2/24/20 2/24/20

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop Dinner Review

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop located at Disney's Beach Club Resort, has been a long-time favorite of ours for delicious special dietary needs ice cream sundaes and its retro charm. Recently, Brandon and I stopped by Beaches & Cream to check out the updated menu and restaurant since it's refurbishment and expansion in late 2019.

*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.

Dinner at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

Atmopshere

One of the things that I love the most about Beaches & Cream has always been its small size and retro nostalgia. If you have never been, the previous version of this restaurant before the refurbishment was very small and always very crowded because of its size. I also loved its slightly 90s look and feel for a 1950s inspired diner.

Somehow in our visit to this restaurant, we failed to take many photos. That's because we were actually recording a lot of video for a vlog that we put together (you can find the full video at the end of this review or on our YouTube channel).

Beaches & Cream - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I can't believe we missed all the photos, because there's a lot of great features for the new restaurant. I especially liked the light fixtures and some of the artwork on the walls. Of course, if you want to see more of the restaurant interior, check out our YouTube vlog.

Overall, I think we both agreed that while the expansion and refurbishment were nice (and needed given how popular the restaurant is), the end result was sort of mixed. We liked the art and light fixtures, but we found the restaurant to be a lot more generic feeling.

And, as an added layer, it is now extremely loud in the restaurant. Somehow during the refurbishment, the acoustics got a bit wonky. So, do be prepared for a rather noisy dining experience.

The Food

In addition to checking out the refurbishment, we also wanted to check out the updated menu. While there were still a lot of dishes that have been on the menu for a long time, there were some new options like tater tots that we were dying to check out.

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop does carry an allergy-friendly lunch & dinner menu. You can also speak directly with a manager at this restaurant too. I highly recommend speaking with a manager because many of the options, including the tater tots, weren't listed on the allergy-friendly menu but could be easily modified or accommodated for.

On this visit, we talked to manager Neicy, who was awesome. She explained that both the tater tots and French fries are made in a dedicated fryer. Even better? Now that the restaurant has expanded, the kitchen space can accommodate for dedicated fryers in the restaurant. In the past, if you wanted allergy-friendly fries, you would have to wait a bit while they got fries from Hurricane Hanna's Grill (the Beach Club's pool restaurant). So, this was a big improvement!

Beaches & Cream / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon and I simply could not resist tater tots. We ended up with a version of the Cheese and Bacon Tots, featuring cheese sauce, bacon, red onion, and green onion (we omitted the ranch dressing that normally comes with this dish).

This dish was made safe for gluten/wheat, fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, and chicken & turkey allergies. It does contain dairy, but you can order some dairy free versions of the tater tots (including a plant-based chili version with non-dairy cheese).

We were both really impressed with the tater tots. Of course, both of us absolutely love tots in general and the addition of cheese, bacon, and onion was just perfect. We both agreed after devouring our bowl of tots that we'd 100% come back to Beaches & Cream for these loaded tots and ice cream sundaes just about any day. They were really good!

For my entree, I ordered the Salmon Sandwich with Bacon Aïoli, Bibb Lettuce, and Tomato on a Bloomfield Farms Allergy-Friendly Bun and a side of plain tater tots (in place of regular French fries). This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Shellfish Allergies.

Overall, I will say the sandwich was good but not great. The bacon aioli was somewhat lacking in flavor, and I would have loved to have seen some other addition to the sandwich like bacon. The salmon itself was actually fairly flavorful and cooked well. And, of course, the tots were outstanding! I would order this again, but I'd be more likely to try another option next time.

As an aside, I'm glad that more Disney locations are using the Bloomfield Farms gluten free and allergy-friendly bun. I really like this a lot, and it might be the best gluten free bun that they're using on property right now.

Brandon ordered an Angus Beef Burger with Cheddar, Lettuce, and Tomato on a Freshly Baked Bun. His dish was safe for fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, and chicken & turkey allergies. But, you can also order a version of this that is also gluten free, dairy free, and soy free too.

Brandon's burger came with fries from a dedicated fryer, as well. And, like me, he also said his burger was good, but nothing special. I think we both agreed that the main entrees are just OK at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. But, it's the appetizers and desserts that really shine.

When visiting Beaches & Cream, you have to get ice cream sundaes. It's a must! I ordered a gluten free and dairy free sundae that featured Tofutti non-dairy chocolate & vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and marshmallow sauce. I do usually get the No Way Jose Sundae modified to be dairy free, but with Brandon's new peanut allergy, I try to avoid peanut if at all possible.

I have to say that I was very impressed with this sundae. The portion was huge, and they were very generous with the toppings. Plus, the combination of chocolate & vanilla non-dairy cream, chocolate sauce, and marshmallow sauce was just plain delicious. This will definitely be my new go-to sundae at Beaches & Cream. So good!

Brandon also got an ice cream sundae, but he opted for regular dairy ice cream. He got a sundae with mint chocolate chip and vanilla ice cream flavors topped with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Like me, he agreed that his sundae was outstanding and one to get again.

If you want to see more of the restaurant's interior or see our initial reactions to our dishes, check out our vlog on YouTube.

