A Disney Springs restaurant just debuted a handful of NEW menu items!

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is a popular Disney Springs restaurant that features some down-home cooking inspired by Florida’s freshest flavors. Homecomin’ is a favorite here at Disney Food Blog, so we had to stop by to try out some of the new dishes.

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is located in The Landing section of Disney Springs. You will find this restaurant nestled by the water in between STK Steakhouse and Morimoto Asia. Homecomin’ celebrates Southern and Floridian cuisine and “farm-to-fork” food in a cozy atmosphere. When we saw that the restaurant was debuting some new menu items, we knew that was a sign we should stop by again!

Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is rustic yet modern, with lots of cozy charm. The staff is warm and inviting and they make you feel at home. 

There are lots of wooden features mixed with metallic accents. There is plenty of warm lighting that lends itself well to the cozy and welcoming atmosphere. You can even spot a collection of plates behind the host station. You may recognize a few names, including Jodi Benson and Angela Bassett. Plus you might spot a pretty famous mouse!

If you look up to your right when you first walk in, you can also spot a beautiful mural above the open kitchen. 

The warmth continues into the seating areas, which feature lots of wood and fabric chairs. There are a variety of table options, including bar seating. The restaurant is very open, so you can see across most of it from wherever you are seated.

In addition to a variety of indoor seating options, there is also a large outdoor dining area. 

Now, let’s take a look at the menu!

Menu

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ just added SEVEN new eats and drinks to their menu, so you know we had to go and check some of them out! The following items joined the menu on August 28th, 2024: Meatloaf Main Plate,  1981 Salad, Smothered Chicken, Meatloaf Sandwich, The Honeybee, Cowboy Colada, and Dragon Fruit Mojito. The restaurant boasts a large menu full of dishes inspired by Florida’s freshest flavors and lots of Southern comfort. You can choose from a variety of starters and salads, including the new 1981 Salad.

If you are in a sandwich mood, there are plenty of options to choose from, including a Fried Chicken Sandwich and the new Meatloaf Sandwich.

There are also LOTS of options for main plates including Art’s Famous Fried Chicken, the new Meatloaf Main Plate, and the new Smothered Chicken. You can also get Fried Chicken and Doughnuts, Shrimp & Grits, or St. Augustine Mahi-Mahi.

Homecomin’ has a menu full of Southern comfort sides as well as various dessert options including Chocolate Pecan Pie and Shine Cake.

There are also options for the kiddos, including Fish Sticks and a Fried Chicken Sandwich.

Not only does Homecomin’ have a large menu of food, but the beverage section is even more extensive. You can choose from six different shines on tap.

And you can also choose from a variety of cold cans.

The restaurant also has plenty of craft cocktails to choose from, including the new Dragon Fruit Mojito, Cowboy Colada, and The Honeybee.

There are also four options in the cocktails with perks section.

But that is not all; you can also choose from a large list of red wines…

…white wines…

…as well as American Whiskey, Bourbon, and Rye flights.

Or, if you would rather choose some alcohol by the glass, Homecomin’ has an extensive list of Whiskey, Bourbon, and Rye by the glass.

There is also lots of Southern Shine available by the glass. 

There is no shortage of options at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, so let’s get to the food and drinks!

Drinks

Now, let’s dive into what we ordered!

To start out, we ordered a new drink called The Honeybee. This drink is made with Tom Cat Gin, honey syrup and fresh squeezed lemon topped with house-made honey foam and costs $16.

This drink had LOTS of lemon flavor, but the subtle honey flavor did a great job of balancing out the tart lemon flavor. The Honeybee has a hint of sweetness, but it doesn’t taste like you are drinking liquid sugar. The gin can be easily tasted in this beverage which worked really well with the strong lemon flavor and notes of honey. We think this drink is a great sipping drink that tastes super bright and balanced. It is sweet enough if you like sweet drinks, but not overloaded with sugar by any means.

Now, onto the food!

Eats

For our meal, we started off with the new 1981 Salad. This salad contains honey ham, roasted artichoke, tomato, Swiss cheese, and Spanish olives with chopped romaine and spring mix lettuce. The dressing is made with Worcestershire, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and vinegar, which is Chef Art’s nod to the Tampa classic. You can get this salad for $20. 

We were super impressed with this salad! All of the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh and it was LOADED. This salad would definitely be enough for a full meal. We thought all of the ingredients worked really well together and the dressing was delicious. The dressing was light, but packed lots of acidity, freshness, and flavor. It was the perfect dressing for the salad and we found that we couldn’t get enough of this salad.

The honey ham and Swiss cheese were sliced in thin strips which was perfect for constructing the perfect bite. The olives lend a great flavor that adds complexity to the salad and the tomatoes added a lovely sweetness. The lettuce was crunchy and fresh. We are starting off our meal very strong, so let’s move on to the next dish!

