Raglan Road Irish Pub Brunch Review
Raglan Road Irish Pub, located in Disney Springs, has been one of my favorite places to dine at Disney World for years now. Serving up classic Irish fare for lunch and dinner daily and brunch on the weekends, I always find that there's something for everyone to enjoy at Raglan Road. On this particular visit, I had brunch at this table service restaurant with a friend.
*This gluten free dining experience took place in June 2019. It includes information about dairy free options and modifications.
Brunch at Raglan Road
Raglan Road Irish Pub, located in Disney Springs, has been one of my favorite places to dine at Disney World for years now. Serving up classic Irish fare for lunch and dinner daily and brunch on the weekends, I always find that there's something for everyone to enjoy at Raglan Road. On this particular visit, I had brunch at this table service restaurant with a friend.
Atmosphere
Raglan Road is all about its Irish roots. You'll feel like you were transported to an Irish pub from the moment you walk into the restaurant.
Raglan Road Irish Pub Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
One of my favorite things about Raglan Road is how authentic it is. They actually shipped in wood from Ireland to build the bar and other areas of the restaurant. How cool is that?
Raglan Road - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
During our brunch, we were seated in a cozy back area of the restaurant, near their second bar. This area was charming and has lots of nods to Ireland with photos of famous Irish folks. The restaurant also features live Irish bands and Irish Stepdancers on the weekends too that starts at noon. We were having brunch a bit before the live music, so it was nice and quiet throughout our meal.
The Food
Of course, my favorite reason for visiting Raglan Road is the food. This restaurant is not owned & operated by the Disney Company, so they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, your server will discuss options with you. And, the restaurant is very special diets friendly. In fact, the first thing our server asked was if anyone had a special dietary need.
Raglan Road / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
While we were looking over the brunch menu, my friend and I decided to enjoy a pint of Magners Pear Hard Cider. It's a great boozy way to start a brunch. And, the pear cider is very light and bubbly -- making it a great brunch drink. Currently, Raglan Road has Magners plain hard cider and pear both on tap. You can also order bottles of several types of cider too.
Raglan Road / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
After some debating, I decided to order the Happy Marriage Omelet. This included Slow braised chicken, bacon jam, sautéed spring onions and crispy diced potatoes. This is a gluten free dish, and though I didn't ask on this visit, I think it's probably easily made dairy free too.
Overall, I enjoyed this omelet. I would say that I was a bit surprised by it, as I expected the potatoes to be served on the side and not in the omelet itself. The chicken was very tasty and the bacon jam provided a good bit of acidic punch throughout, which was really nice. I am pretty sure the jam was made using balsamic vinegar because that taste was pretty strong when you got bites of the jam.
The overall omelet was actually much milder in taste than I expected. But, it was a huge portion. So, if getting a lot of for you money is important or you're really hungry, this is a great. option. In the future, I might skip this and order the Pork Hash Tagged, which I love, or the classic gluten free & dairy free fish and chips. It's not that this dish was bad. It just wasn't my favorite thing I've ordered at Raglan Road.
Overall
I am always really happy when I get to eat a meal at Raglan Road. The food is always excellent, the service great, and the special diets options extensive. If you're gluten free (and even dairy free), you'll find a lot of choices in this classic Irish pub themed restaurant.
Have you been to Raglan Road Irish Pub? What was your experience during brunch like?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Disney Springs
*This gluten free dining experience took place in July 2018.
Dinner at Raglan Road Irish Pub
Raglan Road Irish Pub, located in Disney Springs, is one of our favorite table service restaurants for good fun, entertainment, and special diets options. In fact, it just might be the restaurant that we've written the most dining reviews about. There's just something about Raglan Road that keeps us coming back again and again. And, we're not the only ones who agree. It's received lots of accolades and awards for being just a fantastic restaurant all around. Plus, you just can't beat the classic Irish fare. On this particular visit, we stopped by Raglan Road with family who had never dined here before. So, we were excited to show off the delicious eats and great atmosphere to them.
Atmosphere
Of course, one of the things that makes Raglan Road so special is the atmosphere and theming. You'll feel like you visited a proper Irish pub when you step into Raglan Road.
One of the things I love the most about Raglan Road is the authentic decor. In fact, they actually shipped pieces of the pub, including the wood you see in the photo below directly from Ireland. How cool is that?
Raglan Road features live entertainment, including Irish step dancing and bands playing Irish music. It can get a little raucous in the main dining room seating area, as you might expect. So, if loud and rowdy atmosphere isn't your thing, we recommend visiting earlier in the day when the entertainment is a little more low-key or seated in one of the side dining rooms of the restaurant.Because we had a larger dining party, we were seated in one of the bigger tables in the side dining room. Both Brandon and I were in love with the table seated near a fireplace with cozy chairs. We totally want to ask to sit there on our next visit.
The Food
Raglan Road is not owned and operated by the Disney Company. And, they do not carry an allergy-friendly menu. But, they do a great job at making sure that guests with special dietary needs are well taken care of. Typically, your server will go through the options with you, or consult with the culinary team on your behalf with any questions you might have. Overall, I have always found them to be excellent at accommodating.
Of course, one of my first things to order at Raglan Road has to be a pint of Magner's Irish Hard Cider. It's so good and totally feels like a proper pub drink.
