Come Sit with Us: Our Rootin’ Tootin’ Roundup Rodeo BBQ Review

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Slinky Dog zipped by in Andy’s backyard and the Toy Story Land magic had shrunk us to the size of the Green Army Soldiers. But our appetites were as big as ever, so Laura, Nicole, and I headed into Roundup Rodeo BBQ for an all-you-care-to-eat lunch fit for the hungriest of cowpokes.

Strolling under the Roundup Rodeo BBQ entry, (where BBQ is spelled out with a few mismatched stickers) we knew we were in for a very playful lunch.

This playset, like the rest of Toy Story Land, was cobbled together by Andy via his usual mediums, like cardboard box pieces, toys, and his own crayon drawings.

I know what Laura is getting for Christmas this year.

C’mon In and Have a Seat

We were welcomed in and right away, Andy’s toys (the friendly cast members) reminded us that this was a place to play. It was Laura’s first time at this BBQ, and tradition dictated that as a greenhorn (that’s cowboy for “newbie”), she had to earn her spurs and trot her way in on a loyal steed. 

Nicole and I welcome any and all antics, so we encouraged Laura to ride like the wind … at least for a moment. After a photo, we surrendered our horses to smaller guests who we saw actually gallop all the way to their tables with glee.

Every seat is a good one, with lots of scenery at play.

In case you didn’t catch it, this place was made for fun. Inside, you’ll find that Andy has set up some of his favorite toys and packaging to create one of the most unique eateries this side of Midway Mania.

My favorite spot is where Andy repurposed a milk carton for the toys.

Don’t worry, Zurg is just here for the cheddar biscuits.

There are a couple of main areas inside, but no matter where you sit, you’re going to be part of the action. The lighting is subdued in fun, tinted hues, but not overwhelming. Western swing fills the air, including one of my favorites, Act Naturally, and, of course, an upbeat version of You’ve Got a Friend in Me.

In between songs, you’ll hear a few familiar characters joining in the fun with silly announcements and even —

Sorry, I had to freeze there for a minute, Andy came in.

That’s right, sometimes you’ll hear “Andy’s coming!” and once you stop moving, you’ll have a chance to look around (with your eyeballs only, please) and see every single person — cast members and guests — stop in their tracks. Making eye contact with a fellow toy across the room while we were both mid-bite is something I won’t soon forget.

What’ll it Be, Partner?

I was busy giggling about how our tableware looked like picnic paper plates, but Nicole, our Disney Eats expert and guide to all our culinary adventures, gently reminded me to pick up the menu and choose a beverage.

We each tried a grown-up drink. Nicole ordered the Whinnyin’ Whiskey Lemonade, with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Aperol Liqueur, strawberry purée, lemonade, and basil. “It’s a refreshingly delicious drink with some sweetness that isn’t overwhelming,” she shared about this sip.

I requested the Coal’d Fashioned, which was a saloon-worthy mix of Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, cinnamon syrup, orange bitters, Angostura bitters, and a cute orange wheel. Through lunch, I learned that this Western twist on an old fashioned was the perfect sip to pair with all the hearty food choices. 

Laura got the Prickly Spur Long Island, a fantastical purple concoction of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Bacardí Superior Rum, Bombay Sapphire Gin, El Jimador Silver 100% de Agave Tequila, Triple Sec, desert pear syrup, lemon juice, and Sprite. She said, “It’s not too strong, and it’s a little sweet. The desert pear is a great flavor for a backyard picnic.”

And we couldn’t resist ordering one of the kid-friendly drinks. When there’s gummy candy on the menu, you have to get involved. In addition to the candy, the Partysaurus Tex features Minute Maid Premium Lemonade and strawberry purée. The strawberry and lemonade together was such a good combo, turning this drink into a bright, sweet treat.

And stay tuned to the rest of the roundup, kids, because when the meat platter hit the table, we ordered another sweet drink with a candy twist that you’ll want to see.

The plant-based Rootin’ Tootin Tomato Salad and Wheezy’s Fruit Salad

Saddle Up with These Starters

Right on the heels of our drinks, The Prospector’s Homemade Cheddar Biscuits with Sweet Pepper Jelly arrived. These are a bit of a darling here at Roundup Rodeo BBQ, and Laura was impressed with her first bites.

Nicole and I already knew the glory of the cheddar biscuits, so we waited for Laura’s reaction. Surprised a bit by the pepper jelly, she was soon converted into a stan like us, “Okay.” Pause for dramatic effect, “You can’t go wrong with a cheddar biscuit, but this is top tier. This is the appetizer for a backyard BBQ.”

The Rootin’ Tootin’ Tomato Salad had cucumbers, pickled red onion, and tomatoes drizzled in a white balsamic vinaigrette. My grandpa always made a similar salad for family reunions in Kentucky, so I was all about this one. And Wheezy’s Fruit Salad had fresh mint thrown in, making it such a good refreshing bite before our main course.

