Summer time Home on the Lake is a brand new desk service restaurant coming to Walt Disney World late this 12 months or in early 2024. This submit covers the upcoming eatery, with idea artwork showcasing the inside, what it’s changing at Disney Springs, and different random commentary. (Up to date November 14, 2023.)
For starters, if this information feels vaguely acquainted…that’s as a result of it’s. Virtually 3 years in the past, Walt Disney World introduced a slew of recent eating choices at Disney Springs, together with a desk service restaurant by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a Chicago-based restaurant group that was to open their first restaurant in Florida at Disney Springs West Facet.
In case you’ve forgotten, that was Beatrix neighborhood restaurant, coffeehouse and grab-and-go market that includes a mixture of wholesome consuming and luxury meals. Beatrix was to switch Bongos Cuban Cafe as a part of the continuing transformation of the West Facet, which was (is?) the final part of the multi-year Disney Springs transformation venture.
We don’t usually cease to “recognize” it, however what has occurred and hasn’t occurred with the Disney Springs West Facet has been fairly the saga. DisneyQuest closed roughly 5 years in the past to kick off this venture, and was finally changed by NBA Expertise. That operated for about 7 months earlier than completely closing.
The totality of our NBA Expertise protection was a lame working joke concerning the venture being cancelled as a result of such an enormous venue dedicated to a single sport was unsustainable amongst Walt Disney World guests. That turned out to be appropriate, and would’ve been even with out the entire closure factor. NBA Expertise struggled to attract (paying) clients from day one, providing freebies to Solid Members and others. However in its protection, at the least it did open! The identical can’t be mentioned for different ideas like Beatrix or Ample Hills (that one nonetheless stings).
On a extra constructive be aware, the West Facet did obtain a variety of well-liked additions pre-closure, most notably Jaleo and Metropolis Works Eatery & Pour Home. Everglazed Donuts & Chilly Brew is one other West Facet sleeper–not a lot for his or her doughnuts, however for the savory dishes which might be surprisingly good. Along with that, there have been a variety of worthwhile meals vehicles in Exposition Park; the latest addition to that lineup is Native Inexperienced Orlando.
Anyway, let’s share the most recent replace about Summer time Home on the Lake, which is “opening this winter” in accordance with its operator. (Observe that winter runs from December 21, 2023 till March 19, 2024–so we nonetheless don’t know if Summer time Home is opening late this 12 months or early subsequent.)
The Cookie Bar – Summer time Home on the Lake will introduce the model’s first-ever “Cookie Bar,” featured entrance and middle on the restaurant’s entrance. The Cookie Bar will serve a wide range of the restaurant’s beloved outsized cookies, bars, and different candy specials. Friends can bask in flavors like Sea Salt Chocolate Chip, Birthday Cake, Oatmeal Scotchie, Apple Oatmeal and Vegan Snickerdoodle, in addition to rotating seasonal flavors.
The bar will provide a collection of espresso, wine and beer on draft, in addition to specialty cocktails such because the Tropical Goals with vodka, Pamplemousse liqueur, and habanero honey, all accessible to get pleasure from on the restaurant or take to-go round Disney Springs. Friends will even have the ability to buy a bottle of the restaurant’s personal private-label wine, Summer time Home Rosé, to take dwelling with them.
Rosé Cart and Summery Sips – One other reminder that it’s all the time summer time at Summer time Home is the Rosé Cart. Summer time Home on the Lake’s Rosé Cart will provide greater than six forms of rosé by the glass or bottle, together with the restaurant’s star Summer time Home Rosé, made in partnership with California-based BonAnno Wines.
The Summer time Home Rosé serves as a standout within the sturdy rosé program, providing a fragile and floral style with tart cherries and watermelon, complementary to the full of life and recent menu and consultant of the restaurant’s total beverage method. A collection of spritzes, summery cocktails (together with zero-proof choices), recent juices, and a largely California-sourced wine listing add to the laidback West Coast vibes.
Cali-Mex Weekend Brunch – Summer time Home on the Lake’s West Coast-inspired menu will characteristic celebrated favorites and signature gadgets unique to Disney Springs. Brunch shall be served Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to three p.m., with choices together with: Mexican Hash Browns; Breakfast Pizza with applewood bacon, a sunny aspect up egg and parmesan cream; and Breakfast Tostadas.
Fluffy pancakes and waffles, salads, and sandwiches will even be accessible, alongside a collection of different gadgets from the lunch and dinner menus. Friends can even count on seasonal salads, artisan pizzas and entrees like Herbed Hen Paillard and native Grouper Fish ‘n’ Chips with malt vinegar fries and tartar sauce. An in depth children menu shall be accessible all day – with a selection of greens or fries on the aspect.
