You had us at Tiramisu! We are off to Disney’s BoardWalk!

Recently, Trattoria al Forno released two new menus, bringing some exciting (and pretty delicious) Italian flavors to Disney’s BoardWalk. Their new dinner menu impressed –So much so, we reserved ourselves a spot for breakfast!

While Italian eats can be frequently spotted throughout Disney Parks and are often, well —Cosi Cosi (so so). Trattoria al Forno brings something special to the table. 

Trattoria al Forno is located in Disney’s BoardWalk, and was the former home of the Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast! Before the parks closed, you could — CATCH — breakfast with Ariel, Prince Eric, Rapunzel, and Flynn Rider. We really enjoyed this character breakfast, and had so much fun interacting with characters that can be hard to spot in the theme parks.

Although this character experience is still on pause, we were happy to learn that Trattoria al Forno was offering a new Italian-inspired breakfast menu — making waiting for the return of the Bon Voyage Adventure a little more bearable.

Let’s take a look at what’s being served up for breakfast now!

Atmosphere

Trattoria al Forno scores some big points for atmosphere! The rich Italian theming is present without being overbearing or too “themey” –And the rustic nods and attention to detail truly make this space inviting, comfortable, and downright cozy! 

Trattoria al Forno manages to blend the ornate –think dark wood, and wrought iron details, with more modest elements like pizza paddles and whimsical upholstery. 

The combination of textures and finishes results in modern meets old-world charm that keeps the restaurant feeling substantial, yet casual enough to enjoy a family meal in your Disney gear! Great welcoming vibes aside, we have to mention the real gem of this restaurant –Its massive OPEN kitchen! This dynamic element immerses diners in the sights, sounds, and smells of a bustling Italian kitchen.

And we’ve got to tip our hats (and mouse ears) to Trattoria’s HUGE stone pizza oven!

You can expect an assortment of comfortable seating including large booths, single-party tables, and large group (shared) tables.

And fresh air seekers can enjoy bistro-style outdoor seating! Although keep in mind, the outdoor space is a bit on the smaller side.

While the atmosphere is great, the location isn’t too shabby either! Trattoria is a quick jaunt to Epcot’s International Gateway –an 8 minute walk according to Google Maps!

This is an ideal Epcot entrance if you are looking to scurry to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure when it opens officially on Friday! PSA –Epcot tends to open later than most parks which means you just might have time to grab a solid (as in, more than coffee) breakfast prior to opening!

Eats

Now on to the food! Let’s be honest, we aren’t always loving Disney’s take on Italian food as it has a tendency to get real generic real fast. However, Trattoria’s take on authentic Italian food caught our attention!

Much like their new dinner menu, their breakfast menu is pretty diverse with options ranging from breakfast staples (Mickey Waffles for the win), plant-based options, and unique Italian twists — cue the breakfast pizza! 

At first glance, Trattoria al Forno’s menu may not seem super expansive. However, we thought there was a decent variety of options, including more traditional items like bacon and eggs, as well as more on pulse selections — we’re looking at you, Avocado Toast.

You can also keep it light with oatmeal or opt for the classic Disney favorite — Mickey Shaped Waffles!

The menu also features a “Create-Your-Own” option for kids — giving them the ability to select an entrée and two sides of their choice.  We really like this option for little ones!

And you know, they have to have a Kid’s Specialty drink — complete with a glowing Character Clip-on Light. During our visit, it looked like there was a choice between Buzz Lightyear or Ariel.

In the spirit of fairness, there were adult specialty drinks as well! These included a Mimosa, Peach Bellini, and Caprese Bloody Mary.

If you prefer to start your morning with a jolt of caffeine, they have you covered with both hot and iced coffee options!

Being the troopers we are, we decided to start our meal with a specialty drink — hint hint — it did not include a glowing Buzz Lightyear, and left us feeling PEACHY!

You guessed it! We went for the Peach Bellini! This $13.00 beauty is made with Ruffino Prosecco and a white peach purée. So our purée…did not look like purée. It looked more like syrup at the bottom of the glass. We braced for a lot of sweetness because of this but, thankfully, it wasn’t too sweet. Despite there being a lot of peach in this drink, the flavor was subtle –in a good way, and didn’t overpower us with that sweetness. We really enjoyed this one and would say it’s a win if you are a fan of the bubbly and are up for the fruity twist!

Sparking drink in hand, we decided to tackle some of Trattoria’s Italian-inspired breakfast items! We went for the Sunrise Pizza, Caprese Omelet, and Tiramisu-style French Toast!

Pizza for breakfast! Yes, please! The Sunrise Pizza really makes a statement.

First, let’s talk crust — remember that incredible pizza oven?! The house-made dough is puffy, slightly sweet, and baked in the restaurant’s stone pizza oven resulting in a perfectly cooked — crispy-chewy combo! We know it sure kinda LOOKS like Disney World puffy pizza crust you might find at a slew of fast food pizza spots in Disney World, it’s not. Fans of a thinner crust might be a bit disappointed, but if you like a little chew to your pizza, you’ll likely enjoy this. 

In lieu of a traditional marinara, Trattoria surprised us with SAUSAGE GRAVY AS THE SAUCE! Smart move! The gravy really brought the “breakfast” to this AM pizza! It was full of flavor and helped the entire dish make sense.

