Summer House on the Lake Brunch Review
*These gluten free dining experiences took place in February 2024. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies.
Dinner at Summer House on the Lake
Summer House on the Lake is the newest restaurant in Disney Springs. And, it has quickly moved up in the ranks as one of our favorite spots there for gluten free options. After having an amazing dinner there, we decided that we needed to check out the brunch options. Brunch is served from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the weekends and includes both breakfast and some of the regular dinner menu options. This review covers two visits that we made for brunch and highlights lots of gluten free and special diets friendly options.
Atmosphere
Summer House on the Lake has a theme that reflects endless summer beach / lake vibes. We love how bright and open the entire restaurant is.
Summer House on the Lake Entrance Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Because of the theme, they do have ample open outdoor (but covered) seating areas in the front and back of the restaurant. We dined here on a couple of chilly days and one warmer day. On the warmer day, it was the perfect weather for outdoor covered seating. On the other days, it was really chilly. They do have heaters outside and fans, so plan accordingly if you’re dining here on a Florida winter day or a hot summer day.
Summer House on the Lake - Outside Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Because there is outdoor seating attached near the main dining area, we found the restaurant got really cool when the weather was chilly out and hot when it was warm out, because the doors are open. I don’t know how that will play out in the summer time, but it was noticeable on our visits.
Summer House on the Lake Interior - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
The indoor seating area is so bright and inviting. We love the cozy seating — and oh so much wicker!
Summer House on the Lake - Interior Lighting / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Even the light fixtures are wicker! Summer House on the Lake has done a great job keeping the beachy theme going inside and outside of the restaurant.
Food & Drinks
Summer House on the Lake is not owned and operated by Disney, so they don’t have an allergy-friendly menu. Based on our recent visits, we have found that the restaurant has good protocols in place, and the managers are very helpful at navigating the menus. Because it is a newer restaurant, if you have a lot of questions or a specific dish you’re interested in, you may want to talk to a manager directly.
Summer House on the Lake - Brunch Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
The brunch menu has a solid variety of options. I’m a sucker for breakfast food at restaurants, while Brandon prefers the more lunch or dinner type options. There was definitely something for everyone and at various price points.
Summer House on the Lake - Signature Guacamole / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
We didn’t want to repeat the same items we got at our dinner at Summer House on the Lake, so we decided to get more “brunchy” items. Up first was the Signature Guacamole with Chips and a Trio of Salsas. These were gluten free, dairy free & safe for Brandon’s Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Chicken/Turkey & Cabbage Allergies. It should also be vegan, although we did not confirm that. Our server did indicate that the chips were made off-site and not at the restaurant but were gluten free.
At $17.95, it was a bit on the pricey side. However, I’ll say that they were very generous with the amount of guacamole we received and the salsas and chips. Brandon loved the guacamole, and I really enjoyed it too. It was very well seasoned with both salt and lime. If you like very citrusy guacamole, you will enjoy this version. That being said, I always feel like guacamole is subjective and dependent on who is making it. But, for us, this was a home-run.
Summer House on the Lake - Salsa Trio / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
We both also enjoyed the salsas and found that the salsa verde was our favorite. The pico de gallo was pretty standard, and the Salsa Ranchero was very good — with hints of smokiness and a pleasant level of spiciness.
Side note: We learned that for a while they were putting chicken stock in the Salsa Ranchero that was included in this trio. They are no longer using chicken stock, but we were so surprised to learn that this was even a thing. Definitely double-check this if you’re vegetarian or vegan or have any poultry allergy when you go.
Summer House on the Lake - Cheesy Dream Puffs / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Of course, Brandon insisted we order the Cheesy Dream Puffs. These are gluten free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, chicken/turkey free, and cabbage free. They do contain both egg and dairy and cannot be modified. Brandon will tell you that these are a must-order any time that you go to Summer House on the Lake. I can’t disagree with him. These are pretty amazing!
Summer House on the Lake - Breakfast Tostadas / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
For a breakfast option, I ordered the Breakfast Tostadas with pulled chicken, silky black beans, ranchero sauce, jack cheese, and sunny-side-up eggs. These are gluten free as is but do contain dairy. If you’re dairy free, you’ll want to talk to a manager or your server about potential modifications.
