Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has undergone a lot of changes over the past few years — and, more are on their way! One of the most recent changes is to the signature restaurant, Narcoossee’s. With gorgeous views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and a focus on fresh seafood, the lake-side restaurant has reopened after being closed for a much-needed remodel. So, has the new space become the next hotspot for Magic Kingdom fireworks viewing? We recently dined here and are ready to give you a full Narcoossee’s review on whether you should eat at this signature restaurant on your next Disney World vacation. Follow along with us!

About Narcoossee’s

Described as a waterfront setting for coastal cuisine with spectacular panoramic views, Narcoossee’s is a Fine/Signature Dining restaurant located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Contrary to other restaurants at the hotel, Narcoossee’s is not located in the main lobby of the resort. Instead, Narcoossee’s is a standalone building that sits on the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Overview

• Meals Offered: Dinner only, open from 5PM to 9:30PM.
• Price: $$$ ($35-$59.99 per adult). Kids’ Menus are available upon request.
• Type of Meal: A la Carte Signature Dining
• Cuisine: Seafood, American
• Dress Code: Resort Casual (Clothing should be clean, neat, and in good condition. No swimwear is permitted.)
• The Disney Dining Plan can be used here. 2 table service meal credits will be redeemed per person.

Atmosphere

Having originally opened in 1988, Narcoossee’s was in need of a refresh by 2022. And, after a lengthy closure, the restaurant reopened in April 2023 with many guests saying it’s better than before. The theme of this restaurant is modern with blue nautical hues with a light and airy vibe. Small nods to the original Narcoossee’s are discreet in the decor to pay tribute.

The menu was created by Disney chef, Chef Noah Estabrook, and is inspired by sustainably sourced offerings and local Florida seafood. Chef Noah has taken on every culinary position imaginable before becoming head chef at Narcoossee’s having previously served as a chef at Citricos.

While Narcoossee’s is welcoming to children — and we did bring our toddler when we dined (they were fantastic with him, by the way) — this is not a quick meal. As a signature dining restaurant, this is not your standard theme park meal working quickly to get guests in and out, turning tables, and mass producing. With high prices, intricate entrees, and a fine dining setting, we recommend allowing 1.5 to 2 hours for this dining experience.

How to Get to Narcoossee’s

Being that Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a Magic Kingdom Resort, there are multiple ways to get to your dining reservation at Narcoossee’s on time and without much of a hassle.

If you’re driving your own vehicle, anyone with a dining reservation can park at the resort up to 2-hours prior to their dining reservation. Just tell the security guard you have a dining reservation. They’ll confirm it and off you go!

If you’re opting to use Disney’s free transportation instead, you can use the monorail, boat, or bus to get to the hotel. You’ll just need to get to Magic Kingdom (or another park, water park, or Disney Springs) to hop on the most convenient transportation option. Or, if you prefer a more scenic route from Magic Kingdom, you can take advantage of the walking trail from Magic Kingdom and walk to the Grand Floridian. The walk takes approximately 15-20 minutes.

For the pure sake of convenience, we suggest taking the boat over to the resort from Magic Kingdom. Since Narcoossee’s is located on the Seven Seas Lagoon and not in the main lobby, the boat will drop you off much closer to the restaurant compared to the monorail.

Regardless of what you choose, just be sure to give yourself about an hour to an hour and a half to get there if you’re not already at the resort.

Narcoossee’s Menu

Chef Noah Estabrook has perfected a menu filled with land and sea offerings. This includes a number of seafood options, meat-based options, and plant-based options. The menu consists of some returning guest favorites as well as some new creations from Chef Noah’s kitchen.

For the purpose of our dinner, we ordered two drinks, two appetizers, split an entree and a sharable side, and a kid’s meal. Here’s our Narcoossee’s food review!

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to share an entree! Some Disney portions are large, and many people don’t have the means in their hotel room to reheat leftovers or want to carry a to-go box around the park. We frequently order appetizers and share an entree for this reason, and doing this also helps with cost!

Narcoossee’s Drink Review

When it comes to drinks, Narcoossee’s offers an extensive cocktail menu, beers, wines, a full bar, and even some zero-proof cocktails. They have featured wines and typically there is a Sommelier in house to answer all questions.

We chose to go with the new-to-the-menu White Sangria for $16, which featured Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Ketel One Cucumber, and Mint Botanical, Agave, and Strawberry. This was delicious! It was light, refreshing, and a perfect balance to any seafood dish. We also got the Crown Royal on the rocks for $17.

Narcoossee’s Appetizer Review

Our server started us off with the complimentary bread service, and WOW. This sourdough loaf is served with butter topped with red wine sea salt and it is a carb lover’s dream. The sourdough was crusty on the outside but pillow-soft on the inside. The butter was easily spreadable, and the salt was a nice touch.

