Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in February 2016.Boatwright's, a table service restaurant at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, has long been a favorite restaurant of mine -- one that I definitely think is a bit of a hidden gem. With great comfort food with a Southern and Cajun twist, like chicken and waffles, and terrific special diets accommodations, I've enjoyed getting lots of great eats at Boatwright's.On this particular occasion, I dined at Boatwright's for my birthday and was looking forward to a great meal. Boatwright's does currently have an allergy-friendly dinner menu, and while there weren't a ton of gluten free and dairy free items listed, I was confident that after speaking with a chef I'd be able to get some of my favorites like Crawfish Bites.Before my meal, I was given Deanna's Gluten Free rolls (formerly GNI Brand), with some Smart Balance buttery spread, which is vegan and gluten free. The rolls were heated well, though I do wish the restaurant carried Earth Balance, as I prefer that over Smart Balance.For an entree, I ordered Colonel Peace's Pieces, which is a combination of crawfish bites, okra, and oysters. The restaurant currently uses corn flour as it's batter base for all orders, so this dish is naturally gluten free, which is very nice! My version did need to be modified to be dairy free.The remoulade sauce is so good, and one I can't pass up when I'm at Boatwright's. It is both gluten free & dairy free naturally, though initially, I was told it was no longer dairy free. After confirming with the chef, it is still dairy free, as the remoulade is mayo based, I was able to enjoy it safely.Overall, I did enjoy the appetizer, though I have to say I personally miss the crawfish bites. This version was good, and while I liked the okra, the oysters were not my favorite (that's a personal preference). I also found the dish to be very underseasoned. Of course, nothing a bunch of remoulade wouldn't fix!I had my heart set on the chicken and waffles, which I have really enjoyed at Boatwright's. Unfortunately, the chef was unable to accommodate my request, as they currently use Cup4Cup mix for their waffles which does contain dairy.I ended up ordering the classic jambalaya, though found my dish to be a bit lacking. For some reason it did not contain sausage or shrimp, as it normally does. The flavors were good, but I would have liked to have had the other proteins in addition to the chicken.You can read more about Boatwright's from Alexis at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures, including her review of the gluten free chicken and waffles.Overall, I still really love Boatwright's, though my experience wasn't as amazing as it has been in the past. It's truly a nice hidden gem with interesting and unique offerings all set in a lovely atmosphere.Have you been to Boatwright's? What did you order when you dined here?

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in December 2014.It's no secret that Boatwright's Dining Hall is one of my favorite restaurants on Disney property. Since my birthday visit last February, I have dined at Boatwright's more times than I can count and each meal has been amazing. That's a testament to how great the restaurant, chefs, and menu are there.When it came to a birthday dinner for my mom, I asked her what her choice would be, and to her it was no question - Boatwright's. It just so happens that my mom's birthday is also Christmas Eve, so we were celebrating both the holiday and my mom's birthday that evening. The restaurant was definitely pretty busy, so as with any Disney dining, I recommend making ADRs anytime you want to dine at a table service location.We were greeted by Chef Paul, who has prepared many of my meals at Boatwright's and at other Port Orleans restaurants like Riverside Mill. I knew that I wanted to get the crawfish bites (of course) and the sweet-tea brined pork chop (now known on the menu as the Louisiana Lugger). You know you go to a restaurant a lot when you know what items you want to order before you even get there.First up were GNI brand rolls with some extra virgin olive oil. I know I've said it before, but I will say it again - the Boatwright's chefs really know how to heat these rolls up. Not heated up properly, these rolls can be less than great, but the chefs here always make sure they are well heated. The extra virgin olive oil is always a nice way to enjoy the rolls too.Up next came my favorite crawfish bites. As always, these were outstanding. Crispy and delicious, I love the light batter and the freshness of the crawfish. And they are always perfectly seasoned at Boatwright's. I have to hand it to Chef Paul; he really has the gift for salting his fried foods perfectly (as does Chef Tony). Some restaurants tend to under-salt their fried foods (Raglan Road never salts or grossly under-salts their fried foods), so this is just another testament to how great this culinary team is.The portion size of this appetizer is pretty generous, so I always recommend sharing it with your dinner-mates. My family adores the gluten free version as well as the glutenous one, so