Garden Grill -- Table Service -- Epcot

Dale and I at Garden Grill!

This was our first time at the Garden Grill, and I have been wanting to dine there for years. Boy, we have been missing out!!! This is one of my new favorite places. It was soooo good. First of all, it's got great character interaction (yes, I got lots of pics with the characters) and it is such a nice calm environment. I love going around the Land! Upon arrival, we were greeted with menus and also birthday cards. How nice! Last year, we didn't really get anything special on our birthday trip, so we were quite surprised this trip (we got a LOT of great birthday meal experiences). Chef Tom came out and talked to me about the dietary restrictions. He was very helpful. I was able to get a lot of the regular offerings, though some slightly modified. First up were the Energ-G rolls (I had brought my Earth Balance margarine but forgot it at the hotel room! This restaurant did not have any on hand) and a garden salad. They made one big salad for all of us, with the dressings on the side (and no croutons). I had oil and vinegar for mine. This was an excellent salad too--very fresh and lots of yummy add-ins to it (bacon, egg, tomato, cucumber). I usually have to take it easy with the salad, but I admit, I scarfed a lot of it down.

Garden Salad...YUM!

Ener-G tapioca rolls

For my main plate, Chef Tom brought me crushed garlic potatoes, turkey, plain grilled fish with sauteed fresh veggies. I could have also had the steak, but I do not eat steak at all. I would be really sick if I did. It was all very good. Actually, it was one of my favorite meals of the trip. The veggies were nice and soft and so flavorful, and I ate a lot of them. The fish was mahi-mahi, and very tasty. They even gave me gluten free gravy on the side for the turkey and mashed potatoes, which was nice. I was very full by the end of the meal!!!

Main course: Garlic crushed potatoes, GF gravy, turkey, grilled mahi-mahi, and sauteed veggies...one of my favorite meals of this trip!

Dessert options were limited, but I had my standby brownie, which is always very good.

Birthday brownie! The waiter sang to us!

Chef Tom was so accommodating and very helpful. He even came by later to check in and see how the food was. Overall, I cannot say enough nice things about this restaurant. Both the food and service were impeccable. I give this a 9 out of 10 (only because of the dessert option). My mom and stepdad said the food they had was also extremely good, and we all liked it so much I switched ADRs for my April/May trip to add in this restaurant again. Loved, loved, loved it!!

Coral Reef -- Table Service -- Epcot

Our last meal of the trip was at Coral Reef in Epcot. On the previous trip, we had a reservation here, but unfortunately, I got really sick that day and was unable to go. This trip, we decided to go try again. I've never eaten at this restaurant, so I was excited to see the decor and try the food.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the server who then brought out the chef. He gave me a few options, and I settled on the Mahi Mahi with a coconut milk sauce. I asked for the hearts of palm to be removed because I react badly to them for some reason. For dessert, they had a mango sorbet (which sounded interesting). I was offered the Energ-G rolls, but I politely declined (I avoid yeast, and only eat them on rare occasions).

The entree was very good. Nice and mild, but full of flavor. The mahi mahi was cooked perfectly and the sauce was yummy. The sauces were on the side, which is nice (although I ended up pouring it all over my fish!)

Mahi Mahi with shrimp and a coconut lime sauce

The dessert was refreshing. If you like mango, you will like this sorbet. It was nice to have a different option, as I had been offered raspberry sorbet a lot. Presentation was a little lacking, but the taste was great.

Mango sorbet

Overall, I was pleased with my meal at Coral Reef. The food was good, the service was good, and the ambiance can't be beat. Was it the most spectacular place I've eaten at in WDW? No. But it was still very good, and I would definitely go back in the future. 7 out of 10 for a solid meal and service.

'Ohana -- Polynesian -- Table Service

Aloha, cousin!

Aloooooha, 'Ohana! One of my favorite restaurants on property. I love the grilled foods and the ambiance. I love hanging out with my "family." The last time we went to 'Ohana, I had the most amazing experience with Chef TJ. I have to say, besides Chef Williere at 50's Prime Time, he has to be one of my most favorite chefs on property. The man is a food genius! He has such dedication to folks with special diets, and he makes feasts for those people. Unfortunately, he is no longer at 'Ohana and has moved on to 1900 Park Faire (where I will hopefully get to visit sometime in the near future!). I was curious to see how this experience, minus Chef TJ would be. Upon arrival, the same procedure as the last time occurred, in which a plastic flower was placed at our table, by my seat to notify the chef that there was an allergy.

I was then greeted by the chef was nice enough, but seemed rather busy. He said that the salad was fine (which I love), he'd bring me wings with no sauce, the shrimp on the grill was safe (interesting, since last time they brought me shrimp on my main plate) and that all the other meats would be prepared with white rice in a bowl and that he had a premade sweet and sour sauce and a GF teriyaki sauce too. For dessert, he said I could have the French Meadow brownie and vanilla rice-dream. This was all fine by me.

First up was the chicken wings. The wings were the same used by everyone else, minus the sauce. They were pretty good (yeah I ate a LOT of them) as they had a rub on them. Very messy! I do wish they had been sauced, like the ones Chef TJ made me, but still they were extremely tasty.

Somehow I managed to eat most of these wings!

Next up was the salad. My most favorite salad on WDW property. It is soooo good. I love that honey lime dressing.

Yum, honey lime dressing!

And then came the shrimp. OMG I love these shrimp. This was the only thing I liked better on this trip to Ohana simply b/c you can't replace that grilled flavor when you saute shrimp. The sauce on it is to die for. I ate all of the shrimp on this plate--yep, I was a pig at this meal!

That's a lot of shrimp!

