Attraction of the Week: Raglan Road Irish Pub in Orlando
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! For most Americans, St. Patrick’s Day conjures up images of green beer, festive parades, corned beef and cabbage, leprechauns, four leaf clovers, and all sorts of crazy green themed apparel. Interestingly enough, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in Boston (in 1737), not Ireland!
Today, the holiday is more of a festive American holiday that is celebrated by both the Irish and non-Irish, mostly as an excuse to party and drink green beer. What once started as a religious holiday to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland has now become an international celebration of Irish heritage. I am going to share a wonderful Irish pub that I first visited years ago in Orlando when I was seeking something to do outside of the theme parks.
One of the country’s best Irish pubs is in Orlando?
While you could visit any standard bar and enjoy the festivities, visiting an authentic pub is so much more unique as you will get to experience true Irish food, music, and decor. Raglan Road is one of the best pubs I’ve come across thus far in my years traveling. This Orlando gem offers authentic, creative dishes and a gorgeous dining room that was designed in Ireland. I first found about this place years ago while I was following a gluten-free diet (which thankfully I’ve ditched!) but it became one of my favorites.
The best park about dining here is watching free step dancing performances while you eat. The musicians and dancers are so talented. I come here more for the performances than the food. Ever since my first time visiting, I am hooked. I always make time to indulge in some great food and entertainment here, whether I am planning a full on vacation or just a daytrip.
It’s conveniently located in the Disney Springs entertainment complex, so there’s plenty to do before or after your meal. You can check out my guide for more details on fun activities, shops, and themed restaurants to check ut.
Not only is this one of the best restaurants in the city, it also is one of the best Irish pubs I’ve come across in my travels. Every March, they hold a week long festival known as the Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival.
Ditch the green beer and enjoy an authentic Irish celebration, strangely enough, in Orlando of all places! As green beer is more of an American tradition, Raglan Road believes in drinking the beer as it was intended to (not adding any dyes).
Incredible step dancing!
This is the absolute best place in Florida to enjoy Irish food and step dancing. It is the best place to go out on St. Paddy’s or really to enjoy great fish and chips anytime of the year. Really, is there any bad time to eat fish and chips? The gorgeous bar and dining area was built in Ireland and shipped to Disney Springs – talk about authentic!.
Check out a little snippet of one of the wonderful step dancing performances we have seen.
The Rollicking Raglan Brunch Irish Dance Show takes place Saturday & Sundays from noon to 3:45pm. Weekdays you can enjoy the show every hour from 5-10pm. In between, step dancing performances, you’ll be able to listen to some great live Irish music. I’ve seen a lot of performances here and they have all been top notch.
The most authentic Irish cuisine
According to their website, you will not find corned beef and cabbage on the menu because it is a New York dish, not Irish, and they prefer to keep the menu authentic. Head Chef Kevin Dundon has won many awards including dish of the year for his Glazed Loin of Bacon with Colcannon Mash. He is also famous for his book: Full on Irish: Creative Contemporary Cooking.
Update: The new chef is Mark O’Neil. There have been numerous updates to the menu since O’Neil took over including a delicious plant based shepherd’s pie! I’ve never seen this dish anywhere, nor tried it at home, but I have to say I give it an A+.
Below are a few highlights from the diverse menu:
- Full Irish Breakfast
- Homemade Pancakes with banana and cashew caramel sauce
- Traditional and vegan shepherd’s pie
- Salmon salad
- Pan-seared shrimp in a garlic & chili lemon butter sauce with sliced baguette
- Irish style crispy boxty potato cake, with pulled ham hock, caramelized red onions, and a Dubliner cheese sauce
- Every dish is cooked to order as they do not believe in using any canned foods or pre-cooked food.
Lots of allergy friendly fare
The menu includes both modern and creative, as well as traditional dishes. Even vegetarians and those dining gluten-free will have a few options. In fact, it’s one of my top picks for allergy friendly fare in the city.
You can’t go wrong with the classic Fish and Chips entree. I’ve never seen a restaurant offer a gluten-free version before. A special batter is used for several dishes including the onion rings and french fries which are both fantastic as well. They offer a very extensive menu for those avoiding gluten which is nice as they attract tourists from all over.
The Raglan Risotto is another great vegan dish I tried on a recent visit. Originally consisting of garden pea risotto, aged pecorino, buffalo mozzarella & pea tendrils, I decided to make this dish vegan. The chefs have no problem catering to any special requests, making it a great place for vegans and vegetarians to eat alongside their carnivore friends. Update: As of 2023, the Risotto is no longer on the menu. The plant-based Shepherd’s Pie is a great vegan alternative. I’ve tried it and it’s so delicious and filing.
Overall, I would say that this restaurant offers a winning combination of great service, food, and entertainment. You really can’t get much better in terms of a prime place to enjoy Irish culture and food. It’s the best choice in Disney Springs and really worth the drive no matter where your adventures take you for the night. For more fun things to do outside of Disney and Universal, please check out my comprehensive guide.
Additional details
- Location: 1640 Buena Vista Drive
- Hours: 11am-11:30pm (Monday-Friday), 10am-11:30pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- Price point: Quite pricey (prices range from ~25 to 40 per person).
- More info: Visit the restaurant website to view the current menu