regardless of your special dietary needs I can highly recommend them as a crowd-pleasing appetizer.One important note about the gluten free (and dairy free) crawfish bites. The current menu version is more of a crawfish cake not the previous version of crawfish bites. If you would like to order the crawfish bites, I recommend contacting Disney's Special Diets Department (special.diets@disneyworld.com) at least 2 weeks in advance to request them. The restaurant can still accommodate with advance notice.One of my favorite entrees at Boatwright's is the sweet-tea brined pork chop with sweet potato hash. With the perfectly grilled pork chop to the sweet potato hash topped with crispy fried gluten free and dairy free onion straws, there's nothing about this dish I don't like. The onion straws absolutely make the dish (how can you not like an onion straw?!) and the chefs here know all too well that I love them (hence the heaping piles on my plate).Like the crawfish bites, if you are interested in onion straws you'll want to contact Special Diets at least two weeks in advance to request. And trust me, you'll want to. They are worth the extra email or two!I don't tend to get desserts at restaurants, and this night I had a homemade gluten free and dairy free German chocolate cake waiting at home for my mom's birthday, but Boatwright's does carry several options for gluten free and dairy free diners.Overall, my mom was really excited to spend her birthday at Boatwright's (she even got a special dessert for the occasion) and spending our Christmas Eve there was even more special. Thanks to Chef Paul and the entire culinary team for a wonderful holiday meal!Have you been to Boatwright's Dining Hall? What's your favorite menu item?

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in August 2014.When it comes to my favorite restaurants on Disney property, I have to say it probably boils down to two. These are the two that I consider the ones I could eat at nightly and not be bored or disappointed. One is Sanaa and the other is Boatwright's Dining Hall. Both have decidedly unique culinary themes and both are a bit spicy (and condiment heavy, which I adore). I also consider both of them to be a bit of hidden gems on property; both very affordable and delicious. And they are equally popular with my family and friends. Case in point? This meal was requested by my friend for his birthday! Yep, people love Boatwright's. What I love most about it is the food is excellently prepared and delicious. Port Orleans resort restaurants in general are all about real food. Boatwright's, to me, is pure comfort food, with a Cajun and Southern twist. And they have crawfish bites and remoulade. Enough said.On this particular occasion, we were greeted by Chef Tony. He had been making up a beignet storm at the August Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW meet-up that afternoon; let's just say the meet-up and the beignets were very popular! It was a terrific meet-up, and I'm so glad the team at Port Orleans really worked to accommodate our group.At dinner, one of the first things that Chef Tony did was bring me out a basket of GNI rolls and some extra virgin olive oil with herbs. This is, as it always is here, a perfect combo. The GNI rolls were heated really well (more bonus points for Boatwright's!) and I love having some variation with the olive oil. Of course, I really can't go to Boatwright's and not get crawfish bites. I think it's literally impossible. Chef Tony served them up with a huge serving of remoulade (ah, the culinary team here knows me all too well). Our group shared these, and everyone agreed they are delicious.Every time I eat these, I have visions of a crawfish Po' Boy made at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory using these in my head. That would be so amazing.  For my entree, I ordered the sweet tea brined pork chop with sweet potato and bacon hash. The onion straws do normally contain gluten and dairy, but with advance notice (2 weeks through Disney's Special Diets Department), they are able to make these along with the crawfish bites gluten free and dairy free. I've had this dish several times, and this is officially my favorite dish on the menu. Those onion straws are my culinary jam. Breaded in Namaste pancake and waffle mix with some spice added to it, these were heavenly. And, as you can see from the photo I was not lacking in the portion department with these either. They truly add a nice crunch to the dish, and I'm so grateful that the team can make them for me here. Onion straws for the win!The sweet potato hash is excellent. Combined with the flavors from the pork chop and the onion straws, the dish just is perfection. And the portions are huge! One thing I know, you will never leave hungry at Boatwright's!Boatwright's continues to impress me. I can't believe it took me until this year to dine there. It has quickly come up the ranks as one of my favorite places to dine, and yes, I'm quickly going through the menu options! With big flavors and comforting dishes, I look forward to my next meal and more to come!Have you been to Boatwright's? What dishes do you order there?

