Is Topolino’s Terrace the BEST Restaurant at Walt Disney World? Disney’s Riviera Resort

This video is part 3 of a series where we dine at our top 5 favorite Walt Disney World Restaurants. Our goal is to find what we think is the best restaurant in Walt Disney World. The criteria we’re basing our assessments on include, service, cuisine quality, decor, theming, atmosphere and accessibility.

Disney’s Riviera Resort was inspired by Walt Disney’s visits to the Mediterranean. It’s decor and atmosphere is supposedly designed to encapsulate guests within a myriad of differing European Mediterranean cultures and the menus at the restaurants here are specifically curated to focus on popular Mediterranean dishes with classic American fare.

While we’ve been quite critical of the Riviera’s atmosphere in the past, we’ve consistently been impressed by their restaurant offerings. Primo Piatto was named our favorite Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Quick Service Restaurant and we’ve often considered, Bar Riva, to be an underrated lounge.

It’s only fitting that, Topolino’s Terrace, be considered one of our favorite restaurants at Walt Disney World. Located at the top of the Riviera Resort, Topolino’s Terrace is designed to emulate an ancient Mediterranean Village with an upscale atmosphere. The pasta and bread is made fresh in-house and there’s special attention paid to the quality of the ingredients used in the cuisine.

This video details our full experience. We try out Topolino’s signature dishes, go over subtle details in the design of this restaurant and see how it compares to both Jiko and California Grill. Watch to see whether we think this truly is the best restaurant at the Walt Disney World Resort.

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is topalo Terrace the best restaurant in all of Walt Disney World let’s see hello everyone I’m Jay and I’m Sam and you are watching the theme park booties and we are back at the Riviera Resort a resort we have been quite critical on in regards to architecture and Ambiance however we’ve been very complimentary on in regards to food they actually have our number one quick service restaurant in all of Walt Disney World here right Sam and our number one coffee yes so it would only be proper for them to have the number one restaurant in Walt Disney World this was actually Sam’s favorite restaurant in Walt Disney World for a very long time up until recently California girl had been our favorite but for anyone who had watched our most recent video on California Grill you’ll know they have fallen from Grace a little bit right they have and we it’s been a while since we’ve been at chalinos it’s probably been like a year and a half yeah because we did kind of have a not so great experience but I will say we did have like a d it was like 10:00 at night and I think that really played a part in why we had a bad experience last time yeah so I’m really looking forward to them redeeming themselves yeah we scored a 550 reservation for today for those that don’t know the Riviera Resort is themed after Walt Disney’s trips to the Mediterranean subsequently a lot of the food is based off of Mediterranean Cuisine you can see a lot of pictures of Walt Disney throughout the resort I don’t think it really encapsulates the Mediterranean theme that well we’ve been to the French uh Riviera and I just don’t get that Vibe here although I do enjoy a lot of the food here and top know we’ve been to previously is really good you can find top Lino’s Terrace at the very top of rier Resort we love rooftop dining it has beautiful views of the Caribbean Beach resort and you can also capture the upcot fireworks on the back patio we’re going to show you how to get in we’re going to show you the whole menu try out their signature options and we’re going to see if they are our favorite restaurant now in Walt Disney World considering California Girls SW From Grace right do you know what toos means I do but I want you to tell me it means Mickey right well it technically means baby mouse but they refer to Mickey Mouse ASO so we’re a baby mouse rooftop Terrace I’m I’m hungry for some Mickey eats you ready I’m ready all right if you enjoy the content please like And subscribe join us for our rooftop dining experience here at one of Wal world’s very best restaurants if you have top lingo Terrace reservations you can actually Park here you can also take the Skyliner from Epcot or Hollywood Studios as we walk into the main lobby you’ll see that we are actually crossing over a bridge Bridge all right let’s head in to the main lobby not as Grand as some other lobbies you can see as we walk in it kind of feels like a Marriott to me more than anything uh they have this very interesting chandelier uh to your right is actually where you can find the checken desk we’re going to have to head right past one of our favorite little coffee spots Le petite Cafe um right to the left of that are going to be the elevators that will take us to the rooftop dining Topolino’s Terrace Sam Actually couldn’t