Summer House on the Lake Disney Springs Restaurant Review

Summer House on the Lake Disney Springs Restaurant Review

Looking for a fresh meal at a great restaurant with lakeside views at Disney Springs? Well, we’ve just found it. The Summer House on the Lake Restaurant at Disney Springs combines a Cali-Mex menu, with beautiful spaces, a lounge atmosphere, full-service bars, and a range of things that will keep us coming back whenever we visit Disney World. Perfect for families, date night, and Sunday brunch, here’s everything you need to know about Summer House at Disney Springs.

Summer House at Disney Springs

Summer House Disney Springs

If you’ve been to Disney Springs lately, then you know that the restaurant choices are vast! And choosing from them is sometimes a Herculean task! Not only do you need to figure out what kind of food you’re in the mood for, you need to consider cost, availability, and if it will have something everyone in your family will eat! Thankfully, the wide range of menu items at Summer House checks all these boxes!

With favorites like pizza, tacos, steak, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and more, there is plenty to choose from. Plus, they have vegetarian options, gluten free, and vegan options too! Just let your server know what you’re dietary preference may be, so they can share options. Additionally, a kid’s menu offers grilled cheese, breakfast for dinner, chicken fingers and cheeseburgers too. As a result, you’ll be able to find something delicious here, no matter what kind of food you’re in the mood for.

Summer House Hours

Summer House Disney Springs is open generally 11:00 AM- 11:00 PM with extended hours on weekend evenings and in the mornings during weekend brunch. Here are current Summer House Hours.

  • Monday- Thursday: 11:00 AM- 11:00 PM
  • Fridays:  11:00 AM- 11:30 PM
  • Saturday and Sundays: 9:00 AM- 11:30 PM.
    • Brunch Hours on Saturdays and Sundays are 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM

AMC Theaters at Disney Springs

Where is Summer House at Disney Springs?

Summer House at Disney Springs is Located on the Disney Springs West Side. Just across from the AMC theaters location, you can park in the Orange Garage to get closest to this location. Nearby you can also find Splitsville, Salt and Straw and the Disney Springs Food Trucks.

Summer House Reservations 

Reservations are not required at Summer House, however, it’s best to make reservations when you can. While there is a short walk-up list available and you’re welcome to sit at the bar, if you’re visiting during busy times it may be quite the wait. As a result, we recommend you make a reservation, or plan to dine off regular meal times. You can make a Reservation on the Summer House Website.

Bar at summer house

Summer House Atmosphere

One of our favorite things at Summer House Disney Springs is the atmosphere. It feels like a summer house, or a beach house, with cozy sofas and chairs, tables on the deck overlooking the water, and coolers full of wine. Beautiful spaces inside include views of Disney Springs, the lake, and plants galore. If you’re eager to get a table with lakeside views just be sure to call when you make your reservation so that you can make the request.

And if you’re just  hoping for an amazing drink you can grab a seat at one of the three bars in the restaurant. The Porch Bar is right next to the entrance and overlooks the Disney Springs midway, outside, on the other side of the wide porch. The Rose Bar is off of the main dining room, and The Palm Bar overlooks the lakeside terrace, with seating both indoors and out on the deck.

Summer House Disney Springs Porch Lounge

Summer House Menu

The Menu at Summer House includes a wide array of menu options, so we’ll share what we tried here, and be sure to add to this list when we revisit too. Options include  things like wood grilled artichoke, margherita pizza, a costa mesa cali-mex salad, and even fish tacos. From cheeseburgers, to steak, pasta to shrimp cocktail, be sure to check out the FULL Disney Springs Summer House Menu for all the menu items to choose from.