Riverside Mill -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, at least that's what this brunch junkie thinks! I am always looking to try new breakfast options at the Disney parks & resorts restaurants, and recently I got a chance to visit Riverside Mill not once but twice for breakfast. Work conferences sure have their advantages some time!On my first visit, I met Chef Ron. He asked me what I was interested in for the day, and I decided to go with a modified version of the adult Bounty Platter which normally comes with scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, bacon, sausage and a biscuit. I switched out the sausage for more bacon and added in Udi's Gluten Free toast with Smart Balance vegan margarine. The bounty platter is more or less the same at most quick service locations with slight variations of the breakfast potatoes. I enjoyed the spicy (but not too spicy) breakfast potatoes at Riverside Mill. Overall, a very solid meal. For breakfast number 2, I went a little more sweet with allergy Mickey waffles. Culinary intern, Chef Emma, greeted me. I know her well from my copious amounts of gluten free, allergy friendly beignet orders and it was great to catch up with her. I ordered the allergy Mickey waffles (made here with Namaste pancake and waffle mix) and a side of scrambled eggs. I have to say, these were the crispiest Namaste waffles I've ever had on Disney property. I usually find these are less crispy than Bob's Red Mill allergy Mickey waffles, but these were outstanding on crispiness. I still prefer Bob's Red Mill pancake mix (personal opinion, not based on the quality of the product) but these were very well done. The side of strawberries was another sweet treat and ordering a side of scrambled eggs really balanced out the sweetness nicely.Overall, I found Riverside Mill to have excellent special diets breakfast options. Everything was well cooked and seasoned and easily modified. If you ever get a chance to visit Port Orleans Riverside Mill for lunch or dinner, I highly recommend it. I've had lunch here several times, and they have both been terrific and unique dishes. Have you been to Riverside Mill for breakfast, lunch or dinner? What are your favorite dishes here?

Riverside Mill -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.Riverside Mill, located in Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, offers up quick service with a Southern and Cajun twist. Set to resemble a working cotton press, I really enjoy the atmosphere of this location - in addition to the great food offerings available. On a previous occasion, I stopped by here for lunch and had the mahi sandwich, which was great. On this visit, I was stopping by for another lunch while on break from a work conference. Never one to order the same thing twice in two visits (unless it's crawfish bites, then I'm always ordering them!), I wanted to try something different from Riverside Mill for lunch. While browsing the menu, the Carved Cajun Turkey Sandwich caught my eye. I was greeted by Chef Paul, whom you'll recall from my other visits to Boatwright's and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for beignets. Chef Paul always does a great job (as do all of the chefs at Port Orleans), so I knew I would have a great meal. We went over options, and when I mentioned the Carved Cajun Turkey Club Sandwich I learned that it had a Cajun mayo and was made with house-roasted turkey breast, not deli style turkey. Well, that sold me quickly! I also ordered it with a side of coleslaw.Well, I gotta say, this was one of my favorite quick service sandwiches. The house-roasted turkey breast was killer. It was nicely seasoned and not dry. Everything is better with bacon, and this sandwich was no exception. What made it complete for me was the Cajun mayo. Yes, you know I love a good condiment and this was another winner for me. Next time, I'm getting fries with this as a dipping sauce (I think I say that every time I'm at Port Orleans and I try one of their sauces). I was so glad to see that the coleslaw was not a mayonnaise-based slaw. Those can be overpowering, bland, and heavy. This was a light, vinegar-based slaw that was just a little sweet. It was the perfect accompaniment to the turkey sandwich with it's robust Cajun mayo. Overall, I was thrilled to find this sandwich on the menu. I am always impressed when a restaurant takes the time to roast their own meats, as opposed to using deli meats. Chef Paul said they also cook their roast beef for the roast beef sandwiches in-house too. This team really knows what they are doing here. Port Orleans Riverside Mill and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory are two fantastic quick service locations and some of the best on property. They really take the time to make quality meals that go above and beyond the burgers and fries realm (which, of course, you can always still order there and are also delicious). I'm looking forward to getting this sandwich again. It just might have to be a repeat on my next visit!Have you been to Riverside Mill? What special diets offerings did you order there?   

