City Works Eatery & Pour House Dinner Review
*This gluten free dining experience took place in February 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as a review of fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.
*Disclosure: We were invited guests of City Works Eatery & Pour House for a complimentary dinner; however, I was not required to write this post and all opinions are my own.
Dinner at City Works Eatery & Pour House
City Works Eatery & Pour House is the newest table service restaurant to open in Disney Springs. Officially opening on February 6, 2020, this sports bar style restaurant features 90 beers on tap, lots of hard ciders (for us GF folks who can't have beer), and classic American bar fare. Recently, the team at City Works Eatery & Pour House invited us to come visit the restaurant to check out their special dietary needs options.
Atmosphere
Located next to the NBA Experience and across from the House of Blues and Cirque du Soleil, City Works Eatery & Pour House definitely fits the vibe of this area of Disney Springs.
City Works Eatery & Pour House - Exterior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
You can't miss the entrance area and brightly lit screens featuring sports games.
City Works Eatery & Pour House - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Both Brandon and I were pleasantly surprised by the interior of City Works Eatery & Pour House. I'm not sure entirely what I expected, but I suppose I thought it would resemble more of a classic sports bar. To me, the restaurant was extremely modern and chic.
City Works Eatery & Pour House - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
There's plenty of seating in the restaurant for all types of guests -- including ample classic bar seating, high top tables, booths, and even outdoor seating.
City Works Eatery & Pour House - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Do take a look not only at your menu but also the giant billboard signs featuring all of their beers and ciders on top. It's pretty impressive!
City Works Eatery & Pour House - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
We were seated at a high-top table, which we really liked. You can see that the tables were simple with cushy chairs.
City Works Eatery & Pour House - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
I think Brandon mentioned this in our vlog, but the restaurant itself is surprisingly long. I have to admit that makes it feel quite unique from the other restaurants at Disney Springs. It definitely helps make the restaurant feel larger and also more open too.
The Food
City Works Eatery & Pour House is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, so they do not currently offer an allergy-friendly menu. But, the menu does indicate some dishes that are gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan. And, your server along with a manager will talk you through any options and special dietary needs accommodations including cross-contamination concerns.
City Works Eatery & Pour House - Hard Cider / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Both Brandon and I did decide to get drinks. It is a pour house after all! While Brandon opted for a Goose Island Beer Co. Bottlenectar beer (not gluten free), I opted for a glass of Ace Perry Hard Cider. Most hard ciders are gluten free, but of course, be sure to ask any questions you might have about potential gluten containing ingredients (such as added flavors).
Ace Hard Cider is labeled gluten free, and I have had their ciders on quite a few occasions. It's a nice option when you're looking for a gluten free alcoholic beverage. While this pear hard cider wasn't my favorite (a little to sweet for me), I think it's a solid option if you like a classic hard cider.
City Works Eatery & Pour House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Up first, I decided to get the Kung Pao Cauliflower as a starter. This was marked gluten free and vegan on the menu. The dish includes roasted cauliflower, sweet peppers, green onions, garlic, ginger, arbol chiles, fried peanuts, chili oil, sweet and spicy tamari.
Because of Brandon's peanut allergy, I did ask about the peanuts and was told that they could be removed -- making the dish peanut free. Unfortunately, I was served a version with peanuts, so Brandon was unable to try this. Thankfully, his allergy is not so severe that he can't be near peanuts, but we did take proper protocols afterwards to ensure that both he and I were gluten free and peanut free to avoid any cross-contamination. Generally, we try to be as peanut free as possible to avoid any potential for allergic reactions.
Overall, I really liked this dish a lot. It was a little sweet and definitely quite spicy. I especially loved the combination of cauliflower and spices. It was a super unique appetizer, and I'm glad I tried it. I might actually consider ordering this with chicken or shrimp next time and making it my meal. It was the surprise hit of the dishes I tried.
City Works Eatery & Pour House - Food in image is NOT gluten free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Because Brandon can have gluten, he decided to try the Pretzel Bites. These most definitely are NOT gluten free -- both the bites and the cheese sauce contain gluten (beer in the cheese sauce). Brandon said these were outstanding and would definitely get these again.
These were fish/shellfish free, peanut free, hazelnut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free.
City Works Eatery & Pour House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
For my entree, I decided to get the Bacon Cheeseburger on a gluten free (and vegan) bun. The restaurant currently does not offer an allergy-friendly dedicated fryer. So, if you're gluten free or have other allergies, you'll need to choose a non-fried side. I ended up with a side salad with a house vinaigrette. The salad itself was nothing too special but it was a nice solid little side to the massive burger I ended up with!
This photo truly does not do this burger justice. It was huge! The thick-cut candied bacon was phenomenal. And, if you can have cheese, you'll love the combination of aged Vermont white and yellow cheddar cheeses. If you're dairy free, the only modification you need is to omit the cheese. The burger itself was solid, but the cheese, candied bacon, and the Hilltop Hearth gluten free bun really made it. I would definitely get this burger again.
City Works Eatery & Pour House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon decided to try the Filet Medallions which was marked gluten free on the menu. This dish came with pan-seared filet medallions, bleu cheese mashed potatoes, sauteed baby arugula, red wine demi-glace.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that Brandon scarfed his filet medallions down so quickly that I barely realized he was done. They were that good! Because we had both been cross-contamination with peanuts and gluten, we didn't share any dishes, so I didn't get to try this. But, Brandon raved all night about it.
His only suggestion was to reduce the amount of arugula served with this dish and increase the amount of mashed potatoes a bit. Of course, Brandon is a huge mashed potatoes fan, so he'll never turn down more mashed potatoes! If you're looking for an entree option, the filet medallions are a solid bet.
City Works Eatery & Pour House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon decided to get dessert, and the only real option that we could both get was the Root Beer Float. Served with regular vanilla ice cream and root beer, Brandon really said this was a nice dessert option. And, as you can see, it was a huge portion too!
If you want to see our full review as we dined, check out our vlog. It's another fun way to share the experience with all of you and our initial thoughts about the restaurant and our meal.
Overall
Both Brandon and I agreed that City Works Eatery & Pour House is a solid addition to Disney Springs. There really wasn't a sports bar style restaurant in Disney Springs prior to this. And, I think that will serve it well, as it's just another option for guests to choose from. Both of us really enjoyed our meal options -- though I think my one suggestion for the restaurant would be to consider a dedicated allergy-friendly fryer in the future. So many restaurants in Disney World offer this, and it's a nice feature that will encourage guests with special dietary needs to come visit even more!
A huge shout-out to the team at City Works Eatery & Pour House for inviting us to come to the restaurant and check things out. Special shout-out to our server Reuben and manager Riley who were both phenomenal! We're looking forward to visiting City Works Eatery & Pour House again soon.
What do you think of the special dietary needs options at City Works Eatery & Pour House? What would you want to order if you dined there?