REVIEW: Does Columbia Harbour House at Disney World Still Offer Something For Everyone?
We have been VERY busy with all the restaurant reopenings at Disney World — and we have no complaints.
Columbia Harbour House has reopened!
Like we even need an excuse to be reunited with some of our favorite food and drinks! And that’s just what we have been at spots like ‘Ohana, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, Pizzafari, Eight Spoon Cafe, and more! Columbia Harbour House has been closed since the park closure last year. However, some of its menu ended up at the usually seasonal Tomorrowland Terrace. But Columbia Harbour House is now back, with much of its menu intact, so we decided to see how it compared to the last time we ate there.
Atmosphere
You’ll find Columbia Harbour House appropriately tucked away in a corner of Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom. The building is inspired by classic American architecture. This restaurant is steeped in details with an intricate backstory. The nuances of this quaint counter services have endeared it to us and it has long been one of our favorite places to grab a quick bite and a respite from the Orlando heat.
You can find Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square
It fits in perfectly with the Liberty Square theming and the external facade looks like it’d be right at home in New England seaside town.
Adorable seaside building of Columbia Harbour House
We were greeted by some very enthusiastic Cast Members, who were as excited about the quick-service restaurant’s reopening as we were! (How can you not get pumped to see Cast Members SO EXCITED like that?!)
Cheering for the reopening!
The interior of the building continues the Americana theme. You’ll see lots of wood features everywhere — from the furniture to the walls. The wood paneling and sculpted doorways all lend to the nautical theme.
One of the many rooms inspires a ship’s mess hall
There are also a lot of nautical-themed decor elements throughout the restaurant. Which contributes well to the seafood offerings and views of the Rivers of America and the Liberty Belle paddleboat.
Welcome aboard!
The wall decor makes it feel like you’re dining somewhere on the New England coast rather than in the heart of Florida!
Nautical theming
Plastic silverware, napkins, and condiments are readily available at stations in the restaurant.
Condiments
But what we’re here to do is eat, so let’s get to it!
Eats
We placed our order via Mobile Order.
Mobile Order is the way to go
However, some guests were placing orders directly with Cast Members at the counter, so that’s an option, too.
Order here!
The current menu includes some old favorites, including the Lobster Roll, the Minnie Lava Cookie, and the Plant-Based Lighthouse Sandwich.
The menu at Columbia Harbour House
Interestingly, on the online menu DESSERT is listed first (cause why not!). The fried fish, chicken, and more we’ve come to love here is still on the menu.
Menu
There are a few sides you can order as well.
Menu
Kid’s have a selection of foods similar to the adult menu.
Menu
We waited until our order was ready and then picked up our food.
Waiting for our foooood
Look at that grub!
The full spread!
We had to start with the classic Lobster Roll for $15.99. It’s made with Chilled Lobster with a touch of Mayonnaise on a New England-style Bun and served with a choice of French Fries, Green Beans, Hushpuppies, or Rice. We opted for Fries, but we love that there is a variety of sides here!
Some lobster peeking out at us through that lettuce bed!
And y’all, this Lobster Roll is STILL good. What makes this sandwich work is that it is light on the mayonnaise, so it doesn’t overpower the flavor of the lobster. The bun was also soft and fresh and everything worked well together. It looks like there is a lot of lettuce, but it actually helps provide a barrier from the bread getting soggy from the mayonnaise and lobster. Trust us — there’s lots of lobster meat in there! Every bite had the fresh crunch of the lettuce, creaminess of the mayo, richness from the lobster, and soft buttery split-top bun.
Loads of yumminess
Then it was time to dig into the Trio Platter for $13.99. This is a combination of Three Fried Shrimp, Two Chicken Strips, and Two Pieces of Battered Fish served with Hushpuppies and choice of Side (yes, we got fries again). This is a hearty meal and one that could easily be shared among two people.
Everything in this picture is fried — and we’re HERE FOR IT!