Overall

While we weren't necessarily wowed by our entrees, we were very impressed with our tater tots and ice cream sundaes. With a refreshed look and larger space, we both appreciated Disney's efforts to keep the Beaches & Cream nostalgia alive. It still has a lot of charm to it too. There are a few drawbacks with the new space, like the noise level, but we'll definitely be going back to Beaches & Cream Soda Shop for those amazing tater tots and ice cream sundaes!

Have you been to Beaches & Cream Soda Shop? What did you order when you dined there?

3/30/16 3/30/16

Beaches & Cream -- Dessert -- Table Service -- Beach Club

*This dining experience took place in October 2015.Beaches & Cream Soda Shop reminds me a classic 50's soda shop, complete with burgers, fries, fun atmosphere, and, of course, sundaes! This table service location is bright and cheerful and so much fun. Just wait until you see a group of guests order what's known as theKitchen Sink. It's pretty impressive.Located at Disney's Beach Club Resort, you'll find Beaches & Cream Soda Shop tucked away by the resort's pool area. It does now take reservations, which I highly recommend. The restaurant is pretty small, and if you have your heart set on a sundae or a meal, you'll want to get your spot! They do also have a to-go counter (which gets pretty busy) for those on the go!One of my favorite sundaes at Beaches & Cream is the No Way Jose Sundae (which you can read more about in my previous blog posts). Topped with chocolate syrup and a rich peanut butter sauce, there's no way you're saying "no way" to the No Way Jose!On this visit, I knew I still wanted the No Way Jose Sundae, and the manager came out to go over the options with me. Beaches & Cream is one of the few table service locations in which only a manager comes to talk to you, not a chef. But don't worry, they are great at handling orders safely.For the No Way Jose, I received both vanilla and chocolate Tofutti (they also carry Rice Dream vanilla non-dairy ice cream), Hershey's chocolate syrup, peanut butter sauce, and a cherry on top. Beaches & Cream does have other various safe toppings for you to order depending on what sundae you get.Though I'm often tempted to try other sundaes (like a banana split), I can't help but order the No Way Jose. It's rich and decadent, and just the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter. It's also a huge portion, so be prepared to be very full when you're done!Though I didn't get lunch, you can find lunch and dinner options at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. Check out the menus page for more information about their lunch and dinner options.You can also read reviews from Alexis at Gluten Free in Orlando on her blog about Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.Overall, Beaches & Cream continues to be a must stop for me when it comes to non-dairy ice cream sundaes. The gluten free and dairy free version of the No Way Jose sundae continues to be a favorite of mine and something I'll be getting this summer as the Florida weather continues to warm up!Have you been to Beaches & Cream Soda Shop? What did you get when you visited?

3/24/15 3/24/15

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop -- Snack -- Table Service -- Beach Club

*This dining experience took place in March 2015. Located in Disney's Beach Club Resort is Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. This ice cream parlor reminds me of those classic 1950s ice cream and soda shops -- complete with hamburgers & fries, milkshakes and amazing sundaes (and let's not forget the infamous Kitchen Sink - a gigantic serving for four of literally every sundae item the restaurant has). It's been a while since I've dined at Beaches & Cream, in fact my last review here on the blog was from 2011. That was when I discovered the awesomeness that is the Beaches & Cream peanut butter sauce! Beaches & Cream has two options for ice cream goers. The first is the traditional table service where you can order ice cream treats and a savory items like burgers and fries. The second is a quick service counter style, located directly next to the table service seating area and accessible by a separate door. This place is pretty darn busy, and it used to be that you could only get walk-ups to dine here. That's right, no ADRs! Luckily, that has now changed and you can make reservations to enjoy a visit here. On this particular occasion, we actually did not have a reservation but stopped by to see if we could get a walk-in. Luckily, we were able to get counter seating which was terrific. Before we were even seated, I notified the hostess of my special dietary needs, and she marked our ticket with "allergy." Once seated, the manager came out to discuss options for me. Since I love the peanut butter sauce, I asked if I could have a modified version of the No Way Jose ice cream sundae. She said not a problem, and offered me a choice of Tofutti (which they have in chocolate and vanilla) and Rice Dream (in vanilla only). The No Way Jose typically comes with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, so I opted for the Tofutti. When you order special diets sundaes or food at Beaches and Cream, they will prepare it entirely in the back to avoid cross contamination. Watching the servers make sundaes at the counter, I can definitely attest to the high level of cross contamination that posed there. After a fairly minimal wait, I was brought out a huge sundae. I was not prepared for the size of this thing! Tons of non-dairy ice cream smothered with peanut butter sauce, chocolate syrup and chocolate chips was the way to go. I'm fairly certain I didn't speak for a good 15 minutes while I ate this sundae. If you like peanut butter and chocolate this is the combo to get.*Note: A blog reader mentioned that they were told the chocolate chips were not safe to consume for dairy free special diets; however, I was told by the manager that the chocolate chips only contained soy (likely soy lecithin). I didn't feel sick afterwards, so I'm hopeful that these are indeed a safe option! The manager did not include the peanut butter morsels on my sundae, which did contain dairy (same with the whipped cream).Overall, I had a great sundae at Beaches and Cream. It's a great go-to sundae stop, and they do have a large variety of options for toppings. I'm looking forward to going back again in the summertime when I need a sweet (and cool) treat!Have you been to Beaches and Cream? What did you order when you dined there?