Nomad Lounge - Disney's Animal Kingdom

This week, we dined at Nomad Lounge in Disney's Animal Kingdom twice.

Nomad Lounge, which does not accept advance dining reservations, serves small plates and drinks from around the world. It is located next to Tiffins, right outside of Pandora.

Chef Art Smith's Homecoming - Disney Springs

Disney Springs has recently added some amazing new restaurants, like D-Luxe Burger and Frontera Cocina.

For weeks, I have been seeing this sign that Chef Art Smith's Homecoming is opening this summer.  

Frontera Cocina - Disney Springs

This post was last updated June 17, 2017

Earlier today, we had lunch at Frontera Cocina, which officially opened yesterday in the Town Center neighborhood of Disney Springs.

Frontera Cocina by Chef Rick Bayless features gourmet Mexican cuisine.  It is managed by the same restaurant group that operates the restaurants in Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot.  Because they are not Disney-owned and operated, none of them have allergy-friendly menus, but I have found all of their restaurants do an amazing job with special diets.

California Grill - Disney's Contemporary Resort

Last weekend, my husband and I had dinner at California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

California Grill, a signature dining restaurant, has amazing views of Walt Disney World from their location on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort, and it is a great spot to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks.  We dined early, but you can bring your receipt back to the check-in desk for reentry to see the fireworks.  That was our plan, but the weather was so terrible Saturday night, we decided to go home after dinner.

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar - Disney Springs

On Friday, my husband and I had dinner at Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar at The Landing in Disney Springs before seeing La Nouba.  I first dined there on opening day last fall, which you can read about here.

The restaurant, which is described on Disney's website as a "1940s airplane hangar turned dive bar," is themed around Jock Lindsey, Indiana Jones' pilot in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop - Disney Springs

After we moved to Orlando in 2008, Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop in Disney Springs became one of our favorite dessert spots at Disney World.  My husband and I loved to order a scoop of vanilla ice cream with their amazing milk chocolate hot fudge.

On our trip to Disneyland three years ago, I did not pass up the chance to stop at Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop at Disney California Adventure Park.

Nomad Lounge - Disney's Animal Kingdom

This post was last updated June 13, 2017

Last Friday, we had dinner at Nomad Lounge at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Nomad Lounge is located next to Tiffins, Disney's newest signature dining restaurant.

Ample HIlls Creamery - Disney's BoardWalk

Earlier this month, Ample Hills Creamery, which is based in New York, opened up a shop on Disney's BoardWalk.

We love ice cream, so we were very excited to check out Disney's newest ice cream parlor.  Before we arrived, I did some research on Ample Hills Creamery's website.  On their Frequently Asked Questions page, they state that their ice cream base is gluten free, but their flavors with cookies, cake, and beer are not.  They have at least one dairy free & vegan sorbet available at all their stores.  If you have a nut allergy, they note that they do their best to avoid cross contamination, but caution that their ice cream is not made in a nut free kitchen.

Amorette's Patisserie - Disney Springs

I was so excited when Disney announced that Amorette's Patisserie was opening in the new Town Center neighborhood of Disney Springs in May.  The main reason I was looking forward to visiting this new shop is that they sell gluten friendly cake, and other sweet treats.  You can check out pictures of their beautiful creations on Disney's website here.

After a disappointing experience at The Daily Poutine in Disney Springs last Saturday, we headed to Amorette's Patisserie.  After reading my friend Sarah's review on her blog Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free at WDW, I was not expecting a good experience at Amorette's either.

The Daily Poutine - Disney Springs

Last Saturday, we headed to Disney Springs to have lunch at D-Luxe Burger, but it was closed for a private party when we arrived.  We decided to explore the recently opened Town Center neighborhood of Disney Springs while we waited for D-Luxe Burger to open to the public.

When I saw The Daily Poutine, a quick service restaurant in Town Center, we reconsidered our lunch plans, because my friend Sarah from Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free at WDW had a good experience dining there opening week.  Poutine is a Canadian dish featuring french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy.  The Daily Poutine also offers Latin, Italian, and French-inspired versions of poutine.

D-Luxe Burger - Disney Springs

Yesterday, we had lunch at D-Luxe Burger, which opened in the Town Center neighborhood of Disney Springs last Sunday.

