It’s hard to believe, yet another big “something” has opened at Disney Springs. Last year, the magical outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex welcomed Jaleo by José Andrés, the NBA Experience, the Coca-Cola Store and Rooftop Beverage Store, and ever-rotating street musicians, food trucks, seasonal events and pop-up stores. And soon, there will be the highly anticipated Drawn to Life Cirque du Soleil & Disney show and a colorful M&Ms World experience. But this weekend was all about the grand opening of City Works Eatery and Pour House at Disney Springs. We hopped over to this new hop spot to give you foodie froggies a first-hand taste of what it has to offer!
City Works Eatery and Pour House Disney Springs Location
City Works Eatery and Pour House is on the West Side of Disney Springs. That means if you’re standing at its front doors looking out, the big white “tent” of Cirque du Soleil is to your left, House of Blues is directly across from you, and NBA Experience is directly to your right with connecting door access. Other nearby neighbors? Jaleo, Splitsville, AMC Movies, Exposition Park, DisneyStyle, Super Hero Headquarters (one of Tad and Lily's favorite Disney Springs stops), Disney’s Candy Cauldron and Star Wars™ Galactic Outpost to name a few. If the building looks familiar, it’s the former home of DisneyQuest.
The Vibe Inside City Works Eatery and Pour House
With 10 locations, City Works calls itself an "eatery and pour house"-style restaurant. But what does that mean? With its casual vibe, huge TV screens playing multiple sports games at once, loud music, direct access into the NBA Experience, and a real-time sports news ticker lighting up outside screens, it feels like a really big, nice sports bar with a lot of beer. (Really big = 8,632 square feet inside + an outdoor patio + three bars. TV screens = 17 flatscreen HDTVs including a massive video “wall.”)
City Works Eatery and Pour House Food and Drinks
If you want beer at Disney Springs, this is the place to be. It's got over 90 draft beers on tap including local, international and exclusive “only found at City Works” craft beers. A whopping 30 taps are dedicated to local brews! (If you find the selections overwhelming, you can create your own sampler flight of four 6 oz. pours.) We tried the Bottlenectar pale ale after our server promised it had a sweet melon scent. (It did!) You'll find ambers & browns, Indie lagers, Belgians, wheats, ciders & seltzers and oh so much more! You can order drinks at a counter service bar right by the main City Works entrance, at a wrap-around outdoor bar across from the Cirque du Soleil entrance, at the long interior bar full of taps and bottles, or from your table.
Hop Tip: Did you know you can get drinks to go? Disney Springs allows you to walk around with alcoholic beverages, so City Works is the latest to offer an on-the-go counter at its outdoor bar.
The menu is full of American bar food with starters, shareables and entrees. Think burgers, tacos, fries, fish and chips, pretzel bites, fried pickles and popcorn chicken — but with a bit more of a modern twist than your local sports bar or football stadium offerings. (For example, instead of basic nachos, the nachos had pulled duck confit, pickled jalapenos and queso fresco over wonton chips. We tried the buffalo shrimp with bleu cheese cream ($18), the house salad ($9), and the chicken tinga tacos ($16). All three were delicious, albeit small if you’re coming in super hungry after a long day of park hopping.
City Works Eatery and Pour House Specials
Its “Happier Hours” are Mondays through Thursdays. Drink specials include $2 off well cocktails, glasses of wine, and local craft beers from 3 to 6 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to midnight. Food deals are only offered during the 3 to 6 p.m. window, including $7 deals on “all bar bites” like Buffalo Dip and Kung Pao Cauliflower.
Who is it for?
Sports fans- Beer fans
- If you’re looking for a place to eat before or after the NBA Experience, a House of Blues concert, or the new Cirque du Soleil show
- If you just want to say you’ve eaten at every new Disney Springs restaurant. (There’s not a Food & Wine Festival-esque passport you can stamp with stickers, but there really should be!)
- If you’re a big weekend brunch fan and looking for something new. House of Blues has offered its Gospel Brunch for years. With its Rock N Roll Brunch, City Works offers a fresh, fun take on meals and mimosas until 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays including punny, rock-inspired dishes like a Jon Bun Jovi cinnamon roll and an Easy Like Sunday Morning breakfast flatbread.
Who is it not for?
- Those looking for a quiet, intimate dinner. It’s really big and it’s really (really) loud.
- Those looking for “fill me up” value. Small portions had medium-to-high price tags.
- Those looking for a foodie or wine experience. It is a step up from your typical “bar food,” but it’s not fancy.
- And while City Pour House promises wines on tap, it unfortunately wasn't set up and working yet for opening weekend. This Momma Frog hopped over to Pepe (the quick-service walk-up counter of Jaleo by José Andrés) and snagged some white wine to bring back to the table.
Are you excited to try City Works Eatery and Pour House at Disney Springs? Have you tried to dunk or dribble at NBA Experience next-door? What are you most looking forward to at Disney Springs? Comment below.
Hoppy planning!
