Am I leaving anything out? (Food)

[DesertBell]

So my planning buddy and I sat down the other day and decided where we want to go- and what we're willing (or eager) to skip. We're there for eight days.

Definite yeses:

ESPN Zone (our first night!)
Cafe Orleans
Carnation Cafe X2- once for breakfast and once for lunch/dinner
French Market
Tomorrowland Terrace (breakfast on an EE day)
Award Weiners
Pacific Wharf Cafe
White Water Snacks
Bengal BBQ
Blue Bayou

Maybes:
Rancho Del Zocalo
Riverbelle Terrace

Definite noes:

La Brea Bakery (Bad experience)
Village Haus
Pluto's Doghouse
Daisy's Diner
Ariel's Grotto
Naples

We're doing Minnie & Friends and Storytellers, I think. We were going to do Lilo and Stitch, but I think that we might have dinner at Hook's Pointe instead.

So, is there anything we're missing? (It doesn't say, but we're committed to tracking down the cream cheese pretzels I keep reading about and indulging in Tigger Tails. Also, it's not Disney without Churros.) We're a group of 8 people, four adults and four kids, ages 9, 5, 3, and 3.

Thanks!

 

[avalon451]

Wow, that's a lot of meals! But you'll be there a lot of days. Lucky! I'm trying to figure out our dining, and I have to be really picky, with 3 full days and 2 half days.

I wondered about your character meals; with the age of your kids, I wonder if you might enjoy it better doing a switcharoo. You're down for Storyteller's character breakfast and possibly dinner ant Hook's Point. If you want a fun character meal, and another meal that's nicer for the adults but that the kids will enjoy too, you might try doing Goofy's for the character meal, and Storyteller's for dinner one night. That way you still get to experience the wonderful food at Storytellers, and your kids have a blast at Goofy's-- which from what I've heard, seems to get mostly raves around here.

We went to Hook's Point and were not impressed. UG says it's "pirate themed" which is ridiculous; there's a brass ship sculpture over the kitchen counter and that's it, unless you count looking out the window on one end of the restaurant and seeing the pool with the pirate ship by it. Otherwise it's a blandly decorated, very overpriced seafood restaurant. The food wasn't great, although the service was fine.

Hope that helps!

 

[DangerMouse]

Two words:

Dole Whip.

 

[MickyamI]

How about Jazz Kitchen? I love that place!

 

[CaliLuvinGirl]

I second the jazz kitchen! It is great. Yummy food, cool atmosphere, nice service. But you MUST order the Bannanas foster, it is flambe'd table side and served over icecream! YUMMY!!!

 

[Sherry E]

What about Rain Forest Cafe for the cool ambience? Wine Country Trattoria in DCA? And I am curious as to why Naples is on the NO list. I would have suggested Naples for the yes list. We had great food there!

 

[BecBennett]

I'm going with a lot of other people and saying yes to Jazz Kitchen. We had it the first night we were there before we had even been into any of the parks, and it helped me show my boyfriend how special Disney is.

Rainforest cafe was good too, the kids would love it.

 

[Mugglemama]

Personally, I would skip Rancho Del Zocalo. I don't know if it's just because I'm used to the scrumptious Mexican food available all over the rest of southern california or what, but I didn't like Zocalo at all. I thought the food was dry, and way too salty. Granted, this was probably 5 years ago, and maybe the food is better now, but we were completely disappointed with our meal when we went. Our food was barely lukewarm when it reached our table, too. Ick.

 

[dizneekrazee]

I would switch out French Market for Plaza Inn. Plaza Inn has very filling and very yummy dinners, and very worth the money, one of the best deals in the park IMHO. Red Rockets Pizza Port is also great, my kids love it!!

It is very unfortunate they changed the menu at French Market, it used to be my favorite place to eat until they changed their menu.

Other than that, I think your list looks great, and I for one like Rancho del Zocalo. My kids love their chicken tacos too!!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We really enjoyed Rancho Del Zocalo, I'd put that on your yes list!

 

[DesertBell]

A Dole Whip Float is a definite possibility, depending on the weather. We're going in December and I am notorious for being cold at Disneyland. (I'm from southern Arizona, so I get cold if it's less than 80 sometimes. Our last two trips I've had to buy jackets!) Actually Dole whip float + Tiki Room is one of my personal traditions, but we'll see what happens. Maybe we'll substitute hot chocolate this time.

Naples is on the no list simply because we've been there before and while the food was good, it didn't blow us away. We've had some amazing experiences at other places, so we're revisiting those places.

