Disney World Venue Named “Most Award-Winning Restaurant in the U.S.”

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

A Disney World restaurant has won the title of Most Award-Winning Restaurant in the United States, and the venue offers an experience that’s among some of the most wished-for experiences at the parks.

Disney World is the most magical vacation destination on earth. The Central Florida Disney Resort offers world-class entertainment, thrilling attractions, state-of-the-art ride technologies, exceptional Resort hotel accommodations, and great food–lots and lots of food. And Guests who frequent the parks always have their favorite dining venues–and those they plan to experience on a future visit to the parks.

One of the Walt Disney World restaurants at the top of many Guests’ Disney experience wish lists has just been named the “Most Award-Winning Restaurant in the United States,” though it’s a venue that many Guests have yet to experience–and one that some never even knew existed.

According to a Trips to Discover survey that compiled the top 10 most award-winning restaurants in the United States, the #1 most award-winning dining spot in the country is located just outside of Orlando–in the city of Bay Lake, Florida, at the Walt Disney World Resort. In fact, it’s the only restaurant in the state of Florida to make the list.

The survey looks at awards won by restaurants around the country and included in its compilation many 3-Star Michelin, 5-Star Forbes, and AAA-rated restaurants and used reviews from TripAdvisor and Google scores to create the ranking. The #1 spot belongs to Victoria & Albert’s restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

victoria and alberts disney world

“A crowning jewel in the culinary world, this restaurant proudly wears its Five-Star badge from Forbes Travel Guide and AAA Five-Diamond honor with grace and elegance,” Trips to Discover said. “Victoria and Albert’s is a highly regarded destination, with the vast majority of reviewers describing the experience as fabulous, memorable, and perfect. Reviewers highly praise the acclaimed tasting menu that caters to specific dietary needs.”

The prix-fixe menu for this luxury Disney dining experience begins at $295 per person.

dining at victoria and alberts restaurant

Guests at Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant are guaranteed an unmatched dining experience:

“Savor timeless elegance at Victoria & Albert’s. Come discover the ultimate in fine dining in a spectacular setting inspired by Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Celebration. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be immersed in the splendor of a bygone era. Victoria & Albert’s is home to sophisticated dining spaces that feature shimmering chandelier crystals, Victorian-inspired murals, delicate embroidery, intricate lace details, and other stylish touches at every turn.”

Disney World invites Guests to experience Victoria & Albert’s Dining Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:

“Dine under the grand rotunda dome in The Dining Room at Victoria & Albert’s. This elegant space is reminiscent of a garden—from its Victorian-themed murals and wallcoverings to the graceful flowers and butterflies that adorn the ceiling. Settle in for a delectable dining experience with world-class service and thoughtful touches from beginning to end.”

victoria and alberts restaurant chandalier

The entire list of the Top 10 Most Award-Winning Restaurants in the U. S. reads as follows:

  1. Victoria & Albert’s – Orlando, Florida
  2. Cindy Wolf’s Charleston – Baltimore, Maryland
  3. The Inn at Little Washington – Washington, Virginia
  4. Per Se – New York, New York
  5. Le Bernardin – New York, New York
  6. Daniel – New York, New York
  7. Gary Danko – San Francisco, California
  8. The Modern – New York, New York
  9. Alinea – Chicago, Illinois
  10. Kai Restaurant – Phoenix, Arizona

Disney’s Victoria & Albert’s Returns With Exquisite Dining Experiences

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Resorts

The time has come for the culinary crown jewel of the Walt Disney World Resort – Victoria & Albert’s – to welcome guests back to this one-of-a-kind experience at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Beginning today, July 28, this location is now open and filled with unrivaled flavors expertly crafted by the talented culinary team as well as an enhanced and renovated interior space that will leave guests in awe.

There is a reason this AAA Five Diamond Award and Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award recipient is considered the crown jewel – its decadent cuisine features only the highest quality of ingredients and flavors from across the globe. With an ever-evolving menu, guests can taste their way through multiple courses, including Glacier 51 Toothfish with charred mushroom and sambal, Heirloom Tomatoes with gazpacho and 100 Year Balsamico, and Carrot Tikka Masala with cilantro and puri bread. For a sumptuous finish, the Spectrum of Chocolate is an ombré delight from the inside out featuring four specialty sourced chocolates and a tableside presentation of sabayon with notes of Madagascar vanilla bean, Champagne, and Grand Marnier.