Deviled Eggs at Summer House

Potato Salad Deviled Eggs

While these were a fantastic, and protein filled, starter for our meal at Summer House on the Lake, our biggest complaint was that there were only 3 of these little guys. You’d think we’d get at least 4 halves ( 2 whole eggs IRL)…but no, apparently 1.5 eggs is enough. As such, these little beauties are cut in half, filled with a mashed potato and egg yolk mixture, seasoned, and topped with capers, and microgreens. Priced at $9.95 each, the only other starter this cheap was the warm edamame, which for some appetizer portioned legumes seemed a bit pricey. Either way, these were DELICIOUS, so apart from complaining about the portion size, we would recommend this one! Potato Salad Deviled Eggs: mashed potatoes and eggs, microgreens, chives and capers.

Cheesy Dream Puffs at Summer House

Cheesy Dream Puffs

Oh my gosh, these little pillowy fluffs of cheesy dough were fantastic. Terribly unassuming it seemed to be a twist between the Brazilian cheesy bread, Pao de Queijo, and a soufflé. Very light, with just a hint of cheese, these little breads were airy and stretchy. Flavored with rosemary, and pepper, if you’re looking for a bread like appetizer that won’t fill you up, but hold you over until your meal arrives, this is it. Priced at $10.95 for a bowl of 6 dream puffs. Perfect for sharing between two people. also, while these little dreams do contain milk and dairy, they are allergen free, and Gluten Free.

Costa Mesa Salad at Summer House Disney Springs

Costa Mesa Salad

While my favorite thing to eat tends to be flatbreads of any kind, I strayed and went for the Costa Mesa Salad here instead and was not disappointed! This huge greens salad includes queso fresco, corn, Pico de Gallo, avocado, quinoa, crispy tortilla, chipotle crema, and lime vinaigrette. If you’re not big on dressings ask them to put it on the side, because it does come with it. As a Cali-Mex place, i expected this to be good, and it was fresh, made with local ingredients, and topped with a crispy tortilla strips to add a bit of crunch. Priced at $18.95 it may be a bit much for a salad, and getting it with chicken does cost extra. That said, in a theme park world where it’s tough to find loads of vegetables, this abundant salad was just what I needed.

Tequila Lime Chicken Tacos at Summer House

Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken Tacos

Another specialty for Summer House, the tacos here are considered top notch. With bright flavors, the Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken Tacos were pretty good. On the more basic side, this entree included 2 tacos with chicken, corn tortillas, crunchy slaw, salsa verde, and guacamole, topped with cilantro. If you were getting starters, this little meal could easily be shared, as there was quite a bit of filling in each of these. The cheapest taco dish on the menu, these were priced at $19.95 and a while a little higher for tacos than we’re used to paying a nice set of flavors offered something unique.

Baked Alaska Key Lime Pie at Sumemr House

Baked Alaska Key Lime Pie

By far our favorite thing to eat here so far, the Baked Alaska Key Lime Pie was a showstopper dessert we chose in our search for Pie at Disney World for Pi Day and Every Other Day. This stacked pie is frozen, with a Key Lime base, topped with a meringue cream layer and then topped again with more meringue topping. It’s a very tall pie.

This filling is put in a graham cracker crust, then topped meringue with shredded coconut. By far the most luscious dessert, this one tasted bright, like limes, and creamy. Both sweet and tart, we think this is the perfect kind of dessert for hot days in Florida. You get 1/4 of a pie with this slice, and it’s priced at $16.95. And yes, while you may be able to get a whole pie for 5 dollars back home, it won’t taste like this, and is well worth trying.

Zero-Proof Drinks

In our never ending quest to find  Zero Proof Drinks at Disney World, we were thrilled to see that Summer House has three on the menu that really hit the spot. Without being overly fruity or sweet, these feel grown up and classy, sans alcohol. All of these were fantastic and $9 each.

  • The Waitlist features a sparkling rose lemonade, elderflower and lemon
  • Pineapple Kick includes pineapple juice, orange juice and jalapeno agave
  • Strawberry Fields features strawberry, sage and lavender

Summer House The Waitlist Mocktail

The Waitlist

Very light this refreshing drink is sparkling rose lemonade, elderflower and lemon. Just enough sweet to counteract the tartness of the lemon, we liked this one a lot. If you’re a fan of elderflower, this one should hit the spot. If not, this may feel a little sweeter to you than you were expecting. Either way, we thought it was a great drink for a sunny afternoon in Florida.