help herself and headed into Lea Cafe and got our favorite coffee in all of Walt Disney World the Almond cold brew I couldn’t walk by and not get it I don’t care if it’s 6:00 at night I’m having a cold bre we’re also running late what would you give this iteration of it it’s a 10 because I’m really tired and I really need it the the whipped cream looks really good all right now we have to head to dinner it’s very white in here you can actually see these pictures of Walt to the right as you head to the elevator I don’t know is I I guess that would be the French Mediterranean I would assume that’s where he’s dining I I think all of these are from the French Mediterranean though I think they’re just pictures of Walt ah yes who doesn’t forget the iconic Cinderella Castle found in the European Mediterranean you have to make two rights at the end of the hallway to get to the East elevators the gold does look very aristocratic here we are the 10th floor Topolino Terrace they actually have a famous breakfast here that served from 7:30 to 12:5 it’s a character breakfast people love it we’re actually here for the dinner which is also famous so the lobby and the the restrooms are going to be to the left of the check-in desk as you walk in Hi Sam it’s very tiny little Lobby here right I like the artwork though over there oh yeah the artwork is nice all right we are checked in and the main dining hall is obviously to the right heading to our table now we got a nice Center table here now Sam I already think I’m I’m turning team topolos you know why funny though because we had a feud about this and you were like anti toos and pro California grills now now you’re seeing the other side well one they have actually have a real full menu where California Grill is just a prefix now and two the actual menu is wood it’s hard cover they do have an extensive wine list you could see actually their Wines in the case up towards the front they have a bar here you can D it as well as to the right as you walk in lots of different wines that you can get here you can see some of their classic cocktails up towards the top here they have some flights too whiskey Bourbon and Scotch draft beer uh bottled beer and hard cider they even have a zero proof cocktail these knees and it’s not like the usual pink London spritzer you see all the other ones cucumber gimlet pet a uh rapose and they have the Disney family of Wes I think some of these are from Golden Oak when looking at the starters the heirloom tomato panzanella this wasn’t here last time we were here the honey vinegret is actually harvested from Golden Oak which is a a ritzy area here in Walt Disney World they have a Ratatouille Fritter Noki with raised lamb shoulder oh man that sounds so good pork belly I’m actually looking at the es cargo cuz I feel like you very rarely get good escargo at places obviously a Roma type of salad a rot and a uni tomato biscuit this is actually a tableside biscuit I’ve had this previously it’s very good as far as Entre go they have a bran Zeno now these brazed beef cheeks they’re actually wagu beef it’s is probably what I’m most looking at Sam always goes for the filet but I think she might be getting something else today uh they have this which I’m not going to try to say cuz I know someone will be correcting me below but looks like it’s a fish stew that looks very good um the rigatoni sea scallops classic Sole and roasted cauliflower steak great vegan option for enhancements they have seared scallops with TR truffle Jam grilled shrimp and brussel sprouts it’s great they have the cauliflower steak this time cuz remember when we came with Nick Sam they didn’t have a vegan option on the main Entre no they didn’t I remember he just got ol I remember him just getting the olives [Music] right they’re starting us off with their inhouse Made bread and of course Mediterranean restaurant you have have a little olive oil to dip it in so no butter here but this bread definitely looks unique they bake it fresh in the back I think it’s a French bread would make sense since we’re supposed to be in the French Mediterranean and he like freshly poured the oil it was it was a nice experience you know especially when some places don’t even give you bread anymore yeah Disney needs to bring back bread service for the parks it’s very crunchy it’s good it has like a light sweetness to it not my favorite I do like that it’s like smaller you have a small piece and not a big Loaf and this is the same bread if you get the um ricotta appetizer this bread comes with it and this goes really well with the ricot yeah give it a seven seven all right so the mocktail menu here wasn’t basic this is the Cucumber gimlet right Sam I’m saying that right correct cucumber lime lime juice sod water ESP palete Pepper and Sugar um so it’s not super sweet it’s kind of like um soda water just with like a little bit of like salt on top very like fresh lime flavor very refreshing uh I’m going to give this an eight I feel like it’s high quality and it tastes different and I like that it’s not