As invited media, WDWNT was provided with all food and beverages, so the following coverage was hosted free of charge. As always, WDWNT will still provide honest thoughts on all previewed items and our experience as described below.

A new restaurant on the perimeter of Walt Disney World combines modern American cuisine with a setting inspired by the people and citrus-growing history of Central Florida.

Flatlands Bar & Grill at Flamingo Crossings

Flatlands Bar & Grill has debuted at Flamingo Crossings Town Center, where we attended a preview and sampled several brunch items ahead of its official public opening on Tuesday, September 22.

For guests unfamiliar with the area, Flamingo Crossings Town Center is located on the western edge of Walt Disney World Resort. The shopping and dining center is primarily accessed from Western Way, west of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the rest of the theme park area. It sits on the opposite side of Walt Disney World from Disney Springs, just beyond Disney property’s western entrance.

The development includes hotels, restaurants, stores, and services, including Target, Wendy’s, an AdventHealth ER center, and several other franchises one would expect of a typical shopping plaza.

Flatlands Bar & Grill is located at 124 Ruby Red Place, directly across from its sister restaurant, Simply Capri. Both concepts were created by restaurateur Nick Valenti, the former CEO of Patina Restaurant Group.

Executive Chef Dominique Filoni previously served as Chef de Cuisine at Cítricos in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

The Flatlands concept draws inspiration from Central Florida’s citrus boom during the 1920s and 1930s, when immigrants arrived in the region and found opportunities as growers, haulers, packinghouse workers, tradespeople, and food operators. The name references the remarkably flat Florida geography these workers encountered. Italian and Irish influences come together throughout the concept, representing the immigrant communities that helped build lives in the “flatlands of Florida.”

The exterior resembles an old citrus packing facility, complete with weathered brick, red awnings, vintage-style graphics, and a large covered patio.

Inside, the lofty dining room blends rustic and industrial elements. Old wooden ladders hang at different angles from the ceiling, creating one of the restaurant’s most attention-grabbing features. Oversized, weathered metal fixtures filled with Edison-style bulbs provide warm lighting, while exposed ductwork, brick, reclaimed wood, vintage advertisements, and murals reinforce the historic Florida theme.

The restaurant’s centerpiece is a long wooden bar lined with red stools. Illuminated glass shelving extends toward the ceiling and displays an extensive collection of spirits and wine. A quotation about treating “Triumph and Disaster” the same hangs prominently above the bottles.

Flatlands also has a substantial covered outdoor dining area furnished with booths, tables, fans, string lights, and bright red accents. The décor, lighting, and historic details make the entire restaurant feel thoughtfully connected rather than like a collection of unrelated vintage pieces.

Even before the food arrived, the atmosphere got our attention.

Flatlands Bar & Grill Menus

Flatlands is a modern American bar and grill serving brunch dishes, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, steaks, and other elevated comfort food.

For appetizers, the regular menu shown during our preview included Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Sweet Spicy Cauliflower, Little Gem Caesar, and Maine Lobster Bisque.

The main courses included an 8-ounce Prime Chuck House Burger, Butterflied Cornish Hen, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, 14-ounce Prime New York Strip, 10-ounce Filet Mignon, and Grilled Lamb Chops.

Available sides included House-Cut Fries, Yukon Gold Whipped Potatoes, Roasted Wild Mushrooms, and Florida Green Beans.

As part of our preview, we tested several items from the Brunch menu. The full brunch offerings are shown above, while we opted to try out the following items:

Blueberry-Lemon Pancakes

Buttermilk pancakes, fresh blueberries, lemon whipped butter, and maple syrup

These are thick buttermilk pancakes served with powdered sugar, blueberries, a generous portion of lemon whipped butter, and maple syrup on the side.

The pancakes themselves were somewhat dry, particularly toward the center of the stack. Fortunately, the accompanying toppings made a significant difference. The blueberries contributed sweetness and moisture, while the lemon whipped butter added enough brightness to keep the dish from feeling overly heavy.

