4/23/21 4/23/21

Whispering Canyon Cafe Lunch Review

Whispering Canyon Cafe, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, offers guests a rootin' tootin' good time with shenanigans aplenty and barbecue/homestyle inspired food. While both Brandon and I have enjoyed the food at Whispering Canyon Cafe, we admittedly have not always enjoyed the shenanigans. On our last visit together back in 2017, we did not have a great experience. So, it's taken us a while to finally go back to Whispering Canyon Cafe for a meal. Spoiler alert, this dining experience definitely redeemed the restaurant for us, and we are looking forward to going back again.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in February 2021. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a late afternoon seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closed for lunch at 2 p.m.). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We were also able to successfully check in to the restaurant using the mobile app with no issues (it has been hit or miss in our experience).

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Resort, Contemporary Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian, Riviera Resort, and Wilderness Lodge Resort along with all of the theme parks. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

Whispering Canyon Cafe is located in the main lobby area of the Wilderness Lodge Resort. You can't miss the giant sign and during the normal times a lot of noise! It's a very lively restaurant with a lot of atmosphere, that's for sure.

Whispering Canyon Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant itself has a lot of great decor. There's a lot of wooden beams and Western decor. It includes bright, rich colors, in the carpet, paintings, and chairs.

Whispering Canyon Cafe - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see by this photo, there's ample seating -- a lot of which can accommodate big parties (and the restaurant is very popular with large groups). You can also see that it includes social distancing markers on tables currently.

In addition the main part of the dining room, there are a few corners and nooks for smaller tables, and we have often been seated there. Of course, the Western theme is still ever present in every part of the restaurant.

We especially like the side nooks with colorful booths for a bit of a quieter, more relaxed dining experience. Of course, if you like to be in the middle of it all, the main part of the dining room is for you!

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Whispering Canyon Cafe does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can, of course, always speak to a chef when you dine at the restaurant to discuss different options, modifications, and any questions that you might have. On this visit, we ordered primarily using the allergy-friendly menu and coordinated options with our server Lee.

We always recommend using your own judgement and comfort level about navigating the allergy-friendly menus and speaking with a chef. We do typically recommend speaking with a chef if you feel comfortable doing so, especially if you have questions or want to discuss additional options not listed as safe for you on the allergy-friendly menu (or if you have multiple dietary needs).

For my lunch entree, I decided to get the popular all-you-care-to-enjoy skillet. This came with: Maple-Chipotle Barbecued Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Citrus Herb Chicken, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Charred Carrots, Roasted Peppers, and Sautéed Green Beans. It was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. You can make this dairy free by swapping out the mashed potatoes for roasted potatoes and getting vegetables without butter. The great thing about these skillets is that there is a lot of flexibility to customize depending on your special dietary need (they even have a plant-based option too!).

This was an absolutely delicious skillet. The chicken was very flavorful and not overly dry. The ribs were tasty. The pulled pork was definitely outstanding too. And, the veggies were all fantastic. Let's just say I totally devoured this entree happily and was very pleased with the quality of the food and flavors. I would order this again with no question -- though I'd really like to get dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe and try the other skillet options that are available during the dinner time.

Brandon and I were also served an allergy-friendly bread service. It's not marked on the menu, but be sure to ask your server! This cornbread is gluten free, egg free, fish/shellfish free, dairy free, peanut/tree nut free, and vegan. I believe it may be soy free too but didn't check on this visit. This has been served at Whispering Canyon Cafe for years, and it's always a winner. Made with Namaste Vanilla Cake Mix (believe it or not!), the cornbread is a bit more on the sweet side. But, it's a great option. If you're dairy free or vegan, be sure to ask for vegan buttery spread which is available upon request too.

While I always love this and did on this visit, it wasn't Brandon's favorite. So, your mileage may vary depending on your food preferences and the kinds of bread you like. But, it's great that restaurant offers this to guests and worth a try if it's safe for your special dietary need.

For Brandon's entree, he opted to get the Bison Burger on a House-made Bun, Chipotle Aioli, Candied Hickory-smoked Bacon, White Cheddar, and French Fries. This dish was made safe for Brandon's allergies: fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken & turkey, and cabbage.

The Bison Burger at Geyser Point -- also at Wilderness Lodge Resort -- is a favorite of Brandon's, so he was interested in comparing these two burger options. Overall, he really loved it and said that he would get this again. He enjoyed the candied bacon on the burger and even said the chipotle aioli was pretty good. It's nice to know that there are a couple of different bison burger options at the Wilderness Lodge that he really enjoys. Like me, he said he would definitely order this again.

And, of course, because Brandon can't help himself, he ordered a second side of French fries -- made in a dedicated fryer. These fries are also gluten free and dairy free too.

For dessert, we ended up splitting the Whispering Canyon Pioneer Chocolate Cake. This dish is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. Both Brandon and I loved the rich flavors of the this dessert. It was so good. I believe the restaurant is also using Namaste mixes for this cake too. If you love chocolate, this is hands down a winner!

If you want to get more information about our visit to Whispering Canyon Cafe, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

While our experience a few years ago at Whispering Canyon Cafe deterred us from dining at the restaurant for a long time, we're both so glad that we finally gave it another try. We were both impressed by the quality and flavors of the food that we ate. And, we appreciated the accommodation to special dietary needs and our server keeping the shenanigans to a minimum. We both felt the experience warranted going back again sometime soon because we liked it that much. We are looking forward to dining at dinner and maybe even breakfast!

Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What was your experience when you dined there?

4/23/21 4/23/21

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Dinner Review

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar, located in Disney Springs, is a Disney owned and operated bar & lounge that serves small bites and shareable plates -- all in an Indiana Jones themed bar. It's one of our favorite spots in Disney Springs. In the past, we've often dined there before or after a movie at the AMC Dine-In Theater nearby. We especially like going there during the holidays, since the last few years they've offered festive holiday decorations along with holiday drinks and food. On this visit, we stopped by in the late afternoon to opening to check out the holiday inspired fun.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in November 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Jock Linsey's Hangar Bar

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

The Hangar Bar does not take dining reservations and seating is on a first come, first served basis. The restaurant itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. We were asked to wait outside before our table was ready to ensure social distancing. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. If you prefer outdoor dining, the bar/lounge features ample outside seating so that you can enjoy without having to dine indoors. If you do dine indoors, there are several doorways that are open to the outside seating, so there is a good amount of airflow there too.

Atmosphere

The bar/lounge itself has a super fun Indiana Jones theme to it -- with 1940s aviation, as it's dedicated to a very minor character in Raider's of the Lost Ark, Jock Lindsey.

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

During the holiday season, this theming is taken one step further with fun vintage/retro decorations, including nods to travel and aviation. If you love holiday decorations, you won't find any shortage of them while the Holiday Hangar Bar is operating!

As you can see, there's a lot to look at and explore. You'll find the traditional decor still in place at the Hangar Bar and a ton of additional holiday decorations on top of all of that!

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar - Holiday Decorations / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Garland abounds throughout the bar/lounge in just about every color! And, there's tons of holiday and aviation themed ornaments.

You'll also find quite a few both cute and slightly creepy elfs all around the bar/lounge. This little elf was watching us dine while we ate in the diving bell booth found inside the restaurant.

We may have take a ton of photos at the bar/lounge but that's because we absolutely love the holiday decorations here. As you can see it truly is festive and well decorated to help get you in the holiday spirit. We especially love that they play retro holiday music too.

The Food

Though Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar is owned and operated by Disney, it does not currently offer an allergy-friendly menu. But, not to worry. You can speak directly to a chef about options, including modifications and customizations, which we did on this visit. The chef was very helpful at answering our questions and making recommendations for food items safe for our special dietary needs. We do recommend talking to a chef at any Disney owned restaurant, especially if you have questions or concerns -- even if the restaurant offers an allergy-friendly menu.

Up first, we had to try the holiday inspired drinks at the Hangar Bar. Brandon ordered the Mistletoe Mule, which is essentially a Moscow Mule (which includes vodka and ginger beer) with cranberry. He liked it so much that he ordered a second one!

Based on the recommendation from our server, I ordered Jock's Holiday Nog (which contains dairy) that was made with Tito's Vodka (which is gluten free). While I wouldn't get this on every visit, it was perfect for the holiday season and a nice version of nog that wasn't overly creamy and dairy filled. It was one of the best nogs that I've ever tried, so I would highly recommend.

For an appetizer, we had to order one of our favorite appetizers at the Hangar Bar -- Doctor Astorga's Queso Dip, A Skillet of Melted Soft Cheeses topped with fresh Pico de Gallo and Cilantro served with Corn Tortilla Chips. This dish is gluten free (contains dairy), fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, chicken & turkey free, and cabbage free. The chips are made in a dedicated fryer too.

If you like chips and dip, this is a great option. Both Brandon and I love the nacho cheese style dip, and this dish has become a must order for us on just about every visit we make to the Hangar Bar. It was just as good as ever and super filling. It's a great shareable dish!

For my entree, I ordered the Taco al Pastor with Citrus-Chipotle Pork Belly, Pineapple Pico de Gallo, Red Cabbage, and Grilled Corn Tortilla. The tacos are gluten free, and though I forgot to ask on this visit, I believe they are also dairy free too. I was super impressed by these tacos. The flavors were outstanding, and I loved the combination of salty, sweet (from the pineapple salsa), and savory. These were an absolute winner with a great portion size. I would definitely order these again.

Brandon ordered one of the seasonal options -- The Venison Sliders. These were made safe for Brandon's allergies: fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken & turkey, and cabbage. These were a winner in Brandon's book. He loved the flavors including the cranberry chutney on the dish. Like me, he said he'd order these again on any future visits during the holiday season.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Tiffins, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

We both always really enjoy dining at Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar. The theme is fun and the food is always excellent. Add to it the holiday seasonal options, and you have an excellent dining spot in Disney Springs during the holiday season. We can't wait to go back again when the holiday theme is back and enjoy all the small plates and drinks offered there for guests with special dietary needs.

Have you been to Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar? What did you think of the special diets options available during your visit?

3/18/21 3/18/21

Kona Cafe Lunch Review

Kona Cafe, located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is one of our favorite resort table service restaurants on Disney property for delicious special diets meals and affordable prices. Normally, we dine at Kona Cafe for dinner or breakfast, but on this visit, we decided to grab an early first seating lunch. We were excited to dine at Kona as it had been quite a few months since our last meal there.

Lunch at Kona Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a first lunch seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant opens for lunch at 11:30 a.m. but does serve breakfast earlier in the day). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We were able to use the online check-in when we arrived with no issues.

The restaurant itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. We also noticed on this visit that there was some overflow seating for Kona Cafe on the walkways outside of the restaurant since the monorail is not currently operating.

Atmosphere

We've reviewed Kona Cafe many, many times. So, we won't go into a lot of the theme in this review. You can find some of our other reviews with more photos and information on the blog.

Kona Cafe - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Generally, the restaurant is a contemporary take on modern Polynesian decor. But, the restaurant has not been updated in many years. So, you may find that the decor has a bit of a 1990s feel to it. There's lots of bright colors and patterns featured on the carpet, upholstery, and decorations at Kona Cafe.

The restaurant is also "open" in that it's a lobby restaurant that fully opens to the 2nd floor walkways. Depending on where you're seating, you might get a lot of people watching in.

Kona Cafe - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When we dined at the restaurant, the breakfast and lunch hours were just switching over. So, that meant it was very quiet. If you are looking to avoid large crowds or prefer quieter times, we highly recommend an earlier or later lunch which seem to be the best when dining indoors with less people right now during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This photos also gives you a good idea of what the interior of the restaurant looks like along with the general theme and atmosphere that you'll experience when dining at Kona Cafe.

Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant does include social distancing measures throughout. And, we found that dining at 11:30 a.m. helped make the restaurant feel even quieter and more socially distanced due to the low number of diners.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Kona Cafe does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can, of course, always speak to a chef when you dine at Kona Cafe too to discuss different options, modifications, and any questions that you might have.

Because we have dined so much at Kona Cafe, we don't always speak directly with a chef. But, because our server noted our multiple special dietary needs, she recommended that we bring a chef out to discuss the options. It was actually a great thing to do, as I was able to make a special request for a to-go order, which I'll talk about later in this post.

Up first were allergy-friendly rolls. These are gluten free, dairy free & free of the top 8 common allergens and vegan. The current brand used was Bloomfield Farms, which I really love. They were very well heated and tasted great, as always. I also got some Smart Balance vegan buttery spread on the side. The restaurant does usually offer Earth Balance, but due to supply issues they only had Smart Balance (both of which are gluten free, dairy free & vegan) at this time. It's always a good idea to ask a chef when dining at a restaurant what dairy free & vegan options are available.