Riverside Mill Food Court -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in August 2014. Visiting Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort makes you feel like you're transported back to the days of Mark Twain and riverboats, with a distinctly Southern feel. The restaurant is set to resemble a working cotton press and has massive amounts of working gears that are powered by a large water wheel. It's pretty impressive to say the least. It's also a massive food court with lots of seating and Southern inspired menu.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for a quick lunch before a meetup over at Port Orleans French Quarter for my favorite gluten free and food allergy friendly beignets. I also had dinner planned for Boatwright's with friends, so it was a very Port Orleans inspired day! While the food at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory is decidedly New Orleans, the menu at Riverside Mill is a little more standard for a food court, with a few standouts with Southern flare including a Muffuletta flatbread and a Southern fire chicken sandwich. I was having a hard time deciding what to order.I was greeted by Chef Page, and I asked him what might be safe to eat. We discussed several options including the Southern fire chicken sandwich and the Mahi sandwich which sounded really interesting. I opted to go for the Mahi sandwich which came with fries from a dedicated fryer. It was rather busy at the food court, so I took the time while I waited to explore the restaurant a bit. There are lots of amazing details in there!Once my meal came out, I got a seat and dug in. The Mahi sandwich had Cajun seasoning on it and was seasoned nicely. Served on a Local Oven brand bun, this was a fairly substantial sandwich. The sandwich was topped with coleslaw and a remoulade sauce (which is mayonnaise based). You know how I feel about condiments and this sandwich satisfied my sauce cravings. Now if I would have asked for some remoulade on the side for the fries... The French fries were the standard fries you get at Disney World, so nothing special there. But had I dipped them in remoulade...genius! The restaurant itself had quite a few offerings available to me, which was terrific. I liked the food a lot here and I love the atmosphere. It's a great place to dine and enjoy the atmosphere and for a quick service it has a lot of charm to it. I enjoyed my Mahi sandwich a lot and would definitely order it again without hesitation.Overall, I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10. I am looking forward to grabbing breakfast here soon, when I stay at Port Orleans Riverside for a work conference. I do have to say that I think I prefer Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory's menu overall, but happily would dine at Riverside Mill again for lunch or dinner.Have you been to Riverside Mill? What did you order there? 

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in July 2014.There are a few locations at Disney World that I consider hidden gems - locations that are truly overlooked. To me, Boatwright's Dining Hall is one of those hidden gems. Nestled in the main lobby building of Port Orleans Riverside Resort, guests will find this a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of so many Disney World restaurants.In addition to the rustic atmosphere, guests will be blown away by the impressive array of comfort food with a Cajun and Southern twist served at Boatwright's. And as a special diets diner, I've been even more impressed with the variety of dishes that are available too. I have two words that says it all...Crawfish Bites (and yes, they are gluten fee and dairy free). I recently stopped by Boatwright's for dinner with friends and fellow bloggers, Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Amanda from Eating Out Without. Both Alexis & I got hooked on Boatwright's after dining here for my birthday in February 2014. And when it came to deciding where to have dinner as a group, we knew just the place - especially since Amanda had never been before! We wanted to have a memorable mean and dining at Boatwright's is always memorable.  Prior to our meal, both Alexis and I made advance notice for a few requests - the crawfish bites appetizer (to be made gluten free and dairy free) and for something really exciting...fried chicken (and waffles in the case of Alexis, but more on that later). We recommend you contact Disney's Special Diets Department for such requests. Once seated, we were greeted by our lovely server and Chef Tony who also brought us GNI brand rolls and some extra virgin olive oil with herbs. I am a huge olive oil fan, and anything of good quality with herbs is OK by me. Admittedly, I don't think any of us at the table ate more than one of these rolls because we were saving room for the rest of the meal.  First up were our appetizers. As I've mentioned (perhaps ad naseum), the crawfish bites here are outstanding and must do every time I visit. Perfectly seasoned, well fried, and smothered in a dairy free remoulade sauce...well, that's just culinary perfection to me. It's simple and so delicious. Typically, the crawfish bites are not gluten free or dairy free, and I'm always glad when I'm able to request them in advance. Chef Tony also brought out a delicious and fresh seasonal salad. With almonds, fresh strawberries and a beautiful balsamic vinaigrette, this was a new favorite for me. I have a bit of an obsession with balsamic vinegar and it paired well with the fresh fruit. Although I am always prone to ordering the crawfish bites, I may have to order this instead next time!   