perfectly seasoned. Fried foods really need to be salted properly, and I can tell you the balance on this dish was perfection. Both Alexis & I ordered this and I think neither of us spoke for a good several minutes other than to say “oh my gosh, these are amazing.”

I adore remoulade sauce and this version was divine. The perfect combo of spice along with the crawfish. I may also have dipped some bread in the remoulade sauce too!! (heck, you could dip an old booth in this remoulade and it would probably taste amazing). Speaking of rolls, we were served GNI brand rolls along with Smart Balance (which is GF and vegan) for me and regular butter for everyone else. 

For dinner options, we had an impressive amount – and many didn’t even need dairy free modifications which was great. Here are the gluten free options:

• Jambalaya
• New York Strip
• Voodoo Chicken (with some modifications)
• Vegetarian Jambalaya (also vegan)
• Andouille-crusted Catfish (with some modifications)
• Slow Roasted Prime Rib
• Blackened Fish
• Sweet Tea Brine Pork Chop (with some modifications)
• Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib (with some modifications)

With so many choices, most of us were having a hard time choosing. And wouldn’t you know it we all got something different! (on a side note, I kind of would love a sampler platter entree here – like a Taste of the Bayou with small portions – or I just need to go back soon so I can try other dishes).

Alexis chose the Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib which looked fabulous. You can read her full review on Gluten Free in Orlando. Tony got the vegetarian jambalaya which looked delicious as well. I know he really enjoyed the dish. And my other friend ordered the Voodoo Chicken. The red beans & rice and collard greens are not currently gluten free, so he got green beans and potatoes instead. He kindly shared it with both Alexis and I, and wow! The sauce on the chicken was terrific. It was a peach marmalade and totally sweet and spicy.

For my entree, I went with the Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chop. I have to admit, what got me was the onion straws. The same batter for the cajun spiced crawfish bites was used for the onion straws and they were amazing. They aren’t normally GF/DF, so this is another one you’ll want to contact Special Diets ahead of time if you want. 

I have to tell you, this entree was amazing. It exceeded my expectations and then some. The pork itself had a subtle sweetness from the brine and a great grill flavor. Add in the bacony, smoky, sweet potato hash and the fried onion straws…well, it was the perfect dish. It was also huge (side note, if you go to Boatwright’s be prepared for massive portions – seriously, the prices and portions at this place are a steal). I had leftovers and they were fantastic the next day too. I admit, that I might have a hard time ordering other dishes at the restaurant after this one — even though I do want to try others!

If you’re looking for gluten free dessert options (and yes, believe me we somehow managed to make room for dessert), Boatwright’s currently has butterscotch creme brulee, bananas foster angel food cake without the cake, ice cream, or OMG…It’s Gluten Free cookies and brownies. They also have Babycakes Brownie Cupcakes on hand. Chef Tony jazzed up one for me with a chocolate sauce, fresh raspberries (my favorite), and vanilla Rice Dream. Oh yeah…about that candle. I also got a restaurant serenade to help celebrate the occasion. Perfect way to end the meal! 

Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Boatwright’s. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of the food. Honestly, this is a hidden gem of a restaurant, and I can’t believe more people haven’t discovered it yet. Everyone at the table (and there were 11 of us!) raved about the meal and really enjoyed it — special diets or not. I can tell you, I will certainly be back to try out new dishes…but those cajun-seasoned crawfish bites, they’re totally going to be a permanent fixture on my visits. They were to-die-for!

Thank you again to Chef Tony & Chef Paul for making this a memorable and delicious birthday dinner. This restaurant was a solid 9 out of 10 for me!

Have you been to Boatwright’s before? What are your favorite dishes?