Recently, my cousin and his family was down from New York visiting the Central Florida area. They were telling me about some of the places they had been eating, and one of those places was Wolfgang Puck Express at Downtown Disney Marketplace. I had only eaten there at breakfast, but a recommendation for the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf got me thinking of visiting again. I’ve read a not-too-stellar review or two of the dish, as meatloaf is one of those dishes that’s very personal, but I was assured by someone who normally wouldn’t order meatloaf that it was indeed enjoyable and worth a try.
Since I had a lot of ground to cover, I ordered the dish to go. I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat the entire dish, so I was able to save a bit of time by going this route. While it may not be as pretty in a take-out box than on a real plate, it still looked darn good.
The $15 dish is served atop mashed potatoes drizzled in a port wine sauce, and finally topped with crispy onion rings. A sprinkling of chives garnished the dish. The bacon was smoky and cooked just enough so that it wasn’t chewy yet not crispy, helping to retain moisture to the meatloaf within.
The meatloaf was tender, and while not “mom’s recipe,” was very enjoyable. The port wine sauce was a bit sweet (it is made from Port, after all), but when eaten alongside all the other elements, it was well-balanced.
I brought the remainder home so Matt could try it as well. It reheated fairly well in the oven, although some moisture was lost in the process. Still, the flavors were there and I would definitely order the dish again.
Wolfgang Puck’s website has a recipe for the dish, but I wonder if it’s the same recipe as is served at Wolfgang Puck Express. Perhaps I’ll give it a try to compare when fall arrives.
Have you tried the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf at Wolfgang Puck Express? What’s your top pick when you visit?
Yes! And I really like it!
There used to be a WPE here in Houston and I used to go there quite often for lunch. I was really sad when they shut it down…
I used to love the Pesto Chicken Salad sandwich and Butternut Squash Soup used to be really tasty! Their Rotisserie Chicken is heavy on rosemary but I had that several times.
That stinks that it shut down near you, especially since you used to frequent it. I’ve heard the chicken is good, but I’m always reluctant to order chicken at restaurants (unless it’s fried!).
Oh man! That looks absolutely delicious.
It was! Very indulgent!
You’re right when you say meatloaf is a personal choice! I never order meatloaf at a restaurant because it’s never as good as my mother’s. However, I caved to the great reviews and tried it for the first time in May. I thought it was just okay. I think WPE’s salads and pizzas are much, much better! Why are salads made in a restaurant always so much better than the ones I make at home? Thanks for the great review!
I’ve was never really a fan of it growing up, which caused me to smother it in ketchup (of which I’m not a big fan either) or A1 sauce. I love WPE’s Breakfast Pizza (though I haven’t tried them at lunch or dinner), but I agree that restaurant salads are always so much better than at home! Try seasoning the greens in some salt/pepper at home – I find that helps boost the flavor.
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Had it Feb 3rd 2013…..excellent. Maybe a little pricey but the flavors blended well and worth the special side trip I took just to try it. Friendly service too.
Andrew- Yes, it is a bit steep on price, but something a bit different on property. Worth a excursion! Now I kinda want it again!