Ale & Compass Breakfast Review
*This gluten free dining experience took place in September 2018. Notes about dairy free options and modifications are included in this post.
Breakfast at Ale & Compass
Ale & Compass, formerly known as Captain's Grille, is a table service restaurant located at Disney's Yacht Club Resort. Renovated in 2017, it offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a casual setting. On this particular occasion, I decided to stop by for breakfast before heading to Epcot for the International Food & Wine Festival to check out the gluten free offerings at the festival.
Atmosphere
Ale & Compass has a theme and atmosphere that is modern nautical chic. Everything is fairly simple and elegant.
Ale & Compass - Restaurant Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
I do really like the tables and most of the seating -- although I was not as much of a fan of the booths. The booth seating in some areas of the restaurant are quite low and uncomfortable to sit in. The restaurant is also a bit dark inside. My recommendation is to ask for a seat near the exterior windows of the restaurant for a lot more light and brightness.
Ale & Compass - Restaurant Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
I was seated near the middle of the restaurant. It wasn't all that busy. But, I did find that table spacing was quite close -- making it a bit more "cozy" when you dine (which can be a good and bad thing).
The Food
Like most Disney restaurants, Ale & Compass does carry an allergy-friendly breakfast menu. When I visited back in July, the menu was fairly large. But, when I stopped by this time, I noticed it had been really reduced. My guess is that they are trying to encourage guests to dine at the breakfast buffet that is newly being offered at Ale & Compass.
Ale & Compass - Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
On my last visit, I spoke with a chef about gluten free options and was able to get the Eggs Benedict gluten free. On this visit, I knew I might be eating a lot at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival later in the day, so I decided to just get the American Breakfast which is marked as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies. Interestingly, it does not mention dairy free, as you can easily modify the dish to be dairy free too.
If you are dairy free, I recommend speaking with a chef directly about options. I do know that the American Breakfast, Allergy-Friendly Mickey Waffles, and even a modified version of the Breakfast Protein Bowl can all be made dairy free.
Ale & Compass - Iced Tea / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
On a side note, this is the first dining experience I've had since the new "straws only upon request" policy. I have to say that they definitely did not think about the glasses used at Ale & Compass for beverages without straws. I found it actually a bit more difficult than I would have thought without a straw due to the shape of the glass. So, if you think you need a straw, do make sure to ask!
Ale & Compass - American Breakfast / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
My entree, American Breakfast came with Eggs Any-Style (I got them over-easy), breakfast potatoes or fruit (I chose potatoes), bacon, and a grilled tomato. When I asked my server about gluten free toast, he said he could include that in the dish as the regular non-allergy friendly version had a toast option.
Ale & Compass - Allergy Friendly toast / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Overall, I thought this was a perfectly fine breakfast. It wasn't anything fancy. But, all of the flavors tasted good, and everything was well cooked and seasoned. I do like that the breakfast potatoes are a combination of potatoes. The bacon was also very hearty, not the normal stringy bacon that you find so often at Disney restaurants.
For toast, I was served Udi's Gluten Free bread, which is both gluten free and dairy free. I also asked for Earth Balance vegan buttery spread too. There wasn't anything to write home about this -- though I was surprised they only gave me one slice of bread for my entree, instead of two. Typically, Disney does serve two pieces of special diets friendly bread with breakfast entrees.
Overall
Ale & Compass serves a solid, but just OK breakfast. The different breakfast entrees I have tried haven't been anything to write home about. But, they definitely were filling. Probably the biggest negative of breakfast at Ale & Compass is their limited a la carte menu. While I haven't tried the breakfast buffet yet, I'm guessing that it is pretty similar in options that you can find on the a la carte menu. Ale & Compass is the only non-character breakfast at the Epcot area resorts. While it may not be anything special, it's definitely a great option for those who want a low-key and quiet breakfast to start the day.
Have you been to Ale & Compass? What did you think of the breakfast options?
Ale & Compass -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Yacht Club Resort
*This gluten free dining experience took place in July 2018.
Breakfast at Ale & Compass
Ale & Compass Restaurant, formerly known as Captain's Grille, is a table service restaurant located at Disney's Yacht Club Resort. I've been wanting to dine here since the restaurant reopened in late 2017. And, I recently had the chance to finally get a meal here. On this particular occasion, I decided to stop by Ale & Compass for breakfast to check out their special dietary needs options.
Atmosphere
Ale & Compass received a serious overhaul from what it used to be as Captain's Grille. Gone is the drab 1990s nautical theme. And, now, it has a chic and modern feel to it.
One of the things that I noticed immediately upon entering the restaurant is that the restaurant had a lot of dark navy, gray, and white colors to the decor and theming. I do think that it was a little bit darker inside overall. But, the general decor is a major improvement.
