Disney World Restaurant That’s Better & Cheaper Than ‘Ohana Closing for Refurbishment
It’s not every day that this blog does standalone posts for restaurant refurbishments. But it’s also not every day that the best value dinner in all of Walt Disney World announces that it’s closing for refurbishment.
And as I’ve said/promised/threatened before, this blog will also find any excuse we can to sing the praises of Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. This is a location that makes our list of the 25 Best Restaurants at Walt Disney World for 2025 and our list of the Best Value Table Service Restaurants at Walt Disney World.
We’ve also reviewed the current menu twice: Sebastian’s Bistro Family Style Meal is the Best Dinner Deal at Walt Disney World and Review: Sebastian’s Bistro is Better, Cheaper & Easier Than ‘Ohana! Those titles more or less sum up how we feel about Sebastian’s Bistro, but you should probably read the full reviews (the second one is newer and better) so I have an excuse to write yet another review of Sebastian’s Bistro despite nothing having changed.
As for the refurbishment, here’s the message posted on DisneyWorld.com about the upcoming closure of Sebastian’s Bistro:
Beginning March 24, 2025, Sebastian’s Bistro will be closed for refurbishment and is expected to reopen at the end of March. Guests may see and hear construction in the area until work is completed. While the restaurant is closed, we invite you to enjoy the many other dining options at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
Assuming this is accurate, it suggests that the refurbishment will be brief. However, I’m wondering whether the announcement is correct. For one thing, Walt Disney World doesn’t exactly have the greatest track record with website updates in the last few months. (Looking at you, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and other ride operating schedules during hard ticket events.)
For another thing, there have restaurant closures and reopenings that have been flat-out wrong (Tortuga Tavern) or taken significantly longer than originally announced. Everything POP Food Court has had its project extended on three separate occasions. It was originally scheduled to end last September, and now it’s April 2025.
Finally, Sebastian’s Bistro still has hours listed throughout all of March despite the banner warning of the closure. Also, if it’s a project lasting only a few days, it seems like maybe the blurb would reflect as much, calling it a brief refurbishment or listing an exact reopening date.
With all of that said, Sebastian’s Bistro closing on March 24, 2025 and reopening only a few days later is the most likely scenario. We don’t want to suggest otherwise–we’re only pointing out that Walt Disney World doesn’t exactly have a sterling track record with recent projects. In all likelihood, Sebastian’s Bistro will reopen before April 2025.
Given that this closure is only scheduled to last a week or less in the first place, it’s presumably smaller scale. While a tight timeline does mean that delays of a day or two are possible, the more limited scope also provides less opportunities for the wheels to fall off, so to speak, resulting in a multi-week or month delay.
What we don’t know is whether this refurbishment will impact the kitchen at Sebastian’s Bistro.
In the past, it’s been possible to order select items from the Sebastian’s Bistro menu while dining at the adjacent Banana Cabana (one of our favorite bars at Walt Disney World). This has a nice option for those with smaller appetites who didn’t want the full family-style experience or wanted to try a variety of items.
If this project somehow results in Banana Cabana also serving a limited menu, we’d advise making the walk over to Disney’s Riviera Resort for Primo Piatto or Bar Riva as opposed to settling for Centertown Market or Spyglass Grill. (Of course, there’s also the exceptional Topolino’s Terrace, but that’s not exactly an on-a-whim substitute for a bar or counter service restaurant.)
Ultimately, my big hope is that Sebastian’s Bistro is only closed for a few days and reopens with almost the exact same menu–maybe a couple of changes, at most–and a bit more colorful decor on the interior of the restaurant. Basically, what I want is very light positive enhancements that “force” my hand to revisit and re-review the restaurant.
Other than that, don’t fix what isn’t broken, Walt Disney World. Sebastian’s Bistro might be a hidden gem, but it is a gem, and much more popular in its family-style form than it ever was with the a la carte menu. The original menu was very good, but this is the rare instance of family-style better suiting a restaurant. We’ll continue to do our part to raise awareness about Sebastian’s Bistro. Consider this your routine reminder that you need to eat at this better-than-Ohana restaurant!