One of the best things about Raglan Road is that they can make almost all of the fried food options gluten free and dairy free safe in a dedicated fryer. That includes fish and chips, scallops, and as shown in the photo here, onion rings. This is one appetizer I can't help but order. They're so good. We shared these with the non-GF eaters in the group, and they enjoyed them a lot too.Currently, the onion rings are served with a Dalkey Mustard (which is both gluten free and dairy free). But, you can also ask for other condiments too.
For my entree, I ordered the Boaring Burger which includes a Grilled wild boar burger, Cashel blue cheese, crispy gluten free onion strings, arugula, port and pear chutney with herb aïoli served on a gluten free bun.Can, I just say this entree is a "wow!" It is one of the most unique burgers I've had on Disney property, and it's a big winner for me. I've had it several times and enjoyed it each time. I'm also blown away each time that I order this that they can make gluten free (and dairy free) onion straws to top the burger off. As most of us gluten free folks can attest to, it's rare to get something like that prepared safely on a gluten free sandwich. I had tried this burger when they were making it a daily special item, and I'm so glad it's made it to the regular menu now.
Overall
As always, Raglan Road Irish Pub delivers on special diets options, atmosphere, and entertainment. We love that the restaurant works hard to make sure guests enjoy a safe meal and even provides options for food that we might not normally be able to get when dining out. Even better? We find that Raglan Road is a restaurant that is great for all different types of tastes, appetites, and budgets. So, there really is something for everyone. Even with all the new dining locations at Disney Springs, we still make Raglan Road a must-do dining visit.Have you been to Raglan Road Irish Pub? What did you think of the special diets options available there?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Brunch & Dinner -- Table Service -- Disney Springs
*These dining experiences took place in June 2017.
Brunch and Dinner at Raglan Road Irish Pub
Raglan Road Irish Pub, located in Disney Springs, is one of my favorite table service restaurants at Disney World. It has consistently great food, fantastic atmosphere, and tons of gluten free and dairy free options. It's always a winner and a restaurant I go back to again and again. Recently, I stopped by Raglan Road for both brunch and dinner, so I'm including both visits in this review.
Atmosphere
One of the things that I love most about Raglan Road is that you'll feel like you were transported to Ireland when you walk in the door. From the outside dining areas to the charming interior, it all has an authentic Irish feel to it.
Of course, on one of the days we visited, it was pouring rain, which made it perfect for a cozy Irish pub meal.
The interior of the restaurant is dark, with lots of wood and cozy corners. There are two bar locations and a main stage for live entertainment, which you can see nightly and during the brunch time.
It can get a bit loud in Raglan Road, so if you prefer a quieter area of the restaurant, I recommend asking for a table near the side of the restaurant. It's tucked away and much quieter and calmer.
You'll also find lots of touches and nods to the pub's Irish roots in the restaurant, and we found a lot of them when we were seated on the side of the main dining room.
For lots of excitement and action, you can also sit in the main dining area, which is a rollicking good time. You'll find a stage in the middle of the dining room and a main stage at the front -- all for live music and Irish step dancers. When we visited for brunch, we were seated right in front of the main stage and next to the smaller stage, so we got to see it all up close.You can check out some of the live music we saw that day on my video on YouTube.
The Food
Of course, the best part about Raglan Road is the food. Chef Kevin Dundon has done a fantastic job at making sure the restaurant has tons of gluten free and celiac safe options to choose from. And, that's good news for anyone who loves fried foods because you can get a ton of gluten free and dairy free fried foods made safely in dedicated fryers at Raglan Road.Raglan Road does not carry an allergy friendly menu, but you can find gluten free options listed on their website. You can also ask your server for assistance too. Because Raglan Road isn't owned by Disney, they don't necessarily follow the same Disney allergy menu protocols, but I can tell you they do a great job handling requests. On both visits, the first thing our server asked was if anyone had special dietary needs, which is great.
But, before your main meal, don't forget to enjoy a good beverage. They have plenty of delicious non-alcoholic drinks like iced tea.
Or, you can enjoy a pint of Magners Irish Hard Cider, which they have on tap. It's a must-do whenever I go.
When we went for brunch, I couldn't help but order the Onion Rings, which can be made gluten free and dairy free. They are served with a mild mayonnaise mustard combination but also taste amazing with other condiments, like cocktail sauce.*Note: A few readers reached out to me and told me that the gluten free onion rings could not be made dairy free anymore (they have been dairy free for years). But, thanks to a live from Raglan Road report from Erica from Celiac and the Beast, who spoke with the management team and was told they can still be made dairy free. 
I also ordered the Fish and Chips, which can be made gluten free and dairy free. The tartar sauce that comes with it is also gluten free and dairy free too. This is always a hands down winner. Where else can you get proper gluten free and dairy free fried fish and chips?!If you like sauce as much as I do, definitely ask for extra tartar sauce because it's amazing with the fish and the chips.The chips served here are thick cut, steak fries. They do a great job frying them, and they pair really well with the fried fish. I do always recommend that you add a squeeze of fresh lemon and some salt on the fish and chips before you eat them. Sometimes, I find the fish and chips to be undersalted here, but it's an easy fix, and you can adjust it to your personal taste level.
