Orlando’s Walt Disney World Resort has recently got its very own Michelin-starred restaurant. Victoria and Albert’s, which has been around at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa since 1988, was awarded its Michelin star on 18 April, making history as the first ever restaurant owned and operated by a theme park to do so.
Victoria and Albert’s is located just a stone’s throw away from the entrance of the resort and is without doubt the most raved-about culinary jewel of the park. However, despite being located inside Walt Disney World, the restaurant comes with a few remarkable traits.
Firstly, it doesn’t allow children under the age of 10 to enter the premises. Secondly, restaurant-goers are supposed to dress according to a strict dress code, which is defined as follows: “guests are expected to dress accordingly in semi-formal/formal attire that respects the restaurant’s elegant and opulent aesthetic.” And thirdly, fixed-price menus start at $295 per person, while wine pairings are offered from $115 – the wine menu including over 300 options. According to Michelin, however, those are well-worth the effort.
Everybody on our team earned this Star, from our stewards to our culinarians to our pastry chefs, and we hope to inspire future generations of culinary professionals to follow their dreams.
Victoria and Albert’s Chef Matthew Sowers
“Nestled within Disney’s crown jewel, the Grand Floridian Resort, this restaurant is by no means an easy reservation, but the reward is a kind of magic rarely seen these days. The setting is intimate, and the pacing is that of a leisurely, three-hour waltz orchestrated by a gracious brigade of veteran servers”, the culinary guide writes. “Chef Matthew Sowers cooks with contemporary verve and draws on influences spanning from Asia to the Nordics. Think delicate tarts set with New Zealand langoustine, striking ‘sandwiches’ made with venison carpaccio and red cabbage, and bold sauces like cherry-cola bordelaise. Other details like water lists, an ornate coffee and tea service, and a serious wine program further impress.”
As the experience is highly sought after, reservations are mandatory. Moreover, cancellations within 5 days of the reservations are still charged a $100-per-person fee, while cancellations made within 24 hours are charged full price.
