Columbia Harbour House Dinner Review

*This gluten free and dairy free dining review took place in February 2019.

Dinner at Columbia Harbour House

Columbia Harbour House, located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom, has long been one of my go-to quick service restaurants for gluten free and dairy free options. Well, really, it's my go-to spot for allergy-friendly chicken tenders. I don't know what it is about this location, but I've always just loved the way they cook their allergy-friendly chicken tenders. The rest of the special diets options are pretty limited. But, the chicken tenders are just so good, they're hard not to order anyway!

On this particular visit, we stopped by Columbia Harbour House before attending the Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic event held in the park that night. As a part of the event, we were given a voucher to redeem a complimentary quick service entree and beverage at select locations. Thankfully, Columbia Harbour House was on that list, which meant free allergy-friendly chicken tenders!

Atmosphere

Unlike other Liberty Inn in Epcot, which is also colonial America themed, Columbia Harbour House is a beautifully themed restaurant with a sea faring colonial village theme.

Colubmia Harbour House - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Although I didn't snag many photos that night, you can see a lot of the colonial theming and touches throughout the restaurant.

Columbia Harbour House - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Although the photo here highlights more traditional theming, both Brandon and I always love the nautical touches and even the sea shanty songs you can hear in the background when you dine here.

The Food

Of course, our big reason for going to Columbia Harbour House is always the allergy-friendly chicken tenders and the huge portion sizes they serve at the restaurant. Like most Disney owned restaurants, Columbia Harbour House does carry an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. You can also always ask to speak with a manager to discuss any concerns and additional options for special dietary needs. The location is pretty limited on options. So if you don't want a salad, baked salmon, or chicken tenders, I would recommend dining at another location.

Columbia Harbour House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Last summer, Brandon and I discovered that the restaurant had changed the brand of allergy-friendly chicken tenders they were using. Most locations on Disney property still serve the Ian's brand allergy-friendly chicken tenders. But, at this location, you'll find the Chef's Line brand being served. If you want to know more about this brand and ingredients, check out the post I wrote back in July 2018 about it, which includes photos of the ingredients that the manager shared with me.

Overall, these particular chicken tenders remind me a lot of the AllergyFreeFoods brand that Disney used to serve. These are more chicken nugget style, and they do have a lot of breading on them. Brandon prefers the Ian's brand over this one. I like both, but after this last visit, I think I lean slightly towards the Ian's brand in preference -- only because I found these chicken tenders to be a lot saltier. They're still really good though, and we both agreed we'd still order these any time. And, as you can see from the photo, my portion was pretty large too.

Overall

No matter what brand of allergy-friendly chicken tenders they are serving, Columbia Harbour House always does a great job of frying the allergy-friendly chicken tenders to perfection (and in a dedicated fryer too). It's a great go-to spot if you're craving allergy-friendly chicken tenders or even a healthier option, like baked salmon, when you're in the Magic Kingdom.

Have you been to Columbia Harbour House? What did you think of the food options there?

Columbia Harbour House -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in July 2018.

Dinner at Columbia Harbour House

Columbia Harbour House, located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom, is a one of my go-to quick service restaurants in the theme parks for allergy-friendly chicken tenders. Even though the allergy-chicken tenders are typically the same across Disney property, for some reason, I just like the way they cook them at Columbia Harbour House. Recently, we stopped by the restaurant for a quick early evening dinner as Brandon and I were both craving allergy-chicken tenders.

Atmosphere

There's something really charming about Columbia Harbour House's theme. It's meant to reflect a Colonial era sea-faring town (like Boston).From the decor to the cast member costumes, everything definitely says Colonial times.One of my favorite spots in the restaurant is the second floor. It's a great spot to enjoy a quiet meal and get away from the hustle and bustle of the theme park crowds. Plus, it's perfect for getting a bird's eye view of the restaurant and Liberty Square outside.As you can see by this photo, there is ample seating on the second floor. But, depending on the time of day, you just might have the restaurant seating to yourself. We dined around 4 p.m., and as you can see it was pretty quiet.

