I spent $120 for a solo meal at Topolino’s Terrace, and the expensive Disney World spot is my new favorite signature restaurant

I loved my dining experience at Topolino’s Terrace at Disney World. Carly Caramanna I ate dinner at Topolino’s Terrace, one of Disney World’s newest signature restaurants. The beautiful pasta-themed decor and deliciously tender filet mignon impressed me.

On a solo dinner, I spent $120 and found the food, service, and atmosphere to be outstanding. Topolino’s Terrace: Flavors of the Riviera is one of the newest restaurants at Disney World. Topolino’s Terrace opened in 2019.

Carly CaramannaTopolino’s Terrace: Flavors of the Riviera, which opened in 2019, is one of the newer restaurants at Walt Disney World. It’s one of the property’s Disney signature table-service experiences, which means it has an upscale setting, elevated food, and a dress code requiring “clean” and “neat” clothes. The menu includes many French and Italian inspirations so options lean heavily toward seafood, meat, and handmade pasta.

I’d heard Topolino’s Terrace is one of the most difficult reservations to land. I booked my table at Topolino’s Terrace a day in advance. Carly CaramannaI’ve heard Topolino’s Terrace is one of the most difficult reservations to land at Disney World, though guests can book a table up to 60 days in advance.

The restaurant also requires guests to cancel at least a day in advance or pay a fee. I was able to book a table a day ahead of my visit, which I think was the best way to snag a last-minute reservation at a popular location. It’s located at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

I had to go into the resort to get to Topolino’s Terrace. Carly CaramannaDisney’s Riviera Resort is described as a luxurious hotel with European and Mediterranean influences. Guests don’t need theme-park admission in order to visit and the restaurant is open nightly for dinner and each morning for a character breakfast.

The sprawling resort includes a relaxing pool and gorgeous murals depicting iconic scenes from Disney films like “Peter Pan. ” I thought the restaurant was stunning. Artwork from movies like “Tangled” lined the walls of the restaurant.

Carly CaramannaTopolino Terrace’s atmosphere depicts modern elegance but still feels welcoming. According to Disney World’s website, the attention to detail in the colors and textures is inspired by cliffside restaurants on the Italian and French Rivieras. Large windows offer sweeping views of nearby attractions and fireworks shows.

Though children are allowed, I thought Topolino’s Terrace felt more adult than most restaurants on the property, making it the ideal spot for a romantic meal or trip with friends. There are plenty of Disney touches. Mickey Mouse was present in a lot of the decor.

Carly CaramannaUpscale-feeling Disney touches, including a gorgeous ceiling installment shaped like a Mickey head, are placed throughout the restaurant. Mickey artwork inspired by different countries’ versions of the character lined the entrance. “Topolino” is also a nod to Mickey’s name in Italian.

The pasta theme isn’t just on the menu. Topolino’s Terrace is filled with pasta-themed decor. Carly CaramannaWhen I entered the restaurant, one of the first things I spotted was a giant glass case containing different varieties of pasta.

I also loved the restaurant’s stunning gold chandelier, which mimicked the shape of pasta. Topolino’s Terrace features an open kitchen. The open-air kitchen seemed like the focal point at Topolino’s Terrace.

Carly CaramannaAn open-air kitchen was the centerpiece of the restaurant. This unique feature gave guests a first-hand view of the cooks working and the wood-burning grill. The rooftop offers unparalleled views.

Dinner guests have a great view of Disney World’s Riviera Resort. Carly CaramannaTopolino’s Terrace is located on the resort’s rooftop so I think guests have some of the best views in all of Walt Disney World, including fireworks from Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can also see popular attractions like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

This outdoor patio is only available to dinner guests. I started my meal with a martini. My martini was delicious.

Carly CaramannaAfter being seated at a table in the center of the restaurant with a stunning view, I began my meal with a $17 martini. The somewhat light drink was delicious and perfect for accompanying a heavy meal. Topolino’s Terrace also offered a selection of wine sourced from the Mediterranean coast.

As I was scoping out the menu, I was served complimentary bread. The bread seemed very fresh and was baguette-like, with a crunchy exterior and pillowy inside. It’s made in-house using a French recipe and served alongside extra-virgin olive oil.

I tried an escargot en gougères appetizer. The dish was decadent and one of the best takes on escargot I’ve ever had. Carly CaramannaTopolino’s Terrace offers a diverse appetizer menu including slow-roasted octopus, gnocchi, and ricotta with tomato.

I opted for the escargot en gougères ($17) which was described as a savory pate a choux with butter, garlic, lemon, and parsley. The gougères is a type of savory puff pastry made with choux dough. The escargot en gougères was served out of the shell and topped with a wonderfully flaky pastry topping.

It was packed with flavor from the rich butter, crunchy salted topper, and tang of lemon. There was plenty of sauce to dip pieces of bread in. At the price point, I thought it was a great value and easily shareable.

 For my entrée, I tried the filet mignon. The steak was incredibly tender and flavorful. Carly CaramannaEntrées ranged from hand-crafted pasta, like the popular chicken rigatoni, to lighter fare, like a classic sole served with sea beans, asparagus, and capers.

But after a long day in the parks, I craved something heartier. I opted for the filet mignon ($54) prepared with potato pavé, asparagus, Bordelaise sauce, and a shallot vinaigrette. The dish arrived a perfect medium rare, just as ordered, and was plated beautifully so the steak was the star of the flight.

It was incredibly flavorful and had what seemed like high-quality meat so tender, I hardly needed to use my knife. Compared to other restaurants on the property known for their steaks, like California Grill and Le Cellier Steakhouse, I thought this meal was far superior.  Some items on Topolino’s Terrace menu change based on the season.

I ended my meal with the resort’s signature coffee. I grabbed my coffee to-go. Carly CaramannaAfter a very filling dish, I finished my meal with Topolino Terrace’s press-pot Riviera-Resort blend created by Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company.

Available exclusively at the resort, it includes 100% Arabica Beans from Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Costa Rica. Though it’s available in the restaurant, I grabbed mine to-go from the resort’s nearby Le Petit Café. Though I spent over $100, I thought Topolino’s Terrace was worth every penny.

I had a gorgeous view of nearby attractions from my table. Carly CaramannaAs a Walt Disney World annual pass holder, I received a 10% discount on my food. With tax and a tip, I spent $120 on my dinner.

The incredibly well-paced meal was one of the best I’ve ever had and Topolino’s Terrace is now my favorite signature restaurant at Disney World. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was fancy, yet approachable. Though it was an expensive meal, I believe the quality of the ingredients and execution match the price point.

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