Every time we head over to The Landing or The Marketplace in Disney Springs, it’s impossible to NOT notice the giant boat that sits there in the water. For some reason, however, Paddlefish is not a restaurant that has been high on our date night bucket list or a top priority. Subliminally, the likelihood is because the menu is primarily seafood, but the restaurant offers more than just lobster and crab. After taking a peek at the menu while looking for places to dine on Valentine’s Day, I realized that this was a place we NEEDED to check out. So ~ Valentine’s Day reservations were made for two at Paddlefish!
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Leaving Footprints at Paddlefish
As I noted above, there are various reasons we had likely not given Paddlefish a try. For one, Hubby is not a HUGE seafood fan. Lobster grosses him out and he’s just into many of the various fish options (salmon excluded). Another reason is because my childhood seafood allergy (which was minor and questionable for many years) has progressed to the point where shrimp and other shellfish options make my lips and tongue tingle a little and the sides of my throat feel as if they are trying to kiss each other.
You don’t know how much that saddens me to say that. I LOVE SHRIMP!
It’s not that we weren’t attracted to the venue either. Even before it’s reformation from Fulton’s Crab House and reopen as Paddlefish in 2016, it has stood as a majestic landmark in the Downtown Disney / Disney Springs area for years. I mean, the restaurant is ginormous in stature and I can’t lie ~ it always smells good as we walk by.
It was about time we decided to go aboard and give it a try.
About Paddlefish
I bet you didn’t know this (and if you did, you are a TRUE Disney fan!!). The boat that sits in The Landing actually has a name! Yup! That authentic replica of a 19th century riverboat is called The Empress Lilly, named after Walt Disney’s beloved wife. It was christened in 1977 (I believe on May 1st) and has been home to several different restaurants and lounges over time. In fact, it has even played home to some of the very first Character breakfasts found at Walt Disney World Resort.
Most recently, the boat took on her new culinary resident, changing hands from Fulton’s Crab House to Paddlefish in 2016 with Executive Chef Steve Richard at the helm. Today, they bring in the best seafood from the gulf to the east and west coasts and can boast being the only restaurant in Disney Springs to serve both king and snow crab.
Our Special Valentine’s Date Night
Let me tell you ~ I hate to be late, but time was just not on our side that night. Hubby’s trip home took longer than anticipated (darn I-4 traffic on a Friday AND a holiday), so we were already out of breath when we finally found ourselves in front of the host desk about five minutes past our reservation time. We weren’t too worried about losing our seat, except for the fact that it was Valentine’s Day. We had no idea how crowded it would be.
It took about ten minutes to be seated after checking in, but that gave us some time to catch our breath and take in the surroundings. We had no idea how vast it was inside. I mean ~ we’re not talking one giant dining room. We’re talking three floors of dining space, private rooms, bars and outside terraces. Not to mention, the top deck is the only place in Disney Springs where you can experience rooftop-level, waterfront seating!! More on that in a bit…
Let me introduce all of you to Celina!
We were seated on the second level at a window seat. Our view was decent – we saw water, boats, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, the volcano from The Rainforest Cafe and the back of The Boathouse. The sunset wasn’t spectacular that evening since we had significant cloud cover, but I would assume that this is a great place to dine at sunset.
Our server met us at our table within five minutes of our being seated. Celina was bright, charismatic and engaging right from the get-go. We knew this was going to be a great night! As she introduced herself and we started chatting, we learned that she hails from New England, just like me, and that she moved down to Florida from New Hampshire in 2014. Her mother, to whom she refers as her best friend, came with her and they began their new adventure together. Celina is one of the very few that opened the restaurant in 2016 and have remained since ~ that’s pretty awesome!!! Today, Celina has a two year old son, who has become her world!! She tries hard to arrange her schedule so that she can spend maximum quality time with him, as well as provide him with the best life imaginable.
