Irish folk band The High Kings sang, “wherever you go around the world you’ll find an Irish pub.” Disney World is no exception to that rule, and Raglan Road is possibly the most Irish pub you’ll find beyond the Emerald Isle.
As someone who finds a familiar kind of comfort in sitting tucked away inside a cozy snug, enjoying a foamy beverage as the sounds of Irish fiddle fill the air, this Disney Springs restaurant is obviously one of my personal favorites. With first-rate entertainment and an atmosphere that takes authenticity to the next level, read on to find out why this OG resident of the defunct Downtown Disney is still a staple in the Disney Springs area. Keep reading for all of the details! Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including a new reveal of Magic Kingdom’s ambitious thrill ride that can operate in the rain, and Disneyland’s reveal of the new Haunted Mansion Holiday anniversary merch collection.
READ MORE – Rides Disney Almost Built But Didn’t (And Why They Never Happened)
Raglan Road Is the Real Deal
Named for the street in Dublin and the Patrick Kavanagh poem that made it famous, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant brings Ireland to Disney Springs. Irish craftspeople constructed the whole interior in The Fair City itself, using reclaimed hardwoods, like walnut and mahogany, from Victorian-era Irish homes, churches, bars, and shops. Then, the Irish owners shipped it across the Atlantic, fitted it with Irish fixtures and furniture, and filled it with an expertly curated collection of authentic Irish art and antiques. This is not your average Disney-Imagineered restaurant!
Disney World Ride Closure ALERTS, Major Park Changes, Secrets Revealed
Get alerts on closures, park changes, exclusive discounts, and free printables. Trusted by 100,000+ Disney fans & planners.
Recently, I had the chance to catch up with some extended family in the area, and since I was long overdue for some bangers and a pint, Raglan Road it was.
First, Comfort Bread!
To start, we ordered a basket of Comfort Bread “to share” for the six of us, as one does (or always should do, anyway). This homemade brown Irish soda bread is soft and dense and chewy in the best way! They glaze it with Guinness stout and serve it with a sweet olive-oil dip, making it every bit as comforting as the name suggests.
Modern Gastro-Pub Food By an Irish Master Chef
Raglan Road’s culinary philosophy focuses on staying in front of the trends in Irish food culture, which means presenting traditional dishes like shepherd’s pie with creativity and modern sophistication. Ultimately, though, executive chef Mark O’Neill aims to design contemporary Irish dishes that are just exceptionally good.
My husband’s Shepherd’s Pie to Try checked all of those boxes. The kitchen prepares the savory casserole as an open-sided tower with visible layers, rather than serving it in a baking dish the old-fashioned way. While an Irish shepherd’s pie typically uses lamb, here the chef combines that with braised pulled beef, like in a cottage pie. Taste-wise, the peat-smoked mashed potatoes and rich red wine jus elevate the usual mashies and pub gravy to perfection.
Our server recommended pairing this with Crooken Can’s Tri Wishes Grand Irish Red Ale, and we concur. The malty brew complemented this hearty dish well.
Bangers + Mash = Yum
Bangers and mash is one of my go-to meals at any Irish pub, and Raglan’s version is typically the standard to which I compare every other. This time, however, the Cheshire Heritage pork sausages were a bit tough for me, although the flavor combination of the creamy colcannon mashed potatoes with the onions and red wine jus was just…chef’s kiss. My only other note is that the crispy onions could have been crispier.
I polished it off with a smooth pint of Smithwick’s for the refreshing factor, although sometimes I like a Guinness with my bangers as well.
What’s a Pub Without Fish and Chips?
There’s some stiff competition when it comes to fish and chips at Disney World, and Raglan Road (along with its quick service counterpart, Cookes of Dublin) throws its hat in the proverbial ring with the likes of Rose and Crown Dining Room and Yorkshire Fish Company at EPCOT. While all three locations serve excellent variations of the classic chippie favorite, I find the quality of the fish itself to be best at Raglan Road.
This could be because Chef O’Neill personally sources their fish from a family-owned supplier in Boston, where the cold North Atlantic conditions are identical to the waters off the coast of Ireland and Great Britain. That means the texture and unsaturated oil content are closer to what you might get at a high-end pub in Dublin. For me personally, that seems to mean a denser filet with more tender and deliciously flaky fish.
Anyway, my son didn’t have any trouble tucking in before I could get a photo of the entire meal. In addition to the beer-battered cod, he was a fan of the tasty house-made dill tartar sauce and crisp “chips.”
READ MORE – 10 Secrets Of Disney’s Peter Pan’s Flight Ride That Will Change the Way You Look at It
My daughter’s buttermilk-fried Gold’N Chicken off the kids’ menu disappeared quickly as well. She usually only eats one tender of this size, so the fact that she ate all of them lets us know how much she liked it.
Kickin’ Chicken
Our Florida relatives both got the Now You’re Talkin’ Chicken Sandwich, featuring a juicy buttermilk-fried chicken breast with hot sauce, scallions, shredded pickled slaw, truffle aioli, and grated parmesan on a buttery, brioche-style bun. It was a good thing our server kept the iced water coming steady, because this thing brought the heat! The other flavors on the sandwich balanced it out nicely, however.
Don’t Forget to Order Dessert
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a bit of a bread pudding connoisseur. I’ve been known to stop in here for the atmosphere and Ger’s Bread and Butter Pudding alone. It’s usually not that difficult to get a last-minute reservation, even on a Friday night, and you never know when you’ll get a hankering for this stuff.
At my insistence, we ordered this dessert for the entire table. It’s layers of white bread with golden raisins, soaked in custard and served warm with sides of caramel and vanilla cream sauce. The menu simply describes it as “like no other you’ve ever tried.”
I’m not even a raisin person, but that doesn’t stop me. Those fluffy layers drenched in salty-sweet manna from Ireland are utter bliss.
High-Quality Irish Entertainment
While Raglan Road manages to create an intimate feel with its dark wood paneling, leather booths, and brass lighting, it’s actually quite spacious. With world-class Irish step-dancers and live musicians performing every night, the need for grander accommodations than your standard neighborhood pub is obvious. The building houses an octagonal dining room with 360-degree viewing of the center stage, which is well over 100 years old.
A constantly revolving list of traditional Irish folk bands, singer-songwriters, Celtic rock bands, and more travel directly from Ireland to grace the main stage, always accompanied by award-winning Irish dancers. The stellar entertainment here is always worth the visit!
And don’t worry if you’re not able to sit in the main dining room. Our group’s table was located around the corner from all the action, and we still got a show. A couple of mindbogglingly talented dancers set up a portable platform right in front of our table! We even got to chat with them for a while after their set.
Raglan Road continues to provide quality comfort food, an authentic Irish pub atmosphere, and unbeatable entertainment value in Disney Springs. I plan to visit again as soon as I’m able.
Don’t Miss the Latest Disney News
Don’t miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.
