Review: Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant

We were at Downtown Disney about eight hours before our flight. We were poking around and doing a little shopping. We knew we were going to eat somewhere but didn’t know where. We knew Rain Forest and T-Rex were not an option. We had no desire to abuse ourselves like that. We’d heard great things about Earl of Sandwich but when we got there the line was out the door so that was out.

We walked in the door at Raglan Road and were directly seated. We didn’t even have to hold a pager which amazed us. We’d never been to a Disney Restaurant that didn’t give us a pager. Typically even if no one is in the restaurant they hand you a pager and then page you about ten seconds later.

The atmosphere was great. In fact the pub was shipped in pieces from Ireland. That seems crazy but they did it. The place was almost a perfect fit. They only got one thing wrong. At Raglan Road the bathroom is on the ground level. Anyone who has been to England / Ireland knows that a vast majority of the bathrooms are in the basement. I think it’s their version of a sobriety test. If you can make it up and down the stairs you can have another drink.

The service started on the bad side. It just took too long for our waiter to come over for the first time. After that it was great. Our waiter was very nice and attentive. He even took care of a problem without hesitation. My wife ordered a Newcastle. I don’t know what arrived but it was not a Newcastle. It was far too bitter. Our waiter corrected it without blinking an eye and apologized for the incident.

The food was some of the best we’d experienced in Disney World. It was classic food that hit the spot. The soda bread with Guinness reduction and olive oil was a great freebie. My wife got the Fada Burger. She said it was one of the best burgers she had ever had. She loved it. They say you get bacon on that burger. It was more a slice of ham than it was bacon. It was great. I ordered the Keen Eye for the Shepherds Pie. It was amazing. Even if you hate shepherds pie you will love this dish. You just have to try it.

Then there is the beer. Raglan Road has, in my opinion, the best selection of beers on Disney property. It might not have the biggest selection or the rarest stuff but any bar that has Guinness, New Castle, and Smithwicks on tap is top notch in my book.

How good is Raglan Road? It’s worth going to Downtown Disney for. Unless I had some time to burn or was going to La Nouba, I would never have considered going to Downtown Disney but Raglan Road is that good.