Scoring last-minute reservations at a popular Walt Disney World restaurant can feel a little like winning the lottery. When I found one for lunch at Space 220, I was over the moon — literally. When Space 220 opened two years ago, the buzz surrounding the concept (and the food on the menu) made it near impossible to get a reservation. Last week, though, my friend Marra scored a lunch reservation.

Before we get to the food, let’s pause for a moment to talk about the decor. 

Photo by Danny Shuster.

No, not that decor — by now most people know that you take a space “elevator” 220 miles up to the restaurant and can see Earth through the “windows” as you dine. No, I’m talking about…

…The Bathrooms at Space 220

It took me a minute, too. Photo by Cathy Salustri.

There’s not a lot to look in the bathrooms — after all, there’s only so much theming one can do with a row of toilets and sinks — but a couple of signs are well-worth the trip to the loo. Plus you should wash your hands after traveling through space.

This is not your average baby changing station. Photo by Cathy Salustri.

What We Ordered at Space 220

Lunch costs $55/person at Space 220. This includes one selection from the Lift-Offs (appetizer and salad) part of the menu and one selection from the Star Course part (mains).

Roasted Beet Salad at Space 220. Photo by Cathy Salustri.

For Lift-Offs, we chose the Big Bang Burrata and Roasted Beet Salad. Our plan was to share with each other, but once I tasted that first beet, I knew sharing would prove tough. I love beets, and this dish delivered two types: red and golden. The goat cheese medallions had a caramelized finish, and they, along with the greens, herbed pesto, and hazelnut all enhanced the taste of those beets rather than overpowering them. Marra’s Big Bang Burrata came with the largest ball of burrata I’ve seen — pretty sure this it what put the “big” in the name. She, being nicer than me, shared it with me generously. We agree on both counts: 10/10, would order again. (Maybe that Roasted Beet Salad deserves a 12/10, though.)

While we could have likely left full and happy at that, we still had our Star Course to come. Marra went with the Steak Salad and I ordered the Rocket Flame Seared Tuna. This is where things could have gone wrong.

Rocket Flame Seared Tuna at Space 220. Photo by Cathy Salustri

The tuna arrived and it looked delicious. For whatever reason, I didn’t like it. I like fennel, and I love tuna in all its glorious forms, but this piece tasted somehow off. I want to clearly say it didn’t taste bad, or spoiled — it simply lacked any fish flavor at all.

Our server asked how we liked our food, and I told her I didn’t love it. She immediately offered to bring me something else, and suggested the Galactic Miso Salmon. In short order, another Cast Member approached our table with what I thought was a grey domed lid over my plate. I assumed they were making a special presentation to make up for me not liking the tuna, but I assumed incorrectly. That domed lid wasn’t grey — it was a glass dome, filled with smoke. When they set down the plate and removed the dome, the intoxicating scent of smoke — think campfire, not emergency — enveloped me.

Friends, Space 220 served me the best piece of salmon I’ve eaten in my life. I initially didn’t order it because of the “glazed” part of the name — I didn’t want something sweet. This salmon, though, didn’t taste sweet. It hit every other note on my palate, though, in the best possible way. The celeriac puree, the edamame, and the shaved carrot ribbons and sliced carrot discs elevated the dish even more, making it a truly out-of-this-world experience.

The verdict: 15/10 for the salmon and 7/10 for the Steak Salad. Marra loved the blue cheese crumbles, but noted the steak tips had a bit too much fat for her liking and wondered if the kitchen had perhaps used two types of steak in the dish. It didn’t warrant sending back to the kitchen, but next time, she’ll try something else.

After that salmon and those amazing Lift-Offs, going back to Earth was tough. Thankfully, I had a few bites of that salmon left, and the restaurant happily gave me a small box so I could take it back to my home planet.

Until next time, Space 220!

About Allergies

Both Marra and I don’t eat gluten (I have celiac), but this is rarely — if ever — a concern at any Walt Disney World restaurant, and it certainly wasn’t an issue for us this time, either. We had plenty of choices, and, as with other Disney restaurants, the menu included allergen information. People with allergies should note, however, that as Patina Group operates Space 220, not Walt Disney World, Space 220 does not have a separate allergen menu. Make sure to tell your server about any dietary issues before you order!

Read More about Space 220

Danny reviewed Space 220 and dug into dishes off the menu in October 2022. Subscribers, refresh your memory about what he wrote. Don’t subscribe yet, or started subscribing after we mailed this issue? Buy a back copy. Want to get Disney deliciousness mailed to your home every month? Subscribe today!