NEWS: Disney Springs Adding New Dining Option from Uber-Popular Central Florida Restaurant
What’s been incredibly obvious in the development of Disney Springs over the past couple years is Disney’s commitment to make it the premier dining destination in Central Florida. What may not be as obvious on the surface is Disney’s commitment to highlighting flavors and restaurant owners that the locals swear by. The latest dining addition to Disney Springs is an example of that commitment.
What local barbecue enthusiast will tell you (and we can verify from lots of experience) is that the best barbecue around (and frankly the best brisket I’ve ever tasted anywhere) comes from 4 Rivers Smokehouse here in Orlando. My first visit to 4 Rivers was eight years ago on a Friday night where I waited in a 60 minute line that stretch down the block, at 9 PM! Yes, it’s that good.
Disney Springs is about to get a little taste of all this meaty goodness. More details below.
The award-winning 4R Restaurant Group will launch its newest concept in late August with the opening of its 4R Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck located in the Marketplace at Disney Springs. The eatery will debut a variety of new signature dishes, including a Taco Cone and Burrito Bowl filled with choice of meats such as Brisket Barbacoa or Pork Sofrito.
The 4R Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck will also offer standout vegetarian options like the Squash Blossom Burrito. Additionally, decadent desserts such as Dulce De Leche Churro Balls will be available.
“It’s an honor to open the 4R Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck at Disney Springs in the company of so many talented chefs and award-winning restaurants,” said John Rivers, 4R Restaurant Group Founder and CEO. “Our first-ever daily 4R offering at Disney Springs will provide an opportunity for tourists to savor an authentic local brand. It will also give Floridians who know and love our food an all-new 4R experience and chance to enjoy dishes that are not currently available at any of our 4 Rivers Smokehouses.
Inspired by his recent culinary adventures in Mexico City, Rivers has developed the food truck’s barbacoa- style menu. Dishes will feature signature 4 Rivers meats such as brisket and pulled pork but prepared using traditional barbacoa techniques – methods with roots in the Caribbean and ultimately perfected in Mexico.
The opening of this Mexican-inspired barbacoa eatery marks the first time a 4R location will be available to guests at Disney Springs. The 4R Cantina Barbacoa menu has been crafted with the same pride and passion that has earned 4 Rivers Smokehouses some of the culinary world’s highest accolades, including recently being named “America’s Best Barbecue Chain” by The Daily Meal.
The 4R Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck at Disney Springs will be the only 4 Rivers location to offer service seven days a week – including Sunday. Following in the philanthropic footprints of the 4R “Barbecue Ministry,” all net proceeds from sales every Sunday will support The 4R Foundation, which in 2017 helped more than 950 local schools, churches, and charitable organizations. All other 4 Rivers Smokehouse locations will remain closed on Sundays.
More About 4 Rivers Resturant Group
Established in Winter Park, Fla. in 2009, 4 Rivers Smokehouse is a family-owned “Barbecue Ministry” specializing in 30-day aged Smoked Angus Brisket and “Homestyle Sides,” as well as bold twists of flavor and ingredient combinations with “Signature Stackers” and “From the Farm” offerings. At the helm is Founder/CEO John Rivers, who strives to support the local community through exceptional products, steadfast customer service, and uncompromised integrity.
4 Rivers Smokehouse currently has 15 operating locations spanning the state of Florida and recently opened their first location in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to online ordering, the Smokehouse also has a catering food truck that can be spotted in and around the Central Florida area with locations listed on @4RiversCatering Instagram handle.
RELATED ARTICLE: 8 Best Quick Service Restaurants at Disney Springs
by Christy Caby
You have to take time to stop and eat in the middle of all the shopping and walking, right? I’d say so! Don’t have a reservation? No problem! There are several amazing quick service location options in Disney Springs that go way beyond burgers, pizzas, and fries (not that we don’t love those, too). There are numerous cuisines and styles of cooking to enjoy, so you are sure to find something that will whet your appetite! Here are the 8 best quick service restaurants at Disney Springs:
8 – Cookes of Dublin – The Landing
If you are a fan of Irish food, then you don’t want to miss this one. The location is located next to the popular Ragland Road table service location, and at Cookes you still get amazing Irish dancing and musical entertainment and food without the need for a reservation! The fish and chips at the location are some of my favorite in Walt Disney Word. The Beef and Lamb pie is another favorite of mine when I can convince myself not to go for the fish and chips! There are tons of great selections and the food really is amazing. This is a great spot to stop and enjoy your surroundings while you take a break.
