"Un-discussed" Restaurants at Disney Springs

[leebee]

I've been to and enjoyed the restaurants that are discussed all the time- Jaleo, Boathouse, Morimoto, for example- but am curious about those that aren't mentioned very often, like Frontera Cucina, Terralina, Wolfgang Puck's, Edison, etc. In talking with a bartender at the lounge in the Contemporary (who attended the very small college where my husband was teaching, talk about a small world) he said his full-time job was/had been at Frontera and he felt the food was great but it doesn't get a lot of love because it's not the typical taco-beans&rice Mexican food that people expect. SO... I'd like to hear your opinion of the places that don't have a lot of reviews or get a lot of love.

 

[Newsies]

We went to Paradiso 37 on a total whim two years ago, decided to head to Disney Springs at the very last minute and needed to put our name down for a restaurant that didn't have an hour-long wait. Had not heard a ton about the restaurant but ended up being pleasantly surprised. I had a burger that was pretty good, I remember other members of my party getting a steak they enjoyed. I remember the fries being delicious! Didn't love it like I love Raglan Road, Boathouse, or Homecomin', but it was a pleasant experience and a restaurant that I don't hear a lot about.

 

[Pens Fan]

We tried Frontera a few years ago and really enjoyed it. It is definitely better than anything you will get in the Mexican pavilion at Epcot. Though I do think Rosa Mexican over at the Dolphin is a bit better and is at a similar price point. Both are overpriced for Mexican food IMHO, but then what isn't on Disney property? One thing some people don't realize is that Frontera uses some of the same margarita recipes as La Cava, and they take walk ups at the bar. Rosa Mexicano makes a killer marg as well, though . We haven't been back, but only because there are so many great places in Disney Springs that we love.

One thing that we really enjoyed at DS and I don't see mentioned a lot is the wine tastings at Wine Bar George. We did this a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it. We enjoy visiting wineries in general and have done a lot of tasting experiences and this was one of the best we've ever done. George Milotes runs them himself and he is a fantastic teacher and story teller. It was supposed to have been an hour and half and he just kept going. I assure you no one was looking at their watch! The staff finally came upstairs after about another half hour or so and told him they needed the room otherwise it would have gone even longer. Highly, highly recommend if you have a spare afternoon and enjoy good wine. Also, the wines are different for each tasting, so you can go multiple times and get a completely different experience. We will be back!

 

[NYCgrrl]

We enjoyed the simplicity of the well executed menu and atmosphere @ Wine Bar George; spent a “date night” type of New Year’s Eve there that was memorable.

Don’t eat much Italian food outside of NYC but found the two Enzo eateries fun. Particularly like the Sunday meal but not sure if it’s still offered.

RR makes for a relaxing spot after an afternoon of shopping. Food and/or drinks are nice when you choose well and no need for the dreaded (on this end) ADRs.

Finally, ate at the Polite Pig this past May and am sorry it was bypassed in the past. Thought it was like Regal Eagle and I was really wrong! Would eat there again in a heartbeat.

I hear that things have changed at the Chicken Guy and hope he’s not biting off more than he can chew; the cook was the target of an unfavorable critique that still has me in laughter 10 odd years later. Really enjoyed his version of nuggets and did not expect to.

Somehow never eaten at this W. Puck outlet . Maybe next time is a constant refrain, lol.

 

[auntfrannie]

I wasn't impressed with Frontera and haven't been back. I enjoy Wine Bar George because I like the small plates approach to dining.

Some places that people rave about I don't care for, like Homecomin'. The food would be great in much cooler weather but it's too heavy for me in the Florida heat.

 

[liquid17]

It's been a few years but we've been to the Edison 3 or 4 times and really enjoyed the service and theming. The food was solid - I believe we've had burgers, sandwiches, salads, a few apps, a few drinks, definitely better than Fridays or Applebees - and we hope to be back on our next trip. It is overpriced, but isn't everything at WDW??

 

[NYCgrrl]

Some places that people rave about I don't care for, like Homecomin'.

Homecomin’ is off my radar because it’s a pastiche of Southern cuisine. I can get the real deal at several spots at home. As well I can still recall my Southern Nana’s cooking advice, thank goodness.

 

[Mikey15]

Re: Frontera, I think there’s better Mexican-inspired options a short drive away ~not~ on Disney property. If you can drive there anyway…

We really enjoyed Agave Azul, which was a short drive north of Magic Kingdom. We were even treated to an MK fireworks view on our drive back

We chose there to try after considering other options in the area and Rosa Mexicano at Dolphin, but we’re glad we did!

Similar idea with above posts on Homecomin’… the pastiche is less appealing if something authentic is readily available.