I'll run the Plaza Inn by my travelling buddy I don't think we even considered it, because we're already doing Minnie's.

We've done Goofy's before, and loved it. We are already repeating Minnie's though, and we wanted to try some new things. (It very well may happen though!)

Thanks!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Carnation Cafe X2- once for breakfast and once for lunch/dinner

Ya better do lunch because I don't think they do dinner...

 

[Sherry E]

Ya better do lunch because I don't think they do dinner...

They do all meals. From breakfast on through dessert.

 

[Sherry E]

A Dole Whip Float is a definite possibility, depending on the weather. We're going in December and I am notorious for being cold at Disneyland. (I'm from southern Arizona, so I get cold if it's less than 80 sometimes. Our last two trips I've had to buy jackets!) Actually Dole whip float + Tiki Room is one of my personal traditions, but we'll see what happens. Maybe we'll substitute hot chocolate this time.

Naples is on the no list simply because we've been there before and while the food was good, it didn't blow us away. We've had some amazing experiences at other places, so we're revisiting those places.

I'll run the Plaza Inn by my travelling buddy I don't think we even considered it, because we're already doing Minnie's.

We've done Goofy's before, and loved it. We are already repeating Minnie's though, and we wanted to try some new things. (It very well may happen though!)

Thanks!

Oh, okay, so you did try Naples. I liked them but I can see what you are saying - it is good food but not mind blowing food. I think my friend had the chicken piccata and I had the pizza and both were pretty yummy. If you have not tried Wine Country trattoria, you should. Pretty tasty stuff for a fairly decent price.

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

Personally, I would skip Rancho Del Zocalo. I don't know if it's just because I'm used to the scrumptious Mexican food available all over the rest of southern california or what, but I didn't like Zocalo at all. I thought the food was dry, and way too salty. Granted, this was probably 5 years ago, and maybe the food is better now, but we were completely disappointed with our meal when we went. Our food was barely lukewarm when it reached our table, too. Ick.

Mugglemama, you beat me to it! I have not personally had Rancho del Zocalo but I had always wanted to try it. I love the outdoor Spanish theme seating! HOWEVER, on another thread, a few posters likened it to Cocina Cucamonga (the Mexican place across from Pacific Wharf Cafe) and since reading that there is no hope of us trying Rancho del Zocalo. We will never return to CC, food was inedible, service was horrible.

Please don't go to either of these restaurants!

 

[DesertBell]

We have, or else it would be at the top of our to do list! The Chicken Alfredo Lasagna is amazing, as are their desserts.

So it would seem we have pretty much everything covered. Thank you all so much!

ETA: We were joking the other day that we like bad Mexican food. It's sad, living so close to the border and having access to REAL Mexican food, but both of us get all excited over a trip to Taco Bell. That's why RDZ is on our maybe list- Sad, limp cheese enchiladas? Yes, please!

 

[dizneekrazee]

I have been to both RDZ and CC in DCA. And while they do serve much of the same food (RDZ offers a bit more), I still think RDZ is better. The food is warmer, the atmosphere is better, the service is better. The last time I went to CC, the food was fine, not great, but not horrible, but the CM who took my order, I dont think she new what she was doing
I would give RDZ a try. I like, and I eat Mexican all the time (my DH is Mexican). It isnt the best Mexican food, but it really isnt bad.

HTH!!

 

[Zoemakes5]

Just to add my two cents.....
I have to agree about Jazz Kitchen. I love both their lunch and dinner and thought they were both great, though I thought the dinner was a bit better. I also like the Jazz Kitchen Express. Their gumbo is GREAT! The beneignets (I know I butchered the spelling on that!) are to die for, as long as they are hot and fresh. I've gone all the way through the esplenade from Harbor to grab some for breakfast as I'm waiting for them to open the gates!

My family had the same response to Naples as your family. Could do without it. Not bad, but not great.

My entire family likes Red Rockets/Pizza Port. Most of us really like the chicken fusilli pasta. The younger kids get pizza or the kids' meal pasta w/meatball.

RDZ is actually one of my favorite places. I don't know if we've just been lucky. I dragged DH there when I was there for my b-day, as I like Mexican food, but he's not a big fan. He had a burrito and he loved it. I have not been to the mex. rest. in DCA, as I've heard rather universally bad things about them.

 

[heatherleigh]

Do not go to Hungry Bear. The food is terrible. We're not going to Ariel's either because of the bad reviews I read on this board.

 

[BillyFan]

We really like Rancho and Riverbelle Terrace (both morning and afternoon menus)
And don't forget to have a carmel apple for me!