At its core, Disney is all about telling stories, whether it be in its movies or its theme parks and attractions. And the four newly opened restaurants at the Disney Springs complex, all owned and operated by the Patina Group, are no different.
The four new spots -- casual-elegant Maria & Enzo's, speakeasy-style Roman eatery Enzo's Hideaway, fast-casual Sicilian pizzeria Pizza Ponte and 1920s industrial-style American bar and nightspot the Edison -- all come with their own backstories, as does Disney Springs itself.
They join a group of top-tier eateries that includes Morimoto Asia, Homecomin' by Art Smith and Frontera Grill by Rick Bayless. Jose Andres' new outpost of Jaleo will open later in 2018. That said, it's no surprise that the New York Times recently anointed Disney Springs as one of its "52 Places to Visit" in 2018.
According to the Disney Springs backstory, the area used to be a bustling town, where almost every building has been repurposed. Maria and Enzo's, staffed almost fully by Disney's Italian ambassadors program, is the town's former airline terminal, built in the 1920s. Guests are greeted by uniformed hosts dressed in vintage airline attire who show diners to their tables and wish them a pleasant flight. It's hard not to be impressed by the grand dining room: The floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Disney Springs' harbor, one of the only restaurants on the property to take advantage of the view.
Floor-to-ceiling windows highlight Mario & Enzo's grand waterfront views
The Sicilian-style menu (Maria and Enzo were immigrants from Sicily, according to the backstory) is designed and maintained by chef Theo Schoenegger, the Michelin-starred helmsman from Sinatra at the Wynn Las Vegas and the Walt Disney Theatre in Los Angeles. The offerings are heavy on authentic Italian comfort food, including baked pastas, parmigianas and other classic southern Italian dishes. The wine list is chock-full of regional Italian wines. At a recent lunch, I was absolutely thrilled by a starter salad that combined the brightness of lemon, orange and olives with crunchy fennel and celery root. Who says winter vegetables can't wow?
As soon as you cross the hall from the elegance of Maria & Enzo's to Pizza Ponte's fast-casual pizza counter, the aroma of freshly baked pizza, sandwiches and pastries is enough to take visitors back to winding streets of Naples. The focaccia-crusted pizza slices start at about $6 and are generous, so guests won't go away hungry for that price. And they might find it hard to make room for a cannoli studded with candied fruit or a fragrant torta di arancia (orange cake).
Disney fans always seem fascinated by the "tunnels" that carry cast members, undetected, from one part of the park to another. Enzo's Hideaway, a tucked-away, speakeasy-style bar with full Roman menu, is actually located in one of these famed passageways. Under a cupola, diners will find an unmarked door. Behind it is a hallway that leads to an underground grotto akin to the kinds of cellars in which bootleggers might have hidden their stash. The walls of a private dining room for eight are covered with wine racks, and the bar boasts the largest selection of rums on Disney property. Pairing dinners and Sunday suppers are in the works.
The Edison opened with a bang on New Year's Eve this year, and according to the backstory, it is Disney Springs' former power plant (hence the use of the inventor's name). The building last served as the Pleasure Island Adventurer's Club but has been transformed into a steampunk-style industrial wonderland, essentially part cocktail workshop and creative haven for Roaring Twenties-style performers. There's a full menu of American favorites, including the Edison Burger, a juicy patty of brisket, short-rib and sirloin.
Although it transforms into a hangout after 10 p.m. on weekends for the 21-plus set, the Edison is largely family friendly, with cast members dressed as inventors making the rounds of tables to share their latest machinations with kids and adults alike. Entertainment starts nightly at 8 p.m. and includes aerialists, flappers and a band playing jazz renditions of modern-day pop favorites. Kids burn off some energy on the dance floor on weeknights; on weekends, couples can reserve a booth for a romantic rendezvous complete with absinthe served from a cart pushed by a "fairy."
An earlier version of this report incorrectly stated that Maria and Enzo's grand dining room was designed by the same architectural firm that created Morimoto Asia's interior.