Hi Douglas,
Welcome to the Moms Panel! I had seven Disney Cruises under my belt before I took the leap and gave Palo a try! The food was very good, and I certainly enjoyed my evening - but in all honesty I enjoyed every dining experience while on board.
If you're a first time cruiser, I wouldn't put Palo on the "must do" list, especially if you have some reservations about how your little one will do without you. There is nothing more difficult than trying to enjoy a nice meal when all you want to do is check your pager every few minutes
Another alternative would be to try the champagne brunch at Palo, it's incredible! This brunch features a buffet of international cheeses, fresh pastries, made-to-order entrées, desserts and champagne. You don't have to dress up quite as fancy, cruise casual will do - and it doesn't take as long so you could be back to your little one a bit sooner. A $15 per person cover charge applies to the buffet as well and advance reservations are strongly suggested.
As for your wife's food restrictions, be sure to have this notated on your cruise reservation and mention it again when making your Palo reservation. The culinary staff is prepared to handle just about any dietary restrictions, and do so without sacrificing the amazing dining experience.
For more information on Palo, including the menu and reservation information click
HERE.
Hope this helps!