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Signature Dining at Topolino’s Terrace

Restaurant Reviews By December 7, 2022 Tags: , , , , , No Comments

The term, signature dining, conveys many images in people’s minds when at Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World calls signature dining its fine dining establishments. Many of these reside within their deluxe resort hotels but not all. These generally provide the best food and service on the property. Of course, signature dining usually comes with high prices. Though we can debate the quality of some of the signature dining options available at Walt Disney World, signature dining at Topolino’s Terrace continues to stand out.

Signature Dining at Topolino’s Terrace

Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera located on the top floor of Disney’s Riviera Resort serves breakfast and dinner.  The breakfast offered here fits the signature dining level. However, that quality breakfast counts as a character breakfast so it is a bit more casual. In contrast, the evening dinner at Topolino’s Terrace fits most people’s idea of signature dining. There exists a basic dress code. During my November 2022 visit here, I wore a collared shirt and long pants. However, many people in the indoor bar area wore more formal attire. If you connect signature dining with fancy, then this place meets that expectation.

Signature Dining at Topolino’s Terrace

Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

Recently, Topolino’s Terrace added some new menu items. Our server in November informed us that this might be happening. For example, the “Burrata” returned to the menu. The burrata antipasto option features black truffle, grapes, artichoke, verjus gel, and burrata cheese, of course. This antipasto option also comes with some focaccia bread. Initial reports indicate that this meets signature dining standards for $19.

Other new menu options include a “Red Kurl Squash Soup”, “Pork Shank Blanquette Milk Braised Pork”, and a new version of their sea scallops. Based on my suspicion of which items would disappear from the menu, I ordered the “Ricotta” and the “Classic Sole Meunière” back in November. Theme park food bloggers live in fear of the item ordered being taken off the menu the next day.

In fairness, I shared the ricotta with my three dining companions. I also shared the sole entrée with Tom of Vacationeers Podcast. Since I knew I would be having the seasonal dessert for a review, that made sense for our 5:00 pm seating. Also, I already ate breakfast and lunch at Kona Café earlier that day. I decided to show restraint as a food blogger.

When we arrived at Topolino’s Terrace after some significant human error, by me, we checked in. After an interesting wait, we were seated. We sat at a table by the window offering a great view. Still, even with the shades drawn at the beginning of our meal, the dining area temperature was very warm. Yes, I know this is Florida. However, Florida believes in air-conditioning. If you are part of the conspiracy theory claiming the air conditioning across the property seems set for a higher temperature than in the old days, this might provide more evidence.

Signature Dining at Topolino’s Terrace

So how was the meal? Excellent as always would count as an understatement. The ricotta tasted wonderful as usual. The ricotta appetizer costs $16 and provides a tomato jam of sorts, aged balsamic, cracker pepper, basil, and epi bread. The creamy flavorful ricotta creates a wonderful beginning to your meal. The ricotta is prepared in-house for maximum freshness. This will probably be the best ricotta you have ever tasted. Yet, if you have ever enjoyed great ricotta, this will match or exceed that level of ricotta. The ricotta tastes fresh and smooth. I have one friend that calls it silky. The classic combination of bread and cheese wakes up your taste buds during signature dining at Topolino’s Terrace.

The Classic Sole Meuniere costs $50. This large entrée arrives at your table as an entire fish. The entrée features sea beans, capers, asparagus, English peas, toy box tomatoes, and potatoes. According to Taste Atlas, “meunière” refers to a French cooking technique in which a whole fish or fish fillets are lightly dusted in flour and then sautéed in butter.” My main concern with ordering this revolved around the amount of oil and butter involved. My worry involved whether I needed that much butter. I know butter makes food taste better, especially in French cooking, but did I need that much?

Photo courtesy of Main Street Magic Podcast

When the entrée arrived, my concern lessened. The anticipated overflow of oil and butter failed to be with this order. The fish provided a crispy outer layer. Still, the fish inside delivered a flaky texture and solid flavor. All the vegetables prepared with this fish enhanced the dining experience. The vegetables brought the right amount of tenderness and contrasting flavors to the fish. The meunière preparation at Topolino’s Terrace deserves signature dining status.

If looking for signature dining while at Walt Disney World, Topolino’s Terrace rarely disappoints. Whether you order a new menu item, this Classic Sole Meuniere, or just appetizers and desserts, your experience should be lovely. When you visit, do not forget to visit the outdoor terrace for the beautiful views.

As you might imagine, reservations disappear from this signature dining location quickly. Feel free to set an alert at MouseDining.com to aid in your quest to dine here. I know I have been successful a few times in making a reservation here with an alert from MouseDining.com. As always, eat like you mean it!

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Reservations Open for Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera

News By June 19, 2019 Tags: , , , , , , , No Comments

Are you ready to discover one of the most spectacular dining experiences in all of Walt Disney World Resort? Perched atop Disney’s Riviera Resort and opening later this year is Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, which will offer stunning views and regional delights with a signature table-service dining experience.

Disney’s Riviera Resort and Topolino’s Terrace celebrate the grandeur of Europe that has long inspired many beloved Disney stories over the years. Featuring regional dishes from Italy and the French Riviera, this exciting new restaurant lets you indulge in an unforgettable dining experience accompanied by incredible views of the Walt Disney World Resort and surrounding areas. Whether you’re rising early for a fun character breakfast or taking in nearby nighttime spectaculars over a glass of wine and flavorful meal, Topolino’s Terrace is designed to delight all the senses.

Topolino’s Terrace Flavors of the Riviera - Appetizers
Topolino’s Terrace Flavors of the Riviera - Seafood
Topolino’s Terrace Flavors of the Riviera - Dessert

Start the morning off with the Storybook Breakfast Dining Experience, dining in the beautiful indoor rooftop restaurant with bird’s eye views and character greetings from your favorite Disney friends: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy. Breakfast begins with fresh pastries including Danish pastries, croissants, blueberry scones, or Epi bread (a rustic pull-apart baguette shaped like a wheat stalk). Entrées include dishes like quiche Gruyère with house-made pancetta, sour cream waffle, wood-fired butcher’s steak, smoked salmon, plant-based omelets, and more.

For the evening dining experience, you’ll enjoy a selection of fresh oak-grilled meats, classically-prepared seafoods, handmade pastas, and decadent desserts infused with French and Italian flavors. Start off a meal with a Burrata con panna with black winter truffle and sea salt or gnocchi with duck confit and aged parmesan.

Entrées include options such as rigatoni (with braised chicken, charred artichokes, and crème fraiche), bouillabaisse (with seared cod, mussels, turbot, clams, and saffron rouille), king salmon mi-cuit, and beef filet. Your Clients will also find an impressive collection of wines sourced from the Mediterranean coast.

End dinner with a delectable dessert like the Fruits of the Forest with black currant mousse, blueberry sorbet, macerated berries, and hibiscus cake. Or try the pistachio mousse with pistachio cake, lemon curd, and morello cherry.

Reservations are now open for Topolino’s Terrace with the first available date being December 16. The Storybook Breakfast Dining Experience will be offered daily 7:30–11:00 a.m. and can count as one table service entitlement for breakfast on the Disney Dining Plan. Evening dining will be from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and will count as two table service entitlements for dinner on the Disney Dining Plan. Discounts for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members will also be available. There will also be a minimum dress code for evening dining.

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