And then came my big bowl of rice, chicken, pork, and beef. It also had broccoli on it too. I have to say, I did actually like the sauces a lot, and enjoyed having a variety to dip my meats in. The main course certainly wasn't as elaborate as Chef TJ's creation, but I can tell they are trying to recreate the standard he set.

Main course--very tasty!

I ate so much on this meal, it was ridiculous. I really love this place and even without Chef TJ, the food was still excellent. I really didn't have much room for dessert. This was actually the disappointing part of the meal. Chef TJ made this amazing creation with chocolate soy ice cream, french meadow brownies, bananas, pineapple, cotton candy, and chocolate syrup! It was soooo good. This was just an opened and plopped on the plate brownie and a scoop of vanilla rice dream. Kind of boring, if ya ask me. Well, considering how good the rest of the meal was, I probably should complain, just wish they would have made a little more effort that's all. (and chocolate syrup--people need chocolate syrup!!).

Kind of boring, but good.

Overall, I'd say the chefs at Ohana are trying to maintain the high standard that Chef TJ set while he was there. They are certainly making more or less the same dishes the same way and the food was excellent as always. I miss Chef TJ, yes, but I still will eat here over and over again. The food is so good, it's hard to have a terrible experience there. My only hope is they just work on improving the desserts a bit. 8 out of 10 for yummy food and another great experience.

Yak and Yeti -- Animal Kingdom -- Table Service

Yak & Yeti at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Originally, we had no plans on going to the Yak & Yeti this trip. We had reservations to eat there in January 2011. However, during a visit to the Animal Kingdom park with my mom and brother, we decided to check it out, since we had no plans for lunch. I was a little leery since we didn't have an ADR and I hadn't notified them of my food allergies, but I figured it would be OK, since most places can easily accommodate it. In addition, I knew that Asian-inspired food should have minimal amounts of dairy, which would be helpful. We also didn't know if we'd have to wait, but lo and behold they had a table ready (and this was at noon too!). I have to say, on a side note, that the decor was great. The Landry's restaurants (like Rainforest Cafe) have great attention to detail and this was no exception. I loved the ambiance and it really did fit in perfectly with the Asia area of DAK where it's located.

Top floor dining room at Yak & Yeti

I made sure to notify the hostess of my allergies and she said no problem that we could just tell the server and the chef would come out (same as Disney owned restaurants). I notified our server, who was excellent, and he said he'd get the chef. The chef then came out and said that I had a fair amount of options and that they could tweak most of the menu options. He said that the Seafood curry was the only thing gluten and dairy free (although he asked if I was ok with coconut milk part b/c of the milk, which made me worry a bit since there's no real dairy in coconut milk despite the name). He said he could do the tempura shrimp--grilled instead of deep fried in a batter, minus the plum sauce, and served with plain white rice and veggies with garlic and ginger and GF soy sauce. He also said I could get a lime / GF soy sauce mixture on the side. This was all fine with me. He did ask if I had an veggies I didn't like, which I appreciated, because I really don't like mushrooms. For dessert, I was hoping to get the sorbet trio, but evidently, they put dairy in it. So, I was offered the frozen lemonade cup.

Modified "Tempura" shrimp

As far as the taste, the food was not bad. My mom referred to the restaurant as somewhere between fast food pan-Asian food and an upscale restaurant. So, it was what we expected. A chain restaurant. The shrimp itself was good--although a bit overseasoned. The veggies were actually quite good (they were a little mushy, which many people would not like, but was good for me b/c I have trouble digesting crunchy veggies b/c of my Crohn's). The lime / GF sauce was also good, and it was nice over the white rice. I rarely get Asian food when I go out to eat b/c many places cannot accommodate the GF soy sauce, so it was nice to get something out.

The frozen lemonade I had for dessert was the Nestle frozen lemonade, so no surprises there. I wish the sorbet they had didn't have dairy in it. That's disappointing!

Frozen lemonade...

Overall, it was good, but not great. I would definitely go again, although it's not on my to do list. We actually canceled our Jan. ADR so I can eat at 50's Prime Time again, but I would definitely eat at Yak & Yeti again. I'm pleased that they could easily accommodate me (although I am still surprised by the coconut milk / dairy comment) and fit me in without an ADR. However, I would definitely make sure you make reservations and note your allergies ahead of time; the chefs may be able to make better arrangements ahead of time for you! I'd give this restaurant a 7 out of 10. Solid meal, tasty and filling, and the service was very good.

50's Prime Time Cafe -- Hollywood Studios -- Table Service

Welcome to 50's Prime Time Cafe!

"Folks, you're in for a real treat..." (Kudos if you got the Carousel of Progress reference--my favorite attraction at WDW)

I've been long waiting for the delicious gluten free/dairy free fried chicken I've heard rave reviews about. Prior to my visit, I was in contact with Chef Williere Justin who was very helpful. So, I was looking forward to the meal. Upon arrival, we waited for a few minutes (it was fairly busy) and then were seated in Mom's house.

Mom's calling!

I have to say as a side note how much I love the decor! The 50's kitsch is great! Upon being seated, we were greeted by our server Nichole (who was fab--a very funny "cousin"), she got the chef who came out and greeted me. He knew exactly who I was before I got there. "You're my fried chicken girl, aren't you?" Why yes, yes I am! He asked me what veggie I wanted and I was offered green beans/carrots (which Chef Williere had mentioned) or greens sauteed in bacon. Um, greens sauteed in bacon...DUH! that's a no brainer! :) Anything fried with bacon is A-OK with me! We also talked about dessert, and he mentioned that he could do a sundae with brownies and tofutti ice cream. I had the option of chocolate and vanilla. I went for the chocolate naturally!

