11/19/18 11/19/18

Palo Dinner Review on the Disney Dream

Palo is an adults-only restaurant located on all of the Disney Cruise Line ships. This is a restaurant that is not one of the main rotational dining options on the ships and must be reserved in advance to dine at. It also has an additional per person fee to dine there (currently $30). Palo offers both brunch and dinner. And, on our October 2018 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, we decided to have dinner there on our final night of the cruise. Both Brandon and I loved Palo brunch, so we were looking forward to dinner on this cruise.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in October 2018. It includes notes about dairy free options too.

Dinner at Palo

Atmosphere

Palo is a restaurant that serves Northern Italian inspired food. And, the theme of the restaurant is inspired by Venice, Italy. Palo means "pole" in Italian, so you'll find nods to Venice's beautiful waterfront and gondolas throughout the restaurant.

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

We dined at Palo for dinner. And, I'm absolutely amazed at how this restaurant transforms from day to night. We noticed a huge difference in the atmosphere during brunch versus dinner. The evening was nice, as we arrived before sunset and got to experience the restaurant shift from day to night.

Palo Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see, the Venice theme is throughout the restaurant, from the artwork to the tables.

On this trip, we also noticed there was some outdoor seating, as well. I'm not sure if this is only offered during brunch or at night too. You can see a lot more photos of the restaurant's interior in our brunch review.

Palo - Ocean View / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Our table was located at the "front" of the restaurant with a lovely view of the ocean. We absolutely adored the ocean view throughout our meal.

Palo - Table / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Prior to our dinner at Palo, we met up with blog readers Sue and Joe, which was an absolute treat. Joe also has celiac disease, and we got a chance to chat about the options on the cruise. Sue and Joe had dined at Palo the evening before we did, and they recommended that we request Mircea to be our server, as they had rave reviews about him. We were able to make that request. And we knew we were in for a treat when we met Mircea who was very lovely throughout our meal.

The Food

Unlike the main rotational dining restaurants on the ship, Palo does not note if an item is gluten free or dairy free on the menu. That is because Palo operates like a traditional restaurant on land. They will prepare your food and customize it as you order it, instead of preparing it in a catering kitchen. This means that you may have more options and customization at your meal both at Palo and Remy, the other adults-only restaurant on the Disney Dream.

Palo - Gin & Tonic / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Prior to our meal, we met up with readers Sue and Joe at Meridian, which is a lounge located in between Palo and Remy. Meridian is a must visit lounge for me, as they have a gin and tonic cart, where you can make customized gin and tonics.

Though I've mentioned it before, most distilled alcohol, like gin, are gluten free due to the distillation process, despite being made with gluten-filled grains. According to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease and peer-reviewed scientific research, “As for pure spirits, (vodka, gin, scotch), the distillation process makes these beverages safe because the protein is removed. However, flavored spirits may contain malt, and should be avoided.” If a certain type of distilled alcohol does not agree with you, always be sure to trust your gut and avoid. For instance, I can't tolerate vodka well -- enough those that are potato based and do not contain gluten prior to distillation -- but gin is fine with me.

With that in mind, I ended up with a dry London gin and some aromatic spices. It was very refreshing and earthy tasting. Definitely one I'd get again.

Palo - Iced Tea / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of my most favorite things about Palo is their iced tea. That's because they used iced tea ice cubes instead of regular ice cubes. This helps ensure that your tea never gets diluted with water and retains its flavor and concentration. It's the little things in life that make me happy. And, iced tea ice cubes is one of those things!

Palo - Antipasti Plate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Before our meal, the antipasti cart came to our table. The manager actually prepared our antipasti plate and was super friendly every time we spoke with him throughout the evening. The antipasti cart items are naturally gluten free and include a variety of meats, vegetables, and Parmesan cheese. You can make it dairy free by omitting the cheese. In 2014, my mom and I had dinner here while I was still dairy free and enjoyed the antipasti plate minus the cheese.

Here's a close-up of the plate that Brandon and I shared. We both loved the prosciutto and Parmesan cheese with balsamic vinegar on it. He also enjoyed some of the other meats, while I loved the marinated artichokes and olives.

Palo - GF Bread / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While we were enjoying our antipasti plate, we were both brought bread to enjoy. I received a basket of Udi's Gluten Free Pizza Crust cut into wedges and toasted with extra virgin olive oil, basil, and other herbs. This is both gluten free and dairy free. It's so good and ranks at the top of my favorite bread services of all time. And, this photo shows food and drink duo that makes me so happy -- the bread service and iced tea.

