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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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What to Expect at a Magical Breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace

Restaurant Reviews By September 1, 2022 Tags: , No Comments

During my most recent trip to Orlando, I got an advance dining reservation for one of the most difficult places to get a reservation on Walt Disney World property, Topolino’s Terrace. Yes, I got this reservation about thirty days before using MouseDining.com alerts. So, do not lose hope if your desired dining options are not available 60 days in advance. Before discussing our wonderful breakfast experience, I should use the proper name for this restaurant. The full name is Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera. As I have written before, this place gets lots of hype but is well worth it!

For my plan, I wanted a late breakfast before we attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party later that day. I surprised my spouse by telling her that we were going to the party that morning via a semi-creative method. I desired a late breakfast to give her time to plan and relax before a long night in Magic Kingdom.

Since that was just a breakfast with my spouse and I, I had concerns about the character breakfast aspect. Characters interacting with past middle-aged males can lead to awkwardness. Yet, I knew my spouse wanted to do that. However, I will cover more about that in a moment.

Now, Topolino’s Terrace resides on the top floor of Disney’s Riviera Resort in the EPCOT resort area. Walt Disney World says you can take in sweeping rooftop views here. They tell the truth about that. The view from here rates as excellent. Based on our schedule, I did not have time to truly enjoy that view though. Even the view from the small area once you get off the elevator offers some great views.

To get to Topolino’s Terrace, you will need to enter the Riviera Resort. From the lobby area, follow signs to the east elevators down the hall from lobby. You should see signs indicating that. Once it is time for your reservation, you will take the elevator to the top floor where the restaurant resides. I suggest using the “My Disney Experience” app to do mobile check-in. Our reservation was for 12:05pm. Since breakfast hours end at 12:15pm, I believe this is the last seating for breakfast for the day. I checked in on time. We eventually moved to the waiting area. Our table was called at 12:33. During this trip, being seated later than your reservation became commonplace.

We were seated. Soon after, our excellent server Michael came to greet us. He brought us the Topolino’s version of POG juice.

As usual, we quickly got the breakfast pastries brought to our table. They tasted remarkable. In fact, I asked for more later in our meal. Soon after our pastries arrived, Minnie Mouse came to greet us. My spouse wore her Minnie Mouse shirt and ears to breakfast. She got some photos to earn “street cred” with younger family members that adore Minnie. These character interactions like all during this breakfast seemed effortless for all. They lead to some excellent conversation (well, conversation by us toward characters not speaking of course).

If you are an adult adverse to character interaction, this setting alleviates much of that awkwardness. I fail to enjoy characters as a grey-haired male, but these characters added to our breakfast enjoyment. Considering you get to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy, if casual character interaction merits you attention, this breakfast does that very well. Also, the character in their themed outfits adds to this experience. By the way, do not ask Mickey or Donald why they have not put a ring on Minnie and Daisy respectively. They might just walk away from you.

Now, breakfast here costs $42 for adults. That may seem high to you. However, for a character breakfast at Walt Disney World, that price rates as reasonable. In addition, once you understand how the system works at Topolino’s then the value starts to rise. Each adult guest gets to choose one main entrée. On this occasion, I chose the Butchers Steak entree. My spouse ordered “Two Eggs Any Style.” The other entrées offered are:

Frittata Gruyère

 

Avocado Toast

Fruit Plate

Wild Mushroom Scramble (Plant-Based)

Sour Cream Waffle

Side portion seen in photo

Smoked Salmon

Bread Pudding.

 

The key to ordering here revolves around ordering everything you want all at once. You only get one main entrée. Yet, you can have as many sides as you want and/or smaller versions of the other entrée also. As Michael pointed out, they just ask that you order this all at once. In theory, you could order one main entrée which already comes with some sides. Then, you could get as many of the other entrées in smaller form at same time. I thought of it as buffet you just order all at once. In future reviews, I will break down the pros and cons of each breakfast entrée. I suggest no matter what entrée you select, that you ask for a sour cream waffle.

If you dine here getting a pastry or two and then just one entrée, this place will be nice but lacks value. However, if you order an entrée and two smaller entrees as sides, this place offers a solid value. Michael even asked me directly about an annual pass discount. Over the last few months, we have seen less and less checking by Cast Members for dining discounts.

The service here reaches top notch level. For example, my spouse noticed some kids had themed waffles on a stick with their meal. Michael brought some to her. The best part of this breakfast meal, besides maybe the characters, involves the wide variety of menu items and flavors you can enjoy. In fact, I have yet to find anything lacking in solid flavor and quality here.

On the negative side, the process to get a reservation here adds stress. Of course, MouseDining.com can help with some of that. The check-in process could be better also. For breakfast at least, if you desire a quiet setting, this would not be the best place with all the character interaction. Though I really enjoyed my meal without characters, the food by itself falls below being worth $42. Also, like many table service meals, picky eaters will be overpaying. Of course, if you desire truly signature dining, the dinner menu fulfills that. The evening cuisine tastes so much better. Still, the breakfast quality offered here exceeds most places.

Once again, I really enjoyed this breakfast. In fact, it made Ohana breakfast the next day look weak by comparison. Spoiler…we had a great experience at Ohana also. Would I do this again? I can answer positively to that. Be on the lookout for more specific reviews of the breakfast entrees here at MouseDining.com As always, eat like you mean it!

 

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