During each visit to Disney World I like to try new things. One of the new things I tried on this most recent trip was Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ in Disney Springs.
I love decor in this restaurant. It’s a bit rustic and a bit industrial, but still gives off that charming feel. The second we walked in the door we had a sense of comfort in this restaurant. It’s very welcoming, but I think that also has a lot to do with the Cast Members who work there. Everyone we met at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ was super friendly and welcoming.
There isn’t a ton of seating inside, but there are seats out front and also seating outside of the dining room. I’m not sure if the seating out front counts as seating for dining, but the seating on the deck is definitely seating for lunch and dinner.
The menu is full of comfort food and it all sounds delicious! I looked it over, but I pretty much knew I would be getting Art’s Famous Fried Chicken as my entree. The Church Lady Deviled Egg sounded good too, so I got those as an appetizer. My friend ordered the chicken sandwich with a side of cheesy grits.
Let’s start with the Church Lady Deviled Eggs. These were delicious! I like deviled eggs, but these yolks were whipped up nice and creamy and a generous portion was put in each half an egg and then they were topped with bacon. They are served in a ceramic egg container and each deviled egg was a good size, this is definitely a sharing appetizer!
Next up was my entree, Art’s Famous Fried Chicken. I’ve tried fried chicken at different places on property and up until I tried this chicken my favorite fried chicken was at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe. I now have a new favorite fried chicken dish. This chicken was so good! It’s buttermilk-brined for 24 hours and you can tell. The chicken is so juicy and flavorful. After they brine the chicken for 24 hours they fry it and the crispiness of the fried coating mixed with the juiciness of the chicken is delicious. I was seriously impressed with this dish and will most likely get it again the next time I go.
Along with the chicken you get a side of super creamy mashed potatoes. Now, mashed potatoes are my favorite side dish, so I tend to be critical. These were so good that I could have made a meal of just the potatoes. They were some of the creamiest potatoes that I have had. A cheddar drop biscuit is also included as a side and it’s really good too. Everything about this meal was delicious.
My friend was very pleased with her meal too. Her chicken sandwich was just as juicy as my fried chicken. She ordered a side of grits with cheese with the sandwich. The cheese that they put on the grits is very generous. It was cooked on top of the grits and when mixed in it melted nicely and mixed well with the grits. The helping of grits was very generous and more than enough for one person.
For dessert I tried the Hummingbird Cake with vanilla ice cream. The picture doesn’t do it justice, because I took it in a to-go container, but the cake is really good. It’s a pineapple-banana cake with cream cheese frosting. If you like banana bread and cream cheese then you should definitely try this cake. It was really good. It’s definitely a sharing dessert though. The slice was huge!
We also tried a couple of their drinks and enjoyed them as well. I ordered the Berry Lavender drink, which is made with fresh strawberries and raspberries muddled with rosemary lavender vodka, lemon juice, honey syrup, and garnished with rosemary and a lemon twist. My friend ordered the Florida Crush, which is made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka muddled with orange and strawberries, a splash of fresh squeezed Florida orange juice, and agave syrup.
Tip: If you get a drink at a Disney Springs restaurant, you can get a plastic up (no lid) and bring it with you to walk around Disney Springs. You don’t have to finish it before you leave the restaurant.
You can tell they use fresh ingredients for everything from the drinks to the desserts. Everything we had at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ was really good and we both said that we would go back in a heart beat.
We didn’t have reservations here, but were still able to walk up and get a table. The day we visited they opened at 11 a.m. and we got there right around opening time to ask about a table. It probably gets more crowded as the day goes on though. So, if you definitely want to try this place then I would make a reservation. Also, they do accept the Disney Dining Plan.
I can’t wait to go back and will absolutely be recommending this restaurant to family, friends, and clients. It was a great experience all around!
Have you been to Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’?
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
Join the fun in our Facebook group, follow us on Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Contact Dream Makers Travel Agency today to book your trip and get FREE concierge level planning included with every booking.
Liz
I love all things Disney, but my main love is for Disney World and I'm always planning for the next trip. Before becoming a Disney blogger, I was a radio DJ, so I guess I'm just continuing in the communication industry, just in a different form. I love talking Disney and I could talk about Disney all day. That's why I started blogging and created the Facebook group. The Disney community is full of friendly, helpful, and happy people...and I love being a part of it! If there is any Disney subject you would like to see covered just let me know! Need help planning your Disney vacation. Feel free to contact myself or Melissa at Never Stop Dreaming Travel Co. We love helping people plan their trips! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! Don't forget to check out our Countdown to Disney app! Feel free to email me with suggestions of things you would like to see in the app :-)