While waiting for our meal, we got to experience some "family hi-jinks." One of cousins was a real hoot (we were close to another room with a window and he kept grabbing a wooden stick and poking our other "cousins" with them...hilarious! While we were finishing dessert, he decided to get into a garbage bag and balance an egg on a spoon throughout the "house." We were busting up laughing. Love the hi-jinks!

Our "cousin" showing us how the races are done!

It didn't take that long for our food to come at all; in fact, it was actually very quick! It's important to note that you really have to contact the restaurant ahead of time for the fried chicken because it takes 40 minutes or so to make (plus I'm sure there is prep time beforehand). However, as you see in this picture--even though the wait was very minimal--I was HUNGRY and wanted fried chicken!

"We wants the fried chicken! We wants the fried chicken!"

And when the fried chicken arrived (again very quickly!), I was so wowed--it looked amazing! And the taste? OMG--A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! I have not had real fried chicken since going gluten free/dairy free in a year and a half. I was scarfing this down. I had had tummy troubles the previous night, but I was so glad they had gone away when I got to this meal! The potatoes were also extremely good (the best dairy free mashed potatoes I've had) and the greens were so good too. On top of that, I had my own gravy! It was perfect and topped everything off.

Best fried chicken--EVER!

Gravy!

The meal was just great, and I hadn't even gotten dessert yet! Our server was so nice and she mentioned how she really appreciated that I got a hold of the restaurant ahead of time because she once had a woman who did not fill out her allergy form or notify the restaurant ahead of time that she had food allergies and she wanted the gluten free fried chicken, but did not ask for a chef until AFTER she ordered and ate her appetizer! EEEK! She said they, of course, accommodated her but it took 3 hours to get everything done for her. That's crazy! So, the waitress seemed like she really appreciated the preparedness on my part (which I still can't believe a person who had allergies/intolerances would order without the chef but then expect a special diets items--strange--I mean how did they know what they ordered was safe?) because she kept saying over and over how she really really appreciated it (maybe other people don't do this normally? I like being prepared so I always am overly prepared). So, I guess that was good. Lessons learned--be prepared and call ahead of time!

Now on to the good stuff--DESSERT! The brownie sundae was so good. I believe they actually make their brownie b/c it sure didn't look or taste like the one from French Meadow. The chocolate tofutti ice cream and brownies and syrup--yum! Chocolate overload!

My favorite dessert of the trip!

Overall, I can't say enough good things about this restaurant--the service and food and chefs--everything was perfect! I liked it so much that I immediately changed my January 2011 ADRs and canceled Yak & Yeti (which we ended up eating at on this trip unexpectedly) and it will be my birthday meal (well sort-of birthday meal--a week early). I contacted Chef Williere already and they are ready for me already! Loved, loved, loved this restaurant. One of my favs so far for special diets--and next time, I'm going to get a dairy free milk shake too! (they offered me one this time--but I had no room for it!). 10 out of 10 for amazing service--they definitely went above and beyond!
(also I did send lots of praise to customer service for them because it was so memorable! They all did a great job, and I was glad to send an email saying so!)

Liberty Tree Tavern -- Magic Kingdom -- Table Service

Hear ye, hear ye! It's a tradition in my family to eat at Liberty Tree Tavern whenever we attend one of the Magic Kingdom holiday parties. It's been a staple, and we all love the homey goodness of the food that is served at the LTT (although I sure wish the "Hear ye, now welcoming the Norris party from the great state of Michigan"--I wish they still did this!). I'd heard good things about the dietary offerings here, and I was pretty excited. I try to avoid yeast, so I wasn't really eating any of the Ener-G rolls all week, but I made a vow that I was getting gravy and rolls! However, my stomach went into serious overdrive and my Crohn's was starting to flare--NOT GOOD! I was having a fair amount of pain, so I knew it was key to take it easy--no fair, I wanted to eat a salad and my rolls! Uggg. Well, I knew that the meal itself was a good choice for mild food to help ease the tummy troubles (which went away after that night, so problem solved!).

When we got there, the chef came out to the table. The restaurant was pretty slammed, so he seemed a bit frazzled, but accommodating. He explained that my food would be brought out on a separate platter, and that I'd have the veggie (green beans), salad (which I could eat safely with everyone else), turkey, ham, potatoes, roast beef, and gravy. He also said he'd bring out some rolls. I did decide to try a small portion of the salad--which has a lovely strawberry vinaigrette--and is one of my favorite salads on property. Still tasty as usual!

Yum!

When my platter came out, I was extremely surprised, because I was greeted with rolls and Earth Balance butter spread! Say what?! That's the first time I've been offered Earth Balance on Disney property--and I was thrilled. (I use this at home) I was mostly thrilled because I get to use it with the rolls and rolls with "butter" is even better! "Butter," rolls, and gravy...AMAZING! I definitely dug in. I don't eat steak, so I gave the beef to my family (who happily scarfed it down), but I ate the potatoes (silky tasty mashed potatoes!), turkey, ham, gravy, rolls, and a few green beans. It was just what my tummy needed. I didn't feel sick afterward, and the homey food tasted very good on an owly tummy. And plus, it just tasted really good! I love this kind of food sometimes!

A Turkey platter fit for a pilgrim!

Although I didn't eat as much as I normally would, I did eat a fair amount, and then there was dessert! They told me that I could only have sorbet, which was fine. It was actually a nice refreshing choice after a big meal and also gentle on the tummy. I have to say too after all of the servings of sorbet I had this was the most nicely "decorated." They added fresh berries which was a nice touch. I've had this exact sorbet at other places, but I find the raspberry sorbet to be very tasty, and I like the alternative to brownies and rice dream ice cream. YUM!

Very tasty raspberry sorbet

Overall, I'd give this an 8 out of 10--a very enjoyable meal--good food and service! and Earth Balance "butter" as an added bonus!

