Narcoossee’s Reopening Date & Menu Details

Walt Disney World has officially announced the Spring 2023 reopening date of Narcoossee’s at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Additionally, the company has released menu details and food photos from the Signature Restaurant that is returning to the shores of WDW’s flagship resort. (Updated March 31, 2023.)

In case you haven’t heard, Grand Floridian is currently in the midst of a substantial overhaul with “Enchanted Gardens” as the unifying visual style. Thus far, the Big Pine Key and Boca Chica buildings over by Narcoossee’s are finished; Conch Key and Sugarloaf are now in progress. For a look inside the new rooms, see Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney World’s Flagship Resort.

Beyond the room reimagining, the scope and scale of the work is not really known. Disney has announced the lobby will be refurbished, but it’s unclear as to whether that means swapping out furniture overnight, gutting the interior, or something in between. There are also the restaurant refurbishments to Citricos and Victoria & Albert’s, which can best by described as “something in between.” Those light and airy modernizations are also what we’re expecting at Narcooossee’s, which has a design defined by its location and large windows.

What Walt Disney World has revealed is that Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will reopen on April 1, 2023. Starting that date, the Signature Restaurant will once again welcome guests for culinary delights in its newly reimagined space.

This signature dining restaurant with its spectacular panoramic views, is a staple of the resort, with its waterside location, and over the past several months has seen an enhanced interior revamp as well as a refreshed menu crafted by Chef Noah Estabrook and Pastry Chef Kristine Farmer in a perfect balance of updated classics and new epicurean delights.

March 31, 2023 Update: Ahead of its official reopening tomorrow, Walt Disney World has shared a sneak peek inside and outside the reimagined Narcoossee’s.

Perhaps most interestingly, Disney has also released the following statement: “Because we are still putting finishing touches on this beautiful new space, there may be select days in May and June where reservations are unavailable.”

Our assumption is that Disney is waiting on certain fixtures, flourishes, and other design details that are delayed due to supply chain issues and backorders. Not really the same, but we saw new homes that were being “completed” with used garage doors and appliances in order to close the last couple of years. Similar idea, I suppose.

That’s really the only way to explain why there would be days in May and June 2023–but not next month–when Narcoossee’s might be closed. If it were simply work that needs to be finished, they’d either push back the opening or find days to do it in April.

As for the interior of Narcoossee’s itself, I actually like it. Sadly, this confirms that the restaurant has lost its tiered layout, but that was pretty much a foregone conclusion. Cast Members (understandably) hated that, and it’ll make servers lives easier.

Otherwise, I think this looks relatively nice. It has a modern coastal vibe with darker tones and cool colors, which is definitely not in keeping with the Victorian style of the Grand Floridian…but neither was the previous look. It probably won’t win me any friends with diehard Narcoossee’s fans, but I think this interior looks fresh and fairly fitting for the waterfront setting of the restaurant and its menu.

It is a bit generic and could be something you’d find at an upscale coastal restaurant, but I think that’s an appropriate look for Narcoossee’s. It’s also fair to say that was the style of the old incarnation of Narcoossee’s, except in the prevailing coastal style of the 1990s.

This is an upscale waterfront restaurant where views and the menu are the stars. I like the color choices and incorporation of woods and other textures, and think that helps it achieve the desired look and atmosphere. Perhaps my perspective would be different if the Grand Floridian had a single unifying style, but that’s no longer really the case–and this sure beats injecting IP into a Signature Restaurant!

The reimagined restaurant incorporates the concept of “land and sea” and that’s exactly what the culinary teams drew inspiration from when developing the new menu for Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Upon sitting down for your meal, you’ll be greeted with a recipe created by Chef Kristine specially for this location – an Artisan Boule of Sourdough made with a perfectly toasty crust and baked daily in the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa bakery.

As you enter your first course, you’ll continue to be met with masterfully crafted dishes. For years, the Bisque has been a mainstay on the menu, so flavor connoisseurs will be thrilled to see it return, but now with an enhanced tableside presentation.

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa culinary team has also created two new starters for the new-look Narcoossee’s. First up, the Beef and Ricotta Tortelloni accompanied by luscious brown butter, parsnip puree, and sultana raisins.

Next, the Ocean-inspired Charcuterie Board is a fresh take on a classic featuring ahi tuna pastrami, charred octopus, and house-made sausage from the sea.

This plate is a collaboration, with each component representing the style of a different chef on the Narcoossee’s culinary team.

Moving on to the main course of the culinary experience at Narcoossee’s, the team has sourced sustainable seafood from both local waters and around the globe, including Chef Noah’s signature dish, the Blackened Redfish.