Here you can see the bread service, up close. You can tell there's lots of garlic and herbs on this bread, which makes it oh so tasty.

Palo - GF Calamari / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my starter, I asked in advance during embarkation at the dining session offered if I could get the calamari and shrimp appetizer served at Palo gluten free. I learned is a possibility with advance notice from my friend Alexis at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures. As the manager and chef told me on this visit, if you do not pre-order and arrive at the restaurant early, your chances of getting it deep-fried is pretty slim. That's because the restaurant does not have a dedicated fryer and needs to fry the gluten free calamari and shrimp before they begin using the fryer for the night. I was so thankful that they were able to make this happen for me on our visit.

The Fritto di Calamari e Gamberi is a mixture of gluten free fried shrimp and calamari, sweet peppers, fresh herbs, and lemon served with two sauces -- a lemon-garlic mayonnaise and marinara sauce. The seafood is fried in corn flour and the batter was very light. This worked perfectly with the delicate seafood. Never a big fan of marinara sauce, I preferred the lemon-garlic mayonnaise for both the shrimp and calamari. Although I know it takes some advance notice to get, I think it was worth the effort.

Palo - GF Scallops / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up next, Mircea suggested we get either pasta or seafood. Brandon opted for pasta because he's allergic to fish and shellfish. And, I took Mircea's recommendation and ordered the Sea Scallops with Celery Root Puree, Baby Vegetables, and Crispy Leeks served with a Prosecco and Black Truffle Sauce. This is gluten free but does contain dairy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this seafood dish and thought the scallops were cooked perfectly. The celery root puree was also really tasty. While I liked the prosecco and black truffle sauce, I thought it was a bit too rich for the delicate scallops. But, it added some nice flavor in small doses. If you're dairy free, I might recommend the tuna if you're interested in a fish course, as this seemed to be the most dairy free friendly.

Palo - Lemon Sorbet / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In between this course and our main entree, we were served lemon sorbet with blueberries. This is both gluten free and dairy free and makes for a nice palate cleanser in between courses.

Palo - Steak / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For our entree, both Brandon and I ordered the Grilled Prime Beef Tenderloin with Pancetta Potato, Sauteed Spinach, Barolo Chinato Wine Sauce, and Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce. This is gluten free and fish/shellfish free but does contain dairy. I think this dish could be easily modified to be dairy free too.

Wow. Both of us thought this dish was super decadent. We both really enjoyed our steaks, and we both agreed that mixing the sauces together was actually the tastiest combination. I really enjoyed the potatoes and spinach too. I have to admit, that I probably should have ordered something a bit less rich than the scallops as my second course and next time I would get a caprese salad or soup instead. That's because I couldn't finish this due to the richness. Thankfully, it did not go to waste as Brandon happily enjoyed the remainder of my steak.

Palo - GF Chocolate Soufflé / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For our dessert course, I ended up debating but ultimately ordered the gluten free version of the Chocolate Soufflé with Vanilla Bean Gelato and Vanilla and Chocolate Sauce. This has lots of dairy in it, so if you're dairy free, I would order another dessert instead, as it won't be able to be modified. But, if you can have dairy, I highly recommend this dessert.

I can't say that I've ever had a gluten free soufflé out at a restaurant, so this was a real treat. The soufflé itself was super chocolatey and very tasty. I skipped the vanilla bean gelato but did enjoy the vanilla and chocolate sauces on top of my soufflé. If you're gluten free, you can order this dessert without advance notice too, which is great. Brandon and I both agreed we would get this dessert again.

Palo - Birthday Wishes Plate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Funnily enough, I had forgotten about Brandon's birthday notification. Our cruise was originally slated a few weeks after Brandon's birthday, so we had noted his birthday. Because we switched the cruise dates last minute, the birthday notification was still on the reservation. Mircea sweetly brought a lovely plate with early birthday wishes for Brandon, which was very thoughtful.

Palo - Orange Almond Cake / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Mircea had also heard me debating desserts, as I had ordered the Warm Orange Almond Cake with Orange Fennel Salad with Rhubarb Puree and Lemon Cream on the cruise I took in 2014. The cake itself is gluten free and dairy free. And, the dish can be entirely dairy free by omitting the lemon cream.

