Homecomin’ Kitchen Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in January 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.

Dinner at Homecomin' Kitchen

Homecomin' Kitchen, located in Disney Springs, is one of those restaurants that I rarely go to. Not because it's not good. But, because it's so popular that it's hard to get a reservation or be able to dine here as a "walk-up." Brandon and I have tried to eat at Homecomin' nearly a half a dozen times without success. On this visit, we stopped by in January later in the evening and were pleasantly surprised that the walk-up wait time was only 20-30 minutes. So, we decided it was finally time to have a meal there together, because while I had been there several times, Brandon had never eaten there.

Atmosphere

Homecomin' Kitchen's theme is decidedly Florida Southern. There's lots of bright colors, cozy chairs, and plenty of Southern hospitality.

Homecomin' Kitchen - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I especially like all of the wood throughout the restaurant. The cheery decor is both rustic and chic.

Homecomin' Kitchen - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I also the cozy chairs at the tables. It feels very welcoming and inviting. If I had one complaint, it's that the tables are entirely too close together with the cozy chairs.

We were seated at a table really close to others and in a spot that seemed to be causing issues with servers moving through with food and drinks. If you have any specific seating preferences, like a booth or corner, it's good to let the Homecomin' Kitchen team know ahead of time.

Homecomin' Kitchen - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The lighting fixtures and murals are some of the best decor features of Homecomin' Kitchen. Both Brandon and I really loved the potato sack lined chandelier in the middle of the restaurant.

Homecomin' Kitchen - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There are so many great nods to Florida and local features -- including this beautifully crafted wooden table. Overall, the theme of the restaurant really is very inviting.

The Food

Homecomin' Kitchen has become so popular -- mostly because of its Southern and Florida local fare. As a gluten free and dairy free guest, I would recommend going to another restaurant, as this location is very dairy heavy (though there are a few dishes that are options). How and what they can accommodate will definitely depend on your special dietary needs.

Because Homecomin' Kitchen is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. However, some of the menu notes items that are gluten free (as is). And, you'll also be able to speak directly with a manager to talk through options. On this visit, the manager (whose name I have forgotten) was fantastic at working with us to ensure both us had a great and safe meal.

Homecomin' Kitchen / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my meal, I opted to order the Country Club with grilled chicken, topped with white cheddar, pecan-smoked bacon, red jalapeño jelly, lettuce & tomato served on an Udi's gluten free bun with a side of mashed potatoes. This dish was gluten free but contained dairy. Guests can order this gluten free by omitting the cheese and choosing a different side dish.

Overall, the sandwich was very good. The chicken was very flavorful, and I love the restaurant's pecan-smoked bacon. I also really loved the red jalapeño jelly, which gave the sandwich a sweet and spicy kick. The mashed potatoes (if you can have dairy) and rich and creamy and quite tasty.

I'd get this entree again, though next time I might get a dairy free side like collard greens or Southern slaw. Because the restaurant doesn't have a dedicated fryer, you are a bit more limited on options at the restaurant.

Homecomin' Kitchen - Mac & Cheese in this Photo is NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Art Burger which came with two beef patties topped with American cheese, Art's special sauce, tomato-bacon jam, lettuce, tomato, onion & pickles. Somehow neither Brandon or I could find a picture of the burger. I don't know if we forgot to take a photo, which is possible, because his meal came out a little later than mine.

Because of Brandon's allergies to fish/shellfish and chicken & turkey, the manager recommended that he order a burger and that the kitchen cook it in a pan to avoid cross-contamination. We were both really impressed that the manager was proactive and took extra steps to ensure Brandon's safety. Unfortunately, something happened during the prep process, as they put chips on his plate. The chips weren't safe for either of us due to a shared fryer, so the manager had the kitchen re-make Brandon's burger. We were so grateful for this and really appreciative of the manager keeping a close eye on our meals.

In between, the manager brought Brandon a plate of macaroni & cheese so that he could enjoy some food while we waited for his burger (and so my food didn't get cold). He also came back several times and when Brandon said how much he loved the mac & cheese, the manager actually gave us a to-go package of it to heat up at home since we had to wait for Brandon's burger. That was another nice touch, and I was glad to see the Homecomin' Kitchen team going above and beyond during our meal. And, Brandon was pretty happy with at home mac & cheese too!