The Food

Like most restaurants in Disney World, Columbia Harbour House does carry an allergy-friendly menu. Although I didn't think much of it when we ordered, I did notice that the menu had changed slightly from our most recent visit in March 2018.We ordered two orders of the allergy-friendly chicken tenders and were given a pager to come back when they were ready.When we arrived back at the counter, the manager at Columbia Harbour House presented us with our allergy-chicken tenders. But, both Brandon and I noticed immediately that they looked completely different from the Ian's brand allergy-friendly chicken tenders that Disney has been serving at locations across property. We both asked if this was a new change, and the manager told us he was told that this was a property wide change that would be happening due to issues with supply for the Ian's brand.He also offered to show us the packaging for the the chicken tenders, which were Chef's Line brand. These are gluten free, dairy free, and egg free and may cover some other special dietary needs, as well. They are also certified gluten free. You can find out more about the brand and ingredients on their website.As we learned from some blog readers, Disney's Special Diets Department has advised guests that they are testing out several different allergy-friendly chicken tender brands, including those that are top 8 free. Many readers have expressed disappointment that these contain soy. Unfortunately, even when Disney has served soy free allergy-friendly chicken tenders, they have not been an option for soy free guests at some locations due to the oil used to fry them. So, sadly, the allergy-friendly chicken tenders have been hit or miss with those are who soy free. Still, it's nice to know that Disney is testing a variety of options to ensure the tastiest and safest options for guests.As you can see, two orders of Allergy-Friendly Chicken Tenders and Fries made in a dedicated fryer is a ton of food. So, if you're not that hungry or have a small appetite, you can easily split one order. I also always ask for Ken's Steakhouse Cocktail Sauce, which is gluten free and a nice condiment for the chicken tenders and fries.Once we were seated, we had to dig in and see how the new allergy-friendly chicken tenders tasted. The verdict? I think they taste very similar to the original AllergyFreeFoods brand of allergy-friendly chicken tenders that Disney used to serve. So, if you had that particular brand and loved them, you will really enjoy these chicken tenders. They do have more breading on them, so under-cooking is a bit more of a potential too (which Brandon noticed).If you are a fan of the crunchier Ian's brand allergy-friendly chicken tenders, you might be disappointed by these. Brandon much prefers the Ian's brand, so he was pretty saddened by the new brand change. He doesn't mind the new ones, but he loves the Ian's brand, so this was a bummer for him. Of course, taste is all subjective, so it completely depends whether you will like one version or the other. I like both, and didn't mind the new version for some different variety.

Overall

Columbia Harbour House is still our go-to spot for allergy-friendly chicken tenders at Disney World. We'll be interested to see how the new allergy-friendly chicken tenders changes continue. And, we're interested to try some other brands too. In the meantime, we might be at Hollywood Studios at ABC Commissary or the Backlot Express for the Ian's brand allergy-friendly chicken tenders so that Brandon can get his cravings in before they switch to a new brand.Have you been to Columbia Harbour House or another location for allergy-friendly chicken tenders? What did you think of the brands served at Disney?

Columbia Harbour House -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in February 2018.

Dinner at Columbia Harbour House

Columbia Harbour House, located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom, is one of my go-to quick service spots in the park. Though it's allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu is somewhat limited for guests with special dietary needs, they serve allergy-friendly chicken tenders there -- one of my favorite quick service meal options. On this occasion, we stopped by for a quick dinner in between some fastpasses on a random weeknight in the park.

Atmosphere

Columbia Harbour House has a ton of charm and lots of great theming. Set to resemble a sea-side Colonial New England town, you'll see lots of colonial decor, along with sea-faring art and collectibles. You'll find lots to look at in every nook and cranny of the restaurant.My favorite spot to dine is on the 2nd floor. A lot of guests don't know it exists, but it's a perfect spot to rest, recharge, and refuel with some allergy-friendly chicken tenders.On the night we visited, it was a bit later in the evening, so the 2nd floor was closed. Still, we found lots of seating on the main floor and even tucked away in a quiet side room.

