On a recent trip to Disney World, we headed over to one of our favorite stand-by restaurants — ESPN Club at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn — for some grub.
But this visit brought something a bit unexpected…and because I write this blog I absolutely HAD to try it and share it with you!! But first, let’s set the stage…
Atmosphere
If you love sports and are at Disney for any amount of time, you will eventually make your way to ESPN Club. 🙂
And why wouldn’t you? This is everything you want a sports bar to be. And more.
ESPN Club -- Outside
Once inside, you can choose from two main seating areas. Both the bar and the dining room feature plenty of seating — and lots and LOTS of televisions!
Bar Seating
The dining room also features a HUGE screen and sound booth. Check out the broadcast desk and the big comfy lounge chairs! Someday I will eat my wings there…
Dining Room Seating
Sound Booth
There’s a taste of the atmosphere, and you should be sure to check out our most recent ESPN Club Review for even more photos of the restaurant!
But this post is about something completely unexpected, like I said…
Eats
Yep, as soon as I got my menu I knew I had a mission that needed to be tackled.
Don’t worry; I still ordered my ESPN Dingers, but this next one was the main entree…
Sounds a little crazy, huh? A huge burger, covered with bacon and jalepenos, and slathered with peanut butter and jelly. Hmm. I’d heard of peanut butter and jelly burgers, and I’d heard of peanut butter and bacon sandwiches, but I’d never seen the peanut butter, jelly, bacon, and jalapenos all put together.
So of course I had to order it and take one for the team. My server was adamant that this was the best burger he’d had at ESPN Club, and even mentioned that he’d tried to re-create it at home (unsuccessfully).
When I pushed him for details, a few other servers caught wind of our conversation and came over to put in their two cents that the burger was phenomenal. Again I say…hmm. So the burger was ordered, and here’s what came out!
PB & J Burger
Looks innocuous enough, right? So here’s how it was constructed (an important bit of information when you consider how all of the flavors are individually tasted when you take a bite of the burger):
- Bottom Bun
- Creamy Peanut Butter slathered on bottom bun
- Burger
- Bacon
- Jalapenos
- Jelly slathered on top bun
- Top Bun
Here’s a pic of the inside before the first bite… . Note that the peanut butter is hard to see, because it’s slathered on the bottom bun under the burger.
PB & J Burger -- Inside
And here’s my required cross-section photo, where you can see some of the creamy peanut butter oozing out from the bottom of the sandwich.
PB & J Burger -- Cross Section
But, of course I eventually got to taste it and… (drumroll please!) it wasn’t too bad. Feeling let-down with that outcome? So was I.
The flavors had been built up so much by the servers that I was expecting (and looking forward to!) a culinary explosion of wonderfulness in my mouth. But, in all honesty, it tasted like…a burger with peanut butter on it.
The jalapenos gave it a little kick, definitely; and the jelly added some sweetness. But the overwhelming tastes were burger, bacon, and peanut butter, which wasn’t altogether unpleasant; but it just wasn’t the “wow” factor I was expecting.
Ah well, maybe I should chalk it up to unrealistic expectations. Bottom line: not bad, not awesome. I can’t wait to hear what you guys think!!
Will you be stopping into ESPN Zone to give the PB & J Burger a try? Have you tried anything like it? Let us know if this sounds good to you in comments section below!
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I tried this back in November & actually really enjoyed it. I wasn’t sure about the addition of the jalapenos to begin with but they kinda worked!
Will I give it a try? Not even on a dare. With all of the tasty options in WDW, I don’t feel the need to try this. (And you should see what I’m willing to eat at the State Fair!)
One of my favorite sandwiches is:
1. peanut butter (get a high quality, natural peanut butter)
2. bacon fried to the perfect level of crispness
3. apricot preserves (get a quality one made with real sugar, not high fructose corn syrup)
4. Lightly toasted and buttered sourdough bread, sliced thick
I might entertain the notion of adding jalapeno peppers to ring the changes, though I fail to see what good a burger patty would be in the mix. I am, through a complete lack of interest, unlikely to visit an ESPN-themed establishment, but if I did so for some unknown reason, I might have to ask them to “hold the burger” when ordering this burger.
Our local deli serves a BLT that includes red onion and peanut butter, and it’s the best, best thing ever. I don’t know what it is, but man! Delicious!
“Yep, as soon as I got my menu I knew I had a mission that needed to be tackled.”
I see what you did there………tackled……….ESPN………..writing gold.
I’d totally try it… if only I didn’t have to go into ESPN Zone to do so, haha. 😀
I’d try it…without the jalepenos though. I can’t stand peppers of any kind!!!
Sounds like a case of “let’s put all sorts of awesome stuff on a bun.” Usually in these cases the total is less than the sum of it’s parts – like a hot pocket. It’s often the same case with the gourmet hot dogs you see around. You have to think about what pairs well with the main part of the dish, not what else is “awesome.”
I am a fan of just about anything with peanut butter but this made me and my granddaughter go “ewwww” really loud.
Is this Grape jelly?
According to my BF this would have been better without the burger patty. The meat only detriments the other ingredients. He loves PB&J with bacon.
This is a hidden homage to the Twilight Zone Movie and its one plot in which a child dictated what his adult family ate. They should serve it in Hollywood Studios! I’m definitely going to hunt it down next trip. I’d recommend watching the Twilight Zone movie just to see the burger’s context. I love it!
Here is the only way to make this culinary explosion…toasted buns, creamy peanut butter on the bottom bun, layer lettuce, tomato, onion. Add 1/2 lb burger topped with thick sliced bacon and melted jack cheese, add top bun slathered with jalepeno pepper jelly! Side of crispy double-fried fries and you’re done! Voila
Had this at Disneyland ESPN and it was AMAZING! I think they improved it from the last time you had it. It was a pretzel bun with a bacon pepper jelly and creamy peanut butter. Seriously the best burger I ever ate! Can’t wait to try my own version.