BoardWalk Deli Menu & Food Photos
BoardWalk Deli is a reimagined restaurant coming soon to the EPCOT Resort Area at Walt Disney World. This post shares a sneak peek at the menu of this counter service Crescent Lake dining spot, plus some commentary about how it should stack up to its predecessor.
According to Walt Disney World, the new BoardWalk Deli will be opening its doors at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn later in Summer 2022. BoardWalk Deli will bring with it “classic flavors you can only get at a deli.”
This location, previously the BoardWalk Bakery, is inspired by the delis of the Northeast region, with a menu that takes you on a road trip of classic sweet and savory flavors from New York to the Jersey Shore. BoardWalk Deli will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Delicatessen translates to “all things delicious,” and that’s exactly what visitors will experience. With that, let’s take a look at the BoardWalk Deli menu and see what dishes you can expect at this renamed restaurant…
Whether you’re heading out for a day in the parks or planning a cozy breakfast in your room, stop by BoardWalk Deli to select from house-baked bagels with a choice of schmear, a variety of sweet breakfast pastries, or a warm bagel sandwich.
Breakfast options include an Everything Bagel Sandwich with cage-free eggs, sausage, and cheddar cheese. There’s also a Bagel Breakfast Sandwich with cage-free eggs, bacon, sweet caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese. Finally, the Plant-based Ciabatta Sandwich with “egg” Florentine, plant-based cheese, tomato jam, and arugula that provides an exciting contrast of flavors.
For both lunch and dinner, there are multiple options that will transport you to the Northeast. Choose from a variety of cold and hot deli sandwiches served on traditional marble rye, fluffy ciabatta, or springy focaccia breads. As with the breakfast bagels, all breads are baked fresh in-house.
The signature Italian Sub is built with layers of thinly-sliced capicola, sopressata, and pepperoni with provolone, arugula, tomato, arugula pesto, and mayonnaise on fresh-baked ciabatta bread. The savory Warm Pastrami Reuben is a classic deli staple, with generous rolls of thin-sliced warm pastrami topped with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing on marble rye bread.
For a plant-based twist on a classic favorite, the Veggie Crunch Muffaletta is stacked with cured and pickled root vegetables, an olive-giardiniera tapenade and plant-based cheese, served on focaccia.
You can also opt for a Roasted Chicken Sandwich with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and roasted garlic aioli served on ciabatta or the Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Soup –a classic guest favorite.
To round off your meal, add a whole dill pickle, made in-house with the perfect amount of crunch and tanginess. All of these mouthwatering sandwiches are served with a side of house-made chips, creamy coleslaw, or soup.
There is no shortage of desserts to try at BoardWalk Deli.
The Cannolis are filled to order in a crispy shell with a creamy blend of mascarpone cheese, ricotta, and shaved dark chocolate, with a hint of lemon zest and a touch of Mickey. The rich and delicate Blueberry Scone is made with crème fraiche and topped with pearl sugar for a melt-in-your-mouth experience.
You can also get some Northeastern classics like the New Jersey Crumb Cake, a moist cake with a thick cinnamon-crumb topping, or the iconic New York-style Half-moon Cookie topped with rich chocolate ganache and buttercream.
Pastry-lovers will appreciate the delicate chocolate-dipped Cream Puff, hand-piped with silky custard, and the Raspberry Danish layered with velvet custard, fresh raspberries, and sugar crumble. The warm and gooey Cinnamon Yummies will be a returning guest favorite. Finally, there are some tried-and-true classics like rich cookies, decadent Brownie Cheesecake, brownies, the Cookies & Cream Cupcake, and the 50th Anniversary Celebration Cupcake.
In addition to all of these eats, there are also drinks joining the menu at BoardWalk Deli. Try the vibrant organic wine spritzes by Ramona in flavors of dry grapefruit, blood orange, and meyer lemon.
You can also sip on bold and refreshing craft cocktails by Social Hour: Sunkissed Fizz, a bright and juicy vodka fizz that balances notes of ripe fruit and crisp citrus or the Prizefighter, a bold and refreshing Collins built around the classic combo of whiskey and peach.
As covered in our recent post: BoardWalk Reimagining Begins – Changes & Construction, work is already underway next door to transform ESPN Club into the Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers. That new table service restaurant and bakery is expected to open sometime in 2023.
The Cake Bake Shop restaurant will offer both savory and dessert menus, along with afternoon tea service, in a whimsical atmosphere that complements the magic of the idyllic charm of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn that guests know and love.
It’ll be interesting to see what actually happens with BoardWalk Bakery.
While the authentic Northeastern Delicatessen concept sounds promising, some of that is likely marketing puffery. When it comes to new menus, Walt Disney World has a way of over-promising and under-delivering.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if this is less a new restaurant and more a lightly refreshed one with a new name and some different menu items.
While a lot remains to be seen, my guess is that none of this would be splashy without the renaming the location to BoardWalk Deli. Absent that, it’d probably just be standard menu changes that happen all the time and are largely overlooked.
I really hope to be wrong about that. Although it had an all-star lineup of cupcakes and other baked goods several years ago, that hasn’t been the case for a while.
