We love Cookes of Dublin for their delicious Irish-inspired eats — and for the fact that this counter service spot serves something unique in the realm of Disney World eats (save for neighboring Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant, of course!).
And we’re happy to say that Cookes has just introduced several brand-new menu items! You know we had to go take a bite… or ten. The new menu items are what you expect from an Irish-inspired quick service restaurant: relaxed food done well with some hints of Ireland. The new offerings include six burgers and sandwiches served up with Irish-style chips and a lot of personality. 😉 You’ll notice the personality in the names, too, which take on a more Disney-fied spirit than previous menu items.
But if you’re in the mood for some traditional fare, never fear: Cookes still offers its Famous Fish & Chips, Hog in a Box, Battered Chicken Tenders & Chips, and Housemade Pie of the Day. So there’s really something for everyone!
A pamphlet-style menu might be a bit easier to peruse, and the Sides, Kids’ offerings, and Desserts are laid out for you, too!
And on that note, let’s get into those new handhelds, shall we? First up, The Beauty ($12.45), a grilled sirloin burger with Ballymaloe Gourmet Ketchup, Dubliner cheese, garlic mayonnaise, and mixed greens.
This is a… well, not exactly a beaut to look at, but those bright greens add some freshness. Ballymaloe Gourmet Ketchup comes directly from an “Irish family food company” and was quite tasty! As you can see, the burger is cooked well-done, and while it wasn’t the juiciest burger we’ve ever eaten, it wasn’t dry and unpleasant.
This is a pretty basic burger, so it should work for picky eaters or kids with big appetites (although you may want to exclude the greens…).
Next, The Incredible ($12.95), is a mighty burger with Jameson Irish Whiskey barbeque sauce, an onion ring, Dubliner cheese, and arugula. Indeed, this one is hefty enough even for the macho head of a superhero family, if you catch our drift. 😉 (Also, shout-out to Cookes’ chips! These are about as perfectly golden brown as can be!)
This is a seriously smoky burger, and it’s delicious. If you’re in the mood for barbecue but aren’t heading to The Polite Pig (where BBQ is their thing!), you’ll get a good hit of smokiness from this burger.
The onion ring adds some fun crunch, too. The arugula is not particularly potent (it can’t stand up to the sauce), but it adds some peppery freshness.
The Beast ($12.45) is a hand-battered sirloin burger, smothered with garlic mayonnaise, Ballymoe Gourmet Ketchup, and mixed greens. This burger was one of our favorites. (We learned to dig the Battered Burger concept as it was served in its original form here.)
Truly there’s a lot of breading between that batter and the bun, but the greens and the garlic mayo helped to cut through some of the heaviness of the carbs… truly, this thing is a hit!
If you’re in the mood for chicken, try The Enchanted ($11.45). This sandwich consists of grilled chicken breast, chipotle aioli, and crunchy red cabbage slaw. As you can see, there’s an abundance of the chipotle aioli, which oozes out of the sandwich before you even pick it up!
We didn’t find the chipotle aioli to be overwhelmingly spicy, but it did give the sandwich a little kick. Keep that in mind if you’re heat-averse! (You may want to ask for it on the side, just in case!)
Overall, this was a pretty simple chicken sandwich, but it’s executed well and a solid option if you don’t want to eat beef but do love a filling hot sandwich.
Another option for poultry lovers is The Marvel ($11.45). This one has fried chicken, pickled red onions, and bacon jam. A lot of bacon jam (not that we’re complaining!).
The Marvel was our favorite new menu item, and it’s all about the contrast between those pickled onions and sweet and savory bacon jam! Who would’ve thought they’d go together — and yet, they totally work! But do bear in mind: those pickled onions are strong. You’ve gotta have a thing for pickled foods to enjoy it; and in this case, we really did.
The fried chicken is also pretty great, making this a fantastic sandwich and a must if you’re cool with those pickled onions.
Finally, The Brave sandwich ($12.95) is a thick piece of Buffalo-tossed fried chicken (red for Merida’s hair, we presume, based on the name?) and Cashel Blue Irish cheese. This simple sandwich is for the Buffalo chicken fans! It has a nice kick from the Buffalo sauce, so be ready for that!
The chicken is lightly fried and not too heavy, but the slab of Cashel Blue Irish cheese means business! Just look at it!
Not only is it a creamy counterpoint to the spicy chicken, it’s also rich and oozes everywhere. It’s pretty awesome.
Of course, even with all these new menu items, we can’t leave Cookes of Dublin without a cup of what’s arguably Disney World’s finest cheese dip. It’s the Dubliner Irish Cheese and Bacon Dip, and it’s stellar. Although the name is different than in the past (it was called the Irish Vintage Cheese and Bacon Dip previously), it retains all of its irresistibility. Click here to see why it’s a DFB Must Have!
We also got a side of battered Onion Rings because, you know, onion rings. These are crunchy and delicious owing to the rings’ double dip in some thick batter. Incidentally, they’re delicious dunked in the cheese and bacon dip… as are the chips… and anything else you want to dip in there, like a burger or a spoon. 😉
Dessert at Cookes is a simple affair now (you used to find several sweet treats here) with three cookie options on our visit: Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip gluten free, Oatmeal & Honey, and a Jammy Dodger.
The Jammy Dodger is a sandwiched shortbread with berry jam in the middle (raspberry in this case). It’s Ireland’s version of a linzer cookie, and it was scrummy.
Cookes of Dublin might not be the first Irish-inspired restaurant you think of in Disney Springs, but darn if it isn’t really delicious and worth a stop (especially if you can’t get into Raglan Road or simply don’t have time for table service). With six new burger and sandwich options — plus all the old favorites — you really can’t go wrong. In fact, on our visit, things went very right.
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Which new menu item do you most want to try? Are you in for the Dubliner Cheese and Bacon Dip, or should we just eat all of it? Let us know in the comments!
Jeff says
Those all look so good!
Julie says
Is this considered a quick service meal on the dining plan?
Gracie says
Do they have a vegetarian/vegan burger?
And for all the burgers there, can they be made Gluten Free – lettuce wrap, GF bun or naked on a plate?
Eric says
Once again one of my favorite WDW restaurants discontinue the item that made them one of my favorite. The battered sausages dipped in the cheese and bacon was one of the things I looked forward to on WDW visits. Thanks for just one more reason to find another vacation venue Disney.
DFB Sarah says
Gracie, Cookes didn’t note a vegetarian or vegan burger option, unfortunately. The Hog in a Box is noted on the pamphlet menu as being available Gluten Free, but nothing else is noted as such.
DFB Sarah says
Julie, Disney does designate this as a QS DDP. 🙂
[email protected] says
The beauty looks and sounds delicious. I love Dubliner cheese! Which btw..you guys can find a great one in Publix made by Kerrygold.
DFB Sarah says
Thanks, Kelly!