As part of our continuing coverage of the newly reimagined Old Port Royale area at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, we made it out to the opening of Banana Cabana. This expanded pool bar has some wonderful decor and it serves the exact same menu as Sebastian’s Bistro! That means that you can have a table service style meal in your bathing suit, should you choose to enjoy your vacation in style.
First, let’s take a look around the area from earlier this morning.
Here’s a look at the Banana Cabana pool bar menu. Again, you can get the full Sebastian’s Bistro menu (both lunch and dinner), at Banana Cabana.
Here’s a look around Sebastian’s Bistro and the menu.
Conch Fritters – $12
Five dense conch fritters come served with a delicious Chili-Mayonnaise sauce. The conch fritters are fried to an exterior crisp while maintaining a chewy interior. They were good, but for the $12 tendered, they left us wanting for more. These earn a pass from us.
Grilled Jerk Chicken Wings – $12
Six bone-in Jerk Chicken Wings come paired with a Cilantro-Lime Creama and Carrot Ribbons. The wings have a nice glaze to them. They’re a little smokey, but also equal parts flavorful. I don’t think these tip the scale into the “hot” category, but the Cilantro-Lime Crema will instantly cool down a bite you might consider too hot. The meat on the wings doesn’t put up too much of a fight, making it easy to clean to the bone. As nice as the wings are, the real star here might be the Cilantro-Lime Creama.
If you’re in the mood for Caribbean-style wings, we can recommend these!
Caribbean Pull-Apart Rolls – $12
These should really be called “fall apart” because the petals of the bread fall away nicely without any effort. It’s a really unique presentation to the bread and makes these instantly dippable. The bread is slightly buttery, but quickly becomes overshadowed by the amazing sauce options. Pictured left to right is the Mango Chutney, Jamaican Jerk Oil, and Guava Butter. Our favorites were the Jamaican Jerk Oil and the Guava Butter. They each offered distinct tastes. The Jamaican Jerk Oil is olive oil in nature but smokey with an aroma of spices. The Guava Butter is smooth and sweet balancing the Jamaican Jerk Oil. The Mango Chutney is, functionally, a tropical salsa dip.
These are the best of the bunch and come highly recommended.
Overall, the bread won the appetizers, surprisingly. I never thought I’d recommend $12 bread at any location besides Sanaa, but here we are. The dips make the bread. If you have to choose, we’d still recommend Sanaa, but Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is putting their best foot forward with this offering.
Marauders Snack – $15
Tostones, Arepas, and House-made Crackers with Black Bean Hummus, Guacamole, and Pico de Gallo
As the most expensive item on the appetizer menu, these had a high bar to live up to – they did not. The Black Bean Hummus and Guacamole fell into the “okay” category, while the Pico de Gallo was quite uninspired. The Tostones and Arepas were also just okay. Do yourself a favor and stick with the pull-apart bread. Pass.
Next up, we’re going to take a look at some of the drinks offered!
Bourbon Breeze – $13.25
In the Bourbon Breeze, you’ll find Bulleit Bourbon with Cranberry, Pomegranate, and Lime Juices topped with Fever Tree Ginger Beer. The ginger beer persists throughout, which is a bit of a shame given the otherwise citrus flavors. If you can look past the ginger beer (or ask for a lighter hand) you’ll find a nice and strong drink with a bit of the Caribbean packed in. You can safely pass on this one.
Guava-Rita – $11.25
Quite refreshing for an adult beverage, the Guava-Rita pairs Herradura Reposado Tequila, Sweet and Sour, and Guava with Pomegranate and Lime Juices. This is what the Bourbon Breeze could be without the ginger beer. The vodka is wonderfully present, but the dominating flavors are citrus in nature. It’s a sweet drink that doesn’t overdo it. We’d definitely have this drink again.
Pink Guava Colada – $12.50
Served frozen, the Pink Guava Colada is a nice treat for fans of coconut. The pineapple juice isn’t really present and the rum doesn’t overpower. In the drink you’ll find, Cruzan Guava Rum and Disney Select Single Barrel Rum blended with Guava, Cream of Coconut, and Pineapple Juice. This one also earns a recommendation from us.
Crab Cake-topped Burger – $20
with Lettuce, Tomato, and Horseradish Mayonnaise served with choice of French Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, or Jicama Slaw
A nicely cooked patty sets the tone for this burger. A fairly large portion of crab cake almost matches the circumference of the burger patty below it. The crab is soft with a slight crunch on the top of the exterior. It all pairs smartly with the Horseradish Mayonnaise to earn the $20 tendered. The only downside of the dish was the regular french fries, which came out much too salty to be enjoyed. Go with the Sweet Potato Fries instead.
We’d certainly have this again.
Grilled Sustainable Fish – $18
on Brioche Bun with Watercress, Pickled Onions, Tomato, and Roasted Garlic Mayo
The sustainable fish is a Cobia, but it could change to Yellow-Tail Snapper as the chef decides. Our Cobia was nice and soft, with just enough structure to keep its shape throughout the plate. It was ever so salty, and had a bit of a “fishy” taste, so those who are adverse to that may want to steer clear. Due to the abundance of salt, this one earns a pass from us.
Finally, let’s take a look at some of the desserts offered!
Message in the Bottle – $8
Coconut-Rice Panna Cotta, Pineapple, and Mango-Lime Sorbet
More like message in a candle holder, we really weren’t sure how to approach this one. Ultimately, there is no eloquent way to eat this dessert, and the consistency makes it even harder. While the mango tones paired really well with the pineapple and lime, the consistency was something closer to a watery liquid than anything that we’d want to eat again. The textures are a real mess, and it wasn’t enjoyable to eat. It’s a real shame too, because we enjoyed the tropical flavors presented. Pass on this one.
Mile Marker Zero – $9
Iced Key Lime Pops with Sea Salt and a Tropical Fruit Sauce
Our favorite of the three desserts, two large iced key lime pops are coated in chocolate. The sea salt combined nicely with the chocolate and traditional key lime taste. Don’t forget the tropical fruit sauce! The “pop” naming might be a bit deceiving. It’s essentially a dense key lime custard filling with bits of crust crumble. Make sure to enjoy these quickly as they melt when introduced to the Florida weather! Despite the $9 price tag, we can recommend this dessert.
Floating Island – $8
Fresh Caribbean Fruit and Meringue with Guava and Guanabana Sorbet
The most robust of the three desserts, there was quite a lot going on with the Floating Island. Two meringue are topped with guava and guanabana sorbet. With fresh Caribbean fruit, this is a refreshing dessert that will take you on an adventure of flavors. It’s a unique dish that we can recommend.
Our Thoughts
Overall, we enjoyed our trip to Banana Cabana and the menu items we tried. There are some fresh flavors to be had and every dish comes with a Caribbean twist. The expansion of this space and the ability to order directly off of the Sebastian’s Bistro menu is a winner that many resort guests will enjoy. Whether you’re coming here for a quick drink or a full meal, Cabana Banana and the Sebastian’s Bistro shared menu is a very solid update!