For my entree, I decided to get the Kona Chicken Stir-Fry which came with Rice Noodles, Napa Cabbage, Carrots, and GF Teriyaki Sauce. This dish is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

I had this dish on a previous visit and really enjoyed it. The last visit, I found the dish to be a bit heavy on the GF teriyaki sauce, which I enjoy but thought was just a bit too much. This time, the noodles had the perfect amount of GF teriyaki sauce. The chicken was really well cooked and the vegetables were flavorful and tasty. If you enjoy noodles and stir-fry, this is a great option for gluten free and dairy free guests.

Brandon absolutely loves Kona Cafe's Pork Belly Noodle Bowl, and you would be hard-pressed to see him ordering anything else from Kona Cafe for his entree. This dish is marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. It was also made safe for chicken & turkey and cabbage allergies by swapping out the bone froth for a vegetarian Jasmine broth and omitting bok choy and other types of cabbage from the vegetable medley in the noodle bowl.

Brandon absolutely loves all the flavors of this dish and always raves about it. If you enjoy noodle bowls and pork belly, this is a great dish for you.

On this visit, we had briefly mentioned that it was my birthday the day before. Unexpectedly, the chef brought out a lovely platter of special diets treats for us to enjoy for dessert. This included Enjoy Life Cookies Snickerdoodles & Chocolate Chip Cookies, fresh fruit, coconut macaroons, and a gluten free, dairy free & vegan tapioca pudding. Everything was gluten free on the plate and all but the coconut macaroons and chocolate decorations were dairy free. If you're a dessert fan, I do highly recommend the tapioca pudding. There's lots of bright citrus flavors in it, and I absolutely love the creaminess of it. We enjoyed it all, and it was such a thoughtful treat from the chef.

The special request that I mentioned earlier was a to-go order. Because were dining just after the breakfast and lunch switchover at Kona Cafe, I asked the chef if it was possible to order a to-go order of breakfast food -- specifically the gluten free macadamia nut pancakes. The chef checked in the kitchen to see if that was possible and was able to make this dish to-go. If you are dining at Kona Cafe for breakfast, the GF version of the macadamia nut pancakes are not listed on the allergy-friendly menu, but you can order them upon request. I had these the next morning, and they reheated really well! It was a nice treat and good to know that you can sometimes get take-out during that switchover period if you ask.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Kona Cafe, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

We always really enjoy our meals at Kona Cafe. And this visit did not disappoint. We absolutely loved the entrees that we ordered, which were repeat dishes for both of us. And, we also really loved the surprise dessert platter. All of the food we had was great! Our experience with the chef and low crowds was also outstanding. We so appreciate that the chef could accommodate a breakfast to-go order too. While it may be a bit before we're back at Kona Cafe again, we always enjoy it and can't wait to have another great meal there.

Have you been to Kona Cafe? What was your experience with the special diets options there?

3/17/21 3/17/21

Rainforest Cafe Dinner Review

Rainforest Cafe is a table service restaurant owned by Landry's that has two locations on Disney property -- one at Disney Springs and one at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Recently, we decided to get dinner at the Animal Kingdom location, because we are Landry's Select Club members had I had a $25 birthday reward to use for our meal that would expire at the end of the month. We have dined at Rainforest Cafe on several occasions, and while it's not our favorite of the Landry's restaurants on Disney property, we always enjoy our meals there.

Dinner at Rainforest Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a reservation for the final seating of the evening, which we decided to book. If you're a Landry's Select Club member, you can also show up to the restaurant without a reservation and simply show your card for priority seating. This has served us really well in the past, and we've found that we typically experience a little to no wait for a table. The MDE app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. There was no online check-in though, so be sure to stop by the podium to speak with a cast member when you arrive.

The restaurant itself had mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. All cast members wore facial masks and all servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields.

Atmosphere

Rainforest Cafe is a chain restaurant that has been around since the 1990s. It has a decidedly jungle look and feel with animal animatronics and various "shows" that take place about every 20 minutes. I personally find the restaurant to feel a bit dated but nostalgic. There are still several Rainforest Cafe locations in the U.S. (a lot can be found in malls). And, we have been told that this specific restaurant at Disney is the largest of all the locations. It's definitely a large restaurant!

Rainforest Cafe - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Somehow we managed to not get very many photos during our visit. If you're curious about the seating or more about the interior, check out our previous blog posts where we included more photos of the restaurant.

Rainforest Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

It's a very boisterous and noisy restaurant with a lot to look at. It can be a little bit of overstimulation on all the aesthetics, so be prepared! The tropical storms that take every 20 minutes or so are also quite loud and feature flashing lights and lightning and rain sounds. It's a lot to take in! Kiddos seemed especially excited by all the restaurant happenings. So, if you have kiddos this could be a perfect family restaurant for you.

The Food

Because Rainforest Cafe is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, a manager or chef will speak to you about special dietary needs options. We have found it to be hit or miss whether a manager or chef comes to the table. And, on this visit, we spoke with a manager who also radioed a chef as we discussed options.

For my entree, I decided to order the Aloha Salmon and Shrimp. This came with Hawaiian-glazed Salmon and Shrimp, Fresh Vegetables, and Japanese Rice. The manager noted that this dish was gluten free as is with no modifications and confirmed with a chef via radio that the sauce was gluten free. It's always good to double-check, especially if you have questions or concerns about the status of an ingredient. I always double-check sauces, especially, because they can be an overlooked source of gluten. If you are dairy free, I was advised that there is dairy in the sauce itself and that it cannot be modified. So, you'll want to either ask for this dish plain with no sauce or explore other options on the menu.

Overall, I really liked this dish. Both the salmon and shrimp were cooked well and the Hawaiian-glaze was really nice. It was both sweet and spicy and quite tasty. The vegetables were standard and nothing too special, as was the rice. But, everything really came together and made this a solid dish. I would definitely order it again.

For Brandon's entree, he ordered the Primal Steak which includes NY Strip and mashed potatoes. It also comes with seasonal vegetables, but Brandon requested a double-portion of mashed potatoes instead. This dish was made safe for Brandon's allergies which include: fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey. I have also been told this is gluten free in previous visits, but you'll want to double-check that if you're interested in this dish as a GF guest.

Like me, Brandon said his dish was quite solid and very tasty. He really enjoyed the grill flavor of the steak, and he especially liked the mashed potatoes. If you're a steak fan, this could be a great entree to enjoy when you dine at Rainforest Cafe. Brandon has ordered this dish on several occasions, and it's definitely a repeat entree for him.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Rainforest Cafe at Disney's Animal Kingdom, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

We both enjoyed our entrees at Rainforest Cafe. While the restaurant doesn't offer a ton of variety for guests with special dietary needs, we both appreciate that the restaurant does work to accommodate and provide safe and tasty dishes. If you're interested in a lively, family friendly restaurant, this could be a great option for you. Or, if you're a Landry's Select Club member, it's a great go-to especially if you don't have a reservation and want a walk-up at a table service restaurant while at the Animal Kingdom. We usually dine at Rainforest Cafe once or twice a year, and we're glad we had a safe and delicious meal on this visit.

Have you been to Rainforest Cafe? What was your experience there with special dietary needs?

3/16/21 3/16/21

Grand Floridian Cafe Brunch Review

Grand Floridian Cafe, located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is a table service restaurant that offers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner options to guests. It's been several years since Brandon and I ate at Grand Floridian Cafe. We recently decided to make a last minute late lunch because the restaurant offers breakfast food (aka brunch) until nearly 2 p.m. daily. I had a total breakfast food craving and the brunch offerings gave us a chance to get breakfast or lunch depending on what we were interested in.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in March 2021. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Brunch at Grand Floridian Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a late afternoon seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closed for lunch at 2 p.m.). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We were able to use online check-in during our visit, which worked great.

The restaurant itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. We were actually asked to wait outside versus inside before our table was ready to ensure social distancing. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. The restaurant also currently offers some temporary outdoor dining, if you prefer to eat only outdoors at this time. We actually had a choice of seat location when we did online check-in that included no preference, booth, window, or outdoors. This may change overtime, so be sure to speak with a cast member directly if you have specific preferences.

Atmosphere

The Grand Floridian Cafe offers a bit of Victorian charm in a more relaxed and casual setting. It is located on the main floor of the resort and has beautiful views of the resort's lawn area.

Grand Floridian Cafe - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see, the restaurant has lots of windows which offer pleasant views.

Grand Floridian Cafe - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant's interior itself is surprisingly bigger than one would expect. I always forget that it's fairly long and sprawling. We were seated at a table near one of the windows in a dining room area that is fairly quiet. There are a lot of different seating styles too from booths, to large tables for big parties, to smaller tables near the windows. And, of course, the Victorian decor is ever present on the wallpaper, in the carpet, and curtains. You almost expect the turn-of-the-century John from the Carousel of Progress to be dining in the restaurant too!

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, the Grand Floridian Cafe does have an allergy-friendly menu. On this visit, we were not given a paper menu but were directed to the mobile app where the allergy-friendly menu was listed.

In addition to the allergy-friendly menu, you can always speak to a chef directly for additional questions you might have about options or special diets safety. On this visit, we chose to order directly from the allergy-friendly menu as we were ordering pretty standard breakfast fare.

Grand Floridian Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my breakfast entree, I chose the Eggs Benedict which was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. This dish does contain dairy and cannot be modified, so if you're dairy free, you'll want to consider other breakfast dishes.

Overall, I liked the Eggs Benedict but didn't love it. The dish had indicated that it came with a gluten free English muffin. But, the restaurant seemed to have some supply issues, so mine came served on gluten free bread. While the flavors were all just OK, I was glad that this is an option for gluten free guests. Of course, I may just be spoiled by the excellent GF Eggs Benedict served on the Disney Cruise Line ships which I get every cruise.

The side dish of a tomato salad was quite nice and refreshing. The red onion was a bit sharp and spicy and mixed well with the sweet tomatoes and peppery arugula. I believe they also use this mix on the Avocado Toast which would be pretty amazing in my opinion. Generally, I would order this entree again, but I would probably order something different on our next visit.

Brandon ordered the classic Steak & Eggs. This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. They were also made safe for chicken & turkey and cabbage allergies too. But, it's important to note that the dairy free options on the allergy-friendly menu are regular breakfast potatoes, not the cheesy potatoes shown in this photo. Brandon was able to get those potatoes instead since they were safe for his special dietary needs.

Like me, Brandon liked his entree but didn't love it. He said the steak was cooked well and that the eggs were tasty. His favorite part of the entree by far were the cheesy potatoes. If you can have these, they are highly recommended by Brandon!

Because I hadn't had pancakes in a while, Brandon and I decided to split the allergy-friendly pancakes. These were marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. They can also be made vegan by omitting the bacon or sausage side dish.

Both Brandon and I really loved the pancakes. And, it was the favorite part of our meal (besides the cheesy potatoes, which Brandon also raved about). The restaurant is currently using Bloomfield Farms gluten free & allergy-friendly pancakes and waffle mix. I've had this at Topolino's Terrace, and I really like the mix a lot. This is a definite must-order again dish! I am hoping that next time we go that they'll have more of their standard pancake & waffle toppings that they usually have but were not available on this visit due to supply issues.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Tiffins, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

We both enjoyed our meal at the Grand Floridian Cafe. Our only negative from the visit is that the service was incredibly slow despite having very few guests dining at the time that we visited. However, we both generally enjoyed our meal and had a few food highlights that we loved -- the allergy-friendly pancakes for both of us and the cheesy potatoes for Brandon. While we probably won't be back for a while, we both like that this restaurant serves breakfast food until 2 p.m. everyday which is great if you're craving breakfast but don't want to visit during the earlier parts of the day.

Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe for brunch? What did you think of the special diets offerings?

3/14/21 3/14/21

50's Prime Time Cafe Dinner Review

50's Prime Time Cafe, located in Disney's Hollywood Studios, is a table service restaurant that offers up some nostalgia, a bit of hijinks, and classic American comfort food. 50's Prime Time used to be a restaurant that I would go to often, mainly because of their amazing gluten free and dairy free fried chicken. But, it fell off my radar for quite a few years after a few less than stellar experiences there. So, when a reservation popped up, Brandon and I decided to give it a try -- especially since Brandon had never dined there before. We made a reservation for mid/late afternoon around the last "lunch time" seating and before the dinner seating started & spent the afternoon time enjoying the park.

Dinner at 50's Prime Time Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a late afternoon seating, which we decided to book. The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. When we arrived at the restaurant, were able to do online check-in and also spoke with a manager, as well.