The Wave -- Contemporary -- Table Service

I've been wanting to try the Wave for a while now since it opened. I loved the whole local seasonal approach and it sends such a great message to sustainability and being aware of how food production works. However, I have heard lots of mixed reviews on the food, service, and ability to handle food allergies. So, I went in with no expectations, figuring breakfast food is fairly easy, especially with food allergies/intolerances. I have to say, the decor of this restaurant is neat. I love the entrance. It really feels like you are "under the sea." Definitely a nice design (reminds me a bit of Coral Reef).

The chef greeted us at the table. He was very nice (he was also from Michigan originally, so we had some fun discussion of Michigan weather!) and discussed the options for me. He was able to make waffles which was great. He also noted that the chicken sausage was GF and had no other filles in it, which was good. So, I decided on the American which is basically eggs, breakfast potatoes, and I got chicken sausage with it (good but spicy!). I also asked if they could make waffles for me on the side (I have a weakness for waffles on vacation--I never make them at home!). Now, it is important to note that they carried Vans Waffles but the chef said they could also make waffles too. I personally like to get the mix waffles because I'm on vacation, and I like the homemade waffles--I can get Van's any day! So, it was nice to know that there were choices.

When the food arrived, I noticed that the waffles looked decidedly like Van's waffles! Uh-oh! The waitress had no idea, and she didn't seem to want to ask the chef, so I just dove in to see if they just use a regular waffle maker (I'm used to the Mickey Waffles!), and lo and behold, they were homemade waffles! Very tasty!

Yummy waffles--don't be fooled by the frozen waffle shape! That's an Ener-G roll in the background!

My actual meal was decent. Nothing too exciting, but still good and filling. The chicken sausage was a wee bit spicy, and I was having a slight bit of stomach troubles, so I ended up sharing it with family members. The potatoes were pretty tasty. I was also surprised to see an Ener-G roll on my plate--that was a nice touch since I couldn't have the biscuit. I appreciated the effort to add it, even though I hadn't asked for it! Kudos on that!

A good hearty breakfast!

While the food wasn't anything spectacular or particularly memorable, I found the Wave to be a good hearty meal with competent and knowledgeable chefs. I appreciated the extra effort they made. A solid 7 out of 10.

Boma -- Animal Kingdom Lodge -- Table Service

Boma at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

For those that haven't eaten at Boma, you are in for a real treat. This is one of my favorite restaurants on property. I love the African inspired foods served in a very accessible way. I've not met one person who hasn't like this restaurant--even the pickiest of eaters can find something good here! This breakfast was no exception. Prior to my trip, I had been in contact with Chef Trish about getting gluten free/dairy free bobotie (a fav of mine prior to food allergies), as a chef had mentioned this to me when I ate there in 2009. She said that Chef Amber would be on duty that day and that she would be able to accommodate me! How exciting. Once we got seated, I mentioned to our server that I was supposed to speak specifically to Chef Amber--and fortunately, she was already talking to a family a few tables down. She knew exactly who I was and was very excited about serving me the bobotie. First she took me around the buffet and then she said she would go make sure the bobotie was done. Overall, she was one of the most enthusiastic, friendly chefs I've encountered on Disney property--can't say enough nice things about her! I then went through the buffet line, where I was able to get an omelet made (they made mine separately with oil), ham, potatoes, pineapple, etc.

Ham, onion, and green pepper omelet and accompaniments

And later Chef Amber brought me the bobotie! Omigosh!!! It was an entire pan of bobotie--enough to feed all 4 of us at breakfast! It was so huge. Of course, I shared with my family--who all agreed it was better than the turkey bobotie on the buffet (Chef Amber made mine with ground beef and ground lamb--as a special treat). Sooo good. We didn't eat the whole thing, but we put a good dent in it (about half). I wish I could have eaten it later--but we were heading to the parks and there was no way that would travel well.

Gluten free and dairy free bobotie--as you can see this was a large pan!

Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boma and the chefs there. They are always so accommodating to food allergies and this experience demonstrated how they really go above and beyond to make safe foods for their guests. I would not hesitate to eat there again (actually, I'll be eating there in May 2011 when we stay at the AKL Jambo House Villas)--9 out of 10 for exceptional food and service!

Cape May Cafe -- Beach Club -- Table Service

Welcome to Cape May Cafe!

Wowie--I love seafood and I was hopeful that I would be able to indulge at this buffet--boy, was I in for a treat! Seafood galore. I have eaten here prior to food allergies, but it has been several years and prior to the addition of the crab legs. Upon arrival, I was met by a chef who took me around the buffet--I was amazed at how many choices I had that were naturally gluten and dairy free. Pretty much most of the seafood choices were OK and lots of side dishes too. There was a plain salad mix on the buffet with oil and vinegar on the side, but the premade salads (like a Caesar salad) were out of the question. I was able to eat peel and eat shrimp, crab legs (minus any butter to dip it in...didn't matter to me, it still tasted yummy), some kind of fish stew, chicken, mussels, clams, boiled red potatoes, cabbage, and far too many other things to count. YUM! I ate two plates of crab legs!

Sweet, delicious crabby legs!

The pork on this was excellent, as was the chicken, and the cabbage was amazing!

I ate entirely too many peel and eat shrimp--and the cocktail sauce is safe (but not the tartar sauce evidently).

Forget a bigger boat! Kids, we're gonna need a bigger bucket!

I was so full after this meal, and when it came to dessert it was a little disappointing (but thankfully not a big deal b/c I was so full) b/c they gave me a french meadow brownie, still in the package half melted b/c they nuked it in the microwave (in the package!? egads!). Now, I'm not complaining about the brownie part--dessert wise, gluten and dairy free leaves little options, but usually most chefs try to at least put it on a plate and cut it/doctor it up so it looks nice. This was all melted and still in the package! I mean literally the waitress just dumped it on the table like it was the most disgusting thing she had ever seen. Sighs...well, at least the rest of the buffet was excellent.

