Enchanted Rose: A New Delight
Although it has only been open for less than two weeks, the Enchanted Rose at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is already delighting guests. I was hesitant at first when I stopped by after a day at the parks. I was in my Disney leggings and a t-shirt and thought I would feel out of place compared to some of the well-dressed guests stopping by before dinner at Victoria & Albert’s or some of the other fancy dinner restaurants. However, there were plenty of other guests in casual attire.
The Enchanted Rose has numerous seating rooms, so do not be surprised if you pass by the library on your way to the bar area. The photos below highlight some of the many seating areas in the library, including high top tables with bar stools near the fireplaces and wine coolers. I must say that I found this to be one of the most beautiful lounges I have ever visited.
Speaking of wine coolers, there are two of these in the library, maintaining the bottles at the perfect temperature for many years to come. Unfortunately, I am not enough of a wine connoisseur to have been able to appreciate this magnificent touch fully.
Yes, that is a rose in the glass above the bar. Do not let the last petal fall while you are there. I spoke with Food and Beverage Manager Nate, who said this was his favorite room – it is also mine.
I sat in the chair by the window below. It was such a serene spot, and I enjoyed looking out at the resort with its twinkling lights below.
The seating area by the bookshelves is so cozy you may never want to leave. Overall, the library imparted a warm ambiance that you should take some time to appreciate.
You cannot help but notice this magnificent chandelier, inspired by Belle’s ball gown, above the bar. I did not take any photos of the bar itself, as it was packed with guests, but I will update with new photos on my next visit.
However, this is a partial view of the shelves at the far end of the bar. You cannot fully appreciate it until you are there.
The table below was one of the only empty tables in the bar at the time, and guests sitting here have a perfect view of the pool.
Right off the bar, is this very serene garden room, inspired by the enchanted forest, which is actually fairly large with abundant seating.
Finally, off the bar area is this expansive patio, bringing a sense of romance as you might find from the Beast’s garden terrace. Again, a variety of abundant seating options meet the needs of parties small or large.
The Enchanted Rose Menu
Now, on to the menu at the Enchanted Rose. When you first open the menu book at your table, this is what you will see. The food menu is small but has a nice variety of options. Do not come here expecting to eat a multi-course meal. The Enchanted Rose is primarily a lounge, with some food offerings. However, that does not negate how spectacular the selections are that they offer.
We will discuss the foods in the next section. I want to continue to highlight the beverages first with A Tale of Tableside Cocktails. I had no idea what this was until it was explained to me. Guests have the choice of two Tales – Amour and Envie. The cocktail story – a story of love – is told tableside, in three components, while the drink is prepared in front of you. I did not get to experience this service as it is currently not offered on the weekends or during extremely busy times. As Nate explained, if everyone at seven tables in a servers area all ordered these drinks, which take 3 to 4 minutes to prepare and tell the story, some people would have quite a wait for their drinks. You can still order them, but they will come prepared from the back.
Next, we find the Featured Cocktails, of which I tried the Island Rose – a recommendation by my server, Jose, after we discussed what I like to drink. It had the perfect blend of sweet and tangy.
The Grand Cocktails feature some of the more well-known selections, and I look forward to bringing my daughter here in the future to try the Mojito.
I thought about getting a Grand Cosmopolitan from the Featured Martinis but am glad I decided to try something new.
Imagine my surprise when I turned to the Distinctive Spirits Collection and found Plymouth Gin on the list. If you have never tried Plymouth Gin, I highly recommend it. I toured the factory in Plymouth, England back in January, and fell in love with their Gin.
Unfortunately, I did not check my photos, so this one of the Beer & Hard Cider and Wine Selections is a bit blurry. I will have to get a better picture on my next visit.
The Wine Library offers a selection of Whites and Reds in 3 different size pours, as well as by the bottle. As Nate explained, this allows guests to splurge and try a wine they might not have had the chance due to the high price of a bottle. It is also an excellent way to find your next favorite wine.