The Menu Options
We had already taken a quick look at the menu before we arrived. There is certainly enough seafood to go around, including Maine lobster, ceviche and king crab. In addition, there was a nice list of land offerings and side dishes from which to choose. There were honestly so many things I wanted to try!! From fried green tomatoes and every crab-related appetizer I knew would cause a reaction to the prime strip and half chicken with Carolina mop sauce ~ selecting just one may not come easily at first.
The wine list looked robust and there were plenty of maritime-themed cocktails available, too.
To see the menu in full, click here: Paddlefish menu
So, what did we order?
After Celina got the preliminaries out of the way ~ asking about food allergies, dining plan, etc. ~ we placed our order. Since we had already taken a peek at what they offered, we knew exactly what we wanted (believe it or not!). So, Celina took both our drink and entree order and went to the back to get some bread for the table.
BREAD!!!!
Oh, my gosh, people. This was pull-apart bread ~ the kind that reminded me of the dinner rolls my family fought over every Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s. It was served with ~ wait for it ~ brace yourself ~ are you ready…..a cinnamon honey butter!
TO ~ DIE ~ FOR!!!!
Honestly, I could have eaten that all night ~ the bread and butter combination, not just the butter.
Our Libations
While we waited for our entree to arrive (yes, we were sharing again), we sipped on our specialty drinks once delivered. Hubby ordered a Classic Margarita (he had been spooked by a strange flavored margarita recently, so was only interested in what he knew he liked) and I ordered the Southern Sangria.
I had been warned that the Southern Sangria was strong ~ thick on the bourbon. To be honest, though, it wasn’t that bad at all. Maybe I just sipped it too slowly??
Our entree arrives!
For dinner, we decided to share the Rib Eye, their largest piece of meat from the land selection (16 ounces). The rib eye was served on top of tender, herb-roasted potatoes and with a side of house-made steak sauce. To complement the meal, since we were sharing, we also ordered a side of crispy brussel sprouts. These came topped with shaved Parmesan and chunks of ham (OH – EM – GOODNESS).
The brussel sprouts were amazing – nice and warm, perfectly crisped. I can’t believe how hooked I am now on brussel sprouts! Hubby liked them, as well! Yum!
HOWEVER…...
Our rib eye and potatoes were tender, but luke-warm. We tried about two bites each (the meal being split into two separate servings), but we both felt the same way. We were curious if the plate had been waiting a few minutes while the sprouts were finishing up. Needless to say, for the price we were paying, we decided that we needed to flag down Celina and let her know.
Celina must have been in the back taking care of other responsibilities, so Tony, the server “next door (table),” came over to help us. Tony was cordial, attentive and very eager to make sure that our dinner was made to perfection. He offered to take it back and have it recooked for us ~ and we were both appreciative.
In time, Celina returned to our table and apologized for the inconvenience. We told her it wasn’t her fault at all ~ but we just felt that the cost of the meal dictated the need to report it. Within a few minutes, one of the managers also arrived at our table to speak with us and make amends. In the end, we felt the situation was well managed. We received a brand new plate (and yes, it was brand new because I had already placed the steak sauce on my meat) and a complimentary extra set of brussel sprouts. The manager took care of the situation on her end, as well, and we went on to enjoy our “hot,” romantic meal together.
Did We Save Room For Dessert?
This is where I get to brag about a little pixie dust! THIS particular Valentine’s Day was the 25th one Hubby and I had spent together. We started dating again (seriously, I really need to write out that story) in 1996 and we have been together since. It came up in conversation with Celina and she insisted that we save room for dessert. She wanted to celebrate our milestone Valentine’s Day by offering us a complimentary sweet treat.
Awwwwww – THAT was really sweet!!!!
When it came time for dessert, we were almost too full to think we could enjoy it. Hubby is all about chocolate cake and they have a flourless one that looks delectable. However, it would have been too dense to enjoy. Since I am a HUGE crème brûlée fan (have you read my posts from our date night in Canada or at Toledo???), Hubby agreed to the chocolate crème brûlée they offered!