The tables feature modern chairs and lots of bench seating. And, the restaurant's seating capacity is fairly large given that it's a bit off the beaten path.
I really loved the chairs, silverware, and mugs at the tables. Everything had a very modern and simple in design.
There is also a brightly lit main dining area, with side seating and other smaller rooms throughout the restaurant. I was seated near some of the window area and really enjoyed the brightly lit area. My only complaint would be the bench seating. I opted to sit in the bench seating side of my table to get a view of the dining area. Unfortunately, the benches by the exterior of the restaurant are quite low and not that comfortable. So, be warned, they aren't the coziest of benches.
The Food
Ale & Compass offers guests with special dietary needs an allergy-friendly breakfast menu. However, I definitely recommend still speaking with a chef. Not only can they go over the a la carte options for you, but they can also walk you through the newly added breakfast buffet. If you do choose to dine at the breakfast buffet, be sure to ask the chef for items from the kitchen directly to avoid cross-contamination.One of the things I noticed about the allergy-friendly breakfast menu is that there were not a lot of gluten free options marked. Chef David came to my table to speak with me about options. He did note that I could get allergy-friendly Mickey waffles and modify the Breakfast Protein Bowl to be gluten free. I also asked if he could make the blueberry bacon pancakes gluten free. He said that he could but that he would advise against ordering them as the pancakes are quite thin.I'll be honest that he did not seem all that willing to customize and also didn't seem to note that there were many options to choose from. Finally, I settled on the Eggs Benedict after Chef David said that I could have it if they switched the English Muffin for gluten free bread. I also got a side of allergy-friendly Mickey waffles.
The Eggs Benedict came with Poached Eggs, Slow Roasted Barbecue Pork Loin, Roasted Tomatoes, Gluten Free Bread, and Spiced Herb Hollandaise served with Potatoes. This dish was modified to be gluten free but does contain dairy. It is also marked safe for Peanut/Tree Nut and Shellfish Allergies on the allergy-friendly breakfast menu.Overall, I thought this was a solid Eggs Benedict. The eggs were perfectly poached and the hollandaise was very flavorful and had a hint of smokiness to it. I really liked the pork loin served with it too. The only thing I wasn't keen on was the grilled tomato. I would have preferred the Eggs Benedict without it, and I honestly don't think it needed it.The breakfast potatoes were really tasty and included a blend of regular potatoes and sweet potatoes. They were cooked and seasoned well and were a great side dish to the Eggs Benedict.
I also got a side order of Allergy-Friendly Mickey Waffles served with 100% pure maple syrup. These waffles were marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies on the kids' menu. When I asked Chef David about the waffle batter, he said they were using Bob's Red Mill Pancake & Waffle Mix. But, after tasting the waffles, I determined it was definitely Namaste Pancake & Waffle mix, not Bob's Red Mill. Some locations are still using the Carbon's Golden Malted Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Flour Mix, which I do not like at all. So, I was glad to see either of the other allergy-friendly batters being used instead.
Overall
While I wouldn't say that my breakfast Ale & Compass was the best I've ever had on property, it was still a very good meal. I really enjoyed my Eggs Benedict and Allergy-Friendly Mickey Waffles. It's definitely a location that I'll visit again, though I'd like to check out their lunch and dinner options first before going back to breakfast again. Shout-out to my server Alyssa who was awesome throughout my meal. She did a great job and made the breakfast experience really pleasant and relaxing.Have you been to Ale & Compass Restaurant? What did you think of the special diets options offered there?
Captain's Grille -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Yacht Club
*This dining experience took place in September 2016.
Captain's Grille, located at Disney's Yacht Club Resort, is a table service restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's been a while since I've dined here for breakfast, and I recently decided to stop by during the Labor Day holiday weekend.Because it's a bit off the beaten path, I never find Captain's Grille to be overly busy and easily found a last minute breakfast reservation.I haven't been all that wowed by my visits to Captain's Grille in the past but knew that Chef Sergio who used to be at Trattoria al Forno was now there, and I was looking forward to seeing the restaurant offerings.After arriving, I took a look at their allergy friendly breakfast menu and noted that milk allergy was not listed very heavily. Because of this, I asked to speak with a chef. I was excited when I saw Chef Sergio because I knew he'd take great care with my meal.Captain's Grille does offer a buffet option (like the Wave at Disney's Contemporary Resort) along with a la carte options. I tried the buffet in 2013, but on this visit, I opted for a la carte options. If you are ordering and are interested in the buffet, you can always ask a Disney chef for items to be brought from the back of the kitchen to avoid cross contamination on the buffet itself.