A brunch, they also serve the Pork Hash Tagged, which is both gluten free and dairy free. My mom ordered this and really enjoyed it, and I've ordered it before too. One note, the eggs are served over-easy, so if you want them cooked a bit harder, let them know. My mom hates runny egg yolk, so she asked for them to be cooked longer.If I visit Raglan Road again for brunch, I need to order this again. It's so good!
My brother ordered the Kevin's Heavenly Ham entree that includes Irish Mist glazed loin of bacon with savoy cabbage, colcannon potatoes, parsley cream sauce and a raisin cider jus. It can be made gluten free by removing a bread component to the dish. Since my brother didn't request it to be gluten free, I didn't get a chance to try it, but you can see more or less what it would look like.I may have to order this one sometime because it looked amazing, and my brother said it was really good.
When Brandon and I went back for dinner, our server mentioned that they had a special for the night -- Wild Boar Burger made with local wild boar. It sounded intriguing, and he checked with the chef to confirm it could be made gluten free. Thankfully, it could be, and I believe the only change was to a gluten free bun.I have to say, this may have been one of the best things burgers I've had out in a restaurant in a while. I didn't know how the wild board would taste, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be very mild. It was a cross between a regular burger and a pork burger, but super tender and flavorful.The burger was topped with blue cheese and a pear compote, which added some tanginess and sweetness that went perfectly with the boar. I also find that pork of any type and fruit flavors go really well together, and this just really worked.There was a small side of slaw on the side, which was lightly dressed in a vinaigrette or oil of some type. It didn't have a ton of flavor on it, but it worked beautifully when added to the burger for some crunch.The burger was served with steak fries, but I asked to substitute them for Garlic & Parmesan Truffle Chips, which can be made gluten free. Since I've reintroduced some dairy back into my diet, these are a must do on occasion. The rich parmesan and truffle oil make for a perfect French fry. I also loved the richness of these fries along with the richness of the wild board burger. It definitely felt like a decadent and rich meal.I do hope they continue to have this and other specials on the menu. It was super unique, and I was so glad I got to try it.
Overall
Raglan Road consistently wins me over with excellent service (both of our servers were outstanding), terrific atmosphere, and fantastic food. There are always so many gluten free and even dairy free options, that I find myself wanting to try something new on every visit (even though, I'm prone to ordering the fish and chips over and over again). Everyone raved at both meals, and I can't wait to enjoy another visit again soon at this must-do Disney Springs table service restaurant.Have you been to Raglan Road Irish Pub? What's your special diets must-order on the menu?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Disney Springs
*This dining experience took place in December 2016.
Raglan Road Irish Pub, located at Disney Springs, is one of my favorite table service restaurants on Disney property. Though not owned & operated by the Disney Company, celebrity Irish chef Kevin Dundon and his team do an amazing job at accommodating guests with special dietary needs.Plus, where else can you get proper gluten free and dairy free fish & chips?! If it's gluten free and deep fried, you know I'm in! Of course, Raglan Road has some other amazing dishes too, and I'm partial to their sandwiches. But, if you're a first-time visitor, you simply must get the fish and chips.On this particular visit, I went to Raglan Road with my friend Ron, who is visiting from out-of-town. We both love Cookes of Dublin and Raglan Road and decided on getting dinner at the main table service restaurant for dinner.
Before we ordered, we both got a pint of Magners Irish Cider. It's available on draft at Raglan Road and is oh so delicious. It's one of my favorite hard ciders, and there's something about getting it straight from the draft that makes it even better. You can also get Magners Pear Cider from the bottle.
Because we both can't resist gluten free and dairy free deep-fried foods, we decided to order the onion rings as an appetizer to split. All of the gluten free and dairy free fried foods use the same batter, so if it's available deep-fried at Raglan Road, chances are you'll be able to get it gluten free.Along with the onion rings, I asked for a side of sweet chili jam and the mustard sauce. I'm such a fan of condiments that I couldn't imagine eating the onion rings without them. The sweet chili jam is still my favorite with the onion rings, but the mustard sauce was also really nice too.
We both also opted to order the gluten free and dairy free fish and chips as our entrees. It's such a classic Raglan Road staple, that sometimes I have a hard time NOT ordering it when I go. It's that good.A word of note on fried foods. A lot of people say that the fried foods at Raglan Road are a bit bland. I think this is because they don't tend to overly salt the dishes. If you find the flavors too bland, simple add more salt. It's easy to do and makes a world of difference. I always add a bit of salt to my fish and chips immediately after it arrives to the table.The fish and chips on this night were piping hot and well cooked. The fries, as always, were outstanding. Dip your fish and chips in the gluten free and dairy free house-made tartar sauce, and you have a real winner on your hands. If you're like me, you may need to ask for more tartar sauce too!Overall, I can't say enough good things about Raglan Road Irish Pub. I really appreciate the quality of the food and the level of care that Chef Kevin and his team put into providing safe gluten free and special dietary needs options for guests that are just as good as the gluten-filled versions!Have you been to Raglan Road Irish Pub? What's your favorite thing to order when you dine there?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Brunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs
*This dining experience took place in December 2015.