Thanks, Hubby!!!
I will say this, though ~ for those who are crème brûlée fans, this one was delicious. However, the consistency was more like a pudding than a custard. Of course, we still loved and devoured it! Thank you, Celina!!!
The After Dinner Stroll Around The Boat
Before heading out to walk around Disney Springs, we decided to roam around the boat a little. I wanted to see the different dining rooms, check out the view and take a peek at the rooftop lounge. Oh, I am soooo glad we did, too!!
We found active private dining rooms, stunning views of Disney Springs and the surrounding areas, and live entertainment up on the top level! There was a beautiful breeze blowing, which made for a perfect cuddle on the comfortable seats to watch the performers. There is a bar area up there, as well, so we may very well find ourselves just showing up there one night to enjoy some time listening to music with a view. It was fairly populated, so it seems to be a great place to enjoy a date night together! (Hmmm….I should add that to my 30+ romantic Walt Disney World date ideas…)
Our Iconic Culinary Experience Comes To An End
Valentine’s Day ended with us slowly making our way back to our car. On the way, we did make a pit stop over at Sprinkles to pick up a Valentine’s Day treat. Since we “shared” our dessert at Paddlefish, Hubby was craving a cupcake – how could I say no???
Now, we were full, so it was perfect that Sprinkles had these mini cupcakes available with little Valentine’s candies on top. One was chocolate, another vanilla and the final red velvet. Our only complaint was that the candies were EXTREMELY stale. Like – so hard to bite into, I feared breaking a tooth. The cupcakes and frosting were delicious, though.
All in all…
Even though we encountered an issue with our meal, the service was amazing. We could not have asked for a better team to make the situation right. It was a blast getting to know Celina a little bit and we hope we have the chance to see her again after she transitions to an early-in-the-week lunch schedule. While there were families in our dining room, we do think the ambiance was fairly romantic considering it was a holiday evening at one of the busiest destinations in the world. We enjoyed great views, delicious food, awesome company and a little mood music.
I’d say we’d be very interested in doing that again some time!!!
Have you been to Paddlefish?
Have you had the chance to enjoy The Empress Lilly since Paddlefish moved in? If not, I’d recommend it. While it may not be our favorite restaurant on property, we had a great time the night we went. We also look forward to giving the rooftop deck a solo try in the future.
I’d love to hear your experience! Share your Paddlefish story below. If you haven’t been and are looking to make reservations, here’s some info you may want to take down:
Paddlefish Restaurant:
- Located: Disney Springs, The Landing
- Phone: (407) 934-2628
- Price range: $15 to 34.99 (per adult)
- You can also make dining reservations up to 180 days in advance on My Disney Experience.
- They do accept the Disney Dining and Disney Deluxe Dining Plans, as well as Tables in Wonderland. They also offer DVC and AP discounts.
Other important info to know:
- Paddlefish is opened for lunch and dinner. The lounge located on the boat’s rooftop opens at 5 pm (at the time of this post).
- Guests in ECVs or wheelchairs may stay in them if needed or desired.
- This location does not allow for same day lunch or dinner bookings.
- You can even give them a try for Sunday Brunch between the hours of 11:30 to 4 pm. This sounds like something I may want to do in the future, too!!!
Did you know?
Orlando Magazine readers voted Paddlefish “Best Seafood Restaurant” in 2018.
If you’re ready to plan out a Disney vacation of your own – be sure to check out my travel partner, Get Away Today!! They help create magical vacations all over the globe!!
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If you enjoyed this review, be sure to check out some of the other Disney Dining reviews:
- A Review of Narcoossee’s Restaurant: A Perfect Place to Celebrate
- Southern Hospitality Delivered: A Review of Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Kitchen
- Jaleo Brings the Flavor of Spain to Disney Springs
- Storybook Dining at Artist Point Delivers a Fairy Tale Experience
- Dining at the Top of Gran Destino Tower: A Review of Toledo
- Food Allergy Dining at Splitsville: Strike or Gutterball?
