Roaring Fork -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Wilderness Lodge
*This gluten free dining experience took place in December 2017.
Lunch at Roaring Fork
Roaring Fork, a quick service restaurant located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, is a hidden gem of a quick service resort restaurant with lots of rustic charm. I recently stopped by Roaring Fork with my family for a low-key lunch while they were staying at the Wilderness Lodge during the holiday season. I hadn't been to Roaring Fork since they had been closed for refurbishment, so I was looking forward to trying out some of the new menu options.
Atmosphere
One of the things I love most about Roaring Fork is the rustic decor. The decor takes a lot of nods from the overall rustic lodge feel of the resort.
Inside, you'll find a lot of grab and go stations, including a prominently featured Snacks with Character display. Snacks with Character is Disney's special diets friendly snack line. And, in Roaring Fork, I saw several options and even some special diets brands like Glutino and Surf Sweets featured.
Once you order your food, you'll find yourself in the seating area. It's not super spacious. But, it does provide a nice spot to sit and enjoy a meal. It reminds me of a bit of the cafeterias or mess halls of the camps that I used to work at as a college student.
The Food
Roaring Fork did not have an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu when I visited. One of the cast members said this may be because of the recent menu change. But, the good news is that you can speak to a manager or chef to ask about options.
Because I've reintroduced dairy back into my diet in limited amounts, I decided to get the Brisket Burger with Tillamook Cheddar Cheese, Cranberry Barbecue Sauce, Cast Iron Onions, and Apple Frisée on a Gluten Free Bun. The cheese and cast iron onions would need to be removed in order to make the dish dairy free. I also got a side of Baked Potato Barrels (aka tater tots) because everything is better with a side of potato barrels.The burger was definitely a huge step up from most of the burgers you find at Disney. The brisket served on top of the burger was tender and super delicious. I also really enjoyed the cranberry barbecue sauce and totally wish I would have ordered a side of it for the potato barrels. The potato barrels themselves were also really delicious -- though maybe not as good as fried ones. Still, it was nice to have a different option.One thing to remember about the potato barrels is that because they are baked you may have to wait a bit longer for your order. Mine took about 20 minutes to get due to the baking time.
Overall
I was pretty pleased with the meal I had at Roaring Fork. The burger was outstanding and the potato barrels made for a perfect side dish. I'd also like to try several of the other dishes, especially the pulled pork sandwich, which I was told could also be made gluten free too. Overall, I thought they had some nice options for a small quick service restaurant. And, I'm looking forward to going back again sometime soon. Between this and Geyser Point Bar & Grill in the new Copper Creek DVC area of the Wilderness Lodge, there are definitely some really nice quick service options at the resort.Have you been to Roaring Fork? What did you order when you dined there?