Best place for lobster at WDW?

[durangojim]

My wife and I are treating my parents to a week at WDW for their anniversary. We’d like to make reservations for them for dinner for someplace that has lobster, which is their favorite and they only have it once a year. What restaurant would you recommend? We were thinking Narcoosees but it’s booked up, so we make a reservation at Yachtsman Steak. Is there someplace better?

 

[Weather_Lady]

I can only recommend against a place, and it's the California Grill. The lobster I had there was overcooked and rubbery. (In fact, I'd had far better the day before, on a simple counter service lobster roll at Columbia Harbor House.) I've never heard a bad word about Yachtsman, however...

 

[OneofThree]

I've never heard a bad word about Yachtsman, however...

The wife got the lobster at YS in December. I tried it and was not at all impressed (glad I order the filet, which was great). Narcoossee's wasn't any better. As a native New Englander growing up on the coast, I've had my fair share of lobster. I have it on good authority however, that Shula's lobster stands up. I've not tried it there personally, but I will be during my next trip.

 

[Weather_Lady]

The wife got the lobster at YS in December. I tried it and was not at all impressed (glad I order the filet, which was great). Narcoossee's wasn't any better. As a native New Englander growing up on the coast, I've had my fair share of lobster. I have it on good authority however, that Shula's lobster stands up. I've not tried it there personally, but I will be during my next trip.

LOL - I stand corrected! I can no longer say I've heard only good things about Yachtsman...

 

[Nemo14]

The wife got the lobster at YS in December. I tried it and was not at all impressed (glad I order the filet, which was great). Narcoossee's wasn't any better. As a native New Englander growing up on the coast, I've had my fair share of lobster. I have it on good authority however, that Shula's lobster stands up. I've not tried it there personally, but I will be during my next trip.

I have it on good authority that Disney lobsters come from SE Asia, so that may explain why they don't taste the same.

 

[OneofThree]

LOL - I stand corrected! I can no longer say I've heard only good things about Yachtsman...

Well to be honest (and I don't know how many people indulge in lobster every day), any half way decent lobster is going to make for a tasty meal I think. My wife certainly enjoyed it; I'm just being picky about my seafood.

 

[Dave B]

I loved my lobster at Yachtsmen for sure and would order it again, BUT I have heard from some reputable resources on this forum that nothing compares to Shula's at the Swalphin

 

[TheGuyThatMakesSwords]

TOTALLY overlooked by everyone....

SHULAS, at the Dolphin . So good that Wife and I go to Shula's twice each trip. One is "Steak Night", the other is "Shellfish Night", staring Line Backer sized Lobster .

 

[Grumpy06]

Try the Boathouse in the Spring,s. Has Maine lobster

 

[LUVofDIS]

Try the Boathouse in the Spring,s. Has Maine lobster

I tried the lobster at the Boat House last September, I think Shula's is much better. I like the atmosphere at the Boat House better but both of our dishes weren't very good. That was a surprise seeing all the good comments we viewed.

We have stayed at the Dolphin and Swan many times and we eat at Shula's almost every time we stay and we have never had a bad meal.

 

[Tinkerbella16]

The surf and turf at Narcoosee's is fantastic! It has been a few years but we loved the lobster and the steak.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

One of the risks is places serving lobster that's langostine vs. Maine. I don't like langostine, so I avoid it if it doesn't specify Maine. I haven't personally tried it, but I see Paddlefish has several Maine Lobster options on their menu and one of them actually lists the pre-cook weight...which is usually a better sign when going to a place serving lobster.

I know @Nemo14 noted that Disney gets their lobster from SE Asia, and while this may currently be true, this was not always the case. When I lived in FL back in the 90s, I worked for a seafood place (combo restaurant/deli/distributorship) and they had the Disney lobster contract for a while (eventually some of the other seafood too). I know the owner folded at some point after I moved on, so I know they are no longer the source, but I know it was a US based source for at least a while. As for their sources, it was a family operation where several of the brothers were still up in the Boston area, got the fresh live lobster up there, and got everything down to FL to move through the central distribution site before moving it to commercial clients like Disney.

 

[Nemo14]

One of the risks is places serving lobster that's langostine vs. Maine. I don't like langostine, so I avoid it if it doesn't specify Maine. I haven't personally tried it, but I see Paddlefish has several Maine Lobster options on their menu and one of them actually lists the pre-cook weight...which is usually a better sign when going to a place serving lobster.

I know @Nemo14 noted that Disney gets their lobster from SE Asia, and while this may currently be true, this was not always the case. When I lived in FL back in the 90s, I worked for a seafood place (combo restaurant/deli/distributorship) and they had the Disney lobster contract for a while (eventually some of the other seafood too). I know the owner folded at some point after I moved on, so I know they are no longer the source, but I know it was a US based source for at least a while. As for their sources, it was a family operation where several of the brothers were still up in the Boston area, got the fresh live lobster up there, and got everything down to FL to move through the central distribution site before moving it to commercial clients like Disney.

We were traveling all day yesterday so I didn't get to answer this then. The lobsters now do in fact come from Southeast Asia. This policy started a year or 2 ago according to a very reliable source.

 

[John park hopper]

My point of view Maine lobster is #1 followed by spiny lobster native to Florida and the Caribbean. Call me a seafood snob but I refuse to eat seafood from Southeast Asia. If I don't catch it myself or know where it comes from I pass

 

[LUVofDIS]

My point of view Maine lobster is #1 followed by spiny lobster native to Florida and the Caribbean. Call me a seafood snob but I refuse to eat seafood from Southeast Asia. If I don't catch it myself or know where it comes from I pass

What about rock lobster, or is this a spiny lobster?

There is also African and Canadian (I think similar if not the same as Maine) lobsters. Both very good.

 

[John park hopper]

What about rock lobster, or is this a spiny lobster?

There is also African and Canadian (I think similar if not the same as Maine) lobsters. Both very good.

Canadian lobster is the same as Maine lobster the genus and species is Homarus americanus what most people call true lobster Not sure about African lobster but I believe it is like spine lobster they don't have the large claws like H. amerianus

 

[Goofyernmost]

Canadian lobster is the same as Maine lobster the genus and species is Homarus americanus what most people call true lobster Not sure about African lobster but I believe it is like spine lobster they lake the large claws like H. amerianus

Not an expert on Lobsters, but, I always heard that Maine (or Canadian) Lobsters were cold water lobsters and that there was a difference because of that. I never had, to my knowledge anything other then Maine so I can't first hand say what an African Lobster would be like, but, I don't think that Florida or African can be cold water based.

 

[WDWBigEd]

I can highly recommend The BoatHouse at Disney Springs. They bring in their sea food items fresh daily and everything we have ever day there was amazing. If you like to drink please please try the Blueberry Lemonade.

 

[JusticeDisney]

This is an easy one. Shula’s.

 

[Driver]

If you want on property then I would recommend the Boathouse (as mentioned) however I live down here and there is a great restaurant in Celebration called "Celebration Tavern" the owner is from Boston everything is flown in fresh from New England. I eat there regularly ( this past Tuesday) the menu is awesome and full of NE favorites. Lobster prices are fair considering they are flown in. They have indoor or outdoor seating, they are popular because the food is really good. Celebration is nice with many shops to explore, often it is quite but the tavern is hopping! Also many celebrities go there never no who you might see, to me it's a well kept secret.