Tink Tested: The Boathouse Lunch

Location: Downtown Disney, Old Pleasure Island area, on the waterfront

Parking/Transportation Situation: General Parking in Orange Garage, parking lot behind Cirque du Soleil, or behind the Hess Station. Bus service from all parks and resorts.(If using Disney Transportation, allow 1-1.5 hours transportation time. Due to current construction in this area, allow for a minimum of 30 extra minutes driving time, more if visiting on a weekend evening.) 

Meals Served: L, D

Characters/Entertainment: None

Type of Cuisine: American steaks and seafood

Type of Menu: A la carte

Pricing/Dining Plan: $$$/ 2 Table Service Points Per Person (NOTE: Any entrée listed as "Serves 2" will require 4 Dining Plan Points.
Full Menu: The Boathouse Lunch Menu

Atmosphere: Upscale yacht club
Dress Code: Theme park casual

Guests Who Would Enjoy This The Most: Couples, those that enjoy fine dining, particularly seafood

Level of Difficulty of Getting a Reservation: Moderate

Fun Stuff for Kids: Though there isn't really any entertainment for kids in the restaurant, other than coloring pages, before of after dinner, make time to take the kids out to the docks behind the restaurant, to look at the various boats and vessels docked back there. You can also take part in the hottest new "to-do" in Downtown Disney, a ride in the kitschy "Amphicars", which splash down right next to The Boathouse's entrance.

These 1950's vintage cars pick up passengers on land, then drive straight into the lagoon for "splashdown", where they convert to motorboats and take passengers on a 20 minute tour of the Downtown Disney area. Three Guests can ride, for $125 per car. There is also a gorgeous Italian water taxi, called the Venezia, which tours around the lake. The $75 fee per person includes chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. Or, if you prefer, the Lady Rose is an old-timey steamboat for two. The rate is also $75 per person, and includes the strawberries and champagne. All boating experiences can be booked by calling 407 WDW-BOAT, or by visiting The Ship's Store gift shop.

Rating of Appeal to Kid-Diners: This is cool!!!

Stand out dishes: Coconut Frog Legs, Lobster Cocktail, Beach and Sea Lobster Bake for 2, Dry Aged Tomahawk Rib Chop, Gibson S'mores Baked Alaska for 4
Best Use of Dining Plan Points: Filet Mignon Oscar Style and any dessert

Experience: The Boathouse, (managed by the Gibson Restaurant Group), is one of the first of many new restaurants set to debut at Downtown Disney, or "Disney Springs", as it will now be called. Since the time that we first saw it being constructed, my husband has been dying to go there. Growing up on the beaches of New England, he's always loved all things nautical, and the lighthouse beacon out front was beckoning him to come and eat. So when it was time for me to make plans for Father's Day, The Boathouse was an easy choice. I had found out that my Mum would be visiting us that weekend, as well, so about three weeks before, I made our reservation. It was easy to grab a lunch reservation, though I did notice that dinner was very full. Again, we went with the "off" time of 3pm, in an effort to avoid crowds and not visit this more upscale restaurant until after K had already napped. I was pretty sure that diners paying upwards of $75 per person to eat would have pretty low tolerance for his laughing-screaming-crying-singing-throwing-things combo that he favors when he is not rested.

     The Boathouse was posing one problem for us... how to get there with the least amount of walking. This wasn't just because we are lazy, (we are!), but more so because Mum has a bad knee and can't do long distances. Not to mention, it was hot as Hades out and we wanted to arrive in our Father's Day best, NOT looking like we had jumped in a swimming pool of sweat. (I know, gross, right?) We got to Downtown Disney early, and decided we would park behind Cirque, walk to the boat dock, take the boat to the Marketplace side, and then walk across the new footbridge from next to Rainforest, over toward T-Rex. News flash! We probably should have just parked in the garage and walked past Planet Hollywood, through the old Pleasure Island section. There was a huge line for the boat, so we waited in the blazing sun for about thirty minutes, only to get to the other side and have to walk way more than I remember the walk being from the boat dock to the Boathouse. I was, indeed, a hot, sweaty, bright red mess by the time we got to our destination, and Mum was limping along, cursing our lunch choice. (Don't worry, she'd be thanking us later!) The good news was, along our cursed walk, we did get to meet up with friends of ours, who were our tablemates on the Panama Canal Disney Cruise we did a couple of years back! It was great to see them, even if it was only for a quick hello! Disney friends are the best!
     We made it to The Boathouse, and got all checked in. The first thing you will notice here, without a doubt, is the incredible nautical decor. The whole place is full of teak, brass, nautical flags, rope, antique motors, and even whole boats! Yes, there are actually a couple of booths that are built inside boats! Pretty incredible to see!

     We were brought into a beautiful, sunny room, with a gorgeous view of the marina out

back. It looked like we were right back home, in a New England yacht club. (Not that I frequented yacht clubs in Boston, but you get the point.) We got settled at our table, and our server came over to greet us. Then the first shock of our meal came.... The menu did NOT look like the menu we had looked at online! This wouldn't be a big deal to most people, but in this case, the hubs had already figured out not only what HE was going to have, but what me and the kids were ordering too, so that he could get a taste of everything he wanted. (I would normally not allow this, but since it was Father's Day and he IS a pretty epic co-parent, I granted him this right.) The menu we were given seemed like a lighter lunch menu, and featured more sandwiches and less steak and seafood. With panic in his voice, my husband asked the server about it, and the gentleman said that this WAS, in fact, the lunch menu we were looking at, and that we could of course order off of the main dinner menu, and he happily brought us out copies of that to look at. WHEW! Trust me, no one in that dining room wanted to see a grow man cry. Dodged a bullet there. 
     We deciding on starting with a Caesar salad to share. The chef did come out to speak to us about K's egg allergy and he was more than happy to answer all of our questions, and accommodate us with egg-free "chickin nuggits, peez". D is all about seafood, so she chose the fried shrimp. The salad was served quickly and was quite delicious. Not too much dressing, and not too heavy on the anchovies, just the way I like a Caesar. There was plenty to share and the salad was good, but the BREAD. The bread was to die for! Heaven-sent, soft, freshly baked sweet rolls, with creamy butter. We were all pretty much sold on the restaurant already, between the decor, the views and the bread. My husband had also elected to get some oysters on the half shell, which he said were the best he's ever had. (I'll take his word for it. That texture is NOT one that I enjoy.)