Strawberry Fields Mocktail at Summer House

Strawberry Fields

This mocktail was a nice surprise, and not too sweet. A beautiful balance between the strawberry and Lavender this is a great drink to add a little fancy to your meal, without the sugar shock of lemonade.

Pineapple Kick Mocktail at Summer House

Pineapple Kick

Sweet and Spicy is always a nice mix. This Zero Proof Drink at Disney included just enough sweet with the pineapple to balance the jalapeño agave. In truth, I probably could have had more jalapeño. But it good nonetheless, and would pair well with any of the Mexican dishes here.

Cocktails, Beers and Wines

We love this curated collection of beers, wines and spritzes. Some of the best wines on the list include a Riesling by Selbac-Oyster, a Pinot on tap by Hunt and Harvest, and a Syrah by Stolpman that was just delicious. Check out the full list on the menu.

Does Summer House Have a Kid’s Menu?

Yes! Including things like Chicken Fingers, Pasta with turkey Meatballs, a Quesadilla, Cheeseburger, and even a Cheese Pizza, you can count on elevated kid-friendly foods here.

Rose Cooler at Summer House

Summer House Brunch

One of our favorite things to do at Disney is have brunch. Strange yes, but we’re foodies at heart, so are always on the lookout for the best places to have brunch at Disney World. Weekend Brunch at summer House on the Lake offers a variety of Cali-Mex breakfast and lunch foods. Some choices you can choose from include house made English Muffins, Mexican Hash, Pancakes with Vermont Maple Syrup, and a Picnic Fried Chicken Basket. But it doesn’t stop there, the Summer House Brunch Menu is filled with a variety of sweet and savory menu items for brunch. You can also add spritzes, cocktails, specialty cocktails and more to your brunch before heading out to shop, or visit the parks.

Summer House Brunch Hours

Offering foods for both breakfast and lunch, Brunch at Summer House is served from 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are recommended but not required.

Summer House Cookie Bar

Summer House Cookie Bar

While we imagine Gideon’s Bakehouse may have something to say about this easy breezy cookie bar at Disney Springs, the cookies couldn’t be more different! While Gideon’s serves up half pound specialty cookie flavors with a side of creepy cute macabre, the Summer House Cookie Bar Menu includes bright, fun and traditional cookies, without limits. Classic Cookies always on the menu include Krispy Chocolate Chip Cookies, Lemon, Pink Lady and the signature Cookie and Cream Crispy Treat. Summer House Cookies cost $5-$6 each and are large enough to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Summer House Cookie List

Found on the Summer House Website, you can grab the Summer House Cookie List Menu to see what cookies are on the list for each day. While the list sometimes changes to add seasonal cookies and new flavors, you can typically find the basics listed here.

  • Chocolate Chip
  • Sea Salt Chocolate Chip
  • Krispy Chocolate Chip
  • Lemon
  • Birthday Cake
  • M&M
  • Oatmeal Scotchie
  • Apple Oatmeal
  • Peanut Butter
  • Vegan Snickerdoodle
  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip
  • Pink Lady
  • Brown Butter Crispy Rice Treat
  • Cookies and Cream Crispy Treat
  • Brownie
  • Blondie

Can you Get Gluten Free Cookies at Summer House Cookie Bar?

Yes! Serving up Gluten Free Chocolate Chip and Vegan snickerdoodle cookies there are dietary-friendly cookies on the menu. Just ask the staff member when you visit to point on the ones that fit your dietary preferences.

Can you get Coffee at the Summer House Cookie Bar?

