Is Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Worth It?
The “Magical or Tragical” series offers up my group’s opinion on some of the offerings at Disney World. Pros and Cons, Dustless Pixie-style.
9/6/2022 Update: Since this review was posted, Sebastian’s has switched to a family-style prix fixe menu with some a la carte additions. While it is still one of the best dining values on property, we preferred the original menu and the choices it offered. Most of the food is from that menu but not all of the entrees or desserts. That being said, it is ALL delicious and at a great price point. We’re not discouraging anyone from going there by any means. It’s easy to get a reservation but walk-up is usually available as well. If you are staying at Caribbean Beach Resort this is a no-brainer. If you aren’t staying at Caribbean Beach it’s a great way to resort snoop a bit. Since it’s on the Skyliner route, folks staying at Pop Century, Art of Animation, Riviera, Boardwalk, Beach Club, and Yacht Club are a quick gondola ride away. It would also be a great dinner break for folks going between Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Disney World’s Caribbean Beach Resort underwent a complete overhaul recently.
Room upgrades, a shiny new lobby and check in area, a Skyliner gondola station and the adjacent new DVC resort, Riviera (opening December 2019), are all part of the new package. Along with all these new bells and whistles is Table Service restaurant, Sebastian’s Bistro. Is Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort worth it? Let’s dig in.
Sebastian’s is open daily for dinner service.
Originally open for lunch and dinner, it is now only serving dinner. I’m guessing that not enough folks were dining here for lunch, and that’s a shame. This is definitely a hidden gem and there are a lot of reviews out there singing its praises.
It is one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan. We made Advance Dining Reservations for our April 2019 visit, but there was plenty of seating available. We were even able to get seated an hour or so earlier than our initial reservation. In fact, a quick check online and I was able to find a table for 4 at just about any time slot day of (in August 2019). This may all change once the Skyliner gondola service begins operating in September, however. Easier access to the resort might make this spot more popular, but only time will tell.
Sebastian’s is named for the infamous crab in Little Mermaid, but you won’t see much of that theming inside.
The overall vibe is definitely beachy and welcoming. It’s a little bit classier than the flip flop friendly pool bar, Banana Cabana, just around the corner. Don’t worry about getting all dressed up, though, it’s definitely not too fancy. Thankfully, the dining room is just big enough to make getting a table easier but not cavernous like some Disney World dining locations. Basically, it’s a little more intimate and not super loud and overly crowded. It’s a little oasis and makes for the perfect meal if you are looking for a break from the park hustle and bustle. Both family friendly and a nice place to have an adults only meal and cocktail.
Can’t say enough about the Cast Members here from the reservation desk to our terrific server.
Our server, Omar, was super knowledgeable about every item on the menu and wasn’t shy about steering us from one selection to another that he recommended more. The hostess/greeters were also super helpful when we asked about bumping our reservation to an earlier time slot.
The cocktails are delicious.
Well, at least two of them were. Since we are on the Disney Dining Plan, and cocktails come with the Table Service now, we like to try out different drinks. We ordered both the Caribbean Smuggler (Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum and Parrot Bay Coconut Rum with Cranberry and Pineapple Juices) and the Mariner’s Mojito (Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron Rum, Lime Juice, Mint, and Pure Cane Sugar topped with Soda Water).
Most of the cocktails that I have gotten on property range from meh to almost undrinkable. Sorry, Disney. It may be the choices that I have made, but my sister has had similar experiences. Suffice it to say, that these two drinks were an exception to our unhappy rule (as are the drinks at ‘Ohana).
The menu is NOT just seafood oriented.
Since the name is a nod to an animated crab, it’s easy to assume that Sebastian’s is a seafood dining location. While there are many seafood dishes on the menu, there are also chicken, pork and a couple of vegetarian offerings. The menu does seem to adhere to seasonal changes and has been tweaked a bit since we visited in the spring. Several of the menu items that we enjoyed just a few months ago are not currently offered or have been updated a little. I take that as a good sign. They are offering a more sustainable seasonal menu and possibly listening to feedback from diners.
