Blue Bayou... Worth it?

[Gisele]

I highly recommend The Blue Bayou. I have dined there over the years, as a child to present day. I made a p.s. for my birthday for dinner, a few days ahead of time. Because of my late booking, I was fortunate to receive such during the week of my visit. I like to arrive at least 15 minutes early, so as to request a waterside table. I was seated promptly, like in the past. And although I already knew of the menu, I decided to take a look at such while waiting to be seated. You may wait inside what I like to call the parlor room. It is essentially the entrance to the restaurant itself. It is very pretty too. Like the bayou itself. And has comfy seating. And large mirrored walls.
I decided to order the surf and turf.... Oh my! It was so simply delish! It is fillet mignon and lobster tail, served with their famous and fabulous cheesy potatoes. Tasty sourdough buns are served with butter first, then a very tasty salad. It is the same recipe as for their former wedge salad, but now, it is a tossed salad. That is the only difference.
I told my waiter Manish, that is was so delicious that if I were not in public, I would honest to God lick my plate clean! It was that good. Because it was for my birthday, I received a complimentary chocolate mouse. It was delicious as well.
Regarding pricing, I already knew what the pricing was like. And decided I was more than worth the entrée. I really very much enjoyed my meal. And being able to do so, while seated by the bayou's water side, made for such a nice bonus.

I so very highly recommend this dish.... In the past, I have also very much enjoyed the Tesoro Island Chicken entrée. Also very tasty indeed.


Here is hoping for you a speedy and relaxing flight. And wishing you a most magical and wonderful visit to Ca. and Disneyland. And remember you can book your p.s. (Priority seating) 60 days out. Disney dining is 1-714-781-dine (3463)

 

[Dziactor]

I like the place, but it isnt a must for me. The atmosphere is great, especially riverside, and I like the menu. I would say do it once to try. Im not really a fan of Disneyland food, except for Bengal BBQ.

 

[Gisele]

And they accept Disney gift cards too. Matter of fact, all Disney owned businesses do. With exception of stand alone vendors. For they cannot accept plastic, so therefore, cannot accept the gift card.

 

[tholczer]

I agree. Except for the skewers at Bengal BBQ. SOOO good

Me, too! Those are nearly all I'll eat.

 

[FlameGirl]

The food is not great. We had complimentary passes and were glad for them. We wouldn't have been happy to pay those prices for that food. Even for the atmosphere. You can always ride Pirates for that.

I must admit to being a food snob, however, and I find most of the food at Disneyland to be sub par.

I totally agree.

I think we are done with the BB. The food is overwhelmingly barely OK. Not worth the price, and with all entrees having the exact same sides, it really seems like it's more of an assembly line kitchen rather than a thoughtful chef. The food isn't bad, but it isn't very good, either.

There are a few restaurants with far superior food in the vicinity and hey, you can even have a glass of wine with your overpriced meal to boot!

 

[Gisele]

My only disappointment is when I enquired to my waiter about the tasty mint chocolate doubloons. For I had wished to purchase a box, but alas, the Disney bakery is not currently making them. And apparently has not for awhile now. I miss them, for they were very tasty.

 

[Vallie]

Thank you all for the helpful replies! Looks like I'll be planning on the BB for dinner or lunch for our day at Disneyland!

I'm going to try my best to get a riverside table! Thanks again for all the replies!!

 

[Gisele]

Definitely a wonderful choice! You will not be disappointed. Remember 60 days out is the earliest that you can make a P.S. and that it is not a reservation. But rather you will take priority over some one that walks up without a p.s. and the expression is waterside, that is normally used. If the policy has changed at this point, I am not certain, however in the past, when I had called Disney dining, a waterside seating could not be accommodated over the phone. But rather when one checks in at the Blue Bayou. And to do so at least 15 minutes early so as to make such request. Because there is never a guarantee that one will be able to have such seating. There is a very good opportunity though, by doing the former. And I like many people, have always so far, anyway, been fortunate enough to be seated by the waterside.

 

[VickiHD]

It's much easier to get a "water" table at lunch time than for dinner. If you make reservation for 11:30 and show up at 11:15 and ask for a water table your request is generally filled.

 

[Karenann*]

We have eaten there twice and would every time if we could! Our food has been wonderful and so was the service. It was always on my wish list so when we finally did eat there, it was a real treat! We unfortunately had my 8yr old niece with us who was a real whiner and did not like the kid menu choices. My oldest finally told her "Look, it's not so much about the food here as it is the experience!" My kids were adventurous with their menu selections and tried new things for them.
The second time we ate there in 2009, my parents treated my family. My youngest son stuck to those really good rolls!
I think of it as an experience with good food! The are very efficient there. If you want a more leisurely pace to enjoy the restaurant and take a break from the park order your salads, soup first then order entrees. Enjoy a cup of coffee then order dessert. While they did not rush us in their demeanor, the pace was quick tale turnover! If you want dine and dash, they can do that too!!!
Enjoy...

