Geyser Point Bar & Grill Dinner Review
*This gluten free dining experience took place in September 2018. It includes notes about dairy free options.
Dinner at Geyser Point Bar & Grill
Geyser Point Bar & Grill, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, is a hybrid of quick service and table service dining options. That's because you can order from a quick service counter or dine in the lounge/bar area of the restaurant. We really enjoy Geyser Point Bar & Grill for it's affordable and delicious sandwiches -- and especially for their gluten free waffle fries! Recently we stopped by Geyser Point for a late dinner after a movie at Disney Springs.
Atmosphere
Because it was late, I totally spaced on taking any photos at the restaurant. Here's a photo from a previous visit. As you can see it shows the covered al fresco dining area at Geyser Point Bar & Grill. If you want to see more photos of the restaurant, check out a previous review I wrote here on the blog.
Geyser Point Bar & Grill Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
One of my favorite things about Geyser Point is dining there in the evening and sitting closer to the water so that we can watch the fireworks or the Electric Water Pageant. There's just something relaxing and magical about that!
The Food
I am always so surprised at how great the food is at Geyser Point Bar & Grill. There are plenty of gluten free options too. Currently, the restaurant does not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, you will get a chance to speak with a chef who will go over options with you. On this visit, I opted to order something different instead of the burger that I usually get.
Geyser Point Bar & Grill - GF Turkey Sandwich / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
The chef prepared for me the Smoked Turkey Sandwich which comes with Lettuce, Tomato and Cranberry Mayonnaise served with Waffle Fries. The only modification to this dish is the gluten free (and dairy free) bread. In fact, this dish was entirely gluten free and dairy free with just that modification.
I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this sandwich. It was very flavorful and the turkey was really delicious. I loved the cranberry mayonnaise which added the perfect amount of tang to the dish. It was nice and light -- perfect for a late dinner in the evening or on a hot day. Of course, the waffle fries made in a dedicated fryer continue to be my favorite thing at Geyser Point. I don't know what it is but these waffle fries are epicly good!
Overall
Geyser Point Bar & Grill continues to be a low-key and pleasant place to get a quick service style meal that's filling, delicious, and not too pricey. It's best enjoyed when the temperatures are a little "cooler" or later in the day when the sun has gone down. For us, the combination of food and atmosphere make it a must-do on our regular rotation of Disney restaurants.
Have you been to Geyser Point Bar & Grill? What did you think of the special dietary needs options?
Geyser Point Bar & Grill -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Wilderness Lodge
*This gluten free dining experience took place in July 2018.
Dinner at Geyser Point Bar & Grill
Geyser Point Bar & Grill, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, offers al fresco dining with a view of Bay Lake. The food and drinks served there are inspired by the Pacific Northwest. We dined there once last year and absolutely loved the relaxed atmosphere and low-key vibe, but we haven't had a chance to go back. Recently, we decided to go back on an evening when the temperatures were really mild for the summertime and made for a beautiful evening dining outside.
Atmosphere
The Wilderness Lodge has always been one of my favorite Disney resorts. Taking the walk from the main lodge to the new Disney Vacation Club area (Copper Creek) where Geyser Point is located definitely reminds me how much I love the resort.
When we arrived at Geyser Point, we had two dining options. Go to the walk-up window to order or be seated in the bar area. We definitely recommend and prefer the bar seating area with all of its cozy seats and perfect views of Bay Lake. On an evening when the temperatures are mild, it's a perfect spot for outdoor dining.
Initially, we were offered a seat in the back of the bar/lounge area. But, we asked if we could have a seat closer to the water, and they were able to accommodate us as the restaurant wasn't too busy.
You can also sit at the bar area too, if you're not ordering food or just prefer the high top seating.
Over the course of our meal, the day went from sunset to dark in the course of an hour. Just in time for Fireworks and for the Electrical Water Pageant. You'll get great views of the Water Pageant from here (a classic!) and if you move closer to the water you can see the fireworks with a better view too.
The Food
Geyser Point Bar & Grill does not carry an allergy-friendly menu. However, a chef will come out to speak with you about options. Chef Connie took care of us and was fantastic. I asked about the burger and waffle fries -- both of Chef Connie said could be made gluten free. The waffle fries are made in a dedicated fryer, so you can eat waffle fries with abandon! (and we probably could have; they are that good).
Keeping it simple that night, I ordered the Classic Bacon Cheeseburger with Bacon, Tillamook Cheddar, Lettuce and Tomato served on a Gluten Free Bun and served with Waffle Fries. These were made gluten free but the entree could be dairy free by omitting the cheese on the burger. I also asked for a side of the Marionberry Barbecue Sauce and Garlic Aïoli that are normally served with the Bison Burger.The burger itself was very good. While it's not quite as good as the burgers at D-Luxe (which I think are hands down the best quick service burgers at Disney World). But, it was good. What really made the burger was the thick cut bacon and Tillamook Cheddar. The sides of Garlic Aioli and Marionberry Barbecue Sauce were also nice touches too. If you're not a fan of sweet barbecue sauce, I might avoid this one as it is very sweet -- almost like a jam. It's good, but a little bit goes a long way. The garlic aioli was perfection and made for an awesome dipping sauce for my waffle fries.The hands down winner of this meal were the waffle fries. Oh my goodness gracious. These are delicious. Seasoned and crispy and just perfect. It's so rare to get waffle fries out at a restaurant, so I'll never turn down an excuse to order them when I can safely. And, these were downright addicting. We actually contemplated ordering another side of these; they were that good!
