Disney4me Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 It’s time for lunch at Gasparilla Island Grill in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort!Learn About:Gasparilla Grill and GamesGrand FloridianDisney World RestaurantsThe Grand Floridian dining scene is primarily defined by unique dining experiences such as Victoria and Albert’s (Disney World’s AAA Five-Diamond Restaurant) and Afternoon Tea as well as two signature restaurants (Citricos and Narcoossee’s) and character meals at 1900 Park Fare. It’s also home to one of my very favorite Disney meals in all of history: the Grand Floridian Burger at the resort’s more casual Table Service restaurant, the Grand Floridian Cafe (the name doesn’t convey the highlight of the dish: it’s the lobster-topped burger you may have heard about).Even among all that, the Grand Floridian still remains a place where you can grab a quick Counter Service bite 24 hours a day thanks to to Gasparilla Island Grill.Gasparilla Island Grill signThe last time we paid a visit it had recently been through a refurbishment, changing from Gasparilla Grill and Games to its current name. While not much has changed in the way of atmosphere since that visit, the menu differs somewhat from its immediate post-refurb offerings, so we’re back to grab a quick bite (or three!) at Gasparilla Island Grill!Gasaprilla Island Grill entranceAtmosphereThe general vibe at Gasparilla Island Grill is decidedly — and expectedly — Floridian! Creamy colors, pale greens, and lots of natural sunlight keep it airy, while the lush, darker greens and palms associated with the state of Florida are represented in the seating decor.Gasparilla Island Grill indoor seatingGasparilla Island Grill indoor seatingSecond seating areaAt the same time, the resort’s Victorian style is reflected in the light fixtures (check out those hidden Mickeys!), and by a small display of dish and glassware.LightingLightingDish displayDish displayThough not known for tons of Disney detailing, the basic scene here is very pleasant in that it’s fresh, clean, and simple.Perhaps the most unique feature to Gasparilla is the amount of high-backed booths lining the perimeter. They do allow for a certain feeling of privacy in what can be a bustling place, depending on the time of day.Booth seatingOutdoor seating is also available; however, it wasn’t much in use on the day my friend and I visited, due to to some classic spring showers.Outdoor seating on a rainy dayOnce the rain lightened up, I stepped outside once more tograb this picture of the Castle view (you can see it in the distance).Castle view from GasparillaIn the late evenings, Gasparilla Island Grill is a really nice place to grab a pre-bedtime Mickey Premium Bar and take a seat outside to enjoy “Wishes,†especially since the music for the show is piped in here, too.But we’re here for lunch, so let’s step back inside to see what’s on the menu!EatsSimilar to the other Deluxe Resort food courts, the setup here is relatively small compared to a Value or Moderate Resort food court such as Art of Animation’s Landscape of Flavors or Caribbean Beach’s Old Port Royale. Still, in typical resort food court fashion, Gasaprilla features all the classics such as a Grab and Go selection and a bakery case.Grab and Go Refrigerator next to Salad StationGrab and Go Item SignBakery CaseWhole Fruit Grab and GoRice Krispy Mickey TreatsMy friend and I, however, met up for a late lunch, so we focused on the Hot Grill Station.Hot Grill StationSeveral food court standards are featured here, like burgers, flatbreads, and chicken breast nuggets. However, you can find a few items unique to Gasparilla as well, including Stromboli (both meat and a veggie version), and a Hot Turkey Sub.Hot Grill MenuHot Grill MenuHot Grill MenuWe noticed the Daily Chef Special on an additional sign: Pulled Pork Nachos.Chef SpecialFacing the Hot Grill station, a Create-Your-Own Salad Bar is also located to the right.Create-Your-Own Salad BarCreate-Your-Own Salad BarCreate-Your-Own Salad BarUltimately we stayed with the Hot Grill, choosing the Grand Gaspy Burger, Sausage and Pepperoni Stromboli and the Hot Turkey Sub.In order to keep the lines from building up in the small food area, they utilize a number system at Gasparilla. After placing your order with the Cast Member at the food station, they will present you with a write up of your order that you can bring immediately to the cash register (as opposed to the larger food courts where you wait for your meal to be handed to you).Cash RegistersAt the payment counter you’ll receive a number for your order, so a Cast Member can deliver your order to your table when it is ready.Our Number at the TableStarting with the Sausage and Pepperoni Stromboli served with marinara, I have to say I was immediately impressed with how substantial this dish is. The portion is just huge!Sausage and Pepperoni StromboliCloseup on Sausage and Pepperoni StromboliWhile I couldn’t get a decent shot of it, the dough is indeed pinwheeled inside like a traditional stromboli. Why I’m picky about that, I have no idea, really. But there you go.Stromboli fillingStromboli fillingThe flavor was terrific, with some nice spice from both the pepperoni and the sausage, and I liked the bubbly bread crust. But I found the amount of sausage to be overwhelming for my tastes and wished it had some more variety with the other fillings (onions, mushroom, mozzarella, and pepperoni). My husband was the recipient of the leftovers, though, and as a would-do-a-Chicagoan-proud type of sausage fiend, he thought it was excellent.The Hot Turkey Sub made its debut in December as the seasonal “Holiday Turkey Sandwich.