As a Florida girl, I love old kitschy restaurants and Southern food. One of my favorites happens to be a restaurant at Downtown Disney West Side, called Crossroads at the House of Blues. This restaurant reminds me of the unique restaurants you will find on the back road roads in the South. Old cedar plank siding, wraparound porch, patio seating, and that old Southern feel. These fun restaurants serve those home cooking meals like shrimp and grits, jambalaya, fried chicken, and bread pudding with good oleʼ fashioned Southern charm! Wonʼt you come on in and sit a spell?
Crossroads at House of Blues features this fun back road restaurant theming. The main House of Blues building is rustic with a huge porch outside Crossroads. You will even see a large water tower hovering above with the House of Blues name and logo. This water tower is so large, you can see it clear across Downtown Disney. The House of Blues buildings are covered with hundreds of mirrored and colored mosaics. You can also enjoy unique artwork decorated on the wood exterior walls. There are even artwork and statues throughout the courtyard of the House of Blue. The main focus above the stairs to the Crossroads is the huge sign that say, “In Blues We Trust.” Can you the spotlight of House of Blues? It is all about the music!
House of Blues features several dining and entertainment options with this music focus. You can sit outside in the patio to catch a drink or a quick service lunch at Smokehouse. For a nice meal, the Crossroads restaurant is a separate sit down location. You can dine for lunch or dinner at both Smokehouse and Crossroads. If you love concerts, you can enjoy a live concert in the concert hall attached to the Crossroads in a separate building. You can also buy some souvenirs in the House of Blues merchandise shop on your way out of your meal. There is a little bit of something for everyone at House of Blues.
Inside Crossroads offers just as much eye candy as outside the House of Blues at the Smokehouse. The interior of the restaurant features lots of colorful and unique pictures and knick-knacks, everywhere you look. The ceiling is even decorated with custom ceiling tile and famous blues musician pictures. You can dine at wooden tables and chairs or enjoy the comfort of a big wooden booths. The focus is the stage centered at the back of the restaurant. You can be immersed in the music with live entertainment on this stage, during Blues Kitchen and Gospel Brunch.
On other days, you can still enjoy music piped in throughout the restaurant. The Blues Kitchen is live entertainment every Friday and Saturday evening from 10:30 PM-close. The Gospel Brunch is held every Sunday. This brunch runs at 10:30 AM and 1 PM. This is a special ticket brunch, featuring delicious food and local talent performing popular traditional and contemporary gospel songs. You can enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet with carving stations and popular breakfast items. The Gospel Brunch specialty is chicken and waffles. The music styles include R & B, latin, reggae, metal, hip-hop or blues. The menu at House of Blues is a blend of American and International cuisine, created by celebrity chef, Aaron Sanchez. You may recognize Chef Sanchez from the Next Iron Chef. He was a contestant. He then moved onto co-host Heat Seekers and was even a judge on the show Chopped on the Food Network. Quite the resume for the House of Blues chef! You can enjoy appetizers, signature burgers, soups, salads, flatbreads, entrees, sandwiches and dessert. You can top it off with a full service bar that includes a few specialty drinks exclusive to the House of Blues. Southern Charm at Crossroads at House of Blues
The famous signature burgers are all served with certified Angus beef. You can then select your favorite toppings including applewood bacon, sauteed bourbon onions, pepper jack cheese, swiss cheese, pulled pork, crispy pickled jalapenos and more. You can select the burger toppings best for your family, along with french fries or sweet potato fries. For entrees, you can enjoy Market Fish of the Day, Lobster Mac and Cheese, St. Louis Ribs, Shrimp and Grits, Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast, Spicy Chicken Pasta, Meatloaf, Aaronʼs Bolognese Pasta, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Jambalaya, Adobo Rubbed Port Chop or New York Strip.
End your lunch or dinner with Southern favorites, including Bourbon Bread Pudding, Chefʼs Choice Ice Cream, Key Lime Pie and Triple Chocolate Cheesecake. Crossroads at the House of Blues features lunch and dinner.
You can use (1) dining credit on the Disney Dining Plan for the House of Blues restaurant. Advanced reservations are always suggested for lunch or dinner. You can contact your travel agent or call 407-WDW-DINE. If you want to attend the popular Gospel Brunch, you will want to purchase your tickets online at houseofblues.com/orlando. Enjoy the Southern charm at Disney World at Crossroads at the House of Blues.
Meatloaf
Ingredients:
- 9 pounds ground beef
- 3 pounds ground pork
- 12 eggs beaten
- 6 cups fresh bread crumbs
- 3 cups ketchup
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 4 tbsp. crystal hot sauce
- 3 oz. Worcestershire sauce
- 12 oz. unsalted butter
- 6 oz. green onions (thinly sliced)
- 2 pounds onions (1/4″ chopped)
- 20 oz. celery (1/4″ chopped)
- 20 oz. bell peppers (1/4″ chopped)
- 4 tbsp. minced garlic
- 2 tbsp. salt
- 2 tsp. cayenne
- 2 tsp. black pepper
Directions:
Melt butter in large skillet. Saute all vegetables in the melted butter at medium heat until tender. Stir in cream and ketchup. Cook 5 minutes. Let cool completely. Mix all ingredients in Hobart (stand mixer) with paddle for 10 minutes at speed two. Divide into 4 inch pans lined with parchment paper, 5 lb. 12 oz. per pan, 1/3 inch high. Cook at 325 degrees for two hours, internal temperature at 160 degrees. Let set at room temperature for approximately 10 minutes then drain grease. Let stand longer (approximately two hours) and then drain remaining grease.
