We’ve been anxiously awaiting the return of Narcoossee’s in Disney World, and now it’s finally open!

For almost a year, this restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been closed for an extensive refurbishment. As of April 1st, it’s officially re-opened with a menu makeover. We snagged a reservation for opening night, so come see what we thought about how it has changed!

This seafood-focused restaurant has been around since 1988, and we are excited to see what’s new. Let’s dive in!

Atmosphere

While you’ll have a bit of a walk from the lobby to get here, this waterfront location offers fantastic views of the Seven Seas Lagoon. You’ll be able to catch a great view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks if you’re there at the right time!

During the renovations, this restaurant got a bright and airy refresh with cool tones and a coastal laid-back atmosphere, while still maintaining its upscale feel.

And you can’t miss the stunning view! With a wall of windows overlooking the water, you’ll experience the coastal energy no matter where in the dining room you are seated. The tables by the window would be a prime spot if you are hoping to really take advantage of those views, though.

You’ll find a few welcoming seats at the bar, which is bright and open with warm light and an ocean feel. For the reopening, new cocktails were created for the menu, so you’ll be able to see the staff crafting these new additions.

Alternatively, you’ll also find a mixture of tables around the open dining room…

…as well as booths that face the windows.

When we sat down, our table was set with silverware, appetizer plates, and glasses that were promptly filled with water.

Now that we’ve gotten a taste of the atmosphere, let’s take a look at the food!

Menu

After we were seated, we were given a few menus, starting with the specialty cocktail list. There was a mixture of newly crafted cocktails and a few beer choices, as well as a few zero-proof offerings for those looking for a non-alcoholic option.

There was also a wine list to peruse, including a section for Disney Family of Wines…

as well as a Reserve Wine List with a few options from California and Italy.

For the main event, there was another menu with Starters, Soups and Salads, Entrees, Enhancements, and Sides.

For appetizers, you’ll find options like the Shrimp and Grits, Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Brisket and Ricotta Tortelloni, and an Ocean-inspired Charcuterie Board. There is also a Lobster Bisque, Romaine and Hearts of Palm salad, and a Blueberry and Barrel Aged Feta Salad.

For entrees, there are a lot of enticing seafood options, like the Yuzu-Ginger Salmon, Gulf Shrimp Bucatini, Plancha-seared Scallops and Parisian Gnocchi, and Blackened Redfish. You’ll also find a Surf & Turf, 12-oz Prime New York Strip Steak, and a Dry-Aged Pork Rib-Eye Chop. You can also enhance your email with the Plancha-seared Scallops, Butter-poached Lobster Tail, or the Char-broiled Gulf Shrimp. Lastly, there are a few sides including the Wild Mushroom Risotto and Sweet-and-Sour Brussels Sprouts.

Let’s see what we tried!

Drinks

We were excited about the new drink menu, so we got a few things from both the cocktail and zero-proof list. From the Specialty Cocktails list we ordered the Empress Lime Gimlet and the White Sangria, and from the Zero-Proof list we ordered the Agave Garden and the Pink London Spritzer.

First, the Empress Lime Gimlet for $16.50 was beautiful. It’s made with Empress 1908 Gin, Rockey’s Botanical Liqueur, Cane Sugar, and Cold-pressed Lime Juice. We thought this was a super refreshing beverage that was on the sweet side, but not cloyingly so.

The botanical flavors were the most prominent in our opinion, with the lime coming second. The gin was not overpowering, which was nice for our sweet drink-loving reporter.

Next, we tried the White Sangria for $15. It’s made with Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Ketel One Cucumber and Mint Botanical, Agave, and Strawberry.

Our reporter thought that this was light and refreshing as well, but not overly unique tasting. The ice cube is created with the pulp from muddled strawberries, however, and as it melts it adds even more fruity flavor to the cocktail, which was a nice touch.

