Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' — Restaurant in Lake Buena Vista

Mannn, I've been trying to come here for a long time. There are never any reservations on the app, and when there are, it's always for an insanely late at night, like 10PM. I have a feeling they seat more walk-ins than most Springs restaurants, but I didn't have to test that theory. I lucked into a 5PM-ish resy one day. #BlessedLife

We show up and get seated. We experienced two servers between shift change. Both of them were eloquent and lively, perfect tourist wranglers. Our first guy had a speech to explain the high points of the menu. So we looked it all over and got to ordering.

We started off with a Bunch of Puppies (House-made hushpuppies served with pimento cheese and red jalapeño jelly). Very well fried, with just-moist-enough softness within. Both the creamy pimento and the sweet jelly had just enough spice to make this app very interesting.

My main was the main headliner, the Fried Chicken Sandwich (buttermilk-brined for 24 hours and hand -battered, dressed with hot sauce aioli, iceberg lettuce, tomato and bread and butter pickles) (Served with house-made barbecue chips drizzled with icebox dressing).

This thing was pretty good. It was very tender and juicy underneath that Mega crispy exterior. Not only was the aioli not very flavorful, but there was hardly any of it. This was too much sandwich for so little sauce. But it was still pretty good. The chips were top notch, though. Eat them fast, because that dressing will sog them up fast.

I also got to taste the Meatloaf Main Plate (House-made meatloaf served with creamy mashed potatoes, Southern green beans and a cheddar drop biscuit). We subbed out the sides for the mac 'n' cheese and some collard greens.

But this plate let us down. The grind on the meatloaf was too fine. There was not a lot of texture to the thing, and the overall seasoning was bland. Not even that amazing homemade ketchup could save it. Mac, also bland. Biscuit, dry. The best thing on the plate was the greens, and if you're interested enough in this restaurant to have read this far, that's probably very shocking to you.

We ended the meal with something we could not say no to, the Signature Sampler (A trifecta of signature desserts! Indulge with a petite portion of our Hummingbird Cake, Chocolate Pecan Pie and Shine Cake with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream).

This was very fun, and I wish more restaurants did this. Dessert is always the weakest part of a meal, so give me sampler to get my interest! Hummingbird was delicate and just sweet enough, the pecan pie was super decadent and lovely, and the shine cake was a lot of fun, you have to try it.

Overall, this place did a lot of good things. Not many bad things, but the things they promised just didn't live up to their true potential. I know you have to hold back when you're dealing with tourists, so that's why I wanna give this place a very...

I’ve had this place on my list for months, but it's almost always booked solid. Today, we decided to take a chance and walked in for Mother’s Day. We were told it’d be a 1.5-hour wait, but we were pleasantly surprised to be seated in just about an hour. And let me tell you—every single bite was worth it, even if the welcome at the hostess stand was a little underwhelming.

Our server, LaLa, was an absolute gem. She was upbeat, knowledgeable, and quick with great menu suggestions. Every question was answered with a smile, and her energy lit up the table—servers like her are a rare find! Riley, the manager, also came by to discuss an allergy at the table and was incredibly kind and genuine. It’s always reassuring when staff take food sensitivities seriously.

What We Ordered:

Meatloaf Plate: Two thick slices of tender, flavorful meatloaf topped with a chunky house-made ketchup glaze, served with creamy mashed potatoes (with a few rustic lumps—just how I like them) and Southern-style green beans cooked with bacon and pine nuts. Everything was packed with flavor. It also came with a dense cheddar drop biscuit—personally not my favorite, so I left it—but the rest of the plate? I inhaled it. Generous portions—I took half home.

Country Fried Steak: Lightly battered, well-seasoned, and fork-tender. Came with mashed potatoes and a swap of mac & cheese for green beans (for a $2 upcharge). The mac & cheese, served bubbling hot in a mini cast iron skillet, was ooey-gooey but fell a bit flat on flavor. Not bad, but not memorable—I'd stick with the green beans next time.

Cole Slaw (Sample): I’m not usually a fan, but LaLa brought me a sample and I was shocked—it was crisp, flavorful, and honestly one of the highlights.

We wrapped up with a slice of Hummingbird Cake to go. Unfortunately, that was a miss—dry and underwhelming. I’d skip it next time.

Atmosphere: Cozy vibe with both indoor and outdoor seating. There's a small bar outside if you want to grab a drink while waiting.

Final Take: Despite a slow start at the front desk and a couple of minor food misses, this spot absolutely delivered. Great service, comforting food, and a warm atmosphere. And yes—there will definitely be...

FIVE STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY ON A PLATE 🍗🍩🔥

Y’ALL. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ at Disney Springs is the real Southern deal—comfort food on a whole other level. This place brought the flavor, the vibes, and the kind of food that gives your taste buds a standing ovation. 👏🔥

We kicked things off with the Deviled Eggs 🥚 and OH MY GOODNESS—devilish is right! These bad boys were piled HIGH with creamy, tangy goodness. Tasty AF doesn’t even begin to cover it. I could’ve eaten a dozen of those and called it a day. 😈🍽️

I had the Fried Chicken Salad 🥗 and it was a salad only a Southern chef could make. Loaded with toppings: bacon, onions, tomatoes, dressing (thankfully plenty of it!), and even slices of those famous deviled eggs on top. Filling, fresh, and straight-up delicious. It’s like the salad version of comfort food. 💯👌

My daughter had the Fried Chicken and Donuts 🍗🍩 and let me tell you—she LOVED it. Sweet and savory perfection. She even saved half to eat for breakfast the next morning. That’s how you know it hit. 🙌😋

Other daughter went with Art’s Famous Fried Chicken—buttermilk brined for 24 hours, crispy outside, juicy inside. Came with creamy mashed potatoes, a cheddar drop biscuit, and something you don’t always get with food: LOVE. ❤️ She said she could literally taste the love in every bite!

My wife had the Skillet-Fried Chicken Paillard 🍋🥔—and she’s still talking about it. A thinner cut of buttermilk-brined chicken, perfectly pan-fried and topped with lemon butter, garlic, and capers. Served with roasted potatoes, grilled asparagus, and a side of those insanely creamy cheesy grits she fell head over heels for. 💛 It was like nothing she’s had before—unique, bold, and unforgettable.

The whole vibe of the place was warm, welcoming, and relaxed—exactly what you want after a day of Disney magic 🏰✨. Service was fast and friendly, and the food came out hot and fresh.

Final thoughts? ✔️ Flavor: 10/10 ✔️ Atmosphere: Cozy Southern charm ✔️ Staff: Friendly and on point ✔️ Price: Worth every single bite ✔️ Would we eat here again? Heck yes—already planning our return!

Thank you, Chef Art, for bringing the Southern soul to...