California-Cool Design – Summer time Home’s design brings the fantastic thing about a summer time day indoors, welcoming friends to get pleasure from sweeping views and a calming lakeside breeze. The area, which boasts three bars, an ethereal, pure light-filled eating room centered round a lush tree reaching towards a skylight, and greenery all through, was designed in collaboration with famend structure and design agency Rockwell Group.
Seamlessly mixing indoor and outside eating, Summer time Home presents each freestanding tables and banquettes best for households and huge teams. An iconic centerpiece of every Summer time Home location that shall be included at Summer time Home on the Lake is the intense blue “YES” signal positioned within the eating room. It symbolizes your complete group’s dedication to “saying sure” to the visitor, making every eating expertise a memorable one.
Type of jogs my memory of the “BLESS THIS MESS” signal I wish to set up in our kitchen at dwelling. It will symbolize my dedication to not cleansing up after myself. I’m positive the “YES” signal shall be as a lot of successful with entitled friends as my signal pitch was with Sarah.
Beforehand, Lettuce Entertain You launched idea artwork for the outside of Summer time Home on the Lake (above) and inside (beneath).
Fortunately, the inside will not be yet one more “rustic hipsters transfer into an outdated barn and discover some eclectic decor on clearance at Anthropologie” that has turn into ubiquitous at Disney Springs. Whereas not hyper-themed, it has a contemporary brutalism meets coastal fashion that doesn’t look half unhealthy–particularly if it leans into the open and ethereal design, highlighting huge views of Lake Buena Vista.
At the moment, Summer time Home Santa Monica has two places–one in Illinois and the opposite in Maryland (each pretty removed from California, if my calculations are appropriate). Its Disney Springs idea will drop Santa Monica from the title and add “on the Lake” as a substitute. It’s unclear whether or not that’s to keep away from complicated vacationers or as a result of California doesn’t “play effectively” with the Florida viewers. Maybe slightly of each.
One factor it does have in frequent with Beatrix is that each that and Summer time Home Santa Monica are well-known Chicago eating places which have their very own followings. Evaluations of each are pretty glowing, with the latter sounding extra interesting to me personally. (We love California coastal delicacies, so your mileage might differ there.)
On its official web site, Summer time Home Santa Monica is described because the place the place summer time by no means ends! Whether or not you’re in for date evening, a household get-together, or brunch with mates, summer time is ready for you on the opposite aspect.
“The California-inspired menu, led by Chef Ben Goodnick, options easy elements sourced from native grower partnerships and sustainable merchandise. Rosé is poured all break day the signature Rosé Cart, alongside an intensive wine and handcrafted cocktail listing. And irrespective of the climate, the intense and ethereal vibes all the time fill the ambiance.”
Above is among the menus (extra may be discovered right here), which sounds fairly good and broadly interesting to me. The restaurant ought to have sufficient selection to attraction to the aforementioned classes–households, {couples} on date evening, mates going to brunch, and many others.
Although we’re personally trying ahead to Summer time Home on the Lake as one thing that appeals to us (and likewise must be a crowd-pleaser), it doesn’t appear like a game-changer for Disney Springs.
As a way to stand out, eating places actually need to convey one thing significantly distinctive to the desk.
The culinary subject is already crowded at Disney Springs, so it’s powerful to shine with out formidable and distinctive delicacies (like Jaleo) or thematic novelty (like Boathouse). Granted, I’m simply going off of the menu and idea artwork for Summer time Home on the Lake. It’s clearly not possible to guage a restaurant with out really eating there.
In the end, it’s good that Walt Disney World is lastly filling this huge plot of land left behind by Bongos Cuban Cafe and it’ll be good to journey the West Facet of its ultimate set of building partitions. Furthermore, even when Summer time Home on the Lake will not be a standout within the sea of stellar eating choices at Disney Springs, it’s nonetheless a great addition.
There is no such thing as a scarcity of eating demand proper now, even with the large present lineup at Disney Springs. Up to now, we’ve questioned how sustainable so many desk service eating places could be in the long run (and nonetheless marvel that), however clearly that hasn’t been a difficulty but. With Central Florida’s inhabitants persevering with to blow up and the parks & resorts extra well-liked than ever, Summer time Home on the Lake seems like one other wanted addition to the panorama of Disney Springs.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider Summer time Home on the Lake becoming a member of the Walt Disney World eating scene? Suppose this shall be a worthy addition to the culinary panorama at Disney Springs, or simply extra noise in an overcrowded market? Are you excited for this third celebration providing, or would you favor some unique ideas by Disney? Do you agree or disagree with ideas? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!