The recently refurbished Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa has reopened, and we were excited to finally check it out. This past month, Paul decided on Narcoossee’s for his birthday dinner. It was the first dinner there for both of us, so we don’t have pre-refurbishment experiences to compare it to. Nonetheless, it was a great option for this special occasion.
Atmosphere
I had seen photos of the restaurant before it was remodeled, and I have to say this re-imagining was a home run. I love the bright, clean, coastal colors. This is a beautiful restaurant with the surrounding windows, but even more beautiful with its newest reimagining. Something else I like is when you check into Narcoossee’s; they ask if you prefer the first available table or a window table. So if you’re willing to wait a little extra like we are, you can usually promise yourself a window seat that offers beautiful views of the water.
After dinner, we came back and watched the fireworks from the porch. This is a great place to watch if you have dinner here. While you may be at a window seat, I recommend heading outside a few minutes before the fireworks for a better view. Since the porch wraps around, staying inside will mean those outside will block your view. They pipe the music throughout. It’s a great, low-key place to watch.
Herb Garden
One of my favorite things about this restaurant is probably something that goes largely unnoticed. Paul and I noticed because we walked over in the morning while the restaurant was closed to get a few outside pics without anyone in them. Right away, we noticed how amazing it smelled in front of the restaurant and then realized on both sides of the entrance was a beautiful herb garden. Getting closer, we are pretty sure we could smell and identify basil, oregano, chives, lemongrass, mint, and rosemary. There were some other things we couldn’t identify, so it you know what they are, we would love to know!
Service
Our server, Maureen, was kind, attentive, and did a great job of pacing the meal. We felt the service overall was great.
Drinks & Bread Service
I had the White Sangria, which I would order again in a heartbeat. On the menu, it is listed with Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Ketel One Cucumber and, Mint Botanical, Agave, Strawberry for $15. It was light and fresh, not too sweet. I loved the way it was presented in the glass with watermelon and mint. It made every drink full of the fresh aroma of mint. Paul had to Old Fashioned for $16.50. On the menu, it contains Old Forester Bourbon, Courvoisier VS Cognac, Rosemary, and Aromatic Bitters. He loved the Grand Floridan ice cube and noted it was very similar to Enchanted Rose, which makes this Old Fashioned a steal at $9.50 less. The complimentary bread service didn’t disappoint. The warm, soft, and crusty sourdough went great with the butter with toasted Himalayan sea salt on top.
Appetizers
The appetizers were some of the best I have had on property in a long time. The shrimp & grits came highly recommended by multiple people, so we had to order them. I’m so glad we did. The dish was so flavorful. It was a combination of local gulf shrimp, peach barbecue sauce, low country grits, and Applewood-smoked bacon. Every part of the dish complimented each other. I love how much the chefs use fresh herbs as well. We shared this dish, but I would gladly eat one on my own.
The other appetizer we shared was the lobster bisque. This is another one I would rank as one of the best. I love Flying Fish, and their lobster bisque is hard to beat, but I actually think I liked Narcoossee’s better. It’s first served with a pile of lobster and butter and some seasoning in the bowl, and the bisque is in a teapot that the server then pours out for you. This ensures the soup is served hot and fresh. Paul thought the dish needed some pepper, but I loved every part of it on its own and would order it again in a heartbeat.
Entrees
For our entrees, Paul ordered the Dry-Aged Pork Ribeye Chop for $46.00. This was one of two slight misses we had all night. The pork itself he said was a little dry (ordered Medium), but the flavors of everything were great. It was served with goat cheese-potato pave, turnips, fig jus, and onion jam, all of which were great and flavorful. The meat was just a little dryer than Paul had hoped.
I had the Gulf Shrimp Bucatini, and it was fantastic. The shrimp were huge! I couldn’t even finish the whole dish; it was such a large portion. It was served with house-made bucatini pasta, roasted tomatoes, savoy spinach, parsley, and basil pistou. It was very flavorful. The pasta and shrimp were cooked perfectly, the sauce and basil pistou went well together, and the dish was served piping hot, which I love. I would come back for this dish over and over.
The other miss was the side of Sweet and Sour Brussels. I personally am not a fan of brussel sprouts. I tasted them, but they just tasted like brussel sprouts to me. Paul thought they were boring and didn’t really get any of the supposed sweet and sour taste. They were a little pricey for what they were at $11. We would skip these going on, but honestly, we had so many great things, we probably didn’t need to order them to begin with.
Desserts
The desserts were also a home run. First, because it was Paul’s birthday, we received a complimentary set of chocolates. For some reason, we didn’t write down what these were, but they were a fruit-filled chocolate and a great little birthday treat and served with a white chocolate birthday sign we didn’t try. Paul ordered the Hazelnut Chocolate Bar. It was the plant-based option. It was decent, but like most plant-based desserts, it was a little dry inside. I ordered the Almond Crusted Cheesecake, and I’m still dreaming about it. I have always been a huge fan of anything that tastes like almond extract. This didn’t disappoint. The cheesecake had that great almond taste throughout. For some reason, that smell/taste always makes me think of cherries. It also had a cherry sauce with it, and they went together great. The presentation of both desserts was beautiful. We couldn’t have asked for a better end to a really good dinner.
Final Thoughts
Narcoossee’s is a great option for your special occasion or just a great signature dining experience. We are so glad we finally got to try it out, and we loved the menu, service, and atmosphere. Plus, it’s great that it is conveniently located at one of our home resorts. A good dinner and fireworks always make for a nice date night, whether you are staying on property or even just visiting for the day.
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I have been a loyal super fan of Narcoossee’s for well over 8-9 years. I was there a few days ago on May 8 and was so disappointed. The restaurant has gone through Covid refurbishments that are just ok. The food was MUCH smaller portions, the menu is smaller and the price is higher. I am sad to report that this restaurant that was always on our must do list is one that we won’t visit anymore. Way over priced now for what you get. So sorry and disappointed but it’s the truth.