My very messy brownie--you can see the package is covered in chocolate from being nuked.

Had it not been for the less than stellar dessert attempt (and some amazing meals later in the trip--with chefs who REALLY went above and beyond) this would have been a 9 out of 10, but I give it a 7 out of 10 for lack of enthusiasm to accommodate food allergies if it is not on the buffet. I will say though that I've heard some really fantastic reviews from other people from food allergies overall, and the dessert really wasn't bad--just needed some better prep time and presentation. I'd definitely go again, and just prepare myself for a nuked brownie!

Kona Cafe -- Polynesian -- Table Service

Ah, breakfast at Kona Cafe....I dream about those Mickey Waffles from Kona on a regular basis. They are soooo good. I seriously can't believe they are gluten and dairy free. This trip ended up bringing not one but two breakfasts at Kona. The first was planned, as we had made ADRs for this months in advance, the second was a spur of the moment, made the ADR the night before because my brother wanted to treat us to breakfast. Fine by me! Both meals were great as usual. The second meal, the chef was Kristina (I believe that is her name) and she had waited on me in the past--she was the chef who gave me butter on the plate--eek! But she was very good this time and I had no problems. I so far have no desire to veer from the Big Kahuna meal--so that is what I got both times, along with Lilikoi juice! YUM! Another solid 9 out of 10 for being a consistently good breakfast and good service.

Me and my mom enjoying our Lilikoi juice!

Big Kahuna at our first breakfast...

And from our second breakfast....gotta love those Mickey Waffles!

Rose and Crown Dining Room -- Epcot -- Table Service

Rose & Crown Pub--as you can see very busy from the Food & Wine Festival.
I would later get a hard cider from here--YUM!

*This dining experience took place in October 2010.

I have been wanting to try the Rose & Crown Pub for sometime now. So, this trip (for something different), we decided to try it out. I had seen on some of the sheets from special diets that there seemed to be a fair amount of choices that were not beef (I don't eat steak of any type and very rarely eat ground beef). I checked out the menus beforehand, and I was hoping to try some pork dish or fish. However, upon arrival, I saw that the menu had changed from what was posted on allearsnet.com and on Disney's official website (this gives the lesson that menus do constantly change, so it's important to be flexible and prepared that the options you think you might want may not be available when you dine there). No pork! I was a bit bummed, but began going over options with the chef. She said that most things could be modified (which is nice to hear) and that the Fisherman's stew was mainly gluten free (the menu describes it as having a tomato ale broth, but the ale is not beer, it's actually vermouth--which is generally considered safe/gluten free) they would just need to leave off the garlic crouton. She did offer to make a tapioca roll garlic bread for me, but since I don't usually consume yeast, I declined. (last trip I got REALLY rambunctious with the rolls and it was not a good idea). This was a very tasty dish. Not overly heavy or anything. I especially like the shrimp and scallops.

YUM!

They did say that they could bake the fish for fish and chips, but the fish stew sounded more exotic than baked fish to me (it was very flavorful). For dessert, the only real options I had were a french meadow brownie (of which I got PLENTY of on the trip) or sugar free raspberry sorbet. I went with the sorbet, which was quite tasty and very refreshing.

Raspberry Sorbet

Overall, I was pleased with the meal. The chef was very helpful and the waitress was great. Her mom is a celiac, so it was fabulous having someone who understood. Overall, I'd give this a 7 out of 10--solid meal and service.

California Grill--Table Service--Contemporary

Welcome to the California Grill!

Happy Birthday to me! This was my birthday dinner, and I was not hopeful after my experience during the day (although I was very relaxed after my facial and pedicure! Loved, loved, loved the spa!) but we gave it a shot. A couple of days before I got an email from the Contemporary bakery asking me if I wanted a cake or a dessert. It's a good thing I had my laptop with me (uggg, though the Internet fees were outrageous! why can't WDW have free wi-fi? McDonald's does!) otherwise, I'd have not known. In any event Jessie the sous pastry chef said she would make me some kind of chocolate dessert that was gluten and dairy free.

Upon arrival, we were greeted and seated in a small, quiet wine cellar room, located off of the main dining room. Hurrah! The table was decorated for my birthday! How nice!

Look at the Mickey confetti!

They said that they try to put special events in this quainter room, because it is more secluded and quiet. It was lovely. I was so glad to be there over the main dining room. And the view wasn't of the Magic Kingdom, but it was still spectacular. And, of course, we could have gone to the fireworks viewing (which occurred while were there), but we decided to enjoy the quiet ambiance. Chef Jason came to visit me, and he offered me a variety of things. He was so friendly and very accommodating. I mentioned that I'd be interested in sushi and he said no problem. I could have the sashimi or california roll and some others, but I can't remember which ones. They have GF Tamari too. I got the Sashimi, which is just sliced raw fish, though I wish I would have gone for the roll. I could have gone for the rice! However, it was very tasty and very fresh. You can tell they use very high quality fish. The tuna and Hamachi were so good. I didn't eat much salmon because I was already getting pretty full, but don't worry it didn't go to waste. Others in my party ate it. When the sushi arrived, they made sure to mention that it was a special Gluten Free sushi, so at least the sushi chef was aware of it.

Sashimi (tuna, hamachi, and salmon)

Then for my main course, I ordered the pan seared sea bass with stir fry vegetables, sticky rice, and ginger-soy-hijiki broth. I was so amazed, by the way, at the level of accommodation these chefs were making. Chef Jason gave me so many options and said that he would do whatever I wanted to make sure I had a good meal. After some of the resistance from chefs at other restaurants, this was so nice. My main course was AMAZING. Beyond amazing. I literally could have licked the plate, it was that good. The sauce was so flavorful and the sea bass was cooked to perfection. Well worth the price!