The restaurant itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. We were actually asked to wait outside versus inside before our table was ready to ensure social distancing. In fact, they were not really letting anyone stay inside the lobby area of 50's Prime Time Cafe -- and Tune-In Lounge was closed. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Resort, Contemporary Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian, and Riviera Resort along with all of the theme parks. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

50's Prime Time Cafe's theming is all about retro kitsch. You'll not only feel like you stepped back in time, but you'll also be transported to a home of the 1950s.

50's Prime Time Cafe Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

From the moment you walk into the restaurant, the 1950s vibe begins.

50's Prime Time Cafe - Lobby / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You'll find the main waiting area to feel like a living room or den, complete with a retro TV showing clips of television shows from the 1950s. You'll find lots of kitschy decor.

50's Prime Time Cafe - Tune In Lounge / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Though not open when we dined at 50's Prime Time Cafe, the lobby area includes a bar called the "Tune-In Lounge." It's usually very popular. And, you can order virtually anything from the regular 50's Prime Time menu and grab a drink too.

50's Prime Time Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Once in the main dining area, you're fully transported to a 1950s home and dining room. Seating varies, but can include a retro TV at your table, cozy booths, and lots of kitschy decor. We were seated at a large table that include a bookcase and a TV, so we could be fully entertained while our "cousins" helped prepare our meal.

As an aside, in addition to the retro vibe, the restaurant also has a very well-known schtick. Since you're dining in a home of the 1950s, you'll encounter servers, known as cousins, who really get into the 1950s vibe. Be sure to keep you elbows off the table and eat all your vegetables. You've been warned!

Brandon and I don't tend to be big fans of shenanigans. But, we found that on this visit, our server was very low-key and got into the fun without making the shenanigans overwhelming. Of course, if you love these kind of antics, be sure to banter back and forth with your server!

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, 50's Prime Time Cafe does offer an allergy-friendly menu. You can, of course, always speak to a chef when you dine at the restaurant to discuss different options, modifications, and any other questions you might have. On this visit, we not only stopped by the restaurant early (more on that in a minute), but we also consulted with the allergy-friendly menu and spoke to a chef.

Because of our special dietary needs and a my interest in the gluten free & dairy free fried chicken, we stopped by the restaurant a few hours before our reservation. This is the best tip I have for ordering gluten free fried chicken from 50s Prime Time Cafe.

The gluten free fried chicken is not listed on the allergy-friendly menu and is only available by request either by emailing Disney's Special Dietary Needs Department ahead of time or by stopping by the restaurant before your meal. You could try to ask for it when you dine at the restaurant, but we have always been told that it takes 45 minutes to prepare so advance notice is recommended. I simply spoke to a cast member in advance who took our reservation information, my request, and noted that it would be given to the chef. When we spoke to the chef during our reservation, he said they were already preparing it, which was great!

We also spoke to the chef about Brandon's special dietary needs to ensure that he could eat the pot roast (because sometimes they include gravy that includes chicken stock/broth in it, which he is allergic to) and also to see if he could order some allergy-friendly French Fries. The chef was very accommodating and helpful in navigating the options. When in doubt, it's always good to talk to a chef!

Brandon and I decided to split an appetizer before our entrees arrived. I was super curious about Cousin Amy's Iceberg Lettuce Wedge with Dairy Free & Vegan Ranch Dressing, Rice Paper Bacon, Chives, Cherry Tomatoes, and Sliced Red Onions. This was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. I'm not sure why the allergy-friendly menu did not list egg as a safe option, because both the chef and our server noted this was a vegan/plant-based appetizer. So, you'll want to double-check that if you have any concerns.

Omigosh did this surprise us. Both Brandon and I absolutely loved the dairy free & vegan ranch dressing. It was very flavorful and was a great alternative to dairy-filled ranch. We both liked the rice paper bacon, though neither of us felt it tasted that much like bacon. Still, it provided some great crunch and texture to the dish. Overall, we both really enjoyed this and actually said next time we'd order two salads versus splitting one because it was that good. This will be an appetizer we order again for sure.

As you can see from this photo, I was pretty impressed when my massive plate of gluten free & dairy free fried chicken arrived!

Aunt Liz's Golden Fried Chicken (made gluten free and dairy free) came with corn and roasted potatoes. If you can have dairy, you can also swap out the roasted potatoes for mashed potatoes if you prefer those instead. The chicken itself is gluten free and dairy free, and the entree (minus the GF fried chicken) on the allergy-friendly menu is also marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies.

If you like fried chicken & you're interested in this, it's definitely worth the effort of stopping by the restaurant a few hours in advance to request it. While I think I do prefer the gluten free and dairy free fried chicken from Skipper Canteen just a bit more, this is just a great classic comfort food dish. Plus, it's not something that you can get safely out often, so it's a definite winner. Everything was really tasty, and it was a solid meal.

For Brandon's entree, he ordered the Pot Roast which came with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and garnished with Carrots and Celery. The gravy that normally comes with the pot roast contains chicken broth/stock, so the chef brought Brandon some beef jus for the dish, in case he was interested in it. This dish was marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. And, it was also safe for chicken & turkey and cabbage allergies, as well.

Brandon was definitely very impressed by this dish. He wasn't expecting to like the food all that much at 50's Prime Time Cafe but came out of the meal wanting to go back and get that pot roast again.

Because Brandon loves potatoes, he also asked to get a side of French Fries. The chef noted that these came from a dedicated fryer that did not contain any chicken, turkey, or meat products. So, if you're gluten free, dairy free, and vegan, this will be another option you could get at 50's Prime Time, since the fryer was just for French Fries.

For dessert, both Brandon and I each ordered the Chef's Special Chocolate Brownie which we each ordered a la mode. I got non-dairy ice cream (Tofutti) and Brandon got regular dairy-filled ice cream. Both of our brownies were the same though and were marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. The brownie is also vegan too.

50's Prime Time Cafe has been making a house-made brownie for years and years with Namaste mix. And, I was so glad to see that they were still making this. Both Brandon and I really liked the brownie and the ice cream options we had. Our only complaint was that we should have asked for chocolate syrup. That would have made the brownie sundae complete! It's definitely a great for dessert, especially if you're looking for an allergy-friendly option that covers a lot of the top 8 common allergens.

If you want to get more information about our visit to 50's Prime Time Cafe, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Have you been to 50's Prime Time Cafe? What was your experience dining there?

1/29/21 1/29/21

Tiffins Dinner Review

Tiffins, located at Disney's Animal Kingdom, is a signature dining location that serves international cuisine inspired by the explorations and adventures of Disney Imagineers. Opening in 2016, both Brandon and I have been wanting to eat at this restaurant for a long time now. We finally decided to make a reservation and enjoy an early evening dinner there before the park closed at 5 p.m.

Dinner at Tiffins

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a late afternoon seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closed at 5 p.m.). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. The last few months, we have had some pretty big challenges using the app to check-in, but we easily checked in with a cast member at Tiffins.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Resort, Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian, and Riviera Resort along with all of the theme parks. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

Tiffins is inspired by the globetrotting experiences of Disney Imagineers and animal experts who helped build and shape the Animal Kingdom theme park.

Tiffins - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant is named after Tiffins which are little tiered lunch containers are used in many different countries, and most notably, India.

Tiffins / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In fact, when you first enter the restaurant, you'll see several different kinds of beautifully decorated Tiffins on display.

Tiffins - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The exterior of the restaurant features some wood carvings and is very welcoming. It's almost as if you're entering a lodge.

Tiffins - Interior Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Inside the restaurant's lobby area features a beautiful wood carved map of the world. It really lets you know that you're about to enjoy a global journey through design and food!

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

There are several unique dining rooms in the restaurant. Each honors the spirit and design of Africa, Asia, and animals from around the world. We were in a room inspired by Africa, and as you can see there were some pretty amazing design elements and pieces of art all around the interior.

I especially loved the tiles and decorative woodwork that you could see as the basis for buildings, sidewalks, and furniture. Though not in our photos, there was also a small baobob tree on the wall that was actually used by Imagineers when designing the park.

Here is a view of one of the other dining rooms -- more inspired by Asia. While there are some similar design elements, I love how unique each dining area is. There was a lot to look at and the restaurant's aesthetics definitely made it feel like even more of a special dining experience.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Tiffins does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can, of course, always speak to a chef when you dine at Tiffins too to discuss different options, modifications, and any questions that you might have.

On our visit, we not only looked at the allergy-friendly menu, but we also talked directly to a chef. The chef came to the table to discuss options and was very helpful and going through the ingredients on sauces and concerns regarding shared fryers and cross-contamination for products. We were both really impressed at how detailed the chef was when assisting us with our questions.

Both our server and the chef recommended the Tiffins Signature Bread Service. While the dish is normally only marked safe for Peanut/Tree Nut and Shellfish Allergies, the chef walked us through all the components and made versions safe for us.

For me, I was served a plate of papadums, which are crispy flatbreads made of chickpea flour. These are fried in a dedicated gluten free fryer and are also dairy free. But, they are fried in a shared fryer with fish, so they were not a safe option for Brandon. If you're vegan or vegetarian, you'll want to consider if you are OK with a shared fryer or talk to a chef about other options.

Both Brandon and I were able to eat the trio of dips served with the bread service. During our visit this included: Red Pepper Hummus, Spicy Coriander Yogurt, and Ginger-Pear Chutney. All of the dips were gluten free, fish/shellfish free, chicken & turkey free, cabbage free, and peanut/tree nut free. Both the hummus and ginger-pear chutney were also dairy free and vegan. The yogurt, of course, contained dairy.

We absolutely loved all of the dips. The red pepper hummus was flavorful and nice -- though a pretty standard hummus. The ginger-pear chutney was super flavorful with some nice ginger flavor and very inspired by the flavors of fall. The coriander yogurt was also good but quite spicy. If you're not a spicy foods fan, you might want to proceed with caution when eating the yogurt! Both of us thought our favorite of the three was the ginger-pear chutney.

Tiffins - Breads in Photo are NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW — Tiffins - Breads in Photo are **NOT** Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While I couldn't eat them, Brandon was given two of the other breads normally served with the bread service. This included a naan bread and a molasses pomegranate bread.

Brandon said the naan bread was nice and reminded him a lot of the naan from Sanaa. But, he was wowed by the molasses pomegranate bread and ate every last bite of it. It looked and smelled delicious, so if you can have gluten, this bread is sure to impress.

Having not been to Tiffins before, we couldn't resist some of the drinks there. Brandon opted for the Tempting Tigress, which includes a homemade tamarind syrup. This drink is also available at the Nomad Lounge too. Brandon absolutely loved this drink and said he would 100% order it again.

I decided to get a wine on this visit, particularly because Tiffins has a large collection of South African wines. I went with a South African Cabernet Sauvignon called "Tokara." The flavors were absolutely outstanding, and I would definitely get this wine again. It also paired beautifully with my entree.

Both Brandon and I ordered almost identical meals. At the recommendation of the chef and our sever, I ordered the Tamarind Braised Short Rib with Parsnip-Potato Puree, Cauliflower, Cipollini Onion, and Medjool Date Vinaigrette. This was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

This was one of the best meals that I have had at Disney in a long time. The short rib itself was super tender, rich, and flavorful. The sauce served with it was incredible, and there was just so much flavor in every bite. The milder parsnip-potato puree and vegetables all paired really well with the rich meat. I can't recommend this enough. It was so good. Although I want to go back and try other dishes at Tiffins, it would be hard to resist this dish on future visits!

Brandon got essentially the same dish, except his was served with grilled beef tenderloin instead. His dish was also safe for fish/shellfish, chicken & turkey, peanut/tree nut, and cabbage. Sauces are often challenging for Brandon, because they tend to contain chicken broth or stock. So, he was very excited to hear that the sauce served with this dish was veal stock based and that he could have it.

Like me, Brandon absolutely loved the flavors of this dish and everything about it. I think his only complaint was that he wished there were a bit more of the parsnip-potato puree. Other than that, it was a huge hit. And, Brandon said he would be interested in trying the short rib next time too after seeing what mine looked like.

After seeing the dessert menu and some interesting items on it, we couldn't resist getting dessert. I opted for the gluten free, dairy free & vegan dessert -- Passion Fruit Tapioca Creme with Chocolate Crumble, Citrus Fruits, and Coconut Creme. This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut Allergies.

This dish was not at all what I expected. But, it was really tasty. The tapioca was unlike any other tapioca pudding I've had. It was almost like boba balls in more of a jam than anything. The dessert was very citrusy, which I liked, and the coconut creme on top was outstanding. Overall, after such a rich meal it was nice to have something a bit lighter to round out the evening. I think I might want to try another type of dessert on our next visit, but I would recommend this dessert and would order it again.