For the Zero-Proof options, we tried the Agave Garden for $11, which was made with Lyre’s Agave Reserva Spirit, Cold-pressed Lime Juice, Passionfruit-Papaya-Green Tea, and Cucumber. This was our favorite non-alcoholic option, and it packed a ton of flavor.

The ginger was bold and had a nice bite to it, and there was the perfect amount of spice from the jalapeño. The Passionfruit-papaya Green Tea was refreshing and added a touch of sweetness, and the cucumber and citrus flavors balanced out the spice from the ginger and pepper well.

Lastly, we tried the Zero-Proof Pink London Spritzer for $11, which was made with Lyre’s Pink London Spirit, Grapefruit Soda, Pomegranate-Green Tea, Lime, and Mint.

This was a nice option that was a tad sweet and refreshingly fruity. The citrus flavor from the grapefruit soda paired really well with sweet pomegranate, and the mint added a nice, fresh touch. Overall, this was an easy-to-drink option that would please a wide variety of tastes.

Eats

For starters, we decided to try the Shrimp and Grits, Buttermilk-fried Calamari, and the Ocean-inspired Charcuterie Board.

First, we ordered the Shrimp and Grits for $19, and they really impressed us! This is made with Local Gulf Shrimp, Peach-Barbecue Sauce, Low Country Grits, Applewood-smoked Bacon, and Chow-Chow. The shrimp was fresh and flavorful, and they had an incredible char on the outside that we really liked. These grits are chunky and full of buttery flavor that melted in your mouth and complimented the shrimp really well.

The applewood smoked bacon is smoky, but it paired with the sweetness of the barbecue sauce really nicely for an amazing combination. Overall, the textures and flavors in this dish blew us away, and we would definitely get it again.

Next up, we tried the Buttermilk-fried Calamari that was served with Pickled Garden Mix and Tomato Coulis for $18.

This was a solid option for someone looking for a simple but delicious appetizer. The calamari itself was firm but tender, and the buttermilk coating was fried perfectly.

Served with the calamari is a Tomato Coulis that reminded us a bit of tomato soup, in a good way. It was smooth and balanced and was simple enough to not overpower the calamari like a cocktail sauce would.

The giardiniera on the side was also a nice addition, with a medley of pickled veggies that tasted bright and fresh. This was a nice, light addition to pair with a somewhat heavier fried appetizer.

While this is a solid option, our reporter didn’t think there was anything particularly unique about it. Sometimes a simple dish, done well, is all you need.

Last on our starters list was the most unique dish we were excited to try: the Ocean-inspired Charcuterie for $28. This comes with Ahi Tuna Pastrami, Charred Octopus, and Lobster Sausage.

First, the Ahi Tuna Pastrami was really unique and surprised us. It was firmer than traditional Ahi Tuna, yet still tender, and had an amazing smokey flavor that we really enjoyed. The tuna was served on a bed of pickled grapes and radishes that added a sweetness to balance out the smokey flavoring and was a nice touch to the dish.

Next up was the Charred Octopus served with tangerines and beets. The octopus had a lovely char and was firm and fresh, and the beets and tangerines added a nice sweetness and complexity to the dish that we really loved.

Lastly, the Lobster Sausage was very unique! It was tender and juicy, and it tasted fresh and quite garlicky. It was served over a Harissa sauce and a delicious onion compote.

The Harissa sauce was creamy and smooth and the onion compote was sweet and complex, which paired really well with the savory sausage. We couldn’t get enough of this and would have loved a whole dish of it.

For entrees, we got the Plancha-seared Scallops and Parisian Gnocchi, and the Dry-aged Pork Rib-Eye Chop, as well as a side of Sweet-and-Sour Brussels Sprouts.

The Plancha-seared Scallops and Parisian Gnocchi for $52 were served with English Peas, Tasso Ham, and Truffled Meyer Lemon Cream.

While the scallops were good and tender, they were a bit simple. But again, sometimes simple is best. We did order them medium and almost wish we had ordered them medium rare so that they would have been a little more buttery, but overall they had a nice texture regardless.

