Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa welcomes Guests into the elegance and charm of the Victorian era with opulent theming and details that are found throughout the sprawling grounds and massive lobby. Guests love to stay at the popular Disney Resort and many more visit every day thanks to its close proximity to the Magic Kingdom and easy access on the monorail line.
One of the highlights of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are the many different dining options found there, with multiple quick service and table service options available for every meal period. Citricos is a fantastic table service restaurant that is open for dinner each night that continues the Victorian charm of the Disney Resort and pairs it with an excellent menu.
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Citricos can be found on the second floor of the main lobby building at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, conveniently just steps away from many other amenities. Reopening in early 2021, Citricos underwent a re-theming and opened again with a bright and airy interior that pays tribute to Mary Poppins Returns with wonderful small details and an upscale feel.
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The main dining room of Citricos is bright and airy thanks to large windows that let in plenty of natural light and look out onto the stunning gardens and other buildings at Disney’s Grand Floridian. Furthering the Victorian charm are vaulted ceilings with intricate molding, large orb chandeliers, multiple floral patterns, a cheerful green carpeting, and bright pops of different colors on the fabric of different chairs. All of the design elements come together to create a cheerful, yet elegant atmosphere that Guests love.
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The Mary Poppins Returns theme is subtle, yet found all around for those who take the time to look for the small details. Some unique details that can be spotted are several paintings of Cherry Tree Lane where the Banks family resides, small golden bids, Mary Poppins’ coat rack with her carpet bag and umbrella, and floral prints that are reminiscent of some of the costuming from the film.
A great way to begin any meal at Citricos is with a delicious drink, and there are plenty of wonderful options to choose from including specialty “zero-proof” cocktails like the London Dry Juniper Seltzer, Old Fashioned Orange Soda Float, and Sparkling Grapefruit Soda. Guests will also adore the Purple Penguin which features house made seltzer combined with pineapple, peach, lemon, lavender, and grenadine for a beautiful color and subtle nod to the Jolly Holiday scene.
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In addition to the non-alcoholic options, Guests dining at Citricos can also indulge in wine, beer, cider, and specialty cocktails prepared at a stunning curved bar that looks out at the main dining area. Some wonderful cocktails to enjoy include the Cucumber Vodka Martini, Agridolce, Orange Blossom Marini, Amaro Grapefruit Spritz, Passion Margarita, 1806 Old Fashioned, and 212 Manhattan.
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The menu at Citricos was created by Chef Andres Mendoza and features classic Florida cuisine infused with flavors and ingredients that are popular in the Mediterranean. Guests can begin their dinners with a selection of appetizers including the Citricos House Salad featuring spring mix, oregano vinaigrette, preserved kohlrabi, olives, and pecorino or the beloved Strawberry Salad which tops frisee lettuce with chamomile infused goat cheese, bacon vinaigrette, and spiced sunflower seeds.
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More unique flavors can be found in the appetizers at Citricos like the Citrus-cured Hamachi which is served with a passion fruit nuoc cham, compressed star fruit, pasilla oil, and blood orange puffed tapioca for a beautiful and bright presentation. Guests also can enjoy the hearty Smoked Duck Breast served with tagliatelle pasta, celeriac puree, and duck confit or the Berkshire Pork Belly with a boniato and plantain croquette, salsa verde, and jimica.
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A lighter appetizer option at Citricos is the Sweet Corn Bisque which is garnished with pickled fennel, popcorn, and fennel oil giving it a much needed crunch and slight licorice flavor to balance the sweetness of the corn. The final appetizer is the plant-based Wild Mushrooms Arancini which is bursting with flavor from truffle oil, watercress, and champagne vinaigrette.
Moving on to the entrée options at Citricos, Guests have several options to choose from including a few indulgent seafood-based items that are brimming with flavor. The Butter-poached Florida Cobia cooks a local favorite to perfection and serves it with mashed fingerling potatoes, grilled asparagus, local mushrooms, and a grapefruit buerre blanc for the perfect balance of tart, fresh, and savory. Seafood lovers can also order the Domestic Tilefish which is accompanied by Jupiter Rice chorizo “risotto,” Key West pink shrimp, and confit tomatoes.
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Heartier steak options are also available for dinner at Citricos and each features a perfectly cooked cut served with a potato puree, broccolini, cipollini, and bordelaise for an elevated steakhouse feel. Guests can choose between the Oak-grilled Filet Mignon or the Oak-grilled 12-oz Prime New York Strip, but there is absolutely no wrong choice as both are fantastic!
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A unique meat option that combines savory and fruity is the Guava Barbecued Short Ribs which are served on a bed of aged cheddar creamy grits with a side of roasted poblano curtido slaw and Brussels sprouts. The final meat option available at Citricos is the Roulade of Chicken which features a beautiful presentation with braised kale, corn cake, romesco sauce, and roasted turnips.
Guests who follow a plant-based diet can also enjoy an entrée option at Citricos that feaures a wonderful depth of flavors with fresh and flavorful ingredients. The House Made Rigatoni features a Bolognese sauce, seasonal vegetables, roasted hen of the woods mushrooms, and an “egg yolk” on top for a meal that tastes as good as its presentation.
Since Citricos is a signature dining experience, Guests can opt to further enhance their wonderful meals with the addition of Grilled Marble Potatoes with a roasted tomato aioli, shaved serrano ham, and manchego or plant-based Smoked Cauliflower with green curry, chili crunch, and citrus crème faiche. The most indulgent enhancement by far is the Truffle Macaroni & Cheese which tops house-made gnocchetti with summer black truffles, sottocenere al tartufo, and tarragon for creamy, intense flavor in every single bite.
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While Guests might be completely stuffed after appetizers, entrées, and enhancements at Citricos, they absolutely have to save room for dessert with several options that are wonderfully full of flavor. The popular Chocolate Torte looks like a work of art with chocolate financier, dark chocolate ganache, morello cherries for an added tartness, and vanilla mascarpone cream and the Blackberry Tartelette also features a tart undertone with a lemon Bavarian and blackberry mousse accompanied by glacage and candied violet.
Guests looking for a more traditional flavor profile in a dessert at Citricos can try the Apple Rose which combines seasonal apples, marzipan, raspberry jam, and frozen coconut milk and served warm in an intricate shape that looks like the petals of a rose. The final dessert option is the Orange Blossom Flan which features bright citrus flavors with blood orange gelee, orange-scented shortbread, and orange blossom honey-drizzled fruit.
Citricos is a truly unique and wonderful table service restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa that features the perfect combination of upscale Victorian charm and elegance, subtle Mary Poppins Returns theming, and wonderful menu items. Guests should absolutely plan on enjoying dinner at Citricos on any night at the Walt Disney World Resort and can end their experience with a walk around the Disney Resort’s beautiful grounds!