Today’s dining adventure brings us to The BOATHOUSE at Disney Springs. This restaurant is claimed to be one of the best restaurants here, or maybe even the best. It has been a while since I last dined here, and the same goes for Craig and Ryno. I love seafood, so I am excited to return to The BOATHOUSE.
Before jumping into the food, I want to discuss the atmosphere. I love that this restaurant is on the water because it ties everything together. The interior focuses on boating and that nautical theming we all know and love. I also love that there’s a boat that is also a table which can make for a fun dining experience. At the front of the restaurant, there’s a store with BOATHOUSE merchandise. Some of the stuff in here is really cute. Overall I love the aesthetic here because it feels a bit fancy but not too fancy.
Appetizers
Before our appetizers came out, they brought us bread service. It wasn’t mind-blowing bread, but it was nice to have bread for no extra charge.
Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free bread
Apparently, I am the new calamari queen because this is my third time ordering calamari for a dining review. At The BOATHOUSE, they have a Hoison Chili Calamari ($18.50) with red bell peppers, jalapenos, green onions, and sesame seeds. I had high hopes for this appetizer since we were at a seafood restaurant, but after trying a few, I can confidently say that the ones at Mama Melrose’s are better, in my opinion.
To clarify, I didn’t hate these, but they were just okay, and I didn’t enjoy the sauce that came with the calamari. Next time I come here, I will definitely be getting something else. I have tried their coconut shrimp before, and it’s the best I’ve ever had, so I highly recommend getting those.
Ryno truly dug into his New England side and ordered the fried Atlantic Clam Strips ($17.50), which came with chipotle tartar sauce and lemon. Before I get into what he thought, I want to say that I loved the presentation of this dish. I thought it was adorable. To quote him directly, he said, “They weren’t too clammy,” I truly loved that description. He also said this dish reminded him of home and was done well.
Craig went with something lighter that wasn’t fried to ensure he wouldn’t be too full for his entree. He ordered the Maine Lobster Bisque ($8). He said it was good bisque that was thick, almost as if it were a cheese soup consistency. The soup didn’t have any chunks of lobster, so if you prefer a bisque that does, then maybe skip this one. Overall, he enjoyed the flavors and thought it was an excellent way to start his meal.
Entrees
For my entree, I ordered one of the two items that caught my attention, the Grilled Mahi Tacos ($24). The tacos came with shaved cabbage, pineapple pico, salsa roja, chili garlic puree, al pastor marinade, and tortilla chips. I thought this dish was delicious. It came with three tacos which were more than enough. This is an excellent item for anyone wanting a lighter lunch but still wanting to participate in the menu’s seafood section. I think $24 for tacos is expensive, but I understand the pricing because it’s fresh mahi.
Ryno continued his dining journey by ordering more seafood. He got the Coriander Seared Yellowfin Tuna ($36) for his entree, which is cooked rare. The dish has blistered shishito peppers, soy lime vinaigrette, wasabi mayo, and sriracha. He enjoyed his meal and mentioned that it’s one of those dishes that makes you feel like you are dining somewhere fancy because of the presentation. While finishing the dish, he said that the soy lime vinaigrette helped cut the spiciness from the wasabi mayo, which helped balance the meal.
Craig kept it classy and ordered the Classic Cheese Burger ($19), made with BOATHOUSE custom grind, lettuce, tomato, and onion and served with fresh-cut fries and a pickle. He said, according to Jimmy Buffet, this is the perfect cheeseburger to enjoy in paradise and agrees with him. The burger and the mountain of fries underneath it were massive. This is the way to go if you are looking for a hearty meal at The BOATHOUSE that isn’t seafood. He also mentioned that he would recommend this dish to people but would return and try the Filet Mignon Sliders.
Dessert
After enjoying our lunch, we decided we needed dessert despite being full. Our server brought us the menu, and two things caught Craig and Ryno’s attention. The server noted that they did have an allergy-friendly brownie that could be brought out for me. So, of course, I got the brownie which was $10 and was a decent size. I was happy they had an option for me, and my only critique was that I wished they had some vegan ice cream to put on top. They should partner with Erin Mckenna’s NYC Bakery and use their ice cream for the brownie. Overall it was a great way to end the meal.
Ryno ordered the Caramel Apple Bread Pudding ($10) to get a taste of fall in the middle of summer. Although the dessert was good, it was huge, and he said he could’ve split this or shared it with three people. His other critique was that there were too many pecans. He loves that flavor of pecans but not having to chew threw handfuls of them.
Craig got the Key Lime Pie ($10) that came in a mason jar. Much like Ryno pointed out, Craig said this was a large enough dessert to share. He did enjoy it and thought it was a great way to end the meal.
After this meal, I can confirm that this is still one of the best restaurants at Disney Springs. I understand some guests haven’t had the best experiences here, but dining locations have off days every once and a while. It’s also important to remember that food is very subjective. I might love something that you dislike, and that’s okay! The menu here is vast and has options for everyone to enjoy. Please share your experience in the comment section if you’ve dined here before.
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