D-Luxe Burger is a quick service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.  After you order, you are given a pager to let you know when your food is ready to be picked up.  They currently do not have an allergy-friendly menu, but a chef quickly came out to speak to me about gluten free options.  He told me that any of the burgers could be made gluten free, and the fresh-cut fries are made in dedicated fryers, so they are safe.

Rose & Crown - Epcot

Earlier this month, we had lunch at Rose & Crown Dining Room in the United Kingdom Pavilion at Epcot.

Rose & Crown has an allergy-friendly menu that lists options for people with gluten/wheat, milk, egg, soy, fish/shellfish, and peanut/tree nut allergies.

Sprinkles - Disney Springs

Earlier today, Town Center officially opened at Disney Springs.  This neighborhood features new retail locations and dining options like Sprinkles Cupcakes and D-Luxe Burger.  More shops and restaurants will be opening in Town Center in the coming months.

As soon as Town Center opened, we headed straight for Sprinkles Cupcakes, which is located across the bridge from Morimoto Asia and Raglan Road.

Fairytale Dining Dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table - Magic Kingdom

Last night, we had dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table, a signature dining restaurant located inside Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom.

Cinderella's Royal table is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a meal there should be on everyone's Disney bucket list.  Since moving to Orlando eight years ago, we have had dinner there on two previous occasions, and enjoyed our meals.

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop - Disney's Beach Club Resort

Earlier today, my daughters and I had lunch at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, a table service restaurant at Disney's Beach Club Resort.

The theming of Beaches & Cream is that of an old-fashioned boardwalk-style ice cream shop along the Atlantic seashore.  Beaches & Cream is a popular dining destination and is very small, so be sure to make advance dining reservations.  People walking up to the restaurant today were being told that the wait would be about two hours.

Sanaa Dinner - Kidani Village at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas

Earlier this month, my daughters and I had dinner at Sanaa, a table service restaurant at Kidani Village at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas.  Sanaa features African cooking with Indian flavors, and is one of our favorite restaurants at Walt Disney World, which is why we chose to have Christmas dinner there a few months ago.  

Sanaa has an allergy-friendly menu that lists dishes that are safe for people with gluten/wheat, milk, egg, soy, fish/shellfish, and peanut/tree nut allergies.  Before the allergy-friendly menus were introduced at Disney World last year, a chef would come to your table to discuss your dietary needs, but now, if you are only avoiding one of the allergens listed, they will typically not visit your table unless you ask to speak to a chef.

Kona Cafe Lunch - Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

On Saturday, we had lunch at Kona Cafe, a table service restaurant at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.  In the past couple of years, it has become one of our favorite restaurants for lunch at Walt Disney World.  

Last year, Kona Cafe adopted allergy-friendly menus, which list options for people with gluten/wheat, milk, egg, soy, fish/shellfish, and peanut/tree nut allergies. 

Raglan Road Lunch - Disney Springs

Earlier today, my daughters and I had lunch at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant in Disney Springs.  Raglan Road is not Disney owned and operated, so they do not have an allergy-friendly menu, but it is one of my favorite table service restaurants at Disney World for gluten free dining.

Their menu recently underwent some changes, and some of my favorite dishes, like the citrus salmon salad and crispy fried shrimp, are no longer on the lunch or dinner menus.  Thankfully, shrimp and chips are still available at neighboring Cookes of Dublin, my favorite quick service restaurant at Disney Springs.

Gluten Free Chicken Tenders at Disney World

Since we moved to Orlando in the summer of 2008, I have been eating gluten free chicken tenders at Disney World.  I first tried them at Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom, which used to bake them for me, but now, they have a dedicated fryer.  For years, Disney owned and operated restaurants at Walt Disney World have used AllergyFree Foods Chicken Tenders.  They are free of corn, and the top 8 food allergens.

Last fall, because of a supply issue, the AllergyFree Foods chicken tenders that Disney uses were replaced by Saffron Road and Ian's chicken tenders, but in the past month, they have been appearing at Disney restaurants again.

Boma - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

This post includes my most recent breakfast and dinner reviews of Boma

On Monday, I had breakfast at Boma - Flavors of Africa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.  Boma, which features all-you-care-to-enjoy buffets at both breakfast and dinner, has long been one of our favorite table service restaurants at Disney World.

Albert, who has an amazing sense of humor and is probably the best server I have ever had at Boma, started us off with Jungle Juice, which is a combination of passion fruit, guava, and orange juices.