'Tis the luck of the Irish when you dine at Raglan Road Irish Pub, located at Disney Springs. Raglan Road is well known among the gluten free dining community as THE spot at Disney for proper gluten free fish and chips, onion rings, and more. Though not owned and operated by Disney, they consistently provide some of the best gluten free accommodation around and have even been voted the best gluten free restaurant in Orlando.Raglan Road is the restaurant of Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon, whose simple and fresh recipes make the food at Raglan Road so good. I've had the chance to meet him several times, including sharing the stage once with him at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.Ireland actually has a fairly high rate of celiac disease, so a lot of the food prepared at Raglan Road is naturally gluten free or can be easily made gluten free. Chef Kevin even works with the Coeliac Society of Ireland. So, when you dine at Raglan Road, you can be sure they do take gluten free safety pretty seriously!
On this occasion, we had seats at the bar, where you can still order off the full brunch, lunch, and dinner menus. For brunch, we were coming in a bit late (around 1 pm). We started off with a Magners Hard Cider because it's a Raglan Road tradition whenever we go to the bar. We also were very hungry and quickly ordered some gluten free and dairy free onion rings along with a side of sweet chili jam and lime mayonnaise.Sometimes the fried foods at Raglan Road can seem under-salted. I recommend adding more salt yourself or by utilizing the various condiments available. I can't recommend the sweet chili jam and onion ring combo enough!
In addition to our onion rings, we noticed that there was a new pork belly hash listed. I asked if this was gluten free and dairy free, and to my surprise, it was. You can order it as a full entree with eggs or as a side. Not wanting all breakfast food, I ordered it as a side just to try.Filled with crispy pork belly, potatoes, and green onions, this was absolutely delicious. It was perfectly seasoned and so tasty. In fact, it was probably the dish that got eaten the fastest during our meal. I would definitely order again, and maybe even ask if I could swap out in place of fries (with sandwiches and such). The breakfast entree with this is bound to be amazing too.
Of course, Raglan Road is known for their gluten free fish and chips. Crispy and flaky, they are a must order. Make sure to enjoy the house-made tartar sauce, as it's hands down my favorite tartar sauce in a restaurant. It's the perfect accompaniment to the fish and chips.
The pancetta and chicken sandwich can be ordered gluten free with a gluten free bun (as pictured above) or minus the cheese and herb aoili, as it was when I ordered it for brunch last January. I will say that if you can't have dairy, this might be a dish to skip, unless you like condiments, as ordering it plain made it quite dry. On my previous visit, I doctored it up substantially with various condiments.Overall, Raglan Road continues to be my go-to table service location at Disney Springs. I do enjoy Splitsville on occasion for their sushi and rice bowls but for amazing food with lots of variety and consistent special dietary needs accommodations, my bet is always on Raglan Road.Have you been to Raglan Road? What do you enjoy ordering there?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Disney Springs
*This dining experience took place in August 2015.
Raglan Road Irish Pub, located in Disney Springs, proves that you don't need the luck of the Irish for great food when you're dining at Disney Springs. Raglan Road serves up authentic and hearty Irish fare that you're sure to love. From sandwiches and entrees to proper fish and chips (fried in a dedicated fryer), there's something for everyone to enjoy here.I adore their gluten free fish and chips and fried onion rings (especially with sweet chili jam and tartar sauce); however, on this particular occasion, I decided to go with something a bit different.
First up was a Magner's Hard Cider, which you can find on tap at Raglan Road. It's a must whenever I visit there!
For my entree, I ordered the burger served with Irish bacon (more like Canadian bacon) on a gluten free bun with fries (aka chips) on the side. I will say that I liked the cornichon that they topped my burger with, which was more of a sweet pickle versus savory dill. I ended up not asking for any condiments, which I should have, as the burger was a wee bit dry.Overall, I liked the burger as an option at Raglan Road, though I think I'd likely stick to the other sandwiches or the fish and chips here. Still, they consistently put out a solid meal, and I really do love the restaurant and pub vibe. In my opinion, it's the best gluten free dining option in Disney Springs!Have you been to Raglan Road Irish Pub? What do you love ordering here?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs
*This dining experience took place in February 2015. 
Raglan Road Irish Pub located in Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs) is always my favorite table service restaurant to go to the in the Downtown Disney area. It's so good, and how can you resist all the gluten free (and dairy free) deep fried goodness that they serve up here? Their gluten free and dairy free fish and chips are the real deal.On this particular occasion, I was joined by my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando (you can read her lunch reviews of Raglan Road HERE) and my brother. I had emailed the Raglan Road team ahead of time because they debuted a new spring menu, and I was curious about the offerings and if any of the new desserts could be made gluten free and dairy free.I was excited to hear that I could order the chocolate cake with advance notice gluten free and dairy free and that the strawberry crumble could also be made dairy free (it's already gluten free). The restaurant did ask for 24 hours notice to request the chocolate cake. You can contact them on their website for more info. For an appetizer, I had been wanting to try the Dalkey Duo which is gluten free and dairy free fried sausages with a Dalkey mustard. I have to say that while this was good, I'm not sure it would be a repeat on my appetizer rotation -- the Raglan Road onion rings and scallops are definitely crowd-pleasers and would be my first picks for appetizers. 
The sausages themselves were quiet good, but more like a bratwurst than a smoked sausage which is what I was expecting. You get a decent sized portion (9 sausages), but these are definitely a sharing appetizer, as they were quite heavy and greasy. The mustard was a nice accompaniment as it cut the greasiness down a lot. 
