There are over 100 restaurants in Disney World. Many of these are specially and uniquely themed and include world-class dining experiences. Although several restaurants are inside the Disney Parks, there are many delicious and nicely themed restaurants available right in the resort hotels.
Before we begin our countdown, one restaurant deserves honorable mention. Victoria & Albert’s is a world-class dining establishment offering a six-course dinner menu plus dessert. Because a visit to this restaurant would easily set a couple back $200, and is likely not in the budget for many Disney guests, it is not included in the top five hotel restaurants. If you are lucky enough to visit Victoria & Albert’s, eat a course for the rest of us!
Let’s get started!
1. Boatwright’s Dining Hall
Experience the best of New Orleans cuisine while dining in a rustic shipyard warehouse. Although Boatwright’s is in a moderate resort, it offers some of the best food experiences on property. Try Cajun crawfish bites, voodoo chicken, sweet tea-brined pork chops, or Andouille-crusted catfish. For dessert, don’t pass up the Bananas Foster Angel Food Cake! Boatwright’s is open for dinner only, so make sure you get your dining reservations made early!
2. Kona Café
Chances are, if you know anything at all about Disney Dining, you’ve heard of the legendary Tonga Toast at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This decadent cinnamon and banana-stuffed spin on French Toast is a can’t miss for breakfast. The café is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so stop by anytime of the day. Try the grilled teriyaki steak with pineapple salsa for lunch and a fresh fish dish for dinner. No matter when you visit, you will experience an unmatched atmosphere of the islands.
3. Citricos
Citricos is a Signature Dining experience at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. That means a few things: dress codes, incredible views, and delicious food and wine. Let’s start with the dress code. Guests should not wear tank tops, swimsuits, cover-ups, hats (men), or torn clothing. This Mediterranean-Inspired restaurant serves dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients, which means the menu changes quite often. Offerings include crispy risotto, veal shank, pan-roasted chicken, and oak-grilled filet. Desserts include warm chocolate-banana torte, cheesecake, and tropical fruit crème brûlée. Disney’s website describes the wine list as “epic” promising a fresh, first-class experience including sommeliers on hand to suggest wine pairings.
4. Artist Point
This Signature Dining experience is often overlooked, but offers incredible cuisine inspired by the Pacific Northwest, which focuses on seafood, sirloin, and game. The signature dish is cedar plank-roasted salmon, for dessert try Artist Point Cobbler made from seasonal berries with house-made black raspberry ice cream a la mode. Whatever you do, don’t miss the truffle fries. You won’t be disappointed. Add one of the 130 different wine selections from Pacific Northwest wineries, and you’ll have a world-class meal.
5. California Grill
From Mediterranean to Californian cuisine, Disney has it all! Disney’s Contemporary Resort is home to California Grill, which, like Citrocos, offers an ever-changing menu using only fresh, seasonal ingredients in dishes inspired by the melting-pot culture of California. Try Sonoma goat cheese ravioli, steamed mussels, and oak-grilled filet. Also available is sushi and brick oven-fired flatbreads. Pair these dishes with one of over 300 wine selections, and you are sure to have an unforgettable meal.
This restaurant isn’t known for just their food, though, and that is what makes this restaurant number one of the list. If you are lucky enough to get a reservation during Wishes Nighttime Spectacular, you will have unmatched views. The lights dim, and the music is piped in to the restaurant. If you are not one of the lucky ones to get a table during the show, you can bring your receipt or show that you have a dining reservation afterwards, and you can watch the fireworks from the lounge or the observation deck.
What is your favorite fine dining restaurant at Walt Disney World?