12 Disney Springs Food Spots You Need to Try: Part Two

by | Mar 18, 2020 | Walt Disney World Food, WDW Blog

In our previous post, 12 Disney Springs Food Spots You Need to Try: Part One, we recapped the first half of our epic Disney Springs food crawl with Yanni from Foody Fetish. Are you ready for Part Two? Well, buckle up because we’re going to dive right in.

Let’s recap some of our favorites, in no particular order:

Vivoli il Gelato

First up on our Disney Springs food crawl is Vivoli il Gelato. This is a family run gelatería located in The Landing area of Disney Springs. The original location opened in Florence, Italy in 1930 and is considered one of the oldest gelaterías in Florence.

In addition to the storefront, Vivoli also serves up gelato by the scoop at their custom-built bicycle cart in Town Center.

Vivoli il Gelato exterior

Vivoli il Gelato is a small family-run gelatería that originated in Florence, Italy. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Vivoli il Gelato behind-the-scenes

You can order gelato by the scoop or try one of their decadent sundaes. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

You can choose from over 20 artisanal gelato flavors. Get it by the scoop or try one of their decadent sundaes. They frequently offer limited-time seasonal menu items as well so be sure to check in on your next visit.

Vivoli il Gelato Nutella Brownie Sundae

Nutella Brownie Sundae: two scoops of vanilla gelato, chocolate sauce, Nutella brownies, stuffed inside a waffle cone and topped with whipped cream. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Even if you order a standard sundae off the menu, you can customize your gelato flavors.

We tried the Nutella Brownie Sundae but substituted a couple of the vanilla scoops with chocolate. I’ve eaten at Vivoli a couple of times before and can attest to the high quality of the gelato.

They also make their waffles and waffle cones fresh to order.

I also highly recommend trying the sorbetto. Not only is it refreshing and delicious—especially the raspberry/blood orange combo that we tried—but it’s also super Instagram-able.

Vivoli il Gelato Sorbetto

The brick wall outside makes a perfect backdrop when Instagramming your sorbetto. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Vivoli il Gelato Sorbetto

Just look at how cute this looks! Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Here’s what Tatjana has to say about Vivoli:

Their gelato is the perfect balance of decadent and refreshing. Plus, they make an absolutely killer grilled cheese sandwich! My suggestion is that you treat yourself to one of their delectable sundaes, and grab a grilled cheese to pair with it. It’s dairy heaven in the making.

Vivoli il Gelato Four Cheese Panini

Four Cheese Panini: white American, asiago, cheddar, and pepper jack cheese toasted on Italian bread. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

That’s right, Vivoli il Gelato is now serving up paninis! The Four Cheese Panini looks like a simple grilled cheese sandwich, but it may have been one of the best I’ve ever had.

The cheese inside was liquid gold and the bread was crispy, yet soft. The pepper jack cheese gave the sandwich the perfect punch of flavor.

It’s easy to walk right by this little shop, but I highly recommend you try it on your next visit.

Goofy’s Candy Co.

The next place on our Disney Springs food list isn’t exactly a restaurant, but it still serves up some really sweet treats that we want to tell you about. Goofy’s Candy Co. is tucked away in The Marketplace near Rainforest Cafe.

Goofy's Candy Co. exterior

Goofy’s Candy Co. is your one-stop shop for bulk candy, slushies, and handmade Disney treats. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Goofy's Candy Co. exterior

Close-up of the Goofy’s Candy Co. logo. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Goofy’s Candy Co. is your one-stop shop for bulk candy, slushies, and handmade Disney treats. You can also get pre-packaged items like bagged candy and popcorn.

Goofy's Candy Co. cotton candy

You can get pre-packaged park favorites, like cotton candy. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Goofy's Candy Co. packaged candy

Goofy’s Candy Co. even has its own line of pre-packaged candy. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Goofy's Candy Co. popcorn

Goofy’s Candy Co. has a large selection to choose from. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Goofy's Candy Co. lollipop

You can find most of these treats at the parks as well but it’s nice to have it available at Disney Springs. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

You can also choose from a variety of handmade items like character-themed candy apples and Mickey-shaped rice crispy treats.

