Disney Springs is previously known as Downtown Disney. When you think of anything that has the word Disney in it you of course Mickey Mouse comes into mind. While yes anything with the word Disney in it is the ultimate place for fun, the best rides, entertainment, and the best characters in the world. Now you can rest assure that theres another amazing thing that Disney has in store for you and that is a place to dine, grab the best cocktails, and dessert all in one. The newly revamped Disney Springs is the Ultimate “Foodie” location.
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’: While attending the Disney Springs #ShopDisneySprings event we had the honor of being treated a fabulous lunch at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming. The moment you walk through the doors you instantly feel the welcomed. The hostess to the wait staff are filled with a great big smile to greet you, they give you that down south welcoming. Making you feel at home. If it’s your first time there you need not worry your server will give you the must haves and the ultimate crowd favorites. The menu is filled with plenty of comfort food to choose from. If you are in the mood for a cocktail or would like to try some authentic moonshine then you are in for a treat and are in the right place.
One of the things that melted my heart was that all ingredients are Florida farm sourced. Which means a lot to this Florida gal. (I may not currently live in Florida but it will always be home.) If you are a chicken lover then you are in the right place. This is the place to enjoy the best fried chicken. For starters you need to try the Bunch of Puppies they are to die for. The cheddar cheese biscuits are another must have on my list. My husband and I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich which we fell in love with. It is one of my top all-time favorites. To give you some insider info, the chicken is buttermilk brined for 24 hours and double battered making it the juicy and tastiest chicken you ever tasted. To top off the meal it is served with house-made barbecue chips. Amazing. I tried the Rum-shine Punch which tasted amazing. My hubby tried a sunshine flight and was able to choose three house made moonshine flavors.
Splitsville: This place is perfect for the whole family or date night. The place screams fun and excitement. If you are in the mood to snack on something you must try the Parmesan Chicken Tenders. If you have a special event or birthday coming up this is the perfect venue to have your family and friends talking your bowling party for days.
Bongos Cuban Cafe: The place to eat the best Spanish meals. There is no other place get some traditional Cuban cuisine other then this place. The atmosphere just makes you want to dance as salsa plays in the background. There are so many favorites on the menu for starters you need to try the Stuffed Plaintain Cups or the Baked Ham Croquettes. For dinner you must try the Breaded Chicken Bites the Chicken and Rice or the Breaded Pallomilla Steak. To Finish off your evening you must try the Flan for dessert. If you are interested in a cocktail you must try one of the signature mojitos. There is just no choice that you can go wrong on here.
STK Orlando: I have always been a huge fan of STK I have eaten at their Miami and New York locations several time. But there is something different in the air about their Orlando location. The location is beautiful and the music from their live DJ just makes you want to dance. If you visit STK for dinner or just stop by for some cocktails. It will be a win all around. The dinner menu offers so many delicious options you might want to share to try little bit of everything. Some of my favorite dishes are the Filet Medallions paired with the Blue Butter Sauce and a la Oscar toppings and the Grilled Coconut Shrimp with their Mango Friend Rice is to die for! If your in the mood for a cocktail my ultimate choice is the Strawberry Cobbler.
TREX: The place for all dinosaur lovers. This restaurant provides you with life size animatronic dinosaurs, mammoths, and meteor showers that will leave everyone is your family in awe. There is a interactive area that provides children the opportunity to discover. The menu has something for the whole family with many options. My favorite is the Guac-asaurus Burger. To top it all they have a Build-a-Dino workshop where your child can create their own Dino friend that they can take home with them. My husband and I ate here without the kiddos and we LOVED it! Shh!
Sprinkles : Who hasn’t heard of Sprinkles Cupcakes, the world famous handmade cupcakes. The only place where you can score a cupcake from an official Cupcake ATM. My favorite flavors are the cuban coffee, banana, and red velvet. You can now order online and they deliver. There location in Disney Springs in the perfect location to take a moment to relax from shopping and soak in the views while treating yourself to an amazing cupcake!
Our visit was short and we can’t wait to go back to try some more hotspots in Disney Springs. Here are some places we didn’t get to visit but will soon.
- The BOATHOUSE
- Frontera Cocina
- House of Blues Restaurant & Bar
- Morimoto Asia
- Paradiso 37, Taste of the America
- Planet Hollywood Observatory
- Rainforest Cafe
- Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
Thank you Disney Springs and Walt Disney World Resort for inviting me to attend #ShopDisneySprings.
