FOR THE FIRST TIME, A DISNEY WORLD RESTAURANT HAS EARNED A MICHELIN STAR

ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA/NEXSTAR) — The Michelin Guide has awarded its first-ever star to a restaurant on a Disney property, bestowing the honor upon an upscale eatery in Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort.

Victoria & Albert’s, a contemporary American restaurant, was one of nine newly starred restaurants announced at a Michelin Guide ceremony in Tampa last week.

“This restaurant is by no means an easy reservation, but the reward is a kind of magic rarely seen these days,” the publication said. “The setting is intimate, and the pacing is that of a leisurely, three-hour waltz orchestrated by a gracious brigade of veteran servers.”

The Michelin Guide praised the work of Chef Matthew Sowers, saying he has a contemporary approach to cuisine that draws inspiration from across the world.

“Think delicate tarts set with New Zealand langoustine, striking ‘sandwiches’ made with venison carpaccio and red cabbage, and bold sauces like cherry-cola bordelaise,” the guide said. “Other details like water lists, an ornate coffee and tea service, and a serious wine program further impress.”

The star is the latest feather in the restaurant’s mouse-eared cap, having already earned the AAA Five Diamond Award, held since 2000, and the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star award, earning the distinction each year since 2018, among other honors.

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by Michelin for the innovative dining experience our team brings to life here at Victoria & Albert’s,” said Chef Matthew Sowers, in a statement given to the Disney Parks Blog. “Everybody on our team earned this Star, from our stewards to our culinarians to our pastry chefs, and we hope to inspire future generations of culinary professionals to follow their dreams.”

As noted in the Michelin Guide, reservations at Victoria & Alberts are a requirement; the restaurant does not seat walk-in guests, and there’s only one seating per night in the dining room. Guests are also expected to dress in formal or semi-formal attire. (Children under 10 are not admitted.)

Diners can also expect to shell out big bucks for the meal: The official Disney webpages for Victoria & Albert’s indicate that prices for a prix-fixe meal start at $295 per person in the dining room, but $375 in the Queen Victoria Room and $425 at the chef’s table. For a few hundred extra, courses can be paired with a selection of wines.

In addition to Victoria & Albert’s, eight other Florida restaurants earned their first Michelin stars on Thursday, including three in Miami, three in Orlando and two in Tampa.

The Michelin Guide, published by the Michelin tire company, has been around since the turn of the 20th century, but only began to award stars to preferred restaurants in 1926. The guide’s restaurant ratings now encompass “over 30,000 establishments in over 30 territories across three continents,” Michelin says.