Gluten Free Dining Reviews

[WVUFan]

I'm a long time lurker,and I love reading reviews (and looking at pictures!) On my last trip I took lots of pictures with full intention of posting them,but I still can't figure out how to post them (Someday!) I'm at least going to write the reviews, and if I ever figure out how to do the pictures, they'll be added later. On with the reviews...

My DD (2) and I are both gluten free. At the time,she was also dairy free. We went for eight days over Thanksgiving with DH, DB, DSIL, and DNiece-7. None of them have allergies, so although they'll come up in the reviews, I'll focus on the gluten free.

TS Restaurants:
Tutto Italia
Boma
Crystal Palace Breakfast
Kona Cafe
Cape May (Thanksgiving and Breakfast)
Le Cellier
1900 Park Faire

Day 1-
Due to mechanical difficulties, we didn't arrive at BCV until around midnight. I had wanted to eat a late supper at Epcot, but instead I got cake (a great consolation!) I had ordered a gluten free cake from Boardwalk Bakery (same prices as regular cakes). The lady was really nice when I ordered it, but she really wanted to put something on the cake.

Her: Is it a special occassion?
Me: No thank you,it's just for me.
Her: Would you like something on it?
Me: Nope- just going to eat it. (I'm feeling a little guilty about this fact by now)
Her: Ooh, it'll be Thanksgiving! How about Happy Thanksgiving?
Me: That sounds great!

That's how I ended up with a huge gluten free cake with a turkey on it. It was very moist, a little dense (asmany gluten free cakes are), with a great flavor. For $25, I had breakfast for 8 days, a few snacks, a couple of slices to take home, and I even shared some with the regluar eaters (they liked it as well- always a good sign for gluten free!)

 

[WVUFan]

Day 2-

Lunch-Liberty Inn

While the regular eaters went to Tangierine Cafe (which is not very gluten free friendly), I went to Liberty Innfor a gluten free pizza, which is big enough for my DD and I to split. It is notthe best pizza (not a lot of cheese), but it is good. I had to wait 10-15 minutes, but it's worth it for pizza. Although they had gluten free brownies and chocolate chip cookies, we split a fruit cup for dessert.

Supper- Tutto Italia

As soon as I read the menu, I wanted to eat here. We liked it somuch we went there twice! The meal started with a bread basket (of course),but the second night, they brought out gluten free bread for DD and I. In addition to bread they bring vegetables with a pesto ricotta spread (yum!)

For appetizer,the first night I got Prosciutto di Parma - ham with thin slices of seasonal melon, which was good. Very sweet cantaloupewhich my DD loved (I only got a few bites). The second night I got the mozzarella with tomatoes, which was wonderful. I didn't want to share it with DD- the sacrifices moms make for their kids!

Although they offered gluten free pasta, I ordered the Fish Filet "all'acqua pazza" with clams, tomato, capers and olives. It was some sort of a white fish in a tomato broth. It was so good! I almost didn't order it, because I don't like, but I found out the first night that DD loves them! She scarfed them down at two years old! She had them three times on the trip.

The best part was dessert. The chef came out to let me know what I could have when he mentioned Gianduja first.
Me: Um,what's that?
Him: A chocolate hazelnut torte.
Me (getting excited): It's gluten free?
Him: Yes (then he starts to continue on the list).
Me (cutting him off): I'll take that!

I was so glad I did. Actually, DH wanted it as well, so we got the second one to go. It was wonderful! So chocolaty and rich that I'm glad we split it. DD sat patiently as she had decided to wait for an Itsadoozie after supper,which she andher clothes both loved.

 

[Minniespal]

I'm really enjoying reading your reviews. I've recently been diagnosed Celiac, so your reviews are very helpful.

 

[deblikestotravel]

Enjoying your reviews. My DD17 was recently diagnosed and we are traveling in Aug. Keep em coming. We are eating at a few places that you did. I was afraid of the Italian place at Epcot, I might have to try to get an ADR there.

Thanks

Deb
OKW 8/08

 

[suzimar57]

thanks for the reviews so far - a friend of mine is gluten-free, and she'll appreciate hearing her choices at disney restaurants

and i'm also laughing at the site of your cake with the turkey on it!!

