Dining in Disney World: Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’

Located in Disney Springs, this restaurant has become a favorite to visit during each trip. The food, the atmosphere, and the staff all make this an enjoyable dining experience during each visit.

I love decor in this restaurant. It’s a bit rustic, but it gives off that charming feel. From the second you walk in the door you get a sense of comfort in this restaurant. It’s very welcoming, but I think that also has a lot to do with the people who work there. Everyone we meet at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is always super friendly and welcoming.

The restaurant has seats inside and outside. Inside there are tables and there is seating at the bar. For those that want to dine outside, there is seating in the front of the restaurant and also out on the deck. So there is plenty of seating to choose from here.

My go to food at this restaurant is the Church Lady Deviled Eggs for an appetizer and Art’s Famous Fried Chicken for an entree. I don’t always have dessert, but the most well known dessert is the Humming Bird Cake and it’s well known for a reason. There is a variety of items on the menu, which I will list, but first I’ll go over my favorites.

Church Lady Deviled Eggs

Let’s start with the Church Lady Deviled Eggs. These are always delicious! I like deviled eggs, but these yolks were whipped up nice and creamy and a generous portion is put in each half an egg and then they are topped with bacon. They are served in a ceramic egg container and each deviled egg is a good size, this is definitely a sharing appetizer!

Art’s Famous Fried Chicken

Next up is the entree, Art’s Famous Fried Chicken. I’ve tried fried chicken at different places on property and up until I tried this chicken my favorite fried chicken was at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe. This chicken became a favorite dish the first time I tried it; it’s is so good! It’s buttermilk-brined for 24 hours and you can tell. The chicken is so juicy and flavorful. After they brine the chicken for 24 hours they fry it and the crispiness of the fried coating mixed with the juiciness of the chicken is delicious.

Along with the chicken you get a side of creamy mashed potatoes. These are so good and I always feel that I could make a meal of just the potatoes. They are some of the creamiest potatoes that I have had. A cheddar drop biscuit is also included as a side and it’s really good too.

Hummingbird Cake

Next is the Hummingbird Cake with vanilla ice cream.  It’s a pineapple-banana cake with cream cheese frosting. If you like banana bread and cream cheese then you should definitely try this cake. It’s really good, but it’s definitely a sharing dessert. The slice is huge!

Lunch and Dinner Menu for Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Includes:

Starters

• Thigh High Chicken Biscuits – Three biscuits topped with Chef Art’s famous fried chicken thighs and bread and butter pickles. Drizzled with hot honey
• Church Lady Deviled Eggs – Southern-style deviled eggs
• Bee Haven Bay Fried Green Tomatoes – Shaved ham, rémoulade sauce, and dressed local greens
• Fried Pickles – Hand-cut spears are pickled in-house, crispy fried and served with remoulade
• Bunch of Puppies – House-made hushpuppies served with pimento cheese and red jalapeño jelly
• Key West Shrimp Cocktail – Seasoned shrimp tossed with avocado, mango, cucumber and our house-made cocktail sauce. Served with buttermilk crackers
• Jasper Board – An array of Southern charcuterie. Shaved honey ham, smoked sausage, country ham, pimento cheese, chicken salad, tomato-bacon jam, B&B pickles, candied pecans, crostini and our house made crackers
• Spicy Cauliflower Wings – Cauliflower florets flash-fried and tossed in hot honey sauce

Salads & Such

• Fried Chicken Salad – Crispy fried chicken over mixed greens, pecan-smoked bacon, egg, heirloom cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cucumber tossed with icebox dressing, cheddar biscuit croutons, and fresh herbs
• Harvest Salad – Mixed greens tossed with fire-roasted red peppers and corn, shredded white cheddar cheese, heirloom cherry tomatoes and house-made balsamic dressing. Topped with grilled chicken, avocado, and hushpuppies.
• 1981 Salad – Honey ham, roasted artichoke, tomato, Swiss cheese, and Spanish olives with chopped romaine and spring mix lettuce. The secret is in the sauce with Worcestershire, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and vinegar. Chef Art’s nod to the Tampa classic.
• Addie Mae’s Chicken & Dumpling Soup – Simple, delicious, and filled with house-made dumplings, chicken, and veggies. Just like Momma used to make