The appetizer menu is pretty seafood-heavy, including options such as Lobster Bisque, Buttermilk-fried Calamari, Shrimp and Grits, and Ocean Inspired Charcuterie Boards. We ordered the Shrimp and Grits for $19, featuring Local Gulf Shrimp, Barbecue Sauce, Low Country Grits, Applewood-smoked Bacon, and Chow Chow. Our second appetizer was the Brisket and Ricotta Tortelloni for $17, which is Brisket and Ricotta stuffed pasta featuring Parsnip, Brown Butter, and Sultana Raisins.

Again, these were fantastic (are you seeing a trend here?). The shrimp and grits were fresh, cooked perfectly, and had a nice flavor with a kick without being unbearably over-seasoned. And, the tortelloni was a combination I had never encountered before that worked flawlessly. Both portions were nicely sized for an appetizer offering. We found them satisfying without being too filling.

Narcoossee’s Entree Review

Chef Noah’s signature dish is none other than the Blackened Redfish, featuring a chorizo-sunchoke hash, southern sweet corn hominy, and a red pepper rouille. Other options on the menu include the beloved Surf and Turf, Yuzu-Ginger Salmon, Roasted Vegetable Paellas, and more.

However, if you ask nearly any “Disney Foodie” where the best scallops at Walt Disney World are, the answer is almost always Narcoossee’s. And, as scallop lovers, we had to try this out for ourselves!

We ordered the Plancha-Seared Scallops & Parisian Gnocchi, accompanied with English Peas, Tasso Ham, and a Truffled Lemon Cream Sauce for $54. We also ordered a sharable side of the Wild Mushroom Risotto, featuring Fontina cheese and Espelette Pepper for $12.50. These both were FANTASTIC. Four large scallops were seasoned and seared to perfection. And, the gnocchi was light, airy, and accompanied by the lemon cream sauce making for a burst of flavor. The Wild Mushroom Risotto was filling and rich, with a good balance of cheese and mushrooms to the amount of actual risotto.

We also ordered the Chicken Strips kids meal with two sides for $15.50. While I think this is a little steep for a kids’ meal, the chicken strips were delicious. They were hand-breaded and made in-house. So, not your typical Disney World quick service chicken strips! It was a large portion of 3 good-sized chicken strips, fruit, and a basket of French fries.

Desserts

We were so full we did not opt for a dessert, but Narcoossee’s is famous for its Almond-crusted Cheesecake. While talking to our server, she told us that many guests come to Narcoossee’s and sit at the bar for a nightcap, ordering nothing but wine and this dessert. It’s extremely popular!

The bar does not require advanced dining reservations. Instead it operates on a first come, first serve basis.

Magic Kingdom Firework Views

For guests who don’t have a park ticket but still want to experience Magic Kingdom fireworks, look no further! Make a dining reservation at Narcoossee’s around the time fireworks are set to go off and enjoy your meal while you watch the show!

Typically, we try to get early dining reservations. However, for this occasion, we opted for a later 7:20PM reservation. The Magic Kingdom fireworks show was set to start at 8PM, so we knew we would be dining during the fireworks. And, that’s exactly what we wanted!

With a wrap-around outside patio that looks over the Seven Seas Lagoon directly to Main Street U.S.A. and Cinderella Castle, Narcoossee’s is a fantastic spot to watch the fireworks spectacular. In fact, the view may be worth the cost of the meal in general!

When the fireworks begin, the lights dim throughout the restaurant. The music for the fireworks show (currently Happily Ever After), is then piped in through the speakers inside the restaurant as well as outside on the patio. Since the music is playing inside the restaurant, you can get the full experience of the fireworks through the panoramic windows facing the lagoon. Of course, this will require looking over other tables and potentially other guests being in the way. So, we recommend watching them outside from the patio. You will not be disappointed!

Our server did come over to us before the fireworks and let us know they typically suspend service during the fireworks to give guests space to enjoy the fireworks.

Overall Narcoossee’s Review

We had heard many good reviews on Narcoossee’s before this trip, so we were expecting it to be good. But, we weren’t necessarily expecting it to be THIS good. The ambiance was calming and quiet, making it a perfect spot for a date night on your next vacation. While the menu is seafood-centric, there are options for everyone, including those who may not enjoy seafood.

While they do allow kids at this Signature Dining restaurant, they aren’t in the business of turning tables. Narcoossee’s is in the business of customer service and a fabulous dining experience, giving the guests time to enjoy every course. Parents know their kids best. So, if you don’t think your child would sit through an up to two-hour dinner, this may be one to skip for now.

Comments

Have you been to Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? Let us know your Narcoossee’s review in the comments!