Jaleo by José Andrés

Location

Disney Springs in West Side

Summary

Restaurant from celebrity Chef José Andrés, bringing classic Spanish cuisine to Disney Springs’ West Side neighborhood. Located at the corner of Splitsville/Bongo’s/AMC Theaters, Jaleo looms large in the spot formerly occupied by the Wolfgang Puck Café.

Setting and Atmosphere

If you ever visited Wolfgang Puck Café, the interior of Jaleo will look pretty similar to you – it’s the same general layout with a few walls removed to create an open bar area and and more integrated dining room. There are tile mosaics and large-scale photo murals of iconic Spanish scenes adorning many walls. Warm colors from lighting in the kitchen and dining areas bathe the restaurant, reflecting off metal accents. The highlight of the space is the paella pit and accompanying view into the kitchen – every time one of the massive paella dishes has finished cooking, the chefs ring a bell and the entire restaurant joins in the celebration.

House Specialties

Tableside carving of the famed aged Iberico ham is sure to become one of the restaurant’s signature offerings. Skirt steak served from the same Iberico pigs is available as an entrée – combined with the traditional pan de cristal con tomate, it is one of the best (and richest in flavor) plates of food at Walt Disney World. A selection of Spanish cheeses; a fun, molecular gastronomic take on an olive plate; and of course, an appetizer portion of the pan con tomate are all good first course dishes. Mushroom and goat cheese croquetas, potato-wrapped chorizo, garlic shrimp, and grilled chicken with garlic sauce contain with bold flavors in each dish, highlighting incredibly fresh produce and tons of herbs (rosemary and cilantro, at the fore). Our table nearly cut each other trying to grab the last morsels of patatas bravas, a fried potato dish topped with spicy tomato sauce and aioli.

Other Recommendations

Drinks are on par with other Disney Springs restaurants in terms of pricing and quality. $12-16 will get you a cocktail off Jaleo’s pretty varied cocktail menu, with beers in the $8-10 range and a quality selection of vermouth. The wine menu is extensive, featuring a pretty nifty chart at the front describing standard wine qualities and color-coding them on the subsequent menu.

Menus

• Lunch
• Dinner

Details

Requires Credit Card to Reserve: Yes
Requires Pre-payment in Full: No

Discounts

Photos