Visiting Disney's Coronado Springs - Spring 2020
By: Leslie Dunbar
Upon our arrival to Coronado Springs and the newly designed Gran Destino Tower, our agents were met with an upscale and glitzy exterior.
Once inside we felt like we were at a swanky Vegas style hotel with enough restraint to be extravagant without being tacky. We were excited to head to the top floor/rooftop to get to our dinner reservations at Toledo, a recently re-imagined Spanish style tapas restaurant.
Once on the top floor we were greeted with the sounds of dishes and glasses clanking and quiet conversation. We made ourselves at home in the Dahlia Lounge while we waited for our table to be ready across the hall in Toledo.
Dahlia lounge has so many choices for specialty drinks and such a sumptuous menu, we half considered just staying there, especially considering our view. Some of the fireworks shows were just getting ready to start and we had a view of all of the parks from here. It was breathtaking!
The décor throughout the entire resort is meant to evoke the feel of 1930s avant garde and there are quite a few nods to surrealism too. Given the Spanish influence in the food, it’s no surprise that the reference to Dali shows up here and there.
But alas, it was time for dinner. We were seated, thanks to our fantastic agency leaders, in a private room with a view of the parks as well. Everything was shiny and new and we felt like we were being pampered here on top of the <Disney> World!
What a beautiful ambiance as we walked through to get to our special room.
Look at all of those charcuterie boards! And that’s the kitchen, back there, right on stage.
The menu did not disappoint. As a matter of fact, we found ourselves looking up pictures of the dishes in order to help us decide because so many things sounded tempting.
Someone ordered that Pan con Tomate tomato bread and let me tell you, that was one of the best examples of “umami” that I have experienced. As a matter of fact, the dish was savory, sweet, salty, butter, crispy, and delicate all at the same time. I’m trying to replicate it at home to no avail. You may balk at spending money on bread with tomatoes but this dish is divine.
I don’t believe that anyone ordered from this page but the fig and cheese combo really appeal.
One of us ordered the charred octopus and said it was sublime. I’m not a fan of octopus myself, so I can’t give the specifics but it’s a beautiful dish nonetheless.
Then the cheese board with honey and lavender tickled all of our senses. As a die-hard Earl Grey fan, I can really approve of this newer tendency to mix floral with more familiar flavors. The lavender is the perfect segue way between the salty cheese and the sweet honey.
No choices from this page tonight but we heard moaning from cheese/meat laden boards at the tables we passed on our way to our table so I’m assuming they are fantastic.
Speaking of moaning, a few of us ordered adult style beverages. I took it the easy way out with something from the wine list but others were creative in their choices, since the menu offered such interesting combos!
Here’s that specialty Manhattan… Top shelf stuff here!
And of course there are “zero proof” cocktails to keep those who don’t drink alcohol happy with the signature Disney creativity too.
Next up were the entrees. So much to choose from! The meal choices included a few things that were friendly to both vegetarians and more strict vegans, including a reportedly delightful plant based “seafood” that had flavors and textures similar to familiar food with faces from the sea.
Then there was this masterpiece… The non plant based seafood dish. This was grouper and who doesn’t love grouper?! Well, except for the plant based people. Anyway, this grouper was cooked with such delicacy that I was worried that it may crumble when I broke into it. It was flaky and tender and moist (sorry, y’all!) and some of the best fish I have eaten. Get y’all some of this here fish!
It was my understanding that the other dishes folks got did not disappoint! This is the hanger steak that a couple of the agents ordered. Nothing but oohs and ahhs from them either!
Apparently this sauce was something salty and creamy that brought everything together.
Others got this Manhattan steak that is sauced with a sherry vinaigrette that can make your knees buckle. As long as I collapsed into more of that tomato bread, I wouldn’t even mind.
All of this was served in this lovely private room. I’ve heard the rooms like this (there are 3 there) are often used for marriage proposals. Can you imagine a marriage proposal in this room with that view while the fireworks are going? What a great beginning for a couple’s happily ever after!
All in all, Toledo is well worth it. I mean, Disney restaurant destinations are not priced for the faint of heart. It’s not meant to be inexpensive. The effort into the ambiance and décor makes this an experience and not just a meal. Entertainment, food, drink, and add in lovely company and you have an evening to remember, Disney style!
- Leslie Dunbar - Feb. 2020