Castle Kara and I just got back from an epic trip to Walt Disney World. We spent 9 days together, trying new foods, visiting new resorts, and going to all four parks. Over the next several weeks, I will be recapping different things we experienced, from food and restaurant reviews, to special events. Some things Castle Kara only did with her boys and she will be discussing those. So be sure to check back and read all about all the exciting things that happened!
FIRST NIGHT/FIRST DINNER
Our first night was Sunday, September 29th. We had reservations at Toledo in the new Coronado Springs tower.
Upon our arrival, we were awed at how huge the tower actually is. Pictures don’t do it justice. And it’s not just its height, either. The porte cochere is massive, maybe ten times bigger than any other hotel I have ever seen. There are giant columns in the lobby, reaching from the bottom floor to the ceiling, made of stone and mosaic tiles. It is an exquisite resort , and my favorite part of the design were the lantern walls. Right where you enter, on either side, are walls that I would describe as almost lattice-like, with big openings, and in each opening is a beautiful golden lantern with intricate carvings all over. The wall behind them subtly changes colors, too. There were other areas of the lobby with color changing elements and it really was a sight to see.
We made our way up to the 16th floor–yes 16th!–before our reservation time, and were able to step out onto the patio through the Dahlia Lounge, and WOW! The view was insane. You could see The Swan and Dolphin, Tower of Terror, Galaxy’s Edge, Blizzard Beach Waterpark, and Expedition Everest. And pretty much all of the horizon, forever.
After that, we went and checked in at the hostess stand. We were disappointed being sat in a room off the main dining room. The main dining room with the gorgeous color changing ceiling and various plants and trees, and where you can view some of the food being cut and served. Instead, we were sat in a small stuffy room, with only one view of the sky, and two other rather large and loud parties.
THE FOOD/MENU
Looking at the Allergy menu, I found quite a few options. I settled on seared sea scallops and blistered shishito peppers. None of the GF appetizer options sounded good to me, so I skipped that.
The scallops presentation was spectacular. Placed an inch or so apart, and decorated with small roasted carrots and giant fava beans, with smears of fava hummus and little piles of chopped olives, topped with white yogurt powder.
And it was delicious. The scallops were the best I’ve ever had. I wasn’t a huge fan of the fava beans or fava hummus, and the yogurt powder was interesting. It was slightly sweet.
The shishito peppers were awesome too! It didn’t say it on the menu, but I believe it was sprinkled with Tajin. They had a little kick to them, which was perfect for me because I like spicy but only a little. They were soft and easy to bite into. I absolutely loved them.
For dessert, I ordered the Classic Crema Catalina–an orange crème brûlée, topped with two candied orange sticks dipped in chocolate, and a chocolate crisp in the shape of a pringle. It was very good. But I may be biased because I love crème brûlée.
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, this experience was a good one. I thought the food was great, the ambience of the restaurant as a whole to be lovely, and the waitstaff helpful and kind.
I definitely would eat here again!