Yes! Both Coffee and Zero-Proof beverages are available at the Cookie Bar. So whether you’re just grabbing a latte, the Mexican Mocha Coffee, or the Lakeside Lemonade, you’ll have plenty of options whatever your mood.

Can you get Alcohol at the Summer House Cookie Bar?

Specialty drinks on draft include the 1996 Spritzer, Margarita Rose and Espressotini. All of which are available at the Cookie Bar.

Summer House Porch Area and Cookie Lounge

Summer House Cost

Believe it or not Summer House Disney Springs is quite budget-friendly. Set at Disney’s $15- $34.99 price level, the only thing cheaper would be a Disney Quick Service Restaurant Meal. As such we were thrilled to see that the food quality here was on par with some of the best table service restaurants we’ve tried. The cost of lunch or dinner at Summer House is determined by what you order. For instance the Pizza is large enough to be shared and a great way to keep the meal more budget-friendly.

Starters

Appetizers range from $10-$18 a plate. And include things like jalapeño cornbread, to deviled eggs, to truffle fries to prime beef meatballs. Signature Guacamole is also available as a trio or with crab.

Entrees

Main dishes including foods for all meals range from $14-$40. And include a wonderful array of options. Menu items like Skirt Steak Frites, Specialty Pizzas, Salmon, Salads, Tacos, Sandwiches and more all stay below that $40 mark.

Desserts

There is a range of desserts available from $12-$18 and include cakes and pie. And of course you can always grab a $5 cookie at the Summer House Cookie Bar on your way out.

Drinks

Beverages offered range from the the basics like tea, water, juice and coffee, to wines by the glass, cocktails, spritzes, zero-proof, and wines by the bottle. As a result if you’re adding alcohol to your meal you can expect to pay quite a bit more. Wines by the glass go up to $42 for a 9 oz glass of Rose Champagne, by Canard Duchene, while beers hover around the $18-$10 mark.

Does Summer House Accept the Disney Dining Plan?

No, Summer House at Disney Springs DOES NOT take the Disney Dining Plan. While there are several restaurants at Disney Springs that take the Disney Dining Plan, you are unable to use your dining credits at Summer House on the Lake.

Does Summer House Have Discounts?

Yes! Summer House at Disney Springs offers a 10% discount to Disney Annual Passholders at both the restaurant and cookie bar.  In addition, you can also receive discounts from joining the loyalty program through the Lettuce Entertain You App.

Summer House Quote on the Wall at Disney Springs

Summer House Loyalty Program

When we visited Summer House on the Lake, we were interested to see how much everything would cost. Sure, we had the menu in hand, but sometimes you don’t get the full picture until you get the bill. Luckily, in addition to getting the passholder discount, we were told we could also learn loyalty points on this meal. And that loyalty points earned at this meal, would give us discounts, and points to earn FREE food later! While we’re not Floridians, and only head to Disney World a few times a year, we were thrilled to be given the option to save some money. So, how does it work? Just download the Lettuce Entertain You App, and get your Rewards number. Then when you pay your bill you can simply write the number on your receipt and get the points.

As part of the Lettuce Entertain You loyalty program, you can earn Frequent Dining Club perks for a variety of restaurants. So whether you’re headed to the St. Regis in Chicago, Happy Camper Pizza in Las Vegas or Summer House in Santa Monica, you’ll have the chance to earn points at select Lettuce restaurants.

Summer House Private Parties 

One of the things you’ll notice at Summer House, while you’re waiting for your cookies is that there are beautiful rooms and spaces available for private parties. Just next to the Cookie Bar at Summer House is The Sun Room. This room is closed off by glass doors, and secluded enough to be private, and elegant. Seating up to 200 guests you can reserve this space, among others at Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs.

Perfect for Birthdays, Showers, Weddings, or any special occasions you can reserve Summer House Private Parties spaces for parties between 8 guests to 300 guests. As a restaurant with porch spaces, lakeside deck areas, private rooms, and two full-service bars, The Palm Bar and The Rosé Bar, there are plenty of options or your next special get together.