very sweet all right so the appetizers are here I got the es cargo and Sam you got the barata heirloom tomato panzanella so it has Italian Bara a sunflower pesto Pacha tomatoes cucumbers and there’s also a local honey vinegarette which is sourc from Golden Oak yeah it looks really good very great presentation I like the Little Flower on it I do wish it was a bigger piece of Bara though but yeah pretty expensive for such a little barata $ but look at this did my best trying to get a little bit of everything on one bite it looks very high quality the vegetables are like super Super Fresh like you just taste it like I feel like if somebody just like pluck this out of a garden the barata is so like creamy and smooth and then you have some crunch with the Paka great texture full flavor pach is not like too hard this is really good I’m also a very big fan of barata and you also that little bit of honey it’s very very light really nice touch um I’m going to go I’m going to go nine with Wow and I think you said the bread you like you thought bread was s before right I’m bumping up the bread because the olive oil is extremely high quality and amazing it tastes like oliv like you really get that Olive taste with it so what are you bumping it up to so I’m bumping it up to an eight all right so the es cargo I’m sure you all know this there’s snails um they have a puff pastry on top they also use um garlic butter lemon oh and lemon and parsley and parsley all right so let’s see I just stab or should I scoop I am a fan of the snail it’s hard to find good snail these days look at that I’m adventurous with my flavors next thing you know you’re going to say you’re on the search for the best snails in Walt Disney World you have to finish SLO Quest before snail Quest can begin a lot of times what these restaurants do when they serve es cargo is they make it very garlic heavy the the snail the es cargo absorbs flavor very well butter and garlic is the flavor as cargo and the snail really is just the texture it’s just is very delicate it falls apart in your mouth and that’s why the PFF pastry on top works so well I’ve had better escargo Palmer American Grill in uh Long Island New York they had escargo I would put above this but this is a solid escargo uh I would give it A7 um I’ve had better it’s nice to have it it does make it feel a bit more fancy it’s one of the reasons I went for it uh but I I probably think that Sam’s BR is a bit all right dinner is here I got them cheeks of beef I also got uh the enhancement the scallops Sam you got your favorite dish from here which is the reton you can actually see the pasta hanging on the wall to the left as you walk in they fresh make it here what’s in this uh bra chicken sugar broccolini petta wild mushrooms and black truffle that truffle is delicious I usually go for fillets at signature dining restaurants but when there’s like housemade pasta I feel like better you got to go for thees I do feel like this dish is a little bit smaller than the last time we were here um I mean I feel like that’s that’s happening everywhere shrink flation has gotten Disney hard the sauce is so good it’s almost more like a a gravy it’s a thick like creamy brown sauce the pasta tastes fresh the cheese tastes fresh well cheese isn’t fresh but yes I’m sure it tastes good like it was freshly freshly cut freshly grated yes yes yes jeez like it wasn’t like sitting it wasn’t sitting in like a plastic jar by fresh the chicken tastes like a like a dark meat chicken a saltiness from The Panetta it’s a really great dish I’m going to give it a nine wow you you’re not going to 10 though I feel like I thought this were going to go 10 for cuz you love this dish I do I think maybe if it was bigger out of go 10 I don’t know I understand portion size definitely takes into you have to take that into account it is so safe and it’s really really good all right so these are the brazed beef cheeks now this is wagu beef artisanal palenta right there at the bottom corn relish herac cot verts popcorn gerola and Bonnie Jew I know I’m saying that stuff wrong so feel free to correct me in the comments I know yall will I’m going to try this out right now I’m excited wagu beef cheese sounds so good all right oh man look at that I didn’t even need a knife this thing just falls apart wagu beef that are cheeks with like a nice delicious Penta I want to get all the flavors in there that’s a big piece of cheek so tender look at the juice come come I think this is a pork rind I feel like I’ve been noticing pork rindes like appearing more and more in dishes like randomly this just that you wouldn’t think that they would be in they’re making a comeback I love how tender it is the plent of complement dish so well this is a very J dish love me like some meat some like Savory like short ribbon Penta alth this isn’t technically a short rib it’s so tender so like robust with all like the flavor the Jew adds like it’s just a hint of the jeo that just compliments the moisture natural flavor of the meat I’m going to go 10 with this I think