For my entree, I asked for gluten free and dairy free fried chicken as did Alexis. Chef Tony turned her entree into an amazing version of chicken and waffles and asked me if I wanted to do the same. I decided to opt for the dirty rice with my entree, as I'm a huge fan of Boatwright's version. However, after seeing Alexis' chicken and waffles, I really wished I would have ordered that instead. Note to self...get chicken and waffles next time! You can see Alexis' full review with pictures on Gluten Free in Orlando. I dare you not to want to order it after you see her photos!  Amanda ordered the jambalya, a real favorite for me too. You can read her full review, including her review of the gluten free and dairy free version of French Onion Soup on her site. I have to say, I really enjoyed this. A lot. Crispy and crunchy with a gorgeous peach sauce on top (stone fruit being a huge favorite of mine), this was perfectly fried and well seasoned. The dirty rice was amazing as always, and I love that it's made authentically. I have to be honest, I just kept going back to the chicken. It was so good.Chef Tony mentioned that his recipe for gluten free fried chicken was inspired by a recipe from Posana Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina, and he tweaked my version to be dairy free as well. There are so few locations on property that can do something like this. Of course, there's 50's Prime Time and allergy chicken tenders at quick service locations. To have another spot that really hit the spot with a comfort food favorite, well that's golden to me! I also quite liked that the chicken used was boneless. It made for a tender piece of nicely fried chicken. And the seasoning of course was fantastic, made simply and with a touch of Cajun seasoning, as Chef Tony told us. The base for the coating is Namaste, and they only different between mine and Alexis' version was the addition of buttermilk to hers (which produced a more rich dark color and puffed up the coating).This was a fantastic meal, and I was entirely too stuff by the end to order dessert. We also as a group took a leisurely stroll to Port Orleans French Quarter for beignets. One of my favorite things to do post-dinner at Boatwright's is walk the resort. It's really gorgeous and will make you feel like you've been transported somewhere else.   Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boatwright's. It has consistently been one of the best Disney restaurants I've been to. The food is always outstanding, the chefs amazing, the servers excellent, and the prices really reasonable. I'd give this dining experience a solid 9.5 out of 10. Next time I have got to request the gluten free and dairy free chicken and waffles! If you have special requests, you'll need to make arrangements at least 14 days in advance with Disney's Special Diets Department. A huge shoutout to Chef Tony for making our meal experience extra magical, as always! Have you been to Boatwright's? What are your favorite special diets menu offerings there?  

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in April 2014 and also includes a gluten free only review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.I have to admit that when I find a restaurant that I like at Disney, I tend to be a repeat guest, and Boatwright's Dining Hall located at Port Orleans Riverside has quickly become one of those places for me. I actually think it's quite a hidden gem on property, and I like it better each time I go back!Boatwright's culinary theme is definitely a mixture of New Orleans and Southern cuisines -- something I'm always a fan of. It's definitely comfort food which is both appealing to broad range of diners and very friendly on the budget.On this particular visit, I brought a friend and fellow GF diner who was working at the Gluten-Free Living Conference held in Orlando. He's also a huge Disney fan and loves restaurants like Boma. He and his family frequently stay at Port Orleans Riverside but had not eaten at Boatwright's before. Well, you know that I had to change that!We were greeted by Chef Paul who also took care of my party during my birthday meal at Boatwright's, and it was great to see a familiar face. He went over the various options available to us (see my previous post on my birthday for a full list). I had a couple ideas of options that I was interested in after my birthday dinner and it was a hard decision to make! However, I knew we had to get the Crawfish bites that I had my on birthday and I had made sure to let the chefs know ahead of time that I wanted these (they are normally not GF/DF). I'm not even sure how I could go to this restaurant and NOT order these!While we waited for our crawfish bites, we were served some GNI brand rolls with extra virgin olive oil. Now, I've probably commented on this ad nauseum, but heating up GNI rolls is essential in making these taste good. Otherwise, the texture gets totally crumbly and weird (and unpalatable in my opinion). I have to say, these were perfectly heated! And I am a big extra virgin olive oil fan with bread, so this was definitely a great accompaniment.Ah, crawfish bites. So delicious! I think it's pretty clear that I love all things deep