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In my mission to try out as many Disney World restaurants as humanly possible while living 1100 miles away, we move on to Sebastian’s Bistro. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a bit of an unsung hero in the Disney dining world.
Apparently, I’m not good at building up suspense and surprise. I just throw the end result right into the introductory paragraph…
Sebastian’s Bistro just reopened (finally!), with a rather major change: it’s now family style dining. The good news is the good food is still there. However, there is also some bad news…
As usual for my gluten free followers I have sections devoted to any notes on the gluten free menu and my overall gluten free experience (updated June 26, 2021).
Sebastian’s Bistro General Information
Location of Sebastian’s Bistro
Sebastian’s Bistro is located at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Once upon a time this might have been considered an out of the way location, but no more. The Skyliner Gondola makes it extremely easy to get to Caribbean Beach Resort now.
There is a little bit of a walk from the Skyliner station to Sebastian’s Bistro itself. However, finding it is pretty straightforward. Walk in the direction of the main pool, which you can pretty much see from a distance, and you’ll be right where you need to be.
Sebastian’s Bistro Theme and Atmosphere
As I’m sure you can guess from the name and location of the restaurant, it is an homage to Sebastian from The Little Mermaid. However, the references to Sebastian are subtle, you are never hit over the head with cartoon crabs.
The restaurant itself is pretty small and quiet. It did see a steady flow of people while we were there but never felt busy. One thing that I really liked was the more than adequate spacing between the tables.
Sometimes, it feels like the tables are jammed into a restaurant, but that isn’t the case here. There was plenty of room for each table. This had the added bonus of making traffic flow very easy.
This is even more true right now as Disney continues to put more distance between all of the tables.
I found the overall decor to be understated but very warm. As one would expect, coastal colors reign supreme. Everything is done in blues, weathered gray, and white.
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a sucker for vaulted ceilings and beams so it was pretty much a guarantee the I would like the decor.
And I love the subtle touches of Sebastian here and there to tie it all together. To me, this is Disney at it’s finest. So much more interesting than the design at Topolino’s Terrace…
Sebastian’s Bistro Hours
Sebastian’s Bistro is only open for dinner, daily.
- Dinner: 5:00pm-10:00pm
Sebastian’s Bistro Dining Plan and Discount Information
If it ever returns, the Disney Dining Plan is accepted at Sebastian’s Bistro. A meal here will cost you 1 Table Service credit.
Of course, there is always the option to pay out of pocket for your meal. There are a couple of discounts accepted at Sebastian’s Bistro. Both Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members receive a 10% discount.
At this time, Sebastian’s Bistro does not accept Tables in Wonderland.
One lesson that I learned is to ALWAYS ask if there is a discount for Passholders or DVC members. Sebastian’s Bistro is not listed as offering the DVC discount, however, I asked and there is one.
You never know so ask the question. It could save you money. I was surprised both at Sebastian’s Bistro and Topolino’s Terrace on this one trip.
Reservation Difficulty at Sebastian’s Bistro
I always recommend getting a reservation at whatever restaurant you are certain you want to go to. Let’s face it, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
That being said, Sebastian’s Bistro isn’t exactly a hot spot of activity so you can probably get away with grabbing a last minute reservation here.
In fact, for the sake of argument I just tried to get a same day reservation as I sit here writing this. I was able to find 2 open time slots in the exact time frame I was looking for.
Sebastian’s Bistro Menu
Ok, here’s where all the changes have taken place. Previously, this was a traditional a la carte menu with many different options to choose from. Now, it’s a family style menu.
What that basically means is, you get what you get and you don’t get upset…
As always, the menu can change at any time. Make sure you check the official Sebastian’s Bistro website.
Sebastian’s Bistro Pricing
First things first, how much does this meal cost?
- Adults: $29 plus tax and gratuity
- Children: $17 plus tax and gratuity
All in all, and very good price by Disney World standards. Please note: this is not an all you can eat family style meal. You might be able to ask for a little bit more of certain parts of it, but it’s not like Whispering Canyon Café where you can just keep getting more.