One time I had a shockingly good lobster roll at BoardWalk Bakery, but the sandwiches and other assorted entrees have never been anything special. (I also like the Thanksgiving sandwich, but that’s not unique to this spot.)
We’ve said for years that the Deluxe Resorts in the Crescent Lake area need better counter service restaurant options.
The recently redone marketplaces at Yacht & Beach Club are improvements, but really only half-measures. With BoardWalk Deli, an overhaul on par with those marketplaces is the best-case scenario, and even that seems unlikely.
Ultimately, we’re hoping for the best with BoardWalk Deli but have tempered expectations.
Given that BoardWalk Bakery is currently still operational and based on the announced changes, it doesn’t seem like it’ll have anything but a modified menu and new name. Given the space constraints and layout alone, that’s understandable to a degree.
Maybe it’s time Disney built BoardWalk a dedicated counter service restaurant elsewhere? This might sound like heresy to some longtime Walt Disney World fans, but Belle Vue Lounge has been underutilized for as long as we can remember. With so many other bars around BoardWalk, transforming that spot could be a good move.
That’s not the only viable underutilized real estate along the BoardWalk, but with so many third party operating participants in the mix, it’s hard to say what Disney’s options are with other locations (given leases). One way or another, we’re hoping better counter service options come to Crescent Lake as part of the BoardWalk reimagining. Here’s hoping that includes this deli!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you excited for BoardWalk Deli or do you think it’ll simply be BoardWalk Bakery but with a new name? Any of these menu items stand out as things you’d like to try, or will you stick to World Showcase or other eateries around Crescent Lake? What do you think of the construction and changes coming to Disney’s BoardWalk? Think the resort still needs another counter service restaurant in addition to the deli, or is this plus everything else in the area enough? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Other thoughts or concerns? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Boardwalk bakery used to have THE BEST breakfast burrito ever. I wish they’d bring it back!!!!
Thank you for sharing a good article about good food and overall your blog is great full of good content. thanks a lot.
If you’re headed to EPCOT for early entry & are planning to eat breakfast it’s a post Remy stop @ Les Halles all the way!!
I’m cautiously optimistic about the Boardwalk Deli. Though, it does seem with no major renovation, it is largely just a menu change. I’d love to see the theming of the place actually changed if it’s going from Bakery to Deli.
That said — Good sandwiches on good fresh baked focaccia, etc… This could potentially be a huge QS improvement to the Boardwalk area.
And the Bake Shop is potentially a huge upgrade over the ESPN club. (other than the fact that Disney Corp owns ESPN, ESPN really doesn’t fit into WDW outside of maybe Disney Springs).
I’ve always felt Boardwalk was overrated as a dining region apart from Flying Fish. (some bad QS windows… a sports bar… and an Olive Garden quality Italian restaurant?). Honestly, it could be a much improved dining area by the end of next year
Yesterday the article was all about Disney skimping of food so when I see the pictures posted above I’m like,”What you talking about Willis?” Somehow I don’t see the food looking like the picture or portion. Especially the lobster roll. The picture I saw that a guest took of theirs really brought back the term “Mickey Mouse’d”. Any guest currently at WDW want to back it up with their own pic please? TIA.
The lobster roll photo is mine, and it’s a few years old–that hasn’t been on the menu for a while.
The rest are stock photos from Disney. I would not expect the actual food to look that good.
Isn’t Belle Vue Lounge underutilized because it’s so small? Smaller than Boardwalk Bakery/Deli, maybe.
I think there needs to be a counter service location on the ground floor/boardwalk level. If that means moving Boardwalk Ice Cream to a large kiosk or even (gasp!) a stand alone building, do it.
Any idea when the update will be done? We’re heading there in Sept
They told me that it would take 3 weeks.
Disney briefly shared the completion date of August 15, 2022.
That has since been removed, so maybe it was wrong or they’re not quite ready to commit to that date yet.
My husband and I recently visited the Boardwalk Bakery this past week. We picked up breakfast twice. We’re from NJ and knew that their “northeast” take on the food wasn’t going to come close to what we have at home, but we figured ok, fine, we’ll give it a whirl.
We both got an everything bagel with egg and bacon. The first time we ordered, we asked for no cheese and for bacon on the bagel, which the cast member obliged. The second time, the cast member looked at us like we had 10 heads and gave us the bacon on the side. Bacon, egg, and cheese (or baconeggandcheese if you’re from NJ) is a VERY standard northeast breakfast, and the “just bacon and egg” variation is also acceptable. The food was fine for what it was, but we were not impressed with the “northeast” menu. Similarly, the menu described in this post leaves a lot to be desired. Carmelized onions on a bagel? GROSS. Nobody here does that! If they really want to lean into northeast breakfast, they need to offer the following:
-Bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel
-Taylor ham, egg, and cheese on a bagel
-Buttered hard roll
-Bacon, egg, and some type of potato (hash browns, tots, etc) on a bagel
We didn’t even try the crumb cake…we knew it would be way less expensive and way better at home.