The Food

Although there are some other gluten free and dairy free meal options, I have to order allergy-friendly chicken tenders whenever I dine at Columbia Harbour House. Even though these are the same allergy-friendly chicken tenders you can get a variety of locations at Disney, for some reason they taste best at Columbia Harbour House. Maybe it's because they have frying down to an art?Both Brandon and I ordered allergy-friendly chicken tenders. Brandon actually prefers these over the regular chicken tenders, if you can believe it. So, he's taken to ordering these, as well. We got 2 orders -- 1 with French Fries, Green Beans, and Carrots, and 1 with a double order of French Fries.As you can see from the photo, we had huge portions. The amount of food we both got was way more than we expected. And, we both joked that we could have easily split one meal. Each of us got about 6 allergy-friendly chicken tenders and a huge heaping of fries. I also got the green beans and carrots, which comes with the meal normally (Brandon asked for Double Fries, as he isn't a fan of green beans). The green beans and carrots were pretty bland, but everything else was delicious.I have also started getting a package of Ken's Steak House Cocktail Sauce with my meal. Ken's dressings are marked gluten free. These sauces are not shelved in the main dining area, but are stored in the kitchen area. So be sure to ask a manager if you want a container of this.

Overall

We absolutely loved our meal. At around $10.99 a piece, this is a huge value. Between the large portions and terrific taste, this is definitely a spot we continue to have as our go-to for a quick service dinner at the Magic Kingdom. We always enjoy the chicken tenders and never leave hungry!Have you been to Columbia Harbour House? What's your go-to menu item there? 

Liberty Tree Tavern -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in January 2016. Hear ye, hear ye! Liberty Tree Tavern, located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom, finally re-opened a few months ago after a lengthy refurbishment to accommodate for the newly opened (and shared kitchen space for) Skipper Canteen in Adventureland. Having missed out on Liberty Tree Tavern during the holiday season (a family tradition), I finally got a chance to get in my Disney turkey dinner cravings.Liberty Tree Tavern offers an a la carte lunch and family style all-you-care-to-eat dinner. Typically, my family dines here during dinner, which offers a full Pilgrim's Feast with all the trimmings; however, on this occasion, we chose to grab lunch. Though no allergy friendly menu is given for dinner, guests will receive an allergy friendly menu when they dine a la carte for lunch. In looking at the menu, I was glad to see some options, including the New England Pot Roast with mashed potatoes which can be served gluten and dairy free.Our server did ask several times if I preferred to speak to a chef or order directly from the allergy friendly menu. Having dined at Liberty Tree Tavern numerous times and ordering the Pilgrim's Feast, I felt comfortable ordering without speaking with a chef.Typically, I do still speak to a chef but since the dishes were completely gluten free and dairy free without modifications (and the server wrote my order on the yellow food allergy notification pad), I felt OK ordering straight from the menu. Of course, if you ever dine at a Disney location and don't feel comfortable with the options or allergy friendly menu, you can always talk to a Disney chef. Just ask your server!First on my order was the traditional house salad served with a strawberry vinaigrette. It's a classic Liberty Tree Tavern dish, and a must order for me. I did ask for an extra side of vinaigrette as in previous years (and on this visit), the salad was woefully under-dressed.I also inquired about gluten free and dairy free rolls and Earth Balance Vegan Margarine. Unfortunately, I was given Ener-G rolls, which I don't really enjoy. Last year when I dined here, I was given GNI brand rolls which I love, but Ener-G gets very dry and has a Styrofoam texture that is very unappealing. Though I appreciated the offering, I didn't eat much of them. Sadly, not even dipping it in their gluten free and dairy free gravy could save these rolls.For my entree, I chose the Pilgrim's Feast which is a lighter version of the dinner offering. It only comes with turkey instead of three meats, but this was fine with me. Accompanying the turkey were dairy free mashed potatoes, green beans, and gluten free and dairy free stuffing and gravy.The turkey was super moist and delicious and the mashed potatoes were outstanding. Is it wrong that I get that excited over a dairy free mashed potato? It's a rarity in restaurants, but seriously so easy to make. To add to this is Liberty Tree's gluten free gravy, which I adore. My whole family also prefers it to the regular gluten-filled version of gravy that is served in the restaurant. It's probably because we grew up eating holiday gravy based in cornstarch instead of flour, and this version tastes very similar to what we have always served at home.The green beans were nothing spectacular. Just a plain steamed veg.The gluten free and dairy free stuffing was just OK on this visit. The taste was great but the texture was off. I'm not sure if they are using a different type of bread or if they just added too much liquid to the mixture. The texture was very mushy and almost a bit gritty. When I went last November, I had this and absolutely loved it. It was the perfect texture and taste. This time, it just wasn't as good as it was the year before. That being said, I'd definitely give it a try again.Overall, Liberty Tree Tavern consistently serves up holiday inspired fare, making it the perfect holiday season restaurant. It's not one I'd dine at all the time, but during Thanksgiving and Christmas it's an absolute must-do for me. There's really no other restaurant around that can serve up gluten free and dairy free stuffing, gravy, and mashed potatoes!Have you been to Liberty Tree Tavern? What did you think of their allergy friendly offerings?

