Best places to eat in Downtown Disney?

[LisainCalifornia]

What are your favorite restaurants in DTD and why?

Is there a breakfast place with more than sweets? Like eggs, pancakes, bacon, etc....

Thanks!

 

[stopher1]

We love both the atmosphere and food at Rainforest Cafe and the ESPN Zone.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We like the Rainforest Cafe as well. This time we'll be trying the ESPN Zone, my son can't wait!

 

[rentayenta]

We like:

The brushetta at the Rainforest Cafe. Their burgers are fair too.

Tortilla Jo's to go window. Cheap and good tacos.

Naples pizza. Their kids' pizzas are huge and they don't care if you share.

Anything from Goofy's Candy Co.

The pretzel dogs from Wetzel's Pretzels.

Catal's garlic fries. It's fun to grab a cocktail and fries and people watch.

Nachos from ESPN Zone.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I think Rainforest is doing breakfast now... we found out the hard way that nothing is open at 7 am though... so much for eating in DTD before getting in line!

 

[rentayenta]

La Brea Bakery (I think that's the name) and Compass Books are both open early.

 

[tnd]

I think the Jazz Kitchen does a quick breakfast, more eggs and things, but in sandwiches, etc. La Brea does too. Compass has pastries and coffee mostly in the morning. We also ate in the park in Tomorrowland after doing FL rides for an hour and half on an early entry day.

We really liked the Tortilla Jo's Tacqueria, quick and cheap, but pretty good. We liked the beef better than the chicken, but that might just be us. We also ate at ESPN Zone and thought it wasn't half bad. My son inhaled their "Just Dip it" kids meal.

 

[fairycat]

On Sundays I heard that HOB does an amazing Gospel Brunch.


I love Jazz Kitchen! The food and service is all great.

I also really like Uva Bar, its outside in the walkway so you can people watch and has great food.

 

[DoomBugger]

I like La Brea Bakery and Jazz Kitchen. I like the atmosphere at ESPN and Rainforest but I just think the food is not very good. Naples pizza is OK too but it is just too busy for my tastes most of the time.

When at DLR it is just part of the day's festivities to dine there as well so we do it sometimes but never because we are looking for that amazing dining experience. That said, it is fun to do everything at DLR, dining included!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Thank you all so much for the advice! You are great!

 

[ALTkids]

We've been to HOB, ESPN, and Rainforest. But only in Vegas. I'd rather "dine" when I'm in Vegas and "eat" when I'm at DLR. Although, I'm really tempted to try the $43 pepperoni pizza at Naples.

 

[pixiewings71]

We love the RFC, we always get the crab dip appetizer and Maya's combo, then we share. The kids get whatever kids meals they want but Micah and I are pretty set with what we order.

We also love the Jazz Kitchen Express and La Brea Bakery. For breakfast we really enjoy the La Brea Bakery, we also want to try Storytellers at GCH. Oh and White Water Snacks at GCH has really good breakfast stuff too....that's technically the hotel but it's in DTD....LOL

 

[mt mommy]

Tortilla Joe's and La Brea Bakery!!

Both are excellent. A bit pricey, but much better food than in the parks, IMHO.

 

[DisneyLover4Ever!]

The Rainforest Cafe! Definately! It has good food and a GREAT atmosphere.
If you want to have a quick breakfast or snack stop by Jamba Juice. A medium smoothie tastes great and fills you up.

 

[GoDisneyForLife]

The Rainforest Cafe is excellent! Very entertaining experience.

Also, just as an FYI, the beginning of April (1st-10th) will be a good time to go with very minimal crowds, but STAY AWAY the weekend of April 18-20 with the major cheer and dance competition taking place!! Went last year with it going on and it was the most crowded I've ever seen! The lines were just crazy...not too fun!! Also, early May won't be very crowded either!

 

[DoomBugger]

It is fun to just meander about and then, suddenly... everyone in the group agrees that a particular type of food/style/atmosphere sounds perfect!

I think to fully appreciate the Disney "dining" experience you can't dwell on the high prices and the concept that you could get better for the money elsewhere. You are at a Disney resort and sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment.

It is never going to be the meal of your life but that certianly doesn't mean you can't have a great experience that you will remember for a long time. Plus, after being in the parks all day and just waiting in lines and for counter service it is a nice change of pace to sit down and be waited on for sure.

 

[nunzia]

As others have mentioned La Brea is very good (the quiche was great) and Whitewater has some pretty well priced things that are filling as well.

 

[Mr.Bubbles]

We have our first trip to DLR coming up this summer. We are having difficulty trying to find out where to get a quick, counter service breakfast early before the parks open at DLR. We are staying at DLH and the only thing we see is the Coffee House which has pastries. It looks like we may have to walk over to GCH and get a biscuit sandwich at Whitewater Snacks at 7 a.m.

We enjoy spending money on big lunches or dinners rather than breakfasts, but we like to have something more than a muffin and coffee. DTD restaurants don't serve breakfast until after parks are open. Any ideas to get a hot, quick breakfast before park openings??

 

[ALTkids]

It is fun to just meander about and then, suddenly... everyone in the group agrees that a particular type of food/style/atmosphere sounds perfect!

I think to fully appreciate the Disney "dining" experience you can't dwell on the high prices and the concept that you could get better for the money elsewhere. You are at a Disney resort and sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment.

It is never going to be the meal of your life but that certianly doesn't mean you can't have a great experience that you will remember for a long time. Plus, after being in the parks all day and just waiting in lines and for counter service it is a nice change of pace to sit down and be waited on for sure.

I think eating at the Blue Bayou is a "Disney" dining experience. I don't mind paying extra for true Disney ambiance and a truly unique experience. But HOB, Rainforest, and ESPN are in other places and there is nothing "Disney" about them. If Buca di Beppo, Tony Roma's, and Joe's Crabshack were on Disney property would they really be worth twice as much? Would they be anymore "Disney"? I don't think so.

 

[fairycat]

We have our first trip to DLR coming up this summer. We are having difficulty trying to find out where to get a quick, counter service breakfast early before the parks open at DLR. We are staying at DLH and the only thing we see is the Coffee House which has pastries. It looks like we may have to walk over to GCH and get a biscuit sandwich at Whitewater Snacks at 7 a.m.

We enjoy spending money on big lunches or dinners rather than breakfasts, but we like to have something more than a muffin and coffee. DTD restaurants don't serve breakfast until after parks are open. Any ideas to get a hot, quick breakfast before park openings??

I think La Brea offers breakfast in their quick serve side and I know Jamba Juice has started to offer breakfast (but I think mostly granola and yogurt and such). Otherwise for CS I would hit a fast food place outside the parks or sit and eat at Mimi's or IHOP.