Disney Springs™ Dining

  • Disney Springs

    Disney Springs

  • Jaleo by José Andrés knockout bar

    Jaleo by José Andrés knockout bar

  • STK Steakhouse

    STK Steakhouse

  • Frontera Cocina

    Frontera Cocina
    Request a table with a view of the water

  • Chef Art Smith's Homecomin'

    Chef Art Smith's Homecomin'
    Ask for a table on the screened porch

  • Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' dining room

    Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' dining room

  • The Boathouse

    The Boathouse
    Fresh seafood in a delightful waterfront setting

  • The Boathouse

    The Boathouse
    Take a spin on one of the restaurant's amphicars!

  • Dockside Bar at The Boathouse

    Dockside Bar at The Boathouse
    Over the water drinks

  • Morimoto Asia

    Morimoto Asia
    One gorgeous restaurant!

  • Raglan Road

    Raglan Road
    Authentic Irish cuisine and traditional music

  • Enzo's Hideaway

    Enzo's Hideaway
    You'll love this fun underground spot!

  • T-Rex Cafe

    T-Rex Cafe
    A prehistoric experience

  • T-Rex Cafe

    T-Rex Cafe


= Cara's Favorite

Chef Art Smith's Homecomin'

American cuisine at Disney Springs™The Landing. Lunch and dinner daily 11 a.m-10 p.m; Brunch Sat and Sun 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-560-0100 for reservations; casual dress.

If someone had told me that Southern country cooking would be my favorite cuisine at Disney Springs, I would have begged to differ. But sure enough, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is one restaurant that stands out from the crowd. Serving local, farm-sourced ingredients in a cozy, welcoming setting right on the “Springs,” it’s one place I will more than likely visit with each trip to Walt Disney World® Resort.

Opt to dine in the bar, the dining room, or, if the weather is nice, on the screened porch overlooking the water. The wait staff, dressed in jeans and blue-and-white gingham shirts, is super friendly and seem proud of what they are serving, as they should be.Starters here are pretty darn amazing. I so miss the Jasper Board, no longer on the menu, with its assortment of pimento cheese (the best!), smoked fish dip, smoked sausage, thinly shaved dry-cured ham, bread and butter pickles, savory, spicy/sweet candied pecans, and crispy bread wafers. But can we talk about the fried green tomatoes? Here they have a new twist. Lightly breaded then fried, topped with shaved Tasso ham, on a bed of watercress and arugula, all drizzled with remoulade—truly phenomenal! And okra fries with creamy dressing is something you don’t find just anywhere.

You must order the legendary fried chicken—no more said (Just kidding. I always have more to say!). This is seriously great chicken, buttermilk-brined for 24 hours, then crispy fried to perfection. Add to that a sprinkle of the restaurant’s house-made hot sauce and yummy biscuits spiked with just a touch of cheddar cheese; it was love at first sight. The shrimp and grits are always good with a rich tomato gravy spiked with Tasso ham.

Side choices are plentiful, but what promised to be delicious mac and cheese was a bit bland, so ask to top it with bacon, which gives it that perfect flavor.

While the hummingbird cake is the restaurant’s signature dessert, and it is fabulous, I can’t recommend enough a basket of fried cake mini donuts, orange-flavored, rolled in brown sugar, and served with a spiced cane syrup dipping sauce. What more can I say? That is until I head back to try the deviled eggs, the chopped barbecue pork, etc…

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City Works Eatery & Pour House

American cuisine at Disney Springs™West Side. Massive selection of craft brews in a sports bar atmosphere. Lunch and dinner. Mon - Thurs 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri 11 a.m. -11:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Sun 10:00 a.m.-11 p.m.

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Enzo's Hideaway

Prohibition-style cocktails and Italian bites at this tunnel restaurant/bar at Disney Springs™The Landing. Dinner only; call (407) WDW-DINE, or (407) 560-3696, or at OpenTable.com for reservations. Open daily 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

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House of Blues

Cajun/Creole cuisine at Disney Springs™West Side. Lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch; call 407-WDW-DINE for reservations; casual dress. Open Mon-Thur 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Sat and Sun 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. with Brunch served 10 a.m.-1:55 p.m.

