Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort recently had a few menu items change for vegan options, so today we’re here with a full review of the Topolino’s Terrace vegan dinner offerings.
Disney’s Riviera Resort is a dedicated Disney Vacation Club Resort, which makes it the second of its kind behind Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. The deluxe hotel pulls its design and inspiration from Europe and the Mediterranean, with both a French and Italian flair.
Topolino’s Terrace is the resort’s signature dining location located on the rooftop of the west wing. The restaurant is open daily for both breakfast and dinner service and offers panoramic views of the resort, the Disney Skyliner, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
Topolino’s Terrace Vegan Dinner Review at Disney’s Riviera Resort
Topolino is the Italian name for Mickey Mouse and the Topolino’s Terrace menu definitely uses Italy as well as France for inspiration.
Topolino’s Terrace Atmosphere
The restaurant itself has an open and airy feel with large picture windows, dark woods and gold accents. We especially loved the chandeliers which mimic the hand made pasta displayed in the entryway.
True to its name, the restaurant offers guests access to an outdoor terrace with a limited amount of lounge seating and a small bar which was open during dinner service only.
The terrace views are unparalleled. You will especially love this area at sunset.
Topolino’s Terrace Vegan Options
Our dining party took dinner in the restaurant’s lounge area. The lounge has a small tapas menu but if you’re looking for full dinner service it’s provided upon request.
We started with two of the restaurant’s signature cocktails. These were recommended by our server when we asked which beverages proved to be most popular during cast member previews
This is the French Rose ($14). It’s a blend of Grey Goose Le Citron vodka, Combier Creme de Pamplemousse Rose Liqueur, raspberry, agave, lemon and soda water. This tasted like pink lemonade and vodka.
The second cocktail we sampled was the Modern Fashioned ($17) made with Knob Creek rye whiskey, Appleton Estate Reserve Blend rum, vanilla bean and bitters.
This cocktail is garnished with a single vegan Luxardo cherry and served over an ice cube with the Riviera Resort logo stamped in it. Très chic!
The complementary bread service here is vegan as-is and comes with olive oil for dipping. This is called Epi Bread and it is meant to resemble a wheat stalk. Each small section was easy to tear off and share with the table.
This new Riviera Resort themed olive oil plate is new, and a nice touch.
From the “Antipasto” section of the menu we ordered the Olives Marinees ($9). This was a selection of olives in olive oil, lemon, garlic, marjoram and bay leaf. The Olives Marinees is the only vegan small plate you’ll find on the abbreviated lounge menu if not requesting full dinner service.
The previous menu featured a “starter” of Beets Barigoule. The plating of this dish was a show stopper. Sadly, it is no longer available.
The base of the dish was a white bean purée. That purée was topped with roasted red beets, beet foam, paper thin slices of garden radish and watercress.
The beets were then covered in what one can only describe as a tent of lemon meringue. The lemon meringue was made from aquafaba and dried into sheets. These sheets, when sampled alone are tart and sweet, but when eaten with the earthy beets, made for the perfect bite. We miss you, Beets Barigoule!
There is, however, another option available to us, previously not on the menu, the Fritto Misto is now added (with a price increase). You’ll receive a unique and delectable assortment of fried vegetables with dipping sauces.
The Fritto Misto ($12) features lightly breaded and fried zucchini, Hen of the Woods mushrooms, and an artichoke, on a bed of a green sauce which has cilantro and what tasted like dill in it with volcanic salt on top. Each bite seemed to be different. I originally thought the other sauce was just figs, but there were actually mustard seeds in there and raisins as well. The combination of sweet and savory was wonderful.
This was so delightful, everyone in our group said we’d come back just for this appetizer.
Previously, the entree selection was the Tarbais Bean Cassoulet ($34).
The cassoulet was presented in an individual Le Creuset casserole dish with tiny roasted heirloom carrots and a loaf of Epi Bread along with a bulb of oven roasted garlic for spreading.
The cassoulet itself was made with whole white beans in a mince of king trumpet mushrooms and plant based sausage topped with a layer of toasted bread crumbs. We couldn’t get enough of this savory offering, but now it is off the menu.
In its place is the new “Petit Farcis” which is a stuffed vegetable dish. Similar to the prior entree, this is a very wintery/harvest type of dish and flavor profile.
The Petit Farcis ($34) is a section of Honeynut squash, stuffed with kale and cashews and a topping of hazelnuts. On the side were Royal Trumpet mushrooms, dressed frisee, pickled mushrooms and plant-based demi-glace.
Truly a unique set of flavors, this dish fulfills the whole foods plant-based agenda with no plant-based meats. Similar to the entree at Toledo in Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort’s Gran Destino Tower, this dish is entirely made from vegetables. I did enjoy the squash, the flavors reminded me of the holidays for sure with the seasonings, but truly each little section had a whole new set of tastes. The frisee seemed out of place, I would’ve loved a side of green beans or some other more substantial accompaniment.
If this combination doesn’t seem your style, you are able to order an off-menu pasta dish of rigatoni with sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and marinara sauce. Just ask your server. We all wanted to try the new menu option, so we will have to return to try this pasta!
The on-menu vegan Dessert is Fruits of the Forest ($14). The basil-blueberry sorbet can also be ordered separately.
A hibiscus cake is topped with black currant mousse and basil-blueberry sorbet. The plate gets a garnish of macerated berries and an edible flower finishes the dish. Prior to the menu change this dessert featured raspberry sorbet so this is a surprising and delightful change.
This dessert is clearly a work of art. Every bite was heavenly. The true star was the sorbet, basil mixed with the tart and sweet blueberry was a treat for the taste buds. *Note: the sorbet came out with a white chocolate disc with the Riviera Resort logo, and we confirmed that this was not vegan.
Dinner at Topolino’s Terrace meets the quality and service level of established Disney signature dining locations such as Jiko, Narcoossee’s, Citricos and California Grill. Service was phenomenal and the entire restaurant ran like a well oiled machine.
I’m not sure how long this current entree will be around, but if the flavors appeal to you, I’d check it out and enjoy the ambiance of this scenic spot.
Annual Passholder and DVC discounts are available.
Topolino’s Terrace is accessible via the Disney Skyliner, motor coach and personal vehicle.
Watch this space for an accompanying video review of the new menu options. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!
LOOKING FOR VEGAN OPTIONS IN THE THEME PARKS, WATER PARKS AND DISNEY SPRINGS?
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LOOKING FOR VEGAN OPTIONS IN THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT HOTELS?
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