Theme Park Foodie

Downtown Disney’s Splitsville: Food Review

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World Media Relations

When I first learned that Downtown Disney’s newest addition would be a bowling alley, I admit that I was disappointed. The entertainment hub once occupied by night clubs and dining would serve as home to a run-of-the-mill, nicely themed bowling alley? Such a shame.

After previewing the venue during a Disney Parks Blog Meet-Up, I can easily say that Splitsville Luxury Lanes is a wonderful addition to Downtown Disney that offers fun and great food in an upbeat setting. I’ve never had so much fun at a bowling alley, mostly due to the fact that I hate bowling! Even if you’re like me and throw a gutter ball every time you try to bowl, Splitsville should be on your vacation agenda if only for the food.

While at the meet-up, I had the opportunity to sample a number of Splitsville’s signature dishes, including sandwiches, pizza, and sushi, and drinks.

The Sandwiches
Cheeseburger Deluxe, Turkey Club, BBQ Pulled Pork
Splitsville’s sandwiches and burgers were a delicious first course. The cheeseburger was reminiscent of one served an authentic 50’s diner; juicy and deliciously seasoned. The Turkey Club, with turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheese seemed generic upon first glance, but the taste of the sandwich and the crispy texture of the bacon made it a surprising favorite. The BBQ pulled pork, featuring slow cooked pork smother in BBQ sauce, was a tangy treat that will be appealing to BBQ fans.

The Pizza
Cheese, Pepperoni
Of all of the food offered at the Splitsville Meet-Up, the pizza was the least impressive. It seemed very generic, and a little greasy; I tried both Cheese and Pepperoni, but were not taken with either option. That being said, I was sampling pizza that had been sitting out on a buffet table. Freshly made, the pizza may be worth trying. Still, after trying some of the other fare, I’d be hard pressed to order the pizza over other options.

The Sushi
A sampling of the restaurant’s signature rolls
Having traveled to Japan in 2010, I consider myself a rather picky sushi eater. While I will at least try most sushi offerings, only a few restaurants are on my “return for more sushi” list. Splitsville’s twist traditional sushi rolls helped it earn a spot! If you are a sushi fan, you may want to consider stopping by for a round of bowling and a roll or two. My favorite recommendations include the Ninja Crunch and the Tampa Roll.

The Drinks
RumRunner, Birthday Cake Martini
While I was glad to see that Splitsville housed five bars, I have to admit that I was mildly disappointed by the drinks that I tried. The RumRunner was very traditional and typical, and the portion seemed small considering the double digit price tag. The Birthday Cake Martini was a little more fun, with sprinkles on the rim of the glass and a festive blend of flavored vodkas served in an over-sized martini glass. Unfortunately, it was more bitter than I was expecting from a drink named after a sweet treat. While it eventually grew on me, the drink wasn’t quite what I was expecting!

My overall impressions of Splitsville were very positive, and I really enjoyed my experience at the Disney Parks Blog Meet-Up. Many thanks to the Disney Parks staff for hosting such a fun event.

In summary, I’m looking forward to returning to Splitsville in the future for dinner, drinks and maybe even a round of bowling or two! Have any questions about Splitsville? Send me a message or tweet at @ThemeParkFoodie, and I’ll be happy to help out if I can!