Buns & Such

• 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
• Meatloaf Sandwich – House-made meatloaf topped with melted white cheddar, chunky ketchup, lettuce and B&B pickles on a ciabatta bun
• The Art Burger – Two beef patties topped with American cheese, Art’s special sauce, tomato-bacon jam, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on a brioche bun. Served with house-made barbecue chips drizzled with icebox dressing
• Cuban Sandwich – House smoked pork, shaved country ham, house-made pickles, yellow mustard and Swiss cheese pressed between slices of fresh Cuban bread. Served with house-made barbecue chips drizzled with icebox dressing
• Art’s Hot Chicken Sandwich – Crispy-fried chicken breast tossed in our buffalo-style hot sauce and dressed with tangy slaw, bread and butter pickles and a drizzle of icebox dressing. Served with house-made barbecue chips drizzled with icebox dressing
• Catfish Sandwich – Crispy-fried Gulf Coast catfish fillet topped with lettuce, tomato, and remoulade sauce on a brioche bun. Served with house-made barbecue chips drizzled with icebox dressing
• The Country Club – Grilled chicken topped with white cheddar, pecan-smoked bacon, red jalapeño jelly, lettuce and tomato on a brioche bun. Served with house-made barbecue chips drizzled with icebox dressing

Main Plates

• Art’s Famous Fried Chicken – Buttermilk-brined for 24 hours then perfectly fried and served with creamy mashed potatoes, a cheddar drop biscuit and love
• Braised Short Ribs – This fancy “pot roast” is made by slow-cooking boneless beef short ribs until they are fork tender. Served over garlic mashed potatoes with a demi-glace sauce, roasted carrots and a cheddar drop biscuit
• Skillet-fried Chicken Paillard – Art’s spin on piccata. Buttermilk-brined chicken is pounded thin, hand-breaded and skillet-fried, then topped with lemon butter, garlic and capers. Served with roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus
• Fried Chicken & Doughnuts – Two pieces of Chef Art Smith’s famous fried chicken served with EVERGLAZED’s hand-crafted glazed donuts and creamy mashed potatoes
• Shrimp & Grits – Pan-seared shrimp with tomato gravy and Tasso ham served over creamy Bradley’s grits with a cheddar drop biscuit
• Country Fried Steak – Perfectly seasoned, battered then fried and topped with sawmill gravy. Served with creamy mashed potatoes and a cheddar drop biscuit.
• Smothered Chicken – Chef Art’s famous fried chicken thigh atop creamy mashed potatoes and sauteed broccolini, smothered in house-made onion gravy and topped with crispy bacon
• Kitchen Plate – A sampling of three different house-made sides.
• Chopped Pork Barbecue – Lean pork is cooked low and slow then dressed with our sweet and spicy barbecue sauce. Served with Momma’s mac and cheese, Southern Slaw and a cheddar drop biscuit.
• Chargrilled Chicken – Two grilled chicken breasts served with sliced avocado, roasted potatoes and vegetables and a cup of our Brunswick Stew
• St. Augustine Mahi-Mahi – Fresh-caught mahi, grilled and drizzled with a lemon-garlic butter sauce, served with roasted potatoes, carrots, squash, and snap peas (Market Price)

Sides

• Cheddar Cheese Drop Biscuits
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Momma’s Mac and Cheese
• Braised Kale and Collards
• Southern Green Beans
• Broccoli & Bacon Salad
• Roasted Veggie & Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Mash Skillet
• Southern Slaw
• Bradley’s Grits
• French Fires

Desserts

• Hummingbird Cake – Chef Art’s southern specialty combining pineapple-banana cake with luxurious cream cheese frosting. Served with vanilla bean ice cream.
• Hot Fudge Bourbon Brownie – Dark chocolate brownie garnished table-side with our warm bourbon chocolate sauce
• Shine Cake – Chef Art’s signature dessert. An adults only butter cake soaked with moonshine syrup. Served with a seasonal fruit gastrique and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
• Everglazed Doughnuts – Hand-crafted and glazed daily by our West Side neighbors at Everglazed
• Chocolate Pecan Pie – A 100-year-old Smith Family recipe, served a la mode
• Signature Sampler -Petite portions of Hummingbird Cake, Chocolate Pecan Pie, and the chef’s seasonal selection with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

In addition to the above, the menu also includes a menu for kids (ages 3-9), beer, cocktails, wine, whiskey, bourbon, rye, and non-alcoholic drinks. On Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am – 1 pm there is a separate brunch menu. During brunch hours the full menu is available starting at 11 am.

The Disney Dining Plan is accepted here and it is one table service credit. Annual Passholders get 10% off at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’.

It’s such a nice restaurant and when you add in the good food and friendly staff, it’s no wonder it’s become a favorite spot for many. Have you been to Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’?

Thanks for reading!

Liz

---

Join the fun in our Facebook group and  follow us on Instagram!

Contact me today to help book and plan your trip.