You know what makes us more excited than Disney food? NEW Disney food.

Yes, we love it when Disney introduces new items to restaurant menus and we love it when new snacks drop. In Disneyland, we’re seeing new food being added ALL THE TIME (and it’s almost too hard to keep up with it, but we do TRY). However, we recently saw some menu changes at Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio in Downtown Disney, so you KNOW we had to go check it out. Come with us!

Atmosphere

About a year ago, Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio got a huge update to its look AND menu. Formerly known as Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, the new look features vibrant colors and lots of natural light.

You’ll also find PLENTY of seating here, both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors seating includes a covered patio upstairs with a great view, as well as tables with umbrellas downstairs.

Now let’s dive into the menu changes.

Menu

The food at Jazz Kitchen is all inspired by Louisiana fare, so you’ll find Starters like a Grilled Open-Faced Lobster “BLT” Po-Boy, Cajun Skillet Cornbread, and Fried Crawfish Lettuce Wraps. You can also grab classics like Red Beans and Rice and Gumbo Ya-Ya, along with a variety of soups and salads.

Entrees include New Orleans specialties like Creole Pasta Jambalaya, NOLA BBQ Gulf Shrimp & Grits, a Lobster & Shrimp Remoulade Roll, and more.

You can also order Sides to go with your Entrees, including Andouille-Parmesan Grits, Rice, Louisiana Crawfish, and more.

If you’re craving something sweet, you can order Beignets, Double-Chocolate Bread Pudding, and more.

Beer, Wine, and Cocktails are available, including some Specialty Cocktails like the Century Sazerac, JZK Hurricane, and Chocolate Blackberry Mint Julep.

Alright, let’s talk about what we ate and drank!

Eats and Drinks

We started with something to drink and ordered the PCH, made with Pineapple Vodka, Piña Colada mix, Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur for $17. This drink had some beautiful tropical vibes and was sweet, but not too much so. It was smooth with the perfect amount of booze so it wasn’t overwhelmed with a boozy flavor. It’s also VERY easy to drink and great for warm weather.

We also couldn’t resist the Praline Cold Brew Martini for $17. It’s made with Tito’s Vodka, Mr. Black Cold Brew, Cold Brew Concentrate, and Half & Half, Praline Syrup with a Mini Glazed Beignet. Yes, this drink has a beignet in it. HOW COULD WE NOT GET THIS?

We are happy to report that this is the best take on an Espresso Martini we have ever had. The beignet is also sweet and soaks up the booze for a wonderful flavor. We could’ve ordered MORE of this cocktail, too.

Now we’ve had the Gulf Coast Poutine Fries for $18 back when they were called Roux Ya-Ya Poutine Fries and we loved them, so we had to order them again as a Starter. They’re made with French Fries, White Cheddar Cheese Curds, and Gumbo Ya-Ya. This is a hearty and shareable appetizer, but they do have a bit of a spicy kick.

They can also fill you up (which is why we recommend sharing unless you’re going to just order this as your main). The gumbo flavor is the most prevalent flavor here. This is not your typical poutine, and we’re okay with that.

We also ordered the Southern Garlic Cheese Bread for $14 made with Fresh Basil, Mozzarella Cheese, Roasted Garlic, and Olive Oil. Our word for this starter is FLAWLESS. The garlic is tasty but doesn’t overwhelm the bread. The mozzarella is fresh and delicious and VERY gooey, which you KNOW we like.

The bread also came with lemon if you wanted to add a touch of citrus (and we did), which adds a nice acidic pop to everything.

Don’t worry, though, we did eat something HEALTHY, too: we ordered a salad! The Creole Caesar is made with Romaine, shaved Asiago, Garlicky Brioche Croutons, housemade Caesar for $15. Don’t get us wrong because this is a solid Caesar solid, but it’s nothing special, especially considering its price. The romaine was crispy and we got plenty of dressing in every bite. The grilled chicken complimented everything well.

The croutons added a nice crunch, but again, this isn’t something we’d order here again because there are for more exciting things on the menu. But, hey, we did get some greenery in our diet, right?

Okay, on to the Entrees. Now this is where we’re getting into some new items on the menu. That includes the Coastal Jambalaya for $38, made with Gulf Shrimp, La Crawfish, Andouille Sausage, Onions, Peppers, Garlic with Toasted Pasta Pearls, Seafood & charred Tomato Cream. Y’all…this was AMAZING. The shrimp and crawfish are very fresh and have such a nice texture. The pearl pasta is delicious and the garlic and charred tomato cream added such acidity and flavor.

The combination of everything on this plate makes this the most interested jambalaya we’ve ever had. This is another item we would certainly order again.

We also ordered the Grilled Medallions of Filet Mignon for $49, made with Crispy Brabant Potatoes tossed with Onions, seasonal Vegetables, Zinfandel reduction. Note that you can add lobster meat for an additional $12 (but we didn’t). Well, we hate to say it, but this is where the meal failed us. The steak was overcooked: we ordered medium rare and got medium.

The potatoes were nicely seasoned and tasty. The vegetables were just green beans — nothing special at all. The meat had a good flavor, overall, but we just wished it had been cooked correctly. The reduction is flavorful and provided a nice dipping sauce: it added a subtle aromatic and wine-like flavor.

We did end the meal on a high note, though, with Hot Classic Beignets, which are five French Donuts topped generously with Powdered Sugar. You get five for $16. Now, we are a little biased towards the Mickey Beignets from the Mint Julep Bar in Disneyland, but these are actually better (we’re so sorry, Mickey Beignets!). These are warm with plenty of powdered sugar PLUS you get enough to share with the whole table.

They do go well with the accompanying raspberry dip, but they really don’t need it. If you’re going to order dessert here, GET THESE BEIGNETS.

So how does Jazz Kitchen fare with us overall?

Overall

We love the updated look to the restaurant and feel it’s a definite improvement, but where it really shines is with the food. Sure, everything we had didn’t knock it out of the park, but there are some real unique standout dishes that will make you feel like you’ve traveled to New Orleans in the middle of Downtown Disney. We would even argue that Jazz Kitchen feels more like New Orleans than Tiana’s Palace Restaurant, so we’d probably go here first if given the choice — and you don’t even need a park ticket to eat here.

Nosh or Not

Take a trip to Louisiana by way of Downtown Disney if…

• You’re craving food authentic to Louisiana. Yes, there’s a New Orleans-inspired restaurant inside Disneyland, but the food here is closer to what you might get were you actually visiting NOLA.
• You’re only visiting Downtown Disney and want a table service meal. If you’re not visiting the parks and you’re looking for a good table service place, Jazz Kitchen checks off all the boxes.
• You want unique drinks with your meal. The cocktails here are worth the visit alone, but pair that with good food? Well, you’ve got the makings of a great meal.

Skedaddle over to another restaurant if…

• You’re on a budget. Like most table service restaurants, Jazz Kitchen is pricier than counter service restaurants, so if you’re on a tight budget, you may want to skip.
• You don’t like Cajun or Creole flavors. The food here is generally seasoned with traditional Cajun and Creole seasonings. If you don’t like that, you won’t like a lot of what’s on the menu.
• You want good steak. Although steak is on the menu, that’s the last thing you should probably order here. If you’re looking for good steak, you’ll want to go elsewhere.

That’s all from our recent visit to Jazz Kitchen. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more Disney food and restaurant reviews.

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Have you dined at Jazz Kitchen? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!