Brandon ordered the South American Chocolate Ganache with Caramelized Banana, and Cocoa Nib Tuile. This dish was marked safe for Fish/Shellfish and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. It can also be modified to be gluten free by omitting the cake elements.

Brandon said this was extremely rich and fudgy. In fact, he could barely cut the dessert with a spoon and a knife when he was trying to eat it. So, if you like rich, dense, chocolate, you will probably enjoy this dish a lot. I don't think Brandon loved it, but he didn't hate it either. It was a very dark chocolate, which is not his favorite, so if you like dark chocolate this might be a great option for you.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Tiffins, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

We were both beyond impressed with both the food and the theme of Tiffins. The food options were interesting, unique, and really high-quality. We also really appreciated how attentive the chef and our server were to our special dietary needs and worked to ensure we had a safe and delicious meal. The restaurant itself is also beautifully designed and elegant -- making it a wonderful signature restaurant to enjoy a relaxed meal or special occasion at. We both recommend it highly and are looking forward to going back to eat at Tiffins again.

Have you been to Tiffins? What was your experience dining there?

11/7/20 11/7/20

Le Cellier Dinner Review

Le Cellier, located in the Canada Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase, is a signature table service restaurant that both Brandon and I haven't been to in years. We both have really enjoyed our meal experiences at Le Cellier over the years, but we haven't been in so long due to the hefty price of this steakhouse's meals. In September, during our mini-staycation at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, we decided to finally make a visit back to Le Cellier for a late afternoon/early evening dinner.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in September 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Le Cellier

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant several weeks before we dined there using the My Disney Experience app. The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We also utilized online restaurant check-in when we arrived at Le Cellier. Online check-in includes using your My Disney Experience app to check-in yourself. It’s super easy, and I hope Disney keeps this going forward too.

All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. Throughout Epcot, we did see many cast members cleaning, and there were many opportunities to sanitize, including hand washing stations and hand sanitizer stations throughout the park.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to Epcot and Animal Kingdom theme parks along with several of the Disney Resorts, including the Contemporary Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian Village Resort, and Riviera Resort. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

One of the things that we love most about Le Cellier is the cozy atmosphere. It's meant to resemble a wine cellar in a Canadian chateau. You'll notice that the moment you walk-up to the restaurant, where you'll see the entrance nestled below a sprawling chateau.

Le Cellier - Exterior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Even more impressive before you even walk into the restaurant is the area's recreation of Boutchart Gardens, located in British Colombia. The exterior really helps transport you to Canada.

As you enter the restaurant, the feelings of a wine cellar are ever present -- with beautiful wine bottles displayed, rich dark woods, and the subtly dimmed lighting. Everything about the theming really works.

Le Cellier - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Once seated, you'll notice some of the more elegant and elaborate features of the restaurant -- the beautiful woodwork. The colors of the wood are rich and dark, helping reinforce that cozy vibe. And, I absolutely love the beautiful metalwork edged above the wood the highlights cities and areas within Canada. In fact, if you look closely, you'll see that each section of the restaurant is broken up by Canadian provinces.

On our visit, we were seated in Ontario. I was so excited to see a tribute to Prince Edward Island, because one of my favorite book series from childhood was Anne of Green Gables.

It really is worth the time to take a look at the impressive handiwork throughout the restaurant. It's one of the things that makes Le Cellier's theme even better.

The Food

Like most restaurants at Disney World, Le Cellier does offer an allergy-friendly menu. But, I highly recommend speaking directly to a chef when you dine at Le Cellier. Chef Tony, who works here, is fantastic at accommodating and making amazing dishes that are safe for a variety of special dietary needs, if you ask!

Le Cellier / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, we spoke with Chef Tony, and he was able to make quite a few things for us that were either slightly modified or aren't listed on the menu -- like gluten free & vegetarian (and easily made dairy free and vegan) poutine!

Le Cellier - Montreal 75 Drink — Le Cellier / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Before we started our meal, Brandon and I did order drinks. I wanted to highlight the drink that I got -- the Montreal 75. Spirits can be tricky when you're gluten free. And while most medical research indicates that spirits distilled with gluten-containing grains are considered safe (unless they've had added flavors that have gluten added to them after distillation), they can still be an issue for many who have celiac disease.

I wanted to highlight my drink because it contains Dillon's Small Batch Gin produced in the Niagara Region in Canada and is made entirely from Niagara grapes and is not made with any gluten-containing grains. So, if you're a fan of gin drinks and are gluten free, this is a great option. Plus, the gin is really tasty and has a unique flavor that's really refreshing for a slightly different take on gin. I recommend this gin and the drink I had at Le Cellier -- which is essentially a twist on a French 75 -- highly.

Le Cellier - Whiskey Drink — Le Cellier / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon, ever the whiskey fan, got a whiskey drink and really enjoyed it too.

For our bread service, Chef Tony brought out Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread and extra virgin olive oil for me. It's always nice to know that you can get a dairy free or vegan butter option in most Disney-owned restaurants.

The Earth Balance worked perfectly with the Bloomfield Farms Gluten Free & Dairy Free Rolls I was given. Even better? Chef Tony brought me a container of maple sugar to add to my Earth Balance for a sweet and salty twist to bread service.

I have to admit, this might be one of the best bread service options I've had in a while. I absolutely loved the subtle, sweet flavors in the maple sugar on the warm gluten free & dairy free rolls. Definitely be sure to ask about the maple sugar when you dine at Le Cellier!

Le Cellier - Bread in this photo is NOT gluten free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW — Le Cellier - Bread in this photo is **NOT** gluten free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon was able to get the regular gluten-filled bread service. If you're nut free, of course, always speak with a chef to determine cross-contamination risks and your comfort level for consuming breads.

The bread service included a multi-grain roll, sourdough roll, and pretzel rolls. Of all three breads, Brandon said the pretzel bread was by far his favorite.

When we arrived at Le Cellier, I had a feeling that poutine was going to be off the table for me and Brandon -- primarily due to all of our special dietary needs. Imagine our surprise when Chef Tony said that we could get a poutine that was not only gluten free, but chicken & turkey free for Brandon's allergies. Though not listed on the menu, you can request a vegetarian (and easily made vegan and dairy free by swapping out the cheese for a DF option) poutine.

The version we received was made with a gluten free and vegetarian/vegan/dairy free gravy. While our version had a small amount of regular dairy-filled cheese on it, you can order it dairy free and vegan. The restaurant is currently using Violife gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and vegan cheese for those DF/vegan guests.

Goodness gracious was this poutine amazing. We were both expecting it to be tasty, but we were entirely unprepared at how good it would be. The gluten free, dairy free & vegan gravy was rich and had a depth of flavor that really surprised me. It had an almost meaty taste to it, and I think even the biggest of meat eaters would enjoy this.

Both Brandon and I devoured this dish quickly, and we both said we'd love to come back to Le Cellier for drinks and orders of poutine. It's just that good. If you're debating on an appetizer at Le Cellier, just order this poutine. You won't regret it!

Le Cellier - NY Strip — Le Cellier / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For our main entrees, I ordered a modified version of the USDA Prime New York Strip Steak. I was able to swap out the potatoes it normally comes with for the mushroom risotto usually served with the filet mignon. This entire dish was easily made gluten free & dairy free by swapping out the side dish.

The mushroom risotto usually contains cheese and butter, but those are added as finishing touches to the dish. So, you can easily get it gluten free & dairy free by omitting the cheese and butter. Easy peasy!

Overall, I can't say enough good things about the dish. The steak was cooked perfectly and was really well-seasoned. The chimichurri that comes with the steak was absolutely delicious. I also really enjoyed the mushroom risotto, which was super rich and creamy -- even without the dairy. This was definitely a solid dish that I would highly recommend to anyone who is gluten free & dairy free.

As a bonus, Chef Tony brought out a side dish of Brussels Sprouts, as he said I had to try them. And, like the poutine, I was absolutely blown away by this dish.

The Brussels Sprouts are gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and top 8 allergy-friendly. Made with maple syrup and a lot of roasting, the Brussels Sprouts were sweet, salty, and just perfection. I would 100% get these again. In fact, I'm not sure I could go to Le Cellier and NOT get them. They were that good.

Le Cellier - Filet — Le Cellier / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon's entree, he opted for the Filet Mignon. Like me, his dish was slightly modified. Instead of the risotto, he was able to get mashed potatoes with this dish. His dish was safe for his allergies: fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, chicken/turkey, and cabbage. It is also gluten free too.

Brandon also said his filet was perfectly cooked and that the mashed potatoes were excellent.

Le Cellier - Regular Mac & Cheese — Le Cellier / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Of course, Brandon loves gluten-filled macaroni & cheese, and he just couldn't pass up ordering a side of the version from Le Cellier. It contained 5 different types of cheeses, and Brandon raved at how good it was. You know it's high praise when Brandon says it's a must order after a few bites -- which he said with this version from Le Cellier!

If you want to get more information about our visit to Le Cellier, we did film our visit and included it in our Mini-Staycation video day on our YouTube channel.

Overall

While it's been many years since we've been to Le Cellier, Brandon and I were beyond impressed by our most recent visit. Not only was the atmosphere just as cozy and inviting as we remembered, but the food there was absolutely delicious. If you're a steak lover, you'll really enjoy the well-cooked, high-quality steaks at Le Cellier. If you're vegetarian, vegan, or not a steak fan, you'll find plenty of options and the ability to get customized dishes too. And, don't forget to order poutine on your visit. There are several other options, beyond the version we tried, and we can't recommend the poutine enough! Overall, we had a great time and really appreciated how accommodating the restaurant was for all of our special dietary needs. We'll definitely be back again sooner, rather than later.

Have you been to Le Cellier? What was your experience dining there?

9/5/20 9/5/20

Yak & Yeti Lunch Review

Yak & Yeti Restaurant, located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, reopened in July 2020 after the Disney Parks & Resorts closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brandon and I consider Yak & Yeti to be our favorite table service in the Animal Kingdom theme park for affordable meal options that work well for our special dietary needs. We hadn't been to both the theme park or Yak & Yeti since February 2020, so we were both really looking forward to this visit to the restaurant on our recent mini-staycation at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in August 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Lunch at Yak & Yeti

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we did not make a dining reservation for Yak & Yeti, as we were unable to find any reservation openings. The restaurant is owned and operated by Landry's, and on this visit, we utilized our Landry's Select Club membership ($25 one time purchase) that offers priority seating for guests. We've found this membership really worth it for us as locals, particularly when dining at Yak & Yeti and the other Landry's restaurants on Disney property (Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex Cafe). With this in mind, we inquired at the restaurant about wait times and priority seating and were pleasantly surprised to be able to get a walk-up priority seating with a very short wait.

Yak & Yeti itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. Seating was modified to offer social distancing, and we noticed hand sanitizer available for use in the lobby of the restaurant. Unlike the Disney owned restaurants that we've experienced in the resorts, we were not required to have temperature checks. However, we both assumed this was because we had to have temperature checks to enter the theme park itself. Since this is currently (at the time of writing this review) the only theme park restaurant we've been to, we're not sure if this is standard across the parks and restaurants.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several Disney Resorts, including the Contemporary Resort, Old Key West Resort, and Riviera Resort. We have also only been to Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

We've written a lot about the theme of Yak & Yeti Restaurant. Located in the fictional area known as Anandapur, which is inspired by Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, and Thailand. You can see a lot of this inspiration in the Yak & Yeti Restaurant itself.

Yak & Yeti - Restaurant Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Perhaps our biggest recommendation for those guests dining at Yak & Yeti is to look around at all of the decor. We have been told that much of the decor is authentic or is a reproduction of authentic artifacts.

Yak & Yeti - Restaurant Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We especially love sitting on the second floor where you can get incredible views of the Asia section of the Animal Kingdom (if you're lucky enough to sit by the windows) and get a chance to see a lot of the beautiful decor.

The second floor, in particular, always feels very well decorated with a lot of unique and interesting artifacts. I also love how the seating includes mismatched chairs and beautiful wooden designs.

As you can see by the photo on this visit, social distancing seating was in place at Yak & Yeti -- with signs on tables currently unavailable for use.

The Food

Because Yak & Yeti Restaurant is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, the do not offer the standard allergy-friendly menu that you see at many Disney owned restaurants. They do offer a gluten-sensitive and allergy-friendly menu that guests can review along with the ability to speak directly with a chef -- which I highly recommend.

Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We have learned throughout our visits that the gluten-sensitive menu is a great starting point but does list options that are not safe for those with celiac disease (such as French Fries that are made in a shared fryer).

If you have celiac disease or food allergies, it is always advised to speak directly to a chef. We have found that the chefs there take special dietary needs very seriously and have always gone above and beyond to accommodate us so that we can enjoy a safe meal. I also recommend looking at the regular Yak & Yeti menu, as many dishes may be able to be easily modified for special dietary needs.

