Best places to eat...(first timer)

[WDW415]

Hello all! I'll be visiting DL/DCA on Jun 18-19, and haven't been to either in over 10 years (been to DW plenty!). I'll be with a friend one day, and solo the other. What are some of the food places that I shouldn't miss during my trip - both quick serve/sit down. I'll probably do one sit down meal between the two days. Thoughts? Thanks so much - reading all these posts have been extremely helpful in my planning!

 

[milan15]

is cost a big deal or are you willing to shell out some dough?

 

[WDW415]

For the one sit down, I'm willing to pay a reasonable amount. Just trying to find the can't miss places to eat in either park.

 

[milan15]

For the one sit down, I'm willing to pay a reasonable amount. Just trying to find the can't miss places to eat in either park.

you're going to get a lot of different responses. There doesn't seem to be a consensus on "must miss" place.

Though, the new Carthey Theater looks to be a good contender.

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

With this being our first trip to DL I wanted to do one nice sit-down meal and Blue Bayou is where we settled on. It is unique to DL and seems like a fun experience overall. We are doing dinner and I'm excited about it.

I've also made a reservation for Minnie's breakfast, which should be nice character interaction with my kids.

In reading on here I also want to get some beignets and of course a Dole Whip!

 

[milan15]

With this being our first trip to DL I wanted to do one nice sit-down meal and Blue Bayou is where we settled on. It is unique to DL and seems like a fun experience overall. We are doing dinner and I'm excited about it.

I've also made a reservation for Minnie's breakfast, which should be nice character interaction with my kids.

In reading on here I also want to get some beignets and of course a Dole Whip!

get the beignets from the quick service jazz kitchen place in DTD.
The ones in the park simply aren't as good

I'd also recommend Blue Bayou. Though, looking just at pictures, I think my recommendation will change to Carthey Theater after my July trip

 

[Goofy_Mom]

The Blue Bayou is very popular. It's a bit pricey and I hear the food and servie is hit and miss. You're paying for "the view" cause its inside the bayou part of the Pirates ride. For nearly the same food but at a lesser price is Cafe Orleans. Carnation Cafe is taking reservations after the 14th of June, a popular place for a non-character sit down breakfast. My kids and I really like Big Thunder BBQ - all you can eat chicken and ribs with coleslaw and baked beans. Dessert is extra, but worth it IMO, the chocolate chip cookie bake with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge is fantastic.

If you make it out of the parks for an adult beverage I highly recomend Trader Sams near the DL hotel. we like Storytellers inside GCH. Haven't done thier buffet, but the menu food was great.

For counter service we have our must eats : Pacifi Warf Cafe in DCA, Golden Horseshoe with the Hillbillies, for burgers we like Hungry Bear. There is a new place in DCA that does great pasta and pizza but I can't remember the name, its in the back of the park in the boardwalk section.

 

[WDWRookie2009]

Carnation Cafe is taking reservations after the 14th of June, a popular place for a non-character sit down breakfast. .

I called and got a reservation for June 13th at 11 AM for Carnation Cafe, should I call and make sure they will be open? Also, I asked for the latest for breakfast and they gave me this time, is this sound right?


TIA !

 

[milan15]

I called and got a reservation for June 13th at 11 AM for Carnation Cafe, should I call and make sure they will be open? Also, I asked for the latest for breakfast and they gave me this time, is this sound right?


TIA !

they wouldn't allow a reservation if it wasn't going to work
at least I hope that to be true...

 

[Goofy_Mom]

I called and got a reservation for June 13th at 11 AM for Carnation Cafe, should I call and make sure they will be open? Also, I asked for the latest for breakfast and they gave me this time, is this sound right?


TIA !

they wouldn't allow a reservation if it wasn't going to work
at least I hope that to be true...

This is right. I'll be there the week before and they wouldn't let me reserve. They did say they are taking walk ups for our dates. Sounds like you're set. The Carnation has been down for a major re-furb for almost six months, I can't wait for it to open.

 

[Jacie]

Corn Dogs.
I was so sad when we got to WDW and they didn't have the giant, hand dipped dogs!

 

[abouley]

For counter service we like Pizza Port by space mountain (do the pasta and salad though not pizza) and the walk-up mexican window in Downtown Disney. Those are our 2 favorites!

My kids favorite sit down is rainforest cafe in DT disney.

 

[DBMC]

I second the Corn dogs! So delicious! And of course you have to get a churro!

