Walt Disney World’s sprawling shopping and dining complex Disney Springs is home to a very special watering hole for Indiana Jones fans. It’s where the archeologist’s old pilot pal settled down after a lifetime of adventure. Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar is a themed lounge decked out in décor worthy of globe-trotting daredevils. Only, this year it’s also worthy of Halloween lovers. For the first time ever it, has undergone a spooky season transformation. This ghoulish reskin also includes an original limited-time menu full of frighteningly good food and drinks. Which ones stand out as the best? We got to find out ourselves when Nerdist tried every dish and beverage at Jock Lindsey’s Halloween Hangar Bar during Disney’s Play ‘n’ Preview media event.
Here’s what we thought of all of them, including which ones we’d get again.
JOCK LINDSEY’S HALLOWEEN HANGAR BAR – FOOD
Alien Invader Sliders
Crispy Nashville hot fried chicken, sliced provolone, dill pickle slices, cheddar-chive biscuit, and queen olives
These fun, filling, oversized chicken sliders are the visual standout from the food side of the bar’s Halloween menu. They’re also really tasty. The fried chicken is crispy and delicious, though not as spicy as some might like. (That includes the head chef behind the menu.) The Alien Invaders Sliders are designed to have broad appeal and they will.
The cheddar-chive biscuits are very good, too. They’re also surprisingly light, which is also why they’re not strong enough to sop up all of the grease from the chicken. You will want to eat them quickly. You’ll also want to order them again.
Phantom Dumplings
Chicken and pork dumplings wrapped in rice paper and served with teriyaki dipping sauce
These ghostly dumplings are more than just an appetizer. They’re an experience. They arrive in a glass case full of white smoke that “escapes” when opened, like ghouls fleeing a crypt. It’s a really nice touch and the best theatrical element of the overlay.
The extra long rice paper makes for a striking visual, as it hangs well below the dumplings to create the full phantom effect. They really aren’t meant to be eaten, though. They’re thick and gummy. That’s good for creating an aesthetically pleasing dish, but not for consuming. If you do, you’ll ruin an otherwise satisfying and chewy bite.
(Note: You might want to remove all of the rice paper, but I didn’t mind wrapped around the top.)
Zombie Eye Bites
Traditional deviled egg filling, crispy fried chicken, and black olives
Of the five food dishes on Jock Lindsey’s Halloween Hangar Bar, I was most skeptical about the ones made to look like zombies eyes. And that’s not because of their appearance. While the lounge is known for them, I’m not a big deviled egg guy.
I made sure I had a second one. The egg and fried chicken go perfectly together. As does the Harissa-mustard sauce on top, which thankfully does not shy away from trying to look as much like blood as possible. This zesty sauce with the faintest bit of heat goes for it and the dish is (fittingly) as fun to stare at as it is to eat.
The Zombie Eye Bites also come in a black creatures boxes to complete the effect. It’s a nice touch. However, it’s unclear how you should eat these. Fork and knife? Hand? One bite? The chef said if you can manage he recommends one bite. Not everyone will be capable of that, as a single piece is a big hearty app. I tried my first in two and my second in one and agree with the chef. But if you pick them up, these are messy, so have a napkin handy.
Skull of the Dead
Mojo pork, cheddar, flour tortilla, and pickle pico de gallo
These kitschy mini quesadillas wouldn’t be out of place on the normal menu sans the embossed skull and syringe of that blood red Harissa-mustard sauce. There’s nothing special about these, but they’re really good. It’s just a good, solid, and easily shared appetizer elevated by the excellent “pickle de gallo” and the sauce.
Just…uh…be aware of one thing. There’s a small cap on the syringe you need to remove. Otherwise….
Cursed Mummy Sausages
Mini smoked sausages wrapped in puff pastry and served with pomegranate-mustard sauce
The only Halloween food item I can’t recommend are the Cursed Mummy Sausages. The flavors are okay, especially when dipped in the accompanying pomegranate-mustard sauce. But they’re as dry as a real mummy and too flat flavor-wise. They might be a decent option for fussy eaters since they’re a simple puff pastry with a sausage that isn’t too strong or spicy.
They also arrive in style. Jock Lindsey’s Halloween Hangar Bar serves them in a coffin that plays a spooky scream when you lift the lid. It’s a fun presentation, but not good enough to make up for the actual dish.
JOCK LINDSEY’S HALLOWEEN HANGAR BAR – DRINKS
Cauldron Cooler
Hendrick’s Gin, Domaine de Canton Liqueur, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup and Butterfly Pea Extract
This interactive beverage comes in a beaker with a test tube of white liquid you pour in. When you mix it, the translucent dark purple drink turns a lighter, cloudier shade. The amount of alcohol in it is anything but light. This tart, gingery concoction has a whole lot of booze, yet doesn’t feel out of balance.
This was my favorite of the three alcoholic drinks on the menu because I prefer my alcoholic beverages to taste like alcohol.
Scarab Beetle Essence
Siesta Key Silver Rum, Malibu Coconut Rum, Bols Blue Curacao Liqueur, DOLE Pineapple Juice and Grenadine
If you prefer your cocktails to taste more like popsicles, then I highly recommend the adorable Scarab Beetle Essence. It looks like a bomb pop that turns a sinister dark-blackish purple when mixed. Out of everything on the Halloween menu, this is the least-Halloween-like option. While I wouldn’t order it again (it’s pretty normal for a cocktail), it’s a nice choice for those who want something refreshing while sitting outside on the bar’s porch.
The Spike Trap
Malibu Coconut Rum, Stoli Vanilla Vodka, Cream of Coconut and Sprite garnished with a Ghost Marshmallow
To the surprise of no one at my table, The Spike Trap is a delicious drink. It leans more on the sweet side than the boozy side, but it’s not cloying. It also far more refreshing and thinner than its cloudy white appearance might suggest.
The problem with this otherwise perfect cocktail is the glass. It comes in a slanted glass and multiple people at my table spilled it when they picked it up. Your brain just isn’t ready for a glass at this angle. The move is to take a big sip before you pick it up.
Snake Egg Surprise (Non-alcoholic)
Simply Lemonade, lime juice, desert pear syrup, and green apple boba pearls
Maybe the biggest surprise from Jock Lindsey’s Halloween Hangar Bar menu is the only non-alcoholic beverage. (You can apparently add liquor to it.) The Snake Egg Surprise looks great, and while kids can drink it to get in on the fun, adults will enjoy it, too.
This isn’t Jock Lindsey’s first seasonal overlay, but with a spooky menu this fun we doubt this will be the Hangar Bar’s last Halloween adventure.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who ate the most at his Jock Lindsey’s table. (No surprise.) You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.