Nicole serves up another heapin’ helpin’ of Trixie’s Plant-Based Trio.

Save Room for All the Fixin’s

To truly try everything and give you our full Roundup Rodeo review, we ordered both the House-Smoked Items and Trixie’s Plant-Based Trio. Now, talk about rustlin’ up some grub: Let’s start with a tasting of the House-Smoked platter.

The House-Smoked platter includes the Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs, Buttercup’s Beef Brisket, There’s a Sausage in my Boot – Fire-grilled Pork Sausage, and BBQ Chicken – with Style!

Laura’s favorite was the brisket and she raved between bites, “It truly melts in your mouth.” She tried all three of the available BBQ sauces with the meat, and clocked that a neighboring table asked for ketchup instead. 

What I love about all-you-care-to-eat is all the flavor combos you can make on your plate. And all the fixin’s were here: Potato Barrels, Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese, Cowpoke Corn on the Cob, The Claw! Veggie Slaw, and Buckin’ Baked Beans.

I’m always happy to see a potato barrel, and I kept pairing them with bites of brisket and the oh-so-flavorful mac & cheese. Now, the mac & cheese is the kind of side you keep going back for. Laura thought so too: “Super spiral! This mac & cheese is something special. Of course, the spirals make me think of Slinky, and the creamy goodness of this sauce is so good.”

As fiddles and banjos filled the air, we ordered up another drink: Molly’s Frozen Berry Splash. It’s a combo of blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry syrups added to lemon juice and SKITTLES POP’d Original Freeze Dried Candy. 

This drink reminded me of fifteen minutes ago, when I was eating the cheesy cornbread with pepper jelly on repeat: Molly’s Frozen Berry Splash added a refreshing burst of berry between my savory BBQ bites. Look, I don’t make the rules, I just know what I like, and sometimes that’s SKITTLES and brisket.

While the House-Smoked platter was plenty tasty, we dug into Trixie’s Plant-Based Trio to try some truly unique takes on BBQ veggies. The trio included Combat Carloflower with Harissa Drizzle and Walnut Gremolata, Scrumptious Bratwurst, Rip Roarin’ Rib Chop featuring Barbecue-seasoned and glazed IMPOSSIBLE Beef.

The hunks of ‘Carloflower’ were generously seasoned with the harissa (but not too spicy for a wuss like me) and the plant-based bratwurst was a hearty addition. The real star, though, for me, was the Rip Roarin’ Rib Chop. The sauce and texture of each ‘rib’ piece was so juicy and sumptuous; it tasted like the real thing. 

Nicole raved about the Rip Roarin’ Rib Chop, too, “There’s a slight kick, but a good kick. There’s a lot of flavor to it and I’ve never seen anything like it!”

For sides, the Potato Barrels, The Claw! Veggie Slaw,and Buckin’ Baked Beans are all plant-based. This was more food than you can shake a stick at, so after a couple plates, we were just about to say “howdy” to some dessert.

Circle Up for Chuckwagon Desserts

As part of our meal, we each picked out an individually-portioned dessert. There are five to choose from: Bo’s Seasonal Cheesecake, Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie, Goat’s Banana Cream Pie, Gruff’s Strawberry Shortcake (Plant-based), and Cupcake à la Forky.

Rain and Laura, in disbelief that they are eating more, compare adorable desserts.

The Cupcake à la Forky is a festive option that Laura just couldn’t pass up. It features gooey chocolate cake, graham cracker buttercream, and an adorable Forky sugar cookie on top.

Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie Dessert

A seasoned cowpoke around these parts, I already knew that Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie was my favorite. It was smooth, airy, and the best finish for my lunch.

Goat’s Banana Cream Pie Dessert

Goat’s Banana Cream Pie was the standout for Nicole, but she let us know that the Bo’s Seasonal Cheesecake and Gruff’s Strawberry Shortcake were also pretty hard to choose from.

Head ‘Em Up and Move ‘Em Out

When the last of the gummy candies were gone from our Partysaurus Tex and we were all out of “Yee haw’s,” it was time to hit the trail. Our server asked if we wanted to take the rest of our Molly’s Frozen Berry Splash to go and we tipped our hats and said, “much obliged.”

We definitely left full of both BBQ in our bellies and down-home music in our heads. When Laura was already talking about the cheddar biscuits on the way out, Nicole and I knew she was already a Roundup Rodeo BBQ veteran.

You and your folk can come on down to Andy’s backyard to wrangle up some chow of your own. Book via the My Disney Experience app or on the Walt Disney World website. We suggest you book early to lasso the reservation time that best suits your day. 

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