Hello from the Louisiana — er, Disney — Bayou! We moseyed over to Port Orleans French Quarter this week, and of course had to stop at one of our favorite Quick Service spots — Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory!
Sassagoula is best known for being the only spot in Walt Disney World for a classic Mickey shaped beignet — the warm, fluffy treat that I dream about more than I’d like to admit.
But today, something else caught our eye BESIDES tasty pastries. When we looked at the Menu Board at the “Italian Station” we noticed the “Create Your Own Pasta” was gone!
In its place were three “French Quarter” Pastas — Shrimp Arrabbiata, Chicken Alfredo, and Vegetarian. We also spotted a new Bayou Lasagna. We just had to sample a dish or two!
We opted for the Lasagna and one of the Pastas. When I asked the Cast Member which of the pasta dishes she recommends, she said the Chicken Alfredo and the Shrimp Arabbiata were the most popular…”but beware! The Shrimp is spicy.” As you may know Disney doesn’t really do spicy, (we use the phrase “Disney heat” around here) so we were curious to see how this one compared heat-wise.
The pasta dishes (not the lasagna) are made to order, so you’ll put your name and order in with the Chefs, then pay at the register. By the time we were done, our lunch was ready!
At first glance they looked tasty — but it was odd to us that the Bayou Lasagna was presented like a TV dinner? More on that later…
Let’s start with the Shrimp Arrabbiatta.
The Shrimp Arrabbiatta is Penne Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Shrimp, Broccoli, and Red Pepper Flakes. The chef will add Fresh Parmesan on top if you’d like — and of course we did!
The dish is a huge serving — and could easily be shared between two, especially with a side. But how would the flavor (and heat) stack up?
Surprisingly, well! There were tons of juicy, tender shrimp and the broccoli was perfectly cooked so it still had some crunch. The sauce wasn’t anything extraordinary, but the red pepper flakes really elevated the dish. In fact, it was ACTUALLY spicy! Like real heat, not Disney heat! My nose was running and my cheeks were flushed. I was shocked!
If you like a little heat in your food, this is a great option! And, it goes without saying, if you don’t like spicy stuff, we suggest you skip this one. 🙂
Next up, the Bayou Lasagna.
This is layers of Pasta with Bolognese Sauce and House-made Alfredo. As you can see it comes out like a frozen TV dinner, which was a little perplexing… .
Considering I was paying when they got it ready, my guess is they pre-portion the dish in these containers so they can be individually heated up when someone orders it. But presentation aside, how would it taste?
The meat Bolognese sauce was rather flavorful, but the creamy Alfredo was the real winner in my book. The noodles were cooked quite well, and overall it was a decent dish — it just wasn’t anything unusually special. Nothing about it said Bayou, other than the name. With a name like that, we’d love to have seen some Cajun spices or even some Shrimp in the dish to change it up.
It was better than a standard TV Dinner though 😉 and it will be a great choice for picky kids (and adults) who don’t want to step outside of their comfort zone.
Overall, I would personally order the Shrimp Arrabbiatta again, but not the Bayou Lasagna. But once again Sassagoula Floatworks proves that it’s one of the best resort Quick Service spots with its unique menu, baked goods, and array of flavors — now including heat!
For more of our Port Orleans recommendations check out our list here!
And check out our DFB Video: What to Eat and What to Skip at Port Orleans!
Check out our video EAT THIS at Port Orleans Resort! When you’re done – check out all of our Videos on You Tube!
We hope that helped as you plan your visit to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter and Riverside! Let us know your favorites in the comments!
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Is Port Orleans one of your favorites for food? Let us know in the comments!
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