Goofy's Candy Co. Minnie candy apple

We were gifted the most perfect Minnie candy apple by the kind Cast Members at Goofy’s Candy Co. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

While Goofy’s Candy Co. isn’t anything out of the ordinary, it still has its place among our favorites. Kids will love it and it’s a convenient place to pick up a little edible souvenir to take home.

The Polite Pig

Hold on to your hats because we’re switching gears from sweet to savory.

The Polite Pig is THE PLACE for barbecue at Disney Springs. It’s located in Town Center near the entrance to the Lime Garage. This is an extremely popular spot and often has lines out the door during peak times.

The Polite Pig exterior

The Polite Pig is so popular that it often has lines out the door. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The Polite Pig exterior

There’s both indoor and outdoor seating. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The Polite Pig door handle detail

Close-up of The Polite Pig’s logo on the door handle. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The Polite Pig decor

The decor inside celebrates all things pig! Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The Polite Pig menu

Close-up of The Polite Pig menu. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

We were given the opportunity to step inside the carving area and smoker room.

The Polite Pig smoker room

The Head Chef showed us inside the smoker. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The Polite Pig smoker

Close-up of the meat inside the smoker. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The smell inside the room reminded me of a campfire and swiftly embedded itself into our clothes for the rest of the day.

The Polite Pig brisket

Close-up of the carving process. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The Polite Pig beef brisket

The finished product! Photo by Courtney Reynolds

After the carving demo, we were hungry for some barbecue! By the look of our table, you would have thought we hadn’t eaten in ten days.

The Polite Pig flat lay

Just look at all that food! Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The best way to describe this menu is “barbecue comfort food.” We made sure to order a good mix of side dishes, sandwiches, meats, and desserts.

The Polite Pig BBQ Waffle Fries

BBQ Waffle Fries: crispy waffle fries sprinkled with their signature Polite Rub. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The BBQ Waffle Fries are sprinkled with the signature Polite Rub that they use on their meats. The rub has a really nice flavor and I was impressed with the crispiness of the fries.

The Polite Pig Burnt Ends BBQ Meatballs

Burnt Ends BBQ Meatballs: house brisket, cheddar grits, and Layla’s Sweet BBQ Sauce. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

We tried a few more apps and sides like the Burnt Ends BBQ Meatballs, BBQ Cauliflower, Sweet Potato Tots, and the Mac and Cheese.

The Polite Pig Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese: macaroni and cheese with aged cheddar and breadcrumbs. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The Polite Pig Mac and Cheese

Close-up of the Mac and Cheese. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The Mac and Cheese was a group favorite by far. There’s just something so special about baked macaroni and cheese. The aged cheddar was so creamy and had a nice sharpness to it. Tatjana described it as “a little pot of golden goodness,” and I have to agree.

Now on to the sandwiches and meats!

The Polite Pig Low & Slow Brisket

Low & Slow Brisket Sandwich: prime brisket, pimento cheese, porter BBQ, pickled jalapeños, and onion straws, served with a pickle spear. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The Polite Pig Fried Chicken Sandwich

Fried Chicken Sandwich: fried chicken topped with sweet and smoky BBQ, Duke’s mayo, pickles, and coleslaw, served with a pickle spear. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Both of these sandwiches were winners but my personal favorite is the Fried Chicken Sandwich. I’ve gotten it many times and just can’t get enough. The sweet and smoky barbecue sauce is so addicting that I sometimes dream about it.

All the sandwiches come in HUGE portions, so I usually eat half while I’m dining in and then get a to-go box to bring the rest home.

As if we hadn’t eaten enough food, it’s time to move on to desserts.

The Polite Pig Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake topped with creamy frosting. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The Polite Pig Buttermilk Chess Pie

Buttermilk Chess Pie: silky buttermilk pie topped with granola and drizzled with caramel sauce. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

I wouldn’t say dessert is The Polite Pig’s strong suit, but that’s OK. I appreciate that they have a few desserts available but I’m not sure I would order them again. I’d rather spend the money on more barbecue.