And this dish was also still solid — but we especially loved the Shrimp, although the Chicken Strips were also wonderful.
YUM
Our only complaint is that there was almost TOO much batter on the fish. We are never one to batter-shame a good piece of fish but this is probably perfect for someone looking for some REALLY thick battered, crunchy fish.
Can you have TOO much breading?
But, y’all, those Hushpuppies? They were little balls of fried perfection! Can you really go wrong with a deep-fried crispy golden shell surrounding a soft, warm cornbread and spice center?
Hushpuppies!
You can’t have a New England-style meal without having New England Clam Chowder, can you? So we had to order that, too! It’s $6.79 per bowl, and it’s…well…it’s perfectly fine. It’s not the BEST chowder we’ve ever had, but it was warm and filling.
It’s…okay.
We have to say that we feel the price is a little high for a small cup of quick-service soup. And also, it’s really hard to get enthusiastic about hot soup in the middle of summer in Florida.
Clam Chowder
We also found ourselves reunited with the Lighthouse Sandwich for $10.69, which is the only Plant-Based option available here. It’s Hummus with Tomato and Broccoli Slaw served on Toasted Multigrain Bread with a choice of Side. Note, though — one of the sides available is the Hushpuppies, which are NOT Plant-based or vegan because they have eggs and dairy in them. We went with Fries.
Trying the plant-based option
We noticed that there wasn’t much dressing in the slaw, and our bread didn’t seem toasted AT ALL (we chalked it up to first day shaking off the cobwebs). Although we liked the light flavors, it’s still a little bland. However, this is a filling healthy sandwich. But we’ve got to put this out there — we preferred the old Harbour Salad Plant-Based option offered by Tomorrowland Terrace.
Does this bread look toasted to you?
Finally, we’re not going to pass up the chance to get the Minnie Mouse Chocolate Lava Cookie, which is a Chocolate-Chip Lava Cookie served warm with Buttercream and a Chocolate Minnie Bow for $4.49. And as always, we found this cookie UH-MAZING.
This cookie is EVERYTHING
This is seriously one of our favorite Disney World treats — it’s the perfect combination of gooey and buttery goodness, and that chocolate filling is the BEST!
SO gooey!
There’s a reason this cookie often makes our Best Cookies of Disney World lists!
Nosh Or Not
Sail on over to Columbia Harbour House if…
- You want a fast and hearty meal, but are looking for something more than a burger at Magic Kingdom.
- You have picky eaters in your party — the Chicken Strips and Plant-Based Lighthouse Sandwich are solid options for those who don’t like seafood.
- You want to eat one of the best cookies at Disney World — we will always sing the praises of the Minnie Lava Cookie.
Skip Columbia Harbour House if…
- You don’t like seafood (although the chicken strips are a good alternative).
- You want a sit-down meal at a table service restaurant.
- You have shellfish/seafood allergies or want more variety in plant-based meals.
Overall
We’re happy to see another quick-service option now available at Magic Kingdom, although some of this menu was previously available at Tomorrowland Terrace. But it does feel a little nicer to eat New England-style fare in a New England-themed restaurant instead (and in the air conditioning!).
The food here is consistently solid, although it does trend heavily toward seafood. But don’t count out the Chicken Strips — these are some of the best you’ll find at Disney World. And for vegans, the Lighthouse Sandwich is a decent option. So for groups with picky eaters, that’s an option to consider.
Would we trek across Magic Kingdom for a meal here? Yep, we sure would. Magic Kingdom isn’t known for its robust fast food options so this spot, with its unique menu, definitely makes it more appealing at times. We’ve consistently enjoyed our meals here and wouldn’t mind walking a few extra steps for a good meal. However, we’d cross Magic Kingdom or most of central Florida for the Minnie Lava Cookie, and that might make this a must for those with a sweet tooth. But if you’re near Liberty Square and find yourself hungry for a little more, Columbia Harbour House is still a solid option.
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Have you been to Columbia Harbour House since it reopened? Let us know what you thought in the comments!
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