Narcoossee’s Dinner Review
*This gluten free and food allergy dining experience took place in April 2023. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.
Dinner at Narcoosse’s
Narcoossee’s, located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is a signature table service restaurant that recently opened in April 2023 after being closed for refurbishment. The last time we dined at Narcoossee’s was in late 2020, and neither one of us were particularly impressed by the experience. However, after seeing the updated allergy-friendly menu, we were very excited to give this restaurant another visit. We dined at Narcoossee’s about a week after the restaurant reopened.
Atmosphere
Narcoossee’s is a free-standing building located near the ferry dock at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. It includes waterfront dining with really lovely views of the Magic Kingdom.
Narcoossee’s Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
The building itself looks inviting and has the same Victorian theme as the rest of the resort.
Narcoossee’s Waterfront / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
When you dine at Narcoossee’s, don’t miss out on the beautiful views from the outdoor walkway area. We love hanging out in this area, especially in the evening time. The Seven Seas Lagoon adds a nice breeze, and it’s just fun to watch the ferry boats sail by.
Narcoossee’s Waterfront View / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
The outdoor area of Narcoossee’s is also great for watching the Electrical Water Pageant and the Magic Kingdom fireworks in the evening. As you can imagine, reservations for later in the evening are popular and do book quickly, so be sure to make a reservation if you’re interested in seeing the fireworks from the restaurant.
Narcoossee’s Interior & Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
During Narcoossee’s refurbishment, the restaurant was brightened up significantly. No more dark wooden features that made the restaurant feel drab, and honest, very outdated.
The current interior includes light and dark blue colors along with light greens. As one cast member told us, the restaurant is inspired by land and sea — with the main lobby area representing “the land,” and the restaurant’s main dining room, “the sea.”
Booths at Narcoossee’s / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
We like the addition of cozy booths throughout the restaurant too. If you had dined at Narcoossee’s prior to its refurbishment, you might also recall the quirky bar seating area. Everything is now level and much more inviting.
Narcoossee’s Tableware / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
The sea inspiration is reflected in the tableware too. All of the plates and cups have some sort of blue or gray coloring too them. We both said that we wished the napkins had the unique branding to them that other restaurant’s, like Citricos, has but overall, everything was very nice and we felt was a step up from the previous design.
The Food
Of course, what we were most excited for was the food. Like most Disney owned and operated restaurants, Narcoossee’s has an allergy-friendly menu. You can also speak to a chef at any time to discuss options and modifications. On this visit, we spoke with Chef Alfred, who we recognized from his previous time at Citricos.
Narcoossee’s Allergy-Friendly Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
And, like our visit to Roundup Rodeo BBQ recently, Chef Alfred brought out an iPad with the ingredients list to go over options with us and discuss any concerns or questions we might have. One interesting note from our visit was that if you are vegetarian, vegan, or have meat allergies, like Brandon, there are some surprising limitations from the menu.
For instance, the mushroom risotto actually contains chicken broth (not great if you’re vegetarian) and the loaded mashed potatoes weren’t safe for Brandon’s fish allergy, because they fry the pork belly in the same fryer as fish. I was a bit disappointed that they couldn’t modify this on the fly, but we had plenty of options to eat.
Narcoossee’s Water Bottle / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Similar to California Grill, you are served a carafe of water at your table. We weren’t offered options during our visit, but we have heard that you can get both still and sparkling water at the table. Brandon is not a big sparkling water fan, but I am, and I always love finding locations that offer sparkling water as a complimentary water option.
Narcoossee’s - GoGi “Goldie” Chardonnay / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
We did order cocktails on this visit. I ordered the GoGi “Goldie” Chardonnay. GoGi Wines are a part of the Disney Family Wines (which are listed on the wine menu) — it’s actor Kurt Russell’s wine label. I am a big fan of the GoGi Wines, especially the chardonnay. It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for a seafood meal.
Narcoossee’s - Old-Fashioned / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon opted for the classic Old-Fashioned cocktail. He was said it was a nice Old-Fashioned, but he was most excited for the Grand Floridian branded ice cube. We always love these kinds of additional touches when it comes to cocktails.
We did talk to one of the cast members involved in the beverage menu at the restaurant, and they noted that all of their cocktails were inspired by the turn-of-the-century theme of resort, which is very fun. They also make a lot of the syrups and accompaniments in-house, which we both agreed is a nice touch. Neither of us are fans of the standard Disney bar menu, so it’s nice to see restaurant’s that have their own unique takes on cocktails.
Narcoossee’s - Allergy-Friendly Bread Service / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
For bread service, I was given the Bloomfield Farms brand gluten free and allergy-friendly rolls. Brandon did get gluten-filled bread, but if you’re concerned with any potential nut cross contamination, we recommend the Bloomfield Farms rolls.
If you’re dairy free, the restaurant does carry non-dairy butter and extra virgin olive oil as options for your bread too.
Narcoossee’s - Ocean-Inspired Charcuterie / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Because Brandon is allergic to fish and shellfish, we both opted to order our own appetizers this visit. We often split appetizers as a couple, but we found the appetizer menu to be a bit limited for Brandon. So much, so that he had to order the cheese plate, which was listed on the desert menu.
For my appetizer, I ordered the Ocean-Inspired Charcuterie Board with Ahi Tuna Pastrami, Charred Octopus, and Lobster Sausage. This was marked Gluten Free and safe for Peanut/Tree Nut and Sesame Allergies. It does contain dairy.
