Walt Disney World has officially announced the Spring 2023 reopening date of Narcoossee’s at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Additionally, we have menu details and food photos from the Signature Restaurant that is returning to the shores of WDW’s flagship resort.
In case you haven’t heard, Grand Floridian is currently in the midst of a substantial overhaul with “Enchanted Gardens” as the unifying visual style. Thus far, the Big Pine Key and Boca Chica buildings over by Narcoossee’s are finished; Conch Key and Sugarloaf are now in progress. For a look inside the new rooms, see Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney World’s Flagship Resort.
Beyond the room reimagining, the scope and scale of the work is not really known. Disney has announced the lobby will be refurbished, but it’s unclear as to whether that means swapping out furniture overnight, gutting the interior, or something in between. There are also the restaurant refurbishments to Citricos and Victoria & Albert’s, which can best by described as “something in between.” Those light and airy modernizations are also what we’re expecting at Narcooossee’s, which has a design defined by its location and large windows.
What Walt Disney World has revealed is that Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will reopen on April 1, 2023. Starting that date, the Signature Restaurant will once again welcome guests for culinary delights in its newly reimagined space.
This signature dining restaurant with its spectacular panoramic views, is a staple of the resort, with its waterside location, and over the past several months has seen an enhanced interior revamp as well as a refreshed menu crafted by Chef Noah Estabrook and Pastry Chef Kristine Farmer in a perfect balance of updated classics and new epicurean delights.
The reimagined restaurant incorporates the concept of “land and sea” and that’s exactly what the culinary teams drew inspiration from when developing the new menu for Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Upon sitting down for your meal, you’ll be greeted with a recipe created by Chef Kristine specially for this location – an Artisan Boule of Sourdough made with a perfectly toasty crust and baked daily in the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa bakery.
As you enter your first course, you’ll continue to be met with masterfully crafted dishes. For years, the Bisque has been a mainstay on the menu, so flavor connoisseurs will be thrilled to see it return, but now with an enhanced tableside presentation.
The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa culinary team has also created two new starters for the new-look Narcoossee’s. First up, the Beef and Ricotta Tortelloni accompanied by luscious brown butter, parsnip puree, and sultana raisins.
Next, the Ocean-inspired Charcuterie Board is a fresh take on a classic featuring ahi tuna pastrami, charred octopus, and house-made sausage from the sea.
This plate is a collaboration, with each component representing the style of a different chef on the Narcoossee’s culinary team.
Moving on to the main course of the culinary experience at Narcoossee’s, the team has sourced sustainable seafood from both local waters and around the globe, including Chef Noah’s signature dish, the Blackened Redfish.
This meal is served with a crispy chorizo-sunchoke hash with hominy, Florida sweet corn, and red pepper rouille. What makes this fish a standout is the secret blend of blackened spice which has been passed down from chef to chef of the location, with each culinary mastermind finding their own unique way to feature it on the menu.
Plant-based diners will be delighted with the Roasted Vegetable Paella featuring market vegetables, cannellini beans, and preserved artichoke finished with charred Meyer lemon. At the other end of the culinary spectrum, those looking for land-based fare will find what they’re looking for with the new Dry-Aged Pork Ribeye Chop served with creamy goat cheese-potato pave and turnips with onion jam and a touch of fig jus.
Narcoossee’s has also kept guest favorites like the Plancha-seared Scallops with Parisian Gnocchi and Surf and Turf featuring tender filet mignon and butter-poached lobster tail on the menu for new and returning guests to indulge in.
The dessert course also features a favorite that has garnered near legendary status over the years amongst diners of Narcoossee’s – Chef Kristine’s incredible Almond-crusted Cheesecake with Lambert cherry sauce and Chantilly cream.
When developing the new additions to the dessert menu, the pastry team was inspired by bright flavors that really complement the overall experience. The Berry Pavlova, for instance, is artfully crafted with Florida fresh berries and citrus delicately placed over meringue and yuzu crémeux and finished with a tableside pour of anglaise. The Pineapple Bavarois is truly a work of art with a roasted-pineapple center and house-made blackberry-buttermilk ice cream. These dishes make for a perfect and sweet finish to a memorable evening.
This waterfront hideaway is the ideal spot to wind down with a fabulous cocktail or zero-proof beverage. The wine list has been refreshed to reflect a diverse portfolio of varietals, with Proprietor Matt Cristi and the sommeliers on his team available to help you create the perfect pairing for each dish.
The team of mixologists at Narcoossee’s has also thoughtfully curated a new cocktail program, inspired by the Victorian era. A must-try is the signature Empress Lime Gimlet, a modern twist on a classic gimlet with Empress Gin, Rockey’s Botanical Liqueur, and cold-pressed lime.
The reopening of Narcoossee’s comes as part of the multi-year transformation of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, honoring its rich history at the Walt Disney World Resort while enhancing its iconic Victorian charm and elegance.
Advance Dining Reservations for Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will open for this grand return on March 1, 2023. The culinary team looks forward to welcoming guests back to the new-look Narcoossee’s starting April 1, 2023 to experience this enhanced experience destined to become a new favorite!
Turning to commentary, this all sounds fantastic to us. The one question we anticipate many Walt Disney World fans having is whether this is a la carte, or prix fixe like the new dinners at California Grill. I don’t see anything that’s definitive, but in the absence of information, my guess is that it’s staying the same–retaining its a la carte status.
Prix fixe is not quite as necessary here as at California Grill, but it is another popular fireworks spot–and could become more so with the ‘cupcake crowd’ if it’s the next best option due to California Grill doing prix fixe. So it’s still possible, but I really think Walt Disney World would’ve proactively addressed it here if a big change were coming.
Other than that, it also sounds like Narcoossee’s is not yet another Walt Disney World restaurant that is now star chasing. Unlike Victoria & Albert’s, Takumi-Tei, and Monsieur Paul, which all saw huge price hikes and appear set on receiving Michelin recognition. To each their own, but I’m perfectly fine not dropping $200+ per person for the seal of approval from a tire company. (I say this as someone who loves using the Michelin Guides–but this has gotten out of hand.)
Instead, it sounds like the new-look Narcoossee’s will be a lot like the reimagined Citricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. We were never huge fans of that in the past, but the reimagined restaurant won us over. The menu is superlative, with sophisticated Floridian cuisine and an abundance of citrus infusions. These dishes are inventive, beautifully-plated, delicious, and in keeping with the spirit of Citricos. The only downside there is portions and pricing, but Citricos is arguably the closest Walt Disney World gets to haute cuisine at a “regular” Signature Restaurant.
Although it had been a while since we last reviewed it, our meals at Narcoossee’s in the last few years had been excellent. We definitely preferred the menu and overall ambiance to Citricos previously, and are curious as to whether that’ll remain the case going forward. My only real hope is that the tiered seating has remained, but I fear that’s one of the elements that the reimagining removed.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about these details of the reimagined Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? How does the menu look to you? Excited to dine at this new-look Signature Restaurant starting on April 1, 2023? Thoughts on its themed design and details as compared to other restaurants at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our thoughts? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
