The Solo Scale:

---

When it comes to Disney restaurants with a reputation for fine-dining, the conversation steers to Victoria & Albert, Monsieur Paul, and Takumi Tei. For good reason, they’re all fantastic meals. However, there’s also a category just beneath these fancy fine-dining experiences that offer food that’s just as good. I’d argue that you can find a few of them at the Grand Floridian, including Narcoosee’s.

Narcoosee’s is located away from the hotel itself, close to the water. Keep that in mind if you’re arriving by any form of transportation. I made reservations for 8:05PM. That meant that I was arriving in time to see the fireworks from across Bay Lake, which are thunderingly close! The benefit of a late arrival time is that I didn’t have to wait very long for my table at all. I was quickly seated and greeted by my server (who also had a trainee with him). Both waiters were incredible throughout the night — attentive, knowledgeable, and prompt.

The Meal

I began my meal with a glass of prosecco, which was accompanied by free sourdough bread and butter. The bread was absolutely delicious, but the crumb consistency was extremely crumbly. That led to a bit of a mess on the table that I kept trying to tidy. However, the bread itself was light, fluffy, airy, with lovely pockets of air and the butter (made in-house) was an absolute treat. It was the perfect lead-up to my appetizer —the lobster bisque.

This was a late add to my meal, but I’m glad I put it on. The coral was a fantastic touch (and edible!), and the vanilla flavours described on the menu melted right into the bisque. The lobster chunks was a nice addition. All together, it was light, yet still with rich and sumptuous notes and was a great portion size for an appetizer. There’s also a bit of theatre to this, as they pour the soup tableside on the already prepared lobster, vanilla, and coral.

For my entree, I selected the Plancha-Seared Scallops & Parisian Gnocchi, which was a complete star. The scallops were admittedly a touch uneven (some chewier than others). However, the gnocchi was pillowy light and all of it took backseat to the true star of the dish — the sauce. It was rich, but cut with the acidity of bright lemon, and in combination with the scallops and gnocchi, it was heaven in a bowl. I paired this with a riesling, which also helped to brighten up the dish.

(Don’t forget to keep drinking lots of water as well, especially if you’ve been at the parks all day! You can’t skimp on hydration!)

When I’d checked in, I’d noted that I was celebrating a birthday. I expected my servers to maybe mention it, but they went above and beyond. At dessert, they brought out a complimentary half-glass of prosecco, a card, and a plate with apricot chocolates and whipped cream. I will note that this isn’t a guarantee if you’re celebrating. I noted my birthday at multiple restaurants with some giving me well-wishes and others offering treats. If you do get something, show your appreciation, but don’t go in expecting anything.

Near the end of my meal (which began around 8PM), my entertainment kicked off. The Electrical Water Pageant began to float by, closer than I’ve ever seen the floats.

---

Why is Narcoosee’s such a star? In my opinion, it’s the combination of a fantastic location with proximity to great entertainment (fireworks and the electrical water pageant), the wonderful service, the amazing food and beverages, and the fact that it’s so close to the Magic Kingdom.

What better way to end a park day than a late dinner at Narcoosee’s? Want to see for yourself? Check out the menu to see what piques your interest and book your reservation for your next trip to see if it’s as good as I’ve described!

---