Disappointed after having my heart set on Homecoming: Florida Kitchen

[Harambe]

I am just now doing our dining reservations for our January trip (we had some issues that kept us from knowing if we could even go on the trip, but happily things worked out!!). To say I am internet challenged is an understatement and making the reservations at all is an olympic feat.

Anyway . . . I had wanted to do Homecoming for our 25th anniversary, but I just took a good look at the menu and found little for my vegetarian daughter to eat. That Mac and cheese looks good, but I am shocked that there really isn't a true vegetarian entree choice.

So I will keep looking. I did reserve a few other places with no problem for my 10 days, so I am not too worried that we will not find something.

Any other suggestions from those who have tried some of the new places over at Disney Springs?

 

[Mflowers92]

I haven't been to any new restaurants in Disney Springs, but Frontera Cocina gets really rave reviews. It doesn't have tons of vegetarian options, but it has two salads and a vegetarian taco, plus several vegetarian appetizers and sides that could be made into a meal.

It's not super new, but I have been to Raglan Road, and they have a few vegetarian options as well as well as some heavy appetizers.

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

It's your 25th anniversary. Your wishes should be considered first & foremost. Don't they also have hush puppies? Those combined with mac & cheese would be a pretty easy way to "suck it up" for one's parents.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm sure the chef could come up with something that isn't on the menu. I wouldn't sacrifice the place I had been dreaming of since its announcement because 1 person may have to sit through it and grab a bite later. I don't remember many regular restraunts that put their full vegetarian menu online.

 

[Harambe]

I haven't been to any new restaurants in Disney Springs, but Frontera Cocina gets really rave reviews. It doesn't have tons of vegetarian options, but it has two salads and a vegetarian taco, plus several vegetarian appetizers and sides that could be made into a meal.

Thanks all - I actually did look at the Frontera Cocina menu after I posted this thread and it looked amazing. Guac heaven! I love real Mexican food, as does the rest of the family. And I know DD will love the mushroom taco dish. So I went ahead and made a reservation here. I'm excited!!!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I'm sure the chef could come up with something that isn't on the menu.

1) At "most" TS eateries, the chef/cook can come up with SOMETHING.
2) But, vegetarian meals are not something at which WDW excels.
. . . They have a pretty-much set list of entrees from which you can choose.
. . . With over 50-million visitors, they try to accommodate a few vegetarians, but they are a small percentage of the guests.
. . . Let's face it, there are different types of vegetarians, and it is tough to make such allowances.
. . . There are total vegans, no-dairy vegetarians, no-fish vegetarians, no-meat but OK-poultry, etc
. . . Accommodating allergies is far more common.

 

[wilkeliza]

1) At "most" TS eateries, the chef/cook can come up with SOMETHING.
2) But, vegetarian meals are not something at which WDW excels.
. . . They have a pretty-much set list of entrees from which you can choose.
. . . With over 50-million visitors, they try to accommodate a few vegetarians, but they are a small percentage of the guests.
. . . Let's face it, there are different types of vegetarians, and it is tough to make such allowances.
. . . There are total vegans, no-dairy vegetarians, no-fish vegetarians, no-meat but OK-poultry, etc
. . . Accommodating allergies is far more common.

I get that but at any restraunt a good chef should be able to take what vegetables they have in the kitchen and come up with something. It may not be exactly what someone wants but it isn't like there are vegetables and other things in the kitchen. This is a restraunt from a well know chef and not just a theme park restraunt so I would expect a little more from that then to just excuse it as being at Disney.

 

[Mflowers92]

To be fair, some of those "types" of vegetarians do not require accommodating. They can include one entirely vegetarian entree (no meat whatsoever - "vegetarians" who eat fish or poultry are not vegetarian. They are pescetarian (fish) or just a pretend feel-good vegetarian (poultry)). That entree would be suitable for all three of those types of eaters (not necessarily vegans).
It's a little bit of an odd move to not have a single vegetarian entree. Vegan may be a little trickier to accomplish, but it's pretty easy to have a meatless salad or veggie burger on your menu.
They don't have to go out of their way to accommodate pescetarians or poultry eaters because most menus already include chicken and fish options.

 

[Lisa F]

I agree that your daughter should suck up and deal with minimal choices for your 25th anniversary. Assuming she is grownup or close to it, lol. I would for my mom in a heartbeat for her special anniversary and I bet yours would too! It is hard being a mom to not put your kiddos first no matter how old they get but you should do it this time, really. It's ok!

That said it does not seem like there is much that has to be done in the way of sucking up. I am not vegetarian but if someone challenged me to skip meat there I could make a meal out of any of the following:
hush puppies
fried green tomatoes, hold the ham
any of the salads, hold the meat/fish
any combo of any of the sides. they ALL sound fantastic.

honestly just because it's not called an "entree" doesn't mean there isn't plenty to eat. Get an app, a starch side and a veggie side and call it good. have a margarita afterwards making a meal out of sides is a tried and true veggie strategy from a time when no one accommodated with entrees.

 

[Criickette]

To be fair, some of those "types" of vegetarians do not require accommodating. They can include one entirely vegetarian entree (no meat whatsoever - "vegetarians" who eat fish or poultry are not vegetarian. They are pescetarian (fish) or just a pretend feel-good vegetarian (poultry)).

Quite an ignorant statement! The "pretenders" are called pollo-vegetarians. Appreciate the differences in others.

 

[Mflowers92]

Quite an ignorant statement! The "pretenders" are called pollo-vegetarians. Appreciate the differences in others.

I apologize for offending! That is a new term for me! I guess in my mind I would not classify that as a type of vegetarian, but just consider them someone who does not eat red meat or possibly a sort of flexetarian. I guess it really makes no difference to me what they choose to label themselves as, so I shouldn't judge.

However, I stand by my main point, that a restaurant doesn't need to have different options to accommodate each of these types of vegetarian restrictions. Someone who is a pollo vegetarian or a pescetarian can still eat a completely meatless vegetarian entree. Also, what restaurant doesn't serve chicken?

 

[GaryDis]

1) At "most" TS eateries, the chef/cook can come up with SOMETHING.
2) But, vegetarian meals are not something at which WDW excels.
. . . They have a pretty-much set list of entrees from which you can choose.
. . . With over 50-million visitors, they try to accommodate a few vegetarians, but they are a small percentage of the guests.

Huh? AllEars describes Disney's table service restaurants as a vegetarian's dream. Pretty much all the Disney-owned and operated restaurants have at least one vegetarian entree. It's just the privately operated ones that refuse to have a broad menu. Disney does a pretty good job at making vegetarians feel welcome.

Vegans, on the other hand, may have a harder time.

 

[Criickette]

Someone who is a pollo vegetarian or a pescetarian can still eat a completely meatless vegetarian entree. Also, what restaurant doesn't serve chicken?

Agree, most restaurants have a chicken dish but many are served with a pork or beef product. But I'm not complaining because most restaurants post their menus and you can choose accordingly.

 

[Minnesota!]

It's your 25th anniversary. Your wishes should be considered first & foremost. Don't they also have hush puppies? Those combined with mac & cheese would be a pretty easy way to "suck it up" for one's parents.

I agree.

I was veg for many years. I always went with majority and just sucked it up and found something on the menu - side salad and mac n cheese, usually. A good dessert, too

I see you updated, Frontera looks great, too. I want to try both on my next visit...!!