After I chose the soufflé, Mircea offered to have room service bring me the orange almond cake to our stateroom so that I could enjoy it later. That was such a thoughtful touch, and I was so pleased that they could let us enjoy this outside of the restaurant. I have been told that Palo is pretty strict about taking any food out of the restaurant, so I'm lucky that we were able to get this delivered to our stateroom that evening.

Though I'm glad I had the soufflé in the restaurant, this is definitely a great gluten free dessert option that I can highly recommend too. It's a little dense but the flavors are very light. And, the dish isn't too sweet. So, if sweets aren't your thing, this might be a good option for you too.

Overall

We enjoyed a very lovely and delicious meal at Palo. Both of us agreed that the food was very good and definitely decadent. My favorites of the night had to be the calamari and the chocolate soufflé. But, everything was really delicious and well-cooked. After dinner, we both agreed that we prefer brunch over dinner just a bit more mostly because we liked the meal offerings at brunch better overall. But, both brunch and dinner at Palo are excellent and a great option for any adults sailing on the Disney Cruise Line.

Have you been to Palo? What do you prefer, brunch or dinner?

5/29/18 5/29/18

Palo -- Brunch -- Disney Dream

*This gluten free dining experience took place in May 2018.

Brunch at Palo

Palo located on Deck 13 of the Disney Dream is one of the two adults only restaurants on the ship. Palo offers dinner daily and on select days offers brunch. The last time I was on the Disney Dream back in 2014 for a 3-day cruise, they didn't offer brunch at Palo. So, I was thrilled to hear that Disney has been offering brunch on 3-day cruises when you're docked in Nassau. Brunch just might be one of my favorite meals, so I knew we had to book it. Brunch is typically offered from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., and I made our reservation for 10 a.m. so that we could enjoy a leisurely brunch.

Atmosphere

Having had dinner at Palo on the last cruise I went on, I knew that it was a beautifully decorated restaurant. But, the vibe totally changes from day time to evening, and I was really wowed by how bright and inviting Palo is during the day.Palo means "pole" in Italian. And, that fits perfectly with the theme of the restaurant which is inspired by Venice. The version of Palo on the Disney Dream is set to resemble a Venetian waterfront, and you'll find examples of poles inspired by the classic gondolas throughout the restaurant.When you first walk through the Palo entrance, you'll notice a beautiful chandelier above. This glass chandelier is actually made to look like different types of pasta and sauces you'll find in classic Northern Italian fare. It's quite stunning, and I highly recommended stopping to look at it a bit more closely.As we learned from our server Corinne and later when we went on the Art of the Theme tour, Palo is expertly themed from the artwork to the chairs and everything in between.Even the metal artwork near the seating area is inspired by Venice.Palo has plenty of seating for all sizes of groups and seating preferences. Whether you prefer a cozy booth, a seat in the back, or a close-up view outside, you'll find it at Palo.On our visit, we had a lovely window seat. If you're having dinner at Palo or brunch during a day at sea, you'll have spectacular views of the ocean. Since we were dining while docked in Nassau, we didn't really have a great view (it looked out onto the Carnival ship docked next to us), but we still enjoyed the brightly lit restaurant and cozy environment.Hilariously, our server Corinne remarked that we had our very own Gondolier while at Palo, as one of the cast members cleaning windows came by. I have to admit that we both chuckled at this but were also fascinated by the cleaning and repairs that happen while docked.