Overall, I was very impressed with this appetizer. The flavors of all three seafood options were terrific, and each had a unique flavor profile. The charred octopus was actually my favorite — with strong grill flavor. I’m not normally a big beet fan, but the beets worked well with this dish. And, the octopus itself was not rubbery at all. It had a firm but pleasant texture, and I think would win over many guests who might not consider octopus.
The ahi tuna had unique pastrami seasoning flavors, and the texture was almost close to jerky. It was very pleasant and did not have any fishy taste at all. Tuna is such an approachable raw fish, that I think most seafood fans would enjoy this.
Lastly, the lobster sausage was perhaps my least favorite, but it was still really great. It did have a light and almost spongy texture — likely due to the texture of the lobster and what it was bound with. It had a spicy harissa sauce with it, which was the perfect accompaniment to the sausage.
I would definitely recommend this appetizer, and it’s a perfect dish to share if you’re dining at a table with seafood lovers.
Brandon with the Narcoossee’s Cheese Plate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon initially planned to order the brisket and ricotta tortelloni from the appetizer menu, but Chef Alfred reviewed the ingredients and noted that there was chicken stock in the dish. Since the appetizer menu was so seafood heavy, we asked if Brandon could get the cheese plate from the dessert menu. After reviewing the ingredients, Chef Alfred said that was no issue.
Usually, Brandon and I split a charcuterie board, so he was very excited to have all the cheese and prosciutto to himself. This is a dish that can be made Gluten Free and was marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. Overall, he said this was an outstanding cheese plate, and we both agreed that it was a step up from the version we had at Narcoossee’s a few years ago.
Narcoossee’s - Yuzu-Ginger Salmon / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
For my entree, I chose the Yuzu-Ginger Salmon with Sambal White Asparagus, Coconut Jade Rice, and Lemon Grass-Thai Basil Emulsion. This was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Milk, Peanut, and Shellfish Allergies.
If you’re looking for a gluten free and dairy free entree that packs a punch with flavor, this is the perfect dish for you. The smells from this dish were incredible. And, the flavors were so amazing. There was a lot going on, but everything paired very well. The fish was cooked well, and the portion was quite sizable. This was a dish that I would definitely get again and highly recommend if you like salmon and flavors like Thai green curry or yuzu.
Narcoossee’s - 12-oz New York Strip Steak / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon ordered the 12-oz Prime New York Strip Steak with Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Rainbow Vegetables, and Red Wine Demi-Glace. He was able to eat the red wine, but the chef served it on the side. This dish was marked Gluten Free and safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. It did need some slight modifications on the vegetables, as Brandon is sensitive to veg in the cabbage family, like broccoli.
Overall, Brandon said he liked this dish but didn’t love it. New York Strip is not his favorite cut of beef, as he’s not a big fan of too much fat. But, he said it was well cooked, and he loved the rainbow carrots. He also really liked the red wine demi-glace too. Next time, he might order the pork chop or see if he could order the filet instead of the NY strip.
Narcoossee’s - Mashed Potatoes / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Chef Alfred was very kind, since Brandon couldn’t have the loaded mashed potatoes, and brought him a side platter of regular mashed potatoes. Brandon said these were good but nothing too special. If you’re gluten free, mashed potatoes will be an option, but they do contain dairy.
Narcoossee’s - Berry Pavlova / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Even though I was already so full, I couldn’t pass up the gluten free dessert option — a Berry Pavlova with Yuzu Crèmeux and Anglaise. This was marked Gluten Free and safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Sesame, and Soy Allergies. It does contain dairy and might be able to be modified to be dairy free (e.g. removal of the anglaise and crèmeux). We would recommend talking to a chef about options.
Overall, I was blown away by this dessert. I loved that it was something different, and I always enjoy pavlova as a dessert option. The berries were very refreshing, and I loved the hints of mint topped on the fruit. The yuzu crèmeux added a bit of citrus punch, which I also loved. I could take or leave the anglaise, but if you like a vanilla sauce, you’ll enjoy this. I would highly recommend this dessert, if you’re looking for something a bit different at the end of your meal.
Narcoossee’s - Raspberry Sorbet / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon ordered the only gluten free and dairy free, as is dessert — the Raspberry Sorbet. This is the default allergy-friendly dessert, and is the standard raspberry sorbet you see all across Disney property.
Brandon always enjoys sorbet, but I have to admit that I was a bit bummed that the restaurant didn’t make their own house-sorbet with some interesting or unique flavors. That feels like a missed opportunity to me. Still, if you’re looking for a palate cleanser at the end of the meal, this might be a good option.
If you want to hear more about our experience at Narcoossee’s, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.
Overall
We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at the newly reopened Narcoossee’s. While we both wouldn’t rank this high on our favorites for signature dining, we both felt the menu was vastly improved and that there were many interesting and unique options to choose from. If you’re a seafood fan, this is a great option. If you’re allergic to fish/shellfish or don’t like seafood, we might recommend another restaurant. Despite some limitations for Brandon’s options, we both agreed that we would go back to this restaurant without hesitation and would recommend it to others. We were glad to see the refreshed decor too which feels so much more bright, inviting, and modern. We’re looking forward to going back to Narcoossee’s in the future.
Have you been to Narcoossee’s? What was your experience dining there?