The pizza was LOADED with toppings, including fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, peppers, and loads of cheese. This ‘za was everything you’d want in a breakfast pizza hybrid! It’s basically a big ol breakfast platter scrambled on a pizza — not a bad thing! 

This one is hearty for sure, and could easily be shared or split as an appetizer for the table! At $14.00, it felt worth the price. 

We also opted for more of a traditional option, the Caprese Omelet. While we wouldn’t necessarily call omelets “unique” — this one did have a nice Italian spin.

Just as its name suggests, the omelet brought the flavors of a Caprese Salad! Fresh basil and tomatoes elevated the dish and gave it an appreciated level of brightness that worked well with the fresh mozzarella. The eggs were nicely moist and fluffy. This was a solid omelet, especially for those not looking for something TOO heavy to start the day. 

The Caprese Omelet includes your choice of bacon, ham, or sausage, as well as a generous side of REALLY DELICIOUS breakfast potatoes. Seriously, look at how crispy-perfect those taters look! The omelet would be a solid vegetarian or lighter option — just pass on the side of meat.

For $16.00, this is a pretty solid breakfast choice, especially for those wanting something that is more familiar.

The real show stopper here was the Tiramisu-style French Toast! This one is STUNNING and definitely worth snagging a few photos! We’ve loved past iterations of the mascarpone waffles here, only this time the waffles are subbed out for some killer-looking french toast. Even back in the old Kouzzina days, this spot had a great waffle topped with mascarpone cream. When Trattoria al Forno moved in years back, they gussied up the waffle with more of a tiramisu twist (which we still loved!). 

This variation on french toast featured cinnamon brioche, mascarpone cream, and cocoa powder, topped off with two crunchy ladyfinger cookies! The flavors of cinnamon, cocoa, and mascarpone cream brought those Tiramisu vibes! Plus, can we TALK for a second about the fact that the bread is literally shaped like Cinnamon Toast Crunch/cartoon sliced bread?! It has that perfect cartoon bread top you rarely see in real life. Did that make it taste better? We can’t say for sure, but we are inclined to lean “yes.” 😉

We really appreciated the balance of sweetness in this dish — it can be easy to venture into too-sweet territory when talking french toast! However, the mascarpone cream kept things in check. The cinnamon brioche was thick enough to hold its own in a pool of maple syrup — no soggy bread here! That said, the mascarpone cream is really all you need for these. There’s plenty to spread over the slices of toast and it’s loaded with tiramisu flavor. If you’re a purist and still want that syrup, it’s readily available. 

The Tiramisu-style French Toast costs $16.00 and comes with your choice of breakfast meat (bacon, ham, or sausage). We thought it was a win for those who prefer to start their day on the sweet side. 

We would obviously suggest steering clear of this one if you prefer a more savory breakfast — this is borderline dessert on a plate! If you’ve got a sweet tooth you might spend the rest of your day daydreaming about these. 

Nosh or Not

Skip on over to Trattoria al Forno for breakfast if…

• You have room in your schedule for a more leisurely breakfast.
• You really enjoy Italian flavors and are looking for a great meal at a pretty fair price.
• You are staying nearby and planning a day in Epcot! Again — this is a good option if you are looking for a table service breakfast before heading into the park.

Just skip this one altogether if…

• You prefer liquid (AKA coffee!) or light breakfasts. This can suck up a bit of your morning.
• You aren’t already in the area. The location here is great if you are staying at a nearby hotel (BoardWalk Inn, Yacht and Beach Clubs, and the Swan and Dolphin) or planning to head into Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios — the latter being a bit further. But otherwise, it might be hard to justify the trip. If you have your sights set on a Magic Kingdom morning, Chef Mickey’s might be more ideal.
• You loved the Bon Voyage Breakfast Adventure. Sometimes you just can’t replace nostalgia and, if this was your jam, the lack of characters and theming might leave you feeling a bit disappointed.

Overall

While this certainly isn’t the same experience as the Bon Voyage Breakfast Adventure, we left feeling pretty happy. The menu had a good mix of options and was well balanced between familiar and exciting. We really enjoyed the nod to Italian flavors and appreciated the subtle additions that made each entree feel unique. The portions were generous for the price and we left feeling full and satisfied. Entrees here range from $12-16 with the priciest option outside of there being the Oak-Grilled Steak and Eggs at $21, making everything here actually quite reasonably priced. You can get a couple of entrees for less than the price of a Mimosa, to put it in perspective!

We really enjoyed everything we tried. The pizza was an inventive breakfast we don’t see on every other menu in Disney World, the omelet was well-made, and the French Toast was covered in mascarpone cream, so it was obviously killer. 🙂 We’re really happy to see one of our favorite Disney World breakfasts (the old waffles served here) reborn as French Toast! Both our breakfast and dinner experiences at Trattoria al Forno were delicious and a HUGE step up from many of the Italian options around Disney World. 

Disney’s BoardWalk may be a bit of a trek if you aren’t staying in the area– but it’s a nice break if you have the time. The restaurant itself has an elegant touch without feeling stuffy, making it a comfortable spot to rest and enjoy a delicious meal. At worst, you’ll get a hearty and surprisingly affordable (by Disney standards!) breakfast and a chance to check out the BoardWalk area. At best, you’ll get a new favorite and lesser-known spot for a meal before a full day of exploring Disney World!

Click here to read our review on Dinner at Trattoria al Forno!

Will you be heading to Trattoria for breakfast? Let us know in the comments!