Happy #tastytuesday friends! Today’s blog post brings us back to one of mine and my husband’s favorite spots, Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort. If you didn’t already know, Topolino’s has two kinds of meals throughout the day: a character breakfast and an upscale Italian inspired dinner. We had already experienced the character breakfast option, so once we finally found a dinner option (they’ve been hard to come by lately!) we decided to give it a try.
Our reservation was for around 7:40pm, so we checked in to our reservation 15 minutes prior through the mobile check in through the My Disney Experience app. As always, I noted my allergies (dairy, eggs, gluten) in the reservation and also during the mobile check in process. Once we had checked in, we made our way to the top floor of the resort where the restaurant is located and waited in an area to the left of the official check-in desk. We also had our temperatures checked before being allowed into the restaurant, which is now common practice at all table service restaurants at Walt Disney World resorts.
The seating this night took a little while, so we actually waited about a half hour after our check-in time before our table was ready. Once our table was ready, we were taken through the restaurant to be seated. We were seated right in the middle of the room under the chandelier you can see in this picture, surrounded by awesome views of Hollywood Studios/Epcot area on one side and the surrounding Orlando area on the other.
As Topolino’s is considered a signature dining experience at night, the menu was very upscale and elegant with more limited offerings. I decided to try the Olives Marinees as my appetizer and ordered the Braised Lamb Shank for my entree.
Before we get into the food, let’s talk drinks. I decided to try the French Rose based off of our server’s recommendation, which is Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka, Combier Crème de Pamplemousse Rose Liqueur, Raspberry, Agave, Lemon, and Soda Water. This drink is one of the best I’ve ever had and tasted just like a raspberry lemonade to me. I liked it so much that I ordered a second! 10/10 for me.
The bread service came out soon after, and I got my favorite allergy friendly bread with a side of olive oil instead of non dairy butter, which is a common option I get at signature restaurants. As always, 10/10 for taste and an awesome allergy friendly option!
My appetizer arrived about 15 minutes later and looked much more beautiful than this blurry photo I took. Definitely an LOL moment because I always take 2 pictures just to be safe, and the one time I forget is the time I get a blurry one! The olives were so good and had awesome lemon and garlic notes to them. I actually ended up putting them on the bread because I liked the flavors together. Again, 10/10!
And now, for the main course, the braised lamb shank! I am always a sucker for a good piece of lamb, and this dish did not disappoint. The lamb pulled right off the bone, the sauce was sweet, savory, and coated both the lamb and vegetables well. The veggies themselves were cooked to perfection- crunchy carrots and perfectly soft potatoes. The chef did substitute the mashed potatoes for fingerling potatoes for me as the mashed potatoes contained dairy, which you may have picked up as a typical trend in my other allergy friendly reviews, and the potatoes did not disappoint. The dish was also HUGE and I happily brought home leftovers to have the next day. Another 10/10 for me!
Overall, we had an excellent experience with dinner at Topolino’s Terrace and recommend this dining option. The one caveat was the service was a little slow, however, service is typically slower in the Riviera, so I didn’t mind it so much. If you have the option, I recommend coming out on the roof deck after dining and enjoying the view, either just for fun or with a cocktail from the bar. The view here just can’t be beat!
Here’s to living our best and most delicious Disney lives! <3
~ Meagan
Meagan has been living with many food allergies and sensitivities since she was 19 years old. She is currently a Personal Vacation Advisor for Magical Vacation Planner, specializing in helping her guests book trips to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. Meagan enjoys researching fitness and nutrition and has taken a special interest in finding allergy friendly options at Walt Disney World.
Interested in having Meagan help you plan your next trip? Send her an email at m.slone@magicalvacationplanner.com or get a free quote at https://magicalvacationplanner.com/staff/meagan-slone/!