Overall, I really loved these. The chicken in ranchero sauce was so flavorful, and the combination of the beans with the sunny-side-up eggs made for a rich and decadent brunch option. The side of guacamole and limes added some freshness to the dish too. I would absolutely get this again. It was that good!
Summer House on the Lake - Prime Cheeseburger (NOT Gluten Free) / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon ordered the Prime Cheeseburger which came with fries. This was safe for fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken/turkey & cabbage allergies. If you’re gluten free, this can be modified to be both gluten free and dairy free. The restaurant doesn’t have dairy free cheese right now, but you could get a burger minus the cheese. The fries are made in a dedicated fryer just for French fries.
Overall, Brandon really enjoyed his burger. He said it was well-cooked and flavorful. He also liked that they cut the burger in half, so it was a lot less messy. He said he’d get it again for a lunch or dinner option.
Although I forgot to take photos, be sure to check out our YouTube video on this brunch. I also ordered the gluten free chicken strips and wow, were they delicious!
Summer House on the Lake - Aperol Spritz / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
On my second visit to brunch, I dined here with a friend. We decided to get some boozy brunch drinks. Summer House on the Lake has a great variety of drink options. I ended up with an Aperol Spritz, which was delicious and very refreshing. My friend got the Grapefruit Spritz which was also very tasty. The restaurant also has classic mimosas too.
Summer House on the Lake - Grilled Avocado / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
We’ve been hearing nothing but rave reviews about the Grilled Avocado with Salsa Matcha, so I knew we finally needed to order it. This is a great gluten free, dairy free, and vegan option that doesn’t require modifications.
I have to admit that while I enjoyed this, I wasn’t blown away by the grilled avocado. The flavors were nice, and I liked the salsa matcha, but it wasn’t anything that I’d probably order again. I’d actually just get the signature guacamole over this version. Still, I’m glad I tried it, and I love anything that’s naturally GFDF and avocado based.
Summer House on the Lake - Brussels Sprouts / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
What I would order again are the Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. These are gluten free but can be made dairy free and vegan by omitting the cheese.
Wow, were these incredible. So much flavor! My friend and I ate the entire plate of them and have zero regrets. So good. If you like Brussels Sprouts, order these!
Summer House on the Lake - Mexican Hash Browns / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
I wanted to try a different breakfast entree and decided to get the Mexican Hash Browns at the recommendation of our server. These are gluten free and can be made dairy free with easy modifications.
This dish looks deceptively simple, but it ended up having a lot more flavor…and heat…than I was expecting. I really enjoyed the layers that you found beneath the egg and hash browns. There was guacamole, cheese, and oh so many jalapeños! I really liked the fresh bright flavors — and it was very filling. If I had to choose breakfast entrees, I’d still get the Breakfast Tostadas over this dish, but it was still very tasty and a solid entree.
Summer House on the Lake - Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
On our first brunch visit, our server told us that the restaurant did not have any gluten free pancake options. But, our friend Gina from Gluten Free Disney World had gotten them on a previous visit. On this second visit, I asked again and was told that they do have GF pancake options but no GF waffles. So, of course, I had to try them!
I got the gluten free Buttermilk Pancakes which were made with Bob’s Red Mill GF Pancake & Waffle Mix. The pancakes do contain dairy and cannot be modified. You can also get the blueberry pancakes GF too. Overall, I really enjoyed these. It tasted to me like they added some vanilla extra to the pancake mix. They were very well cooked and so flavorful. They served the pancakes with 100% pure maple syrup, which was great too. I would get these again if I were craving pancakes.
The only downside is that they were $15.95 and came with zero sides. I would have loved to have received some fruit or a breakfast meat on the side for the price point.
If you want to hear more about our experiences at Summer House on the Lake, check out the vlog we did for our YouTube channel for more information.
Overall
Summer House on the Lake did not disappoint for brunch options. While I think both Brandon and I prefer the full lunch/dinner menu over the brunch, I’m so glad that we have another brunch spot at Disney. The food was great, and we really liked the variety of options that we got. If you’re planning on going to Summer House on the Lake a few times, be sure to sign up for their rewards program. We’ve already received a birthday reward and several $10 coupons for our next visits. If you’re coming on vacation and looking for a new spot in Disney Springs with gluten free and special diets options — definitely consider adding Summer House on the Lake to your list!
Have you been to Summer House on the Lake? What was your experience dining there?