Discover a delightful gluten-free dining experience at Frontera Cocina, Disney’s culinary gem. Review highlights from March 15, 2025.
Exploring Delicious Gluten-Free Options at Disney Parks
In a recent visit to Frontera Cocina at Disney Springs, Michele and Arlene explored the offerings of this Mexican restaurant by renowned chef Rick Bayless. Their previous experience in 2021 was less than favorable, prompting a return to sample the brunch menu and evaluate if improvements had been made. This restaurant is located in Walt Disney World, making it a noteworthy stop for those seeking diverse dining options within the park.
While Michele is not celiac, she does experience adverse reactions to gluten, which adds an important perspective to the dining experience. This aspect is particularly relevant for those who might have similar sensitivities and are looking for safe dining choices. The review aims to provide insights into the menu and overall experience at Frontera Cocina, helping potential diners make informed decisions during their visit to Disney Springs.
Magic on a Plate: Savoring Gluten-Free Delights at Disney’s Culinary Wonderland
Here we are at our lunch location for today. It is Rick Bais’ Fonta Cosina. Uh I have eaten here once and enjoyed it. I ate here a second time and was very disappointed. That video can be found up here. Um we are hoping that this time will be better. I’m going to change out some of the things I get. Lori, who’s a huge Rick Bless fan, and Flame and.
Myself all went here together and we were really disappointed. Um it was everything was so overly salted and it was it was just unpleasant. So, we’re giving it another try because I know a lot of people love it and there are a lot of gluten-free safe options here. So, uh our reservation is in 12 minutes. We’re going to look around for a moment.
And then we’re going to get ready to go. So, we have ordered um we are sharing the half and half, which is a pumpkin seed hummus and guacamole. So, it’s a kind of chips and dip. We’re also getting the chicken floutas. Yes, you heard me, floutas that are gluten-free. Uh the fryers are separated. The corn tortillas are separated, so you can.
Order safely here. And just about everything on the menu is safe. Um, she’s getting the chile chilles. I am getting the hue rancheros cuz it’s brunch time. So, we’re going to try the brunch since I’ve been with her other meals. You can also get the tacos. Everything you saw on the menu, all these pictures I’m showing you right.
Now. Um, you can get any of these things. Now, I’m also that they’ve got a non-alcoholic habiscus iced tea. I’m going to try. No refills on this one. It’s one of the ones they make. Uh, so we’re going to get that. Uh, did you get a beverage? You just got regular coffee. She did coffee. Um, and hopefully we did not order too much food because we’re.
Going to Animal Kingdom next. We’ll see. Um, certain things might last and we might snack on it later while we’re out in Animal Kingdom. Who knows? That is what we have ordered. Uh, the food will get here shortly and we’ll share it when it gets here. So, we’re going to try to drink again. And that is a sweet habiscus iced.
Tea. It’s got an interesting after flavor. And it’s I’m not sure what it is, but it’s very cool. All right, we have hot food here. So, I’m going to start with the hot food. We have flounces picture goes right here. Got a crema on it. It’s got a haka stuff. I’m going to put some Did you take pictures? Yes, I did.
I’m very fast. I’m not a family friendly vlog. Okay. I’m going to try the flattas. Wow. Um, definitely get the cheesiness and it’s like a very finely kind of cooked up chicken. It’s nice. It’s not too spicy. You have to add the salsa, I think, to give it that kick. Hello.
This is what I expect from my Rick Ba vegetable. It’s not super spicy. The green salsa has a sourness to it. It’s creamy. It’s soft inside. The right amount of saltiness. Not overly salty. This is really nice. This is nice. Let me get a try this one. My.
Experience with the verde sauce is that the heat builds. Yeah. The first bites aren’t hot that much, but as you eat it Mhm. it will build. Here we go. Definitely more savory than spicy. Mhm. I’m not sure what whether it’s I guess it’s pork chicken and.
Beans and the salsa definitely adds to it a little more of that in there. But yeah, it’s good. Yeah, I like the way they made it. It’s It’s not heavily fried, so it’s not greasy. The the floutas are the size of little corn tortillas, so they’re very short flas. You get three of them. Um I think it was 15. So it is a little bit.
Pricey, but the flavor is really nice. And to get a gluten-free fla, I’m sorry. I’ll pay it. I will. All right. Um the next item we have is the um half and half, which is the pumpkin seed hummus, the guacamole, and then they have a red and a green salsa, chips, hikama, and uh cucumbers. I’m just going.
To try the guacamole first. Also covered with pumpkin seeds. A little heavy on the salt. Very heavy on the salt, but I’m curious. Hold on a second. The red salsa is very smoky. Definitely has a burn. definitely has firm. All right, now we’re going to try the.
Pumpkin seed hummus. Grainy. You’re used to hummus being very smooth and sweet. You won’t got that. But a really nice flavor though. It’s um it’s a little bit sweet, bit sour, and it’s got the warmth at the end.
