Celebrity Chef Art Smith to open 'Homecoming - Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine' at Disney Springs

Oct 09, 2015 in "Chef Art Smith's Homecomin'"

Posted: Friday October 9, 2015 9:55am EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

Celebrity Chef Art Smith today announced the opening of 'Homecoming - Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine' at Disney Springs in summer 2016.


The Florida native will be offering farm-to-table food, with ingredients sourced from the local area. 

“Once we heard the story of his passion for Florida and his vision for the restaurant, we knew that it was a perfect match” said George Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “We’re thrilled to welcome Chef Art back to the state and share his spirit of Homecoming with our guests from around the world."

With a design inspired by turn-of-the century Florida architecture of the late 1800s, Homecoming will feature traditional Southern favorites with sophisticated, chef-inspired creations. The 6,000-square-foot, 200-seat restaurant “is where Florida heritage meets New Southern cuisine,” explains Smith.

“The menu is a big part of my ongoing homage to Florida’s bygone era,” explains Smith. “We will proudly and prominently support the Fresh from Florida campaign and the vast majority of our seafood, produce, poultry and beef will be from local farms, ranches or fisheries.”

The Homecoming menu will feature Southern favorites like homemade pimento cheese, Church Lady deviled eggs, low country shrimp and grits, kale salad with Sweet Grass Dairy cheese and spiced pecans and a grilled Blackstrap pork chop with sawmill gravy.

“Each dish has a little Florida twist and make guests feel like they’re on the back porch with me for every meal,” says Smith.

Desserts will be a specialty, with cakes, pies and delectable sweets made daily and shipped from a bakery in Hamilton County, including the restaurant’s signature Mockingbird Cake. “Southern women, using delicious ingredients and love, are the world’s best bakers,” explains Art.

Inside, the restaurant has a glass-walled show kitchen and the Southern Shine bar, featuring whimsical cocktails, punches and coolers.

It was previously indicated that Chef Art would be opening 'Chef Arts Florida Fish Camp', but today's announcement seems to suggest a change of plan. The restaurant will be located in The Springs, between the Town Center and The Landing.

Art Smith has previously worked as personal chef to Oprah Winfrey, served as a judge on the TV show BBQ Pitmasters as well as authoring three award winning cookbooks.

Table Fifty-Two in Chicago, Art and Soul in D.C. , Southern Art and bourbon Bar in Atlanta and LYFE Kitchen Palo Alto are amongst Smith's restaurant operations.

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DisneyJayLJan 02, 2020

That doesn't bother me. I can always save it for later. Thanks!

Texas84Jan 02, 2020

Amazing food but the portions are WAY too big! Try to save room for some cake.

DisneyJayLDec 31, 2019

Thank you ma’am!

DznyGrlSDDec 31, 2019

Had brunch there in November after the wine/dine half marathon and it was fantastic!

DisneyJayLDec 30, 2019

Can anyone tell me more about this place? I heard that it is fantastic!

Wolf43Jul 25, 2016

Thank you for letting us know. I was able to make a reservation for the day and time I wanted.

JenniferSJul 25, 2016

I'm in. Finally able to book online. :happy: Got an earlier reservation than I would have liked, but certainly within the boundaries of what most folk consider "dinner time".

Jon81ukJul 22, 2016

Sorry the link didn't appear on my last post, have added it now (https://www.facebook.com/homecomingkitchen/photos/a.1083458985045789.1073741828.979958025395886/1128106580581029/). The Facebook announcement says bookings are open on 407-WDW-DINE.

JenniferSJul 22, 2016

Thank you. Still getting the same message that I've been getting all week though.

Jon81ukJul 22, 2016

Their Facebook page says reservations just opened https://www.facebook.com/homecomingkitchen/photos/a.1083458985045789.1073741828.979958025395886/1128106580581029/

JenniferSJul 22, 2016

Still not able to book ADR's online, so at the website's urging, I called 407-WDW-DINE. The eager, but not altogether helpful gal I spoke with told me she didn't think it was open yet, "perhaps later this summer". Umm no, it's open, could you please check. My desired date was 9/15, and the only ressie available is 4:05. Pass. I was willing to switch dates, but there is zero availability on the other two dates she checked for me. I'm just going to have to keep checking online. It should hit the system soon, no?

kelknight84Jul 17, 2016

We had the pleasure of eating here last night. Everything was amazing! Wife got the fried chicken sandwich which was super yummy. I got the bbq pork plate which was good and was accompanied by some perfect mac and cheese. The best part of the meal was the pimento cheese hush puppies. They were spectacular! It was a little pricey though... But the best part......Art Smith was actually there and came and chatted with us at the end to make sure everything was good!

JenniferSJul 14, 2016

Buh bye Raglan Road ADR. Hello HFK! I'm not even consulting Hubby. An executive decision has been made.

PhotoDave219Jul 14, 2016

I'm a big believer in supporting local businesses, local farms, and local agriculture. I will go out of my way to give them money instead of a chain. I hate it when restaurants misrepresent themselves and a lot in the area have.