I visited the Gasparilla Island Grill two times late in the
evenings over a long weekend in early December 2018. The restaurant is open
24/7, so it is easy to grab a bite to eat whenever the mood strikes. I had
difficulty locating this Grand Floridian restaurant because it does not seem to
be accessible from inside the main hotel building without going outside. (With
the exception of the two pool bars, all other property restaurants are
accessible from the main lodge building.) This self-serve restaurant offers
seating at booths and tables indoors, or outdoors on the patio that fronts the
hotel marina (which also offers a view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks). Indoor
decor seems Floridian with its light and airy colors. It is possible to
purchase “grab and go” food, which is what I did, enjoying two different types
of gourmet sandwiches served with house-made potato chips (one hot Italian
w/spicy mustard on wheat, one roast beef with lettuce and onion and horseradish
on white; both sandwiches were hearty and reasonably priced at $10.00 or so). The
sandwiches are displayed in a glass case, but they can be customized with
condiments and heated by the staff. Burgers, pizza, soups, and salads are also
available, along with desserts, beer, and wine. For me as a solo traveler who
didn’t want to sit down to a fancy, multi-course meal after a day touring the
theme parks, the Gasparilla Grill was a convenient location for a super-casual
and affordable meal at the Grand Floridian.
