When Ale & Compass Restaurant opened at Walt Disney World’s Yacht Club Resort last November, it received mixed reviews. The nautical and sparse decor appealed to some but made others feel the space was too stuffy.
The menus raised some eyebrows, with self-proclaimed New England-style options not appealing to, well, New Englanders. We gave it a bit of a tepid review for dinner, and we heard from lots of readers who missed the former Captain’s Grille breakfast buffet.
Dark Chocolate Waffles at Captain’s Grille
For one of those contentious topics, Ale & Compass offers a solution. A breakfast buffet is now available! (And we were told that it was due to popular demand from guests. So see? Sometimes your requests do make it all the way to the top!)
Ale & Compass Restaurant sign by the entrance
And the price is actually OK on this one!
For $23, diners can access the buffet and ALSO select one entree from the new morning menu! Entrees include an American Breakfast, Dark Chocolate Waffles (!!), and a Breakfast Flatbread. There are a few healthy options, too, like an Egg White Omelet and a Breakfast Protein Bowl.
Entree Menu
The full buffet is available to every diner in addition to the entree. Buffet options are standard fare, with fruit, pastries, and oatmeal. There’s also charcuterie and yummy Parker House Rolls.
Buffet Offerings
Drinks are plentiful. Coffee, tea, juice, and soft drinks are included. If you’re on DDP, we expect you could select a smoothie or cocktail as part of your meal entitlement.
Drink Menu
The buffet itself is pristine, and while it’s laid out in a single line, we had no trouble with crowding during our visit. Diners can even catch a glimpse of the hearth (where those flatbreads are baked) and food prep.
Buffet Layout
There are several fresh fruit options, including whole oranges and apples. Two types of yogurt are served in small mason jars.
Yogurt and Fruit
Bagels and English Muffins (not pictured) are also available, alongside balls of butter.
Bagels
There are several cheeses from which to choose, as well as some grapes and raisins.
Cheeses
The charcuterie includes four varieties of meats, which rest beside smoked salmon and its accompaniments. There’s also smoked trout dip.
Meats and Accompaniments
There are tasty cinnamon rolls and shiny biscuits, which may be accompanied by gravy.
Cinnamon Rolls and Biscuits
Gravy is served in a giant cast iron pot. And Parker House Rolls are a nice addition.
Gravy and Parker House Rolls
Oatmeal is kept warm in a cast iron pot as well.
Oatmeal
Aside from the sugary cinnamon rolls, there are several other pastries. Options include muffins, croissants, and danishes.
Cinnamon Rolls
Pastries
With all of those options plus an entree, there’s pretty much no way anyone could leave hungry at Ale & Compass Restaurant. We’re thrilled that the buffet option has returned because our first breakfast visit — when the restaurant initially opened last fall — was pretty lackluster in comparison to the Captain’s Grille buffet we’d loved for years.
And while this buffet might not be as exciting as CG, it’s a good option if you’re staying in the general vicinity of the Yacht Club Resort and want a large morning meal. Is it worth a trip from elsewhere in the World? Probably not, but we wouldn’t blame you if you came from afar just for the Dark Chocolate Waffles alone. 😉
Want to see more from Ale & Compass Restaurant? Check out our very first visit here!
Are you happy to see a buffet return to this dining spot? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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Will this breakfast buffet meal be available for table service credits? If so, how many?
Ick, Did you see what they did to the eggs benedict? I won’t be partaking. Do yourself a favor and go to The Wave at Contemporary. Their eggs benedict with key lime hollandaise is excellent.
Alas, the bread pudding with banana foster sauce is not part of the new buffet offering.
OK so – question. We booked an Ale & Compass breakfast for our Candlelight Processional package this upcoming November. Is the buffet+entree thingamabob an available choice for said package? Anyone know?
FYI— my favorite as a breakfast buffet—the wave began at a low price then just a few days later the prices increased
I don’t do the buffet; order off the menu. Who needs all that food from buffet and getting up/down to get your food.
Just tried the buffet this past week and was very disappointed, the Captains Grille breakfast buffet was one of my favorites. We decided to check out the new Ale and Compass buffet and found it lacking. Not enough breakfast options on the buffet, not even scrambled eggs and bacon. Service was a bit lacking as well even though the restaurant was crowded at all. Won’t be returning any time soon.
Wayne, unless they add a prix fixe-style option for the package, we would expect Processional diners to receive whatever the breakfast menu is at the time — so the buffet and entree if that has staying power!
Sam, all meals at Ale & Compass are one table service credit, according to Disney World’s official website.
Thanks Sarah! Also, whoop whoop! Hello charcuterie!
To me, this buffet is meant simply as an accompaniment to your actual breakfast rather than a meal unto itself right? Like the buffet at lunch/dinner at Akershus or even the buffet at the new California Grill brunch. I figure this is why you won’t find “main dish” offerings such as eggs or bacon. Though Cali Grill DOES have deviled eggs, which would definitely kick this one up a notch.
I get it’s not for everyone, but I kind of like it as I prefer a plated entree but like being able to add to it as I see fit. I also do get those that miss Captain’s Grille though. That was a very good buffet.
The menu says the drinks are included in the buffet in the picture, the review says they aren’t…which is right?
Good morning, staying at this hotel soon and trying to figure out some Dining Plan details. We have Deluxe Dining pkg. your article mentions beverages are charged separately from the buffet meal. Would beverages (non-alcoholic) be included with our Dining plan? Thx!
Hi, Jackie! Tea, coffee, juice, and soft drinks are included. Specialty drinks (smoothies, cocktails, etc.) should be included in the DDP.
Trisha, I’ve updated the post to reflect the menu, as tea, coffee, juice, and soft drinks are included. Thanks for reading!
Wayne, that’s how we understand it, too. Thanks for reading and sharing your perspective!
Well, it’s about time! The former Captain’s Grill Buffet was one of our favorite for years. On our last visit Dec. 2017, we tried the new Ale & Compass for just a regular breakfast and were so disappointed that we swore we’d never return. Now we have something to look forward to this coming December trip. We are keeping our reservations for the Wave in place but now we have a second buffet to pick for another day. Yahoo!
Hooray! Was so disappointed when the CG Breakfast Buffet disappeared. This return is awesome news!!
This is such a great website, I enjoyed viewing every mouthwatering sweets in this post, thank you for sharing.