7 – Starbucks – Marketplace and Westside.
While this also isn’t a traditional dining location, you can load up on your favorite beverages along with breakfast sandwiches, pastries and other goodies. There are two locations so you can always get your fix no matter which part of Disney Springs you are hanging out in. Even better, the Westside location also offers a selection of small plates if you are looking for a little more than just something sweet or one of the all-day breakfast sandwiches. There are flatbreads, mac and cheese, meat skewers, vegetables, etc. So you can definitely make a meal out of the offerings or at least tide yourself over until later.
6 – Wolfgang Puck Express – Marketplace
Disney Springs is a huge place, but with this location, you get some of the same great flavors. The Marketplace location even serves breakfast, so if you are in the area early, then this is a great stop for breakfast since there aren’t a ton of breakfast options in the area. For lunch or dinner, you can expect amazing pizzas, pasta, salads and more. This definitely doesn’t taste like quick service food and is a great value for what you get.
5 – The Polite Pig
The pig might be polite, but we’ll just tell you bluntly… GO EAT HERE. Dare we say that The Polite Pig’s taste of barbecue tops that of Flame Tree Barbecue?! We’ll create a new hashtag… #PolitePigForTheWin.
4 – Morimoto Asia Street Food
Morimoto Asia is one step ahead of Planet Hollywood Observatory, with their exterior patio outside of the restaurant now serving as a counter service location. Known as “Street Food”, this is the perfect place to grab a shaded spot under the covered patio or stroll along while snacking. Morimoto wins out as our number one because of their fresh sushi, bao tacos, noodles, and awesome snack options such as the Morimoto Baby Ribs! Despite our usual back seat view particularly of sushi, we will be visiting Morimoto time and time again in the future for their winning tastes.
3 – D-Luxe Burger – Town Center
We love the addition of D-Luxe Burger in the Town Center of Disney Springs. D-Luxe Burger has a feel of an old ranch farmhouse with rustic woodwork, barn doors, and very unique lighting. The theming is where this restaurant shines. There are two main seating areas indoors. Outside you’ll find a nice patio area that looks out on the blue spring waters. D-Luxe features burgers, of course, and they have six burgers to choose from. Feel free to customize when you order. We love the unique choices and their burgers are large and usually cooked to perfection. Note that fries do not come with the burgers and need to be ordered separately. A small fries is actually quite large-enough for at least two people to share! The large fries could easily satisfy a group of three or more. If you’re in the mood for a burger, then you’ll love D-Luxe!
2 – Earl of Sandwich – Marketplace
This is definitely a popular spot for visitors to Disney Springs. The location offers unique sandwiches with delicious flavor combinations. There is also a good variety of sides, chips, and desserts that are also tasty. Meals here are great since they don’t feel overly heavy. When you are doing all that walking, it can be miserable to feel too full and weighed down after the meal. My absolute favorite sandwich here is only there seasonally and it is the Holiday sandwich. It is like a turkey, dressing and cranberry dinner in a sandwich and I just LOVE it! I have no doubt that you are going to love this location as much as we do!
1 – Blaze Fast Fired Pizza – Town Center
Blaze Fast Fired Pizza is our absolute favorite quick service restaurant in Disney Springs-maybe even of all Disney World! We love their pizza-the taste, the quality of ingredients and the choices. You can either build your own pizza or choose one of their signature pizzas. They only have one size pizza – 11”. Blaze boasts fresh ingredients with dough prepared from scratch daily with a 24-hour fermentation period. You first choose between the original dough, high-rise dough, or gluten-free dough. If you build your own pizza, you get to choose sauces, cheeses, meats, veggies, and any special finishes. If you choose one of their signature pizzas you can select from red vine, BBQ chicken, art lover, meat eater, green stripe, veg out, link in, or white top. Salads, desserts, and a kid’s menu is also available. We can’t get enough Blaze and have even been known to go out of our way to get some. If you love pizza, make sure you stop at Blaze Fast Fired Pizza!
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