The BOATHOUSE -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in March 2018.

Dinner at The BOATHOUSE

The BOATHOUSE has quickly become one of the most popular table service restaurants in Disney Springs. Known for offering huge portions and tons of seafood, it's gotten quite a reputation over the past few years since it opened. Admittedly, we had only been once 2 years ago and haven't been back. It's not that the food wasn't good. It was just that it always seems jammed, and as locals, we tend to not make dining reservations far enough in advance. But, we recently made a random trip to The BOATHOUSE and were reminded why we need to make an effort to eat here more!

Atmosphere

The BOATHOUSE is just that a boathouse. The theming is nautical from the moment you walk up to the restaurant entrance.Having only dined here once, we decided to try to explore the restaurant as much as we could. And, our table was in the back of the restaurant, so we really got to see how The BOATHOUSE transforms from the entrance all the way into the far interior. You can see how the shift goes from a light and airy boathouse feel all the way to a dark and cozy wood paneled inner dining room.We were also pretty surprised at how large this restaurant actually is since we've only really been in the front of the restaurant on our prior visit.

The Food

The BOATHOUSE is not owned & operated by the Disney Company. This means that they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. Thankfully, that was no big deal as the chef will come and talk to you to discuss options. Our server (whose name I forget but was outstanding) told me prior to the chef coming out that there were lots of options. And, the chef said they could make a majority of the menu gluten free (and lots dairy free) with some easy modifications or as is.There were so many options that I had a really hard time deciding. Ultimately, I ended up with a burger because I'd heard tons of rave reviews about them. Odd for a seafood restaurant, I know, but it just sounded good that night!My Classic Cheeseburger came on a gluten free bun (it tasted like Udi's Gluten Free to me). I did add cheese since I've reintroduced dairy back into my diet in limited amounts. But, the burger can be easily made dairy free by omitting the cheese. The burger itself was pretty good. I wouldn't say it's the best burger I've ever had. But, it was tasty and a solid choice. I'd order this or another burger variation again.For my side, I got Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sherry Gastrique and Bacon. Unfortunately, The BOATHOUSE does not have a dedicated fryer, so fries were out. But, holy moly. For those who think Brussels Sprouts are gross, please try this dish. It will change your mind. This was a fantastic side dish and would I would not hesitate to order again.The chef also mentioned that they offer a gluten free and dairy free (and fairly allergy-friendly) chocolate cake for dessert. We decided to split this. They brought dairy-filled ice cream for Brandon on the side, although we could have gotten sorbet too. The raspberry sauce on the side was both gluten free and dairy free. The chocolate sauce on the side contained dairy.Both of us thought this was good, though maybe not the best GF chocolate cake we've ever had. Still, it was nice to see that The BOATHOUSE thinks of special diets guests and offers something more than just plain old sorbet.

Overall

We had a really good meal at The BOATHOUSE. In fact, we both said after the meal that we need to go back again soon. We were impressed with the level of service we received too. In fact, it just might have been some of the best service we've had at Disney in a really long time. Add in some really great special diets options, and you have a solid dining option at Disney Springs. We're looking forward to going back again and trying out some new dishes!Have you been to The BOATHOUSE? What did you think of your meal there?