Restaurant Review: You Must Eat at The Boathouse

by Ray Keating

Review/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 10, 2018

Disney Springs at Walt Disney World is jam packed with fine entertainment, dining, shopping and drinking options. On the restaurant front, The Boathouse, which opened in the spring of 2015, stands out as a “must eat” establishment.

The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu options, while providing top-notch service.

The location is ideal, with large windows offering most diners views of the water and assorted boats, including amphicars that drive back and forth between the dock and the water.

But in the end, restaurants rise or fall with the food, and The Boathouse reaches great heights.

The menu is broad and impressive. From the Raw Bar, our party enjoyed the Boathouse Lobster Cocktail, a half chilled 1.5 pound lobster that ranked as some of the freshest lobster I’ve ever had. And the Firecracker Shrimp appetizer had a bit of a kick without losing the taste of the shrimp. Future visits, by the way, will include the Oysters on a Half Shell, the Maine Lobster Bisque, Yellowfin Tuna Poke, and Steamed Mussels in Cioppino Broth.

It also must be mentioned that the dinner rolls are delicious – to the point that it’s easy to envision eating so many that you’d ruin your appetite for the rest of the meal, to your mother’s chagrin.

My main course was Caribbean Mahi-Mahi. It was done to perfection, and rich in flavor. With such an impressive menu, regret can sneak up on a diner. It’s easy to think, “Oh, what I selected was fine, but maybe I should have had something else.” That never crossed my mind as I savored each forkful.

And the landlubber in the group thoroughly enjoyed the FBA State Champion 2017 Pulled Pork Sandwich. Indeed, The Boathouse is not just about seafood, but also a variety of land-based offerings, including highly praised steaks and burgers.

The list of main-course options for my future visits turns out to be long, including the Broiled Wild Caught Swordfish Steak, Coriander Seared Ahi Tuna, Cedar Planked Norwegian Salmon, Korean Style BBQ Fish Tacos, the Shrimp & Andouille Mac ‘N Cheese, and, well, so much more.

We didn’t have dessert, but the Key Lime Pie in a Mason Jar tops my list for the next reservation.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the cocktails menu is impressive as well. I chose the Coconut Mojito, which turned out to be a delicious selection that fit the atmosphere and the hot day.

The Boathouse now ranks among my favorite restaurants, and not just in Walt Disney World, but among restaurants I’ve experienced across the nation.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels, with the two latest books being Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel and Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story. He can be contacted at raykeating@keatingreports.com.