Last Updated on June 29, 2021 by Kimberly Stroh
For years, the restaurant with the best views and food at Walt Disney World were the California Grill on top of the Contemporary Resort. Now, there’s a new restaurant on Disney property that will give them a run for their money. There’s so much to love about the signature dining Topolino’s Terrace dinner menu. The restaurant is located inside the DVC Riviera Resort and, hands-down, arguably the best Italian dining experience at Disney World now.
Topolino’s Terrace Dinner At Riviera Resort
Since this the hot new restaurant on property, you’ll have to snag this difficult dining reservation. We didn’t plan on dining at Topolino’s, but we were lucky enough to grab a last minute opening for dinner. Upon checking in, we were told that Cast Members can see the exact same thing guests do on My Disney Experience – so keep checking and refreshing. You never know when you’ll be lucky enough to grab a canceled reservation.
Dining With A View
In the mornings, guests can enjoy a Topolino’s Terrace character dining breakfast. Then, the restaurant shifts gears for dinner with signature dining that begins at 5PM. My recommendation is to arrive at least 15 – 2o minutes prior to your reservation.
Why arrive early? You can capture beautiful sunset photos from their rooftop deck. The Riviera Resort looks over a lagoon between them and Coronado Springs, with Disney’s Skyliner above.
They also have a bartender on hand for craft cocktails and plenty of lounge areas. Take in the views and capture the sunset while you wait for a table. It’s worth arriving early for. After dinner, you can catch a glimpse of the nighttime shows over Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The views definitely add some romance to your meal as well.
Cocktails Worthy Of Your Instagram Feed
Topolino’s Terrace has an extensive wine list that’s boasting with French and Italian options. They have a sommelier that can assist you with pairing a wine to your meal.
However, I recommend checking out the specialty cocktail menu. Mr. Savvy enjoyed the The Modern Fashioned. This drink features Knob Creek Rye Whiskey, Appleton Estate Reserve Blend Rum, Vanilla Bean, and Bitters. It is priced at $17.00. The coolest part is the branded ice cube! Insta-worthy indeed.
If you’re looking for a lighter option, the French Rose is a refreshing cocktail featuring Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka, Combier Creme de Pamplemousse Rose Liqueur, Raspberry, Agave, Lemon and Soda Water. It is priced at $14.00.
I thoroughly enjoyed this cocktail, however, I found it to be a bit on the weaker side. If you love fruity drinks, you’ll want to experience the French Rose while enjoying the sunset views.
Handmade Pastas, Gourmet Cheese & Desserts That Are Worth It
There are so many tantalizing dishes on the dinner menu – from steaks to seafood – but what’s most notable are the handmade pasta entrees. When you walk into the restaurant, you can’t miss the homemade pastas (in all shapes and colors) hanging from the kitchen area. I feel like that’s when I knew it would be fantastic Italian food.
Every table starts with house-made bread service (which is also what they serve on the brunch menu). It’s paired with several aged olive oils for dipping. One is an Italian olive oil, while one is French.
Topolino’s Terrace has an extensive Antipasto and Starters menu that’s complete Gnocchi, Cheeses, and even seafood options. Unfortunately, we had park plans and didn’t have time to enjoy the appetizers. We’re told that they’re a delicious addition to your dinner and we’ll be checking them out next time.
Since even our waiter recommended the pasta dishes, that’s exactly what we ordered. I enjoyed the Linguine Scampi which was a light sauce with a touch of citrus and accompanied with jumbo Florida shrimp.
My Husband said the Rigatoni (which we’re told is one of the most popular items to order) is a delicious pasta that perfectly holds the chicken sausage.
Lust-Worthy Topolino’s Terrace Dinner Menu Desserts
Dessert was definitely the “icing on the cake” for our meal. As I mentioned previously, we were off to the parks after our reservation. We almost passed on dessert and I’m so glad that the waiter changed our minds. The dessert menu is diverse and decadent.
Guests can pick from a savory cheese board to a refreshing sorbet selection. We split the Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake, which was amazing. It’s a moist chocolate cake with a caramel center that spills out as you cut open the cake. It’s served alongside fresh berries and vanilla bean ice cream for a must-do dessert experience. If you love chocolate, that’s the dessert to order.
Topolino’s Terrace Kids Menu Options
The kid’s entree selections are diverse and cost $10 – $17. They can pick from fresh pastas to chicken, a filet and seafood options. The kids menu really mimics the main dinner menu – they can even choose the fresh catch “Sustainable Fish” of the day. My sons ordered the Rigtoni With Tomato Sauce and the Macaroni & Cheese. There were no arguments from the kids, which I’m calling that a big win for our picky eaters.
Overall, we really enjoyed Topolino’s Terrace for dinner and it was truly a pleasant surprise. It holds up against the other Walt Disney World signature dining options and I’m looking forward to going back again. Disney needed a better Italian dining option outside of Disney Springs and this one fits the bill.