Headed to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort? Don’t Miss a Dinner at Wind & Waves Grill!

We all have our favorite Disney restaurants, right? Whether they be in a park or a resort really doesn’t matter; they’ve made an impact and they’ve become the one that we must visit every single time that we’re at that particular resort or in that park. Today, I’ve got one such restaurant on my mind, but it’s nowhere near the hustle and bustle of a theme park. It’s not something that I squeeze in via an Advanced Dining Reservation made a gazillion days before my trip and, to be honest, I can very likely find a reservation available the day before at pretty much anytime I please. Friends, today we’re going to take a look at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort‘s Wind & Waves Grill.

If you’ve never been to Disney’s Vero Beach, let me quickly bring you up to speed. Wind & Waves Grill, the resort’s only table service location, reflects Disney’s Vero Beach Resort’s laid-back and easy-going air. It doesn’t stand on formality, yet has a head chef who hails from Disney’s Aulani and whom I am convinced can literally do anything, including convincing me to try Loco Moco, a Hawaiian favorite that he’s brought to Wind & Waves Grill, for the very first time. Spoiler alert: it was incredible.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the resort again, and knew that I had to share the meals that I savored while there in the chance that you were unaware of the greatness that lies within the unassuming restaurant. 

The dinner menu changes each evening, with specials being offered according to available ingredients. Guests will find a special pizza, butchers cut items, a catch of the day entrée, as well as vegan and other specials. I don’t know about you, but I love a menu that rotates or changes things up from time to time. I enjoy the element of surprise. 

During the meal on our first evening at the resort, we tried the Shrimp and Sweet Corn Hushpuppies appetizer ($15). This wasn’t our first time having these little babies, but was the first time in a long time, and it was a delight to be reminded of how very good they are. Moist and filled with corn and shrimp, you’ll want to be sure to savor them with just a bit of that sweet chili dipping sauce that comes alongside them.

My first entrée of the visit it was the Peach-glazed Pork Tenderloin ($32). If you’d like to get my attention, please by all means put cheddar grits on the menu. I will be wooed every time, and this time was no different. The sweet peach-glazed pork tenderloin was fantastic, and you could absolutely taste that it was grilled over oak. It came with bacon-braised greens that were absolutely fantastic. 

On our first evening, my husband chose the Fish and Chips. The lager-battered mahi was fantastic. Being mahi, it was firmer than the cod that you and I would typically get a in fish and chips dish. The only slightly disappointing moment came thanks to the chips portion of the meal. Rather than a hearty steak-cut fry, the four gorgeous pieces of battered mahi rested upon very basic shoestring fries. The dichotomy of the two was vast, and in my mind, those gorgeous pieces of fish needed to be coupled with French fries that held their own. 

The second night of the stay had me struggling to choose between the Roasted Chicken and the Shrimp and Grits. I’ve had the Shrimp and Grits before, and it’s delicious dish. The Roasted Chicken, however, sounded comforting and somewhat adjacent to a Thanksgiving style meal, which sounded good to me at the time. Friends, I chose correctly. The chicken breast was prepared airline style, and with skin on. The breast had been roasted to the most deeply, gorgeous golden brown, and was incredibly moist and flavorful. It sat atop of bed of cornbread dressing, which was both sweet and salty. I seriously could’ve eaten twice the amount of dressing; it was that good. The entrée also featured whipped potatoes, green beans (which were prepared to perfection), and gravy.

My husband’s second meal had him leaning toward the specials menu. He had debated getting the Kurobuta Pork T-bone Chop ($34) the night before, and he wasn’t going to go without it again. The pork T-bone chop was absolutely massive, and my husband ate every single bite. It came with broccolini and a cheesy potato casserole that was out of this world.

If you find yourself with a sweet tooth toward the end of the meal, you can’t go wrong with the Chocolate Chip Caramel Pecan Cookie ($11). It’s a freshly baked cookie topped that arrives in a skillet and topped with vanilla ice cream and drowned in chocolate sauce and caramel sauce. It’s the perfect size for sharing, and it was absolutely over-the-top decadent.

Please, visit Disney’s Vero Beach Resort if you haven’t already done so. And, by all means, when you stay at the resort, please savor a dinner (or two!) at Wind & Waves Grill. It’ll be time very well spent.