 

[ClareH37]

Great reviews so far, I'm also gluten free.

That's good to know Tutto Itallia offer gluten free pasta, I think I'll have to give it a go now

 

[WVUFan]

Enjoying your reviews. My DD17 was recently diagnosed and we are traveling in Aug. Keep em coming. We are eating at a few places that you did. I was afraid of the Italian place at Epcot, I might have to try to get an ADR there.

We're going back to Tutto Italia in September. I hope the Torte is still on the menu! WDW will be wonderful for your DD!

 

[WVUFan]

i'm also laughing at the site of your cake with the turkey on it!!

I hope that I'll figure out posting pictures soon!

 

[awatt]

Does teh American Pavilion always have gluten free pizza and bownies or did you have to call ahead? Also did you notify Tutto Italia in advance or do they carry GF bread all the time?

Loving your reviews, thanks!

 

[WVUFan]

I've been away at an assembly for fours days, but now it's on with the reviews!

Day 3- Flame Tree Barbeque

I love the lower eating area here (it's so peaceful by the water!) I ordered the Mixed Green Salad with Barbecue Chicken without the garlic shell. It takes about 5 extra minutes as the make it fresh to avoid cross contamination with the bread. It was a good counter service salad with great flavor. DD will not eat lettuce, so she ate most of the chicken, but it was a decent size serving. We split a frozen lemonade for dessert.

Supper- BOMA!

This is my DH's favorite restaurant and a must do for us. Chef TJ is wonderful! He walked me through the line and there are lots of gluten free (and glten free- dairy free choices). After going through the line, he told me he would bring out some extra food for us. In the meantime, I loved the squash soup. Even if you don't like squash- try it! It is so very rich and creamy. After eating quite a bit, TJ came out with a huge plate piled high with food- steak kabobs which were very perfectly cooked, salmon, curry shrimp (which DD devoured), crispy rice noodles, green beans, and really good red cabbage. People were eyeing our goregous creation and I actually felt special to have celiac!

There were a couple of gluten free desserts in line, so I tried something with coconut which was good. I wasgoing to get another when TJ came out with a special dessert for us. DD had some sort of dairy free ice cream over a brownie which was over a chocolate covered apple. It was a very pretty tower which she managed to finish. We had to stop her fom licking the plate! I had a piece of cheesecake with chocolate over it, a chocolate covered apple, and gluten free zebra domes. They were all so wonderful I almost cried! Unfortunately, I was stuffed after a few bits, but TJ let me take the rest home, and I snacked on this for a few days.

Like I said, Boma is a must for us and we will be returning in September!

 

[WVUFan]

Does teh American Pavilion always have gluten free pizza and bownies or did you have to call ahead? Also did you notify Tutto Italia in advance or do they carry GF bread all the time?

Loving your reviews, thanks!

The American Pavilion always has the pizza,as does Toy Story Pizza Planet, Pizzafari and one other place which I don't remember. You don't have to call ahead, but it does take a while to bake. A lot of places have the gluten free brownies and chocolate chip cookies- both of which are good. When you make ADRs, let them know someone has celiac. They usually give the number of the restaurant is you want to call in advance, but I never have. I do let the know when we check in. Usually the chaf comes out to talk you through the menu.

 

[WVUFan]

Day 4-

After our feast at Boma, I wasn't that hungry,but we had ADRs at Crystal Palace for breakfast. The chef walked me through the buffet and there were quite a few gluten free items on the menu. Lots of good fruit, sausage and bacon, potatoes, yogurt, and omelet DD had beenanticipating her first omelet which pretty much filled her. They also brought out Van's waffles which were better with the strawberry and whipped cream topping. Although the food was good (not great, but good), we will be back for the pooh characters and the napkin waving which DD still talks about.