On this visit, I chose to order the Grilled Salmon brushed with Garlic Ginger Butter served with Jasmine Rice and Stir-Fry Seasonal Vegetables and a side of gluten free soy sauce (tamari) which is gluten free but does contain dairy. If you are dairy free, the only modification in this dish is to omit the garlic ginger butter on the salmon -- otherwise, the vegetables, rice, and GF soy sauce are all great GFDF options.

This is one of my go-to dishes at Yak & Yeti for something that is filling, tasty, but not overly heavy. I always love the flavors of the grilled fish and the stiry-fry veggies are always so delicious too. This is definitely a dish that I will continue to get again and again.

Brandon ordered the Lo Mein, which normally comes with chicken or shrimp. Because Brandon has both a fish/shellfish allergies and a rare allergy to chicken & turkey -- he was able to get beef in his Lo Mein instead.

Brandon is also allergic to cabbage, so the chef ensured that they did not include Bok Choy in his dish. In addition, if you have a fish/shellfish allergy, do speak with a chef, as they usually have to adjust the sauce normally used in the Lo Mein. Usually, they make Brandon's noodles with gluten free soy sauce to ensure there are no issues with his allergies. All in all this dish is made to be safe for fish/shellfish, peanuts, cabbage, hazelnut, and chicken & turkey allergies.

This is Brandon's must order anytime that we go to Yak & Yeti. He has tried other dishes, like steak, at the restaurant. But, overall, he the noodles are by far his favorite dish. If you like noodles, this is a great option.

As an aside, I have also ordered the Lo Mein here before. The noodles are rice-based, and like Brandon's version, they will use GF soy sauce in place of their standard Lo Mein sauce. So, if you're gluten free and dairy free -- this is another good option to choose too.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Yak & Yeti, we did film our visit and included it in our Mini-Staycation video day 1 on our YouTube channel.

Overall

Yak & Yeti Restaurant continues to be our top table service restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom. We absolutely love the decor, the special dietary needs options, and the chefs who have always gone above and beyond to help us enjoy safe meals. We were so glad to dine there after so many months of not being able to and look forward to whenever we get to go back to the restaurant again.

Have you been to Yak & Yeti Restaurant? What was your experience dining there?

9/4/20 9/4/20

Kona Cafe Dinner Review

Kona Cafe, located at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, reopened in July 2020 after the Disney Parks & Resorts closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kona Cafe is one our favorite resort table service restaurants for a reasonably priced and delicious special dietary needs safe meal. So, Brandon and I were thrilled to be able to finally get back to the restaurant for a meal when we went in August 2020.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in August 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Kona Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made a last minute reservation on the same day that we dined. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a 8:30 p.m. seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closed at 9 p.m.). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We also utilized online restaurant check-in when we arrived at Kona Cafe. Online check-in includes using your My Disney Experience app to check-in yourself. It's super easy, and I hope Disney keeps this going forward too.

The Polynesian Village Resort itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. In addition, there were many portable hand sanitizer stations for guests to use. We also saw cast members regularly cleaning surfaces and restrooms throughout our visit. The resort itself was fairly quiet — making social distancing very easy. The restaurant was a little busier than expected (it is currently the only table service restaurant open in the resort), but the tables were well spaced out to provide social distancing.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Contemporary Resort, Old Key West Resort, and Riviera Resort. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

Kona Cafe has Polynesian inspired decor. The restaurant decor hasn't been updated in many years, so the restaurant theme does feel a bit on the dated side. Still, there's a lot of charm and nostalgia for me in this restaurant.

Kona Cafe - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Kona is located on the second floor of the main building at the Polynesian Village Resort and is open to the second floor lobby area. It's a good spot to watch other guests walk by as they head onto the monorail and other Disney destinations.

Kona Cafe - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant is definitely very bright and cheerful. There's a lot of seating options including standard tables and booths with plush seats.

During our visit, we both agreed that we felt in terms of the seating that the front area of the restaurant, with the booths and plusher seating, seemed to be more of a challenge for social distancing. We were seated in the far back of the restaurant and felt the spacing there was definitely more comfortable for our personal preference.

We did also dine at one of the last seatings of the evening, so your mileage may vary on seating and capacity depending on the time that you visit.

The Food

Like most restaurants at Disney World, Kona Cafe does offer an allergy-friendly menu. We were also told by our server that we could speak with a chef at any time. As far as protocols and offerings, we found the restaurant to be just as accommodating as they are during normal times.

The only interesting part about our visit was that the allergy-friendly menu that we were sent by a reader from the week before was different than the one that we received on our visit. So, on whatever visit you have to a Disney restaurant, be aware that the menus can change depending on supplies and availability. For the most part, the biggest changes we have seen in the past few months is that restaurants are slowly adding more dishes back to their menus, which is great news.

To start our meal, Brandon and I were served the Bloomfield Farms brand Allergy-Friendly dinner rolls. These are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, nut free, and vegan. We were also served regular butter, but the restaurant does offer Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread, as well.

We have had these rolls at pretty much every Disney restaurant that we've dined at this summer. So far, Kona Cafe was the restaurant that did the worst on heating these rolls up well, but overall, we enjoy the flavors of these rolls and love having them as an allergy-friendly option whenever we dine out at Disney.

Brandon wasn't initially a fan of these rolls, but he has come to enjoy them a lot -- especially if they are well-heated.

For my entree, I asked if I was able to get the Gluten Free and Dairy Free Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry that had been on the allergy-friendly menu the previous week (but wasn't on the menu when we visited). I was glad to hear that this was not an issue and easy to accommodate.

The dish included rice noodles, grilled chicken, lots of veggies, and gluten free teriyaki sauce. Overall, I really enjoyed this dish, especially because they used the GF teriyaki sauce that is normally served at 'Ohana. So, I totally had 'Ohana vibes at our meal.

My only slight criticism was that the stir-fry was heavily sauced. I probably would have cut the sauce in half as it was a little too much sauce for my taste (and I am a huge fan of sauces!). I would definitely get this again if it's still on the menu the next time we visit.

Kona Cafe - Pork Belly Noodle Bowl — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon's entree, he ordered his favorite dish at Kona Cafe -- the Pork Belly Noodle Bowl. It is marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. They also swapped the broth out and used vegetable broth instead to make this dish chicken & turkey free. And, they also made sure to not include bok choy, as Brandon is also allergic to cabbage.

If you have read any of our other reviews of Kona Cafe, you know just how much Brandon loves this noodle bowl. It's a must on any visit to Kona for him.

The other dish that Brandon always orders at Kona Cafe is the Mashed Potatoes. Normally, you can order a large side of these. But, on this visit, Brandon was served a small bowl -- as the potatoes aren't currently on the menu (but were available that night the the short ribs entree).

Creamy, rich, and super tasty -- the mashed potatoes at Kona Cafe are a great gluten free, fish/shellfish free, and peanut free side dish.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Kona Cafe and the Polynesian Village Resort, check out our vlog that we recorded on our YouTube channel.

Overall

Kona Cafe is always a must-visit restaurant for us at the Disney Resorts. It's a restaurant that we visit again and again for solid special dietary needs food options, delicious meals, and reasonable prices. We are hoping that it remains open to guests during the upcoming refurbishment of the resort too, because would hate to miss out on this great restaurant for a year.

Have you been to Kona Cafe? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

8/3/20 8/3/20

The BOATHOUSE Dinner Review

The BOATHOUSE is one of our go-to table service restaurant locations whenever we want to dine in Disney Springs. We have always enjoyed their special dietary needs accommodations and terrific meals. On this occasion, we had an impromptu dinner at The BOATHOUSE during a visit to Disney Springs in early June after it had reopened after it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, we'll not only share our meal experience, we'll also explore how the restaurant handled social distancing and other safety measures during our visit.

*This post contains a dining review that took place in June 2020 after Disney Springs reopened after the closure related to COVID-19. It includes information about gluten free options, in addition to dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at The BOATHOUSE

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we did not make a dining reservation at The BOATHOUSE, but were able to get a walk-up seating due to low-crowds and attendance when we went to Disney Springs. You can still make dining reservations via the My Disney Experience, DisneyWorld.com, and Open Table. We have heard that Disney Springs is a bit busier now, so reservations are recommended.

In terms of safety protocols, the restaurant not only had social distancing markers outside the restaurant, but inside the restaurant, tables were greatly reduced with different color table cloths on some tables to indicate more than 6 feet apart (and which were not used to seat guests). All cast members wore masks.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have not been back to Disney Springs, so be sure to check with the restaurant and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

We love the theme of The BOATHOUSE. It's decidedly nautical, and we love everything about it.

The BOATHOUSE - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our visit, you can see that while this restaurant did still have guests, it wasn't too busy. This photos gives you a good idea of the restaurant's theme too with the neat amphicars that you can ride in along with a giant boat above the restaurant's entrance.

The BOATHOUSE - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While we had one table with people near us (the table is shown above) for about the first 5-10 minutes of our meal, we did not have any other guests nearby for most of our dining experience. It was not only very reassuring from a safety perspective, but it made for some great photos, as well.

We were seated in the dining room at the very far end of the restaurant. Brandon loves this room, as he says it reminds him of many restaurants from the 1980s and 1990s, with dark wood features and unique light fixtures.

Here's a more expansive shot of the dining room. And, as you can see, there was literally no one in there by the time we were done with our meal.

There are a lot of other wonderful dining areas in The BOATHOUSE. We both love how each dining room is different in theme and decor. Here's a photo from another dining room. You can see the giant nautical artwork along with lighter colored chairs too.

The Food

Though The BOATHOUSE is not owned and operated by the Disney Company and does not carry an allergy-friendly menu, we have always been impressed by how well they can accommodate guests with special dietary needs. Because we were visiting just a few weeks after Disney Springs had reopened, we weren't sure how plentiful the food options would be or if any protocols had changed.

We were both pleasantly surprised to see the same protocols in place and offerings too. The menu was slightly reduced, but both Brandon and I noted that it was still fairly large. We had the option to speak with a manager or a chef, which was great.

The BOATHOUSE - Gluten Free Dinner Roll — The BOATHOUSE / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of the biggest concerns that I have heard from other Disney guests about the reopening has been whether or not Disney and non-Disney owned restaurants would still still have special dietary needs products. I am happy to report that at The BOATHOUSE, we were still able to get their allergy-friendly rolls with no issues.

This roll is essentially their gluten free & dairy free bun (I believe Udi's brand), so it's nothing fancy. But, I was so glad to be offered this both as a starter and if I wanted a sandwich. The only slight negative on this visit is that it wasn't heated very well.

The BOATHOUSE / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon and I decided that since this was our first dining experience in a restaurant in nearly 3 months that we would get whatever we wanted for our meal. We decided that we wanted an appetizer, and we ordered the Wedge Salad to split. This dish was made to be safe for gluten/wheat, fish/shellfish, peanut, cabbage, hazelnut, and chicken & turkey allergies. If you have other needs, like dairy free, there are some other great salad options that can be made dairy free too.

We both absolutely loved this salad. And, can you believe that the photo above is only half a portion of it?! The manager offered to split the salad for us, and we were both shocked when it arrived as the salads were huge. I will give credit where credit is due. The BOATHOUSE does not skimp on portions! Both of us agreed that we'd definitely split this salad again for its fresh flavor.

This is a terrible photo of the fish tacos that I ordered, as I somehow managed to forgot to take a photo at the restaurant (and had to screenshot the image from our YouTube video). The dish can be made gluten free by omitting the side of tortilla chips (because they are made in a shared fryer). If you're dairy free, ask them to omit the crema.

While the fish in the tacos was outstanding, the overall tacos were just OK. I absolutely loved the old version of these fish tacos, which I ordered regularly. This version was good but couldn't compare to the amazingness of the original fish tacos. It definitely felt like the tacos were missing something. Next visit, I would order something else.

The BOATHOUSE - Steak & Potatoes — The BOATHOUSE / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon went with a classic steak, which came with steamed baby red potatoes that were tossed in a parsley butter and Old Bay seasoning. Brandon said that both the steak and the potatoes were outstanding, and he was very pleased with his meal choice. This dish was made safe for fish/shellfish, peanut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies. This should also be gluten free or easily made GF too.

If you're a steak fan, The BOATHOUSE has excellent options, so we always recommend them if you're not a fan of seafood or have seafood allergies.

The BOATHOUSE - Mac & Cheese is NOT gluten free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW — The BOATHOUSE - Mac & Cheese is **NOT** gluten free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

A must have on any visit for Brandon is the gluten-filled macaroni & cheese. The portion is beyond huge, and Brandon loves how cheesy this mac & cheese is. It's definitely a sharing dish, so keep that in mind! We actually took leftovers home of this because he couldn't finish it.