 

[monorailmom]

DH and I have thought for a long time that lunch at Maria and Enzo's is the best DS secret! Service is always impeccable. We are usually seated in front of the huge windows looking out over the Sassagoula and can see the boats going by. The menu isn't huge but what is on it is of really great quality! We have never had a bad experience here but yet we never see anyone talk about it.

 

[KPeterso]

I have been to Teralina a couple times. Enjoyed our meals both times. I mean it is basic Italian food. I would go back again, but I have other DS restaurants I prefer, but if last minute with no other options, it was a solid enough meal.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

The Polite Pig is one of our favorites. My DH and DS really enjoy The Edison.
edit: We also love STK the lobster Mac and cheese is solid and of course the filet. My DH won’t usually eat lobster anywhere other than home.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We really like The Edison. Their burger is one of the best burgers I've ever had.

 

[Dakota731]

We had a great meal at Frontera last year. Food was great and service was amazing. But it’s like most restaurants where your experience depends upon who’s working in the kitchen that day!

 

[vakamalua]

We always have a car so going off properly is usually a good option. Of course, DS restaurants are way overpriced & most don’t live up to the hype. For example, Homecomin’s food is meh; the service is spotty & the place too loud. DS can be overwhelming with the crowds, so our secret (shhhh!) place to go there is Enzo’s Hideaway—small, quiet, good service, tasty reliable Italian dishes & doesn’t break the bank.

 

[vinotinto]

It’s been a few years, but Wine Bar George was absolutely awesome. Truly a top 5 meal in many years of going to Disney. I just wish we had more time to spend in Disney Springs. We haven’t stayed more than 3-4 nights at Disney in many years and we haven’t stayed only touched on Disney Springs recently.

 

[Haygar2]

I wasn't impressed with Frontera and haven't been back. I enjoy Wine Bar George because I like the small plates approach to dining.

Some places that people rave about I don't care for, like Homecomin'. The food would be great in much cooler weather but it's too heavy for me in the Florida heat.

I have tried Homecomin' several times. I just don't get it. I agree with you completely. It's too heavy for Florida weather. Raglan Road is it for me. I love that place!

 

[zackiedawg]

Biggest problem I have with naming 'hidden gem' restaurants in threads like this is that the restaurant menus and chefs, and sometimes entire concept, change so often...so a restaurant that I suddenly find is an amazing hidden gem with incredible food, 6 months later ranges from mediocre to downright terrible. Then the following year, might be good again.

It's happened to me with a few restaurants that I used to avoid, then heard about a new chef or concept, tried it and found it to be excellent, put it on my list of restaurants to always check out when I go back, only to return and find that everything changed and it was terrible. A decade or two ago when Maya Grill first opened, I thought it was one of the best hidden gems in DW - excellent food, always easy to snag a reservation. Then at some point, it went from steakhouse/Central American spiced foods to American Mexican family food that was like a bland Taco Bell - it was horrible. Then, it got a little better, stayed Mexican but slightly more spices and the occasional Mexican Mexican menu item...not great, but an option to consider. Then it was bad again. Then it went TexMex with a little steakhouse in its current iteration - it's not bad, but not back to the original glory - I'd consider it again in a pinch.

Sebastian's Bistro was the biggest surprise - it was in my opinion terrible, wouldn't consider going there, until just before the pandemic - it ditched the cheap family style buffet-ish food and added some actual table service items, and the chef went bold on the spices and Caribbean flavors...I tried it and fell in love - I knew I had a new restaurant to hit on all my future visits. After the pandemic, I saw they were doing family-style again - but it SOUNDED like it might have kept the spices and such, so I decided to go again - and I hated it. Everything was bland, overcooked, meats so tough I couldn't get the knife through, foods tasted warmed up and cooked hours ago...it was almost inedible and I ate so little of it that I ended up grabbing a quick serve later that night. Off the list it went.

Turf Club has been through some big swings - originally an excellent steakhouse and hidden gem, then it genericized for a while and went to chicken fingers and burgers that were barely a notch above counter-serve fare...then back to a bit more of a proper steakhouse. I occasionally add it back to my list and try, worried each time it will change - as of the last visit last year, it was pretty solid and back to a good underrated spot.

Currently, my list of decent, underrated or little-mentioned spots that I still like to go to, would be Turf Club, Trattoria Al Forno, Three Bridges, Toledo, Sanaa, Ale and Compass, House of Blues, and Jiko. They range from signature to middle price to standard fare - but I can usually get a reservation when other places are booked, and I always come away filled and satisfied with the meal. In some cases, such as Jiko, it has consistently been among my top 1-2 restaurants in Disney, period.

Caveat - any of the above in my list could change tomorrow, and be terrible! I hope not.