Liberty Tree Tavern -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in November 2014.Liberty Tree Tavern located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom is one of my family's favorite seasonal places to dine during the holidays. We almost always eat at this restaurant for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Something about the turkey dinner reminds us all of the holidays.On this particular visit, I was joined by blog reader Laurie as we enjoyed a meal before the Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort on November 22nd. It was the perfect meal in the few days before the event, as I needed all the fuel I could get while setting up and getting ready for guests.One of the things I love about Liberty Tree Tavern is the holiday decorations during the winter season. I love the Christmas trees with touches that are inspired by colonial times.Liberty Tree Tavern's menu is an all-you-care-to-eat feast that includes all the fixins' and have included dairy free mashed potatoes (upon request) and gluten free gravy for many years now.I also really adore the mugs that they serve dinner with (of course, I miss the days when the mugs were actual glass and not made of plastic).One thing that has always alluded me was stuffing. I crave that traditional stuffing every time I go there, and as I learned recently from Gluten Free in Orlando, they were now carrying a gluten free version. My hope was that it was also dairy free, and luckily I was not disappointed!We were greeted by Chef Alfonso, who said he would take good care of us. Laurie is just gluten free, but he asked if he could make the entire meal gluten free & dairy free and that worked for her (which was awesome).First up, came GNI brand rolls along with some Earth Balance vegan margarine. The rolls were heated well and tasted great with a bit of the Earth Balance.Next up came the house salad with strawberry vinaigrette. The last few times I've visited, I've found the dressing to be very underwhelming both in flavor and seasoning but this time I found it to be spot on. They had a huge container of it on the side, which was great for adding as much or as little as we wanted. As you can imagine, I was pretty excited about the prospect of stuffing. In fact, I think it was the thing I was looking forward to most! The meal came with turkey, roasted pork and roast beef, along with dairy free mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, and sweet potatoes.The turkey is by far my favorite meat served at Liberty Tree. I like the roasted pork but do really miss the ham that they used to serve here. I never eat the roast beef, but Laurie said it was good. The mashed potatoes were excellent but the star along with the gluten free gravy was the stuffing. I'm a sucker for stuffing of all types, and this one was fantastic. Very moist and full of traditional stuffing flavor, it really made my meal complete.The steamed green beans were probably my least favorite dish, mostly because it's just plain steamed green beans. They're good, but really nothing special.The seasonal vegetable at Liberty Tree is always an interesting one. Sometimes it's great -- like sauteed squash and zucchini and sometimes it's not the best match for the locale - like sauteed broccoli rabe. This time, it was sweet potatoes in brown sugar.These were quite yummy, and I'm partial to sweet potatoes. They were a bit overcooked though and the texture was just slightly off. Overall though I found these to be a welcome addition, as the last few visits I haven't enjoyed the seasonal vegetable much (due to overseasoning or overcooking)After our main meal, Chef Alfonso came out and shared with us the recipe to his stuffing, which I'll share soon here on the site! It's made with Udi's Gluten Free Bread and classic stuffing ingredients. You could tell he was really proud and dedicated to making offerings that are safe for multiple special dietary needs.For dessert, Liberty Tree Tavern typically carries sorbet with fruit for gluten free and dairy free diners; however, Chef Alfonso said he was going to create something special for our meal. I was a bit surprised with with he came up with!For dessert, Chef Alfonso created something really unique and very nicely themed for the restaurant. It included homemade gluten free & dairy free waffles along with a cranberry compote and Tofutti ice cream. It was definitely a wow moment for the meal, as neither of us were expecting this kind of dessert.I really enjoyed the waffle which paired well with the cranberry compote. The compote was tart, as you would expect cranberries to be which combined with the ice cream was a great combo. Of course, despite being really full from the meal, I managed to make my way through almost all of my dessert. It was too great to pass up!Overall, I was really pleased with my visit to Liberty Tree Tavern and loved what Chef Alfonso is doing with the special dietary options. He really went above and beyond to make a great meal for us, and everything was really well prepared.The last few visits I've had, I've haven't enjoyed as much but this visit totally redeemed my love for Liberty Tree Tavern. It's a staple in my family's holiday traditions and I look forward to keeping it that for years to come.Have you been to Liberty Tree Tavern? Are you looking forward to trying the gluten free and dairy free stuffing?

