It’s gotta be said… Port Orleans – Riverside has a lot going for it.
It just might be my favorite Disney World Resort – at the very least, it’s in my top three. So it’s entirely possible that my total bias towards all-things-Riverside may be coming into play when I think about the food options.
But, c’mon! This is the home of the great River Roost lounge, made all the greater thanks to our friend Yeeha Bob. (Oh, and those unreal Prime Rib Sliders don’t hurt, either. Trust me.) Aaaaand it’s got Boatwright’s, serving up Louisiana favorites like Jambalaya and Chicken and Andouille Gumbo.
And last, but not least, is the Riverside Mill Food Court.
Riverside Mill Food Court
It’s rustic-meets-comfy, and somehow — for a place with huge amounts of seating – manages to feel at least a little bit cozy, with its abundant natural light and mismatched chairs.
Riverside Mill Seating
Riverside Mill Seating
But the best part might be the slowly turning water wheel that you can view from inside.
View of water wheel
In my head, it looks like this… totally sepia-toned!
Water wheel… in sepia!
Today we’re here to try a treat I’ve had my eye on for a while now (and I’ve only ever seen it at Riverside Mill). It’s the Cherry Cobbler, coming at you from the Bakery section!
Riverside Mill Bakery section
The Cherry Cobbler doesn’t pop up on the menu until the evening, typically around 5:00 pm.
Bakery Menu at Riverside Mill Food Court
I’ve wanted to try it since the first time I saw a huge, bubbling pan-full!
Batch of hot Cherry Cobbler
What I received was definitely heavy on the cherry, but not so much on the cobbler.
Cherry Cobbler
That’s unfortunate, because every time I bit into some of the crumbled topping, it was a little pocket of buttery, brown sugar deliciousness.
Crumble topping
I’m hoping to get back to try it again, to see if I fare better with more topping on another serving.
Fortunately, the cherry and glaze base has enough going on to stand pretty well on its own (and I was able to uncover a few more bits of crumble once I dug in).
Cherries galore
I’m making a pure assumption that it’s just canned filling (and if that is indeed the case, it’s fine by us!), but it’s got more-than-a-hint of cinnamon spice that makes all the cherry taste as great as it smells (I had trouble making it to a table before digging in – it smelled sooo good).
Bite of cherry filling
If the Cherry Cobbler doesn’t ring your bell, the bakery is still worth a stop for a slice of Cheesecake (topped with fruit or chocolate sauce), or a Magic Cookie Bar (the only other spot you’ll find that bundle of butterscotch-and-coconut greatness is, I believe, Roaring Fork over at Wilderness Lodge).
Magic Cookie Bar at Riverside Mill
Alas, no beignets here… you’ll need to stroll down the river to French Quarter’s Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory for those.
But then again, that’s part of the fun – finding those signature treats that play a part in making every resort unique. And, as they sing in the Riverside Mill, it’s always a fun time “here at the Riverside!”
Have you tried the cherry cobbler at Riverside? What is your favorite Disney resort snack? Let us know in the comments below!
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Yum! I wasn’t planning on going here during my current stay, but I might have to make a special trip now. Thanks for the great review 🙂
We had both the cherry cobbler and the cookie bar during our last trip. We loved them both! I suggest you get a scoop of vanilla icecream to top the cobbler. Yum!
And we completely agree that Riverside is one of our favorite hotels!
Riverside Mill is hope to my wife’s favorite cupcakes. She likes them simple.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/06/10/lebeau-family-2014-disney-world-trip-report/31/
Can you get food from the Riverside Mill and bring it to the River Roost Lounge to eat if you buy the drinks at RR? I wan to bring my granddaughter to see Yee Ha Bob but there is nothing on the Pub menu that she would eat. It is the same Resort so just wondering?
Ahh, the magic cookie bar. This was my favorite Disney World treat until I found out I had a gluten allergy. I desperately wish I could still eat them.
Riverside is on my list of resorts to stay at in the future. The desserts look wonderful, but I have to agree with you, Wendy, that the cobbler should have equal cobbler and cherries! The cookie bars look mouth watering. I will definitely love seeing that waterwheel; I find water features very relaxing. In fact, this entire resort appears to be laid back and relaxed. Nice report.
You need to get the cherry cobbler with ice cream. Oh so good. We were in WDW for six nights and we managed to eat at Riverside twice, just so I could get the cherry cobbler. I love cherry pie, cherry cobbler, cherry almost anything. But the rest of my family doesn’t care for it much; they are apple fans. So we seldom have it at home. But at Riverside, i can get it every night.
I have had the cobbler and it was good, but I am mainly just in love with POR as well as their food court. I’ve been to many other WDW resort food courts, and this one is the best IMHO. Their make your own pasta is awesome (so much better than the pre-made, fewer options, one at Pop Century).
We LOVE POR! It is absolutely wonderful. Deluxe amenities at a moderate resort price. So much tod and the food at the food court for breakfast is great; so many choices.
I’m staying here I’m December in the royal room. Looking forward to trying this tasty treat!
Absolutely love Port Orleans Riverside! But it will always be Dixie Landings Resort to our family. To this day, I can’t hear banjo music without thinking about my Dixie Landings/Port Orleans Riverside. We’re staying at AKL Villas in 37 days but we’ll definitely be taking the boat from Downtown Disney for a ride up the Sassagoula River. 🙂
Okay, that’s 2 votes for the cobbler with ice cream – I’m sold :)! Vanilla would go really nicely with the slight tart of the cherry… yum!
Joni – Hi! I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve seen several guests bring in food from the food court to see Yeeha Bob, and I don’t think there’s ever been a problem (as you mentioned, they may have purchased drinks at RR to supplement, but I’m not certain :). Enjoy!
I’m in love with Riverside too! It’s definitely amongst my two favorite resorts. We spent our honeymoon there. Tried the magic cookie bar but haven’t had the cobbler yet! Looks pretty good!
In case you are interested-the mill waterwheel and gearing were made outside Woodstock, NY by Rondout Woodworking.
The Kricker brothers have been re-building barns, mills and boats for decades.
http://www.rondoutwoodworking.com/