Finally, we have Beverages Without Alcohol as well as Champagnes.
The Enchanted Rose Food Selections
At first glance, people who are gluten-free, or on a paleo or keto diet may think there is nothing for them to eat. Every dish includes gluten, although most are easily modified – except for the Crab and Gnocchetti Gratin. Do not even look at that selection if you are gluten-free.
I spoke with the wonderful Chef Ben about the menu options for special diets. For the artisanal Cheese Selection, the toast points can be exchanged for gluten-friendly rolls. I am sorry, I forgot to get the brand from him – it was a busy night. The cheese selection includes a variety of cheeses that I cannot pronounce – I have never heard of any of them but look forward to trying them someday.
The Espelette Pepper-spiced Shrimp is fine for paleo, keto, and gluten-friendly dieters if you omit the toast point. You can opt for the GF rolls they offer. The pepper sauce does contain canola oil – I know you have all been waiting to see when I was going to mention that. Chef Ben made an interesting statement – he told me that extra virgin olive oil would impart to strong a flavor in some of the dishes. I will allow him that, although you all know my opinion about canola oil.
The Truffle Fries are prepared in a gluten-free fryer that uses canola oil. If you are dairy-free, you can omit the parmesan cheese.
The Octopus à la Plancha is marinated for 4 to 5 hours in extra virgin olive oil (hooray), shallots, garlic, and herbs. It is then cooked in the marinade and served with black olive aïoli, blistered tomatoes, baby fennel, and fingerling potatoes. The aïoli does contain canola oil and can be served on the side or left off. In place of the potatoes, those on a paleo or keto diet could have extra fennel and tomatoes.
Next up is the Mini Smoked Short-Rib Sliders served with Glacier Blue Cheese and Onion Marmalade. Gluten-free rolls are available, as are lettuce cups for paleo and keto diets. The short ribs are prepared in a marinade of red wine and beef stock, then smoked over oak. A small amount of canola oil is used for searing the meat.
If you are interested in the White Sturgeon Caviar, you can again substitute gluten-friendly rolls for the toast points. All typical accouterments accompany the caviar.
My Enchanted Rose Selections
There is so much to love about the Enchanted Rose. The ambiance will transport you to another world. Once you order a drink, they put down one of these classic coasters – the design is exquisite.
Even the presentation of a simple glass of water appears elegant. The thin slices of lemon and lime (I asked for either and received both) speared over the glass was such a pretty touch.
After I placed my food order, my server, Jose, brought me this serving set. I couldn’t help but take a photo – I just loved the silverware.
My drink selection, the Island Rose, features Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose, Lime, Orgeat (almond), Pineapple, Bitters, and Rose Water. A slice of ripe pineapple and one blueberry were perfect touches on this refreshing drink that I would definitely get again.
When it came to my food selection, it was between the octopus and the short ribs. Usually, I would go straight for the meat, but that seemed too easy. Because I wanted something special for this blog, and upon the recommendation of Chef Ben that the presentation would be unique, I went with something I never eat – the octopus. Seriously, the thought of eating octopus has never been appealing, although I do enjoy calamari. When Chef Ben told me they remove the tentacles and suction cups in the kitchen, I decided to give it a try.
The presentation of the Octopus was spectacular. I had the black garlic aïoli on the side -it was wonderful. When I cut into my first piece of octopus, I was surprised at how tender it was. Even more surprising was the flavor – it tasted like a delicate piece of crab. I am glad I ordered it without the potatoes and with extra tomatoes and baby fennel.
The blistered tomatoes were so delicious I could have eaten a bowl of them. If I had to change one thing, it would have been for the fennel to be cooked a tiny bit longer – but that is a stretch to find some way to improve an already amazing dish. If you are on a paleo or keto diet, I cannot recommend this dish enough.
All in all, I cannot wait for my next visit to return and write another review about the Enchanted Rose. You can read more about the Enchanted Rose and see photos from Disney Parks Blog here.