Who’s up for a bit of pub grub at The River Roost?
I seriously love River Roost lounge. It’s located in one of my favorite Disney World Resorts: Port Orleans — Riverside. Better yet, it’s home to Yeeha Bob, an honest-to-goodness Disney World treasure. Bob Jackson is a recipient of the Walt Disney Legacy Award who shares his humor, fun, energy, and music with audiences at the River Roost four nights a week.
Oh! And I’ve enjoyed some pretty tasty food here, too. I loved the trio of Prime Rib Sliders that used to be on the menu here. But those were taken off the list some time back, and I’ve been looking for a River Roost replacement.
So if you, too, find yourself at Port Orleans in search of some Potables, Victuals…
… and/or Libations and Spirits, then join me at The River Roost!
After all, it’s been offering these to visitor since 1886 😉 .
Atmosphere
Above are a few pictures of the outdoor area surrounding The River Roost, which sits right next to Boatwright’s Dining Hall <– another hidden gem in its own right. But you can also walk in straight from the lobby.
The old-fashioned southern charm of the Resort is equally on display at The River Roost.
Seating is divvied up into two sections. One offers table seating right near the bar and the stage for show nights.
The other features cozy chairs and couches, and my very favorite touch of all.
The fireplace!
Back in the table seating area, you can see where Yeeha Bob lives: on this stage with his rockin’ — Literally! You gotta see it! — piano.
Here’s how you can tell I was NOT visiting on a night when Yeeha Bob was playing: it was easy to find a seat!
This is not the case pretty much any night Yeeha Bob has a show. Though his schedule can vary, Yeeha Bob can typically be found at The River Roost starting at 8:30 pm Wednesday through Saturday nights. It is best to arrive at least a half hour ahead of time (I’d suggest even more on the weekends). The wait is well worth it, though.
Even though this particular visit didn’t include a show, here’s a pic of Yeeha Bob from another evening for anyone who wants to say, “Hi!”
In the words of the great man himself: “Nobody has more fun than us!”
Anyhoo, I promised a bit of pub grub for you, so let’s dig in.
Eats
The River Roost is a Disney Resort lounge, and therefore features the standard bar drinks you’ll find in lounges all over Disney World. That said, you’ll find a few cocktails and beers unique to the River Roost (and its sister club at Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter: Scat Cat’s Club).
The cocktails are, of course, New Orleans classics; and Abita brews are served on tap.
The River Roost is typically open from 5:00 pm until midnight or 12:30 am, but you can try something from the Appetizer menu until 11:30 pm, as noted. Aside from the Riverside Burger, which is more of an entree, selections are easily shareable around the table.
The last time I went to a Yeeha Bob show, I must have seen (and sniffed!) the Loaded Potato Puffs carried to a dozen different tables, so I knew that was what I wanted to try on this visit. Here’s why:
Yep. It’s a big ol’ pile of Potato Puffs (Tater Tots) loaded up with Carolina Pulled Pork, Abita Beer Cheese, and Pico de Gallo.
The fragrance of this dish comes from the barbecue sauce covering the tender pulled pork on top.
The Pico de Gallo adds some garnish and a nice bit of zest from the onion.
But I must admit — the ingredient that most intrigued me in the description was that mention of Abita Beer Cheese, so I was on the lookout. I did spy small amounts of it here and there.
But I wondered where the rest of it might be… until we dug in. Turns out the entire pile of potato puffs actually sits on top of a river of the rich, yummy beer cheese!
And there is plenty of it to dip each and every tot, which were nice, crispy, and golden brown, and not at all greasy.
It all comes together as an incredibly flavorful indulgence. There were three of us sharing this dish and as tasty as it was, we had each had enough by the time we finished because it was so filling. To think we had almost started by ordering TWO. There’s no way we would have made it! So, my recommendation is to start with one order and you can always order more or mix them up with some other apps if you want.
In any case, DO order them! The Loaded Potato Puffs are a super duper fun and tasty dish meant for enjoying with some friends or family, served up in a charming space (made even more special on nights when you can catch a show).
Overall
Hoping to try out The River Roost? Port Orleans, Riverside (and likewise, French Quarter) is accessible by bus from any park and Disney Springs. But the most fun way to get there is by taking the Sassagoula River Cruise from the Disney Springs Marketplace (it’s free, like the busses). You do have to plan plenty of extra time for the boat ride, but it’s a wonderful way to travel, and could be a nice cap to a day at Disney Springs.
Okay, so, clearly I’m a wee bit biased by my love for all things Port Orleans. But I am guessing if you have ever visited, you likely are, too. That said, all the ingredients are at The River Roost for a wonderful evening: drinks and terrific pub grub in a relaxing — or completely energizing, in the instance of a Yeeha Bob show! — setting, with plenty of Disney magic to spare. I hope you likewise enjoy it 🙂 .
Have you paid a visit to The River Roost? Please let us know with a comment!
These look AMAZING! As do the Mardi Gras Fritters. I would definitely take a trip there just for those 2 things. Question: what’s the white stuff drizzled on top? I thought it was the cheese at first, but the cheese looks a lot darker. Is it an aioli of some kind?
These look great, as do many of the appetisers on the menu! we are staying at Port Orleans Riverside on our next trip so will hopefully have time to visit and try these 🙂
I think HusBeast will love these! I’m vegetarian though, so I’m wondering what I can try while he eats those… has anyone here in the comments tried the Mardi Gras fritters? What, uh, are they?
Ah we stayed here last year and got to watch YehaBob. He was brilliant and I can definitely recommend the Pina Colava they are very yummy. I miss those the most!!!
The Mardi Gras Fritters are basically balls of pimento cheese breaded and fried.
We LOVE River Roost Lounge and Port Orleans Riverside. My favorite at River Roost is the Strawberry Daiquiri. I have tried that drink in a lot of places and that one is the BEST EVER! Even the best at WDW. If you love a fantastic daiquiri then you have to try one there.
Would they come pre-made? Wouldn’t be beyond the realms of fantasy not to load up on the pork (for the veggies out there), no? I’d like to think so anyway – then my other half could have the veggie version and I’ll good have it ‘as is’!
Neill — I’m sure that you could order the pork topping on the side. 🙂
Possibly, but if they can put it on the side, they can equally not have it there at all. Some veggies wouldn’t even like to see meat on the same plate, let alone eat it.
Neill, I think the idea behind that was that you would get extra pork for yours out of the deal, and you wouldn’t be missing out on probably the most expensive aspect of the item you’re paying full price for 😉
They look amazing but I would definitely want them Sans Piggywiggy!!
Neill — I was speaking figuratively when I said “on the side,” meaning not actually on top of potato puffs. 🙂 I thought that you meant that you and your wife would be splitting the dish, and you wanted to make sure that her portion was meat free. I’m sure if you requested it, they could put the pork on a separate plate, leave it off altogether, or whatever you prefer. I understand that some vegetarians would prefer not to have the meat anywhere near the plate; conveying that to the person serving you or your wife will be your best bet, because Disney is normally very accommodating when serving guests with food preferences, sensitivities, allergies, etc. Hope this helps.