Captain's Grille does custom omelets (both for the buffet and a la carte). I decided to try a custom omelet with ham and bacon. I also told Chef Sergio they could add whatever veggies they wanted to it too.The allergy friendly menu said omelets came with fresh fruit. I asked if the breakfast potatoes were OK, and Chef Sergio that they were safe for me to have and replaced the fruit with potatoes. I also got Udi's Gluten Free toast served with Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread.The omelet I had was outstanding. One of the best I've ever had at Disney. Filled to the brim with meat and veggies (including onion, green pepper, tomatoes, and spinach), it was perfectly cooked.The breakfast potatoes were really good and made a nice savory side to my omelet.
I also asked about the allergy friendly Mickey Waffles. Never one to shy away from a carb, I wanted to add in a bit of sweetness to my breakfast. When I asked what batter they were using (I prefer Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Mix), Chef Sergio noted that Captain's Grille is using Carbon Golden Malted Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Mix (*Note: despite the word malted, there is no gluten in the GF batter). I had heard that Disney was using a new gluten free and allergy friendly batter, and I have been hearing frequent complaints from readers about it tasting terrible. This was the first time I'd encountered anything other than Bob's Red Mill or Namaste mixes.Chef Sergio said there had been some changes to Bob's Red Mill, in which corn had been removed, that made the mix less allergy friendly and not as tasty. He also noted that the Carbon Golden Malted Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Mix was top 8 free (unless there commercial brand is different, the version you can buy on their website says it has soy in it). He advised against ordering them and said he wasn't a fan of the new mix either.But, he surprised me with a few to try and said no worries if I didn't like them. And, I have to say, I did not like them.The texture was just weird. The waffles appeared to be nice and crispy on the outside, but the inside was almost hollow. What dough was in the inside of the waffle was doughy and dry (if that makes any sense). The mix is bar none the worst I've tasted on Disney property.I'm really hoping that this mix doesn't become the norm at every restaurant. Between Bob's Red Mill and Namaste, both cover the top 8 common allergens and beyond too. I will definitely be contacting Disney's Special Diets Department and Guest Services to at least provide feedback on the taste because it's a sub-par product and option for guests with special dietary needs.Overall, I really enjoyed Captain's Grille for breakfast. My entree was delicious, and I would definitely order it again. The allergy friendly Mickey waffles with Carbon Golden Malted Gluten Free mix? Not so much. Huge shoutout to my server Cory and Chef Sergio for my great breakfast experience.Have you been to Captain's Grille? What did you think of the offerings there?
Captain's Grille -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Yacht Club
*This dining experience took place in March 2014.
Ahoy matey's! The nautical theme of Captain's Grille may make you want to say "Shiver me timbers" but you won't feel "out to sea" with the atmosphere and food offerings of this table service. Sure, I can't help myself with the sea-inspired references but really this is a nice option for guests looking for breakfast near the Epcot resort area.On this particular occasion, we stopped by for an early breakfast as we were headed to Epcot for the Flower & Garden Festival that day. We wanted to get a good meal in us before we spent the day touring. It's been a while since we've been to Captain's Grille, and I will say that it's not usually my first choice for a breakfast option. However, it sure fits the bill nicely when we go. I really love the quiet atmosphere here. It's always so calm and relaxing. One of my favorite things about it really.
The restaurant has a breakfast buffet and also an a la carte option. I had the breakfast buffet back in January 2013 but this time I decided to just get something off the menu. The chef here was really eager and nice. He gave me some suggestions, and I decided to go for a custom omelet with ham, onions, and asparagus (one of my favorite veggies) along with some Udi's toast and Earth Balance. Nothing too crazy but filling and tasty.
My toast was great as always. I gotta admit, I really love Udi's white sandwich bread. It's just homey and nostalgic for me. I also like the texture a lot - just reminds me of glutenous filled bread. The Earth Balance vegan margarine is my go-to. I use it at home and in all of my cooking & baking when it calls for butter. This stuff is amazing, and I'm always glad when a Disney restaurant carries it. Never underestimate the power of butter flavor!
I have to say, I love it when I get breakfast potatoes that are just a bit different, and these definitely were. They included shredded potatoes, sweet potatoes (my favorite) and onions with salt and pepper. My only complaint was that the onions were a little raw but otherwise, these were really good. You can't screw up a breakfast potato that much in my opinion. The omelet would have been great except for two things: 1) It was overcooked and 2) they only gave me the ends of the asparagus.Overcooked eggs are a personal pet peeve and the omelet was too badly overcooked but enough that I could tell. The thing that was really disappointing was the asparagus. Who gives you asparagus with only the ends?! The tips are the best part! It's really a good thing I like asparagus because I could still eat my omelet missing tips or not. Note to self...ask about that next time.Overall, despite the weirdness with asparagus, I really enjoyed the breakfast. The combination of all of my breakfast options made it a really tasty meal. My family, who don't have special diets, really enjoyed both the buffet and the a la carte options. We all said we'd go back again as an alternative breakfast place. I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10 for good service, great atmosphere and decent offerings. I'd bump it up to an 8 if they gave me asparagus tips!! I also want to pop by here sometime for dinner, especially after hearing about their gluten free angel food cake!Have you dined at Captain's Grille? What did you think of this restaurant?