For my entree, I chose the lobster club with avocado and french fries. The sandwich came on a gluten free and dairy free bun. When I had visited Raglan Road for brunch, I got the same bun and was told that they ordered it from a local bakery. On this visit, the manager told me that they make it in-house, adhering to cross-contamination standards while baking. The bun itself tasted like an Udi's Gluten Free bun to me, so I hope to investigate this further to find out if they are made locally or in-house. The lobster club itself was very good. Sometimes lobster salad can be over-mayonnaised (not sure that's a word but that's the best way I can describe the over-use of mayo) or overly seasoned (case in point - the lobster club at Artist's Palette at Saratoga Springs), but this version was perfect. The creaminess of the avocado and butteriness of the lobster were terrific together. This would definitely be a sandwich I'd order again. 
For my dessert, I was surprised to see a fairly large gluten free and dairy free chocolate cake. This is definitely for splitting! The cake itself was good -- not overly sweet or rich. I would have liked to see a bit more of a fudgy texture (more like a lava cake), but it was still a great choice. The real winner to this dish was the fruit that accompanied it. It was so delicious and paired very well with the cake. With a touch Cointreau, everyone at the table agreed that the fruit was really delicious (yes, I made them all try it!).Overall, I enjoyed my lunch at Raglan Road. While I wouldn't probably order the sausages again (just too heavy for me), I wouldn't hesitate to pre-order the chocolate cake from Raglan Road. They do such a terrific job at handling special diets diners, and I'm glad they continue to be my go-to restaurant in Downtown Disney. Have you been to Raglan Road Irish Pub? What are your favorite dishes to order?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Brunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs
*This dining experience took place in January 2015.Whenever I want a bit of the luck of the Irish and some amazing gluten free fried food options, I always head to Raglan Road Irish Pub located in Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs). With an extensive amount of gluten free (and dairy free) food offerings, they have been voted one of the best restaurants in Orlando for gluten free diners.I've enjoyed many meals here and typically order the fabulous gluten free fish and chips or their citrus salmon salad. I've never been disappointed with my meals here. One of the things I've been dying to do is try their brunch offerings on Sunday.And thankfully, I had the opportunity recently to meet up with friends Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Amanda from Eating Out Without for brunch (none of us had ever been). You can read the reviews of their brunch meals on each of their blogs! 
If you love live entertainment, the Rollicking Raglan Brunch serves up traditional Irish folk music and dancing. We were close to both the stage and the dancing stage in the middle of the dining room. It can be pretty noisy in there, but there are breaks in between sets. If you're interested in a more quiet area of the restaurant, just ask the hostess. We were greeted by our server that day who asked us first thing if anyone had special dietary needs. I love that Raglan Road always asks this early on in the dining experience. Our server was very knowledgeable in options and very willing to ask the kitchen any questions that we might have. She also let us know that the restaurant was now carrying a gluten free and dairy free bun that was available for sandwiches (you can't get it with anything but sandwiches at this time due to limited supply). Ever the curious one, I decided to order a sandwich as many of the breakfast-type brunch offerings didn't appeal to me. Many were gluten free but very few were dairy free, so I stuck to the regular menu. I ordered a side of gluten free and dairy free onion rings with the Pancetta and Chicken sandwich. 
First up, came the onion rings. I do love a good onion ring, but my biggest complaint with them has always been a lack of a dip. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a house-made remoulade brought with the onion rings. Hurrah! I will say that if I hadn't ever had the remoulade from Port Orleans I would proclaim this version to be my favorite at Disney; however, I have to say that the Port Orleans one trumps the Raglan Road version any day. It was still a great sauce but nothing compared to the amazing version at Port Orleans restaurants.A few notes about the gluten free fried foods at Raglan Road. They are currently made with Domata Gluten Free Flour blend (which includes chickpea flour). I was unable to obtain the recipe, but if you have specific allergens and questions, I would recommend contacting Raglan Road with questions. Additionally, Raglan Road tends to undersalt their fried foods. If you find the batter to be bland, just add some extra salt when it comes to your table. I always find this the best route. Or cover them in one of their many delicious condiments. That's always my solution! 
For my entree, I had the steak fries with the Pancetta and Chicken Sandwich. The sandwich was traditionally served with a herb aioli; however, the aioli contained dairy, so the sandwich was served plain. I asked for plenty of condiments so that alleviated any blandness issue but I'll get to that in a minute.First up, the bun appeared to be Udi's Gluten Free. The server told us it came from a local bakery, but everyone at the table agreed that it looked an awful lot like Udi's, and I thought it tasted exactly like Udi's. We weren't able to get anymore information, but I'll be curious to go back again to check this out.I found the sandwich to overall be fairly good -- nothing special. What made it special were the sauces that I asked for at the meal. 