The Food

Of course, the best part of Palo brunch is the food. Having dined here for dinner back in 2014, I knew that the food was going to be quite good, so I was looking forward to all the options.Before Corinne went over the meal options and brought out the chef, she brought us each a Mimosa (orange juice and champagne) to start out brunch.I also ordered an unsweetened iced tea, and was super excited to see that the tea was served with iced tea cubes. This is perfect for those who love tea but don't like that their tea gets diluted by regular water ice cubes melting. Talk about a nice touch!After getting our drinks, the chef (whose name I forgot to write down), walked both Brandon and I through the buffet. Since Brandon is allergic to fish and shellfish, the chef advised him what he could and could not eat, in addition to walking me through the buffet. One of the things I liked most about the buffet is that there were several tables with food sections. For instance, their was an entire seafood table that Brandon avoided, while I avoided the pastry / bread table.The chef also offered to bring me a plate of food from the kitchen if I preferred, and he also noted that when I was ready for dessert he would bring me a plate from the kitchen automatically. He offered to do the same for Brandon as he noted some desserts contained gelatin.Because I have reintroduced dairy back into my diet, the items I ate at brunch did have a good amount of dairy present. Guests who are dairy free shouldn't worry though, as they have lots of options that are dairy free or can be made dairy free.With the buffet, I ended up getting a good amount of seafood -- much of which was gluten free and dairy free. This included a scallop with fresh tomatoes and basil, crab legs, two different types of seared tuna, bloody Mary shrimp cocktail, and poached shrimp. I also tried prosciutto wrapped melon, several kinds of aged cheese, and caprese salad.Everything I enjoyed on my buffet plate was outstanding. The seafood was super fresh and well prepared. The scallops and seared tuna were definitely my favorites of the seafood options. The other item I liked the most was the caprese salad which was just outstanding and so light and fresh.In addition to the buffet, Palo also has an a la carte menu with breakfast and lunch offerings. Both the chef and Corinne recommended that I try a few dishes to get a taste of all that Palo had to offer. First up, I ordered the famous Palo Grape and Gorgonzola Pizza. This is made on a gluten free crust (I believe currently Udi's Gluten Free on the Disney Dream). Pizza options are listed on the Palo menu, but this particular combination is not. But, if you ask the culinary team, they can still make it for you.The pizza is such a unique option, that we just had to try it. It is served with a red sauce, mozzarella, Gorgonzola, grapes, and a red wine reduction. Talk about decadent. Both Brandon and I tried this. I liked it a lot; Brandon thought it was just a bit too sweet for his taste. I would definitely get this again, though next time I might ask for it to be a white pizza without the red tomato sauce base, as I think I would have liked it more without it.The chef also said they can make gluten free (and dairy free) pancakes and waffles. The waffles are typically served as one giant Mickey shaped waffle (you can see a photo of it on Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures). But, I was told that their large waffle maker was down that day. Still, I got to enjoy 2 smaller Allergy-Friendly Mickey Waffles topped with powdered sugar and 100% pure maple syrup. I also had the option of ordering strawberry sauce or apple cinnamon sauce.These tasted just about identical to the versions of allergy-friendly Mickey waffles at Disney World and, I believe, were made using Namaste Pancake & Waffle Mix. They were nice and crispy and super tasty, and I would definitely order these again at Palo brunch. Hopefully, next time we go, they'll have the big Allergy-Friendly Mickey waffle maker working again!Although I did not ask for it, our server Corinne insisted I try a gluten free pasta, since we were in an Italian restaurant. She ended up bringing me Gluten Free Pasta with Smoked Salmon, Baby Spinach, Tarragon, Cracked Black Pepper, and a Cream Sauce. I didn't eat a ton of this, but I did try it. If you like seafood, it was quite good. It's not a dish I'd probably order again, but I was glad to try it.As you can see from this photo of our table, Corinne made sure we did not go hungry. In fact, we were both just plain stuffed by the end of the brunch. I really appreciated that she encouraged us to try lots of dishes, but next time we'll definitely reduce the amount of items we order!As if I could even eat another bite, Corinne brought out a plate of desserts for me from the chef. Three of the four desserts on the plate contained dairy, so if you're dairy free, be sure to ask for other options. The gluten free and dairy free dessert on my plate was a champagne gelatin with fruit. It was actually my least favorite of the desserts (I tried a bite of all of them), as I did not like the gelatin texture. But, I'm super glad that it was an option and something that was nice and light compared to the other desserts.The desserts included an espresso mousse (far left), vanilla panna cotta with mango, blueberries, and strawberries (center), and a raspberry mousse (far right). Every single one of these were very good. The panna cotta was probably my favorite with the raspberry mousse a close second. The espresso mousse was also very good and perfect for anyone who loves coffee.

Overall

Both Brandon and I absolutely loved the brunch at Palo. We really enjoyed that it included both a cold buffet and a la carte options. The cold buffet was super high quality with lots of options for any preference or special dietary need. We also found the a la carte options to include unique dishes that we might not have otherwise tried (Brandon enjoyed celery soup and artichoke ravioli -- both of which he would not typically order) and classic brunch favorites. Brunch also gave us a chance to enjoy Palo without missing out on our regular rotational dinner too.The atmosphere in Palo at brunch is so relaxing and our server Corinne was so great, that it made for a wonderful experience that we're both still raving about even after the trip. We wouldn't hesitate to book brunch again, though we both agreed that we want to go to Palo for dinner on our next cruise.Have you been to Palo for brunch or dinner? What did you think of the options available to special dietary needs guests?