- An Early Morning Royal Feast: Breakfast in Cinderella Castle
- Let’s Dine Back in Time: A Review of Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ 50 Prime Time Café
- Morimoto Asia ~ A Bucket List Must for the Foodie in You
- Chicken Guy Opens at Disney Springs!
- Maria & Enzo’s Serves Up Pasta Palooza in Disney Springs!
- The Edison Features Burger Of the Month in Disney Springs
- Our 11 Dates Around World Showcase: Leaving Footprints in Epcot
Amazon Picks For The Romantic Disney Fans
Footprints in Pixie Dust is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for the blog to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com.
We haven’t tried Paddlefish yet, but that Creme Brulee looked delicious! I’m not a huge seafood fan, but maybe we’ll check it out the next time we are in Orlando. Did I see a Hidden Mickey on the Creme Brulee? I hope your night ended up being special, and congratulations on being together 25 years! That’s really amazing!
Oh, my gosh! I’m so embarrassed! You caught the Hidden Mickey before I did! I can’t believe it. LOL!! Great job! Our evening went well and we’re grateful for the service we had. We’ve actually only been together about 24 years, but we started dating in January, so that Valentine’s Day – though we were just dating – still counts. So, yes – 23 1/2 years of marriage, together 24 years total….with 25 Valentine’s Days under our belt. Here’s to many more, right?
Never thought about stopping in there because I’m not a big seafood person but you have a sold me. OK let’s be real the picture of the desert sold me. Lol
🤣🤣 ~ Looks delectable, doesn’t it??? It was very good and they do have a decent selection of land options when it comes to main entrees. I don’t think it would be difficult to find something to enjoy.
Oh my gosh! Way to make me hungry! I have a weakness for bread and that pull apart bread looks awesome but quite frankly the meat looks juicy and the dessert so yummy. Believe it or not I am also in love with those brussel sprouts too! If only I lived closer!
The brussel sprouts were amazing, Cindy!! Oh, my gosh – soooo good. You could always keep this place in the back of your head for the next time you ever come this way. Fortunately, this restaurant is at Disney Springs, so you don’t have to enter a park to dine there!
Disney NEVER disappoints, especially when it comes to great food! We’ll be up that way in March and may just add a stop at Paddlefish! Thanks for sharing more great Disney tips 🙂
My pleasure, Angela!!! Keep an eye out for me while you’re here 😉. I tend to find myself in the parks or at Disney Springs at least once or twice a week – lol!!! Here’s hoping you have a magical trip when you do come this way!!
Looks wonderful. Glad they took care of you. I would love to try this place!
Keep it on that bucket list, Debbie!! I’d love to hear what you think if you ever do get to try it!
That bread really does look amazing. I haven’t been able to eat gluten for several decades, but oh, how I miss that kind of bread. At least I can still have a margarita! 😊Looks like you had a delicious dinner and a nice time!
We did, Ramae. Thank you so much!! I don’t know the last time you were here, but they do have a plethora of gluten-free options these days. I would hope they could find you some amazing alternatives to make you smile 😊💕
Amazing experience! I have to try this place out! Love Disney Springs! It’s a nice way to experience Disney without paying to get in LOL
Right??? I mean, it’s rare to walk away from Disney Springs without having spent some money, but at least there is no entrance fee. LOL!! Love Disney Springs!
ahhhh it’s too early for me to be hungry already 🤣 this place looks really good!
🤣🤣 ~ I didn’t mean to trigger hunger pains! (well, maybe just a little). We had a really good time there. Here’s hoping that, if you give it a try, you do, too!!
We love Disney Springs! We’ve always had the family with us when we’ve visited, though, and my son is extremely allergic to shellfish, so we steer clear of seafood places when he is with us. If the hubby and I ever get the chance to have a date night while we’re in Orlando, we’ll have to try out Paddlefish!
