Polite Pig is a counter-service restaurant in Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs. The restaurant is locally owned and a sister location to the Ravenous Pig a few miles away in Winter Park, Florida. Located in the Town Center section of Disney Springs, Polite Pig offers BBQ fare with all of the meats made on a smoker. The restaurant does take part in Disney Dining Plan as a counter-service credit and also accepts and Annual Pass discount. This review will include photos of the restaurant as well as our thoughts on the meal and Polite Pig’s value.

Like many of the recent counter-service additions in Disney Springs, guests order at Polite Pig’s counter and then will have their food brought out to them. This fast casual spot is a little nicer than your run-of-the-mill counter-service place. In numerous trips to Polite Pig, I’ve had Cast Members check in on my table several times throughout a meal. Service is well done here.

Moving past the tipping, Polite Pig looks nice inside but there isn’t much theming to it. There are some nice nods to pigs, which I’m all for. Otherwise the restaurant utilizes the industrial design that has become so popular over the last decade. There are windows to look into the kitchen which is a nice touch. The bar also offers some natural lighting with large doors and windows. Polite Pig has plenty of larger tables and a nice family atmosphere, along with some patio seating. There are certainly better restaurants as far as theming goes but the environment doesn’t detract from The Polite Pig as a whole.

Moving on to the food, Polite Pig’s menu is surprisingly diverse for being a counter-service BBQ place. Maybe I’m too used to BBQ spots in the parks with limited menus, but Polite Pig has a variety of entrees including sandwiches, salads, and platters. Along with that, there are plenty of different sides offered to fit most palates. I should mention that there’s a bevy of alcoholic beverages offered including a number of different beers, whisky and cocktails. For a closer look at the entire menu, click here.

I’ve tried a number of the cocktails, as well as the beer flight, at Polite Pig. For what it’s worth, the beer flight is probably the best deal that you’ll find on an alcoholic beverage (that’s not just a standard beer) in Walt Disney World. There’s plenty of interesting options to try at Polite Pig if this is your thing!

Like most Barbecue places, Polite Pig has a variety of sauces. I especially liked the Southern Gold and Black Pepper sauces. And yes, I did try them all.

Moving on to the entrees, I ordered the Beef Brisket which came with slaw and a jalapeno cornbread muffin. For my side, I chose the BBQ Cauliflower. Starting with the meat, I thought the Brisket was smoked to perfection and I enjoyed the rub. The edges were particularly delicious. I didn’t think it was the most flavorful brisket I had but it was good, especially with the Southern Gold sauce.

The slaw and cornbread were somewhat forgettable. Both were good but there wasn’t anything that set them apart from other things I’ve tried. I do think the slaw would be excellent on a sandwich. The cornbread was sweet but not extremely flavorful.

The BBQ Cauliflower, on the other hand, was exceptional. I’m a carnivore above all, but the BBQ Cauliflower is one of the best things one the menu and is good enough to where I’d recommend just stopping by Polite Pig and having that as a snack. Along with the cauliflower having a smoky flavor, there was a nice rub on it along with a Paprika Sour Cream and Candied Pepitas. All of this made for a sweet, smoky, and delicious flavor.

Melissa ordered the ribs and Mac & Cheese as her side. The ribs were flavorful but a tiny bit dry. Again, load up on your favorite barbecue sauce and that will take the ribs to another level. I enjoyed them more than she did but we both liked the smoked flavor and the amount of meat on the bone compared to fat.

The Mac & Cheese was another winner. This side was more creamy than cheesy, which I prefer in Mac & Cheese. While the flavor was rich, it was a perfect side to share along with the cauliflower. The breadcrumbs on top added some nice texture to the dish.

On a more recent visit we tried a similar platter but with the Cedar Plank Salmon which had a Maple Dijon Glaze. The salmon was delicious! The Cedar Plank gave the salmon a smokier taste but it was perfectly cooked. As we learned from Parks & Rec, if you overcook fish you go right to jail. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here. It was a substantial piece of fish that I’d happily get again. We keep coming back for this since having it the first time. At this point, I’d call it the best counter-service entree at Disney World if you happen to be on the Disney Dining Plan.

This is the Smoked Turkey BLT which consists of Sweet BBQ Bacon-onion Jam, Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomato and Duke’s Mayo served with a Pickle Spear. Like the salmon, the smokiness of the turkey played really well. The Bacon-onion Jam was delicious, although slightly overpowering. I liked the sandwich but preferred the other meat options we had at Polite Pig.

These are the BBQ Cheddar Brats with a porter mustard glaze. This is another winner and maybe the best option for those paying out of pocket but still wanting a non-sandwich barbecue option. The meat was smoky and the cheddar added to the richness. I loved these and look forward to going back to get them.

Adding one more side to the mix, these are the BBQ Waffle Fries with the Polite Rub. For what it’s worth, I think these are the best fries in Disney World. That’s not a high bar! But the seasoning on these are very good. I’m usually mixed on waffle fries but the only mixed feeling I had here was the sadness I had when they were gone but the happiness that it happened. Moving on here before I make an ex-girlfriend joke.

As for the value, Polite Pig is very expensive for being a counter-service restaurant. The Brisket came in at $22 and the Ribs and salmon at $26. Once you include a drink, the meal could easily be over $30/person. Of course, there are cheaper options at Polite Pig like the sandwiches and salads. There’s an interesting list of appetizers and sides, as well, if you want to keep the cost down. Ordering from the meat options will set you back. While we enjoyed our meal, I don’t think I’d be willing to spend that much for a meal here. On the flip side, it makes dining at Polite Pig while on the Disney Dining Plan a complete steal.

When we first went to Polite Pig, nearly 10 years ago, I thought the food was good but overpriced. Over time this has become one of my favorite counter-service restaurants at Walt Disney World. There’s a wide range of prices and the barbecue options are the best of any Disney resort anywhere. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, then this is the best counter-service value you’ll find. I always make a point of stopping in here for lunch or dinner while at Disney World now.

Overall Rating – 9.5/10

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