Captain's Grille -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Yacht Club
*This dining experience took place in January 2013.
 |
| Entrance to Captain's Grille at Disney's Yacht Club Resort |
I always love trying new restaurants at Walt Disney World. Even though I go to WDW a lot, I still haven't eaten at every restaurant on property, so it's always nice when I get to check out a new location. On this particular trip, I was heading to Hollywood Studios and I wanted to go to someplace close to the park. For someplace different, we decided to head to Captain's Grille, since it was centrally located.When we arrived, we noticed the restaurant was a bit quiet (8:30am), but we liked that. In fact, the quiet, calm location that day made for a nice meal. I like finding quieter locations for those days I'm not wanting a calmer experience (I admit, I have to psych myself up for morning character meals!). In looking at the menu, it seemed we had a variety of choices from a breakfast buffet ($18.99) to a la carte items.
.JPG) |
| Interior of Captain's Grille |
When the chef arrived at the table, he asked more about what I wanted. The only thing he offered to make was the allergy friendly Mickey waffles. He said they use Bob's Red Mill mix, so I asked for those. I also inquired about Udi's toast (which they had) and Earth Balance (they also had). The eggs he would make in the back because the buffet eggs all had dairy in them. I asked about muffins and he said that they could add a breakfast muffin (they make them in house). So, ultimately, I decided on a "buffet" style option in which I had everything made in the back, except the breakfast meats which the chef said were safe on the buffet (and thankfully, located all next to each other) and the fruit.
.JPG) |
| Fresh fruit |
First up was the fruit. I really enjoyed this, as it tasted really fresh. It's strawberry season here in Florida, so it was nice to see these. The pineapple was also really good.
.JPG) |
| Chocolate, banana & spice muffins |
Next up were the muffins. I only asked for 1 muffin, so I was surprised to see 3 come to the table. That's a lot of muffins! Interestingly enough, they were made with Namaste mix (which was the base for the desserts at the 1st Annual Special Diets Dessert Party). The chocolate muffin tasted like chocolate cake (who says you can't have dessert for breakfast?!), the spice muffins was the Namaste spice cake mix (I make it at home, so I recognized it immediately), but the real winner for me was the banana muffin. This was a great breakfast item. Of course, they probably try to keep these very allergy friendly but I would love to have this version with nuts in it.
Next up was the most disappointing part of the meal--the Mickey waffles. Now, I've only had one other experience where the Mickey waffles were really bad, so I was really surprised to have this experience. It wasn't the taste that was bad, but the texture/density. If you're a baker you will relate to this--it was like they were dead-baked. They were extremely dense and dry. I think they used too little liquid and too much pancake mix. Yuck. I shared them with my family and they also agreed--taste was fine, texture was weird. I did eat one, but I couldn't eat the second one--I just found the texture to be very unappealing. Not sure I'd get these again here, not with the muffin option. They did mention that they can also make pancakes, so I wonder if they would be more appealing texture wise than the waffles.
.JPG) |
| Udi's toast, scrambled eggs, Earth Balance vegan margarine |
I also had the plate of eggs with toast & Earth Balance. The eggs weren't anything to write home about. Boring basic scrambled eggs, underseasoned. The toast was really toasted, which was OK by me, but if you have preferences on toast level, you might want to tell the chef.
.JPG) |
| Breakfast meats |
Lastly were the breakfast meats. Ham, turkey sausage and bacon. The turkey sausage was like a smoked sausage/kielbasa. It was nice to see some variety at breakfast--they also had turkey bacon. The bacon was the normal Disney stringy bacon. The ham was not my favorite. It was a sweet slice ham (I prefer a more savory/salty ham) and dry.Overall, I would come back to Captain's Grille, but perhaps only order a la carte and not the buffet. I've had much better buffet experiences that included more variety and better quality food in my opinion. That's not to say this wasn't a decent breakfast, it was. But, it was more mediocre compared to some of my favorite restaurants on property. I would come back again but it wouldn't probably be my first choice of breakfast locations. I'd be curious to give it a try for dinner or lunch sometime.A 7 out of 10 for the experience. Nothing special, but a pleasant atmosphere. Pass on the Mickey waffles.