So it’s no secret that some of our favorite dining in Disney World is actually not in the parks and is, in fact, at Disney World hotels.

Okay, that shouldn’t come as a big surprise because people have been going on about restaurants like Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for years. One Disney World hotel restaurant even has a Michelin Star (yep, that would be Victoria & Albert’s). Well, we’re headed to that very same hotel, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, to try out its quick service location, Gasparilla Island Grill.

Atmosphere

Gasparilla Island Grill is the quick service location at the Grand Floridian. The entrance is located on the first floor from the hotel’s outdoor paths.

You’ll order your food at a counter and then pick up any utensils and condiments from other stations. You’ll also find a variety of bakery items in a case.

Note that this is also where you can get a Refillable Resort Mug for unlimited refills (this is also where you’ll get your refills. There is also some booth seating, as well as tables and chairs, inside, so you can sit and enjoy your food and drinks in the a/c. Some outdoor seating is also available.

But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu here?!

Menu

The menu here is pretty much standard counter service fare. You’ve got flatbreads, some specialty entrees, and a burger.

You can also pick up a variety of sandwiches and salads.

Currently, only one plant-based option is available, but there is a good selection of sides and Kids’ Meals.

You can also pick up your choice of dessert…

…and bakery and snack items.

Beverages include coffee, soft drinks, cocktails, beer, and wine.

Eats

We wanted to try a few new menu items, so we grabbed the Chicken Bowl, which includes Black Bean and Corn Salad, Lemon Rice, and Cilantro-Lime Sauce for $14.49. We noticed that the chicken on top of the bowl was a little dry, but underneath were some nice, moist pieces. The rice was good and you get plenty, although we kinda wanted more to mix it up with our veggies.

You get a lot of veggies, too. But we do have a warning. Cilantro, which is something people either love or hate, is also part of this dish, so you might want to reconsider if you’re on the “it tastes like soap” side of the debate. The veggies were tasty, and overall, everything with this bowl works well together.

We also tried the Barbacoa Bowl, which includes Black Bean and Corn Salad, Lemon Rice, and Cilantro-Lime Sauce for $16.49. Yep, both of these bowls are the same, save for the choice of meat. The meat in this bowl was very dry and a little too salty for our tastes, so if we had to choose, we’d go for the chicken bowl.

Granted, the rest of the bowl is good and the same as the Chicken Bowl. You’ve got nice veggies and rice. But this one is a heavier meal.

We also decided to grab the Roast Beef Sandwich for $13.99. It’s made with Roast Beef, Horseradish Aïoli, Caramelized Onion Jam, Crispy Onions, Swiss Cheese, and Arugula on House-made Ciabatta. So our reporter was nervous trying this because he’s not a fan of onions or horseradish, but was pleasantly surprised with the flavors of this sandwich. You can’t really taste the horseradish, so maybe that’s why. There also wasn’t a strong overall onion flavor.

You also get a lot of meat on this sandwich, so you’re getting your money’s worth. There’s also a lot of cheese, and, well…you know how much we love cheese.

You get a choice of fries or chips with the sandwich, and we went with the fries. Honestly, Disney World fries always slap for us, so there’s that.

So what did we think overall?

Nosh or Not

This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…

• You want a quick meal. If you’re looking for a quick meal and don’t want to spend time waiting in a table service restaurant, you can get it here.
• You’re staying at the Grand Floridian. If you’re staying at the hotel, it makes sense you’d want to grab a quick bite to eat here when you need some sustenance.
• You’re on a budget. You might be shocked by the prices of some of the other dining spots at the Grand Floridian, so this is probably the cheapest place to eat at this hotel.

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

• You aren’t staying at the Grand Floridian. If you’re not staying at this hotel, it wouldn’t make sense to travel all the way here for a quick service meal.
• You want a table service dining experience. The Grand Floridian has some top-notch table service restaurants, including Victoria & Albert’s with its Michelin star, so if you want a nice date night meal or want to celebrate a special occasion, this is probably not where you’d want to do that.
• You want more variety. We’ll be honest. There isn’t a lot to choose from here, and if you want something plant-based, you’re really out of luck.

Overall

We’ll say Gasparilla Island Grill is probably good in a pinch if you’re looking for a fast meal and you happen to be at the Grand Floridian. Now, it’s obvious that folks don’t usually come to the Grand Floridian for a quick service meal when you’ve got some great table service locations to choose from, but if you’re staying here or find yourself hungry and here, you’ll probably be satisfied with your meal.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more!

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Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? Tell us in the comments!