11/4/14 11/4/14

Palo -- Dinner -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.Palo is the Disney Dream's second adult dining location. With an upcharge of $25 per person, it offers an adults only dining experience at a reasonable price. While my dining experience at Remy was decadent, it's not someplace I would dine on every cruise (I consider it a special occasion restaurant). Palo is one I would dine at every night if I could.Our regular rotational meal that night was slated for the Enchanted Garden. I'm a bit bummed we did miss dining here, as we only visited once during the embarkation lunch, but after dining at Palo, I'm not too sad. It was terrific! Palo's culinary theme is Italian, and while I didn't love the decor (it's a little too 80s Italian for me), the food was fantastic. When we arrived, we were directed to the Meridian Lounge (shared with Remy) and met up with my friends who were dining at Palo for the second night in a row (it's that good!). We enjoyed chatting with them for a bit and then were seated in Palo with a lovely window view. Our server Andrea was the highlight in service for our trip. She made the meal exceptional and really did a terrific job at making us feel comfortable and welcome. She went over the menu with us, noting that the restaurant was aware of my special dietary needs. Up first, were brought an antipasti cart - table-side. The only thing I couldn't eat was the parmesan cheese, so we had a heaping plate of marinated olives, red bell peppers, artichokes, prosciutto, and other cure meats. This was the best pre-course treat. My mom and I both raved and said we could eat this at every meal. I was also brought my favorite bread of the trip - Udi's Gluten Free pizza crust topped with extra virgin olive oil, garlic and fresh basil. It was heated and cut into wedges and was oh so delicious. I actually topped the bread with some of the antipasti which was delicious. While we enjoyed this, Andrea went over options for us. She had some recommendations for me that might be good choices. I opted for the cioppino as my starter and two entrees - the seafood risotto and the scallops with barlotti beans. The second entree was to be shared with my mom, as we learned this trick from our friends who said it worked great at their previous Palo meals. Before our appetizers, we were served a lemon sorbet as a palate cleanser. This was so fresh and light. I could eat this kind of sorbet all the time! The cioppino was a huge dish considering it was a starter. With a rich tomato broth and a variety of seafood in it, it was a great way to start the meal. I wouldn't say it was the best cioppino I've ever had, but it was quite good.My our entrees, I dove into the scallops first so that my mom could have the other half. I will say, this was my least favorite dish of the entire cruise. If you like fennel this would be your thing. I found the fennel entirely too overwhelming and the scallop & barlotti bean combination to be odd. The beans were more al dente than I would have preferred. They were nothing like the decadent and rich version I had at Ravello (which I adored). My mom also did not like this dish, so I'm glad we got it as a dish to split.My main course was the seafood risotto, which they had to modify some for me. I probably should have opted for something else, as I was missing the zucchini that came with it (which I really wanted). Despite that, the dish was very good. If you like seafood, it was filled to the brim with it. From mussels to scallops, calamari, and shrimp -- there was no shortage in this dish. At this point, I was very full and assumed my dessert option would be sorbet. However, I was pleasantly surprised when Andrea said they had an almond orange cake available to me. Cake?! Well, you know those were the magic words to me. Rarely do I get a dessert that is non brownie or sorbet based, so I was thrilled. And I was not disappointed. This dessert was beyond amazing. It was made with almond flour, so it was rather dense almost like a pound cake. The rich flavor of the almond and oranges blended together nicely. The cake itself wasn't very sweet but had some powdered sugar on top to add a touch of sweetness. On the side, I had fresh raspberries and orange segments which were perfect accompaniments. I liked this cake so much, I actually asked if I could have one to go. Palo doesn't have containers or bags, but they kindly plated up a new dessert for me after our meal was complete and gave me silverware so I could take it back to the room. How cool is that?Andrea also brought us another dessert - the strawberry basil sorbet with fresh fruit. This was so delicious too! It reminded me of the raspberry mint sorbet that I used to love at Sanaa. Dessert here blew Remy away!After our meal, we were given a digestif (after dinner palate cleanser) of prosecco and lemon sorbet. This was another winner at Palo. Overall, my mom and I both loved our meal at Palo (she had some amazing courses - pro tip - get the Palo signature steak dish if you like steak; you won't be sorry) and agreed that we wouldn't hesitate to go back again. For the upcharge, food quality, service, and ambiance, we thought it couldn't be beat. We actually said we'd eat here twice on a 3-4 day cruise because it was that good. I'm dying to try out brunch at Palo especially after reading reviews from my friends Sarah at Eating WDW and Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando! Have you been to Palo? What did you think of it?