Plaza Restaurant Paleo Dinner
On a recent visit to the Magic Kingdom, I scored a same-day reservation for the Plaza Restaurant. I had a wonderful paleo lamb chop lunch at Be Our Guest that day, so I was looking for something a bit lighter for dinner. My Plaza Restaurant paleo dinner was right on target.
The wonderful Chef Marlene came out to speak with me at my table by a window which would allow me to watch fireworks from my seat. If you are dining at the Plaza Restaurant at night, you are free to leave your table and watch from the patio before going back to finish your meal.
One of the things that I love about this Disney restaurant is the diverse menu. You are not locked into a specific theme – such as Italian or French. Instead, you have a wide assortment of interesting meals that you cannot get elsewhere – such as Vegetarian Bangers & Mash and Lobster Fried Green Tomatoes.
Before we get into the allergy menu, I want to show you the regular lunch menu followed by the dinner menu.
Paleo Diet and Gluten-Friendly Options at the Plaza Restaurant
Disney uses them terms allergy-friendly and gluten-friendly when describing their food selections. Of course, if you are gluten-free, then you will look at allergy menu items that specify for gluten/wheat on the menu. One thing I cannot stress enough is not to feel caged in by what you see on the allergy menu. Never hesitate to ask a chef if there is a way to customize any of the other meals to your specifications.
Both the Wedge Salad and Loaded Fries or Chips are safe for people with all but dairy allergies. You could omit the Gorgonzola cheese and ranch dressing and substitute olive oil and vinegar for the wedge salad and have a paleo safe option. Leave on the cheese, and it is fine for those on a keto diet. The loaded fries include melted cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and ranch dressing making it a bit harder to alter.
The Home-Style Meatloaf is gluten-friendly as long as you pass on the garlic mashed potatoes. You can substitute a small salad or seasonal vegetables instead.
The Vegetarian Bangers may contain soy, so they are not suitable for a paleo or keto diet. One thing I want to point out is that all sandwiches come with a choice of vegetables, homemade chips, or French fries. None of these items is suitable for an allergy to soy. You will need to speak with the chef to come up with an appropriate side.
You can get an Angus Chuck Burger on an allergy-friendly bun at the Plaza Restaurant. Paleo dinner – not quite – no buns allowed. My craving for a burger would have to wait for another day. Of course, I probably could have asked to have it wrapped in lettuce, but after having lamb at lunch, more meat was not necessary. Besides, I have a weakness for lobster, and since my daughter was not with me on this trip, I could indulge my shellfish cravings without worrying about her allergy.
Although it was not on the allergy menu, Chef Marlene prepared me a Lobster Cobb Salad. We omitted the Gorgonzola – which I do not like anyway. My Plaza Restaurant paleo dinner consisted of fresh spring lettuce, grape tomatoes, diced avocado, smoked bacon ends, chunks of lobster, a hardboiled egg, and chives. The standard dressing includes mustard, canola oil, red onions, and red wine vinegar. The Grey Poupon mustard does contain sugar, so it was also a no-go. Instead, Chef Marlene prepared a custom dressing for me using extra virgin olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, honey, and red onion. It was good, but next time I would omit the onion – it was a bit overpowering for me as I do not like raw onions.
As you can see in the photo below, the salad was a colorful blend of the various components. The fresh chives really make this dish. I was surprised at how cold the avocado pieces were. After I mentioned that, Chef Marlene told me they freeze the cut avocados. I must remember to do that before they spoil at home in the future.
Just look at those succulent chunks of lobster meat in the photo below. They were as sweet and juicy as they look.
One of the things that surprised me on the menu was that the Fried Green Tomatoes were gluten-friendly. They are also prepared in a fryer that is both gluten and dairy-free. The Kentucky Turkey Hot Brown Sandwich can also be prepared gluten-free using Bob’s Red Mill batter. I am curious about that dish and may take my son or daughter to try it some time.
The Smoked Pork Chop comes premade and pre-seasoned, so I would not recommend it for any food allergies. The Strip Steak is another good choice for dinner as it is prepared fresh to order.
My Plaza Restaurant paleo dinner was derailed by dessert. I am a sucker for good bread pudding, and after being so good all day, I decided to splurge. Yes, I regretted it later that night as eating gluten just makes me feel blah and tired. But, oh, my taste buds were happy. The only way I like bread pudding is if it is moist and gooey – you can see in the photo below that it is. This dish is undoubtedly one of my top-five cheat-worthy desserts throughout all Walt Disney World. Just do not try to eat it all yourself.
All-in-all, my Plaza Restaurant paleo dinner was a complete success and capped off with amazing fireworks.