Catering

If you’re planning a graduation party, wedding, birthday, corporate luncheon, anything, Summer House on the Lake offers a full-service catering menu for off-site events of all sizes. Check out the private parties catering page for the menu and ways to set up your next party!

The Sun Room

This beautiful glass room at Summer House offers views of Disney Springs as well as the Lake! Featuring a grand Yucca Tree, this main dining room has a conservatory feel, with plants and tables littered throughout. Tranquil and natural, this space can hold from 150-200 Guests.

Lakeside 

Summer House is split into several dining areas. Some with views of Disney Springs and other spaces with views of the lake. If you’re looking to get the lakeside views for your next party, you can request the Lakeside area of the restaurant be reserved. This area includes access to The Palm Bar and The Rosé Bar, the Lakeview Terrace, and The Sun Room inside the restaurant. Lakeside has space to seat from 154- 300 Guests. As such, you’ll have plenty of space for a large party at Disney Springs restaurant.

The Porch

Often, smaller gatherings require more intimate spaces, and The Porch at this restaurant, does just that.  Just off the main entrance to the right hand side this space includes a full-service bar and both indoor and outdoor porch seating. Combining bar height tables, with lower tables, and lounge areas, this area can be reserved for 84- 100 guests.

Lakeview Terrace | On the Lake

If you’re looking for both a sitting and standing reception style space, then Lakeside Terrace gets you views of the lake, on a covered porch area that offers an intimate and open space. This space can be reserved for 65- 80 guests.

Palm Bar Lounge | Off the Main Dining Room

A full service bar, The Palm Bar Lounge offers both indoor and outdoor seating. With plenty of spaces for lake views and a calm and serene atmosphere. Just off our main dining room this area is easy to get to, and offers room for 36- 56 guests.

Under the Yucca Tree | The Sun Room

While The Sun Room itself, in it’s entirety, can be reserved, if you’re looking for something smaller, there’s a better choice.  The Yucca Tree table area inside this room can also be reserved. And provides a quiet and plant filled space away from the hustle of the main restaurant. The Under the Yucca Tree space can seat up to 32 guests.

Banquette | Main Dining Room

Perhaps you don’t need to reserve a whole room, and just have a large party. Or need a group reservation at Disney Springs? We know traveling with a large group at Disney World can be tough, and luckily, Summer House has an option. The Banquette table, situated in the main dining room, can seat up to 20 guests. And offers views of the Sun Room and Lakeview Terrace.

Lakeview Point | On the Lake

Lastly, if you’re looking for somewhere special to sit inside the restaurant, then consider the Lakeview Point table. Reservations are required, and can accommodate up to 8 guests. This table has Lake views and is a little secluded on the Lakeview Terrace making it the perfect choice for a Girl’s trip to Disney World or smaller special occasion.

Summer House Merchandise Disney Springs

Summer House Gift Shop and Merch

If you’re on the hunt for Summer House branded gear you can find it here! Sunglasses, to go tumblers, apparel, accessories, hats and even wine are all available for purchase. Cute plants in cups and planters are also on the list of souvenirs to grab if you’re inclined. The Summer House Gift shop separates the main restaurant from the cookie Bar. And  you can simply have your items rung up at the Cookie Bar register.

Summer House Disney Springs Review

What do you think? Does it seem like Summer House on the Lake may be on your Disney restaurant list for your next visit? Whether you’re looking for a small plate at a bar, or a full blown lunch, you can find it here. We also love that you can settle in and lounge for brunch, or sip wine with dinner on the terrace. By far one of our favorite new places to eat at Disney Springs. We’d highly recommend you try it for yourself. Especially if you’re looking for something a little casual, a little fancy, and with cookies at the ready for when you leave.

Summer House Disney Springs Review

Co-Founder and Director at Polka Dot Pixie Co LLC | Website | + posts

Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer with an MLIS in Information Science and a B.S. in Arch and Design. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.