From the cheese. That’s really nice. And then you get the choice of the chips, the hikima, or the um cucumber to dip it in. But wow, that red sauce is still burning. Yeah, I’ve got some color burn. There’s no tomatoes in it, which I’ve seen done and then not done. And yeah, it’s it’s got a.
Definite a little heavy on the salsa. Yeah. Otherwise, it’s not bad. You just can’t really taste the avocado for the salt. Look, I mean, you get it, but it’s not. So, now Yep. It’s the avocado is like an aftertaste. Yeah.
The consistency is weird, but I like the taste. The flavor is really nice. Yeah, flavor is very nice. They probably could have round the the pumpkin seeds a little more. Yeah. It’s not overly salty. No. No. No. It’s very nice. Yeah. All right. So, do you want to try your chili chilles?.
Okay. They It’s got a fried egg on it. Yep. And I did ask for the yolk to be more runny and it’s not. Well, they they might have taken it away and brought it back. I I think that’s what happened. But it’s pretty. Mhm. It’s not very spicy at all. No.
Um, it’s good. It’s I’m just not quite sure how I feel about it yet. Okay. Okay. Now, I’m going to try the pepperos. Um, again, picture good right here. You’ve got the eggs. You’ve got the tortilla and the beans underneath. So they’re not fried tortillas like they’re not a tostada. They’re softer.
Tortillas. Got a nice salad on the side which I’m kind of excited about. Very finely chopped jalapenos all over the place. So let’s give it a taste. Ah, come on. We waited a little bit but not that much. The top of this is cold. So, I guarantee you they brought us back.
The same food. The red sauce has kick. Berry definitely has kick. I’m trying to get to like the under layers. We’ve got the beans, etc. on the torches. I’m getting a bite. There’s also fresh sliced jalapeno on top. Luckily, they give you some.
Avocado. It’s good. I don’t really go out of my way for it, but it’s nice. The flavor of the salad is it’s pretty simple to salad. Actually, I don’t even think greens addressed. Yeah. Everything you think is picking.
Up sort of below in the salsa, etc. But it’s good. It’s definitely opening my sinuses. Um the flouches were the best thing so far, I think, on the plate. What do you think, Sam? Yeah, we agree. Um, I think the entre are the weakest of all of the pieces here, but we’re going to finish eating. If we have additional thoughts, I’ll let you know. We’ll talk.
To you when we check it. Okay, so just so you guys know. Um, the manager having to come by, ask us how to stop, but that’s okay. And, um, Arlene explained that, you know, the only thing you should know about is that they brought our entre out before they brought our appetizers out. They took them back and brought our apple page out and then gave.
Us the same entre that had been sitting with for that long. Um he asked if we wanted entre if we wanted them totally replaced and we didn’t we didn’t want to we didn’t want to waste the food and didn’t want to start eating again. Um he is comping one of our appetizers uh the the half and half hummus and he did bring cuz she wanted a runny egg and.
Because it sat for so long when it came back out it was half cooked. Um so he got her a fresh fried egg and gave that to her so she could add it directly on top. But it’s it does behoove you to ask if there is an issue. Um, and so he mean about it, which is then he was like, “Do you want fresh archers? Would you like no we don’t want to waste the food?.
That’s okay.” But nothing can get fixed if you don’t know. And then he offered to comp the appetizer himself um just as for for the inconvenience of the food not being handled properly. And it was not a waitress. It was strictly the the chef or the you know the kitchen misreading or misordering, misorganized stuff. So that’s where you are.
Um, so yeah. So now we’re waiting for the receipt. We’re going to look at what the dessert options are. Probably not going to get anything this time. I think we did get the fla before. Um, but we’ll see what they are. And just to let you know, uh, looked at the dessert menu and the app options. You’re looking at them now. The only one that is gluten-free,.
Of course, is the fla. I’ve had it. It’s very good, but we don’t need to get it again again cuz you can see that part of that review. Uh, so, you know, again, some inconsistencies, but they care. They’re making a difference to try to make it right. Bill will be here in a moment. Talk about that. Yeah. All in all, I think it was a.
Good meal. I think I think I have a much more positive response to to eating here than I had the last time. Okay. So, you’re looking at the bill now. Um, she got the coffee and the chileles. I got the quoseras and the drink. Uh, we split the flouts and then the manager took off the dips that we had. Uh, there was an annual passholder discount of $6. So the.
Uh total would have been around $80, but it was $60 cuz of the removal of the one entree plus another $6 off cuz we didn’t get any alcohol. So the total bill with tax is 57.50 plus our tip. Um I mean even if we had paid for the other piece, you know, for two appetizers, two entre, two non-alcoholic beverages, that would have been fine. Um but we’re going to.
Settle up our bill. We hope that you’ve enjoyed this. If this has helped you figure out how to eat gluten-free when you’re traveling around Disney or just going to Disney Springs, please give this a thumbs up. You know, like, share, subscribe. Help me get the word out. Don’t forget that.
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