Alright, friends, we’re here today with another visit from a SUPER underrated (IMO) restaurant in Disney World. So, hop on that monorail and cruise on over for lunch with us!

We’re headed to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to visit a table-service option with some serious charm — Grand Floridian Cafe! This relaxing spot may not be as flashy as some of the other restaurants at this hotel like 1900 Park Fare and Citricos, but it does have yummy and moderately-priced (!!!) eats!

Grand Floridian Cafe serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. It’s not the most well-known spot so it’s typically possible to grab an Advance Dining Reservation on shorter notice.

We typically appreciate this restaurant for its peaceful vibes and convenient location (even if you’re not staying at Grand Floridian). Let’s see if our recent experience was more of the same!

Atmosphere

Head into that gorgeous lobby of the Grand Floridian and you’ll want to head straight back and to your left on the ground floor.

We always love a good stroll through the Grand Floridian.

In fact, one of the big perks of this spot is its location. Because it’s at the Grand Floridian, it’s only a quick monorail ride (or walk!) away from Magic Kingdom. 

As we’ve mentioned, the atmosphere at this table-service spot is calming, partially thanks to the lovely, light-handed Victorian theme in the restaurant. This spot perfectly encapsulates the vibes of this hotel with its creamy whites, florals, and warm lighting.

There are multiple dining areas with a big dining room…

…and some outside tables.

Plus, Grand Floridian Cafe is currently using overflow seating from 1900 Park Fare while that spot remains closed.

One especially fun detail is that this space sometimes houses culinary art creations, like the current Ratatouille Chocolate Sculpture on display.

You’ll find that the seating is a mix of tables and chairs and booths.

And at your table, you’ll be greeted with a cloth napkin and utensils.

But enough about the atmosphere, let’s eat!

Eats

As is the case at most table-service restaurants in Disney World right now, your menu is available via QR Code on the table. The menu varies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our visit this time presented us with the lunch menu!

You’ll notice that throughout the appetizers and entrees, there are several brunch-style options. That’s why we consider this spot a pretty killer brunch stop! That Lobster ‘Thermidor’ Burger is a fan-favorite. That glorious chicken and waffle is on the menu still (you’re welcome! We hacked this guy long before it was on the menu!).

Kids have a nice variety as well with some brunch options (We see you, Mickey Waffles!) and the more lunch-geared Grilled Chicken Breast.

There is no shortage of drink options at Grand Floridian Cafe. This portion of the menu is just dedicated to Non-Alcoholic Mocktails and Twinings of London Teas. Yep, a TEA menu. This makes more sense when you realize the location is a few steps away from the Garden View Tea Room!

There are more standard Non-Alcoholic Specialties too plus coffee and smoothie options. And, a fairly extensive beer list is here too with over a dozen options.

But the beer list is NOTHING compared to the wine list. Whether you’re into Sparkling Wines, White Wine…

…Rosé Wines, Red Wines, or Sweet Wines; Grand Flo Cafe has you covered.

And FINALLY, we’re getting to the equally extensive cocktail menu with Anytime Cocktails (AKA brunchy type drinks) and Signature Cocktails.

Plus a LONG menu of Specialty Cocktails. 

We opted to swing for a simple Iced Tea this time. Unsurprisingly, it was a pretty standard unsweet tea and we enjoyed it.

For our appetizer, we went with the Heirloom Apple Salad for $12. This app is made with Organic Baby Lettuce, Heirloom Apples, Sharp Cheddar, Pecan Brittle, and Crispy Prosciutto with a Honey-Apple Vinaigrette.

This was a very tasty salad! It was light and that housemade dressing was the perfect accompaniment. The candied nuts had a great crunch and the crispy prosciutto added a good salty contrast to the sweetness from the apples.

We might call this the perfect starter! Now, it’s probably not enough to hold up as a meal, but our server let us know that you can add a protein like grilled chicken or shrimp. We thought one potential improvement could’ve been a stronger cheese like goat or gorgonzola. Regardless, this was a bright, fresh start to our meal we enjoyed. If you like a nice salad before your meal, you will likely enjoy this!

As for our entree, we went with the Buttermilk-fried Chicken and Waffle for $24. We know we know…you’re shocked. This item is a LONG term DFB favorite and is made with Hand-breaded Chicken Breast and Malted Waffle with Sriracha-Honey Drizzle.

We love EVERYTHING about this dish. It’s a HUGE amount of perfectly-breaded chicken (breaded in CORNFLAKES, no less). We love that it’s a boneless piece to help with easier eating.

The Mickey Waffle is delicious and golden (obviously). We recommend asking for a little extra Sriracha-Honey Drizzle! It’s not too spicy but has a little bit of heat to it. Drizzle (or douse. You do you!) and you won’t be disappointed.

Don’t worry, you get syrup and butter too.

You’re looking at a HUGE portion. Most people would probably love this dish. It’s got an awesome contrast of sweet and savory flavors. Pluys that breading is flavorful and SO crispy! We have no complaints!

So now that we’re VERY full on our Grand Floridian brunch, we have some final thoughts!

Nosh or Not

You SHOULD eat at Grand Floridian Cafe if…

• You want to take a break from Magic Kingdom for lunch. Grand Floridian Cafe is right on the monorail line so it’s easy to get to and from the park!
• You’re a brunch fanatic. The breakfast and lunch menus at Grand Floridian Cafe have amazing brunch options and, of course, you can snag a mimosa or bloody mary.
• You’re staying on the monorail loop. If you’re in any of the three hotels on the monorail loop, you can have a delicious and moderately-priced meal VERY close to your resort.

You should SKIP Grand Floridian Cafe if…

• You’re looking for more basic flavors. If you’ve got a hankerin’ for chicken tenders and a regular ol’ burger, you might want to head elsewhere. This is approachable food but often with a twist to elevate it a bit. Gasparilla Island Grill is a great quick-service location at Grand Floridian!
• You’re on a tight budget. Grand Floridian Cafe is the most moderately-priced table-service option at Grand Floridian but it’s still not cheap compared to fast food options around. You can find less expensive options that still serve up quality food.
• You’re on a tight schedule. Table-service meals tend to take a little longer and if you’re taking the monorail over, you need to factor in travel time. If you’ve got limited time in Disney World, the trip over might not be worth it.

Overall

Grand Floridian Cafe is absolutely awesome! The atmosphere is charming and relaxing, the food is consistently good, and we tend to have great service. Plus, it’s hard to beat for a convenient location! After all our years talking this joint up, it still somehow manages to fly under the radar for most guests! The good part of that is it’s often so easy to snag a last-minute table.

Our server was fabulous as well. She was happy to provide recommendations from the menu and let us know our customization options for the dishes. She even brought us a to-go tea!

Again, Grand Floridian Cafe might not be for you if you’re budgeting time or money; but if you want delicious flavors (especially brunch ones!), we have to say that Grand Floridian Cafe can be a great respite from the hectic meal options of Magic Kingdom.

All in all, this restaurant remains a GREAT and underrated spot! As always, stay tuned to DFB for ALL the latest news and reviews from Disney World.

Click here for MORE reviews of Grand Floridian Cafe!