REVIEW: THIS is Why We Keep Coming Back To This Beloved Disney World Restaurant

When you’re planning a trip to Disney World, there’s a lot to think about — where you’re going to stay, how many days you want in the parks, and, of course, where you’re going to eat.

We know all the ins and outs of Disney restaurants, and that includes where we absolutely recommend eating and where we think you should stay away from. We recently stopped by Cítricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and are bringing you our FULL review!

Background

Originally, in this spot in the hotel was Flagler’s Restaurant, which closed on July 7th, 1997, and was then replaced with Cítricos, which opened on November 8th, 1997. It’s been quite a popular spot for some time, only growing more so when it reopened in 2021 with an all-new look.

Here’s what you need to know about dining at this restaurant.

Atmosphere

While this is a more upscale restaurant, it’s also got a warmth to it that we really enjoy. It’s bright during the day, thanks to all those windows and the color of the furniture, and at night, you can get a great view of the Grand Floridian grounds.

But enough about that, what are we eating?!

Food & Drinks

We started off with the Bread Service, which is brought to every table. These are homemade cheese rolls, and you can smell the cheese the moment it’s set down on the table. They’re incredibly fluffy, soft, and perfectly airy. The guava butter on the side is also housemade and truly blows our mind every time.

The sharpness of the cheese goes perfectly with the tartness of the guava, so while we were skeptical about it at first, consider us incredibly impressed.

From the menu, we grabbed the Celery Root-Sunchoke Bisque for $15, which is made with Pickled Pears, Spiced Brown Butter, and Sunchoke Chips. This is so creamy, smooth, and light! When you think of bisque, you may think of something heavy, but this is delightfully light. The poached pears in the soup add a little taste of fruity freshness with a little bit of caramelization that we loved, and then the parsley on top adds to the depth of the soup by adding a little herbaceous pop.

For our entrée, we grabbed the Malbec Guava-Barbequed Short Ribs for $54, which are served with Aged Cheddar Creamy Grits, Roasted Poblano, Curtido Slaw, and Brussels Sprouts.

The short rib is truly perfectly cooked, and it falls apart with just the slightest nudge from a fork. The cheddar grits are creamy and have just the right amount of cheese, and while they’ve got a bit of tooth to them, it works well with the velvety texture of the short rib. The little bite of the guava sauce paired with the acidic slaw makes it super easy to keep going in for bites, even though the short rib itself is incredibly meaty and rich.  The brussels sprouts are perfectly caramelized, which is just brilliant.  At the bottom of the plate is a poblano pepper sauce, and when it’s paired with the slaw and the short rib, it makes it our favorite bite. The word here is BALANCE, and that’s impressive!

For dessert, we got the Mango Coconut Crèmeux for $14, which is made with Passion Fruit Ganache, Rum Cake, and Lemongrass-Coconut Ice Cream.

This is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of dessert, as every bite is different. The center is the cremeux, which isn’t sweet at all. It’s very tart, bright, and full of mango flavor. The coconut ice cream is sweetened well, which means it works well with the lack of sweetness in the cremeux. The base is made up of numerous cookies, streusel, and graham crackers, and altogether, this dessert acts like the ultimate palate cleanser at the end of a very savory meal. We would absolutely order it again!

Magic or Tragic?

This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…

• If you want a “put on real shoes, we’re doing a nice dinner” night. Cítricos leans into polished, grown-up vibes: moody lighting, attentive service, and the kind of room that makes you sit up straighter without even meaning to.
• If you’ve got dietary needs at the table, Cítricos is a strong pick. Disney’s posted menu goes out of its way to list allergy-friendly offerings and a plant-based entrée (Ancient Grains with roasted veg, etc.), plus clearly marked allergy-friendly enhancements and kids’ options. This is the kind of place where “I can’t eat X” doesn’t instantly turn dinner into a sad plate of steamed nothing.
• If you’re the type who likes a meal with options and pacing. The menu structure plays well: appetizers, entrées, desserts, and upgrades that make it easy to build a full evening instead of a quick bite. Typical price ranges like appetizers in the teens/low 20s, entrées roughly $37–$59, desserts around $12–$14, with a three-course meal often landing about $65–$80 before drinks and gratuity. (Aka: this is a splurge, but it’s an intentional, “worth it if you care about food” splurge.)

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

• If you’re trying to do Disney on a budget. This is not the restaurant that says “I respect your financial boundaries.” Signature Dining prices add up fast!
• If you’re wrangling little kids who don’t want to sit for a longer, coursed meal. Or you’ve got a group that’s happiest inhaling chicken tenders and fleeing back to rides; this can feel like an endurance event. There is a kids menu, yes, but the overall experience still leans “lingering dinner,” not “quick family meal.”
• If you’re allergic to planning. Beware: reservations are strongly recommended, so you’ll need to plan ahead to dine here. Disney’s standard policy at most locations is a $10 per-person fee for canceling within 2 hours or no-showing. So don’t book it unless you’re reasonably sure you’ll actually be there, upright, and hungry.

This was a super fun meal, and we feel the dishes are made to represent that. We had a great time, the service was fantastic, and we love that you’re encouraged to savor the dishes as the diner picks their own bites and builds to make the perfect meal.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more!

BEST Disney World Restaurants for 2026

Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? Tell us in the comments.

Post a Comment