As a side note, I've heard several reports of gluten free guests being able to get gluten free mac & cheese at The BOATHOUSE. I might have to ask about this whenever we visit next to learn more!

If you're curious about our visit to The BOATHOUSE and Disney Springs and want to see more, check out our vlog from this visit. We shared highlights from Disney Springs along with our meal experience too.

Overall

The BOATHOUSE continues to be a great option if you're visiting Disney Springs. On this visit, we both enjoyed our meals and were pleasantly surprised by how well the restaurant handled safety protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Add in excellent special diets accommodations, and it's definitely a location we'll continue to visit for a great and safe meal.

Have you been to The BOATHOUSE? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

5/22/20 5/22/20

Cookie's BBQ Lunch Review on Castaway Cay

Cookie's BBQ located on Castaway Cay is the main restaurant on Disney's private island. There are two other dining locations: Cookie's Too and Serenity Bay BBQ that also provide guests with meals during their visit on Castaway Cay. On our recent cruise in January 2020, we enjoyed a lunch at Cookie's BBQ, which is the recommended location for all guests with special dietary needs (because it's the location that accommodates pre-ordered meals). We always look forward to a BBQ lunch at Cookie's!

*This gluten free dining experience took place in January 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.

Lunch at Cookie's BBQ

Atmosphere

Any day at Castaway Cay is a great one (in my opinion), and on our visit, the skies were clear and it was a beautiful sunny day.

Cookie's BBQ Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Bright and cheery, Cookie's BBQ is always an inviting place to enjoy lunch. I love the signs and details that let you know your meal at Cookie's BBQ is all about the barbecue food.

Cookie's BBQ - Fresh Fruit Stand / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant features many different buffet style stations. I especially love the fruit station which features just about every fruit you can think of from grab and go options, like apples & bananas, to freshly sliced fruit like papaya and pineapple.

Every aspect of Cookie's BBQ is bright and inviting. And, you'll be ready to dig in to great BBQ food when you smell the grills going at Cookie's BBQ too!

The Food

Cookie's BBQ typically does not offer an allergy-friendly menu; however, on our most recent cruise, we were presented with a gluten free and dairy free menu the night before we arrived at Castaway Cay that featured many items available at Cookie's BBQ. In addition to the items listed, you can also request other items like French fries made in a dedicated fryer too!

We pre-ordered several items, including our favorite burgers and fries combo. We were also excited to pre-order some desserts, which haven't been as easy to order on Castaway Cay on previous cruises.

Cookie's BBQ / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When we arrived at Cookie's BBQ, we went to the station where you talk to a coordinator about your pre-order. It's usually in the middle of the restaurant area. If you're not sure where to go, as a cast member! They're always happy to direct you.

Once our pre-order was confirmed, Brandon went and found a picnic table, and I picked up some fresh fruit from the fruit station. I don't mind getting fruit from the station, because it's completely removed from the regular buffet and only contains fruit. But, you can always request fruit to be brought with your pre-order too.

I don't know what it is, but the fresh fruit on Disney Cruise Line, and especially at Castaway Cay, is always so fresh. Pineapple is always a must, and it never fails to disappoint! So good!

Our pre-order arrived, and we didn't waste any time digging in. Both Brandon and I got burgers and fries. The burgers are served on a gluten free, dairy free, peanut/tree nut free, egg free, and vegan Ener-G bun. While it's not our favorite, I'm always glad we have a bun option. The burgers can be made gluten free and dairy free by omitting the cheese; or, you can add cheese if you do not have an allergy or can tolerate it.

Fun fact! Only guests with special dietary needs can get fries on Castaway Cay. They are a pre-order item only, and a very special treat to get when you're on the island. We always enjoy them lots and are super grateful that they offer guests with special dietary needs this option!

For dessert, we were served a Namaste chocolate cake with fresh fruit. This was gluten free, dairy free, egg free, peanut/tree nut free, and vegan. While I usually love Namaste cake, for some reason this one wasn't very good.

We both agreed that the cake was very rubbery and hard to chew. I'm not sure if it was over-baked, sat too long, or had some other issue with the replacement ingredients to make it allergy-friendly. All the desserts we had the ship that were top 8 allergy free were fantastic, so we figured this was just a weird fluke. But, I'm so glad to see Disney Cruise Line step up their game with lots of additional options!

If you want to see our visit to Castaway Cay in video form, check out our vlog, which includes our lunch review of Cookie's BBQ!

Overall

Cookie's BBQ is always such a fun tradition for us for lunch whenever we visit Castaway Cay. The BBQ vibe always feels just right for being on the island, and you can't beat burgers and fries and fresh fruit! There are also a lot of other options that we didn't get on this visit, but you can read some of our older reviews for options too. We can't wait til our next cruise and visit to Castaway Cay and Cookie's BBQ for delicious food in an island setting.

Have you been to Cookie's BBQ on Castaway Cay? What did you get when you dined there?

5/13/20 5/13/20

Homecomin’ Kitchen Dinner Review

Homecomin' Kitchen, located in Disney Springs, is one of those restaurants that I rarely go to. Not because it's not good. But, because it's so popular that it's hard to get a reservation or be able to dine here as a "walk-up." Brandon and I have tried to eat at Homecomin' nearly a half a dozen times without success. On this visit, we stopped by in January later in the evening and were pleasantly surprised that the walk-up wait time was only 20-30 minutes. So, we decided it was finally time to have a meal there together, because while I had been there several times, Brandon had never eaten there.

Dinner at Homecomin' Kitchen

Atmosphere

Homecomin' Kitchen's theme is decidedly Florida Southern. There's lots of bright colors, cozy chairs, and plenty of Southern hospitality.

Homecomin' Kitchen - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I especially like all of the wood throughout the restaurant. The cheery decor is both rustic and chic.

Homecomin' Kitchen - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I also the cozy chairs at the tables. It feels very welcoming and inviting. If I had one complaint, it's that the tables are entirely too close together with the cozy chairs.

We were seated at a table really close to others and in a spot that seemed to be causing issues with servers moving through with food and drinks. If you have any specific seating preferences, like a booth or corner, it's good to let the Homecomin' Kitchen team know ahead of time.

The lighting fixtures and murals are some of the best decor features of Homecomin' Kitchen. Both Brandon and I really loved the potato sack lined chandelier in the middle of the restaurant.

There are so many great nods to Florida and local features -- including this beautifully crafted wooden table. Overall, the theme of the restaurant really is very inviting.

The Food

Homecomin' Kitchen has become so popular -- mostly because of its Southern and Florida local fare. As a gluten free and dairy free guest, I would recommend going to another restaurant, as this location is very dairy heavy (though there are a few dishes that are options). How and what they can accommodate will definitely depend on your special dietary needs.

Because Homecomin' Kitchen is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. However, some of the menu notes items that are gluten free (as is). And, you'll also be able to speak directly with a manager to talk through options. On this visit, the manager (whose name I have forgotten) was fantastic at working with us to ensure both us had a great and safe meal.

Homecomin' Kitchen / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my meal, I opted to order the Country Club with grilled chicken, topped with white cheddar, pecan-smoked bacon, red jalapeño jelly, lettuce & tomato served on an Udi's gluten free bun with a side of mashed potatoes. This dish was gluten free but contained dairy. Guests can order this gluten free by omitting the cheese and choosing a different side dish.

Overall, the sandwich was very good. The chicken was very flavorful, and I love the restaurant's pecan-smoked bacon. I also really loved the red jalapeño jelly, which gave the sandwich a sweet and spicy kick. The mashed potatoes (if you can have dairy) and rich and creamy and quite tasty.

I'd get this entree again, though next time I might get a dairy free side like collard greens or Southern slaw. Because the restaurant doesn't have a dedicated fryer, you are a bit more limited on options at the restaurant.

Homecomin' Kitchen - Mac & Cheese in this Photo is NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW — Homecomin' Kitchen - Mac & Cheese in this Photo is **NOT** Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Art Burger which came with two beef patties topped with American cheese, Art's special sauce, tomato-bacon jam, lettuce, tomato, onion & pickles. Somehow neither Brandon or I could find a picture of the burger. I don't know if we forgot to take a photo, which is possible, because his meal came out a little later than mine.

Because of Brandon's allergies to fish/shellfish and chicken & turkey, the manager recommended that he order a burger and that the kitchen cook it in a pan to avoid cross-contamination. We were both really impressed that the manager was proactive and took extra steps to ensure Brandon's safety. Unfortunately, something happened during the prep process, as they put chips on his plate. The chips weren't safe for either of us due to a shared fryer, so the manager had the kitchen re-make Brandon's burger. We were so grateful for this and really appreciative of the manager keeping a close eye on our meals.

In between, the manager brought Brandon a plate of macaroni & cheese so that he could enjoy some food while we waited for his burger (and so my food didn't get cold). He also came back several times and when Brandon said how much he loved the mac & cheese, the manager actually gave us a to-go package of it to heat up at home since we had to wait for Brandon's burger. That was another nice touch, and I was glad to see the Homecomin' Kitchen team going above and beyond during our meal. And, Brandon was pretty happy with at home mac & cheese too!

Overall

Both of us enjoyed our meals, despite the slight hiccup with Brandon's meal. Both of us agreed that it's not our favorite place at Disney Springs, but that we liked it a lot. I don't think there's a ton of variety for either of us as special dietary needs guests. But, if we're craving some Southern cooking, it's a nice spot for a meal. I also really enjoy the brunch at Homecomin' Kitchen too.

Have you been to Art Smith's Homecomin' Kitchen? What did you order when you dined there?

5/11/20 5/11/20

Regal Eagle Smokehouse Dinner Review

A salute to all foods, but mostly BBQ. That's what we were looking forward to with the newly opened Regal Eagle Smokehouse in the America Adventure Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase. Brandon and I had been both excited and a little worried to see what was in store for this quick service location that was once Liberty Inn. And, about a week after opening, we had a chance to check it out.

*This gluten free and dairy free dining experience took place in February 2020. It includes information about fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free option too.

Dinner at Regal Eagle Smokehouse

Atmosphere

Both Brandon and I had minimally seen photos from blogs and other Disney outlets about what the newly refurbished quick service location (now rethemed to a Muppets BBQ restaurant) looked like.

Regal Eagle Smokehouse - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because Regal Eagle Smokehouse is located in the American Adventure Pavilion, it has a slightly colonial feel to it. The building's exterior really hasn't changed much. But, I do love the very regal sign featuring the one and only Sam Eagle himself.

Regal Eagle - Entrance Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The entrance has changed slightly, in that there is a to-go window for drinks and snacks next to the main entrance. Everything is decidedly patriotic with lots of flags and colonial inspired decor.

Regal Eagle - Smoker / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because Regal Eagle Smokehouse is a BBQ themed restaurant, there's a giant smoker near the entrance. I've heard mixed reports on whether this is actually functional or not. Based on our visit, I think Brandon and I both agreed that this is more of an ambiance smoker and not a real functioning meat smoker.

Regal Eagle - Interior Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Inside the restaurant, there are subtle nods to the Muppets. You'll see Sam Eagle in a variety of locations along with some Muppet themed signs and decor here and there. It's definitely much more understated with Muppet theming than I expected.

Regal Eagle - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Even thought the restaurant is no longer Liberty Inn, there are a lot of details that make me feel a little nostalgic for the older version of this quick service location. I do love all the little details and nostalgic nods.

Regal Eagle - Sam Eagle Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As I mentioned, the Muppets are definitely present in the Regal Eagle Smokehouse but really subtly so. This just might be the most Muppety thing in the whole restaurant!

Regal Eagle / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I do recommend if you're dining at Regal Eagle to take a bit of time to look around. There's a lot of great features and details in the restaurant's retheming.

The Food

Of course, the main reason we went to Regal Eagle Smokehouse was the food! I had seen the allergy-friendly menu prior to visiting the restaurant, and I was super excited about all of the options.

In addition to the allergy-friendly menu, I do recommend speaking directly to a coordinator or manager to discuss options. We had a lot of questions on our first visit about dedicated fryers, cross-contamination, and dedicated toasters. The manager on duty was very helpful and gave us a lot of information.

A few details we learned at the time of our visit (and always subject to change) is that the location has a small dedicated toaster for allergy-friendly garlic toast. This is removed from the main kitchen area to avoid cross-contamination.

We also learned that the restaurant does not have a dedicated allergy-friendly fryer; however, the French fries are the only things fried in their fryer. That being said, the manager assured us she would fry a new batch and use fresh tongs and containers to get fries for us to avoid cross-contamination. So, be sure to ask a manager about this and use your own judgement when consuming fries. We actually watched the manager prepare all of our food and were glad to see how cautious she was at preparing things safely.