The standout part of this meal, however, was the base. The Parisian Gnocchi was pillowy and doughy without being chewy, and the Truffled Meyer Lemon Cream was to die for! It was amazingly buttery with an earthy component from the mushrooms that was so flavorful and complex. The peas and greens were fresh and added the perfect touch of sweetness and brightness to balance it out. Honestly, we could have eaten this by itself, it was THAT good.

Lastly, we ordered the Dry-aged Pork Rib-Eye Chop for $46. This was served with Goat Cheese-Potato Pave, Turnips, Fig Jus, and Onion Jam. We thought the meat was well-prepared and tender, but not overly exciting otherwise. However, the Fig Jus that was served on top was wonderful and unique.

It was slightly sweet yet still complex — and added a bold flavor to the pork chop that complimented the delicious sweet barbecue sauce, as well. The turnips were fresh and earthy and we enjoyed them, but the potatoes were the impressive side here. They were light, and the puff pastry on top really added a nice crunch to them. We didn’t think the goat cheese was overly apparent — it was very subtle but still creamy.

For our side, we ordered the Sweet-and-Sour Brussels Sprouts for $11, which were served with Applewood-smoked Bacon and Sorghum-Malt Gastrique. We were pretty torn about these — they had a strong sweet and sour flavor that was really bold and almost reminded us of a stir fry.

We really enjoyed the smokey and sweet bacon and thought that the Brussels Sprouts were cooked really well, but this isn’t a dish for everyone. If you like unique flavors, you should definitely give this a shot. But, if you prefer more traditional Brussels Sprouts you might want to skip them.

For dessert, we got the Hazelnut-chocolate Bar for $14, which is made up of a Chocolate Sponge, Cassis, and Ganache.

This was recommended to us by the server, and we really enjoyed it. It had an amazing outer shell that reminded us of a Ferrero Rocher chocolate — it was decadent and had the perfect crunch. Inside, the Cassis was fruity and tart, and it paired really well with the rich chocolate.

This dessert was light and delicious, and we would get it again.

Overall

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here — the atmosphere was beautiful and relaxing, the views were impeccable, and the food was overall pretty impressive.

We thought the new items were very unique, and we especially liked the Ocean-inspired Charcuterie Board and the Shrimp and Grits. The service was top notch — our server was very knowledgeable, and we never felt rushed.

The main focus at this restaurant is seafood, of which our reporter is a huge fan. If that’s not really your cup of tea, however, this might not be the best option for you. There are a few delicious alternatives, but seafood is king here.

Nosh or Not

Grab a reservation for Narcoossee’s if…

• You’re looking for an elevated meal. The newly changed restaurant is full of stunning atmosphere and elevated dishes. If you’re looking to splurge on dinner while you’re at Disney, this could be a great option.
• You LOVE seafood. Seafood is the star here. With unique offerings like Lobster Sausage and staples like Buttermilk-fried Calamari, seafood lovers will love this selection.
• You have a special occasion. The atmosphere here is relaxed but still elegant, and the food was impressive. If you are looking to celebrate, or for a romantic meal, this would be a great option — especially during the fireworks!

Skip this newly renovated restaurant if…

• You are looking for something more affordable. This is a pretty pricey restaurant, so while it is delicious, it might not be for everyone. There are a lot of options across Disney where you can find good food on a budget, so it might make more sense for your group to find an alternative.
• You are not a fan of seafood. While there are a few great land-based options, the majority of the menu is seafood here. Those who don’t particularly like seafood might have trouble finding something to order.
• You need something a little more kid-friendly. Kids are welcome here, but the atmosphere is mature and children might prefer a place that has a little more Disney theming.

All in all, we were pretty impressed with the changes made here at Narcoossee’s. If you love seafood and want an elevated meal — this newly reopened location is worth giving a shot.

We’ll keep bringing you all the Disney restaurant reviews, so stay tuned to DFB for more!

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Have you eaten at Narcoossee’s before? Let us know in the comments!