Sea bass with sticky rice and ginger soy hijiki sauce!

My mom and step-dad said the food was very good. My mom said it was one of the best steaks she's ever had. (Le Cellier used to have that honor with her, but California Grill bumped it off the list)

Next up...DESSERT! When we got there, they even double checked to make sure that there was a dessert for me. Sigh of relief! What they brought out was nothing short of amazing. Bar none, most amazing dessert I've had GF/CF! Unbelievable. It was a chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse wrapped in chocolate sheets and topped with fresh raspberries and accompanied by a raspberry coulis! The coulis made the dessert. Even the non-dietary restricted thought it was amazing.

Me and my dessert. Very happy!



Close-up of the dessert. Look at that attention to detail!

Overall, this made my birthday. What a great meal. Yes, it was pricy. Would I do it every day? No. But a special occasion? Most certainly. From the attention to detail to the quality of the food this restaurant went above and beyond my expectations. Kudos to Chef Jason and the rest of the staff for a job well done. 10 out of 10 for quality, service, and accommodation.

Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea--Table Service--Grand Floridian

On my 30th birthday, I wanted to do something special. I have always wanted to do the high tea at the Grand Floridian and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do so. I planned a 2 p.m. tea, so that we had 1 1/2 hours before our spa appointment at the Grand Floridian spa at 3:30. I thought this would give us plenty of time. It's only tea right?! Well, this turned out to be a disastrous affair, with rude waitstaff and rude guests and completely unprepared chefs. Previously, Chef Jeff Bliss had called me and arranged to make some salads and some desserts. Ah, too bad this didn't come to fruition. I believe there was some misscommunication because when we arrived, the waitresses said they thought I had food with my name on in it their fridge and later the chef (not Jeff Bliss) came out and totally ignored me and took forever (like 30+ minutes) to bring me a scoop of tuna and egg salad. I asked for no GF bread (because I was avoiding yeast) and I got bread (which I was told did have yeast in it).

Lovely tea and china!

To begin with, we were seated next to some really rude guests. They were very snooty and rude to everyone. This made my mom and I feel very uncomfortable (and I'm not usually bugged by people, rude or otherwise). The waitress was a bit curt. I ordered the Princess Breakfast tea which was strawberry vanilla rooibos. YUM! I was going to buy this, but didn't get the chance. The chef arrived and I explained that Jeff Bliss had spoken to me and made arrangements. Like I said, 30+ minutes later I got my food. My mom was already done with her sandwiches and scone.

My egg and tuna salad.

Taste wise, the salads were OK. Nothing spectacular. I have made better at home. I found the egg salad to be overly mayonnaised (is that a word?!) As time progressed, I realized we only had 30 minutes before our spa appointment and our waitress and the chef weren't in any hurry to let us leave, so we asked the waitress for the desserts and our bill. (i.e. pack the desserts to go) She got very rude and said it was 4:30 not 3:30 and I had to literally show her my watch. She was like "Fine. I guess." She got my mom a dessert, and tossed a cut up, pre-done (i.e. French Meadow) brownie at me. Ummmm, I thought I was getting a dessert made for me?! At this point, we were so frustrated and I was getting upset, so we decided to forget it and leave. I got charged for the Buckingham Palace which was $19.50 and I got very minimal amounts of food, compared to my mom. I wasn't expecting a meal by any means, but I was expecting some effort to be put forth, especially in the place where the pastry chefs made a big deal about calling me to make a dessert. Sad really. They didn't sell me on their bakery, their service, or ever staying at the Grand Floridian.

Overall, I give this a big fat 5 out of 10. Mostly because of the bad service and lack of accommodation. I'd have let the accommodation part go if it wasn't for the big deal they made about it prior to me arriving. Disappointing and something I probably won't do again. Thankfully, California Grill made up for this tea when I went there for dinner.

Whispering Canyon Cafe--Table Service--Wilderness Lodge

HOWDY! Welcome to Whispering Canyon Cafe!

This was a birthday meal for me--my 30th birthday to be exact. I knew prior to eating at WCC that they made fun of you (been there before), so I was ready for some good old fashioned teasing. But, I was also hoping for a nice breakfast. Upon arrival, the waitress let me know that the chef would be out to see me. When the chef arrived, I explained that I couldn't have milk or gluten. I decided on a ham omelet with potatoes and a GF waffle on the side. I was hoping for mickey waffles, a la Kona cafe, but alas, it turned out to be a Van's Waffle. (not that they aren't good, but I can eat them at home! I wanted a big fluffy GF/CF mickey waffle!) The chef actually mentioned that these were the last of the waffles because they'd had so many GF eaters that week. (hmm, guess they should have ordered more!) When she brought out my waffle she brought out fleischman's butter, which she said was made from corn. I wasn't sure if she meant lactose free or completely dairy free (it sounded sketchy to me), so I didn't eat it. After getting butter on my plate and on my eggs at 'Ohana, I was leary. I like not getting a scratchy throat, sneezing, and headaches.

Van's waffles and pure maple syrup.

The omelet was very tasty and so were the potatoes. In general, it was good but nothing spectacular.

Breakfast!

After my meal, they made me go around the restaurant on a wooden horse and sang to me to celebrate my birthday (sure didn't feel 30 at that moment!) And instead of a cake, they gave me a french meadow brownie. Nothing like a brownie at 9 a.m.! Thankfully, I could take it back to the room with me.

Overall, I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Service and food were OK. Nothing spectacular, but not terrible either.