Another bit of information we learned was cross-contamination with smoked meats for those with specific meat allergies. Because Brandon is allergic to chicken, the manager recommended he get a burger instead as all of the meats are cooked in the same smoker. So, if you have any kind of meat allergy, you'll want to consider the smoked meats.

Regal Eagle Smokehouse / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see, we ordered a bounty of BBQ! Everything you see on this platter is gluten free, and the only item that contains dairy is the cheeseburger that Brandon ordered. It was kind of amazing how gluten free & dairy free friendly the entire menu was.

Brandon's entree was the gluten free cheeseburger on allergy-friendly garlic toast served with French fries. He said it was actually a pretty good burger but that this was mostly due to the allergy-friendly garlic toast. We both agreed that the garlic toast was beyond amazing. It's made with Bloomfield Farm's allergy-friendly bread, and topped with Earth Balance. It's so good. Greasy, but totally worth it!

I wanted to try several things. First up, was the kids grilled chicken drumstick which came with fries and coleslaw. The coleslaw was not only gluten free & dairy free, but it was also vegan. At first I wasn't a huge fan, but I have to admit the coleslaw actually grew on me throughout the meal. It was actually nice to add on top of the brisket sandwich I ordered.

Up next was the beef brisket sandwich served on allergy-friendly garlic toast served with fries and BBQ baked beans. We had so many fries, so Brandon definitely ate a lot of them while I tried out the other sides. The BBQ baked beans were my least favorite of all the items we ordered. I am not a huge fan of baked beans with a strong ketchup flavor, and the brisket in the beans was very fatty and unpleasant. Next time, I'd skip those.

The beef brisket sandwich, on the other hand, was outstanding. This was the hands down best thing I ordered at Regal Eagle Smokehouse, and I'd definitely get it again. The beef was slightly dry, but by adding coleslaw and BBQ sauce, it would be perfect. As an aside, all of the BBQ sauces at Regal Eagle Smokehouse are gluten free. You'll want to check with a manager about the dairy free ingredients and to get safe versions from the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination.

If you'd like to see our full review and initial reactions to the restaurant, check out our vlog review!

Overall

Both Brandon and I are really looking forward to going back to Regal Eagle Smokehouse again when the Disney Parks & Resorts re-open. We both really enjoyed the food there, and we were both impressed by the amount of gluten free & dairy free options there. It's a great addition to Epcot, especially for guests with special dietary needs!

Have you been to Regal Eagle Smokehouse? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

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?

2/17/20 2/17/20

Royal Palace Lunch Review on the Disney Dream

On our recent 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, Brandon and I had lunch on day 2 of our cruise at Royal Palace in between getting off the ship at Nassau, Bahamas and a bit of relaxation in the Senses Spa Rainforest Room. I had already enjoyed breakfast there earlier in the day, but I always look forward to lunch at Royal Palace.

Lunch at Royal Palace

Atmosphere

I mentioned this in another review, but one of the things that I truly love about eating at Royal Palace during the day is getting to really see and enjoy the restaurant. As you can see by this photo Brandon took, the restaurant is elegant and spacious.

Royal Palace - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Lunch at Royal Palace is currently offered from noon to 1:30 p.m. on the Disney Dream. Admittedly, we got there around 1 p.m. as we had been at the Rainforest Room relaxing just previously. I'm always surprised at how empty the restaurant can be during lunch. There were very few tables with guests, so we truly had a relaxing and chill lunch which was nice.

Royal Palace - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon and I did not pre-order our meal for lunch, so we talked through the options with our server team. Both of us have been to Royal Palace for lunch so many times that we have a pretty good idea what the options were. We both quickly ordered, then took in the atmosphere.

I love that at lunchtime you can get beautiful views of wherever you are docked. I loved the crystal blue Bahamas waters that we could see from the portholes near our table.

Royal Palace - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Here's a much better photo of the large dining area at Royal Palace. As you can see, there's lots of space and different kinds of seating options for guests and parties of all sizes.

The Food

Unlike dinner, there is no allergy-friendly menu offered at lunch. You can see some gluten free, dairy free, and vegetarian options marked on the regular lunch menu. And, you can always talk through the options with your server.

Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because we've been so many times, we both already knew what we wanted to eat. Neither one of us wanted a huge meal either, so we stuck with main entrees, dessert, and allergy-friendly rolls.

Up first, we were brought a bowl with lots of Ener-G allergy-friendly rolls. These are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, fish/shellfish free, peanut free, soy free, chicken & turkey free, and vegan. We both agreed that throughout our cruise, the DCL cast members did an excellent job heating the rolls every meal. When these rolls are well-heated, they are great!

For my entree, I ordered gluten free and allergy-friendly chicken tenders, which I had on our last cruise and loved. You can imagine my surprise and delight when I was served a kids plate version of the allergy-friendly chicken tenders. On our last cruise, I had a regular plate. I have to admit, this was a pretty fun way to enjoy my meal. They even gave me BBQ sauce in the shape of mouse ears too! How cute!

If you are craving gluten free and dairy free chicken tenders, I highly recommend ordering these. I forgot to ask what brand they're using (again!), but they are just fantastic. They're nice and crispy and crunchy -- just the way allergy-friendly chicken tenders should be. The steak fries I got were also very good, and of course, I made sure I ate all of my veggies too!

Royal Palace - GF Burger — Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered a cheeseburger, and on this visit, it was served on a gluten free bun. Essentially, he had a burger that was gluten free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and chicken & turkey free. While Brandon wasn't too keen on his gluten free bun (it wasn't well-heated and fell apart a bit), he did enjoy the burger and his fries.

For dessert, we were both given gluten free ice cream sundaes. Although I do eat dairy now, I do avoid certain kinds of dairy and limit my dairy when I can. I rarely eat any dairy-based ice cream, so I passed on this one. Brandon enjoyed it, but we both agreed we'd much prefer something else for dessert besides a sundae.

If you want to see and hear our initial thoughts on this dining experience, check out our Disney Cruise Line Vlog. We not only cover our dining experiences, but we also share some of our other cruising fun too!

Overall

Royal Palace is always an excellent option for a la carte lunch on the Disney Dream. Once I discovered that I can get allergy-friendly chicken tenders there, it quickly became a must-go to spot at least once on our cruise. Plus, we enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the ability to not feel rushed or overwhelmed when we dine there. It's definitely a location we'll go to again and again on our Disney Dream cruises.

Have you been to Royal Palace? What did you think of their lunch options?

2/17/20 2/17/20

Animator’s Palate Embarkation Lunch Review on the Disney Dream

Recently, we just returned from a wonderful 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream to celebrate my birthday. It was a great way to spend a long weekend, relaxing, and enjoying all that Disney Cruise Line has to offer. The Disney Dream currently departs from Port Canaveral, so a weekend getaway on DCL is a lot easier for us as Orlando locals. One of our favorite traditions whenever we board the Disney Dream is to get embarkation lunch. Currently, it's located at Animator's Palate.

Embarkation Lunch at Animator’s Palate

As guests with special dietary needs, both Brandon and I prefer dining at the a la carte embarkation lunch instead of going to the ship's buffet - Cabanas. That's because we feel like we can talk through the options and not feel like we're waiting forever for our meal. This method works well for us, but of course, if you do dine at the buffet, be sure to speak with a head server and chef to help ensure you have safe and delicious options. If you're curious about the process at Cabanas, check out my friend Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures blog posts about Cabanas on the Disney Cruise ships.

Atmosphere

I have to admit, that Brandon and I both find Animator's Palate to be our least favorite of the three main rotational dining options on the Disney Dream. This is a restaurant that you'll dine at at least once while you're aboard the Disney Dream. And, it's also open during embarkation lunch currently.

Animator's Palate - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of the reasons we don't like the restaurant as much is because it can get quite loud. To add to this, we generally find the combination of classic Disney animation with what is essentially Turtle Talk with Crush from Epcot into one restaurant a bit odd. While we don't hate the restaurant, we just don't love the atmosphere and food overall during main rotational dining meals.

Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

At embarkation lunch, we find the restaurant to be a little more relaxed, though on this visit, we both agreed it was a bit louder than it has been in the past.

Animator's Palate - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There are a lot of cute Disney touches throughout the restaurant. I do like the Mickey Mouse inspired chairs.

Animator's Palate - Carpet / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

And, I have to say I personally think my favorite part is the sparkly Disney-inspired carpet. I don't know why, but I just love it.

The Food

The Disney Dream introduced allergy-friendly dinner menus for each of the three main rotational dining options on the ship sometime in late 2019. We'll go into detail about these at our dinner, but it's important to know that they don't offer allergy-friendly menus at any other meal. This includes embarkation lunch.

Your server team will work to ensure you have safe options throughout your meal. We had a great experience at our last embarkation lunch when we cruised in May 2019 and knew we'd be fine this visit too.

Animator's Palate - GF Rolls — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

After we were seated, our server team noted our special dietary needs and quickly brought us some Ener-G rolls to start our meal. These are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and soy free. They are also vegan.

While I'm always served these rolls, it depends on the restaurant we're dining at and the regular bread served there for Brandon. Because of his peanut and hazelnut allergies, he is often brought Ener-G rolls too to help avoid cross-contamination. Both Brandon and I actually enjoy these rolls when they're well-heated. In this case, they definitely were, and they were a great way to start the meal.

One of Brandon's favorite things about the Disney Cruise Line is that he can usually enjoy the soups served in the restaurants. Because he's allergic to chicken & turkey, we always have to ask about the soup base to ensure it's vegetarian. Brandon loves soup, so it's always disappointing when he can't enjoy it. On this visit, he was able to get his two favorite soups on the Disney Dream, including this Potato Leek Soup.

We both ordered this as an appetizer. The soup is gluten free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and chicken & turkey free. It does, unfortunately, contain dairy. If you're dairy free, I do recommend either the smoked salmon appetizer or a side salad if you're dining at the a la carte Embarkation lunch.

Animator's Palate - Food in Photo is NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW — Animator's Palate - Food in Photo is **NOT** Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered a second appetizer as a back-up just in case the soup was not going to be safe for him. so, the restaurant brought him both. He ordered the Beef Empanada with Red Chimichurri. This was fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and chicken & turkey free. This contains gluten, so this is not an option that is safe for those who are gluten free.

For the most part, Brandon does enjoy this dish. He's ordered it before and found it to be tasty, though maybe not his favorite thing.

For my entree, I ordered the Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad. It can be made gluten free by omitting the croutons. The dish does contain dairy and fish, so if you have those special dietary needs, you'll want to avoid this one. If you can have dairy and are looking for something a bit lighter, I highly recommend this. It's definitely a nice easy-going lunch, and I never leave feeling too full when I order this at embarkation lunch.

Brandon got the Sliced Roasted Beef Sirloin with Double Baked Potato and Green Beans. This is a dish I've ordered in the past and one of the dishes, the servers almost always recommend to me as a gluten free option. This dish is gluten free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and chicken & turkey free.

This has been Brandon's go-to entree at the Embarkation Lunch for quite a while now, and it's definitely one he will be getting again. He's a big fan of the baked potato especially.

For dessert, I always get the Chocolate Marquise Bombe which is the restaurant's no sugar added dessert. I usually hate no sugar added desserts, but there's just something about this chocolate mousse. I find the flavors to be light, creamy, yet rich. I can definitely recommend this to guests who are gluten free and can have dairy.

Brandon usually gets the Welcome Aboard Ice Cream Sundae, but the servers brought him the Cookies n' Cream Cheesecake before we could even request dessert. He's not usually a big fan of cheesecake, so he said this was OK, but not amazing. This dish was safe for fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, and chicken & turkey allergies.

If you're interested in seeing and hearing our first impressions or want to see a bit of our cruising experience, check out our Disney Cruise Vlog that we did while we sailed on the Disney Dream. Day 1 includes this Embarkation Lunch and lots more!

Overall

While it may not be anything special in terms of the options, both Brandon and I really do enjoy the Embarkation Lunch at Animator's Palate on the Disney Dream. We love the relaxed atmosphere and the servers ability to help ensure we have a safe meal without feeling rushed or in the way like we do at Cabanas. We also really enjoy some of the standard dishes at the a la carte lunch. They make for a perfect way to begin any Disney Cruise.

Have you been on a Disney Cruise? Which do you prefer - a la carte lunch or buffet lunch during embarkation?

2/16/20 2/16/20

Yak & Yeti Dinner Review

Yak & Yeti is our go-to table service restaurant located in Disney's Animal Kingdom. While not owned and operated by the Disney Company, we've been pretty impressed over the years by this Landry's restaurant. Recently, we stopped by for dinner with one of our friends and to redeem my $25 Landry's Select Club birthday reward.

