Boatwright's Dining Hall — Restaurant in Lake Buena Vista

What would have otherwise been a 5 star review was demoted to 3 stars by lackluster service and overcooked filet medallions. I decided to opt for the chef's Prix Fixe menu tonight which consisted of French Onion Soup (highly recommended!), Crab Cakes (not bad, but would have been refused by anyone from Maryland) , Filet Medallions served over a crawfish mac & cheese with a blackberry demi (more on the filet medallions in a moment... the crawfish Mac & cheese was delicious) and rounded off with a red velvet cheesecake that was a bit of a salvation at the end. I knew it was going to be an interesting experience when the server took over 5 minutes to come to the table to take my drink order. After processing my magic band for my Disney Dining Plan entitlement, she proceeded to explain that I was eligible for a Main, a dessert and a beverage (which I knew already, but it's always a helpful reminder for some people) then she just kind of stared at me blankly and expected me to extrapolate from that that she was ready to take my order. No mention of the Prix Fixe menu which was right in front of me, no attempt to upsell it to me (which at a $14..90 supplement to the dining plan, it's still not a bad deal) nothing... I literally had to pry that information out of her. Then she disappeared and returned with my soda and some crumbly cornbread. After what must have been 5-10 minutes she comes back with not only my soup... but my crab cakes at the same time. So now I am forced to choose which to allow to go cold while I consume the other. (I opted for the crab cakes first, the soup remained palatable ....) after another indeterminate wait, the entree arrived. She dropped it off and promised to return with a steak knife. The Crawfish Mac and Cheese was delicious, if not a bit generic, but the Filet medallions looked about like a couple of charred chicken nuggets. I had ordered steak Medium Rare, and after a couple of minutes of awaiting the return of the steak knife decided to hack at it with the butter knife that still remained along with the bread service. Well, needless to say it was well past medium rare... much closer to medium well. After two bites of what seemed like swallowing sawdust, I pushed it aside and continued on with the Crawfish Mac and Cheese. Thankfully, this was a substantial enough portion that I really wasn't hungry for the steak. Finally the server shows back up... still no steak knife and just looks at me and asked if I was done with my entree.... no "I see you haven't eaten your steak, is there a problem" or anything of the sort... I had to initiate that awkward conversation and explain to her what was plainly obvious that my mid-rare steak was mid-well and dry as a bone.... oh, and wasn't there supposed to have been some kind of demi glaze on it? The only offer I got was a "do you want me to have them prepare you another portion of steak, which I declined as I was fairly well full from the mac and cheese. Usually when there is an incident of this nature, a manager will stop by and check on you... nope nothing... she just popped back over with the cheesecake and plopped it down and asked if I wanted to pay the supplement with the credit card attached to my magic band... slightly shocked at not being offered any kind of compensation for the poorly executed entree, I just resigned myself to a yes, because it is obvious enough that the management of this venue is not versed in the finer points of running a dining establishment and creating a loyal customer base. Thankfully the cheesecake was pretty delicious. While I was eating it, I did notice a manager delivering food at an adjacent table and attempted to get her attention, she looked at me, then just walked away. I think I'll spend my dollars elsewhere...

This, my friends, was one of the best dining experiences my wife and I have had while eating at any of the Walt Disney World restaurants, ever, and that is saying a lot. For the past 30 years, we have eaten at just about every dining location on WDW property, including Disney Springs (formally known as Down Town Disney) locations. Except for Victoria & Albert's and the fancy restaurant on the top floor of the Contemporary Resort, we have visited every other place WDW has to offer. We were Annual Pass members for many years, and then we became Disney cast members during which i was awarded Disney's Partners In Excellence Award. We retired from Disney and are Silver Pass cast members who visit whenever we can. I only say all this because I know what great good Disney Customer Service should look like, and I know what "Great" Disney Customer Service looks like and I must say that our server "Justin" was one of the few Cast Members who goes above and beyond to provide Great Customer Service. I will just let you imagine all the extra effort he put in to provide us with such a great Disney dining experience because I watched him, and he was providing the same great customer service to all the other tables he was serving. I spoke with his manager and expressed our pleasure with his service, personality, and dedication to his profession. Now onto our meal, first to come out, after our drinks and water, was the house Corn Bread, prime rib medium rare, mine was blackened. Mashed potatoes with a little gravy. My wife had the green beans, and I had the collard greens. Now I am Southern all the way, so Collard Greens are not anything new, and I love them, but they had a little Louisiana sharpness to them that was a surprisingly well presented difference. The prime rib was very tender and delicious. The mashed potatoes were good and only enough served to accent the prime rib, the center of the dinner attention. Our dessert was the banana cheese cake. My wife fell in love with it and is now asking if I can find the recipe and fix it at home. You see, I am the one who does most of the cooking in our house. All during our meal, Justin, made several trips checking on us, refilling our water and beverages when needed, but at no time was he ever intrusive or overbearing to serve and please, it was all natural for him. The end of our meal came, and after paying our bill which already included a customary 18 % gratuity because of the cast member discount we were using, I gave him another good tip and thanked him for such excellent service and for going above and beyond to provide that Great Disney Customer Service. Keep up the great job, Justin.

Now guests, please remember to tip you servers and bring a little more out of your wallets when you get exceptional service. And if you are visiting Boatwright's ask to be seated in Justin's section, you will not regret your...

A recent dining experience at Boatwright's Dining Hall in Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside proved to be a delightful experience. From the moment I stepped into this charming establishment, I was greeted by a comforting ambiance that set the tone for a memorable meal. The combination of classic comfort foods and innovative flavors showcased the chef's expertise. With French Onion Soup Au Gratin as a delightful start and the Deep South Shrimp and Grits as the enticing main course.

To begin the culinary exploration, I opted for the timeless classic - French Onion Soup Au Gratin. This dish, often considered the epitome of comfort food, did not disappoint. The rich and flavorful broth was a testament to the chef's skill in balancing savory notes. The melted cheese atop the soup formed a tantalizing blanket that pulled apart with the perfect amount of resistance. Each spoonful was a journey of warmth and familiarity, reminding me of the simple pleasures that comfort food can bring.

As the main course arrived, I was treated to the Deep South Shrimp and Grits. The dish was a harmonious fusion of flavors that celebrated the essence of Southern cuisine. The shrimp, succulent and perfectly cooked, were a testament to the quality of ingredients. The addition of sausage in the cream sauce introduced a delightful kick that added layers of complexity to each bite. The marriage of textures and flavors was a revelation, showcasing the creativity of the culinary team at Boatwright's Dining Hall.

To accompany my meal, I enjoyed the Antioxidant Lemonade, a refreshing and innovative beverage choice. The combination of Van Gogh Acai Blueberry Vodka, Lemonade, and Pomegranate Juice was a burst of fruity and tart flavors. Topped with Sprite, the drink provided a pleasant effervescence that balanced the richness of the meal. It was a testament to the thought put into crafting a comprehensive...