As many of you know, I'm known as the condiment queen, and this visit to Raglan Road was all about the condiments. I always get the sweet chili jam for my onion rings (it's so good and a perfect combination of sweet and spicy) and the tartar sauce for the fries. With the addition of the remoulade, I had three condiments to compliment my meal. I added the tartar sauce to my sandwich (which would have been amazing if it was a fish sandwich), as well as to my fries. The remoulade and sweet chili jam were used on fries and onion rings. So good! If I had been thinking of it, I probably should have tried the remoulade on the chicken sandwich. Instant makeshift Po' Boy!Overall, I had a great time at Raglan Road's brunch. I would love to see an increase in gluten free AND dairy free breakfast offerings, but was pleased that I could still enjoy my lunch and dinner-time favorites. I can't wait to visit for brunch again soon!Have you been to Raglan Road for brunch? What did you order?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney
*This dining experience took place in September 2014. 
When it comes to good fish and chips and a pint of cider, there's no place better than Raglan Road Irish Pub, located in Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs). With dedicated fryers and proper fried fish and chips (and more!), there's a reason Raglan Road has been voted as one of the best gluten free places in Orlando. It's my restaurant of choice, whenever I visit the Downtown Disney area, not only for great food but also for great entertainment.On this particular occasion, I stopped by on a mid-week evening for a quick bite. I had originally planned to go to Cooke's of Dublin for their delicious shrimp and chips (also gluten free and dairy free fried wonderfulness) but the quick service location was beyond packed. I was with my brother and his wife, and we quickly headed back to Raglan Road to see if they had any bar seating open. Thankfully, they did!Of course, the first thing I did was order a Magners Irish Cider. I asked for their pear cider, which is my favorite, but they were out. So, plain cider it was. Not really needing to go through the menu, I quickly ordered the gluten free (and dairy free) fish and chips and onion rings to split with the group. I always double-check with the server or the bartender to confirm that the ingredients are still safe for me to consume. 
I have to say, sitting at the bar with a proper pint of Magners is pretty much my idea of heaven after a long day (especially, after a long day of conferencing, which I was doing for the next several days). 
I love Raglan Road's onion rings. They are fried well and are nice and crispy. They are not overly battered which I really appreciate. My only slight complaints are that the gluten free fried items tend to be under-salted (which is a matter of opinion, but I don't consider myself one to be adding salt frequently) and that they need to have a sauce to accompany the onion rings. My vote? The sweet chili onion jam. It's so good! I do usually ask for it on the side but just forgot that night.
My fish and chips were delicious as always. If you're not a big steak fry fan, you may want to ask for Skinny Chips as a substitution or on the side. I know Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando is a big fan of these! I absolutely adore their house-made tartar sauce which is just fresh and delicious. I think I need to do a top 10 condiments list one of these days. This would surely make the list (along with the sweet chili jam). Overall, Raglan Road continues to be the best non-Disney owned restaurant on Disney property (with Cooke's of Dublin being the best non-Disney owned quick service). Their attention to special diets and consistent offerings make this a location I will go to again and again!If you're not craving fried food, don't worry. They have plenty of non-fried options. I'm a huge fan of their citrus salmon salad, and their shepherd's pie has a huge gluten free following. Have you been to Raglan Road Irish Pub? What's your favorite dish to order?
Guest Review -- Disney World with Special Dietary Needs Trip Recap Day 2
This series of guests posts comes from reader Kathleen. Her love of Disney and passion for bringing awareness to special dietary needs on her college campus makes her the perfect guest writer for Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW. I’ve been following along on her college journey where she blogs about dining at college with special diets. Check out this great article on allergy friendly dining that she wrote last fall for her campus. Thanks again, Kathleen, for taking us along on your Disney special diets journey! (if you aren’t hungry, you will be after you read these reports)I’ve broken up Kathleen’s posts, and today we’re checking out her last days at Disney World on her vacation. You can catch days 1-3 on her previous post, and you can also recap with her visit to Universal Studios Orlando on her previous guest post! Hi everyone! My name is Kathleen and I’m currently a senior at NC State University in Raleigh. A few years ago, I found out about several food allergies that I have (gluten, corn, dairy, tomatoes, apples and peanuts) and ever since then, I’ve been on the lookout for new and exciting foods to try. Disney is a big deal in our family, and on our annual trip each summer, we love eating at new restaurants to mix things up. This was my third Disney trip with allergies, but my first without dairy, since I found out about that only a year ago.
Day #3 – 7/23On Wednesday, we didn’t have any dining reservations for once, so we ended up having a big lunch at Whispering Canyons Café in between MGM – errr, Hollywood Studios – and Magic Kingdom. This time, Chef Angela helped me out. She said that she could do plain pulled pork for me (unlike the other night), and that she had a gluten and corn free bun in the kitchen that I could have to make a sandwich. I was going to order the sweet potato fries and coleslaw, but after checking the ingredients, she ended up making my coleslaw with balsamic vinegar and olive oil (the regular one had apple juice), and a cucumber-dill salad, both of which were great. That sandwich was huge, but not to worry – I polished off the entire thing!The bagel that she gave me for the bun was also very good, but she later told me that it was an Udi’s bagel. Since I ended up having another skin flare up later that day, I checked the ingredients that night and corn syrup solids was one of them. I’m not sure why two different chefs (this one and Margaritaville) who were so adamant about the bread not having corn, would overlook that. However, the experience was still really good.
