Review: A Steak Salad Lunch at The Boathouse at Disney Springs

It’s not every day that one gets to enjoy a simple lunch with stunning views at Disney Springs. But on this occasion, I did just that at The Boathouse. For this review, I’ll share my experience enjoying lunch, which was primarly a steak salad with a side of those delicious, buttery rolls that everyone who’s ever eaten here recalls when you mention the restaurant.

I’ll be the first to admit that I have a few restaurants that I frequent at Disney Springs, especially when I’m traveling alone. In fact, lately I’ve eaten at the Polite Pig and Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ several times. You may remember that I ordered the Caesar Salad with Smoked Salmon to go from the Polite Pig just a few months back. I enjoyed that meal by the pool at Port Orleans French Quarter during a stay there.

Then, my friend Jill and I walked over from Saratoga Springs one Saturday morning back in the Fall and had a fabulous brunch at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming. So for this visit, I felt I should try something different. I had no intentions of dining at The Boathouse, but when I walked by it just felt right. It was a pleasant afternoon with temperatures in the 70s, so I knew I could probably dine outside if they had a table available. Given it was almost 2:00 p.m., the majority of the lunch crowd had cleared, and I was able to get a walk-up for one with no wait.

The Boathouse Restaurant is located in the Landing section of Disney Springs. The waterfront restaurant can be easily seen from the water taxis that travel to and from the Disney Springs Area Resorts. It’s important to note that The Boathouse is a signature dining location. If you’re using the Disney Dining Plan, a meal here will cost you two table service credits.

Several tables and chairs were available on the covered deck. As you can probably tell from the picture below, it was a gorgeous afternoon.

Over the years, we’ve eaten at The Boathouse on several occasions. Our previous review is available here. As I looked over the menu, I already knew that I wanted the Filet Mignon Sliders, which are a pretty popular dish that’s offered in the Launch section of the menu. Launch standing for appetizers.

Before I was even greeted by a server, a table runner dropped off a couple of rolls along with a glass of ice water. Now, I had a dilemma. Do I eat the rolls and then order the sliders, which come with tender pieces of filet mignon on these exact same kind of rolls? Or do I enjoy the rolls and order something else? I returned to the menu.

This is how I ended up ordering the classic Caesar Salad which comes with traditional dressing, Parmesan cheese, and fresh croutons. The salad is a modest $11.00 with the option to add several enhancements like New York Strip, Faroe Islands Salmon, grilled shrimp, or grilled chicken. I decided to go with the 5 oz New York Strip for an additional $11.00. Here is a photo of the salad.

This ended up being a wonderful option, especially since I had a chance to enjoy the rolls while I waited. I felt like if I had ordered the sliders, I would have ended up with a total of five rolls. Even though they are a guilty pleasure, I had a lot to do this afternoon and didn’t want to feel weighed down by having too may carbs.

Ultimately, I had a pleasant and somewhat light lunch. The steak was cooked perfectly and I find that it’s hard to go wrong with a Caesar Salad. You can’t beat the views either. That’s Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort sitting across the water. All through the meal, water taxis would pass by, taking guests to and from the venue.

Final Thoughts

While it’s already been said, I want to reiterate that this was an enjoyable and laid back lunch. As you can probably imagine, it takes a good deal of planning to run a website like this. When it comes to my lifestyle, I hate to feel rushed or like I have to be somewhere.

So I want to make sure you’re aware that if this had been a busy evening at Disney Springs, it would have been difficult to secure a walk-up or it would have been a long wait. That goes for almost every restaurant at the venue. So if you can take advantage of downtimes like mid-afternoon or weekday lunchs during less busy seasons, you’ll do well.

Remember, if you’re visiting for dinner, especially Thursdays through Sunday evenings, you 100% want a dining reservation if at all possible. We use OpenTable exclusively for securing reservations at Disney Springs.

Lastly, the Boathouse Restaurant ranks high on our list of best restaurants at Disney Springs. If you’re looking for steak, seafood, or buttery rolls, it’s a great option. For more on dining, see our entire list of Disney World Restaurant Reviews.

In the Comments

What do you think? Have you ever enjoyed a meal at The Boathouse? Let us know in the comments below.