You know what gets a BAD rap in Disney World? The cafeteria-style quick service restaurants at the hotels!

And honestly, we can’t say we blame people for hating on them. We’ve definitely had our share of mediocre meals at the value resorts! But what about the cafeteria quick service spots at the moderate resorts? They’ve got to be at least MODERATEly better, right?! (Pun totally intended.) Well, recently I stopped by one of them to find out.

Atmosphere

For this review, I’m taking you along with me to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter. The restaurant is located in the main building of the resort, right next to Scat Cat’s Club — Cafe.

When you first walk in, you’ll be greeted by the area with all the food counters. Here, you’ll pick out your eats and then check out before finding your seat.

They’ve got individual stands with prepackaged snacks…

…as well as bottled beverages. These are great options if you’re looking for something to grab and go.

Each of the various counters has a different type of cuisine. Check out the menu boards above each one to see what they serve. You’ll pick up a tray, order your food at the counter, and then wait for it to be made fresh.

Once you’ve got your food, stop by the checkout counter to pay for your meals. 

From there, you can choose a seat in the massive dining area. The room is themed to a Mardi Gras celebration with MASSIVE props all over the walls and ceiling!

In the center of the room, there’s a drinks and condiments station with silverware, an ice machine, various condiments…

…multiple Coca-Cola freestyle machines…

…a coffee bar, and toasters. They’ve got the whole setup out here!

The opposite side of the room has more tables, and the view of the resort out the windows is quite tranquil!

Now let’s check out that menu!

Menu

Like the other cafeteria-style restaurants, Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory has a broad menu with a variety of options. There are a few New Orleans-inspired specialties, including gumbo, jambalaya, smothered beef in gravy, and mojo chicken. But on top of that, they have a selection of burgers and chicken to appease pickier eaters.

If you’d like a sandwich, you could try options like the shrimp po’ boy or the honey barbecued pork. And of course, you can order various pizza and pasta types. 

For lighter fare, they have soups, salads, and a plant-based Korean-style burger. 

We can’t forget about the sides! They have a charcuterie option, as well as french fries, garlic bread sticks, and macaroni & cheese. 

Last but not least, we’ve got the kids’ section! There are a few different kids’ meals to choose from, like cheeseburgers, pasta, and chicken strips. 

Now it’s time to order some food!

Eats

To properly scope out the food scene, I ordered two entrees, a beverage, and a dessert. Let’s dig in!

First up, we’ve got the Mango Tea, which is $6.49 and made with black tea, coconut milk, and mango purée garnished with mango boba pearls. It was refreshing and light with a nice fruity flavor that wasn’t too sweet or overpowering, but I was definitely missing out on the boba pearls! At first glance, they seemed to be gathered at the bottom, but they were all either stuck underneath the ice or mostly busted.

For my first entree, I got the Honey Barbecued Pulled Pork Sandwich. It’s $10.79 and served with a zesty vegetable slaw and french fries.

This was probably my favorite part of the meal, surprisingly! The pork was tender and the sauce was honey-sweet. There was a decent portion of meat and the bun was nice and soft. The fries were your typical Disney fries that are best eaten fresh (they get pretty tough once they cool off, and that happens FAST).

However, perhaps the most intriguing thing was the vegetable slaw…it was PINK! It had a very tangy and vinegar-forward flavor like it was made of pickled veggies. It was a great accompaniment to the sweet barbecue pork and is served on the side, so you can eat it as a standalone or pile it on the sandwich.

For my second entree, I tried the rather interesting-sounding Beef and Fried Shrimp Burger for $14.49. It’s a beef and fried shrimp burger with Remoulade sauce. Kinda like a burger and a shrimp po’ boy had a baby!

Unfortunately, the burger patty itself was pretty bland and dry like Disney quick service burgers usually are. However, the shrimp were plump, juicy, and thoroughly battered and fried. The Remoulade sauce added some nice depth of flavor with a hint of spice, and the whole thing was partially cooled by the lettuce and tomato. One problem I ran into was that the tomato on the bottom made the bottom bun a little soggy.

Last and possibly least, it was time for dessert! I ordered the Donut Holes with chocolate sauce for $4.99. These are supposedly glazed and I was pretty excited for them, but my excitement dimmed when I saw they were prepackaged and not kept warm.

The outside of the donut holes were quite sticky, but the insides were INCREDIBLY dry. Like, I could only eat one of them and I had to smother it in chocolate sauce. The chocolate sauce was rich and smooth, but it wasn’t quite enough to save the pastry.

So how does Sassagoula fare in my book?

Overall

I’ve eaten at quite a few of these quick service food courts now, and Sassagoula stands about even with the rest of them. Typically these spots will have an entree or two that are fairly good, along with plenty of others that are mediocre or not-so-great. It’s standard food and there are lots of options to please a family with a variety of preferences.

The atmosphere is nicer than the food courts at the value resorts, but this is definitely not a destination restaurant. It’s the same basics you can get elsewhere, just with some slight twists.

Nosh or Not?

Enjoy a quick service Mardi Gras meal if…

• You’re staying at this resort and need a quick meal. If you’re staying at French Quarter and want an easy breakfast or lunch, this isn’t a bad option.
• You have a large party or a variety of tastes. There’s ample seating here and with the various food counters, there are SO many things to choose from. Much easier than smaller spots with more limited menus.

Skip the Sassagoula Floatworks and mosey to another spot if…

• You’re hoping to eat dinner. While this spot serves dinner, I would more readily recommend visiting Scat Cat’s Club — Lounge two doors down instead. That restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere and more interesting (and delicious) eats.
• You’re not staying at French Quarter. There’s really no reason to go out of your way to eat here. It’s pretty similar to other food courts around Disney World.

We’ll keep you in the loop with other restaurant reviews from Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest! We’ve got you covered.

Click Here to See My Review of Scat Cat’s Club — Lounge!

Have you ever eaten at this restaurant? Tell us in the comments!

The post REVIEW: Can This Restaurant REDEEM Disney World Food Courts for Good? first appeared on the disney food blog.