I’ve Found the BEST BRUNCH on Disney World Property!
What is it about the idea of brunch that creates such effervescent joy? Perhaps it’s that an invitation to brunch is a call to join in on a fun time, to enjoy great food, and to leisurely enjoy the company of friends or family. Maybe it’s just that brunch has the knack of making a weekend morning feel like it could go on forever. It feels luxurious and fancy without being pretentious. Brunch is everything that I want the weekend to be.
So when the option to bring my love for Disney together with my love of brunch, it seemed like a match made in heaven. That being said, I had yet to find the perfect brunch experience on Disney property; that is, until I stepped into Summer House on the Lake for their Weekend Brunch. Pull up a comfortable chair and throw on those stretchy pants, friends, because I’m about to tell you about the most perfect bunch I’ve had at Disney.
You’ll find Summer House on the Lake in the West Side area of Disney Springs near the AMC movie theater. It’s a newer addition to Disney Springs, and one that, based on its walk-up Cookie Bar alone, deserves to be on your must-do Disney World list. I do not recommend sitting in their bar area; its lower ceiling and crammed 2-top bar tables caused by birthday dinner this year to be less than the experience I wanted it to be. The interior dining room has the potential to be light and airy earlier in the afternoon, but becomes louder and less atmospheric the darker it gets outside. If you’re looking for the easy breezy California vibe that might come with a spot named “Summer House on the Lake,” you’ll want to sit on the patio. Trust me.
Along with sitting on the patio, you’ll also want to visit the restaurant on a Saturday or Sunday between the hours of 9am and 2pm in order to partake of their Weekend Brunch. While you’ll find some of the standard items on the brunch menu that you’ll see every day, there are Weekend Brunch-only treasures as well. And those are the items that I suggest you gravitate toward during your visit.
The first thing to grace the table was coffee served in a large mug. It hit the spot, because when I’m out for brunch, I typically focus on all things breakfast. That being said, Summer House has two bars and a long list of beverages to quench any thirst, including a mimosa, bellini and a Bloody Mary.
The next thing to arrive was ultimately, in my mind, the most fun, over-the-top thing to ever be served at a brunch: Summer House’s Our Famous Giant Cinnamon Roll. Yes, it’s $17.95. For a cinnamon roll. Take a deep breath, my friend, ‘cause that cinnamon roll is the size of your literal head and brings the intense bright notes of candied lemon peel and the sweetness of blueberry compote. And the house-made cream cheese frosting is unreal. I simply cannot wait to return and have it again.
For my entree, I chose the Huevos Rancheros ($19.95). This dish begins with a massive Oaxaca cheese quesadilla. We’re talking spilling-over-the-side-of-the-plate massive. The quesadilla is then topped with two sunny side up eggs, a mound of Summer House’s guacamole and tomato salsa, is drenched in mole sauce, and drizzled with crema. Goodness gracious. This was delicious and filling. It was everything my Mexican food-loving heart wanted, and it brought a kick of heat without being ridiculous. It absolutely deserves to be on a must-eat list or two.
My hubby chose the Breakfast Burrito ($16.95) for his meal, and loved every bite. The burrito is stuffed with fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon, avocado, and jack cheese. A punchy salsa verde is served on the side, and you can either stick with the side salad that typically accompanies the burrito or opt for hash browns for an additional $1.95. The hash browns were golden on the outside and creamy on the inside just like you want ‘em to be.
Due to the fact that we were savoring brunch on a gorgeous fall morning in Central Florida and we were living our very best lives, we also ordered the Sweet Pancake Tacos ($18.95). These cute ‘lil things arrived to the table in a taco holder and were filled with the freshest of berries. The tacos are topped with cinnamon sugar, but not until I chomped into one did I realize that torn mint leaves were incorporated into the berry medley. The mint added so much to the overall flavor. While this was a fun dish, it was overpriced and non-essential. Kids would love it, but when I head back to the restaurant, I’ll skip those pancake tacos and focus on the other items.
Please, please, please add Weekend Brunch at Summer House on the Lake into the itinerary for your next Disney Springs day. Reservations can now be made in the My Disney Experience app. Ask to sit on the patio, and savor every morsel.
And invite me, please. 😉
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