This meal is served with a crispy chorizo-sunchoke hash with hominy, Florida sweet corn, and red pepper rouille. What makes this fish a standout is the secret blend of blackened spice which has been passed down from chef to chef of the location, with each culinary mastermind finding their own unique way to feature it on the menu.

Plant-based diners will be delighted with the Roasted Vegetable Paella featuring market vegetables, cannellini beans, and preserved artichoke finished with charred Meyer lemon. At the other end of the culinary spectrum, those looking for land-based fare will find what they’re looking for with the new Dry-Aged Pork Ribeye Chop served with creamy goat cheese-potato pave and turnips with onion jam and a touch of fig jus.

Narcoossee’s has also kept guest favorites like the Plancha-seared Scallops with Parisian Gnocchi and Surf and Turf featuring tender filet mignon and butter-poached lobster tail on the menu for new and returning guests to indulge in.

The dessert course also features a favorite that has garnered near legendary status over the years amongst diners of Narcoossee’s – Chef Kristine’s incredible Almond-crusted Cheesecake with Lambert cherry sauce and Chantilly cream.

When developing the new additions to the dessert menu, the pastry team was inspired by bright flavors that really complement the overall experience. The Berry Pavlova, for instance, is artfully crafted with Florida fresh berries and citrus delicately placed over meringue and yuzu crémeux and finished with a tableside pour of anglaise. The Pineapple Bavarois is truly a work of art with a roasted-pineapple center and house-made blackberry-buttermilk ice cream. These dishes make for a perfect and sweet finish to a memorable evening.

This waterfront hideaway is the ideal spot to wind down with a fabulous cocktail or zero-proof beverage. The wine list has been refreshed to reflect a diverse portfolio of varietals, with Proprietor Matt Cristi and the sommeliers on his team available to help you create the perfect pairing for each dish.

The team of mixologists at Narcoossee’s has also thoughtfully curated a new cocktail program, inspired by the Victorian era. A must-try is the signature Empress Lime Gimlet, a modern twist on a classic gimlet with Empress Gin, Rockey’s Botanical Liqueur, and cold-pressed lime.

The reopening of Narcoossee’s comes as part of the multi-year transformation of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, honoring its rich history at the Walt Disney World Resort while enhancing its iconic Victorian charm and elegance.

Advance Dining Reservations for Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will open for this grand return on March 1, 2023. The culinary team looks forward to welcoming guests back to the new-look Narcoossee’s starting April 1, 2023 to experience this enhanced experience destined to become a new favorite!

Walt Disney World has now released the full menus with pricing for Narcoossee’s. This answers one question many Walt Disney World fans have, which is whether this is a la carte, or prix fixe like the new dinners at California Grill. Narcoossee’s is retaining its a la carte status.

Here are the full menu for 2023 with prices for the new-look Narcoossee’s:

Prices have increased, pretty much across the board, but that was to be expected. In some cases where entrees are noticeably more expensive, there’s a good reason for that–such as the Surf & Turf now featuring filet mignon rather than a standard steak. All other increases are fairly consistent with recent Walt Disney World menu price inflation.

Thankfully, it looks like Narcoossee’s is not yet another Walt Disney World restaurant that is now star chasing. Unlike Victoria & Albert’s, Takumi-Tei, and Monsieur Paul, which all saw huge price hikes and appear set on receiving Michelin recognition. To each their own, but I’m perfectly fine not dropping $200+ per person for the seal of approval from a tire company. (I say this as someone who loves using the Michelin Guides–but this has gotten out of hand.)

Instead, it sounds like the new-look Narcoossee’s will be a lot like the reimagined Citricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. We were never huge fans of that in the past, but the reimagined restaurant won us over. The menu is superlative, with sophisticated Floridian cuisine and an abundance of citrus infusions. These dishes are inventive, beautifully-plated, delicious, and in keeping with the spirit of Ci­tricos. The only downside there is portions and pricing, but Citricos is arguably the closest Walt Disney World gets to haute cuisine at a “regular” Signature Restaurant.

Although it had been a while since we last reviewed it, our meals at Narcoossee’s in the last few years had been excellent. We definitely preferred the menu and overall ambiance to Citricos previously, and are curious as to whether that’ll remain the case going forward. My only real hope is that the tiered seating has remained, but I fear that’s one of the elements that the reimagining removed.

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YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you think about these details of the reimagined Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? How does the menu look to you? Excited to dine at this new-look Signature Restaurant starting on April 1, 2023? Thoughts on its themed design and details as compared to other restaurants at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our thoughts? 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!