Lunch- Beach Club Marketplace

In the middle of the afternoon during DD's nap, I finally statred getting hungry again. Beach Club Marketplace has a made to order salad, but as I was waiting in line, I almost left as they used the same glove for the lettuce and the croutons. A salad sounded so good, that I mentioned my intolerance to the lady, she got fresh stuff for my salad. These salads are HUGE- my DH and I split one and still had some left. Their vinegarette is gluten free. The lady was very excited to offer me a gluten free dessert, and after about ten minutes returned with a brownie and chocolate chip cookie. She felt bad that it took so long and gave me both! We ate their one other time, and people were equally accomodating.

Supper- Kona Cafe

In the late afternoon, DH and I decided to go out for a late dinner alone, and we were thrilled to be able to get ADRs at Kona Cafe. The appetizers were almost all glutenized, but I enjoyed the Kona Salad without the blue cheese. I also got a couple of warm rolls with their macademiz nut butter. I would have been happy with that for a meal,but then I would've missed the Ono Fish which was very mild and so good! The best part was dessert- Banana-Chocolate Creme Brulee! The creme brulee had alayer of chocolate at the bottom and a banana that was bruleed on top. I was happy that it was just DH and I, so I didn'thave to share my dessert with DD!

 

[Mom2gymnasts]

Supper- BOMA!

This is my DH's favorite restaurant and a must do for us. Chef TJ is wonderful! He walked me through the line and there are lots of gluten free (and glten free- dairy free choices). After going through the line, he told me he would bring out some extra food for us. In the meantime, I loved the squash soup. Even if you don't like squash- try it! It is so very rich and creamy. After eating quite a bit, TJ came out with a huge plate piled high with food- steak kabobs which were very perfectly cooked, salmon, curry shrimp (which DD devoured), crispy rice noodles, green beans, and really good red cabbage. People were eyeing our goregous creation and I actually felt special to have celiac!

There were a couple of gluten free desserts in line, so I tried something with coconut which was good. I wasgoing to get another when TJ came out with a special dessert for us. DD had some sort of dairy free ice cream over a brownie which was over a chocolate covered apple. It was a very pretty tower which she managed to finish. We had to stop her fom licking the plate! I had a piece of cheesecake with chocolate over it, a chocolate covered apple, and gluten free zebra domes. They were all so wonderful I almost cried! Unfortunately, I was stuffed after a few bits, but TJ let me take the rest home, and I snacked on this for a few days.

Like I said, Boma is a must for us and we will be returning in September!

Enjoying your reviews. We will be eating at Boma the first part of August. I can't wait. We don't have any food restrictions, but are picky eaters. So this restaurant will be an adventure for us.

"Let's Go................"

 

[WVUFan]

Enjoying your reviews. We will be eating at Boma the first part of August. I can't wait. We don't have any food restrictions, but are picky eaters. So this restaurant will be an adventure for us.

"Let's Go................"

"...........MOUNTAINEERS!"

When I get to it, WVU plays a part on DAY 7. Hopefully we'll have a good season!

While Boma has a lot of exotic food, it also has what Chef TJ calld "Food you can get at McDonald's."or regular American food.

 

[WVUFan]

DAY 5- Happy Thanksgiving!

We started out the day with early morning at Magic Kingdom (7 a.m.),and by 10:30 we were HUNGRY, but we didn't want to eat too much as we were eating Thanksgiving Dinner at 3:30.

Early Lunch- Cosmic Ray's
DD and I split the chicken and it was good- much like most other roasted chilcken. It came with green beans and mashed potatoes (a great early Thanksgiving). I wanted Dole Whip, so I got a yogurt for dessert. We had been listening to the WDW CD for months in preparation for our trip,and DD was thrilled to hear the animatronic alien guy sing "Good Night Little Star", but she had a meltdown when it was over. She loves mushrooms, so she calmed down when we got some for her off of the toppings bar. You never know what is going to make a 2 year old happy!

Snack- Dole Whip
I LOVE Dole Whip, which is gluten free. Unfortunately, DD also loves it, so I only got a few bites. Next time we will get two so that I don't have to share!