The Polite Pig is one of my favorite quick-service locations at Disney Springs. It’s especially a must-do for meat lovers!

AristoCrêpes

Now that our bellies are full of barbecue, it’s time for some more sweets. 

AristoCrêpes is a small, often overlooked, walk-up kiosk in The Marketplace, near Rainforest Cafe. The menu is very limited but if you’re looking for an unconventional theme park treat, you might want to check this place out.

AristoCrêpes exterior

AristoCrêpes is a small, often overlooked, walk-up kiosk at Disney Springs. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

AristoCrêpes Strawberry Bubble Waffle

Strawberry Bubble Waffle: bubble waffle topped with vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and strawberry pearls. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

AristoCrêpes Strawberry Bubble Waffle

The term “bubble waffle” simply refers to the pattern on the waffle. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Oddly enough, AristoCrêpes isn’t actually known for its crêpes.

Most people who visit prefer to try a bubble waffle sundae. These sundaes used to come in a very cute paper cone, which was very popular on social media when the kiosk first opened. Unfortunately, they’re now served in a paper boat instead—a bit disappointing! At least they still taste good.

Amorette’s Patisserie

Just a short walk from AristoCrêpes, you’ll find Amorette’s Patisserie, located in Town Center right next to World of Disney. This elegant pastry shop is home to a large selection of unique and sophisticated desserts. They’re most well-known for their expertly crafted character dome cakes.

Amorette's Patisserie detail

Amorette’s Patisserie is an elegant pastry shop right in the heart of Disney Springs. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Their custom character cakes can be quite expensive for a full-size cake, but for those of us on a budget, they offer a smaller version that makes for a perfectly adorable little snack.

I present to you: the Mickey Mousse Cake.

Amorette's Patisserie Mickey Mousse Cake

Mickey Mousse Cake: chocolate chiffon cake, dark chocolate mousse, and white chocolate mousse. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

This little guy is almost too cute to eat. Eventually, we put our feelings aside and ate him. The mousse inside was light and fluffy—the perfect consistency. If you’re looking to dip your toe into the realm of fancy pastries, I suggest starting off with one of these!

Jaleo by José Andrés

We have reached our final destination on our Disney Springs food crawl. It’s another big one, so hold on tight because we’re not quite done eating yet.

Jaleo Disney Springs exterior

This building is one of the most unique architectural styles I’ve ever seen. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo by José Andrés is located on the West Side of Disney Springs near AMC and Splitsville. The building is really hard to miss because it has a very unique architectural style and it’s HUGE.

Jaleo Disney Springs

Jaleo was created by Chef José Andrés. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The second you walk inside you feel like you’ve been transported to Spain—warm bright colors surround you and the smell of paella fills in the air. The decor celebrates traditional Spanish style with a modern twist.

Jaleo Disney Springs decor

Close-up of the Spanish-style decor. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs interior

The decor inside Jaleo celebrates traditional Spanish style with a modern twist. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs open kitchen

Jaleo has multiple open kitchen and prep areas. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

I’ve eaten at Jaleo a couple of times before, including their grand opening ceremony a year ago. The menu, designed by Chef José Andrés, features authentic Spanish tapas, paella, and sangría.

At first glance, the menu can look a little intimidating, but don’t let that stop you from giving Jaleo a try. Many of the dishes are shareable, which makes for a great family-style dining experience.

Now let’s dive in, shall we?

Jaleo Disney Springs cheese plate

Plato de queso Manchego: plate of raw sheep’s milk cheese. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs tomato bread

Pan de cristal con tomate: toasted slices of crispy bread brushed with fresh tomato. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Our meal started with two shareable tapas: a plate of Manchego cheese and some crispy tomato bread. In order to get the bread’s unique crispy texture, the dough is imported directly from Spain. Why? Because using Florida water to create the dough would not produce enough crispiness. This level of detail pays off because that bread is out of this world.