In addition to the incredible dishes at Victoria & Albert’s, this location is also home to a world-class wine collection featuring over 500 different selections. Sommeliers on staff are there to guide you through this precisely curated collection and perfectly pair the flavors of the glass and plate. The new zero-proof cocktail pairing will allow everyone to fully experience the evening with beverages crafted to complement each course. One innovative offering on this menu is the Guajillo Spice, which is smoked tableside to highlight the rich flavors of roasted guajillo chilis, charred jalapeños, and black peppercorn, as well as a touch of caramelized sweetness from turbinado sugar and fresh lime.

The opulence and elegance that are in every corner of the restaurant are part of what makes it so unique. The newly renovated interior features exquisite crystal chandeliers, masterful murals, and delicate wall coverings that bring a modernization to this lavish location. There are three different dining options, each with their own unique experience. The Dining Room serves a tasting menu, that highlights seasonal flavors expertly created to give guests and their palette the very best.

For those interested in a more intimate dining experience, the Queen Victoria Room allows guests to savor a menu created by the chef de cuisine especially for them in a setting fit for royalty, including tableside presentations. The Chef’s Table is a one-of-a-kind experience that allows first-hand account to the culinary craft as the team creates their decadent tasting menu. This unique opportunity allows them to interact with the chefs like no other as the guests of the kitchen, our most coveted offering.

The legacy of this restaurant is not to be overlooked. Victoria & Albert’s is not only the sole location in Florida to hold the honor of having both the AAA Five Diamond and the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star awards but joins only 26 others in the nation with this same unique distinction.

The culinary team that upholds this legacy is now led by Chef de Cuisine Matthew Sowers, with more than 15 years spent at Victoria & Albert’s and experience assisting in the creation of acclaimed menus for Remy on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Joining him is Pastry Chef Kristine Farmer who not only was part of the opening team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, but also leads the entire pastry team for this resort.

For over 20 years, Sommelier Israel Perez has been dedicated to creating memorable experiences at signature restaurants across Walt Disney World Resort. As the maître d’hotel, Israel and his team ensure that each person who walks through the doors of Victoria & Albert’s has a perfect evening through each step of service.

Overseeing culinary operations and teams of the 13 food and beverage outlets at our flagship resort is Executive Chef Kevin Chong. Last but certainly not least, is Culinary Director Chef Scott Hunnel, who was at the helm of Victoria & Albert’s for many years, now provides his expertise and mentorship to culinary teams across multiple resorts, including Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

When enjoying an evening with your guests here, it’s clear that Victoria & Albert’s provides an epicurean experience that is unlike any other. From the moment guests arrive and are welcomed with beautiful harp music, to the expert chefs creating magic from the kitchen to the plate and the sommeliers transporting them through each pairing, a meal here is one that cannot find anywhere else.

We are delighted to welcome guests back to Victoria & Albert’s and cannot wait for everyone to join us for a grand evening from first sip to last bite.

Disney Announces Re-Opening Date for Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Resorts

Among the line up of fantastic signature dining options at Walt Disney World, there is one notable option that has been missing since Walt Disney World closed temporarily in March of 2020, Victoria & Alberts. Award winning Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian finally has an re-opening date.

From a Disney Cast Member;

Few establishments allow you to indulge in the luxurious cuisine quite like Victoria & Albert’s. I’m thrilled to share this fine dining restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is preparing for its momentous return on July 28, with reservations available starting June 20.

Victoria & Albert’s, a recipient of the AAA Five Diamond Award since 2000 and Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award since 2018, is known for its unmatched dining experience with exquisite dishes made with ingredients from across the globe. This restaurant is the only one in Florida to hold the honor of having both the AAA Five Diamond and the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star awards and joins only 26 others in the nation with this same unique distinction.

The time has come to experience its timeless elegance and modern twist on American cuisine. Not only will its flavors be enhanced, but the space will be too. The newly reimagined dining room brings guests into a Victorian-styled setting with murals and wall coverings that showcase a timeless elegance and subtle inspirations of a whimsical garden. For a more intimate evening, the private Queen Victoria’s Room or the coveted Chef’s Table with a front-row seat to the culinary masterminds at work may be the option for you. The world-class wine collection found within its wine cellar, with over 500 selections, perfectly pairs with your dishes by the sommeliers on staff. If you’re interested in zero-proof cocktails, there are delicious beverage pairing options for you as well.