When it comes to Caribbean Beach Resort’s restaurant lineup, Sebastian’s Bistro plus Banana Cabana are an excellent one-two punch, with both offering formidable menus and a ton of range. If Disney feels like meddling with menus at CBR, they should focus on Centertown Market and Spyglass Grill, both of which could use shots in the arm.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Thoughts on Sebastian’s Bistro closing for a brief refurbishment in late March 2025? Have you done the family-style feast at Sebastian’s Bistro? What did you think of the cuisine? If you’ve done this restaurant as well as ‘Ohana or other family-style meals at Walt Disney World, which did you prefer? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? If you haven’t dined here, does this sound appealing to you or not? 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!
We just ate there a couple weeks ago and it was all you care to eat. Our first time to eat there and really enjoyed it. Steak, chicken, rice and bread pudding was so good.
We ate there at Christmas and loved it. It was all-you-care-to-eat. We will definitely be back.
We had dinner at Sebastian’s Bistro 2 nights ago and we loved it! That chimichurri sauce on the steak was really good as was the rice and beans. The chicken with the BBQ sauce was my favorite and the pulled pork was flavorful! Both sauces were served on the side. The only downer was the fish. It was overcooked and very, very bland. At the end of the night, we didn’t have room for the dessert but our server said we could take the bread pudding to go (along with the sauce and ice cream!). He did say that we wouldn’t be allowed to take the food to go but they’ll allow the dessert.
When I read your article that Sebastian’s was better than O’Hana, my husband I had to give it a whirl. We were there in September of 2024 and that is the last time we will be there. The food was awful! I cannot tell you if it was all you care to enjoy or not, because we didn’t finish the original serving so we were not asking for more. I will say that the dessert was great, but that is it. I’m not sorry we went, as we like to try different restaurants, but it was a one and done for us.
I think the dates are correct as I tried to look for a reservation last week, and there is nothing available to book starting 3/24 and for that week.
Based on ADR availability, it looks like Sebastian’s Bistro reopens on March 29, 2025!
Nah I’m gonna have to disagree hard with this one, as somebody who regularly has excellent (and dirt cheap) Caribbean food at home. Sebastian’s is a lot like Homecomin’ in that both serve middling to mediocre representations of a style of food that people who aren’t familiar with or used to eating regularly rave about because they don’t know any better. I should have known better myself from the underseasoned chicken I had at Art Smith’s joint that Sebastian’s was going to be similarly disappointing but I was foolish and gave it a shot based on the hype. It had to be the blandest meal I’ve ever had on Disney property. Which is saying something. I would frankly rather hop an Uber to Golden Krust than go back there for fake Caribbean food with no seasoning!
To each their own, but I think this same criticism could be levied at just about any “exotic” Walt Disney World restaurant. The international options are all Americanized, and almost always simplified and made into crowd-pleasing comfort food. Very little at Walt Disney World is spicy or seasoned (unless you count salt).
The guests who are familiar with truly authentic cuisine from whatever region should usually avoid Walt Disney World’s interpretation of it. That doesn’t make the restaurants bad…just inauthentic to those who know better and go in with certain expectations.
Although in this case, it sounds like you’re also saying Sebastian’s Bistro was bad. In which case, agree to disagree. I would absolutely agree that Homecomin’ is massively overrated even when judged for what it is. Barely top 5 chicken at WDW, and definitely not #1 or #2.
I believe Sebastian’s Bistro IS all you care to enjoy now. When we last ate there (the day before Thanksgiving 2024) our server noted that the menu had changed format since our previous visit (March 2023) and that we could now request more of what we liked. However, none of us are big eaters, and we ended up with more than we could eat (without any replenishment). Our server refused to give us a to-go container, on the grounds that the restaurant was now all you care to enjoy. We were pretty disappointed about this, since we had not asked for more of anything, and we hate wasting food.
If this is true (and I absolutely believe your server told you this, just to be clear!), they really should publish it somewhere. Unlike ‘Ohana (or every other family-style restaurant), Sebastian’s Bistro is NOT listed as all-you-care-to-enjoy on Disney’s official website.
Over the years, we’ve had servers bring us more upon request or take home leftovers, or, on one rare occasion, both! We’ve heard reports from readers indicating the same. It always seemed up to the discretion of the server and how much they liked you or didn’t. (In our case, Sarah is much more likeable than me, so my solo meals never played out as well as ours together!)
