Bongos

[DodgerGirl]

Do you remember Bongos at Downtown Disney before it was Disney Springs? It was a Cuban restaurant owned by singer Gloria Estefan and it had amazing food. My mom and dad and I ate there with my aunt and cousin during our 1997 Disney World trip because Mom and I are huge Gloria Estefan fans and we were curious to see what Bongos was like. It's a shame Bongos closed and I wonder what caused Bongos to close? Because it seemed like a smart idea for Gloria Estefan to own her own restaurant and was Bongos gonna be a big successful chain of restaurants or was the Bongos in Disney Springs the only Bongos restaurant that existed?

 

[AnnaS]

Definitely remember Bongos. We had one or two dinners here and enjoyed it. I don't know why it took us years to finally try it. Not long after - closed.

They own a nice oceanfront hotel with a very nice restaurant in Vero Beach. My friends eat there all the time. We have yet to try it. On our list.

 

[HopperFan]

They decided to close when DD transitioned to DS. They also closed a couple others. They said they were changing direction of their restaurants, wanting a more club atmosphere. They built brand new in the Promenade of Sunset Walk at the new Margaritaville not far from AK.

https://estefankitchenorlando.com

 

[mckennarose]

Do you remember Bongos at Downtown Disney before it was Disney Springs? It was a Cuban restaurant owned by singer Gloria Estefan and it had amazing food. My mom and dad and I ate there with my aunt and cousin during our 1997 Disney World trip because Mom and I are huge Gloria Estefan fans and we were curious to see what Bongos was like. It's a shame Bongos closed and I wonder what caused Bongos to close? Because it seemed like a smart idea for Gloria Estefan to own her own restaurant and was Bongos gonna be a big successful chain of restaurants or was the Bongos in Disney Springs the only Bongos restaurant that existed?

We LOVED Bongos! I miss it in Disney Springs, but we have eaten at the newer Estefan Kitchen in Sunset Walk. As @HopperFan mentioned, it's not far from AK, so still close to WDW property.

They have a lot of the same items on the menu, including the best Mojito's, IMO! (get the one with the aged rum!) And they still have live music inside and sometimes a band outside also, where the outside bar is. I have not seen the dancers, but I *think* they're still there sometimes. The restaurant inside is VERY pretty! It's really easy to get a reservation through Open Table.

 

[taradelao]

I remember! I always wanted to try it so I was sad when I learned they were closing it.

 

[DodgerGirl]

The funniest memory I have of my visit to Bongos was during our meal when we were getting ready to order our food the waitress was asking us what drinks my family was gonna have and I and my cousin chose sodas but my aunt chose peach juice and when my aunt's peach juice came they had given her Kern's Peach Juice in a can. And my aunt thought they were gonna give her peach juice made from real peaches but it is a funny story

 

[AnnaS]

They decided to close when DD transitioned to DS. They also closed a couple others. They said they were changing direction of their restaurants, wanting a more club atmosphere. They built brand new in the Promenade of Sunset Walk at the new Margaritaville not far from AK.

https://estefankitchenorlando.com

Thank you. Will have to make a visit.

 

[StarCruzer]

Went with my Dominican in-laws in 2015 and none of us were very impressed with the food. They loved the music and atmosphere, though.

 

[lockets]

Was this the restaurant that also had a balcony area for just one or two tables on a second floor overlooking people walking by or am I imagining that?

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Do you remember Bongos at Downtown Disney before it was Disney Springs? It was a Cuban restaurant owned by singer Gloria Estefan and it had amazing food. My mom and dad and I ate there with my aunt and cousin during our 1997 Disney World trip because Mom and I are huge Gloria Estefan fans and we were curious to see what Bongos was like. It's a shame Bongos closed and I wonder what caused Bongos to close? Because it seemed like a smart idea for Gloria Estefan to own her own restaurant and was Bongos gonna be a big successful chain of restaurants or was the Bongos in Disney Springs the only Bongos restaurant that existed?

I do remember the DD bongos, I had thought they had opened a few in FL in the 90s. I also think she still has a few restaurants under other names in MIA still.

I know they had one at the AA arena in downtown MIA but that closed.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Was this the restaurant that also had a balcony area for just one or two tables on a second floor overlooking people walking by or am I imagining that?

Yes, I remember sitting at a table on the balcony there.

 

[lockets]

Ok yes I loves that restaurant! Also loved going to the movies and getting cotton candy while in DD in the 90s

 

[Pyxie]

This was the first TS restaurant I ever ate at on my very first trip to Disney in 2003. I was there with a dance group and we wanted one "nice night out" where we dressed up and ate somewhere, but we had no reservations and this was the only place we could get in. I remember it being "okay" but that isn't because the food was bad. It just wasn't my thing.

 

[cheryllarsen]

We loved Bongos!

 

[cheryllarsen]

We loved the food and the atmosphere!

 

[GreatLakes]

I ate there once around 2004 or 2005. The food was good but it was so loud in there. Some of the people at our table had to write out their questions because they couldn't hear the waiter with the band playing. It was a one and done for that reason.

 

[gharter]

We enjoyed Bongos, but much prefer Jaleo. Both can be loud.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Never ate at Bongos, but I did try the take-out window connected to it, and the sandwich I got was very, very good. I'm not sure I've had any sandwiches in Disney Springs that has surpassed it.

In my opinion, I think Bongos is maybe the worst casualty of the Disney Springs revamp. It was unique, and yet there was food on the menu easily accessible to most palates. For many people who travel to Disney, they don't have a place in their area to get pressed Cuban sandwiches, so it was definitely one of those "I can't get this at home" places.

 

[gharter]

Never ate at Bongos, but I did try the take-out window connected to it, and the sandwich I got was very, very good. I'm not sure I've had any sandwiches in Disney Springs that has surpassed it.

In my opinion, I think Bongos is maybe the worst casualty of the Disney Springs revamp. It was unique, and yet there was food on the menu easily accessible to most palates. For many people who travel to Disney, they don't have a place in their area to get pressed Cuban sandwiches, so it was definitely one of those "I can't get this at home" places.

That's what we like about Jaleo. We can't get anything like that near us.

 

[BigOnDis]

Bongos used to be a must do for our family every year. Not the best Cuban food I have ever had, but everyone could find something they liked and we loved the atmosphere. I haven't tried the one over at Margaritaville yet.