Taste of the Caribbean Menu
- Buttery House-baked Pull Apart Rolls: with Guava Butter, Onion Jam, and Jamaican Jerk Oil
- The Spice Necklace Salad: Mixed Greens and Kale with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Grilled Pineapple, Orange, Spiced Candied Walnuts, and Radish with Key Lime Dressing
- Taste of the Caribbean: A selection of our favorite recipes inspired by the flavors of the Caribbean. Oven-roasted Citrus Chicken, Slow-cooked Mojo Pork with Mango Sambal, Grilled Flank Steak* with Mojito Relish served with Cilantro Rice and Beans, Vegetable Curry, and Grilled Broccolini
- Our Celebrated House-made Coconut-Pineapple Bread Pudding: with Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream
Taste of the Caribbean Enhancement
- Coconut Shrimp: Enhance your meal with an order of Fried Coconut Shrimp with Creamy Chipotle Dipping Sauce
Taste of the Caribbean Plant Based Menu
- House-baked Rolls: with Guava Butter, Onion Jam, and Jamaican Jerk Oil
- The Spice Necklace Salad: Mixed Greens and Kale with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Grilled Pineapple, Orange, Spiced Candied Walnuts, and Radish with Key Lime Dressing
- Taste of the Caribbean: A selection of our favorite dishes inspired by the flavors of the Caribbean. Impossible™ Kabob, Fried Jerk Tofu, and Impossible™ Sausage served with Cilantro Rice and Red Beans, Vegetable Curry, and Grilled Broccolini
- Plant-based Coconut-Pineapple Bread Pudding: with Plant-based Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Rice Milk Frozen Dessert
Sebastian’s Bistro Kids’ Menu
Unfortunately, there is no kids’ menu at Sebastian’s Bistro any longer. Kids eat the same meal as the adults.
And remember, the cost of the meal for your child is based on Disney’s definition of a child (ages 3-9). That’s right, your 10 year old’s meal is charged as and adult…
Sebastian’s Bistro Gluten Free Menu
It’s now fairly easy to tell what on the menu is gluten free and what isn’t. The Spice Necklace Salad and all items in the Taste of the Caribbean main platter are all gluten free.
Clearly, the pull-apart rolls are not, which is a crying shame because they look delicious. Gluten free eaters are provided with gluten free rolls instead.
Likewise, the bread pudding isn’t gluten free and a substitute dessert will be offered.
Make sure you understand how to eat gluten free at Disney World to maximize your gluten free eating potential!
Sebastian’s Bistro Review
As I’m sure you can already tell by the tone of my writing, we really enjoyed our experience at Sebastian’s Bistro. Seriously, do not let the location stop you from checking this restaurant out.
As I mentioned above, the Skyliner makes getting to Sebastian’s Bistro very easy. If you happen to be at Pop Century, Art of Animation, Beach/Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Riviera, Epcot, or Hollywood Studios you can get to Sebastian’s Bistro in a matter of minutes.
For as much as I complained about the blandness of Topolino’s Terrace design, I loved the design of Sebastian’s Bistro. It hit just the right balance between the Disney touches and a nice design. The feel of the space is intimate and warm, despite the cool colors used.
Food Review for Sebastian’s Bistro
But was the food any good? It doesn’t matter how nice a restaurant looks if the food is horrible. Fortunately for all of us, the food was delicious.
Buttery House-made Pull Apart Rolls
If you read any review about Sebastian’s Bistro, one of the first things everyone says is that the Pull-Apart rolls are amazing. Comparisons have even been made between these rolls and the bread service at Sanaa. Not that they taste the same, but that they are equally good.
Unfortunately for me, these were off limits, but I did watch the rest of my family devour them. I can report from my observation that these looked amazing. They are so light and fluffy.
Doug loved the Buttery House-made Pull Apart Rolls. He described them as light, buttery, and melt in your mouth good. He also really enjoyed the guava butter and the onion jam.
The oil dipping option is no longer offered, which is just as well because it paled in comparison to the guava butter and onion jam.