this is is really really good uh I wanted some of Sam’s pasta but now I’m very happy that I got this I’m happy for you I’m happy that I can keep my pasta all right so these are the seared scalps with the black truffle gem strike one is that I think this thing was like 18 bucks I only got three scallops it’s like $6 a scallop it’s pretty crazy but let’s try truffle Jam maybe they’re just so good they’re worth the extra price maybe the Truffle Jam is incredible but the scallop itself it needs a trle jam like it’s good scallop but like you can go to Boat House and Disney Springs you have better scallops these are still very good and the Truffle Jam is bad so good I’m going to give this a eight um actually no let going get this a nine um because the Truffle Jam is just so good the scalp really is like buttery delicious just I have had a better form of scallop before so I don’t feel comfortable going quite 10 this is definitely a high quality dish my biggest issue with it is the portion size uh everything else is quality but $18 $6 for scallop I guess I could see it but I do want more all right we’ve retrieved the dessert menu another hard wood cover they have a lemon tiasu that has an Italian inspiration we’ve actually previously had lemon cello in Italy um this is actually supposed to be more of like a mousse or mering than an actual traditional tiramisu cake then we have the warm chocolate cake which we’ve had before I think and that’s what I’m probably looking at they said they’re known for the vanilla and citrus creme brulee uh this sounds very good the fruits of the forest supposed to be their prettiest dish and they have a vanilla bean ice cream with no sugar added you also see some dessert cocktails that they have and some dessert wines all right so we’ve had this before but I had to get it again you could smell the chocolate on it’s the warm chocolate cake it has a caramel Center chantilli raspberries and then also this gelato right there on the side look how creamy that looks Sam so it’s basically a lava cake high-end lava cake with dark chalk on the outside let’s break it and see how the interior looks look at that what do I always say sam goo something about goo I’m a big fan of Goo this is this is quite the goo too I need a little raspberry with that I can only imagine like what people think about you when you say that all right let’s try this out look at that all the flavors together beautiful that’s one of the top desserts in all of Disney the gelato is so fresh the interior of this is just so warm and gooey buttery smooth from the caramel bitter from the chocolate nice tartness from the raspberry there a flavor explosion T I’m thinking Rivier might it’s either Rivier or jico right now are winning I don’t know which one but I will make a decision I also going to bring up they brought me a birthday little gift um this is a little chocolate brownie they have at the bottom you see they have a Riviera Medallion and then a cookie right here on top should I try it out real quick sure I want to go to Five signature dining restaurants for my birthday you can so it’s like a lemon cookie on top it’s good and then this is very rich it’s solid um it’s obviously free they give you for your birthday I’ll give that a six but this this chocolate cake so good if you come here get anything get the chocolate cake all right Sam got their signature lemon tiramisu this looks this looks really fancy it doesn’t look how I expected but I also don’t even know what I expected and I’m honestly not the biggest fan of lemon but I what I’m not I don’t normally like go for a Lem but why would you buy because tasu is my favorite dessert and it’s paying homage to Italy and the Lemon Festival so I just thought I would try something different I’m trying to we’ve had lemonchello and you love lemon cellos like lamello but like I’m normally like I would go for a chocolate cake like I’m a I’m a chocolate dessert gal I will share with you if you don’t like it and I’m wondering how like the lemon is going to go with the espresso that’s an interesting combination the lemon is so light not overly lemony I even see some gold right there on top of it fancy I have gold on my dessert there’s the mering right there oh yeah and this is a pistachio mering some of this cream I like it way more than I expected it has just like that light Tangy taste it’s like a nice summer dessert it doesn’t feel gluttonous I think I should have like a hint of lemon and more of my desserts I think this is really well done um I’m going to give this a eat wow I I do really love traditional tamasu where you taste that like espresso sponge C so like that’s why I’m not going higher because I miss that about the tasu but I still think like they Incorporated the flavor very well all right let’s check out the views from the rooftop area up here this is definitely the best view of the Caribbean Beach resort from up here and this is the lake the Riviera sits on you can see the Skyliner going off in the background makes it very kinetic when you see like the waves wafting