fried (really, who doesn't?!) These honestly are just deep fried perfection (and well seasoned too). Deep fried and seafood just go together. Add in the remoulade sauce...and you just can't go wrong! As you can see in the photo, there were two sides of remoulade sauce. My friend and I shared this appetizer so there was a bowl for each of us of remoulade. But, you know me...I honestly could have eaten them both myself!As an aside, if you took all of these components and made them a Po'Boy, I would be in some serious GF/DF heaven. That would be amazing!It took some serious decision making but I ended up ordering the Jambalaya. It was fantastic. It did have to be slightly modified because of me being GF/DF but it was still fantastic! I andouille sausage was excellent and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. Seafood has that tendency to get overcooked and this was not the case with this dish. If you like Jambalaya, then you simply must try this version! And be prepared to be full. The serving is quite large.My friend had about as much of a challenge trying to decide what to order as I did (testament to how many great options there are for GF & DF diners). Chef Paul recommended the Blackened fish, which was mahi mahi, and the sides from the Andouille-Crusted Catfish - which included dirty rice, seasonal vegetables, cayenne-butter sauce (which was removed) and a chive aioli.My friend, awesome person that he is, asked that it also be made GF/DF so that I could try it too. This is another reason I love having friends with special diets - Most of my friends will make sure things are safe for others in the party so we can share.So, I have to say....I nearly asked my friend to switch. OK, not really, but honestly this dish was outstanding. Like beyond outstanding. The mahi mahi was perfectly blackened and perfectly cooked. I adore asparagus (I'm probably a bit of a weirdo on that one. I adore asparagus and not just on things like Eggs Benedict). And the dirty rice was ridiculously good. Chef Paul mentioned it was made with chicken liver (which is how it's traditionally made). I know that many people might think that doesn't sound appetizing, but if you're a meat eater I would encourage you to try this dish. It will totally change your mind!Note to self...next time order this dish!Dessert options for me included non-dairy ice cream and an Enjoy Life Foods cookie "fondue" of sorts. Given that I was a bit full, I opted for no dessert this time but my friend got the Bananas Foster without the angel food cake. Despite the awful picture that I took - this dish looked really delicious and according to my friend was amazing. Actually, I don't think he talked the entire time he ate it...it was that good! I have also heard rave reviews about the Bananas Foster dessert from Alexis at Gluten Free in Orlando too, so I think that means it's a winner! And her review has a great photo of the Bananas Foster too!As I mentioned early on in this review, I truly think Boatwright's is a hidden gem on property. Not only is the food amazing and affordable, but the culinary team there is hands down one of the best. They really take the time to make sure they go through the options with you and ensure safety for your meal.I can't thank Chef Paul enough for the great meal, and I'm looking forward to heading back again soon (yep, I'm already planning my next visit).I give this experience an easy 10 out of 10!Have you been to Boatwright's? What were your favorite dishes for special dietary needs?

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in February 2014 and includes my gluten free & dairy free review, a gluten free & yellow food coloring review, and a vegan review.Located near the lobby of Port Orleans Riverside lies Boatwright's Dining Hall, a hidden gem of Disney restaurants. Serving New Orleans/Cajun inspired fare, I have long been wanting to dine at this location for dinner. I hadn't been to this resort or the restaurant since 2006, when I made a Mother's Day trip to Disney with my mom. We loved the charming and relaxing atmosphere of the resort, and we also enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Boatwright's (which is no longer served).When I was deciding where to go for my birthday celebration dinner, I immediately thought of Boatwright's. I have been spending entirely too much time lately at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory next door at Port Orleans French Quarter getting those fantastic gluten free, dairy free, egg free (and vegan) beignets. But, it had been prompting me to want to try dinner at Boatwright's. So, my birthday dinner celebration was set. Friends and family joined in on the fun, including Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Tony from Disney by the Numbers. Both of them have special dietary needs too, so it was cool to see what they ordered on the menu.First up, I have to apologize that I didn't take any photos of the restaurant. Apparently, I was too busy having fun to take photos. But, it's an impressive and cozy restaurant -- built a bit like a shipyard. We had nice seating on the top level of the restaurant, near the warm fireplace (very appreciated after a cold rainy day) -- with a roaring fire, it was the perfect back drop.Chef's Tony & Paul took care of our table during the meal, and let me tell you they did a stellar job. This was one of the best meals I've had at Disney in a very