Thanksgiving Dinner- Cape May
We wanted to see the Osbourne Lights on Thanksgiving Night, so we decided to have dinner at Beach Club. I had heard some good things about Cape May, so I was excited. It was okay. I wouldn't want anybody to not go to Cape May based on my experience, since the buffet was different for Thanksgiving. Also,I don't like clams, and there were a 4 or 5 different types of clams and mussels. The turkey, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato mashed were all very good. There were also a number of gluten free salads which were excellent. DD chowed down on the mashed sweet potatoes and clams. At the end of the meal, she had a huge pile of empty clam shells and had hardly touched the turkey.

Dessert was the most disappointing part of dinner. I Know Cape May was packed, but he just brought out the prepackaged brownie and chocolate chip cookies from counter service. They were fine, but not very "Thanksgiving- like". At least I had the cake to eat after Osbourne lights. Will we go back-maybe someday. If you like clams, you should go, otherwise it's a toss-up.

 

[WVUFan]

DAY 6

We spent the morning in the then MGM Studios, and I couldn't decide what I wanted for lunch, so I waited until DD needed a nap and got a salad at Beach Club Marketplace. In the meantime, DH got something for lunch at ABC Commissary (like I said from the begin, I'm focusing on the gluten freeand I don't remember what the others ate!) I ate his dessert- chocolate mousse which was very rich and one of the best CS dessert I ate all week. DD had a fruit cup.

Supper- LeCellier
We had tried to all eat here, but even on the first day we could make ADRs, we could not get a table for 6, so my DH and I ate here while everyone else went to Coral Reef (DD had fish which she barely touched as she was entranced by "Mr. Ray", but she did eat all of her ice cream.)

I was so excited to finally eat at Le Cellier. The bread looked and smelled so good, but I was pacified by a really good mango smoothie. For appetizer, I had an Asian Shrimp Cocktail with cole slaw. The shrimp were perfectly flavored, and the coleslaw was good- it would have been great except it had onions in it which I don't like. For the main course, I really wanted the maple king salmon, and I was really disappointed to find out that the risotto with it is not gluten free. The chef said he could make it with the cream cheese mashed potatoes. I was leery about maple wih mashed potatoes,but it was actually very good together. The salmon was prefectly cooked. DH ordered roasted potatoes with his filet mignon as he doesn't like cheese, but even he liked the mashed potatoes and wished he had gotten them.

For dessert I had the creme brulee. It was very good, but I was so stuffed that I couldn't eat it all. We are looking forward to returning to Le Cellier in September.

 

[WVUFan]

DAY 7-
Breakfast- Cape May

DB and family were leaving nd we were switching resorts. so we had an early breakfast at Cape May. It was a wonderful experience. 1. It was not very crowded and the character interaction was great- Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale in their swimwear. It was the most relaxed character dining that I have been to. 2. The food was great! There was a yogurt bar, a couple different types of eggs, potatoes, and fruit. The chef made gluten free mickey waffles which were the best waffles I have ever had- they were light and crispy. He even made a second batch for us. Getting to Cape May early is difficult if you are not staying at an epcot Resort, but it is worth the trouble!

Supper- 1900 Park Faire
We split another pizza for lunch in Epcot, and then DD had supper by ourselves! WVU was playing UConn, and my husband was already missing being at the game, so he went to ESPN Zone to watch it while DD and I continued with our ADR at 1900 Park Faire. I found that buffets are difficult with just one adult and a two year old, but other than that we had a great time. DD dressed in her cinderella costume and had a ball! Cinderella was pretty but bland, Prince Charming was pretty boring, but the stepp sisters and mother were a hoot! They spent so much time talking and listening to DD.
I had heard mixed reviews about the food, and almost cancelled, but I am so glad that I decided to go! We were there when it opened (I'm not sure if that makes a difference), but the food was very fresh and good. The chef took us around and we could eat quite a bit. I loved the red snapper, pork, salads, and especially the chilled strawberry soup (so good!) DD chowed down on the paella (as a 2 year old- go figure!) Desserts were really good, but anytime I can have good mousse, I consider it to be good! we are going back in September with DH.

 

[pixiedust1125]

Thank You so much for your reviews, there great. My DM has a wheat allergy and my DD was just recently diagnosed with ceiliacs. I am wondering about the cake from the Boardwalk Bakery-how do you go about getting that? Any info would be great thanks