Disney4me Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 On my last weekend trip to Walt Disney World, I decided on the out-of-the-way Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort as our dinner destination prior to attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom.Learn About:Olivia’s CafeDisney World RestaurantsMy family was looking for a place to relax and fill up on a good meal, and somewhere that we could get a last minute Advance Dining Reservation.While this resort exudes comfort and a family-friendly atmosphere for Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members, we found the service equally welcoming for non-guests of the hotel. Since we had our own vehicle, transportation to the restaurant was simple. (And our teen son, who traveled from a theme park, had no trouble taking a bus there. He even got there early!) We used our MagicBand to show our reservation at the entrance gate and then proceeded to a parking area very close to the restaurant.Entrance to the resortParking was very near the porte-cochèreCovered walkwayNautical elements evoke a seaside atmosphere at the entrance to Olivia’s.Outside the restaurant’s main entranceThe lighting and ocean colors give a sense of calm.Olivia’s EntranceThe floral arrangements and plants give some color to the tropical-themed resort.This is the tropics!If you arrive early, peruse the menu. While this place is a hidden gem, it’s often quite busy!Menu DisplaySign near entranceInside the very small waiting area (actually just a hallway between the restaurant, restrooms, and the Conch Flats General Store), you’ll find your first glimpse of Disney Vacation Club member photographs.Family pictures hang on the wallsDVC Members call Disney’s Old Key West homePictures in unique frames highlight DVC familiesPlus, a reminder of the restaurant’s hours!Daily Hours SignIf you like to dine al fresco, patio seating is also available.AtmosphereInside the wide-open dining room, a nautical theme made the place seem cozy.At entrance to dining roomThe light and airy color scheme and many windows give off a casual beach atmosphere. I love the two different colors of napkins for the table setting!Dining Room TableKnickknacks, lighting, and ceiling fans further the intimate setting. Yes, this feels like island life!Lighting and FansEatsOlivia’s specialties include seafood and home-style eats with Florida Keys accents. There’s even Key Lime!Olivia’s menu, October 2015.Olivia’s Beverage MenuThe hubs ordered the Key West Sunset Ale and thought it was a really good pale ale. Cheers!Key West Sunset AleWhile my dining companions enjoyed the bread — Pineapple Coconut, it wasn’t my favorite. I did appreciate the softness of the inner bread and the crunchy exterior.BreadWe skipped appetizers and dessert for this meal as we were anxious to get to the Party; and of course, we had to leave stomach space for the specialty treats.So, we got down to business. My son and I ordered the Southernmost Buttermilk Chicken and my husband had the New York Strip.Southernmost Buttermilk ChickenThe chicken was just the way that I like it – boneless, moist, and fork tender.Love this comfort food!But the buttermilk gravy was THE STAR of the show. Oh, my goodness. Both of us agreed that we could have had a soup bowl full of it. It was perfect over the chicken and mashed potatoes. And there was plenty of it. No skimping on gravy here! By the way, those mashed potatoes were creamy and would have been delicious on their own.Plenty of buttermilk gravy!And you know how sometimes the vegetables can just be a huge disappointment? Well, not this time. These were cooked perfectly! So perfect that the teen even commented on how good they were. Whoa, now those are some good veggies. Carrots and Green BeansOn to the New York Strip. My husband thought this entree was delicious. He said it was cooked correctly and was tender, and juicy.Grilled New York StripAnd he really enjoyed the the ragout of mushrooms, tomatoes, and onion. Apparently, this made the dish a real stand-out!Mushrooms, Tomatoes, and OnionsAs steaks go at Walt Disney World, the husband said it wasn’t the best he’s ever had but definitely on his list of dishes to have again. (By the way, the top steak he’s ever had was at Narcoossee’s, followed by the steak at California Grill. Of course, those are pricier, too!)Yes, that Banana Bread Pudding Sundae was calling my name, but alas, I had to save room for the Party sweets. Next time, I’m not going to be so sensible!OverallGo ahead and make your way to Olivia’s Cafe! While the food is not signature gourmet, the home-cooked flavors are still worthy of your time. And there is always a daily special that might surprise you.This is the place to unwind after a long day in the parks, before a late night in the parks, or just when you need some good ol’ vacation down time. It’s also great for breakfast!What’s your favorite dish at Olivia’s Cafe? Have you ventured to this restaurant? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!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:Guest Review: Breakfast at Olivia’s Cafe in Disney’s Old Key West Resort Review: Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort Olivia’s at Old Key West Resort View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.