Haute cuisine and theme park are phrases that usually cancel each other out. Cold hot dogs, hot-lamp burgers and stale popcorn are the norm, but Disney has changed that in Orlando, Florida. With fine dining Resort restaurants, EPCOT's international cuisine and Magic Kingdom's full service eateries, Disney dining matches the quality of the parks. With travel experts such as Fodor's and Frommer's adding Disney restaurants to their 'best of' lists, finding great cuisine at Disney World is easy.
High above the Contemporary Resort, the California Grill offers a "spectacular view" of the Magic Kingdom according to Frommer's. With floor-to-ceiling windows, it is the best place for the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks display. Featuring cuisine from the American Pacific Coast, the menu offers a wide variety of California Fusion dishes. Appetizers include brick-oven fired flatbreads and sushi. First Courses include house-cured duck confit, crispy Asian rock shrimp salad and roasted autumn squash soup. Spiced tuna with sweet potato puree, seared bison with risotto and pan-roasted Florida black grouper are main courses offered. An extensive wine list featuring California labels is available. The California Grill enforces a dress code.
The California Grill
Disney's Contemporary Resort
4600 North World Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
407-939-3463
disneyworld.disney.go.com
Located in the France Pavilion in Epcot, Les Chefs de France rates as one of Fodor's Choice Walt Disney World restaurants and is part of Frommer's Best Theme list. Created by three of France's famous chefs, Paul Boscue, Roger Verge and Gaston Lenotre, Les Chefs de France is styled after a Parisian brasserie with white linen tableware, warm woods, brass fittings and windows looking out to the World Showcase. Menu dining or a three course, prix-fixe meal are available. Starters include classic Escargots, Soupe a l'oignon gratinee (onion soup topped with grilled Gruyere cheese) and Lobster bisque. Entrees include salmon with lentils, beef short ribs braised in Cabernet Sauvignon and quiche Lorraine.
A highlight of the dinner service is the appearance of an animatronic mouse named Chef Remy who rides atop a serving cart concealed under a silver platter cover. A cast member dressed like a waiter pushes the cart around to each table and reveals the mouse, who has conversations with the patrons about the food they are eating.
Les Chefs de France
France Pavillion,
1200 Epcot Resort Blvd.,
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
407-939-3463
disneyworld.disney.go.com
Frommer's lists Victoria & Albert's as the "Best Spot for a Romantic Dinner", and Forbes Travel Guide has awarded it a four-star rating. Victoria & Albert's serves Modern American cuisine made from international ingredients such as Italian truffles, Japanese beef, North Florida oysters and Russian caviar. Located in the Grand Floridian, A seven-course dinner is served, starting with white truffles, followed by selections such as Colorado Buffalo with fennel, Maine lobster with watermelon radish or Galilee Osetra caviar. Course 2 choices include sake-soy marinated king salmon, wild turbot with capers or main diver scallops. Course 3 offers poulet rouge or duck three ways; Course 4 is a selection of five vital meats; and Course 5 is a palate cleanser of Stilton cheese and gelato. The final course is a choice of deserts such as caramelized banana gateau and creme brulée, finished with coffee, teas and after dinner liqueurs.
A seasonal chef's menu is available at the Chef's Table and the Queen Victoria Room. Located in a small alcove above the kitchen, the Chef's Table offers a personalized dining experience with Chef Hunnel. Diners receive small tastes of items such as caviar and Kobe beef with wine parings over the course of four hours. Queen Victoria's Room is an elegant, quiet room of four intimate tables. Up to 10 courses are offered with French gueridon service with table-side finishes of each dish.
Victoria & Albert's
4401 Grand Floridian
Orlando, FL 32830
407-939-3463
victoria-alberts.com