'Ohana--Table Service--Polynesian

A view from the Polynesian

Well folks, 'Ohana has been one of my favorite restaurants at WDW for years. I love the woodfired meats, the sides (oh how I miss the old green beans from here), and all the other tasty treats. However, this was my first time going GF/CF. I knew prior to our reservations that Chef T.J. was now working here. Chef T.J., for those who don't know, is pretty much known as THE BEST chef for allergies on WDW property. I knew that if T.J. was there, this would be an unforgettable meal. Now, I wasn't feeling particularly hot this day. In fact, I had been down right miserable the day before. Call it the Crohn's flaring or just eating the wrong thing...I was not well. So, today was going to be a day of actual food, and I was excited. After a very upsetting and disappointing afternoon and experience at Yakitori House (previous arrangements had been made for the counter service to have GF sauce, but they refused to serve me rice or anything claiming they had no knowledge of the chef's contacting me) I literally hadn't eaten anything but protein shakes for over 24 hours. I needed food!

Upon arrival, the hostess verified that I had allergies. After we were seated, they had placed a fake polynesian flower on the table and they said that this would notify the chefs to come to see me. Well, sure enough I see chef T.J. walking my direction. I was so excited. He was terrific. I explained to him that I had Crohn's and that I just been sick, so I couldn't eat salad that night (rats, I was looking forward to that too!) So, he said he would do a few things for me, and take it easy on my tummy. First up, chicken wings. Oh my goodness, these were amazing. He gave me, something like 10 chicken wings! They had some spicy, sweet and sour glaze on them. Yum! T.J. came back to check on me and asked if I liked them because I hadn't eaten that many. I kept telling him how good they were, but that I was trying to pace myself since I hadn't much in the last day.

Spicy Chicken Wings

Then he brought out my entree. We agreed on turkey, shrimp, chicken, and pork. I decided not to do any red meat. Holy moly! When he brought out my entree, I couldn't believe the size! It was huge. It had rice, crispy rice noodles, and broccoli. The broccoli was a little crispy for me, but I tried a bit of it, and it was good. The meat had a sweet and sour sauce on it, and a peanut sauce on the top. So good.

Entree at 'Ohana! So tasty!

My entree after I was done. You can see how much I had left!

Chef T.J. came back out again and asked how it was. Of course, I couldn't help but gush over the wonderfully prepared meal. It was so good. I asked T.J. if I could take it home with me, and he said that with special diets he allows to go bags, so I got to take everything back to our room and eat it later. Good leftovers, let me tell you!

Then, it was time for dessert! T.J. brought out the most amazing decadent and FUN dessert! Chocolate brownies, soy chocolate ice cream, pineapple, bananas, and cotton candy with some chocolate syrup on top. Holy cow! I had help eating this one. We couldn't let it go to waste. It was so good.

That's one big tower of dessert!

I can't say enough good things about this restaurant or Chef T.J. It was tasty, amazing, and so wonderful to have an attentive and concerned chef. He was just great. I highly recommend this, and will continue to make this a must-do on my list, especially if T.J. is there! 10 out of 10 for great food, great service, and going above and beyond my expectations.

Mama Melrose--Table Service--Hollywood Studios

I'd heard some really great things about Mama Melrose and options for Gluten Free and Dairy Free. I think perhaps I hit it on an off day. The food was fairly tasty, don't get me wrong, but the service wasn't particularly great, and my options seemed even more limited. Upon arrival, the chef greeted me, but he seemed less than enthused. He told me my only real options was the chicken Parmesan (minus the breading) and the Fra Diavolo. He did offer me dairy free flatbreads. I was surprised that there was no dairy free cheese offered. I'd heard that others had eaten this. I also was a bit bummed not to be able to get a gluten free calamari, which I also had heard they could do. I decided to go for the chicken Parmesan for it's simplicity. The chef also brought me out tapioca rolls and extra virgin olive oil with spices.

Tapioca Rolls with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

When my chicken Parmesan arrived, it looked very tasty. It did taste pretty good too. But, I would say it wasn't anything special. Good, but not great. Also, for some reason, the last few times I've eaten GF pasta I've gotten a bit sick. Later that evening, I got REALLY sick (I stayed in the hotel room the entire next day)

Chicken Parmesan

Overall, I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Only because the lack of enthusiasm by the chef, lack of variety, and general service. If you are GF and haven't had pasta in a while though, this would be the place to go.

Le Cellier--Table Service--Epcot

One of my favorite restaurants, pre-dietary restrictions was Le Cellier. The steaks have always been amazing, the cheddar soup fantastic, and the overall service excellent. My mom wanted to stop here as we celebrated her birthday. However, we all quickly made the discovery that some things have changed at our favorite restaurant, and not for the better. Unfortunately, I think Le Cellier has suffered some major changes since the dining plan has become so popular. The menu has drastically changed and the restaurant always seems packed to the hilt. That being said, my meal wasn't horrible, but not great either.

When the chef came to greet me, he seemed less than thrilled. He asked what I wanted, and I mentioned that I'd be interested in the salmon. He said there would be no way that could be safe. After several minutes, I finally just asked him what he suggested. But he wouldn't give me much direction. I finally said that I just wanted something, "remotely safe," which made him laugh, but still didn't get me much assistance. We finally came to an agreement on the spice crusted pork chop and that he would replace the polenta with roasted potatoes. I also salad of mixed greens with a white balsamic vinaigrette. This turned out to be a big NO-NO for me. I have some issues with vinegar and this did not sit well at all. The pork chop was served medium, but more on the medium-rare side. To the point that I really had wished I would have asked it to be well-done. It seemed very pink. But, I was assured it was safe to consume and that this is the common way to serve pork these days. Well, consider me not common. I didn't like it this way. The spice crust was also very overpowering and a bit bitter. I wasn't a huge fan of it. The potatoes also had balsamic vinaigrette (double whammy on the vinegar) and I wasn't a fan of the citrus endive salad either. I was given tapioca rolls with olive oil, but nothing new there. I was offered a blood orange sorbet, but I passed.