That night we were all set to watch the Spectromagic Parade at 11 (wayyyy past my normal bedtime of 9 PM – look at me staying up!), and I used that opportunity to try out the Rice Dream ice cream at the ice cream parlor on Main St. When I ordered, the cashier asked if it was an allergy or a preference, and when I told him it was an allergy, he got one of the servers to put it in a cup instead of a cone. Pretty impressive for a quick service stop.The ice cream itself had an interesting flavor – I liked it, but not as much as the So Delicious coconut milk ice cream I get at home. Still, I’m glad I got to try it. Unfortunately, right after I sat down with my ice cream, they announced that the parade was cancelled due to the one drop of rain that had apparently hit someone. Well, just kidding…there was supposed to be an impending storm that never ended up happening, so for the first time in forever, we were unable to see the parade. Oh well!Day #4 – 7/24Thursday was our “day off” from the parks. Usually on these days we’ll hang out at the pool for a while before moseying on over to Downtown Disney to shop and eat dinner. This year, I convinced my family to try out Whispering Canyons Café for a third time – breakfast! I was happy to see Chef Angela again, and she remembered me from the day before (regular, at last!).Now, there were two things that I was on a mission to find and try before leaving Disney. One of them was the famous allergy Mickey waffles. Chef Angela said that there were two types of batter – one with corn and one without. The batter also has applesauce. Usually they mix the two batters together for the allergy waffles, but she was able to make me Mickey waffles with no corn and no apples, and with pure maple syrup and earth balance butter on the side! She told me that the waffles were lighter in color and had a different flavor due to the lack of applesauce, but honestly, I wouldn’t have known the difference. They were fantastic! I stayed away from the earth balance since I knew it had corn in it, but the waffles and syrup were so good, I didn’t miss it. The waffles also came with bacon or sausage. I was in a bacon mood (who isn’t?), and let me tell you, the chefs at Whispering Canyon know how to cook their bacon. It was perfectly crispy – just how I like it.
Later that evening, after soaking up some rays by the pool and going on an impromptu bike ride to the campgrounds, we took the bus to Downtown Disney to eat dinner at Raglan Road. Originally, I was planning on getting the gluten free fish and chips or chicken curry with an appetizer of onion rings (provided that the batter was corn free). Unfortunately, the onion rings were not dairy free so I couldn’t get those. (*Note from Sarah: These have been dairy free in the past; however, ingredients and recipes do change, so it's important to always check with a manager or chef when you dine at a restaurant at Disney)This was not my week for curry, because it contained at least one of my allergens. Three strikes and it was out. In the end, I ordered the butternut squash “Raglan Risotto” because I love butternut squash, and it was something unexpected. Plus, the fries looked like steak fries and I’m not a huge fan of those, so I was unsure about the fish and chips. The risotto was really good – it was super creamy. I’m not sure how they got it to taste like that without milk or cream, but I liked it. The pear cider was also good. It’s possible that the risotto was too creamy to be true, however, because I ended up having a really bad skin reaction right after dinner. (*Note from Sarah: in the past this has been the restaurant's default vegan dish; always check with a manager or chef when you dine at a Disney restaurant for current ingredient listings, as products and recipes can change). Overall, I think this was my worst experience during my week at Disney. Not to say that it was awful, because the waitress was really nice and attentive to my allergies, but it was a little hard to hear and I wish I could have spoken with the chef since there ended up being some sort of cross contamination or unwanted ingredient in my dinner. Next time, I think I’ll try the fish and chips and hopefully that will work out better.
Day #5 – 7/25On Friday, our only reservation was at Crystal Palace and it was an early dinner. The rest of my family had gelato in Italy, and I just brought a snack from the hotel to tide me over between breakfast and dinner. Normally we do a lot more character meet and greets, but this ended up being the only one we did this year!The chef was great – she took me around the buffet to show me what was okay for me to eat, and said that she could prepare a couple of the hot bar vegetables plain for me. Remember when I said I was on a mission for two specific things? Well, the allergy chicken tenders were the second. I knew that Crystal Palace offered them, so I asked the chef if she could make those for me. She said that was not a problem, and that she would bring those out with the vegetables. I was able to try the sweet potato salad (!!), beet salad, and cucumber/pickled ginger salad from the salad bar. They were all good. You know I love sweet potatoes, and I’m also a fan of beets and fermented vegetables so it was a good appetizer.
I was very excited for my entrée to come out. The colors on the plate were so pretty I almost didn’t want to mess up the food. Ha! Yeah right! I haven’t had chicken fingers in quite a while, and these were definitely worth all of the hype I’ve been reading about them.After bringing that out, the chef told me there was rice dream and a chocolate brownie that I could have, and she brought those out for me for dessert. I already knew what the rice dream was like, but that chocolate brownie was the bomb. In the words of Princess Anna, I wanted to stuff some chocolate in my face, and I did. Just more gracefully. I think Crystal Palace was the best experience I had during the trip – those chicken tenders and brownie sealed the deal!
Day #6 – 7/26The last day of the trip is always sad for our family, but luckily we’re so busy enjoying the parks that we don’t really realize it until we’re in bed. Our last dinner reservation was at Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood Studios. I’ve come to realize that I prefer buffets for dining with allergies because I can see what’s available and know what it is instead of just reading a name off of a menu.The chef, Chef Trevor, was very nice. He was surprisingly young, and cute too! This buffet had a lot more protein options that were safe (as opposed to Crystal Palace), so I had the carved turkey. I also got the steamed broccoli, and broccoli salad from the buffet. The chef brought me some plain green beans and plantains (twice in one week, what up!) that I could eat as well. Not to sound like a broken record, but everything was delicious. That broccoli salad was so good, I went back for seconds! I love mixing fruit and nuts into my salads, and the combination of broccoli, soy nuts and cranberries worked really well.
