Sometimes you just can’t let a good thing pass you by, and word on the street is that Siesta’s Cantina just added 3 new amazing menu items to their lineup and we couldn’t wait another second to get out to try them!
We’re suckers for great food found at hidden restaurants, lounges, and places you wouldn’t particularly have to come to mind when you think of the best Disney World food, but this little quick-service restaurant and pool bar is breaking all the barriers!
Just like its name suggests, this is a mostly sleepy restaurant located next to one of the arguably best moderate hotel pools. Siesta’s Cantina is home to talented bartenders and a robust menu of food to choose from. So when we heard they had made a few changes to their menu, we knew right where we were headed for our next meal!
You’ll find Siesta’s Cantina Pool Bar located next to the main feature pool, the Dig Site, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere here is very much a relaxed pool bar vibe. It’s a smaller spot that’s mostly comprised of the adjoining bar to a food order window for ordering and one for pick up…
…while the stand for self-service utensils are out front. Plastic wear and several condiments will be found in the same place so they’re easy to grab while you’re waiting for your order.
In terms of seating your options are strictly outdoors but there are plenty of chairs and tables with canvas umbrellas. Most of the folks that are visiting the pool tend to take their drinks back with them to their pool deck chairs and seats so the tables out front of the restaurant…
…and along the side are mostly available for folks ordering food and drinks that aren’t opting to swim.
At the bar, you can walk up and order your drinks and be sat right there if you wish.
Overall it wasn’t very loud even though there were several families enjoying the pool and nearby recreations at the volleyball court and adjacent playground.
Menu
The menu here just had a few new items pop up so that’s what we were after for this visit however, if you were looking to order from the bar they have a selection of specialty cocktails and frozen drinks…
…and if you’re feeling up for some food, there’s also a few light bites to pick up too!
One thing we found interesting is if you’re ordering from the bar you can order your food and drinks together, but if you go to the window to place an order and intend to also order a drink from the bar, you’ll need to order the food separately and order your drink at the bar.
Drinks
For our drink during this visit, we opted for the Tiki Torch! This one has been around for a little bit but while not new like the food we ordered, it was still a solid choice. This drink is made of Makers Mark, Passion Fruit & Orange Juice with a splash of Grenadine and cost us $18.
At first glance, this drink looks very fruity but there’s an exciting twist with it when it hits your tastebuds! Don’t underestimate the strength of this one because the Maker’s Mark in this knows just when to pack a punch after the first fruitier hints you’re initially met with. We certainly wouldn’t have thought we would have enjoyed a fruit-based drink with the addition of some heftier Maker’s Mark into the mix, but here we are and we did. However, we’ll wrap up this drinks review by saying it was a bit sweeter than we anticipated so if you’re someone who likes more bitter or sour drinks, this probably isn’t quite the cocktail for you.
Eats
We’re a sucker for new eats so when we spotted there were multiple new menu items we had to try them all! We picked up the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto Mac & Cheese Bites, Kielbasa Kettle Chips, AND the Bacon Onion Jam Burger to round out a full meal!
Let’s kick things off with the dish that caught our attention first thanks to its brightly dusted bites — the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto Mac & Cheese Bites! We were served 6 of these bites which are made of deep-fried Flamin’ Hot Cheeto dusted mac & cheese bites filled with jalapeños, drizzled with chipotle aioli, and served with a side of creamy jalapeño ranch dressing (although we weren’t served the ranch dressing with ours). These cost us $14.
Just looking at them will make your mouth water but we can guarantee you they’re just as good as you’re imagining in your head right now. If you love flamin’ hot cheetos and cheesy macaroni bites this is a match made in heaven for you! The outside is crispy and crunchy with that familiar level of heat you get from the flamin’ hot cheeto snacks and it’ll have you licking your fingers unless you’re using a fork to pop them into your mouth.
Our 6 bites were topped with sliced jalapeños and the creamy chipotle aioli to help kick the heat up if you want a little extra zing and the inside mac & cheese was so creamy. Even with that, it held up nicely inside the bite’s outer coating. We seriously went home and continued to dream about a return visit to be reunited with them again soon.