Coming from New York and New Jersey I completely agree. If you are going to advertise doing something as being from the Northeast, do it the right way.
I was going to say the same!!! No Taylor Ham/Pork Roll, not authentic. And arugula pesto on an Italian sub???? What is this madness!!!
When I drive all the way from NYC to Orlando Fl the last thing I’m thinking of getting at WDW is food from the NE. World showcase all the way.
As a born and raised Jerseyian, couldn’t agree more. Not having a Taylor ham/pork roll option immediately nullifies all claims of trying to recreate NY/NJ cuisine. Only offering one flavor of cream cheese is blasphemy. Every NJ town has a local Italian deli that does an a Italian sub and either a meatball or chicken parm sub. They could have even gone the route of the infamous Rutgers fat sandwiches (with more, um, family friendly names of course). Plus pretty much every NJ diner offers pizza fries or disco fries. There is a lot of actual unique cuisine in the NY/NJ area, it’s crazy to me that none of those options are included.
I have to respectfully disagree regarding the BelleVue Lounge. The bar is cozy and unique with excellent, professional, and friendly bartenders. It is simply wonderful and should not be re-imagined.
Being from the northeast this sounds boring. I don’t understand why they can’t get a good QS like the ones at poly, GF and contemporary.
It’s closed as of today. Refill stations are at Belle Vue and Pizza Window. Abracadabar, pizza window, and Belle Vue lounge where be will you can get breakfast sandwiches/pastries, then salads and sandwiches later in the day at Belle Vue as well.
DFB has a write up about the current options and where you can find everything.
We are currently staying at the boardwalk and have got resort refillable mugs using the bakery as our refill station.
Today we came down to fill our flasks with ice and water and then refill the mugs with Coke Zero and powerade to find the bakery shut without warning.
The pizza window was over busy plus it doesn’t do Powerade or Coke Zero. We were told abracadabar would do refills and went there to do that. We found it only did hot refills so we got an almond and normal croissant. Only their till want working so they wrote down what we had, calculated it on an iPhone using calculator and then hand wrote my magicband serial number at the bottom.
We were then told that the Lange did the refills so went there. They filled up the flasks with ice and water and then the cups, but again no Coke Zero or Powerade.
No one seemed to know who had what going on and it really felt like amateur hour. I’ve complained via the app and hopefully it will improve tomorrow.
I would love to see the ‘Roasty Toasty’ and the ‘Turkey Gobbler’ make an appearance on this menu. Has anyone seen them at other locations?
I pray the Doodle Muffin survives the menu change, it’s maybe my favorite snack on property and was hoping to grab a couple while I’m down for the day this weekend. What terrible timing….
I know everyone raves about it, but we still haven’t tried the Doodle Muffin. Every time I see it, I’m either not in the mood or question whether it’s going to be dry.
If it survives, I guess I’ll have to finally give it a try as part of our review of the “new” location.
I am right there with you, I just tried the doodle muffin in May thanks to AJ from DFB….IT WAS AMAZING!
It was sooo moist and super sweet….great with coffee or milk, or tea… I wanted to bring some home, back to NJ for family and friends, but I got covid down there and wasn’t able to, as I read this review about the changes, I lamented to my husband about this catastrophe and wondered what the fate of the doodle muffin would be, and then I read your post!
The used to have THE BEST maple cone filled with amazing scrambled eggs, lots of colby cheese and big hunks of bacon. It was absolutely delicious! They need to have more things like that. Not the same ‘ole same ‘ole typical stuff.
That sounds amazing. I don’t remember anything like this–how long ago was it?
We’re staying at the Boardwalk in September. I’ve yet to figure out where you can get breakfast at. I really don’t want a bagel sandwich just eggs, bacon and fruit. Any place like that around there?
I’m sure they’ll have fruit cups, but the rest of that remains to be seen. None of the Crescent Lake Resorts have ever had a traditional food court with straightforward options like that.
The Breakfast Bowl over at Yacht Club’s Market at Ale & Compass is pretty good, and more or less what you want.
At the Cape May Cafe at Beach Club. No characters but I believe it has returned to a buffet. It was great in the past hopefully it still is.
If you want to sit down and be served breakfast, the Garden Grove at the Swan is a good bet.
We stayed at the BW in May. The bakery was pretty much grab and go. My husband walked over to Beach Club Marketplace one morning to get their breakfast platter.
My husband loves the Thanksgiving sandwich hopefully it will be back
that Rueben sandwich, assuming that’s what it is, looks really good!
Not sure why they felt the need to do this. Looks like mainly a change for change sake. Maybe just a ploy to sell some more mediocre sandwiches.
You are right about that Lobster Roll that the Boardwalk Bakery had a for awhile though, that thing was incredible! Definitely the best on property while they existed.
I always loved the look of the Boardwalk area and the street performers (the few there were) were fun, but for us there was never much of a draw over there. We’d take the boat over, walk through the hotel lobby, walk the boardwalk and then leave. The restaurants never made our final list of places to eat at (except for the Lobster Roll) and we weren’t clubbers so they didn’t entice us. If you were there in the evening you could watch a lot of drunk people though.