LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- There's a delightful sense of anticipation as you walk through the distinctive black iron gates at Cítricos at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Surrounded by the turn-of-the-century splendor of the resort, the spacious restaurant is an unexpected pleasure -- sun-drenched Provençal colors, an open-air kitchen and a personality all its own. The warm interior borrows from the Mediterranean, South America and the Caribbean to create an exciting and energetic look that fits perfectly with the cuisine: stylishly simple, market fresh and evoking a sense of nature's basics -- the sun, earth and sea.
Meals are orchestrated in an on-stage kitchen with a rotisserie that is visible from the 190-seat dining room. Modern, flavorful dishes that change with the seasons are on the menu, such as grilled salmon filet with fresh herb risotto and saffron sauce. Starters are especially delightful, like the simple sautéed shrimp with tomato, lemon and feta cheese, and the warm onion tart and stuffed pepper Niçoise with walnut vinaigrette.
The food is light and emphasizes flavors and fresh herbs. Especially popular is shellfish bouillabaisse brimming with monkfish, sea bass and lobster. Lighter appetites tend toward the seared tuna with saffron pappardelle, tomatoes, olives and capers. Every menu offering is accompanied by a suggested wine from the restaurant's extensive wine list. Sommelier Manuel Brack loves to share his knowledge of the grape, and will happily pair a wine with any course from their list of nearly 200 vintages. The restaurant offers a wine pairing, with three wines paired to selected courses for $29.
Desserts from award-winning pastry chef Erich Herbitschek, from a decadent tropical fruit crème brûlée to a warm chocolate banana cake with a scoop of coffee ice cream, get an artful flourish in the finishing kitchen that's part of the dining room.
The spacious restaurant includes the Chef's Domain, a private, glass-walled dining room that offers four guests a five-course meal for $65.
There is a new, expanded menu at Citricos which, among other selections, include Sweet Onion Bisque, Seared Tuna Carpaccio, Roasted Chicken Breast with Torchiette Pasta, and Bone-In Ribeye.
To find out when you can plan your Advance Reservation for Citricos, go to the PS Report.
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