We tried a variety: fish, pork and steak. All three were amazing.
My sister ordered the Grilled Skirt Steak w/ crispy Yuca, baby bell peppers and chimichurri and LOVED it. It was a leap of faith for her, because a lot of what’s on this plate is not in her wheelhouse. She was pleasantly surprised. This menu item is the only one of our orders that has remained unchanged since our visit.
On Omar’s suggestion, I selected the Sustainable Mahi Mahi mashed plaintains and escovitch sauce. (This is currently served with Coconut-Orange Rice and a Lemon-butter sauce instead of plaintains and escovitch). I really enjoyed the escovitch sauce, which added a little zing to the mild Mahi Mahi. Not sure if I would feel the same if the lemon-butter sauce were being served.
If pork belly or pork shoulder are on the menu, that’s what my kid is ALWAYS going to pick. His choice was Slow-cooked Pork Shoulder with black beans, cilantro rice, corn tortillas, and mojo sauce. Sebastian’s is now offering a more amped up version of this called Taste of the Caribbean. It is offered at a higher price point with three proteins per plate (choice of chicken, shrimp, pork, goat or plant based curry) and the price point is also a bit higher than what we paid for just the pork. The kid said the pork was super tender. He is not a big fan of rice, but really enjoyed the cilantro rice here.
The desserts are OUTSTANDING.
Okay. I have to say that MY dessert was outstanding. While my sister and son both enjoyed their choices.
While they found both of their choices to be yummy, I hit the jackpot. I am still talking about this dessert to anyone who will listen and often to those that don’t. Hands down the best dessert I have eaten on property. It may be even better than my much beloved sweet treat: Werther’s Caramel popcorn from Karamell-Küche in Epcot. My love for that snack is strong, so this is high praise!
Behold….Mile Marker Zero. Yes, ridiculous name, but excellent dessert. Delicious key lime pie pops covered in rich dark chocolate. Here’s the kicker…it’s not on the menu anymore. What?! C’mon, Disney! Sadly, it has been replaced by a traditional key lime pie with a meringue topping.
I am optimistic, however, that it is the same delicious pie that is inside those amazing pops, so go for it. If the dark chocolate covered version is available SNAG IT, but don’t shy away from the plain old pie. I am still regretting not being able to eat the left over pop that I dragged back to the resort mini fridge. I couldn’t manage to finish it before we left. REGRETS! Sadly, the Banoffee Pie is also no longer on the dessert menu either.
It’s nestled in a beautiful resort that is totally worth visiting.
We love to resort snoop . It helps us plan where we want to stay next time and it’s the perfect way to take a little park siesta in the afternoon or early evening. While we have never stayed at this resort, it is on our bucket list now. The grounds and lobby are beautiful, the grab and go/Quick Service Centertown Market looks good and the Banana Cabana pool bar is super cute.
Banana Cabana offers the same cocktails as Sebastian’s. It also has a solid menu for lunch and dinner which is sort of an app/salad/sandwich version of Sebastian’s fare.
With Sebastian’s RIGHT THERE on property, Caribbean Beach Resort is even more appealing to us now.
The convenience of two modes of transportation, bus and Skyliner (due to begin service in September 2019), makes this a top moderate resort choice for us on our next visit. Obviously, this restaurant pick is a magical one and definitely one of the best we have eaten at on property.
I always encourage folks to check out the resorts if time permits.
It’s nice to try another resort on for size even if it’s way out of your budget and you are unlikely to ever stay there. It’s free to visit the grounds and walk around. Hang out in the lobby, enjoy a cold drink in the AC and breath in whatever lovely scent permeates the air (seriously, each of the resorts has their own scent and they are ALL AMAZING). Take a peek at the gift shop.
The next time you are planning a visit, don’t discount the dining locations at the resorts. I think folks often opt for in park or Disney Springs at meal time. We do too because there are a lot of great choices. Don’t discount the resorts though. Many have fantastic restaurants that are definitely worth the trip.