Dinner at Yak & Yeti

Atmopshere

Because we've been to Yak & Yeti a lot, I do have a ton of reviews on the blog where I go into a lot of detail about the theme. In this review, we'll take a look at it briefly.

Yak & Yeti - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Set in the Asia section of the Animal Kingdom, Yak & Yeti is perfectly themed and fits right into the fictional village of Anandapur. I especially love going here at night because it just looks so beautiful during this time of day.

Yak & Yeti - Entrance Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, we were with a friend, so I admit I didn't take a ton of photos. I don't think I've ever photographed the lobby area much. But, here it is. As you can see there weren't very many people there -- making it the perfect photo opportunity. I do love how the theming starts from the moment you step inside the restaurant.

Yak & Yeti - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We were seated on the first floor (the restaurant has two floors for seating), near the staircase. It was a little busy in this area, but as we enjoyed our meal, the restaurant did clear out quite a bit. I love the unique tables and chairs throughout Yak & Yeti.

Yak & Yeti - Stairs / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant is beautifully designed and decorated. I absolutely love the staircase to the second floor and the second floor seating area especially. Being seated so close to the stairs was definitely an interesting location to dine at!

The Food

Because Yak & Yeti isn't owned and operated by the Disney Company, they do not offer a traditional allergy-friendly menu. They do, however, have a gluten-sensitive / allergy-friendly menu. I highly recommend speaking directly to a chef any time you dine here, as many of the dishes on this menu may not be safe for those with celiac disease or those with allergies.

On this visit, we chatted with a chef who talked through the options. Since Brandon and I have eaten here a lot, we had a pretty good idea of what we wanted, which made it easy to discuss. Thankfully, I have found the restaurant to have a good amount of Asian-inspired options that are gluten free if you ask a chef about them.

On this visit, I didn't want anything super heavy. So, I decided to get the Atlantic Salmon which is grilled, brushed with garlic ginger butter and served with jasmine rice and sautéed seasonal vegetables. I was also able to get gluten free tamari on the side too. This dish is gluten free but contains dairy with the butter. If you're dairy free, the chef can omit the butter on the salmon -- everything else is dairy free.

Overall, I thought this was an excellent dish. It was exactly what I was craving that night. Nothing too heavy, but flavorful. The salmon was just slightly overcooked, but the flavors were great. I especially loved the sauteed vegetables, which were super yummy and well-cooked. This is definitely a dish I'd get again.

Brandon just about always gets his go-to -- the Beef Stir-Fry. It is made with rice noodles and gluten free tamari, so it's actually gluten free and dairy free on top of being fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free.

I've had variations of this dish too, and both Brandon and I are huge fans of this stir-fry. The chefs have been great at customizing the dish as needed too. I usually get bok choy in my stir-fry, but since it's a member of the cabbage family, they omit it for Brandon's. And, as you can see, they made sure in this version that Brandon had plenty of carrots, green onions and beef to round out the dish.

Overall

We always really enjoy our meals at Yak & Yeti. While it may not be everyone's favorite, we like it a lot for the variety of options we get and for something different. It's not that easy to get good gluten free Asian inspired fare out at a restaurant, so I really appreciate the offerings at Yak & Yeti. It's definitely a location we liked to visit when we can, and we always feel the chefs that we've encountered there have been excellent at accommodating our special dietary needs.

Have you been to Yak & Yeti? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

2/16/20 2/16/20

The Wave Lunch Review

The Wave, located at Disney's Contemporary Resort, is a favorite in our family. We love it for both breakfast and dinner, but it's not one we go to as much for lunch. Recently, my family came into town to celebrate my birthday, and we decided to try The Wave out again for lunch.

Lunch at The Wave

Atmosphere

I've written a lot of posts about The Wave, so I won't go into a lot of detail about the restaurant itself. I have a blog post from late in 2018 where I took a ton of photos and discussed that theming that you might be interested in if you're less familiar with the restaurant.

The Wave - Restaurant Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because the restaurant is inspired by the ocean and "waves," you'll find lots of touches throughout the restaurant from the moment you step in the restaurant. Somehow I forgot to take a photo of the entrance this visit, so here's a photo from a previous visit (in December with holiday decorations!)

The Wave - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see, there are waves everywhere you look in the restaurant -- even the chairs!

You'll even find those wave touches on the napkins in the restaurant too.

And, probably the most subtle of the wave touches is in the lighting fixtures.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, The Wave does offer an allergy-friendly lunch menu. Guests with special dietary needs can also always speak directly with a chef for additional questions that you might have too.

The Wave / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, both Brandon & I ordered fairly simple options -- both of which were listed on the allergy-friendly menu. For my lunch, I ordered the Grilled Chicken Sandwich which includes Herb Marinated Chicken Breast, Avocado, Applewood-smoked Bacon, Lemon Ailoi, Lettuce, and Tomato on an Allergy-Friendly Bun. This is marked safe for gluten/wheat, fish/shellfish, milk, and peanut/tree nut allergies. It was also served with waffle fries made in a dedicated fryer.

Overall, this sandwich is really good. This is the second time I've ordered it, and it's a sandwich I'd definitely get again. My only slight negative on the sandwich is the bun. The Wave currently uses Local Oven gluten free & dairy free buns, and I found the bun to be very crumbly. It fell apart pretty quickly into eating the sandwich. I'll admit, I've gotten spoiled by some of the newer bun options on property, like the Bloomfield Farms one served at Three Bridges Bar & Grill. The flavor & texture of that bun is a lot better than the one served at The Wave.

The fries are made in a dedicated fryer, and they're the same ones served at Geyser Point Bar & Grill. Since we knew that's what they served at The Wave too, we actually ordered a side order for me & Brandon to split too! You can't go wrong with waffle fries!

The Wave Food in photo is NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Signature Burger which can be made gluten free, but in this case, it was served on a regular gluten-filled bun. The Burger includes Signature Blend of Beef, Applewood-smoked Bacon, Cheddar, Red Onion, House-made Pickles, Lettuce, and Tomato and is served with waffle fries. This burger was safe for fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies. If you're gluten free & dairy free, swap out the bun and omit the cheese.

As an aside, both Brandon and I raved about the thick cut bacon served on both of our sandwiches. It's nice to have decent bacon at a Disney restaurant and not that stringy Disney bacon we normally get served. So, if you're into good bacon, The Wave has got you covered.

The Wave - Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC Baby Yoda Cake / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because it was my birthday, my mom special ordered a cake from Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC in Disney Springs to be delivered to The Wave. You can find out more information about pre-ordering a cake by visiting the bakery's website or calling them directly.

This cake was a Baby Yoda inspired cake that featured mint green frosting (that was mint flavored) and a chocolate cake decorated with Baby Yoda ears. It was a super delicious cake, and one of the best ones I've ever from Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC. It tasted super fresh and held up pretty well for a few days afterwards too.

Overall

While I wouldn't say The Wave's lunch menu features the restaurant's strongest offerings, it's still a great, affordable option for those who want a table service restaurant that is a little bit out of the way. Breakfast and dinner are still the best meals at The Wave, but I'm always glad lunch is an option too. Shoutout to our server Tim too who was awesome and really helped make the meal and the birthday cake surprise extra magical!

Have you been to The Wave? What's your favorite meal there?

2/16/20 2/16/20

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Dinner Review

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, located in Disney's Hollywood Studios, has to be one of our favorites for an affordable and unique table service option in the parks. We eat there fairly frequently, and it's a popular choice with our friends and family too. Recently, we had dinner at Sci-Fi Dine-In with one of our friends who was celebrating his birthday. This was his request for a dinner at Disney, and we were happy to help him celebrate at this restaurant.

Dinner at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater

Atmosphere

We've probably posted ad nauseam about the theme of Sci-Fi Dine-In, so while I won't go into a lot of detail, I still wanted to highlight how cool this restaurant is.

Sci-Fi Dine-In - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I recently got the iPhone 11 Pro, and it's the first camera I've ever owned that takes photos that does this restaurant justice. As you can see from all of the photos, the exterior and interior are brightly lit, colorful, and just plain fun!

Sci-Fi Dine-In - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The inside of the restaurant can be seriously dark. But, that doesn't stop the restaurant from including brightly colored cars that serve as your tables and other cool details.

One of our favorite places to sit is actually the back of the restaurant in the "Flying Saucers." These tables are pretty nifty, and if you're concerned about lighting, they actually have a lot more lighting available too. I've got a few photos of the flying saucers in my previous review. And, you'll see me at our table during this dining experience at the end of this review.

The Food

Like most restaurants owned and operated by the Disney Company, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater does have an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. Of course, you can always ask to speak with a chef directly to discuss options, which we always do when we dine here.

Sci-Fi Dine-In - Table / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, we did chat with the chef there and somehow I forgot to write down her name. That's a shame because she was phenomenal and deserves to be shouted out. Brandon and I are both always so impressed with the chefs at Sci-Fi Dine-In, because they do always go above and beyond to help ensure we have lots of options and a safe meal.

On this visit, we asked lots of questions because we were interested in a few different options not marked gluten free on the allergy-friendly menu. But, first, we asked the chef if we could get a basket of French fries for the table to start with some dipping sauces. We did this on a previous visit, and it was a great way to start the meal.

Sci-Fi Dine-In / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Somehow I forgot to take a photo of the basket of fries we got made from a dedicated fryer. They were gluten free, dairy free, fish/shellfish free, peanut free, tree nut free, chicken & turkey free.

Do always ask about the fryers at Sci-Fi because they do have a vegan fryer and a gluten free fryer to help out with options. We like this a lot because anytime a location serves allergy-friendly chicken tenders, Brandon often can't have the fries because they only have one type of allergy-friendly fryer. So, always ask if you're not sure!

The reason I think I forgot to take a photo is because of the EPIC plate of dipping sauces we were served. Many of you know I love a dipping sauce, and I mentioned this to the chef. She brought out so many gluten free dipping sauces that I couldn't eat keep them straight!

While many of them did have dairy in them, there were some (like BBQ and Honey Mustard) which were dairy free. One of the sauces did contain gluten free tamari, and while I did trust the chef to know ingredients, I did actually skip this sauce. Overall, all of the sauces were fantastic, and I especially loved the horseradish dipping sauce, blue cheese dipping sauce, chipotle mayonnaise. Our friend said the sauce with the GF tamari was fantastic but spicy.

For my entree, I tried something completely different. I asked the chef if they could make the Appetizer Sampler which normally comes with fried pickles which are not gluten free. The chef said that she could make everything else gluten free (the allergy-friendly chicken tenders, shrimp and crab fondue) and that she'd swap out the pickles for more French Fries.

If you can have dairy, this was such a fantastic, fun, and different meal at Sci-Fi. I wouldn't do it every time, as I was completely and utterly stuffed (and couldn't finish it). The shrimp and crab fondue is an appetizer I've been dying to try. It was a little on the fishy side but not bad. I'd definitely get it again because it went great with the freshly fried tortilla chips.

The allergy-friendly chicken tenders were served without sauce so that I could use the dipping sauces we already had at the table. This was perfect, because I found the buffalo sauce (that they're normally served with) to be almost too spicy for my personal taste. Plus, who doesn't want to dip allergy-friendly chicken tenders in lots of different sauces?!

Sci-Fi Dine-In - Food in Photo is NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon's entree, he ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger with French Fries. This dish was safe for fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies. It can also be made gluten free by swapping out the bun and dairy free by omitting the cheese.

Brandon always raves about the burgers here, and I can second that they do a great job with the burger options. Of course, we both absolutely love the steak fries at Sci-Fi Dine-In. I'm not sure what they do there, but they fry them super well!

As if we hadn't already had a ton of food, I got roped into ordering the gluten free and vegan cookie milkshake. The chef mentioned I should get it in a to-go cup because you get more when you do that. She was not kidding! My to-go cup was stuff to the brim with a house-made coconut whipped topping, non-dairy ice cream, chocolate syrup, and non-dairy ice cream. It's definitely a favorite of mine, and I love that I can get a gluten free & dairy free milkshake there with no issues.

Sci-Fi Dine-In - Sarah with Milkshake — Sci-Fi Dine-In / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

If this photo is any indication, I was stuffed but making a solid effort to try to drink my milkshake!

Overall

For us, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater continues to be a favorite. We loved the fun, relaxed vibe, and we absolutely love the affordable and approachable gluten free and food allergy friendly options. Add in lots of great chef interactions and the ability to customize dishes, and you have one out-of-this-world restaurant!

Have you been to Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater? What's your experience been at this table service restaurant?