Walt Disney World Dining Review: Paddlefish at Disney Springs

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For Christmas Day, since it’s just my fiancé, parents and I, we like to keep things pretty lowkey. We got a reservation at Paddlefish for lunch, which I was excited about since I’ve been here before for a company Christmas party and knew it would be good but also manageable for my SmartPoints budget. 

Let’s take a look at some of my recommendations for a delicious lunch you can enjoy even on myWW (Weight Watchers): the chicken breast, fish tacos, and blackened catfish sandwich. ​

We got the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer, which is a good choice on really any diet plan. I didn't photograph it, but it came with about seven large pieces of shrimp, some cocktail sauce with horseradish, and a lemon for squeezing. If you're trying to either go low-carb or resist temptation, also note that our server did not bring bread to our table - I'm sure they would have if we asked, but we didn't, so that was nice to know that I wouldn't be loading up on just straight carbs before my meal.

I opted for something I knew to help me track it on Weight Watchers that I also knew was really good: the chicken breast. You get a large portion of chicken between some salad greens and a succotash, and it’s cooked in a Carolina mop sauce, which is flavorful yet light since it’s vinegar-based. The mop sauce from the chicken is also on the bacon succotash, which consists largely of edamame and corn with some real bacon bits thrown in the mix (not a lot of bacon in there to worry about it, and if you aren’t a fan it’s easy enough to pick out). This made for a lower in SmartPoints dish that was extremely filling and satisfying to my tastebuds. It’s also a great option if you’re carb-cycling and on a low carb day.

My mom enjoyed her fish tacos which included a red cabbage slaw, papaya-mango salsa, sweet chili aioli on top of whatever the catch of the day was. In her instance it looked like tilapia or flounder. The tortillas weren’t massive, so this is another dish I’d recommend if you’re trying to not overdo it but also not sacrifice on taste or being filled!

My dad ordered the blackened catfish sandwich - he said the bun wasn’t buttered, so that’s a plus! However he said for sides, the asparagus was delicious but, in his words, you’d be just as good off getting the French fries (unless you’re doing a high fat diet like keto) due to how much oil the asparagus was sitting in. This is definitely something worth noting! If you do opt for a veggie side, my fiancé got the green beans for his, which had significantly less oil but still some in the dish. But as for the sandwich itself, the fish was light and flavorful without being super oily. Definitely a good choice if you’re in the mood for a sandwich! 

On top of everything else, the atmosphere and the view is awesome at Paddlefish. You have a gorgeous view of the water and Disney Springs while you dine, and is definitely one of Disney’s finer-dining locations without being super expensive. Prices here can get pricey for certain seafood dishes, but it’s really comparable to anywhere else at Disney Springs that isn’t a quick-service place. 

Tips for Success

• Check the menu in advance! You can also turn to my Restaurants Guide for Disney Springs if you're heading that way to see what I've combed through. There are plenty of options here where you can still enjoy your meal without having something fried, greasy, or heavy if you're trying to avoid that. 
• Try to find a dish that is higher in protein; here, that should be fairly simple between the chicken dish I got and a variety of seafoods. 
• If anything comes with a sauce or dressing, ask for it on the side (or, you can do what my mom and I do sometimes which is bring our own in a to-go condiment/dressing container).
• If your entree doesn't necessarily come with a side (mine did not, as the succotash was built in to the entree), ask yourself if it really needs it or if what you'll be served is filling enough as is. This will save you some money and calories while helping you practice mindful eating. If you receive your dish and realize it's not enough, you can always ask for a side once your meal arrives!
• If your dish is too big to finish, if you aren't going anywhere afterwords, ask for a box so you can take it to go! I also like to ask for a to go cup of water from restaurants so I have something to sip on if I go for a walk around the park or Disney Springs after.

For New Year’s Eve I’ll be at Terralina, so look forward to that review next! But in the meantime, I want to hear from you: what’s your favorite restaurant at Disney Springs?