The difference this time is that your server indicated the menu had changed format, which sure sounds like something official. It would make sense following the latest price increase, which brings Sebastian’s Bistro more in line with other family-style restaurants. Can anyone else who has dined here since mid-October share whether their experience was similar/different?
When we were here in November 2024, our Server also said we could get more if we wanted. The initial serving was more than we could eat, so we didn’t actually get more, but sounds like we could have.
I was so looking forward to eating here after hearing and reading so many positive reviews. I must have gone to the wrong restaurant because it was the absolute worst meal I’ve ever had at a restaurant, quick service included. The food was awful and so was the service. The server wouldn’t bring us more food because we had not eaten all the chicken. But, we asked him not to bring chicken because none of would eat it. He served us chicken. Finally, after talking to another server because he was no where to be found (his other tables were looking for him, too – one asked to speak to a manager), we got more of the other meats & broccoli. It was okay, nothing was actually served hot, and I definitely expected more flavor. It was a big no & I’ll never eat there again, even if I were paid to go. Based on what so many others say, we may have been there on an off night. But it was so off I will never go back or recommend it. One positive thing, the dessert was really good. However, I’ll go to Tambu Lounge to get it.
Are you talking about Ohana? This story is actually about Sebastian’s Bistro! Kinda confusing title though!
Hi Scott,
Yes, I am talking about Sebastian’s. The dessert is almost identical to O’hana and was good, we did enjoy that. And to another poster, Liz I believe. Sebastian’s is all you care to eat, you request more food when you want and your server brings what you request.
Emily-Sebastian’s is not all you can eat. They won’t in general bring more (I did ask them to bring another dessert though since there were 5 of us and they did). That aspect makes it more of a problem for a bigger group because you are always stuck with the proportions of mains they bring you and we often all love the same thing and aren’t fans of the others on that mains platter. Way easier to share and make nice and be happy with dinner if there are only 2 dining. I am sure this will continue to keep crowds down for those who love it. Although I would not be the least surprised if the refurbishment is a reimagining to prix fixe-shared salad, pick a main, shared dessert, I would go back for that-I just think it will come with a bigger price tag
Sebastian’s IS all you care to eat. Your server, upon request, will bring more of what you want.
I read an article about the fantastic dinner here in the summer of 2020. We all know at that point it was closed. No problem, thought it will be the first place I visit when everything reopens. That particular restaurant took soooooo long, and when it finally did open they had changed the menu. I don’t care if it’s a la carte or family style, but I was so looking forward to Jamaican hand pies, goat Curry, and the jerk Chicken. All of that was gone for what I would call more “common” flavors. I don’t want to have to venture to DS every time I want spice and true variety…
The menu actually changed prior to closing–back in January 2020–due to a lack of demand. (When we first dined at Sebastian’s Bistro, there were maybe 3-4 other tables that were occupied.)
If I recall correctly, the hand pies and goat curry were removed at that time. Many of the dishes added to the a la carte menu then are more or less what’s available now as the family-style meal.
Unfortunately, there are few places at Walt Disney World that are viable with more exotic menus, and a Moderate Resort’s only table service restaurant is not one of them.
We will be in WDW the end of February and we’re hoping to stop by Sebastian’s, it is perfect for dinner, the food is great (and so affordable, even by real world standards), getting reservations (if needed at all) is easy peasy and dessert is to die for!! I have never skimmed a post so fast, I was so worried that it was going to be closed during our trip!!! Stop sharing this hidden gem, it’ll get busy!
“Stop sharing this hidden gem, it’ll get busy!”
I’m much more concerned about the opposite happening: Sebastian’s Bistro isn’t popular enough to keep open.
This is precisely why it changed from a la carte to family style, because it was so slow previously (~2019), that only months after opening, they cut meal services and reduced hours.
This is why Sebastian’s Bistro is one of the few restaurants we love that I go out of my way to raise awareness about. I’m not worried about the reasonably popular ones closing.
My opinion is that the current theme/atmosphere of Sebastian’s Bistro shines at the brightest parts of the day – but because it isn’t popular enough it’s only open for dinner hours.
We had dinner at Sebastian’s at Christmas. There has been a change in the menu. Everything was still delicious!! Just wanted to let you know so you can do more research…