The lemon flavor was noticeable without becoming sour or overpowering. It paired naturally with the blueberries and gave an otherwise familiar stack of pancakes a more distinctive flavor.

We used nearly all of the accompanying maple syrup to compensate for the dryness. An extra serving of syrup—or a little more moisture in the pancakes themselves—would improve the dish.

Despite that issue, the fruit and lemon butter elevated the plate enough that we would order it again.

Score: 5 out of 7

Florida Citrus French Toast

Orange-scented brioche, whipped mascarpone, citrus marmalade, and toasted pistachios

The texture of this French toast was nearly perfect from edge to center. The brioche remained soft and tender without becoming wet or collapsing beneath the toppings.

Flatlands also serves it with an excellent maple syrup that is smooth and pourable rather than unpleasantly thick. The syrup complemented the brioche well, but it was not the star of the dish.

That distinction belongs to the citrus marmalade. It supplied a bright, concentrated citrus punch that we do not normally associate with French toast, yet the combination worked surprisingly well. The fruitiness helped offset the richness of the brioche and whipped mascarpone while giving the dish a distinctly Florida character.

To be completely honest, we would have preferred an extra serving of the citrus marmalade over more syrup.

Score: 5 out of 7

Applewood-Smoked Bacon

At first glance, you might not expect this, but the applewood-smoked bacon was a highlight of the meal. These are long, thick-cut strips with a deeply browned exterior and a pronounced smoky flavor.

The bacon was cooked extremely well, balancing crisp edges with enough tenderness and chew through the thicker portions. It did not feel thin, brittle, or excessively greasy. The substantial cut, texture, and smoke made this much more memorable than a standard breakfast side.

We would gladly order it with any brunch entrée.

Score: 7 out of 7

Breakfast Potatoes

Crispy potatoes, fresh herbs, paprika, and onions

The breakfast potatoes offered an interesting departure from the deeply fried, crunchy potatoes served at many brunch restaurants.

Ours were quite soft and yielding, including the skins, suggesting they may have been steamed, sautéed, or prepared with a combination of methods. Diners who insist on especially crispy breakfast potatoes may not appreciate that texture, but it worked for us.

The individual flavors of the herbs, paprika, onions, and potatoes remained distinct while still working together. We particularly enjoyed the saltiness of the skins, which provided a savory contrast to our sweet French toast.

They were unconventional, but the flavors were well-balanced and the potatoes were cooked consistently.

Score: 6 out of 7

Orange Juice

The orange juice was served over ice in a tall glass. Although presented simply, its flavor surprised us.

Rather than tasting like basic bottled orange juice, it reminded us of POG juice—the familiar passion fruit, orange, and guava blend—with a fuller, slightly tropical flavor.

The juice maintained its intensity even as the ice began to melt. It was not watered down, overly acidic, or one-note. Its quality would also make it a strong base for a mimosa, which we suspect may be one of its uses behind the bar.

We would order this every time we visited for brunch.

Score: 7 out of 7

Overall

Flatlands Bar & Grill makes an immediate impression through its atmosphere. The hanging ladders, oversized rustic light fixtures, citrus-inspired artwork, historic references, expansive bar, and covered patio give it an identity beyond that of a typical neighborhood bar and grill.

Our pancakes needed more moisture, but the blueberry and lemon accompaniments offered enough flavor to make the dish worth revisiting. The Florida Citrus French Toast had an excellent texture and a standout marmalade, while the breakfast potatoes provided a satisfying savory counterpoint.

With its visually striking dining room, wide-ranging American menu, and location only a short drive from Walt Disney World’s theme parks, Flatlands could become an appealing alternative for guests who want to step outside the resort’s more familiar dining options.

Flatlands Bar & Grill officially opens to the public on Tuesday, September 22.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post REVIEW: Flatlands Bar & Grill Brings Fresh Florida Food to the West Side of Walt Disney World appeared first on WDW News Today.