Disney Springs is home to many incredible restaurants, and you probably haven’t tried all of them.

Wine Bar George is one of the most popular restaurants in Disney Springs, frequented by both locals AND tourists. In fact, it’s gotten so popular that it can be downright hard to get a reservation at times! Jaleo, a lesser-known Disney Springs restaurant focused on Spanish tapas, actually checks a lot of the same boxes though! While both restaurants sound quite different, they have a number of things in common, and if you’re a Wine Bar George fan in the mood to be a little more adventurous, here’s why you might also enjoy Jaleo.

Let’s begin by breaking down each restaurant before going over all of their similar qualities that may convince you to try something different next time you visit Disney Springs!

Breaking Down the Restaurants

Wine Bar George

Wine Bar George is a super popular spot with a modern vibe and accessible food, located in the Landing area of Disney Springs. It is the only Master Sommelier-owned wine bar in the state of Florida.

Wine Bar George’s menu features small plates and charcuterie boards along with an extensive drink menu, all in a cozy restaurant space meant to feel like a winemaker’s retreat. On Saturdays and Sundays, Wine Bar George also serves brunch!

Click here for our review of Wine Bar George!

Jaleo

Alternatively, Jaleo is an upscale Signature restaurant that serves authentic Spanish cuisine and delivers more of an international experience. They’re known especially for their paella dishes made in their massive Paella Pit. The Jaleo in Disney Springs is the fifth and largest Jaleo location in the United States, and it’s located on the West Side of Disney Springs.

Jaleo features an open kitchen and dining area, so guests can even watch the chefs creating a different paella every night in the Paella Pit! As an added bit of fun, everyone in the restaurant exclaims, “Paella!” whenever the chefs finish a paella order. Jaleo currently serves lunch and dinner. Aside from the fact that both restaurants are located in Disney Springs, they have a striking amount of similarities, so let’s get into them!

Here’s our review of Jaleo!

Chefs

Both Jaleo and Wine Bar George are led by prominent figures.

Jaleo

Jaleo is led by Chef José Andrés who was one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2012 and 2018. He was also named Humanitarian of the Year by the James Beard Foundation.

In 2019 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for disaster relief work through the non-profit he founded in 2010, World Central Kitchen.

Wine Bar George

Wine Bar George is named after Master Sommelier George Miliotes, who was a member of the opening team of Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s restaurant, California Grill. Wine Bar George’s menu of small plates and shareable entrees was created in partnership with Executive Chef Ron Rupert, who previously worked as a Speciality Chef in Disney World.

Also, the servers and chefs in both restaurants have proven to be extremely knowledgeable, in our experiences.

A New Wine Experience Is Coming to Wine Bar George in Disney World!

Menus

You can expect high-quality food from both Jaleo and Wine Bar George.

Jaleo

Jaleo’s food might be considered a little more adventurous if you’re not used to Spanish cuisine, but it’s a good opportunity to try something new. Jaleo’s menu features tapas and small dishes that are meant to be shared, and the food comes out slowly, a little at a time, so guests have the chance to try and savor everything. If you’ve never had tapas before, think of it like ordering lots of small shared appetizer plates instead of an entree.

Jaleo’s menu starts out with Chef’s Tasting Menu, Buen Provecho! and Cured Meats…

…Cheeses and Veggies (and you know how much we loooooove our cheese)…

…Soups & Salads, From the Fryer, and Sandwiches…

…José’s Way and Seafood…

…Meats, Large Plates, and Desserts.

Jaleo serves different paellas every night, so may want to call before you go to ensure they’re serving a paella you want to try when you have a reservation. We visited on squid-ink paella day once, which may or may not be your thing!

Jaleo has a large menu and some of the food may sound fancy and exotic, but the preparation and presentation of these dishes make them surprisingly approachable to almost anyone. And if you’re unsure, ask the waitstaff, they’re amazing at helping you select an option that will match your palette.

Wine Bar George

Similarly, Wine Bar George also serves small plates, intended to be sampled and shared with others. Their menu is a bit smaller and hosts some more familiar options. It starts out with Small Plates, Boards, and some Entrées…

…Family Style Plates and Sweets.

We order cheese whenever we can, and Wine Bar George always brings their A-game with their Saganaki on Fire. You’re supposed to eat this warm melty cheese (AFTER it’s flamed tableside!) with the toasted crostini it’s served with, but honestly, we could just eat it by the spoonful!

Both restaurants do not expect diners to quickly eat and run, and they provide welcoming environments for slowly enjoying a meal, rather than rushing people through.

Read more about what we tried at Jaleo here!

Wine

Both menus have a LOT of signature cocktails and of course, lots of wine.

Jaleo

Jaleo serves their signature Sangrias and an extensive wine menu coded by wine and body.

There’s no shortage of drink options at either restaurant, and Jaleo’s menu even guides guests to the right wine based on their taste and food! We’ve also tried other signature sangrias and cocktails at Jaleo, like the Ultimate Gin and Tonic, which is a very popular drink in Spain.

Wine Bar George

Wine Bar George features more than 130 choices of wine by the ounce, bottle, and glass, and their wine list changes frequently as George Miliotes is always finding new treasures to add and rotate onto his wine list.

This is another situation with the options and descriptions that may seem overwhelming, but again, ask your server! Many of the waitstaff here are trained professional wine connoisseurs and they can help you find an option that you’ll enjoy. And feel free to have some fun with your drink choice and get a wine slush or creative cocktail.

Learn more about drinks we tried at Jaleo here!

Experience

Jaleo

Community is important in these spaces. Jaleo’s style is based on Spanish cultural tradition, which values the experience of sharing food and conversation with others without rushing diners to finish their meals and it’s quite evident through their menu and open kitchen spaces.

All of this food was meant to be shared with your closest friends, family, or even a practical stranger that you brought here on your first date. The space is warm and inviting. Everything in here feels modern yet cozy. You want to linger for a while at Jaleo!

Wine Bar George

Opening dining areas, low lighting, and balconies that offer amazing views. These scenes are meant to be enjoyed and the food and wine are meant to be savored.

Both restaurants offer more than just a meal and more like an experience, in which you can leisurely enjoy companionship and community while you dine.

Review: A NEW $30 Drink Has Arrived at Wine Bar George in Disney World

Both of these dining options offer extensive wine lists, high-quality meals and sharable small plates, and a relaxed but sophisticated atmosphere. Wine Bar George might get some more attention since its menu offers some familiar favorites (like fried mac and cheese bites and hearty meatballs!) and its proximity to other popular Disney Spring spots like Gideon’s Bakehouse. Jaleo’s provides a bit more adventure with its imported meats and cheese and sometimes exotic paellas.  It can be a bit more understated over on Disney Springs West Side near Splitsville and Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew. Basically, the choice is yours, but both offer comparable quality small plates, copious varieties of drinks and wine, and lovely atmosphere to boot. 

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Both restaurants give you the opportunity to indulge in one-of-a-kind wines, amazing food, and a cozy, leisure dining experience with someone special. If you can’t secure a reservation at Wine Bar George, don’t lose heart. Book a visit at Jaleo, try something new, and you might find a new favorite! Keep reading DFB for ALL your Disney World food news, recommendations, and reviews!

Would you try dining at Jaleo? Tell us in the comments!