Overall

Both of us enjoyed our meals, despite the slight hiccup with Brandon's meal. Both of us agreed that it's not our favorite place at Disney Springs, but that we liked it a lot. I don't think there's a ton of variety for either of us as special dietary needs guests. But, if we're craving some Southern cooking, it's a nice spot for a meal. I also really enjoy the brunch at Homecomin' Kitchen too.

Have you been to Art Smith's Homecomin' Kitchen? What did you order when you dined there?

Homecomin' Kitchen Brunch Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in July 2019.

Brunch at Homecomin' Kitchen

Homecomin' Kitchen is a table service restaurant located in Disney Springs. Owned and operated by Chef Art Smith -- a James Beard award-winning chef who grew in fame thanks to working with Oprah. This restaurant offers guests a taste of Florida local flavors and Southern dishes. It's one of my brother's favorite places in Disney Springs. And, he always wants to dine there whenever we have family in town. So, recently, I had brunch there with my brother, mom, and stepdad.

Atmosphere

Like its food, Homecomin' Kitchen's theme represents Florida and Southern staples.

Homecomin' Kitchen Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

It's a very inviting and charming restaurant -- with a brightly lit interior and big cushy chairs.

Homecomin' Kitchen - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I love how some of the lighting fixtures actually use potato sacks to adorn them. It's super charming and very rustic.

Homecomin' Kitchen - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Homecomin' Kitchen is very popular. So, my only negative on the theme and restaurant space is that it can feel quite crowded. We came during brunch, and the restaurant was pretty packed. If you're not that comfortable sitting in the middle of the restaurant, I recommend asking for a booth.

The Food

Because Homecomin' Kitchen is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. The menu does mark some items GF for those dishes that are gluten free. But, I always recommend speaking to a manager here, because there tends to be a few more options that are listed GF on the menu.

On this visit, I was interested in the brunch offerings -- though I could have ordered from the regular menu too. The brunch menu did not list any of the main dishes as gluten free. But, the manager told me many of them were easily modifications. The Grand-Daddy Plate and the Short Rib Hash were the two dishes with the easiest modifications. The only modification was to remove the cheddar cheese drop biscuit.

Homecomin' Kitchen / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I decided to order the Short Rib Hash which came with Two Eggs Sunny Side Up over a Short Rib Hash with Grilled Corn Succotash, Potatoes, Onions, Red Bell, and Fresno Peppers. I was also able to order a side with this entree, so I chose the Pecan Smoked Bacon. Everything was gluten free. I did not ask about dairy free modifications on this visit. But, I would guess that this may have been dairy free or easily made dairy free.

Overall, I really enjoyed this breakfast entree. The eggs were well-cooked, and the hash was really delicious. It did have a bit of a spicy bite to it. So, if you're not a fan of spicy food, this dish might be a little too spicy for you. But, I didn't think the dish was overly spicy for anyone who is a spice fan. The pecan smoked bacon was really delicious. And, I definitely could have eaten my weight in it for sure!

One of my biggest complaint would be the price of this restaurant for brunch. $22 for eggs, hash, and bacon seemed a little much -- especially when you consider most Disney table service breakfast options are around $15 for an entree. But, it was tasty, and I was full by the meal's end.

Overall

While I enjoyed the brunch at Homecomin' Kitchen, I'm not sure it will be a regular on my breakfast rotation at Disney World. I enjoyed my meal, but the limited options and price point make it an OK option but not my first choice for breakfast. I did enjoy my lunch at Homecomin' Kitchen, and you can read that review here on the blog too.

Have you been to Homecomin' Kitchen? What did you think of the special diets options there?

Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' Kitchen -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This gluten free dining experience took place in July 2018.

