The live entertainment is good-
but you may end up seated in an out of the way location.
Although his ethnicity is very mixed, our youngest son identifies the most closely with the Irish piece of his heritage, so Raglan was the place we chose to begin our trip and let the vacation kick off in high gear.
I can't tell you what mid-week looks like in the restaurant, but on the weekend, my bet is Raglan is one of the most popular choices. It was the first place we booked on line when reservations became open, and it was the most difficult of all to get the time we wanted. Due to really awful service at the end of Magical Express, we ended up at Disney Springs almost 1.5 hours later than our initial reservation- and on a Saturday night no less. The entertainment district was mobbed, but thankfully, I had called the pub and advised them of our delay. They graciously found a place for us.
Our wait was about 15 minutes from the time we finally checked in. We were seated in the back left side of the restaurant in a dark, moody, corner as far away from the stage as could be, but it was a perfect setting to have a long and relaxed meal and a drink.
The Whiskey Flight.
"Irish Rage" is one happy guy tonight!
I began with a gin based drink and my wife chose something lighter. Not our son! He's a hard liquor guy and was very pleased to sample the menu's Whiskey Flight- even if it did cost $27. Our drinks were actually pretty good, and they did help sooth my frazzled nerves after a very frustrating arrival on the property. But out was time to finally begin our vacation- so I put it behind me. I knew Raglan was my son's top choice for a meal on the Disney property, and I didn't want to disappoint him.
One of the tastiest appetizers we had the entire trip.
We began with complimentary bread and butter that was a meal in itself. Our waiter was prompt, relaxed, and knowledgable. Never pushy and an excellent listener- which is not always the case when you're shoving through hundreds of guests a night. He let us sit, drink, and relax, bringing in a second basket of bread. There was no rush to take an order or push us out once our meal was complete. This was the kind of service offered by professionals and something so needed on a vacation that can be overwhelming with tight schedules and big crowds. He was rewarded well for his approach as is also our custom.
Pull the Boxty is not the name of a kid's prank. Instead, it is a potato and hamhock creation that is every bit worth the $17 price tag. The list of appetizers may have been shortened due to COVID-19, but when we ordered this one, our server commented it was one of the most popular for a very good reason. It was in fact one of the tastiest dishes we ordered the entire trip. And it was no small plate! Hearty and heaping, everyone had their fill. I would have been happy to order this as my main meal, and I will probably do so if we ever go back.
The slow braised short ribs were a quick and easy choice for my beef-loving son. My wife picked the pot pie and was very pleased with her choice. Flaky crust, rich, hearty, and generous filling, all well presented. I stuck with my preferred choice of fish and chips when I'm in a restaurant that is known for great fish. Other than the fact that my beer battered cod was not as crispy as I normally like it, it was undeniably excellent and flavorful, much milder than I expected. The chips were standard fare, which was rather surprising. The short ribs were easily the best of our lot with a mouth watering reduced red wine jus, but the accompanying roasted veggies almost stole the show. Almost.
Delicious and different.
The desserts were tempting, but were passed as by the time we left, if was very late, and we were stuffed. The music was bright and upbeat. We were actually close enough to enjoy it but also could hear each other speak. In short, the room that seemed farthest away was actually the one that struck the perfect balance for the kind of "first night of vacation" that we wanted it to be.
Then came the bill.
Including our very generous tip for excellent service, our night out at Raglan Road was actually the most expensive meal of this vacation, hitting the $175 price tag for a pub trip. That's almost $60 a head. Now, before you scoff, keep in mind that this is cheaper than the in-park hard to book meals. And it included live entertainment that had nothing to do with Disney rubberheads.
We found Raglan Road worthy of its reputation and worth the price for a special event, but you may feel differently.
Considerations:
- Book early and try to get something after dark for the best authentic atmosphere.
- Nighttime is not kid friendly, so try brunch if there are children in your group.
- Decide ahead of time what type of experience you want. Seating places a big role in this restaurant.
- The live entertainment is excellent- but it is a very loud restaurant.
- Go hungry or don't go. If you've filled up on a big lunch, choose this for another day.
Let me end with this traditional Irish blessing:
"May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow.
May the soft winds freshen your spirit.
May the sunshine brighten your heart
May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you.
And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love."
Want more Dine or Ditch?
Check out these other reviews:
Sci-Fi Dine In at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom
Garden Grill at Epcot
Cafe Orleans at Disneyland
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal Orlando Resort
San Angel Inn Restaurante at Epcot
Cafe Orleans at Disneyland
Mythos at Islands of Adventure
(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)
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