Hello and welcome to my Dopey Challenge 2025 trip report! Today we’re investigating a pre-race pasta option in the form of Enzo’s Hideaway. Read all the entries in this report here. Onward!
If running had commandments, this would be number one: thou shalt eat pasta the night before the race. With this in mind, we’ve been making the rounds of Walt Disney World’s Italian restaurant selection. For the night before the WDW Half Marathon, we elected to try Enzo’s Hideaway & Tunnel Bar in Disney Springs.
Follow along with the menu here.
WHAT’S THE VIBE AT ENZO’S HIDEAWAY?
Enzo’s Hideaway is meant to evoke a ’20s speakeasy. The entrance is hidden on a mid-level platform across from Maria & Enzo’s, and in fact the two restaurants share a bathroom.
Unsurprisingly based on the name, both establishments are run by a singular company, but by my estimation they’re very different in feel. Maria & Enzo’s is cavernous, with high ceilings and large windows. Enzo’s Hideaway is small, dark, and windowless, as befitting its conceit of a secret location. This, to me, also gives Enzo’s Hideaway a more grown-up feel, although obviously children are welcome.
![Enzo's Hideaway in Disney Springs - exterior](https://www.fairestrunofall.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Enzos-Hideaway-exterior-921x1024.jpg)
![Enzo's Hideaway in Disney Springs - entrance](https://www.fairestrunofall.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Enzos-Hideaway-door-768x1024.jpg)
![Enzo's Hideaway in Disney Springs - interior](https://www.fairestrunofall.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Enzos-Hideaway-interior-1024x768.jpg)
We dined at a table, but the Hideaway’s name does include the Tunnel Bar moniker. I’d definitely consider coming back for a seat at the bar, especially since this less highly trafficked watering hole might not fill up as fast as other, flashier Disney Springs locations. I haven’t tested that theory… yet? I didn’t drink any alcohol since it was race night, but I must say they have some intriguing cocktails, if only for the pricing:
![Enzo's Hideaway in Disney Springs - fancy cocktail menu](https://www.fairestrunofall.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Enzos-Hideaway-fancy-cocktail-menu-768x1024.jpg)
HOW’S OPERATION: CHARCUTERIE GOING?
Thanks for asking! Operation: Charcuterie is off to a roaring start. After beginning our cheesy, meaty adventure at Homecomin’, Becky and I continued our quest with what Enzo termed cured meats and artisan cheeses: prosciutto, salami, finocchiona, parmigiano, pecorino, fontina, olives, and breadsticks.
This is a pretty straightforward charcuterie board of Italian meats and cheese. The quality is solid; you more than likely know whether you’d enjoy it by looking at the menu. However, the description omits a few items that in fact appear on the board. Take another look:
You also get a small assortment of peppers and – wait for it – that golden liquid is HONEY. Holy smokes, guys; I freaking LOVED the addition of the honey. I drizzled it on my meat and I drizzled it on my cheese and basically all charcuterie boards should have honey, says I. Ten out of ten; no notes; save the bees!
ANY OTHER APPETIZERS?
In pursuit of nutritional balance, I elected to add the rucola salad: baby arugula, radicchio, gorgonzola, apple, candied walnuts, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.
This was a perfectly serviceable salad. The gorgonzola, apple, and walnuts made for a more interesting selection of accoutrement than your average house or garden salad, but I do wish there had been more of them. The apple in particular made a scant appearance.
It’s certainly a sizable portion, and could readily serve as an entree with the addition of a protein. You could also split one with a friend and wind up with two side salads no problem. Just make sure everyone likes arugula in advance.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PASTA?
Now for the carb-loading portion of the program. I’m not one to take chances the night before a race, so I stuck with the tried-and-true spaghetti e polpette: marinara, meatballs, parmigiano, and basil.
You will probably not to be shocked to hear that Enzo’s Hideaway does not feature fresh pasta. Alas. But as spaghettis and meatballs go, this one was quite good. Well, the spaghetti was spaghetti; nothing remarkable there. The marinara, while not distinguishing itself, offered the familiar flavors of tomato sauce, neither too sweet nor too acidic.
The meatballs themselves were the standout, being fork-tender and mildly spiced. It’s nothing you couldn’t replicate at home, but for a pre-race meal, I say it’s just right. Between this and the salad, I was able to eat half of each and save the other half for the night before the marathon.
Bonus points for the cute china pattern! Definitely added to the “nonna’s house” notion.
SHOULD YOU TRY ENZO’S HIDEAWAY?
In the pantheon of pre-race Italian meals on Disney property I’ve tried so far, Enzo’s Hideaway is definitely in the top half. If Disney Springs is convenient for you, I’d recommend it for your half and full marathon fueling needs. It’s the Roaring ’20s again, after all!
Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!
I really enjoyed the pasta I got there! And I love honey on a charcuterie, that is a great addition.
I’m definitely up for trying the Tunnel Bar sometime!