The allergy brownie at this place was made with corn flour, so I couldn’t have that, but Chef Trevor brought me out a bowl of So Delicious Coconut ice cream. I’ve never had the coconut flavored one before, and I think it’s my new favorite! To make it even better, I topped it with an enjoy life cookie that I brought from the hotel. Ta da! Cookie Sundae.
Overall, this trip to Disney was fabulous. I got to spend time with my family, eat good food, and hang out in the happiest, most allergy friendly, and my personal favorite, place in the world – Walt Disney World! Now I just need to grow three inches so I can be a princess and I’ll be set. All I can say is, thanks to Sarah for letting me share my experience with you all. I had a wonderful time and I’m so excited to see what’s in store for next year!A huge thank you to Kathleen for her great trip report! If you want to learn more about Kathleen’s experiences as a college student with special dietary needs, you’ll get that chance at the upcoming Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney World on November 22, 2014.
Raglan Road -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney
*This dining experience took place in May 2014.Raglan Road, located in Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs), has been one of my favorite gluten free and dairy free go-to places for a while now. It's my hands down favorite spot in Downtown Disney (with Cooke's of Dublin a close second!). The received the 2014 Best Restaurant in Orlando award and have also received the best gluten free restaurant award in the past as well. With it's offerings of gluten free (and dairy free) fish and chips, onion rings, and more, it's fair to say it's a great dining option at Disney.I recently attended a work conference at Disney and the conference was located near Downtown Disney, which meant I was there a lot. Every day for the 3 day conference, actually. I also visited Cooke's of Dublin during the conference and enjoyed the scallops and chips which were divine. Trust me, go visit them too!But back to Raglan Road. I stopped by for lunch with my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando. I can't say that we've been there together since the Lunch & Learn this past fall, and it was nice to go for a long lunch break and catch up with her.When we arrived, we both decided to order the Citrus Salmon Salad. It's naturally gluten free and dairy free on the menu, and a great light choice for a lunch (or dinner). The salad is served with fresh salmon, orange segments, almonds, and a citrus vinaigrette. I had it for the first time in December 2013, and I fell in love with it immediately.
I found the salmon to be cooked perfectly again and the salad well dressed (key with a good salad!). I love the almonds and citrus segments in the salad too. So good! I think the presentation the first time was a little nicer but overall, it's still a gorgeous plate of food. And tasty as well as safe - the most important thing to me! Alexis also ordered dessert (there just really aren't great gluten free AND dairy free options there), and I have to say that I wish they'd make a dairy free version of her dessert. She got the strawberry and apple crumble with vanilla ice cream and fresh cream. It looked amazing! Head over to Gluten Free in Orlando to see the pictures and full review. I have to say, gluten free diners should definitely order this dessert.Overall, it was a great meal, as always. The staff are very knowledgeable and always ask if there are dietary needs before they even take any orders which is great. It's also nice to get a fair amount of variety in a restaurant, so you don't just always order the same thing (although I am partial to those fish and chips!).I give this a solid 8 out of 10 for great service, special diets offerings, and of course, fabulous company (that gets a 10 out of 10!).Have you been to Raglan Road? What are your favorite gluten free and dairy free dishes to order there?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney
*This dining experience took place in January 2014.
Raglan Road Irish Pub located in Downtown Disney is truly not just a great restaurant, but it's also a terrific and authentic Irish pub. With a variety of drink options to choose from and the full menu to order while you grab your pint, it's the perfect place for a proper meal or some quick pub grub.On this particular occasion, I visited not for dinner but for drinks and some snacks. The pub has an extensive drink menu, and while there are certainly some great options for gluten free & dairy free guests, I went with my tried and true gluten free Irish pub standby: Magners Irish Cider. This is hands down a must-do for a pub visit. Not only is it authentically Irish, but it's also delicious! With a mildly sweet taste and a crisp finish, it's the perfect accompaniment to some gluten free onion rings.
And yes, there were onion rings on this visit. Our group decided to get an order of the gluten free onion rings and chips (aka French fries). I made sure to let the bartender know that we needed them to be gluten free, and he did a great job at making sure that was noted. When the servers brought out the onion rings & chips, they said immediately that these are the gluten free & allergy order. We also asked for some of the sweet chili jam and tartar sauce that I love (both gluten free & dairy free).
The others in the group said they all though the sweet chili jam was perfect with the onion rings but that they could understand why it was paired normally with the scallops. This was a big winner and the jam was quickly devoured along side the crispy onion rings.
The chips were also well received, and I may or may not have slathered them in tartar sauce (hey, what can I say, I like their version!?). So good! The group all liked that they were big steak fries and not the wimpy versions you find throughout the Disney parks & resort.Overall, this was a great place to grab a drink and just relax. We visited in the afternoon so it was quite calm but I can imagine this place is packed on a weekend evening. I wouldn't hesitate to drop in sometime for a good pint of Magners & some traditional Irish atmosphere!Have you been to Raglan Road for drinks? What were your favorites?