I hear you on food allergies! Our youngest – who is now just about to turn 14 and still has his – used to have an airborne component to his egg and peanut allergy, so I totally get it!!! Here’s hoping you and Hubby get the chance to stop by Paddlefish at some point. (PS – don’t you just love how Disney takes care of food allergy Guests????)
Looks delicious! I haven’t been since it re-opened, but I am taking my husband for his first real Disney World trip in May and this might be a place we check out at Disney Springs!
Oh, yay for Disney trips!! May is a GREAT month to walk through Disney Springs. There are so many beautiful flowers to admire and the weather is perfect!!!
Here’s hoping you have a magical trip!!
what a fun way to spend valentines’ day. you are a disney conossuir
Awww – thanks, Jen!!! My heart does beat Disney tunes, so I do love to share that passion with other who are willing to listen 😊💕.
I haven’t been but I am really wanting seafood now! Looks so yummy!
LOL – I wish I could have enjoyed the seafood ~ so enjoy it for me if and when you get the chance to dine there 😉!! What we had, though, was very good! I loved those crispy brussel sprouts!!!
I rarely head over to Disney Springs – the dessert might change my mind!
It was VERY good!! Sometimes the dessert is all you need to pull you in 😉.
Excellent review. Lots of great information about the menu and the service. We have been to Disney, but have not eaten at Paddlefish, we’ll have to try it soon.
Thanks, Jenny!!! I appreciate the kind words you shared 😊💕. There are so many places to dine on the Resort, but this is one we enjoyed very much! I hope you do, too, should you find yourself there some day!
I love Disney Springs! We haven’t gone to this restaurant yet but it looks like we need to add it to the list for next time. Thanks for the great review!
I love how you said “yet.” 🤣🤣 Thanks for the kind words and I do hope you get the chance to try it out some day.
What an amzing place to visit and have a great meal! The bread really looks amazing and when I eat out…Bread is a most!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
My pleasure, Holly!!! Bread is staple on the table in Hubby’s eyes ~ so he is always happy to see a good basket of carbs sent his way 🤣🤣.
We had my dad’s friends there when he passed. He loved that place!
Awww – so it has special meaning for you, then. That just made my heart melt, Tricia. I’m sorry to hear about your dad, but I’m glad that you have some positive memories of him here on Disney property.
Wow, this just made us hungry! You had us at the cinnamon butter! This is a place we will put on your list to visit when we are at Disney!
Right? Cinnamon butter is ah-mazing ~ especially on that pull apart bread! Oh, my gosh.
I am not a Disney person but this sounds like a place I would enjoy.
That’s the great thing about Disney Springs ~ you don’t have to be a Disney person to enjoy it. There are so many shops and restaurants that are third party venues that don’t give off a Disney vibe…just the Disney quality of service. Don’t count this one out 😉.
We’re a lot like you–Jeff isn’t really into seafood, so we hadn’t really put Paddlefish on our list yet. It’s great to know you can get a good steak, and it’s great that they worked hard to make it right when you weren’t completely satisfied. I’ll keep Paddlefish in the back of my mind, now. And we simply have to go to Sprinkles when we go to Disney Springs. I think it’s a law or something. 🙂
LOL – I love that – it’s a law or something. How funny!! I wasn’t too happy that the candies on top were extremely stale, but the cupcakes themselves were delish!! Hubby was pretty happy with our stop, though.
I love seafood but the hubby doesn’t.
Ah, well, they do have a good handful of land options and the restaurant did not smell “fishy,” so it may very well satisfy the appetites of both a land-lover and a seafood-lover 😉
The Paddlefish looks like an interesting place to eat
We had a good time it was beautiful inside and out. Great service, too!