†I was so excited when I found out it remained on the menu past January, and was pumped to finally have a chance to give it a whirl. This Thanksgiving-any-time-of-year sandwich features all of the favorites from a holiday meal: turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce all topped with gravy. And again, the only word to describe the portion is HUGE. Hot Turkey SubMy friend had enjoyed this sandwich previously and says it is now the only thing she orders at Gasparilla. So, with that endorsement, it was time to dig in. Of course, you kind of need to decide how to tackle this one first due to all the fillings! We just ended up treating it as an open-face sandwich.Hot Turkey SubThis one joins the ranks of other Thanksgiving-any-time-of-year sandwiches around Disney World such as the Holiday Sandwich at Earl of Sandwich and the Turkey Sandwich over at Everything Pop.This may spring up some debate, but for me, this one at Gasparilla trumps them all! Much of that is due to the thicker cut of the turkey and the CRAZY amount of gravy (because I heart gravy). For those reasons, I think this one mimics the real-deal holiday meal the absolute best. I LOVED it, and I’m even one of those I-don’t-like-my-foods-touching-eachother types. If you are a fan of any of those other sandwiches, the Hot Turkey Sub is a must-try!By the way, clearly this one’s all about the sandwich, but it’s worth noting that, as with the other sandwiches on the menu, you do get your choice of sides: house made chips, french fries, or cucumber salad are your choices.Cucumber SaladI didn’t care for the Cucumber Salad, finding it far too vinegary. But, with a sandwich of this magnitude, having a lighter option is a great idea.Finally, I couldn’t resist trying the signature dish: the Grand Gaspy Burger (not to be confused with “Great Gatsby.†Pretty cute!). This third pound burger is topped with Tillamook cheddar, pulled pork, barbecue mayonnaise, and fried onions.Grand Gaspy Burger with Housemade ChipsGrand Gaspy Burger toppingsThe rich cheddar provided some good flavor, but I lost the fried onions in the taste due to the dominant seasoning used in the pork and, I believe, in the barbecue mayonnaise.Cross-section of the Grand Gaspy BurgerAnd I definitely need to mention that seasoning, because it was rather unexpected. Instead of tasting like a typical barbecue sauce, it tasted much more like the sauce often used on baked beans, with a sweetness overtaking the expected tang thanks to what I’m assuming was a heavier helping of brown sugar. This might sound strange, but I thought it tasted just like a summer picnic on a bun . Other than that, though, it’s your fairly typical Disney food court burger — pretty well done and not super moist. I liked the spin on it, though.We ended up passing on dessert for this trip… mostly because we’d tried just about all of them before! Unlike its neighboring monorail resorts Quick Service options — the Contemporary’s Contempo Cafe and the Polynesian Village Resort’s Captain Cook’s — the cupcakes at Gasaprilla don’t tend to change very much. The offerings have remained pretty steady over the past couple years, typically featuring a Pina Colada Cupcake, German Chocolate Cupcake, S’mores Cupcake, and Very Berry Cupcake. Here are some shots from previous visits, and you can just click any of the links for the cupcakes to read those reviews.Pina Colada CupcakeS’mores CupcakeGerman Chocolate CupcakeOtherwise, dessert offerings remain fairly typical, with the exception of a soft-serve ice cream machine.Soft-serve ice cream machineOh, and I mentioned something about Mickey Bars earlier, didn’t I?Mickey Premium Ice Cream BarsDon’t you just love that sight ? I think it’s a great one to wrap up our visit!OverallThough it’s fairly no-frills, Gasparilla Island Grill offers a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere which I find to be quite peaceful. At the same time, it still manages to come up with a few great surprises like that Hot Turkey Sub. For a relatively small food court, I’d say it more than does the job.And, remember, it IS open 24 hours — one of only a handful of places that can claim that attribute. The overnight menu is minimal, but you can usually get a few hot options like the flatbreads.Even if you’re not staying at the Grand Floridian, Gasparilla Island Grill is accessible by way of boat or monorail from the Magic Kingdom if you’re looking for a calmer place to escape to during your busy park touring day. Here’s hoping you have a GRAND time!What do you think of Gasparilla Island Grill? Please let us know with a comment!Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts:Review: The NEW Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa Guest Review: Gasparilla Grill and Games at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Review: Gasparilla Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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