 

[ManusDei]

The Blue Bayou is very popular. It's a bit pricey and I hear the food and servie is hit and miss. You're paying for "the view" cause its inside the bayou part of the Pirates ride. For nearly the same food but at a lesser price is Cafe Orleans.

This.

Cafe Orleans is our go-to spot every trip now. It's fairly cheap for DGF and me. We split a Pomme Frites and Monte Cristo: super unhealthy, super delicious, super filling for both of us, and only ~$30 total tab. Plus with all the good SoCal weather, it's nice to sit outside, enjoy the sunshine and the good live music that comes along every so often in New Orleans Square, and enjoy our wonderful food.

If you pick this place, my recommendation is lunch at the earliest available reservation (around 11:30ish when they open). And ask for a spot near the railing if you decide to sit outside. It's really quite nice.

 

[figment_jii]

Outside of the park, one of my family's favorite places to eat is Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. It's in DTD. It's connected to the Jazz Kitchen Express, so you can also get the really yummy beignets there!

Inside the park, if you're looking for some good (but messy) food, the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ is yummy. It's an all you care to eat place. Also, it is outside, so weather is a factor.

For quick service, the French Market (in New Orleans Square) and Hungry Bear (Critter Country) both have some pretty good options. You can get Disney's "mint julep" (which is nothing like a real mint julep, I've read, but I like it) at the French Market.

 

[ManusDei]

I forgot to mention that DTD's Jazz Kitchen beignets (see previous poster) were really awesome, so much better than the ones at Cafe Orleans/Blue Bayou that I don't even bother with those anymore (though they do have seasonally themed ones, but Jazz Kitchen ones are still so much better).

 

[pixiewings71]

get the beignets from the quick service jazz kitchen place in DTD.
The ones in the park simply aren't as good

I'd also recommend Blue Bayou. Though, looking just at pictures, I think my recommendation will change to Carthey Theater after my July trip

I forgot to mention that DTD's Jazz Kitchen beignets (see previous poster) were really awesome, so much better than the ones at Cafe Orleans/Blue Bayou that I don't even bother with those anymore (though they do have seasonally themed ones, but Jazz Kitchen ones are still so much better).

Yes, the beignets at the Jazz Kitchen are 100 times better, but I still recommend getting 1 order from the parks, no where else will you find Mickey shaped beignets!

For counter service we like Pizza Port by space mountain (do the pasta and salad though not pizza) and the walk-up mexican window in Downtown Disney. Those are our 2 favorites!

My kids favorite sit down is rainforest cafe in DT disney.

I don't recommend Tortilla Joe's at all, we've eaten there twice and had to spend too much time in the bathroom the few days following. We won't eat there again.

I recommend BB for a nice sit down, for the atmosphere and yes, the food. I won't be able to recommend CCT until after I've eaten there in July, but it is rumored to be something not to miss.

 

[coaches24]

My favorite place in DL is easily Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. I've seen some say it's just so so BBQ but it was outstanding when we had it and I am a big BBQ fan and have had bad BBQ before but this place did great. Ribs were fall off the bone (literally the meat fell off the bone when I picked it up) and melted in my mouth. Not chewy at all. The Chicken was juicy and good. The hot links are well hot links. DW and FIL loved the beans and coleslaw but I don't like those things normally so I didn't eat them. The corn cobbettes were good and the service was terrific. We showed up at dinner time without a res and only waited about 15-20 minutes for a table. That is the ONLY must eat place for us at DL.

 

[bakerudall]

There is a new place in DCA that does great pasta and pizza but I can't remember the name, its in the back of the park in the boardwalk section.

Actually, you got the whole name in there.
It's Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta.

 

[pixiewings71]

My favorite place in DL is easily Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. I've seen some say it's just so so BBQ but it was outstanding when we had it and I am a big BBQ fan and have had bad BBQ before but this place did great. Ribs were fall off the bone (literally the meat fell off the bone when I picked it up) and melted in my mouth. Not chewy at all. The Chicken was juicy and good. The hot links are well hot links. DW and FIL loved the beans and coleslaw but I don't like those things normally so I didn't eat them. The corn cobbettes were good and the service was terrific. We showed up at dinner time without a res and only waited about 15-20 minutes for a table. That is the ONLY must eat place for us at DL.

I'm not a big slaw fan either but OMG the slaw at the BBQ is Ahhhhhmazing!!!!! The BBQ is easily one of my favorite places to eat.