Then we tried out the Kielbasa Kettle Chips which are layered crispy kettle chips, topped with kielbasa sausage. They’re finished with a drizzle of chipotle aioli, pico de gallo, crispy fried jalapeños, and a sprinkle of fresh green onions for $14.
The kettle chips are the house-made chips we’ve seen around several quick service restaurants at Disney World hotels and they’re topped with that same spicy chipotle aioli we had on the mac & cheese bites. We have to admit though there was more of it on these chips and we underestimated the heat from the chipotle at the first bite.
It’s got some decent heat to it between the chipotle, jalapeños, and pico toppings but it’s basically a new spin on a nacho dish. All the flavors work really well together here and the kielbasa sausage was thick and chewy like you would hope for it to be.
Last on our list to try was the Bacon Onion Jam Burger! This is comprised of a 6oz burger patty topped with melted Swiss, bacon jam, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, and zesty jalapeño garlic aioli between toasted Hawaiian pretzel buns and served with a side of kettle chips for $17.
The sweet caramelized onion jam and glaze that melts into the melted Swiss cheese on this burger is really what sells it! Ours came cooked well done but the perfect combination of the cheese and sweet onions worked together in harmony to deliver an excellent flavor experience against the burger patty juices.
The leaf of lettuce was quite large and covered most of the burger and then some so that was a tad distracting to look at initially but it also lent a hand into the flavor and delivered a crisp crunch to the burger along with the slice of onion hidden in the sandwich just above the bottom bun piece.
The side of kettle chips along with this burger just added a few extra chips for us to scoop up whatever was left of the toppings in the Keilbasa Kettle Chips dish!
Overall
Overall we couldn’t be more pleased with the newest additions to the menu options available for just a pool bar and quick service restaurant here. We were excited to see that the newer items and thought it fit in nicely with everything else offered here already.
If you’re taking a day out of the parks, or truly searching for a unique place to eat that won’t break the bank or require a dining reservation, we would highly recommend paying a visit to Siesta’s Cantina!
Nosh or Not?
Breeze on by this sleepy spot and stay a while if…
- You’re tired of the same ole, same ole Disney food! Ready to switch things up from just your standard burgers and chicken tendies? This place has you covered!
- You’re really more of an apps and snacks type eater. If you’re not looking for a full meal and just combining an app or two gets you by, this is certainly a place whose menu is built for you!
- “Give me all the spice!” We underestimated the spices in the chipotle aioli a bit at first and while it’s not “burn your mouth off spicy” it’s going to have a good kick to it. If you’re on board with spicy heats this is your next go-to!
The winds are blowing you to sit a spell somewhere else if…
- Sharing an app or two just won’t cut it for your appetite! If you find yourself visiting this hotel and looking for a little more than what’s offered at Siesta’s Cantina, there are plenty of other great restaurants around the hotel to look at instead.
- Eating outdoors at a pool bar just isn’t your vibe. We get it — you’re on vacation and when you want to sit down inside in the shade and air condition sitting outside at a pool bar just won’t compare most of the time.
- You’re not really a fan of “spicy” foods. While there are other milder options to try on the menu here, we get it. If you’re someone who really doesn’t want to leave that to chance, you might find better selections for you at El Mercado de Coronado the quick service restaurant in the main building.
We’re constantly updating our reviews of restaurants, snacks, and treats across Disney World’s parks and hotels! Be sure to check out a few of our latest below and stay tuned with us at DFB for more!
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Do any of these new menu items make you want to run out to Siesta’s Cantina at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort? Tell us if you plan on snagging them for yourselves!
Lynne says
Is it possible that you could ever mention something healthy, and not fried or full of chemicals in all of Disneyworld. Plaza- salad with shrimp. Many restaurants in all the parks-Chicken, grilled,roasted,broiled, in salads, NOT FRIED- with fries. Many restaurants. Fish, broiled, roasted, grilled, salads. There are so many yummy things, but I never ever see them in any of your posts.
naturaldisastergirl says
Myranda, you had me at Bacon Onion Jam Burger 🙂 Love DFB!