Posts Tagged ‘Citricos’

Disney’s flagship resort offers plenty of opportunity to enjoy restaurants, refreshments, and retail therapy.   Boasting a greater number of dining and shopping options than any other Walt Disney World resort, there’s something for every age, every mood, and every pocketbook:

Table Service

• Narcoossee’s:   Seafood selections in a relaxed atmosphere with views of the Seven Seas Lagoon
• Citricos:    Inviting ambiance and imaginative dishes with a Southern European inspiration
• Grand Floridian Café:   Casual dining room serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner at moderate prices
• 1900 Park Fare:   Charming character meals accompanied by the amazing organ, “Big Bertha”
• Garden View Lounge:   Afternoon tea with all the accoutrements
• Victoria & Albert’s:   Extraordinary fine-dining experience in elegant surroundings

Lounges

• Mizner’s:   Intimate room featuring vintage ports and brandies
• Citricos Lounge:  A well-kept secret tucked away on the second floor

Quick Service

• Gasparilla Grill and Games:   Pizza, sandwiches, and salads, with some arcade fun

Shops

• Basin White:  Bath and beauty in black and white
• Commander Porter’s:  Gifts and gear for men
• M. Mouse Mercantile:  Souvenirs and Disney-themed apparel and toys for little pirates and princesses
• Sandy Cove:  Sundries and daily necessities, Grand Floridian logo merchandise
• Summer Lace:  Women’s apparel, jewelry, fragrance, and gifts

An elegant reception area leads to one of the most inviting dining rooms on Disney property.  Citricos, located on the second floor of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, welcomes diners with warm colors and crisp linens.  An entire wall of tall Palladian windows offers expansive views of the grounds.

The menu changes often to highlight seasonal ingredients, imaginatively prepared.  Many dishes feature flavors of the citrus for which the restaurant is named.  Originally open from Wednesday to Sunday only, it now serves dinner seven days a week.

A private room, the Chef’s Domain, is available for parties of up to twelve.  For a minimum charge of $650.00, guests have an up-close view of the show kitchen while dining a la carte or enjoying a menu customized for the group.

Review: I remain puzzled by the relative lack of interest in this restaurant.  One might argue that its location, tucked away down a secondary walkway off the main corridor, is a factor.  Yet, it’s far more accessible than its sister, Narcoossee’s, which is not even in the main building, but located off on its own down by the boat dock.  As part of the recorded message, monorail passengers are reminded of Citricos every time the train approaches Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.  Nonetheless, it’s still fairly easy to obtain a last-minute reservation here.

Those who have dined at Citricos generally give it high marks, but it has never generated the buzz that other venues enjoy.  I’ve never found it memorable and it’s not on my list of must-do’s, although I can’t say exactly why.  Unlike many other dining rooms at Walt Disney World, the upholstered chairs, carpeting, and drapes make for a particularly serene atmosphere, which is a delight.  I have had excellent experiences here, both in terms of food and service, yet it always seems to fall short of intriguing.  Perhaps it lacks a signature style or special dish that would set it apart.

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Dessert
Children
Wine
Drinks

Citricos

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Chef’s Domain – one seating nightly at 6:00 p.m.