Upon reopening, you’ll savor your way through the Chef’s Tasting Menu. Each dish balances elegant ingredients with unique flavors. With the ever-evolving menu at Victoria & Albert’s, guests will be able to indulge in dishes such as Colorado Lamb with pickled blueberry and violet mustard and line-caught turbot with fennel fondue, and Pernod beurre blanc. Those who enjoy the finest of beef can experience the Wagyu A-5 Miyazaki with sauce romesco and potato rösti. Chocolate lovers will revel in the Spectrum of Chocolate, an ombré featuring specialty sourced chocolates with accents of buttermilk, Grand Marnier, and vanilla.

These dishes are masterfully created by the talented culinary team led by Victoria & Albert’s Chef de Cuisine Matthew Sowers. He has been working at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts since 2006, with over 15 years of culinary experience at Victoria & Albert’s, in addition to curating menus for Remy on the Disney Dream and Fantasy. With more than 30 years of experience, Pastry Chef Kristine Farmer was part of the opening team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and currently leads the pastry team of the resort, including its three signature restaurants, Disney’s Fairytale Weddings, and even the production of the gingerbread house.

Leading the talented chefs is Executive Chef Kevin Chong, who oversees all culinary operations at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. It is no small feat, but this chef and his team uphold the reputation that has long been established for these delicious eateries. Of course, we can’t talk about Victoria and Albert’s without mentioning the legacy of Culinary Director, Chef Scott Hunnel. The James Beard award nominee provides direction and mentorship to chefs across multiple resorts, including the team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Sommelier Israel Perez serves as the maître d’hotel where he and his award-winning team pay special attention to every detail of the dining experience. For over 20 years, he has created memorable experiences for guests at various signature restaurants across the Walt Disney World Resort.

A reminder about Victoria & Albert’s dress code – be sure to dress to impress, as this is an exquisite and intimate dining experience and the culinary crown jewel of the Walt Disney World Resort. Guests are expected to dress accordingly for this upscale location with semi-formal to formal attire that respects the restaurant’s elegant and opulent aesthetic.

The reopening of this fine dining staple comes as part of the multi-year transformation of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, honoring its rich history at Walt Disney World Resort while enhancing its iconic Victorian charm and elegance. This grand transformation began with the addition of Enchanted Rose lounge and the reimagining of Cítricos – which features sophisticated, subtle nods to beloved Disney films – and continued with the reopening of The Grand Floridian Spa. Victoria & Albert’s and the newly enhanced and expanded accommodations at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will open this summer. The transformation will continue with updated offerings across the resort over the coming years.

Citricos To Be Refurbished in Grand Floridian Redesign

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts

With Enchanted Rose now open and the Grand Floridian Orchestra officially moved into an odd corner of the lobby, work continues as part of the resort’s redesign, now with Citricos set to undergo refurbishment.

The second-floor restaurant is set to become “Victoria and Albert’s Bistro”, a slightly different dining concept that still retained the signature aspect of the restaurant.

The refurbishment for the restaurant will take place in phases, and while the space will remain open thoughout, the bar will close in February and the menu will be slightly modified while work takes place in the kitchen. Dining room renovations will begin sometime in May, with the project expected to be completed by Summer 2020.

Bob Chapek is not a fan of the look and feel of Disney’s Grand Floridian hotel. Here is an excerpt from a story from wdwnt in January 2017:

It appears Chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts Bob Chapek is not a big fan of the current Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Walt Disney World’s flagship hotel and often most expensive per night. Similar to the recently initiated shakeup in housekeeping for Disney World, Chapek feels as if the Four Seasons Resort Orlando is putting them to shame when it comes to what a luxury resort on-property should be. So, what’s the solution? To completely gut the 28-year-old Magic Kingdom area resort, of course.

Should it come to fruition, all of the rooms and the lobby of the resort will be completely gutted and rebuilt with a more modern-luxury theme, perhaps along the lines of the new hotel being constructed at the Disneyland Resort.

As it stands now, this project may not even be in the design phase as of yet, but it seems as if it will come to fruition should Chapek remain at helm of Parks and Resorts for the foreseeable future.

While the next phase includes Citricos, we also know that the concierge level lounge in the lobby building will be getting an overhaul imminently, likely followed by the Grand Floridian Cafe.

The space that today is Citricos was once Flagler’s Restaurant, which opened on June 28, 1988. It featured Italian and continental cuisine. It closed on July 6, 1997, to become Cítricos on November 8.