Jaleo Disney Springs Ibérico Ham

Jamón ibérico de bellota cortado a mano: 36 to 48-month cured ham carved tableside. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs Ibérico Ham

Carving the ham is a very delicate process. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs Ibérico Ham

The end result is a beautiful display of thinly sliced ham. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

The thinly sliced ibérico ham is one of my favorite tapas at Jaleo. The ham comes from the free-range black-footed ibérico pigs of Spain. It’s salty and tender, which makes it way too easy to devour the whole plate.

Jaleo Disney Springs beet gazpacho

Gazpacho de remolacha: classic chilled soup made of beets and tomatoes with goat cheese. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

File this one under “Things I Never Thought I Would Ever Like” because wow—I’m still surprised that I loved this as much as I did.

I’m a bit put off by beets so I was weary. This chilled beet soup comes in a small little shooter that makes it easy to sip and savor. The flavor was not at all what I was expecting, which is a good thing because I was expecting something gross. It was the perfect blend of sweet and salty. My only complaint is that I wish there was more!

Jaleo Disney Springs endives

Endivias con queso de cabra y naranjas: endives filled with goat cheese, oranges, and sliced almonds. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

I’m starting to sound like a broken record but… this is another one of my favorites.

Another great blend of sweet and salty, but this time with a little punch of citrus. I am not exaggerating when I say I ate an entire plate of these during the course of our lunch. I literally ate four of them.

Jaleo Disney Springs cocktails

We tried a few different Spanish-inspired cocktails like the Sangría Roja and Salt Air Margarita. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs Spanish wine

A pitcher of traditional cava (Spanish wine). Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Collectively, we tried a few Spanish-inspired drinks including the Sangría Roja, Salt Air Margarita, and traditional cava (Spanish Wine). The Sangria Roja is my favorite—I have it every time I dine here.

Jaleo Disney Springs fennel salad

Manzanas con hinojo y queso Manchego: sliced apple and fennel salad with Manchego cheese, walnuts, and sherry dressing. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs chicken fritters

Croquetas de pollo: traditional chicken fritters. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

I bet you didn’t expect to see a pinch of Disney Magic at Jaleo, but check this out. The chicken fritters are served on Cinderella’s glass slipper pillow. How cute is that?

Jaleo Disney Springs piquillo peppers

Pimientos del piquillo rellenos de setas y queso de cabra: seared piquillo peppers filled with goat cheese. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs seared scallops

Vieiras con salsa de piñones: seared scallops with pine nut butter, raisins, and a wine reduction. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs head-on shrimp

Gambas a la Zahara: head-on shrimp with garlic and extra olive oil. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

This pot of head-on shrimp filled the room with garlic the instant our server took the cover off. Tatjana described the dish as “simple ingredients cooked perfectly.” We couldn’t resist the garlicky goodness and kept going back for more.

Jaleo Disney Springs potato salad

Ensaladilla rusa: potato salad with imported conserved tuna, carrots, peas, and mayonnaise, topped with trout roe. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

I’ll admit, I steered clear of the potato salad based on the description alone. But seafood lovers are likely to enjoy it.

Jaleo Disney Springs octopus

Pulpo a la Gallega: boiled octopus with peewee potatoes, pimentón, and extra virgin olive oil. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Octopus is one of my favorite foods to photograph because of its unique texture, so I was really excited when we received this dish.

The boiled octopus was actually very well cooked too. It’s easy to get octopus wrong, but this piece was tender and not at all rubbery. The potatoes were so tender that they melted in your mouth.

Jaleo Disney Springs olive plate

Aceitunas modernas y clásicas: liquid olives and stuffed olives with piquillo pepper and anchovy. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

This might be one of the most intriguing things I’ve ever seen. On one side of the plate, you have a classic stuffed olive. On the other side, you have a modern interpretation of an olive in liquid form.

When you eat the liquid olive it gently pops in your mouth, literally bursting with olive flavor. It was such a strange experience but the flavor was great.