Dinner at Homecomin' Kitchen

Homecomin' Kitchen, a table service restaurant, has quickly become one of the most popular restaurants in Disney Springs. Serving up homestyle, Southern cuisine with local Florida ingredients, Homecomin' Kitchen is pure comfort food. The restaurant was created by Chef Art Smith, who was Oprah's personal chef, a James Beard Foundation award winner, and has been featured on shows like Top Chef Masters. He also is originally from Florida, and his connection to Disney started when he was a cast member in the college program. So, Homecomin' Kitchen really is a homecoming for Chef Art Smith. We've heard nothing but rave reviews from friends and family about the food served at Homecomin' Kitchen. But, admittedly, I've been a bit nervous to visit, assuming there wouldn't be a lot of special dietary needs options. Recently, I went with family and was pleasantly surprised by my experience.

Atmosphere

Homecomin' Kitchen serves up comfort food and Southern hospitality all in a welcoming and brightly lit restaurant.The restaurant includes tons of spacious indoor seating, outdoor seating, and a bar/lounge area.We dined at Homecomin' Kitchen on a weekend around 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon. And, wow, the restaurant was jammed. We were impressed by how busy it was and by how many large parties were dining there.As you can tell by the photos, Homecomin' Kitchen is very family friendly and includes lots of large tables for big parties to dine.

The Food

Homecomin' Kitchen is not owned and operated by the Disney Company. This means that they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. The restaurant does mark on the menu items that are gluten free. And, a manager will come by your table to discuss additional options and other special dietary needs.The manager that spoke with us noted that there were some additional options available, including three of the four sandwiches. These could be served on a gluten free bun and a side could be substituted as they do not currently have a dedicated fryer. The manager also mentioned that the braised beef entree is now gluten fee, though not currently marked as such. He also suggested several salads and even the Key West Shrimp Cocktail as an appetizer, which could be made gluten free minus the crackers.While pondering the options, I had to order unsweetened iced tea. Not only is this one of my favorite go-to non-alcoholic drinks, but if you're at a Southern restaurant, tea is a must. I missed getting the sweet tea, as I have to be in a mood for it. But, I'm totally getting at least one glass of it next time. Either way, tea is perfect, especially on a hot summer Florida day, like it was when we visited.My mom really wanted us to get an appetizer that I could eat. So, we ended up getting the Church Lady Deviled Eggs which are marked gluten free on the menu. I did not ask about dairy, but I'm guessing these either didn't have dairy in them or could easily be made dairy free.Oh man, were these good. They were super rich and creamy -- just as a deviled egg should be. They were topped with some Country Ham which added a nice bit of texture and sprinkled with some smoked paprika. I highly recommend adding a dash of their house hot sauce too. It added a nice kick to the deviled eggs.For my entree, I ordered the HFK Barbecue Bun which included sweet and spicy barbecue chopped pork piled high on a gluten free bun and topped with southern slaw. This dish is normally served with chips. But, because they do not have a dedicated fryer, I was able to order another side. I had a hard time choosing one. But, I ended up just getting the classic Mashed Potatoes. These are marked gluten free on the sides menu, but do contain dairy. For those guests who are dairy free, sides like KC Greens would be a good option.The sandwich was just excellent. I absolutely loved the BBQ pork topped with Coleslaw. I also got an extra side of BBQ sauce (ever the condiment queen that I am) for some added flavor. I really enjoyed that the coleslaw wasn't heavily mayonnaise-based too. This one was just bright and flavorful and paired really well with the BBQ. The mashed potatoes were also excellent and were very creamy. If you can have dairy, these are a great side dish for gluten free guests.As we were leaving the restaurant, we got a chance to meet Chef Art Smith himself. I love that he is often at the restaurant too. When we visited, he was not only greeting guests but also helping bus tables and keep the kitchen running smoothly. How awesome is that? He kindly took a photo with me and my brother, who is also a chef, which was really neat.

Overall

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the gluten free options and my meal at Homecomin' Kitchen. While I will say that dining here dairy free would be a challenge, it's not impossible. Guests who are gluten free will find quite a few more options and variety too. Add in that they have some hefty portions and great atmosphere, and you have a solid choice for a meal in Disney Springs. If you do want to dine at Homecomin' Kitchen, be sure to make an ADR, as this restaurant is popular!Have you been to Homecomin' Kitchen? What did you order when you dined there?