Review of Paradiso 37 – Downtown Disney Walt Disney World

Guest Blogger Jeff Onorato shares his recent experience dining at Paradiso 37!

During my September visit to WDW, I had the opportunity to dine at Paradiso 37. The restaurant is located in the Pleasure Island district of Downtown Disney, between the Adventurer’s Club and Harley Davidson Orlando.

On the night of my visit, the restaurant was surprisingly empty given that it had only been open for a few months. I expected a more sizable crowd. The fact that it was mid-week undoubtedly played a part.

The theme of the restaurant is eclectic and colorful, as evidenced in the Cuervo Chandelier hanging above the entryway. There are 2 bars within the restaurant, and seating is split between the main level and an upper-level of the building.

Patio tables are also available for outside dining. They offer a nice view of the boat dock and Saratoga Springs.

The menu at Paradiso 37 is inspired by the “Street Foods of South, Central, and North America”. That mantra perfectly sums up the broad array of food offered. Tequila is the main attraction here, and they have 37 varieties of it (as referenced in the name). The only type I didn’t see on hand was Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo brand.

In celebration of this I opted to start off the meal with their signature Mangled Margarita, which is a mixture of Sangria and a typical Margarita. I found the drink to be slightly sweeter than a typical Margarita, and perfectly blended. By the time I finished the first one I was ready for another!

For those folks who are interested in beer, the restaurant takes pride in serving the coldest beer in WDW! As evidenced on the thermometer hanging in the Dining Room, their beer is served at around 29 degrees.

For my appetizer I chose the Queso Fundido ($7.99) which was a good way to start the meal. The chips were served hot in a large bag adjacent to the bowl of Jack-cheese dip, which was garnished with Scallions. The appetizer was very hearty, and could be served as a meal in and of itself.

Service of my Entr̩e was nicely paced so as not to rush the meal. I decided on the Baja Burritos ($14.99), which are stuffed with either Chicken or Beef РI chose the Beef. Alongside the generously portioned burritos were Black Beans & Rice. I did not find the meal to be especially spicy and the need for a firehouse was not felt. The BBQ flavor was prominent in the dish, and I would liken it to Pork BBQ in texture and taste.

The food was quite filling and a good value for the money. While the desserts they had on offer were more than tempting, there was no more room at the Inn! Next time, I will skip the appetizer in favor of the Churros or Mini Ice Cream Cones.

My visit to Paradiso 37 was a solo one. In light of this, I did not feel rushed or out-of-place. In fact, I noticed several other solo diners in attendance that night both in the dining room and at the bar. My server did not seem to mind either; he took ample time going over the menu with me and making recommendations on what to try on my first visit.

I would recommend this restaurant for families visiting Downtown Disney or couples looking for a night out on the town. While they do serve alcohol with an emphasis on tequila and specialty drinks, I don’t think that children will feel out of place here. I would most liken the restaurant to the Maya Grill at Coronado Springs or San Angel Inn at Epcot, with more menu options. Paradiso 37 is open from 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant directly ((407) 934-3700) and were not available through Disney Dining Reservations when I checked. Also, they do not accept reservations during peak Dinner hours, only up until 4 o’clock.

There are currently no discount offers for Annual Passholder or Tables in Wonderland when I inquired with my Server. Also, Paradiso 37 does not currently accept the Disney Dining Plan.

Related Links:

Paradiso 37 Menu

Readers Rate and Review Paradiso 37

About Jeff: I am 33 years old and from Gettysburg, PA. By day I work in the Accounting Department of a Newspaper Publishing Company. My first visit to WDW was at the age of 2, and have been back around 35 times since then. I often travel solo to WDW, as well as with family. I make good use of my Annual Pass, and trek to Orlando about 5 times per year to visit my favorite travel destination. My favorite resort is the Polynesian, but have stayed at all of the WDW resorts at least once. In fact, my favorite aspect of visiting the Walt Disney World Resort is trying out the different Resorts and Restaurants. I also enjoy the many restaurants and sampling different foods that I normally would never try at home! (such as Escargot at the France pavillion).

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