After various trips to Walt Disney World over several years, I have found that dining at each table service restaurant provides a unique experience. Despite having a food sensitivity, I applaud Disney for diversifying their menus to offer appealing options for those with dietary restrictions and food allergies and sensitives throughout all three courses of a meal. In addition, the cast members in the kitchen are extremely careful to avoid cross contamination when preparing and serving your order.
As a patron who requires a gluten-free diet, I have found Grand Floridian Café to be one of those many dining locations in Walt Disney World that are able to accommodate guests with all food preferences. With a variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts free of gluten, it was easy to order a delicious and filling meal without feeling limited.
First, even though I was the only person in my party with a gluten sensitivity, I was brought an entire basket of fresh gluten-free rolls. Not only were they served with care, they tasted wonderful, unlike other gluten-free bread products that can possess a different texture, taste stale, or even fall apart. It was a delight to have the option to indulge in a dinner roll as opposed to simply abstaining from the pre-meal bread basket.
When browsing the appetizers at Grand Floridian Café, I was immediately drawn to the gluten-free French Onion Soup. Since it is normally prepared with regular bread or croutons, I was anxious to give this gluten-friendly starter a try. It lived up to my expectations and more! The melted cheese, cooked onions, and broth-soaked gluten-free bread tasted like an original recipe, with no obvious hints that the recipe was altered to exclude gluten. Other gluten-free appetizers available to order at Grand Floridan Café include shrimp cocktail, heirloom apple salad, and plant-based “crab” cakes.
For the main entrée, there are three gluten-free options listed on the menu at Grand Floridian Café. The New York Strip Steak and Frites and Miso-glazed Salmon provide a side of café signature fries and rice respectively along with seasonal vegetables. The Artisanal Burger, a 7-oz beef patty served with brie, bacon-pepper jam, roasted garlic aioli, and arugula, is available to order on a gluten-free bun. I opted for the miso-glazed salmon and was treated to a tasty meal full of flavor, but free of gluten. The salmon was cooked well, but was still light and flaky and the lemon-scented sticky rice offered freshness and texture.
While I was too full for dessert, gluten-free guests can speak with cast members regarding their options for their third course. A gluten-free fruit salad and gluten-free worms ‘n’ dirt cup are listed on the allergy-friendly kids menu and may be available to all guests. The kitchen may also have other options for those avoiding gluten that are not listed on the menu.
If you are gluten-free and looking for a relaxing atmosphere, pay a visit to Grand Floridian Café! Offering distinct menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, each meal time provides a variety of options for gluten-free guests in a casual, calm, and Victorian-inspired dining room. You won’t be disappointed by the available gluten-friendly meal options and exceptional service.
Do you have a favorite restaurant at Walt Disney World that serves delicious gluten-friendly meals? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!
Written by
Shelley Wehler
Contributing Writer
Shelley is a stay-at-home mother of two girls living outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Her love of all things Disney has grown even more as she sees the magic come alive through the lens of her young daughters. She spends her free time keeping up with the latest in Disney news and daydreaming of her next trip to the parks!