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Frontera Cocina

Mexican cuisine at Disney Springs™Town Center. Lunch and dinner; call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-560-9197 or go to OpenTable.com for reservations; casual dress. Open daily 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Frontera Cocina is a modern but casual take on old-style Mexico. Developed by celebrity chef Rick Bayless, six-time winner of the James Beard Foundation Award, you’ll be delighted by his award-winning dishes.

Its front dining room is set around a lively open kitchen presided over by a bright Aztez-influenced mural and a rich palette of sparkling tangerine, sky blue, and lime green. I prefer the back room where you’ll find the bar and superb views of Disney Springs waterway. Or on balmy days request a table on the back patio.

You must start with sikil pak, a Mexican version of hummus, but this time made from pumpkin seeds instead of chickpeas. Sprinkled with ground seeds, splashed with a touch of habanero (expect a bit of a kick), sided with fresh and crispy tostado chips (too salty for my taste), cucumber and jicama matchsticks, it puts your run-of-the-mill hummus to shame.

Shrimp mojo de ajo, roasted in a somewhat garlicky chipotle sauce, spiked with grilled zucchini and served over rice mixed with plantains, is cleverly served in a small iron skillet. There wasn’t enough spice to make me happy, but the shrimp were plump and tasty. A platter of roasted pork carnitas was slightly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside accompanied by chunky guacamole and refried black beans topped with my favorite Cotija cheese—if you don’t like fat with your meat then choose something else. Both plates served with superb baby corn tortillas.

Ask for sides of both types of salsas: a smoky red chipotle and a tart green (salsa verde). The creamy queso añejo mashed potatoes are a pleaser, again topped with Cotija cheese, then quickly oven browned to perfection, although I prefer them mashed without the skins.

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Jaleo by José Andrés

Spanish cuisine at Disney Springs™West Side. Lunch and dinner. Call 407-WDW-DINE or (321) 348-3211 or at OpenTable.com for reservations; casual dress. Open daily 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

Jaleo proves time and time again that it is simply a hidden gem in Disney Springs. There is so much on the exquisite menu that it’s tough to decide what and how much to order. Although primarily small plates of tapas, you almost can’t go wrong with whatever you choose. So, order a few things, enjoy them, and then order more if you haven’t had your fill. And plan on coming back several times to try what you missed.

Begin with one of the restaurant’s special sangrias, blano, tinto, and even frozen. Or perhaps one of the excellent Spanish wines on offer. Then let the dishes begin! Order a plate with a mix of cured meats, particularly the Jamon Iberico and the acorn-fed pork sausage. I love the traditional pan con tomate, crispy slices of outstanding bread topped with crushed tomatoes and garlic, and the patatas bravas, potatoes fried and topped with a savory tomato sauce and a dab of tasty aioli.

The gambas al ajillo is a must; fresh shrimp sauteed with plenty of garlic. And a new favorite is the Josper-grilled pork sausage served with tiny sauteéd white beans. The Spanish chorizo atop creamy olive-oil pureed potatoes is to die for. If you feel the need for something green, it should be the sauteéd spinach with raisins and apples, a little bit tart and a little bit sweet. Seriously, the list goes on and on, each better than the next.

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Maria & Enzo's Ristorante

Trattoria-style Italian cuisine at Disney Springs™The Landing. Lunch (Sat and Sun only) and dinner; call (407) WDW-DINE, or (407) 560-8466, or at OpenTable.com for reservations. Open Sat and Sun 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Mon-Fri 5:00 p.m.-10 p.m.

Morimoto Asia

Pan-Asian cuisine at Disney Springs The Landing. Lunch and dinner; call (407) WDW-DINE, or 407-939-6686, or go to OpenTable.com for reservations. Open Sun-Thurs 12:00.- 3 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m.; same hours Fri and Sat but open until 10 p.m.