Overall
If outdoor dining is something you enjoy on occasion or you're just looking for a quick service meal that's a bit more relaxed and off the beaten path, you can't go wrong with Geyser Point Bar & Grill. The food here offers some solid special diets options. And, the dishes we have tried have all been very good. It's definitely a location we'll plan to visit again on cooler evenings for a low-key and affordable meal...and those delicious waffle fries!Have you been to Geyser Point Bar & Grill? What did you order when you dined there?
Geyser Point Bar and Grill -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Wilderness Lodge
*This dining experience took place in March 2017.
Lunch at Geyser Point Bar and Grill
Geyser Point Bar and Grill is Disney's newest restaurant to open. Located in the new Disney Vacation Club Boulder Ridge Villas area of Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Geyser Point Bar and Grill offers quick service food in an open-air bar setting. It's a unique concept that includes a quick service counter to order breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with a seated lounge area that includes the quick service menu along with a special bar menu that offers additional food options. I've been hearing a lot about the new restaurant, so we finally had a chance to check it out. I dined with a large group, including some friends who were visiting from out-of-state, so we got a chance to see a lot of the menu.
Atmosphere
I have to say that the restaurant / lounge seating area is very nice. It's all open-air which means, you'll be technically eating al fresca (aka outside) with a covered roof. At this time of year, the temperature was perfect with a nice breeze and a bit of warmth, but I can see that it could get a bit uncomfortable in very hot or cold temperatures. They do have fans and heaters so it will be interesting to see how it is at less than ideal temps.
We had a big table near the edge of the restaurant with a great view of the water. I really loved the big comfy chairs, though I'll admit they presented a bit of a challenge trying to eat later on. But, if you're there just getting appetizers in drinks, you'll be so comfortable that you may not want to leave. We sure didn't!
The seating area does include a large bar. I really liked that they had the cocktail menu on a screen along with Disney park information too.
The best part about this restaurant is the view. The outdoor dining on a nice breezy and warm day was just perfection. The views of the water were so nice and just made for a really relaxing and low-key meal.Unfortunately, I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked to. For more photos of the interior of the restaurant area, definitely check out Disney Food Blog's review for tons more photos!
The Food
I've been dying to check out the food options here. I've always had great luck at the Wilderness Lodge restaurants, so I was figuring I would have the same great options at Geyser Point Bar and Grill. Currently, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu, but I was able to speak with a chef. They must be really popular with special diets now, as I was asked to come up with several options prior to ordering as the chefs were busy and may not be able to speak with me that long.I had been eyeing the salmon BLT, bison burger, and crab cakes on the regular menu. I didn't ask about the lounge menu, but I really want to next time because it looked like there were some nice options. When the chef came out, he said that the crab cakes were not gluten free (they contain panko) and that the cheeseburger, bison burger, and Salmon BLT could all be made gluten free. The waffle fries are also gluten free and made in a dedicated fryer. Well, you know what I had to order...waffle fries!
I asked the chef his recommendation, and he said the Salmon BLT, which is what I ordered. He noted that the Bison Burger was a bit gamey, and it's not something everyone likes. Brandon and his friend ordered the Bison Burger did mention that it was a bit gamey, so if you're not a fan of game meat, you may want to get a regular burger instead.The Salmon BLT was served on Udi's Gluten Free bread with arugula and a Lemon Caper Mayonnaise. I found the sandwich to be good, but not amazing. I actually thought the Salmon was not the best quality. It definitely wasn't as amazing as the Salmon BLT I got at the Boathouse. The mayonnaise on it was good but definitely nothing too special.The best part of my meal were the waffles fries. Holy cow they were good. Everyone at the table raved about them. They had a slight seasoning to them and were extremely well fried. I seriously could have eaten a plate of them. On the side, I actually tried the Marionberry Barbecue Sauce that comes with the Bison Burger, and it was good. It's more like jam and sweet, so if you're not up for sweet barbecue sauce, you may want to avoid it. I seriously just wanted to take it home and put it on gluten free toast in the morning.On a side note, I did not ask about dairy free at this meal. Because I've been reintroducing dairy back into my diet a bit, I did just ask about gluten. I would suspect that the only potential dairy in this dish was in the mayonnaise. Otherwise, none of the other components would have had dairy. That being said, there are definitely dairy free options here if you ask.
Overall
We all thought that Geyser Point Bar and Grill had solid lunch options. The portions were large and the food quality was definitely a step up from most quick service options. I would definitely like to go back again and try some other dishes, especially from the lounge menu. Brandon and I loved the view here and can see just coming back for a drink and relaxing. Plus, it looks like it'd be a killer place to have brunch!What do you think of the newly opened Geyser Point Bar and Grill? What would you like to order on the menu.