A tasty, but dangerous salad for me. The walnuts were a nice touch.

Spice crusted Pork Chop with roasted potatoes and citrus endive salad.

I wish I could give Le Cellier a glowing review, but I can't. Even those without dietary restrictions did not enjoy this meal. The service was subpar and the accommodations for dieatary restrictions were not much better. Overall, I'd give this a 5 out of 10.

Kona Cafe--Table Service--Polynesian

One of my favorite go-to table service breakfasts at WDW is the one served at Kona Cafe in the Polynesian resort. On my last trip, I had an amazing experience and one of the yummiest breakfasts I've had since going GF/CF! Chef Kim was fantastic, and he really treated me to a great meal and bent over backwards to give me a good experience. This time another chef came out to greet me. (though we did see Chef Kim, so he is still there!) She was very friendly (I believe her name was Karina?) and enthusiastic. She said my restrictions were easy compared to many, and she said she'd make me the Big Kahuna with Mickey waffles and such. I was so looking forward to this. I also ordered the Lilikoi juice, which is very tasty! However, when my meal arrived, I noticed there was butter in a cup. I asked the server if this was Earth Balance butter (safe for dairy free diets) and she said she wasn't sure. The chef came out and said it was their butter/margarine blend and she forgot about my dairy allergy. Um, not good. She went to replate it and said everything was OK. But one taste of my eggs said otherwise. When you don't ever get any kind of dairy product and you get exposed to it you know. Eggs cooked with olive oil taste much different. At this point, I didn't want to bug the chef again, and I was really hungry (everyone else was halfway through their breakfast...a trend I seemed to have most of this trip), so I just didn't eat the eggs after the first few bites. The one addition from this version from the last was the pineapple on the side. I ate a bit of it, but not much because of the texture of pineapple and the irritation it might cause to my Crohn's. Overall, it was still good. The portion of this entree was smaller than the last time, perhaps Chef Kim was just being really generous!

My step-dad and I toasting with our Lilikoi Juice!

My modified Big Kahuna, unfortunately there is butter on this plate.

Overall, I'd give the staff a 8 for effort in trying to make my experience good, but a 6 for the overall lack of remembering my allergy. I would still consider this one of my favorite restaurants, but as always you have to be diligent with food allergies and intolerances.

Restaurant Marrakesh -- Table Service -- Epcot

Well, I must admit, I had my doubts about eating at this restaurant. I had heard such terrible things about the service, lack of variety, and general service. But, I was very curious and thought the menu, in general, looked appealing. I'd also received some correspondence prior that indicated that I could eat the hummus and have GF/CF bread. (turned out to be tapioca rolls, but anything smothered in hummus is really tasty!) Upon arrival, we were greeted with live music and belly dancing--great ambiance!

A view from our table of the belly dancing and musicians.

After being seated, the server went to get the chef. A very nice chef came out and asked me what I was interested in. I knew from the special diets literature that the chicken kabobs with rice would be a safe choice. I told the chef that I'd like that and would also like some hummus. He said he was happy to oblige and said that he hoped I was ready to have a good meal. He was a little difficult to understand at times (plus the music was quite loud), but overall he seemed generally eager to help.

The one thing that proved difficult at Restaurant Marrakesh was the service. It was much more slow paced. On a normal day, this would have been fine. However, we had a picture session (which turned out to be canceled on us, but that is a different story!) at the Wilderness Lodge and so we weren't sure we had time to be very leisurely (our lunch was at 2 p.m.). When the food came out, our server said they had messed up and they gave me an unsafe meal. So I had to wait another 15 minutes for my meal. Fortunately, I found it very tasty when it arrived. I would say if you are interested in a unique meal, this is your place. However, don't expect to be in a hurry, this is a slow paced restaurant.

Chicken Kabos with rice, hummus, and a tapioca roll.

Overall, I'd give the food a 9 out of 10. This was very tasty, but it was a bummer to have to wait so long to get it (after everyone else had already eaten) and the service a 7 out of 10. It does seem like Restaurant Marrakesh has taken some of the criticism and worked on being more accommodating and friendly. However, I do think they need to work on service in the kitchen.

Artist Point -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

Artist Point is a gorgeous restaurant, filled with arts & crafts movement designs and motifs. Upon entering, the staff confirmed that there was a food allergy in our party. We were then seated and the CM who waited on us also confirmed the allergy. When the chef arrived, I was a bit disappointed by his lack of enthusiasm or willingness to modify most of the items on the menu. He seemed like he more or less just wanted me to choose something easy and already GF/Dairy free. I don't eat red meat, so I had been eying the salmon, black cod, or the scallops on the menu. The salmon seemed to cause more difficulty and the chef flat out told me he wouldn't do the black cod, so I decided to go with the scallops. The only modification it required was removal of the corn cappuccino. I did not get a starter, as we'd eaten fairly close to dinner, and I wasn't overly interested in the choices. The chef did bring out some extra virgin olive oil and some tapioca rolls. Maybe it's been so long now since I've had real bread, but this trip they seemed tastier than the last one.

Tapioca Roll and olive oil

Seared Day Boat Scallops with Olive Oil Crushed Potatoes, Baby Fennel, Nicoise Olives, and Grape tomatoes.

I found the entree to be very tasty, although I wished the scallops were a bit more seared. The portion size was decent, and everything seemed fresh and tasty. I did not have any dessert, as there was really no options give to me.

Overall, I'd give this restaurant a 10 for atmosphere, but a 7 for service and overall helpfulness for dietary restrictions.