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I agree it is worth doing at least once. We have gone several times, but primarily for the atmosphere. We have never had a water-side table, despite requsting one every time we make the reservation. Now that I know more about the reservation process, I understand why. It is because we often made our reservations for noon (12:00), while the first seating is 11:30. When we would arrive (often early) for our reservation, we would remind them of our request of a water-side table, and they would say that there were none available, and only if we were willing to wait an hour or more could we get one. With 3 kids we were never willing to wait an hour, so we just would take what they had set up for us.

As far as the food, I would say that it is similar in quality to a Sizzler if you have ever been there. It is salty (like you would find at a chain restaurant). The seafood is obviously previously frozen. There have been times when we have ordered the crabs legs, and they have been still a bit frozen/cold inside. It isn't terrible food, but it isn't great--so you are going for the setting.

One thing to remember if you have small children is that they may be scared in there because it is REALLY dark, even in broad daylight, and the sound effects sort of sound like growling. When my daughter was 3 we took her on Pirates for the first time, and she was scared to death, and then right after we had a reservation for Blue Bayou! She was so freaked out in there she sort of whimpered and begged to leave the whole time. She kept thinking that things were going to come out of the water. Now she is 14 and Pirates is her favorite ride!

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

We love the Blue Bayou and try to go every trip. The atmosphere is great, and we think the gumbo can't be beat. It is a little expensive so be prepared for that. It's also fun to see the people go by on the pirates' boats. You should definitely do it and see for yourself if it's worth doing again.

 

[Gisele]

Based upon my particular dining experiences, and that of my relatives and friends, The Blue Bayou is superior to Sizzler, Red Lobster and the like. When it comes to ambiance, I probably can only wish to locate a restaurant that is equal to that of The Blue Bayou.
I love being seated al fresco, during the night (Even though yes, it is inside, and might be during the day) but it always feels to me, like the former. All while being seated along the ol' bayou. Where one never knows what shenanigans a privateer or pirate alike might just decide to display. With that said, guard your purse strings, and your gold even closer than that. And your shoes as well, because there is no tellin' what a pirate might be in need of. And will do a bit of plunderin' if he be decidin' it necessary.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Made an 11:30 am reservation for my June trip. The CM on the phone said that although they can never guarantee it, that time slot is a pretty good bet for a waterside table. Thanks for the tips on this thread!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Made an 11:30 am reservation for my June trip. The CM on the phone said that although they can never guarantee it, that time slot is a pretty good bet for a waterside table. Thanks for the tips on this thread!

We have never missed when we had reservations at that time.

Jack

 

[AmericanItGirl]

Made an 11:30 am reservation for my June trip. The CM on the phone said that although they can never guarantee it, that time slot is a pretty good bet for a waterside table. Thanks for the tips on this thread!

So long as you show up on time to check in (maybe show up a few minutes early because there will be a line and there will also be people asking if they can get a reservation for later in the day) and don't have a large group (I remember seeing one group being seated at a table the next row back, but they could have had a slightly later reservation or it could have been because they had 8-9 people in their group), then you should have no problem. Have fun!

 

[rosiep]

I made a ressie for Blue Bayou for our upcoming trip too. I only plan on having dessert and coffee because whle I think It'd be a nice experience, I wasn't impressed with the menu.

 

[blackjackdelta]

So long as you show up on time to check in (maybe show up a few minutes early because there will be a line and there will also be people asking if they can get a reservation for later in the day) and don't have a large group (I remember seeing one group being seated at a table the next row back, but they could have had a slightly later reservation or it could have been because they had 8-9 people in their group), then you should have no problem. Have fun!

We usually show up 15-20 minutes early, we were seated in the anti-way and the taken to our table always before 1130. Planning makes the experience go well.

Jack

 

[disneyloveNY]

The atmosphere is great!!!! but the food was truly awful. The gumbo was a hot mush with chunks of dry chicken and the jambalaya was not edible-spicy tomato sauce mush with mushy rice three shrimp and tasteless fish chunks. I did not eat more than a few bites. I love spicy food but with flavor. This was not. So, worth it? Maybe once for the awesome atmosphere but certainly not for the food.

 

[blackjackdelta]

So long as you show up on time to check in (maybe show up a few minutes early because there will be a line and there will also be people asking if they can get a reservation for later in the day) and don't have a large group (I remember seeing one group being seated at a table the next row back, but they could have had a slightly later reservation or it could have been because they had 8-9 people in their group), then you should have no problem. Have fun!

6 has been the max I have ever seen seated next to the water.

Jack