Taste of the Caribbean
My pictures aren’t going to match exactly how everything is presented now. However, the vast majority of the food we ate at Sebastian’s Bistro is the same as what you get in the family style offering.
And the bottom line is that the food offered at Sebastian’s Bistro is truly delicious. The Jerk Chicken is flavored with the perfect amount, and blend, of spices.
The chicken was nice and juicy, which is key. Chicken is so often dry and rubbery.
The slow-cooked mojo pork is really juicy and flavorful as a standalone option. Now it’s even better served with Mango Sambal.
I found the Curry vegetables to be VERY spicy, and I like spice. If you don’t like spice, this will light your mouth on fire. However, if you can get past that, the vegetables are very flavorful and a nice addition to the rest of the meal.
I like that they added the grilled flank steak to the Taste of the Caribbean. I think it rounds the platter out well and gives guests the best of all meat-loving worlds.
All in all, the variety offered by the food presented with the Taste of the Caribbean platter is very good. The rice and beans and broccolini are good, but let’s face it, they are just sides there to add a bit more food to the platter.
Kids’ Meals
And here’s where everything suddenly hits the skids. Unless your kids are particularly adventurous eaters, this entire restaurant is now pretty much a no-go.
And this is a real shame because Sebastian’s Bistro should be tried by everyone!
My 12 year old do just fine with this menu, but she’s always been a great eater who loves vegetables and all meats and is willing to try new things. My son on the other hand? Forget it. If it’s not a hamburger or chicken tenders, he’s not interested.
And while at home I force him to eat whatever I put on his plate, it’s just not the same when we’re on vacation. I want him to enjoy the experience as much as the rest of us. And I’m sure not going to spend $17 for him to eat nothing but pull-apart rolls.
I think this is a HUGE misstep on Disney’s part, and I hope they change this soon. They’ve essentially eliminated the possibility of a large number of families going to the restaurant.
I for one won’t be going back during any trip where my kids are with me. And that’s most trips.
This is truly a shame because Sebastian’s Bistro really is one of the best kept secrets at Disney World. The food is just so good.
Is Sebastian’s Bistro One of the Best Values at Disney?
All of my other complaints aside, if you are either going without picky eaters or have kids who are willing to eat anything, Sebastian’s Bistro is one of the best values you can find at Disney World.
Not only is the food absolutely delicious, but the price is a downright steal. Disney has converted a lot of restaurants that used to be buffets to family style dining. For example, Tusker House is now family style and costs $55 per adult. That’s almost double the cost of the meal at Sebastian’s Bistro.
To be fair, Tusker House has characters and Sebastian’s doesn’t. However, Cape May Cafe costs $42 per adult with no characters. Either way, $29 for all of that food at Sebastian’s is pretty cheap.
If you calculate how much each of these menu items would have cost you individually before the change to family style, this meal would have cost a fortune.
The lower price is likely due to the fact that Sebastian’s Bistro simply doesn’t have the popularity of places like ‘Ohana, Cape May Cafe, and so on. I think most people have never even heard of Sebastian’s Bistro.
But they should hear about it because it’s delicious, filling, and costs a fraction the same meal would cost at another Disney restaurant.
Final Thoughts
Sebastian’s Bistro will now be added to my own personal list of favorite restaurants to go to at Disney World, as long as my kids aren’t with me.
Though to be honest, I think that list is pretty long so that’s not saying much. But I will go there again and again.
Funny, in my old review I stated that if they ever took the Mango Passionfruit Panna Cotta off the menu I might cry. It was my favorite dessert in all of Disney World.
And they went ahead and took it off the menu. So I’m pretty salty about that. If I could eat the bread pudding that might not be a big deal. But I can’t. So I’ll just cry over my gluten friendly slapped together dessert while everyone else enjoys the amazing bread pudding…
But in all seriousness, if you are looking for a place to eat with great food and a relaxed atmosphere, then Sebastian’s Bistro is worth a look.
Your Thoughts
Have you tried Sebastian’s Bistro? What did you think of the food and atmosphere? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
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