Is Narcoossee's The Grand Floridian’s Best Restaurant?
Our Review of Disney’s Narcoossee’s Experience!
As you may presume, there is one noticeable exception to the question above that can hardly be overlooked, and that is Victoria & Albert’s which is in a league of its own. As we take a fun look at Narcoossee's (how can it not be fun - just look at the name) we hope to give you some idea of whether or not making a reservation here is right for you and your family.
The Atmosphere
The atmosphere is elegant. Most people opt for a business casual look when they dine at Narcoossee’s, and in doing so you will feel comfortable if fitting in is your thing. A sports coat is too much and a graphic tee is too little. When determining dress we simply try to not feel like the “oddball” in the room. Many of the guests here are either staying at the Grand Floridian, Disney’s Flagship hotel, or out for a nice dinner which means a lot of folks here are comfortable with looking a little dressier. Don’t be afraid to bring the kids - it's still Disney! No one is going to throw you out if you wear tennis shoes, and yes, there will always be children doing what children do. We estimated about ⅓ of the tables had children under the age of seven for reference on this night. Here is a link to the official “dress code”
The Food
Food matters. One of our favorite things to do (and that is all of us) is to eat at Disney! Most guests agree there are magical meals to be had on a Disney adventure! If there is grandeur, there simply must be quality also. To have elegance without a meal that leaves you satisfied or amazed is like putting lipstick on a pig. What’s the point? The menu options are wide ranging here. You will likely have little trouble finding something that looks satisfying. Deciding between two different things was more of my problem. It should be noted that there are plant-based options for those who are vegans as well as options for those with sensitivity to food allergies.
The first thing you are served is hot sour dough bread with salted butter. This is deserving of the title excellent. If you are a bread person this is good and complementary. Here is a little tip for insiders, if you get soup, save some bread to dip in the soup. You will thank me later.
After a little debating we ended up deciding to splurge on a cheese platter for an appetizer. Spoiler alert - this may have been the best thing we tried. The pairings were simply wonderfully done. Hats off to the chef on this. We did notice there were less selections plated than what was on our last cheese platter at the California Grill, but it was outstanding regardless.
Since Lobster Bisque is a favorite of mine, I couldn’t quite resist trying it out. The soup was fantastic and what a higher end Lobster Bisque soup should be. My one honest complaint was that the Lobster pieces in the soup were rather bland. The soup itself, 10/10 for flavoring. It will likely get this again.
The main courses were a little bit of a mixed bag. There were no problems with the presentation as you can see. Everything was beautifully plated with an artistic flair and perfect spacing. I enjoyed my swordfish and would recommend it. The taste was on par with the presentation. For my Husband’s entree - the surf and turf - I am going to be a little more critical. Sirloin and lobster are two things I have a lot of experience with and this was underwhelming. The sirloin had more fat that what a sirloin should have. I know this happens occasionally but at a premium price I expect premium quality. The lobster was also bland (which I understand lobster usually is without sauce or seasoning) and disappointing. This is the only lobster tail I have ordered and not finished, ever. Now, let me say I do not think this is normal and this kind of thing is usually not consistent with what you see at Disney. I am willing to admit I am being very picky here but at these price points I think I am allowed to be. It would have helped if I had taken the option to upgrade my steak to a fillet which is consistently good across Disney property. The potatoes and vegetables were top tier as you expect and the Demi glacé sauce that topped the steak also was astounding.
The View
Here is a shining bright spot for Narcoossee’s - the view. In the distance you can see the castle, the entrance to Main Street and Space Mountain. If you time your booking just right you can catch nighttime fireworks on full display making this a very hard to get reservation during those time slots. Admittedly it comes in second to the California Grill’s view (doesn’t everything?) but don’t take that as if this is a second class experience. There is a balcony guests can sneak off to and to see the fireworks as they experience a panoramic waterfront views of the action.
Rating
Couples - 7/10
Family - 4.5/10
The couples rating would be higher if my main course was as impressive as my wife’s. For a family, there is just less magic going on for kids as there is in other places. Is this the best restaurant in the Grand Floridian? We think it is great, but not the best.