long time. First up, they went over the menu offerings. For appetizers, gluten free (and some modifications for dairy free) included: shrimp and grits (not dairy free), the French onion soup (minus the crouton & cheese - this one might still not be dairy free), the house salad minus the croutons (not dairy free - this one has a green goddess dressing - which looked fantastic), and spinach salad (minus the crouton). These also sounded great, but as soon as I heard that they could make the cajun-seasoned crawfish bites gluten free & dairy free...well, you know which one I chose!Normally, the cajun-seasoned crawfish bites are not gluten free & dairy free - but if you contact the Walt Disney World Special Diets Department ahead of time, they can arrange to make it safe for you. Of course, you now I couldn't pass up something battered and deep fried and smothered in remoulade sauce (we'll get to that momentarily). I have to tell you, this appetizer is hands down one of my favorites on property now. These were outrageous. First up, it's a huge portion (which I had no problem scarfing down), second it was piping hot and perfectly seasoned. Fried foods really need to be salted properly, and I can tell you the balance on this dish was perfection. Both Alexis & I ordered this and I think neither of us spoke for a good several minutes other than to say "oh my gosh, these are amazing."I adore remoulade sauce and this version was divine. The perfect combo of spice along with the crawfish. I may also have dipped some bread in the remoulade sauce too!! (heck, you could dip an old booth in this remoulade and it would probably taste amazing). Speaking of rolls, we were served GNI brand rolls along with Smart Balance (which is GF and vegan) for me and regular butter for everyone else. For dinner options, we had an impressive amount - and many didn't even need dairy free modifications which was great. Here are the gluten free options:

• Jambalaya
• New York Strip
• Voodoo Chicken (with some modifications)
• Vegetarian Jambalaya (also vegan)
• Andouille-crusted Catfish (with some modifications)
• Slow Roasted Prime Rib
• Blackened Fish
• Sweet Tea Brine Pork Chop (with some modifications)
• Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib (with some modifications)

With so many choices, most of us were having a hard time choosing. And wouldn't you know it we all got something different! (on a side note, I kind of would love a sampler platter entree here - like a Taste of the Bayou with small portions - or I just need to go back soon so I can try other dishes).Alexis chose the Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib which looked fabulous. You can read her full review on Gluten Free in Orlando. Tony got the vegetarian jambalaya which looked delicious as well. I know he really enjoyed the dish. And my other friend ordered the Voodoo Chicken. The red beans & rice and collard greens are not currently gluten free, so he got green beans and potatoes instead. He kindly shared it with both Alexis and I, and wow! The sauce on the chicken was terrific. It was a peach marmalade and totally sweet and spicy.For my entree, I went with the Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chop. I have to admit, what got me was the onion straws. The same batter for the cajun spiced crawfish bites was used for the onion straws and they were amazing. They aren't normally GF/DF, so this is another one you'll want to contact Special Diets ahead of time if you want. I have to tell you, this entree was amazing. It exceeded my expectations and then some. The pork itself had a subtle sweetness from the brine and a great grill flavor. Add in the bacony, smoky, sweet potato hash and the fried onion straws...well, it was the perfect dish. It was also huge (side note, if you go to Boatwright's be prepared for massive portions - seriously, the prices and portions at this place are a steal). I had leftovers and they were fantastic the next day too. I admit, that I might have a hard time ordering other dishes at the restaurant after this one -- even though I do want to try others!If you're looking for gluten free dessert options (and yes, believe me we somehow managed to make room for dessert), Boatwright's currently has butterscotch creme brulee, bananas foster angel food cake without the cake, ice cream, or OMG...It's Gluten Free cookies and brownies. They also have Babycakes Brownie Cupcakes on hand. Chef Tony jazzed up one for me with a chocolate sauce, fresh raspberries (my favorite), and vanilla Rice Dream. Oh yeah...about that candle. I also got a restaurant serenade to help celebrate the occasion. Perfect way to end the meal! Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boatwright's. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of the food. Honestly, this is a hidden gem of a restaurant, and I can't believe more people haven't discovered it yet. Everyone at the table (and there were 11 of us!) raved about the meal and really enjoyed it -- special diets or not. I can tell you, I will certainly be back to try out new dishes...but those cajun-seasoned crawfish bites, they're totally going to be a permanent fixture on my visits. They were to-die-for!Thank you again to Chef Tony & Chef Paul for making this a memorable and delicious birthday dinner. This restaurant was a solid 9 out of 10 for me!Have you been to Boatwright's before? What are your favorite dishes?