     When the entrees were delivered to our table we all gasped. Partly because of the sheer size of them, and partly because they looked SO delicious! See????

     My mother had chosen a dish that is listed as an appetizer on the menu: Jumbo Lump Crab and Avocado. It was basically a huge pile of fresh crab meat and avocado salad, on a bed of lettuce, and covered in a tarragon remoulade sauce. She had one bite and was in love. She said it had a delicious flavor and was just FILLED with crab. She loved it so much, that the very next day she said she would go back to the Boathouse for lunch again and get the same thing, if she could. It was a winner, for sure! 

     The kid's entrees came in super cute paper car trays, which the kids thought were just amazing. D's portion of fried shrimp was pretty large, and it came with a side of watermelon. She thought the shrimp were delicious and enjoyed revving the paper car's engine as she ate. K's chicken strips were gigantic and served on skewers. And I've gotta say, they were fantastic! Like, so good that if there wasn't already far too many great options on the menu, I would consider ordering them. Crispy, not overly fried or greasy, and full of juicy white meat. In general, the kid's menu was very well put together. The restaurant could easily be over kids' heads with the amount of seafood and higher priced items on the menu, but the cute, classic car dinner boxes, and the unique menu items like Pigs in a Blanket and Make Your Own Tacos, really mix up the options and make it fun.

     The hubs knew he wanted both steak and seafood, so after carefully perusing the menu, (online, for the past two weeks), he had decided that the smartest and most cost effective way to get what he wanted, was for he and I to share the Beach and Sea Lobster Bake for 2 ($60), and the 28oz Porterhouse for 2 ($60). This may seem crazy, but, if you look at the Surf and Turf Table for 2 option ($135), it is only a rib chop and a lobster. It's a higher price point and does not include all of the extras of the Lobster bake, like the clams, mussels, sausage, potatoes and corn. Smart dude I married, huh? The food was incredible. Truly. The steak was perfectly seasoned and grilled. The seafood was fresh, flavorful and in a delicious broth. We both thoroughly enjoyed the entrees. The hubs was giddy and literally doing a "happy food" dance in his seat. Totally delicious. In fact, I think we may have found our new go-to place for celebration meals. (Sorry, Yachtsman!)
     Now, it is important to note that most entrees, other than the Lobster Bake, are a la carte, and the pricing does not include side items. The sides may look like they are priced high, but they are rather large and most of them are shareable, so you could easily share one or two side items among a party of four. We got a side of fries and between the five of us, we couldn't finish them! I have heard some mixed reviews of The Boathouse from other Guests and I believe that the ones that are rating it on the low side were not prepared for the pricing and the size of the items, and may have misordered, as a result. Our meal was fantastic, and left us no room in our bellies for dessert. The Boathouse is already well known for their gigantic baked Alaska dessert, but the idea of eating ice cream right then made us nauseated. We opted to pay our check, and stroll out to the docks on the backside of the bar, to check out the various boats docked there. It was beautiful being among those gorgeous Italian yachts and various speedboats. There were even microphones set up there, so it looked like there is perhaps some live music at night as well. On a (much) cooler evening, I bet it would be amazing to eat outside here. I'll have to remember that come October.... or January, depending on how the Florida fall treats us. 
     After looking at the boats, and watching a few of the Amphicars take their "splashdowns" into the lake, the daily storm clouds were rolling in, so we called it a day, and went home to digest. And maybe nap. Oh, god, I was full. 
     At the end of the day, the hubs declared it "one of the top five meals of my life". 10 points to Gryffindor (me) for making a great Father's Day plan!!!

Tink's Tots Try It Out: According to D (6 yo girl) Miss D, what did you think of The Boathouse?   "Oh, I liked it a lot!"   Good, I'm glad. What did you like about it?    "Well, I really liked the food...my shrimps were good. And I like the thing it came in a lot... the car box thing."   It was pretty cool. What did you think of the restaurant itself? Did you like how it looked and stuff? What would other kids like about it?   "I liked how those cars drove into the water, and it looked cool inside. Kids would like the boats and stuff."

Tink's Tots Try It Out: According to K (2 yo boy)  K, did you like eating at The Boathouse?   "Yeah. Boats. In house? Mamma's house? Firewooks?" (My kid is so brainwashed by me that he thinks that Cinderella Castle is "Mamma's House".)   So somehow you just segued from talking about The Boathouse to asking to go see fireworks at The Magic Kingdom? Smooth.   "Smoovie?"   No, no smoothies. We're getting off topic. Did you like that chicken on the stick at the restaurant? I thought it was yummy.   "Yeah, yum-yum. Shicken was gooood, Mamma. I see boats."   Did you like seeing the boats?   "Yeah. Can I 'ave boat, Mamma?"   Did your Daddy coach you to ask me that?   "Yah."   I thought so. We will talk about it in about 16 years, ok?   "Ok, Mamma!"

Will we be back: Fo' sho. I just hope that next visit can live up to the epic-ness that my husband declared our first visit to be.