Dining at Morimoto has long been associated with the merging of Japanese culinary tradition and the American palate. At Morimoto Asia Restaurant at Disney Springs, the Pan-Asian cuisine also extends to the food of China, South Korea, and Thailand. The restaurant is a visually stunning, two-tiered affair lit with impressive 20-foot long chandeliers and an open exhibition kitchen where diners can watch the preparation of the restaurant’s signature dishes such as crispy Peking Duck. There is also a lounge in the Shanghai tradition, an outdoor terrace, and a sweeping staircase that leads to an additional dining space, a sushi bar, and a second-floor lounge. I would ask to sit in the downstairs, orchid-adorned, main dining area to catch the flavor of the happening scene.If you’re clever, you’ll insist on ordering the light and crispy popcorn shrimp tempura doused with spicy Korean gochujang red chili sauce. And be sure to share a half rack of Morimoto spareribs, thick, meaty, and sticky, crisp on the outside thanks to a quick fry in cornstarch, tossed with a hoisin sauce and sprinkled with cilantro—quite the indulgent treat. But don’t order too many-these are so rich that they can be overwhelming after one or two.

The slightly spicy Shrimp Wonton appetizer was just the ticket, swimming in duck broth with just enough chili oil to add some fun to it. At first, the thought of Orange Chicken turned me off since I thought it would be a sweet-sour sauce, but it was a pleasant surprise with panko-crusted fried boneless chicken in a delicious and not-too-sweet orange sauce. And the “Buri-bop” certainly was different, if not a bit bland. Arriving in a clay pot still sizzling from the oven, the rice and yellowtail dish is finished tableside with an egg yolk tossed in.

Try Morimoto’s deconstructed version served with a coconut-mango sauce if you love mochi. But the churros! They come with a vanilla sauce and a darling squeezable tube of Nutella to add to the fun.

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Paradiso 37, Taste of the Americas

North, Central, and South American food at Disney Springs™The Landing. Lunch and dinner; call 407-934-3700 or go to OpenTable.com for reservations; casual dress. Open daily Sun-Fri 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.-midnight

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Paddlefish

Seafood and American cuisine at Disney Springs™The Landing. Lunch and dinner; Sunday Brunch. Call WDW_DINE or 407-934-2628 for reservations; reservations also available on OpenTable.com. Casual dress. Open daily 12 p.m.-11 p.m.

Dine on fresh seafood on a paddleboat anchored on Lake Buena Vista. Favorites include Florida stone crab and lobster guacamole.

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Raglan Road™ Irish Pub and Restaurant

Irish food and music at Disney Springs™The Landing. Lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch; call 407-WDW-DINE or go to OpenTable.com for reservations; casual dress. Open daily 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m., Rollicking Raglan Brunch 9 a.m.-3.00pm Saturday & Sunday.

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Rainforest Café®

American cuisine at Disney Springs™Marketplace. Lunch and dinner; call 407-827-8500 for reservations; casual dress. Open Sun-Thur 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri and Sat 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

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STK Orlando

Steakhouse at Disney Springs™The Landing. Lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch; call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-560-0100 or go to OpenTable.com for reservations; casual dress. Open Saturday and Sunday for brunch 9:30 a.m-3 p.m.; lunch Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; dinner Sun-Thur 3 p.m.-10:45 p.m.; Fri and Sat 3-11:15 p.m.

STK is quite the glamorous Disney Springs hot spot offering tender steaks and plenty of bling to go along with them. Its red brick exterior is in stark contrast to the upscale interior, not your average masculine steakhouse. Instead it’s clubby and glitzy, a place where DJ music blares, and not exactly conducive to fine dining. So if it’s a quiet meal you are looking for then look elsewhere, or at least book an early dinnertime ahead of the DJ’s arrival.

There are several seating areas to choose from, the best and most alluring being the two-level, downstairs dining room (dinner only) with white leather banquets on its upper level towered over by stunning white floral arrangements and strangely angled mirrors. The lower level wood tables with curved white leather chairs share the space with a swanky bar. Climb a steep but enchanting marble staircase to reach the much more casual upstairs bar and dining area and adjoining rooftop terrace overlooking Disney Springs, where both lunch and dinner is served.

