Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen recently opened their doors at Downtown Disney with a limited menu. The Jazz Kitchen Express, famous for its beignets is also open next door! We came on a weekend and finally got to try both and it did not disappoint!
Hours of Operation
Jazz Kitchen Dining Hours – Monday through Thursday (11 am – 8 pm), Friday-Sunday (11 am – 9 pm). Walk-In Dining Only. No reservations at the moment. Outdoor Seating only.
Jazz Kitchen Express – Monday through Thursday (10 am -8 pm), Friday through Sunday (10 am – 9 pm). Mobile ordering is available. AP Discount is not applied with mobile ordering, but you can use your discount if you place your order in-store.
Jazz Kitchen Express
The Jazz Kitchen Express is most popular for their beignets but they also have some food items available on their menu. Before getting in line for the Jazz Kitchen, we waited in line and purchased some beignets from here. The line is not too bad and social distancing is enforced. Though it has been hot lately, this line remains pretty shaded.
Begneits
Beignets as described on their website are, “(Ben-yay’s) French-style donuts dusted with powdered sugar – made fresh throughout the day!” They come in Small (4) 8.49 | Large (6) 9.99 | Family Size (10) 12.99. We got the small for three people and it was plenty! You have to eat beignets ASAP. If you eat them immediately, they are delicious! They are so fluffy and warm topped with the powdered sugar! 10+/10! However, if you wait too long it isn’t as good. It turns into a brick ball of dough. At least that’s my opinion. Make sure you order just enough!
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen
RB Jazz Kitchen is located near the Lego Store and Pin Traders. They are currently taking walk-in only and have both levels open for outdoor seating. Their website describes themselves as a “Classic New Orleans Cusine.” I love the ambiance of this place. Disney really never disappoints. You really feel like you are sitting in a New Orleans Restaurant. We got in line around 10:30 am and waited until the restaurant opened so we could sit and eat.
We sat upstairs and the hostess tells you to scan a QR code to look at the menu on your phone. Upon sitting, they provide you with bags to keep your masks as well as hand wipes. As I mentioned before, the menu is limited, but there are still good options to choose from. They have an Impossible burger and some salads for Vegan/Vegetarians dining there.
Gumbo Ya-Ya – $10.00
“Andouille sausage, roasted chicken, holy trinity, simmered with Creole seasonings in a rich dark roux thickened broth, served over green onion rice“
The Gumbo Ya-Ya almost had a smokey taste to it. The bring it out in a silver pitcher and pour it out into the bowl in front of you. They give you a good serving of meat and for $10, you really can’t beat that!
Fried Chicken Caesar Salad – $18.00
“Cajun spiced fried chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, Roma tomatoes, shaved asiago cheese, Creole Caesar dressing, rosemary garlic ciabatta bread“
The chicken is the best part of this salad. It is so tender and the fried breading wasn’t too heavy. They did this perfectly. The rosemary garlic ciabatta was a great addition and very flavorful. I’m glad it was paired with the slice of bread versus traditional croutons. We had the dressing tossed in it and it wasn’t overwhelming. This is a delicious and healthier choice on the menu. If you are trying to watch calories, you can ask for the dressing on the side and take the breading off the chicken. It will still be insanely tasty!
NOLA BBQ Shrimp and Grits – $30.00
“Gulf shrimp simmered in a “New Orleans” barbecue sauce with roasted garlic, lemon served over andouille sausage-parmesan grits“
I saved the best for last. This shrimp and grits plate was SO mouthwatering good! The shrimp was good quality and they gave you a generous amount. The mixture of the sauce, the creamy grits and the shrimp tied together really well. I love the amount of garlic and lemon they put in there. You can catch a bite with some of the garlic and it just exploded in your mouth. There wasn’t too much sausage in there to overwhelm the shrimp either. The pairing of all the ingredients just made a completely perfect tasty dish. I would highly recommend getting this if you had to choose one thing.
Safety Protocols
I felt very safe dining here. The seating was spaced apart far enough on the upstairs patio. When we went around 11 am, it wasn’t crowded. Plexiglass was installed in certain areas. You view the menu on your phone. Our server did a great job of making us feel safe. Thank you, essential workers! Oh and one last thing, they were NOT serving their banana foster dessert! Not like I needed it but I would have been inclined to try it!