Jaleo Disney Springs fried egg

Pisto manchego con huevo frito: stewed vegetables topped with a fried egg. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Have you ever seen a fried egg that was fried by poaching the egg in hot oil? Well, now you have! We tried two versions during our lunch: one with stewed vegetables and another with caramelized onions and caviar.

Jaleo Disney Springs fried egg

Huevo frito con caviar: fried egg topped with caviar, served with caramelized onions and crunchy toast. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs fried egg

Is there anything more satisfying than popping a poached egg? Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Here’s what Tatjana had to say about the fried egg and caviar:

Those textures of crispy fried egg, creamy yolk, melt-in-your-mouth onions and crunchy toast, paired with flavors that just sing on your tongue. I would go back for this in a heartbeat.

Jaleo Disney Springs fried potatoes

Patatas bravas: fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and alioli. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs fried potatoes

Close-up of the patatas bravas. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

How can something so simple be so life-changing? These fried potatoes are literal heaven. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Dip them in the garlic aioli and you’ll never want ketchup again.

Jaleo Disney Springs spinach salad

Espinacas a la catalana: sautéed spinach, pine nuts, raisins, and apples. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs pork ribs

Costillas de cerdo: marinated pork ribs served with mashed potatoes. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Do you love ribs but hate messy fingers? These are the ribs you’re looking for! I’m not sure what they marinate these in, but they were so flavorful even without being smothered in a heavy sauce. Plus, the meat fell right off the bone. Highly recommend this as a family-style meal.

At this point in our Disney Springs food crawl, we were about to burst at the seams. But… the show must go on.

Jaleo Disney Springs meringue

La tarta Cartdenal: cardinal cake with chocolate sauce. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs meringue

Chocolate sauce makes everything better! Photo by Courtney Reynolds

This dessert can only be described as an air sandwich. Fluffy whipped cream smooshed between two pillowy pieces of meringue. Smother it in chocolate sauce and you have yourself a pretty satisfying dessert.

Jaleo Disney Springs cheesecake

Quesada Asturiana: Basque-style cheesecake made with goat cheese, served with a seasonal sorbet. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs flan

Flan al estilo tradicional de mamá Marisa con espuma de crema catalana: classic Spanish custard with Catalan cream and oranges. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Jaleo Disney Springs clementine granita

Clementines con crema pastelera, vermut y granizado de clementinas: clementines with custard layered underneath a vermouth and clementine granita. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

I’m not sure if I’m just getting old or what, but I’ve been gravitating towards fruity desserts lately instead of chocolate ones.

The clementine granita was really refreshing after such a big meal. The citrus was tart, the vermouth was sharp, and custard was soothing. Each layer is nice separately, but they’re even better when they’re together.

And just like that, we’ve reached the end of our Disney Springs food crawl. Thank you for sticking around until the very end! I hope this gave you a few delicious ideas for your next trip to Disney Springs.

More Disney Springs Food

Want to have your own Disney Springs food crawl? Click here to download our WDW Outrageous Eats Checklist!

Did you know that we spotlight a new restaurant every single month inside WDW Magazine? Subscribe to the print edition to get a new magazine delivered to your door each month. Or subscribe to the digital edition to read online.

Huge thanks to Vivoli il Gelato, The Polite Pig, and Jaleo for hosting us. While the food at these locations was provided to us free of change, our opinions are our own.

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Courtney is a Photographer for WDW Magazine and former Disney Cast Member. She is originally from New England, but is currently enjoying life in Orlando where you will often find her with a camera in one hand and a coffee in the other. She also loves tacos, Donald Duck, riding roller coasters, and celebrating Halloween. For more about Courtney, you can follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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Authored by
Courtney Reynolds

Courtney is a Photographer for WDW Magazine and former Disney Cast Member. She is originally from New England, but is currently enjoying life in Orlando where you will often find her with a camera in one hand and a coffee in the other. She also loves tacos, Donald Duck, riding roller coasters, and celebrating Halloween. For more about Courtney, you can follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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