Sounds like a wonderful date night! We have not been to Disbey Springs yet. But it looks like it will be very difficult to choose a place to eat when we finally fo. 😊
Oh, my goodness. Adrienne, there are sooooo many places to dine at Disney Springs. It’s funny because Hubby is insistent that we try to avoid going some place twice until we know we’ve hit them all! 🤣🤣 We have been….somewhat successful, but there are a FEW places that we have visited more than once.
Disney always delivers, especially with a great meal. I had not heard of this particular venue before, thank you for sharing it!
My pleasure, Suzan!!! If you ever get to Disney Springs, it will be hard to miss if you are between The Marketplace and The Landing. They remodeled it a few years ago and it looks very nice sitting there on the edge of the water.
I love enjoying great places vicariously! This was a great one. Thanks!!!
Awwww – thanks, Karla! Here’s hoping I painted a picture that does the venue justice!!
I have not tried Paddlefish yet! I wanted to when we were in Disney Springs in December, but couldn’t justify the cost at that time. I will have to prioritize it for the next trip!
Oh, wow ~ yeah, that would have been a nice place to dine around the holiday, but I totally get needing to save funds for more important things at that point. Here’s hoping you get the chance to give it a try next trip!!
Sounds like a wonderful experience and I would love to try all their seafood!
I’m a sucker for brussel sprouts and those pictures made them look totally divine. I may have to take a trip just for those. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
My pleasure, Vanessa!! I never really liked brussel sprouts until I moved down here and a friend introduced me to them. Oh, my goodness. Now I can’t get enough of them. Of course, I haven’t braved making them on my own yet (but why when there are so many delicious varieties over at Disney, right? LOL!!)
Looks great! Can’t wait to visit Disney Springs someday.
Every day is one day closer, right? I hope you get the chance to come enjoy Disney Springs soon, Christina!
I have often walked by this restaurant and wondered how it is. Next time I will have to give it a try. It sure does look good.
We had a positive experience, so I would hope everyone else would, too. At the least, now you know you can at head up to the rooftop deck for a quick view, drink and appetizer if you’d like. That’s a great way to just check to see if you like the venue, too.
The prime rib and bread look heavenly.
It looks like such fun and beautiful place to visit!
Oh, my goodness – Disney Springs has so many amazing things and this gigantic boat in the center is just one of the fantastic structures and venues to explore.
What an awesome and fun way to celebrate valentines day!
That looks like such a great date night! It will definitely go on my bucket list for when my husband and I are empty-nesters (which is just over two years away). That seems like a perfect restaurant for us without kids!
What a great experience! The prime rib looks amazing!!
We celebrated my granddaughter’s 21st Birthday at the Paddlefish on August 19th. The food was good; unfortunately we were very disappointed with the operations dealing with two situations. First, it was so difficult to have a conversation. There was a table with two adults and 3 small children (infant and toddlers). They were screaming for over an hour and disrupted the entire room. Management/Staff did nothing to amend the situation. People in the dining room were so annoyed in fact a table of 6 people left after their initial drinks. We placed our order thinking that the children would calm down. For appetizers we ordered one order of Crab Cakes, one order of Lobster Dogs and French Fries with Crabmeat. The service placed the order on the table and we didn’t realize but the service placed a second order of a Crab Cake. We started tasting the appetizers and our waiter hurried to our table and advised us that there was an extra Crab Cake and he removed the dish. I was so annoyed instead of removing the dish he should have honored the mistake and not remove the dish. I wonder if that Crab Cake order was served to another guest. Very poor judgement on management/waiter’s decision to take the dish back. Our experience was not enjoyable and the issues could have been avoidable.
Oh, goodness! Lucille, I am so sorry that your experience was less than magical ~ especially since you were also celebrating a birthday. I agree ~ the server should have honored the order mistake and left you with the extra crab cakes. What a poor choice of actions. They should have also placed that larger family with littles some place a little more family-friendly. Were you able to share this with a manager while you were there? If so, what was their reaction?