Next up, we tried the new Meatloaf Main Plate. This dish includes house-made meatloaf served with creamy mashed potatoes, Southern green beans, and a cheddar drop biscuit. The meatloaf costs $30. We were surprised with the amount of flavor that was packed into the meatloaf. If you are used to bland, cardboard-tasting meatloaf, your tastebuds will be pleasantly surprised by this dish. The meatloaf has a hint of spice to it, but we would not consider it to be a spicy dish. We tasted a lot of ketchup flavor in the meatloaf, but it was balanced with lots of herbs. The herbs added lots of depth to the flavor. The meatloaf was a great texture without being too dry. 

The mashed potatoes were exactly what you might expect, filled with lots of butter! These mashed potatoes were full of potato and buttery goodness. The gravy is super creamy with a slight spice to it that paired perfectly with the buttery potatoes. Our waitress recommended we get the gravy on the side because it can be a bit spicy for some people. That way you can control how much gravy goes on your potatoes.

The green beans were super soft with a bit of a smoky flavor to them with bacon mixed in. We really enjoyed that they weren’t super oily or covered in sauce, so you could really taste the flavor of the green beans. The biscuits are delicious! They are a cheesy, buttery, herby dream, and we could probably survive off of these guys. Definitely a star in the form of a side.

Finally, we also grabbed some of Art’s Famous Fried Chicken. The restaurant is known for this dish! Art’s Famous Fried Chicken is buttermilk-brined for 24 hours then perfectly fried and served with creamy mashed potatoes, a cheddar drop biscuit and love. You can grab this famous dish for $34.

There is definitely a reason why the restaurant is known for this dish, because it is taaaasty! The chicken is juicy on the inside, yet crispy on the outside. While the breading itself doesn’t have a whole lot of flavor to it, the gravy is the perfect dipping sauce for the chicken. 

The mashed potatoes and cheddar drop biscuit are the same as what was served on the Meatloaf Main Plate dish. The mashed potatoes are buttery and full of potato flavor, and we could likely survive on the cheddar drop biscuits alone. The sides come together to form a VERY filling meal that will leave you feeling satisfied. If you are looking for some yummy fried chicken, look no further, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is the restaurant for you!

We enjoyed everything we had at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, and we know we will definitely be coming back to this restaurant again and again.

Overall

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ did it again! We have been fans of the restaurant for a while, and this meal was no exception. We really enjoyed everything we tried, and it was hard to pick a favorite. We have consistently been impressed by all the food we have tried at Homecomin’, and the new dishes they introduce occasionally have also been wonderful. We love the Southern charm that the restaurant has and we thought that the service was fantastic. The staff are attentive, friendly, and helpful, and we always love our experience here. Be ready for lots of food and bring a hungry belly! But most of all, be ready for some delicious dining with a cozy atmosphere that will make you feel right at home.

Nosh or Not?

We think you should make a stop by Homecomin’ if…

• You want some Southern comfort food. This restaurant SHINES in this category! Expect Southern classics with Florida inspired flavors. There are lots of options and you are sure to leave feeling full and happy.
• You want a cozy atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious food. We always feel at home while at Homecomin’. The atmosphere is rustic, yet modern, and the staff has always been wonderful. Plus, the food is amazing!
• You want a large selection of alcoholic beverages. Homecomin’ has an extensive menu of alcohol. Whether you are looking for a craft cocktail, wine, Southern Shine, or liquor by the glass, Homecomin’ has lots of options.

You may want to opt for a different restaurant if…

• You want lots of healthy options. While the food at Homecomin’ is delicious, it probably won’t be a good option if you are hoping to have a menu full of healthy options. There is LOTS of butter in most of the dishes here, although there are some lighter options. However, a majority of dishes are hearty.
• You are looking for a quick bite with small portions. Homecomin’ is a sit-down restaurant, so expect to spend a bit of time for your meal. If you want a quick snack or a fast meal, you will probably want to stop somewhere else. The portions at Homecomin’ are pretty large, and you will need a bit of time to have your meal here. There are lots of great quick service options in Disney Springs if you want a quick, smaller bite to eat.
• You don’t like Southern food. Homecomin’ excels in Southern cooking, and while you might be able to find something that interests you, if Southern food isn’t your thing, Homecomin’ may not be the place for you.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our time at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ once again! We always jump at the chance to eat at Homecomin’ again and our meal did not disappoint.

Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney food reviews! We are always trying new food and reviewing restaurants to make sure you have the BEST food during your vacation. We have eaten EVERYWHERE and we aren’t stopping there!

Check out our experience dining WITH Chef Art Smith — he had a few secrets to share with us! 

What is your favorite thing to get at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’? Let us know in the comments!