REVIEW: Summer House on the Lake Is a Top Brunch Option in Disney Springs

On the West Side of Disney Springs, Summer House on the Lake is one of a few options for weekend brunch at Disney World. The menu is southern comfort classics mixed with some Tex-Mex and a touch of California Cuisine in the salad section. You can read on for specifics, but the quick word is that we had an excellent meal.

The interior is bright and a bit fanciful, with skylights and trellis that bring to mind outdoor gazebos and relaxed settings, even if you choose the indoor seating option. Tables are nicely spaced and not crowded together, and a variety of sizes are available to accommodate larger parties. Between the woods, the greenery, and the variety of textures, the space has a welcoming, lived-in vibe without being hodge-podge.

Pricewise, your spend will depend on your style. Expect about $13-15 for starters; brunch classics, salads, and sandwiches come in mostly just under $20. Higher-end entrees like steak frites and crab cakes are around $40, and desserts are about $15. Unless you are a big eater, we think you’ll be hard-pressed to put away a full three courses – we didn’t make it to dessert on our visit. So, not including drinks and tip, if you stick to the plentiful mains you can easily dine for about $20 per head, or bring that up to about $35 per person if you add in appetizers or desserts. (View the menu here) Summer House on the Lake does not accept the Disney Dining Plan.

Brunch is served from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations are often available just a few weeks out, but larger parties should plan to reserve when their 60-day window opens. Summer House is also bookable on Open Table, and you may find reservations there when they are not available through Disney.

Starters

jalapeño corn bread – $13.95
honey butter

A nice firm cornbread, not too sweet, not too bland, and not too much jalapeño. The honey butter was also well done, whipped for easy spreading and just sweet enough to make you think it was sweetened without being obvious.

cheesy dream puffs – $12.95
rosemary, pepper

If rosemary focaccia and pão de queijo had a love child, it would be this. The outside is just a bit crispy, with a mouth-watering blast of rosemary, and the interior has the cheesy, chewy texture of the famous Brazilian bread. The lightly peppery sauce on the side was nice, but not at all necessary.

wagyu meatballs – $17.95
marinara, parmesan

A nice meatball with a firm texture, great meatball flavor, and just-a-hint-of-spicy heat. This was a better-than-competent meatball, but not one that you couldn’t get in many other places or even possibly whip up in your own kitchen. There was nothing about this dish that screamed “WAGYU”, and since you’re paying for it …

potato salad deviled eggs – $11.95
lake meadows farm

The standard order here is three, but we saw tables around us with four, so feel free to ask about an add-on egg if your party size demands it. And make sure that you demand your fair share of these eggs; they’ve put Summer House on my “must visit again” list. The filling was creamy, with just a bit of potato flavor softening the yolk and adding complexity, plus a bit of acid from the capers (and probably some pickle juice). Don’t skip the creamy sauce they’re seated on; it was light and pickly and almost better than the eggs themselves.

Mains

our famous giant cinnamon roll – $17.95
fresh blueberry swirl, candied lemon zest, house-made cream cheese frosting

We ordered this as a shareable, and recommend that you do too if your party is large enough. It was lovely, with a light, airy texture, and the cream cheese frosting was a winner. It had just the right amount of cinnamon flavor to avoid taking over everything, and it was also not too sweet – a nice, balanced pastry that’s easy to just keep eating and eating. But – it is HUGE, and if you want something to stick with you for a few hours this won’t be it; thus the recommendation for sharing.

breakfast tostadas – $18.95
pulled chicken, black beans, ranchero sauce, jack cheese, sunny side eggs, crema

The tostada was firm enough to be difficult to cut, so we folded these up and ate them like tacos. And that was wonderful, because it made it easy to get a complete bite of all those tex-mex flavors. Chicken, beans, cheese, and sauces, with the luscious texture and richness of the egg yolks binding it all together. These were close-your-eyes and just taste ’em good.

short rib hash – $22.95
sunny side eggs, caramelized onions

Not a kitchen sink hash, with just the short rib, potatoes, and caramelized onions in the bowl and a pair of perfect sunny-side eggs on top, dusted with a bit of greenery.  But anything more would have been overdone and muted the smoky flavor of the short rib and the sweetness of the onion. The potatoes were perfectly fork tender, and this whole dish was perfect. A bit of sweet pepper might not have been out of place, but additions beyond that would have been gilding the lily.

crispy chicken – $18.95
avocado, buttermilk dressing, lettuce, fries

One of the lightest fried chicken sandwiches I have ever eaten; not greasy and heavy, and a great choice even in hot weather. The buttermilk dressing is tangy and less heavy than mayo, and the chicken was thin enough not to weigh down the sandwich even though it was fried. Add in a crispy coating that retains some crunch in the face of the dressing and a smart choice to use iceberg lettuce for even more crunchy texture, and you’ve got a winner. This disappeared from the plate in record time.

light & crispy strawberry waffles – $16.95
whipped cream, local berries

Light and crispy is in the name, and it’s exactly what was on the plate. The waffles were crispy on the outside, light on the inside, and if the batter was yeasted you certainly couldn’t tell from the taste. (My guess is no.) The strawberries were ever so gently sugared, just enough to bring some moisture without drowning their natural tartness, and the whipped cream was lightly sweetened as well. The syrup was unnecessary, but not overkill if you choose to use it.

blueberry pancakes – $16.95
vermont maple syrup

These were exactly as advertised – big, plate-sized fluffy pancakes, with blueberry bits in the batter and topped with blueberries after being stacked on the plate. No complaints.

Wrapping Up

Summer House on the Lake was exactly what you want a brunch to be. There was something for everyone, with a mix of perfectly done favorites like waffles, pancakes, and deviled eggs, along with some more substantial fare that leans toward a traditional lunch or dinner menu. Each dish we tried was thoughtfully composed with ingredients and presentation to meet the moment, like that chicken sandwich that won’t weigh you down even in hot weather. I know that Homecomin’ is the hottest brunch ticket in Disney Springs, but I thought Summer House on the Lake was its equal, and it’s definitely easier to score a reservation. We’ll be back for sure.

Have you eaten brunch at Summer House on the Lake? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!