The crunchy Rock Shrimp is a definite winner, lightly fried in a tempura-like batter and dressed with a slightly spicy chili remoulade. The restaurant’s Blue Salad is made perfect with tender baby iceberg lettuce, a smattering of smoky bacon, and baby cherry tomatoes. Still, the savory Point Reyes Blue cheese is the highlight of this dish.

A wide range of delicious steaks are on offer but consider the 28-ounce porterhouse, enough for 2, which arrives at the table beautifully sliced. The Wagyu flat iron steak was what I felt the need to try. Quite flavorful, also arriving pre-sliced, and made even tastier with the peppercorn crust and chimichurri sauce options.

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Terralina Crafted Italian

Italian cuisine at Disney Springs™The Landing. Lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch; call (407) WDW-DINE or go to OpenTable.com for reservations. Open daily 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Brunch Sunday from 12-3 p.m.

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The Boathouse

Seafood at Disney Springs™The Landing. Lunch and dinner; call (407) WDW-DINE, or (407) 949-2628, or go to OpenTable.com for reservations. Open Mon-Thur 11:00 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Fri 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.- 11 p.m.

Dream boats from the ’30s, ’40s & ’50s and dining in a replica of an old boathouse are this Disney Springs restaurant’s claim to fame. Most of the restaurant is built out over the water, certainly adding a nice touch to the theming. Arrive ahead of your reservations for a drink at one of three bars: the front room’s Captain’s Raw Bar with 30-foot ceilings, the smaller Admiral’s Club Bar, or, my favorite, the one-of-a-kind Dockside Bar built out over the water with fabulous sunsets. Then get ready to feast on fresh seafood, steaks, and selections from the raw bar. On balmy days request a seat outside for dockside dining. Or enjoy one of the various inside dining rooms with a variety of antique props, including restored boat motors, Tiffany-style fixtures, old boating photos, even a vintage Chris Craft boat redesigned into a boat booth (indeed a great seat to request on arrival).

Starters such as yellowfin tuna poke set the experience in motion. Formed with an avocado and mango base, piled high with uber-fresh tuna marinated in a soy lime vinaigrette, served with won ton chips dusted with chili, it’s a sure winner. However, I do love the firecracker shrimp, crispy fried, and then tossed in spicy sriracha mayo and chili peppers.

Fish tacos stuffed with jerk spiced grilled fish, slaw, slices of avocado, and a drizzling of spicy serrano chili cream sauce would be perfect if only they came with corn instead of flour tortillas. The steamed whole Maine lobster is quite reasonable, tender and juicy, but, of course, lots of work. Or just go traditional and choose the lobster roll, brimming with meaty chunks perfectly dressed on a buttery bun.

CARA’S TIP: Plan your meal around a tour of Disney Springs onboard a vintage Amphicar or a romantic spin on a Venetian Water Taxi complete with Italian music, champagne, and chocolate-covered strawberries. At least take a tour of the rare boats on display outside on the restaurant’s pier.

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The Edison

Classic American cuisine, craft cocktails and unique entertainment at Disney Springs™ The Landing. Dinner only; call (407) WDW-DINE, or (407) 960-5288, or go to theedisonfla.com for reservations. Open daily 12-11 p.m.

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T-REX Café®

American cuisine at Disney Springs Marketplace. Lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner; Open daily Sun-Thur 11:00 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri and Sat 11:00 a.m-11 p.m.

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Wine Bar George

Wine bar with small plates at Disney Springs™ The Landing. Lunch, dinner and weekend brunch; call (407) WDW-DINE, or (407) 490-1800, or go to opentable.com for reservations. Open daily. Mon-Thur 12-11 p.m.; Fri 12-11:30 p.m.; Sat 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Sun 10:30-11 p.m.; Wine Country Brunch Sat and Sun 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

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Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Wolfgang’s signature dishes at Disney Springs Marketplace. Lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Lunch and dinner; call (407) WDW-DINE, or (407) 815-2500 for reservations. Lunch Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Brunch Sat and Sun 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dinner Mon-Thur 4-10 p.m.; Fri 4-11 p.m.; Sat 3-11 p.m.; Sun 3-10 p.m.

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