the Skyliner going off you can actually see Galaxy’s Edge way back there beyond the Skyliner as well as the Tower of Terror the glare of the sun’s kind of preventing our view but you can actually see right beyond the Riviera World Showcase over there at Epcot this is probably the best restaurant to view the Epcot fireworks from all right so that is it for our time dining at tapalo Terrace Sam is this the best restaurant in all of Walt Disney World question it’s up there it’s moved up the RS it’s back to very high so just so you guys know this video is part of a series where we DED our five favorite restaurants in all Walt Disney World tapinos Terrace California Grill jico narzi and flying fish we have completed three of the five so far and I will say to me topos Terrace is the best so far not by much though go is up there as well I think what beats it uh with piz Chico for me is the fact that their dessert is some of the best I’ve ever had that chocolate cake and then also I’m a big fan of rooftop dining so I like being able to see the views I like being able to walk out see the fireworks so that’s one of the reasons I really enjoy this restaurant here as much as I kind of brag on the design elements here at the Riviera Resort there is a sort of um charm to the ritzy elements you know and I really just likeed how fresh everything tasted the bread service was fresh my appetizer was fresh my pasta was fresh like it just continued out throughout the entire meal and we had amazing service and you can’t eat like walking out to the sun setting being able to see Hollywood Studios and ncot like it’s just you know three of the of the four Disney Parks you can see from the rooftop Sam got another coffee for the way home well it’s not for the way it’s for the morning morning Sam is going to have this coffee and my leftover pasta and I’m going to be so happy for my drink I did want to correct myself that wasn’t a salted Rim it was was an espet Pepper and Sugar Sugar combo I could taste it like when I tried it I was like oh my gosh I was like tastes peppery yeah little peppery I also did want to bring up the design elements of the interior in there it does look like for some reason I feel like you’re dining underneath a golden broom as as you’re sitting there but there’s actually a reason for all the different textures that you see it’s supposed to look like um a ancient Mediterranean Village you said right Sim yeah as someone who I have a bachelor’s degree Village I have a bachelor’s degree in history ancient Mediterranean Riviera Village um is that like Greece Rome I’m I’m trying to think of what design elements that would be if you anyone knows out there please let us know in the comments uh but there is definitely certainly a lot of texture you can see it right back near the bar you could see it on the floor the floor the carpet kind of looks like it kind of leads into where the bar area is with like the carpet almost looking like a darker colored ocean and then kind of like the uh Design Elements lead into the floor of where kind of you sit where the bar is uh the exterior is very nice although I’m not really getting Mediterranean Village uh it does feel upscale the food is delicious and for me out of the top five this is sitting at number one but we still have flying fish and our Boozies yeah so and I also want to know like what makes a like a restaurant your favorite like do you is you just go I just want the best food or do you you know care about you know the setting the service like what is what makes you number one for what is your top Factor yeah let us know in the comments below for me it’s service it’s the theme it’s the experience it’s the atmosphere and it’s the food you want every you want a little bit of everything rolled into one yes and if you enjoy the content please like And subscribe liking will really help our Channel grow it pushes this video out into the stratosphere of the YouTube algorithm helps other people find the video subscribing it also helps our Channel grow hit the Bell notification so that way you’re notified every time when videos come out which is when Sam every Monday or Thursday or Thursday every Monday th at 12 p.m thanks so much for watching don’t count the days make the days count we will see you next time That’s all folks I had no idea that actual Wildlife lived in this Lake in front of the Riviera a baby behind oh there’s a baby behind it let us know if you guys can tell which videos we’re filming after work and which videos we’re filming on our day off because we definitely feel burnt after work yeah and sometimes like I feel bad but like we have we have no time like we have to kind of film after work sometimes and I always feel very anxious on the way here but I will say like once we get here and we just like start eating and like we get in the groove like I do feel start to feel better I I’m happy that it sometimes forces us out of the house because once I’m out we’re having a great time and also I’m like oh I don’t have to make dinner so that’s always a plus