Liberty Square Market -- Snacks -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in June 2014.Hear ye, hear ye! Liberty Square Market located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom is a surprisingly great choice for special diets diners to grab a quick bite to eat. With standard grab and go options along with special diets pre-packaged products and a few unique treats, this is a must-do for those looking for a snack or a treat. From the exterior, Liberty Square Market might not look like it would have much, and it can also be easily overlooked. Situated in between the Hall of Presidents, Liberty Tree Tavern, Columbia Harbour House, and the Haunted Mansion, it's outdoor seating and atmosphere will make you feel like you've gone back in time to colonial New England.When you enter the market, you'll notice lots of grab and go stations as well as a main ordering station that display Liberty Square Market's most unique offering - the popular baked potato. This is the perfect substantial snack or light lunch for a special diets diner. These are served salt crusted and do not have any toppings added to them unless requested. This means if you're non-dairy like me, you can bring a non-dairy substitute with you and top it on your potato. If you're gluten free and can have dairy, ask for butter and sour cream.Under $4, the baked potatoes also count as a snack on the Disney Dining Plan!Perhaps the coolest part of Liberty Square Market is that they have an entire section devoted to special dietary needs and products. Yay! These include:

• Varieties of Lundberg Rice Chips
• Surf Sweets
• Rocky Mountain Caramel Corn
• OMG It's Gluten Free Brownies
• OMG It's Gluten & Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies

Note that not all of these items cover all allergens or special dietary needs. For instance, OMG It's Gluten Free Brownies contain dairy.The location also carries fresh fruits and vegetables - some whole fruit (like bananas and apples) and others in packages, like apple slices.Overall, Liberty Square Market has an abundance of great choices for special diets diners visiting the Magic Kingdom. From sweets to fresh fruits and veggies, there is a nice variety to choose from.Have you been to Liberty Square Market? What's your go-to snack from this quick service location?