Carnation Cafe Chicken Fried Chicken

[LisaT91403]

I'm planning a trip with my brother's family, and they are PICKY eaters. I can't seem to find a sit-down restaurant where the menu will work for all of them (because they are each picky in their own way).

Has anyone had the chicken fried chicken at Carnation? I'm wondering if my 10-year-old nephew could be convinced that this is "like" chicken fingers. I don't want to mislead him. From the pictures I've seen online, the adult portion looks like a breaded and fried chicken breast...would that be an accurate description? If so, we could ask them to swap out the mashed potatoes for french fries...and we'd be set.

 

[seth_r]

It is a boneless chicken breast, so could be described like giant chicken finger I guess.

 

[tlovesdis]

Yep a giant chicken tender! LOL! It is tasty too. That's my go to at CC!

 

[LisaT91403]

Okay, that would work (assuming they'd do it with no gravy!) LOL He likes grilled chicken breast too, but I only see that as part of a salad and not as an entree. I wonder if they could make it as an entree? I guess I could ask when we are there.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Okay, that would work (assuming they'd do it with no gravy!)

The no gravy request is no problem.

 

[cruisehopeful]

First off, you have my sympathy/empathy. I have 2 family members with many food allergies and one who only eats very specific things.
I just want to warn you about Carnation Cafe. We purposely made reservations there for dinner because the chef would come out to discuss allergies. Both of the allergy entrees were messed up when they came out. It took a very long time for our food to come out. My husband asked our server if the bread on top of his salad was gluten and the server just grabbed the bread and walked away without saying anything (as in it was gluten). The chef did come out to discuss their allergies, but nobody actually cared about it.
Because of that, I can see ordering fries and no gravy and actually getting gravy and mashed potatoes.

 

[LisaT91403]

Ugh, sounds like it didn't go well for you. We don't have any allergies in our group...just picky eaters. But if the chicken has gravy on it, no way he's gonna eat it! Thank you for the heads up...I appreciate it.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Ugh, sounds like it didn't go well for you. We don't have any allergies in our group...just picky eaters. But if the chicken has gravy on it, no way he's gonna eat it! Thank you for the heads up...I appreciate it.

I was there earlier this month and ordered the chicken with no gravy without difficulty. I was also given the option of ordering the gravy on the side.

 

[LisaT91403]

I was there earlier this month and ordered the chicken with no gravy without difficulty. I was also given the option of ordering the gravy on the side.

I could be wrong, but I'm thinking it might be a relatively common request...kind of like getting your salad dressing on the side. The potato substitution might be more difficult, but even if they get it wrong, they can just bring out a side of fries later.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I could be wrong, but I'm thinking it might be a relatively common request...kind of like getting your salad dressing on the side.

Yeah, I prefer dressings and gravies on the side if at all because the quantities provided are usually more than I would like.

 

[BriannaRuth]

The top photo is the kids' Chicken Fried Chicken. DD12 ordered it and her comment was, "It's just a huge chicken finger!" So yes, I think that will work. It's actually a pretty big portion for a kids' menu at DL. I can't recall if she ordered gravy on the side or if it came that way. I think our server asked which she preferred.

Adult portion

 

[LisaT91403]

Wow, thank you so much for those photos! That will make my life *much* easier. It's hard to be the planning person for a group of 12 people coming to MHP. DH, DS(8) and I are AP holders, so we go often. But we have one family that only comes once/year, and another family coming that's never been to DLR at all. So it's challenging to balance everyone's wants and needs, let alone their food preferences!

Thanks so much!

 

[StayClassy]

Im a picky eater too so I feel for your planning because I know how hard it is to try to include one. If I were you I would pick a restaurant with outdoor seating, let the waiter know the situation, and see if they'll let you grab something else and eat it there. I would assume they'd be fine with it especially if they're younger, and since the rest of the group will be eating it's not like you're stealing table space.

Just have them go grab something from counter service after everyone orders, try to time it to where everyone eats at the same time.


Or

if the eater is okay with the fried chicken with bones then I would go through with your plan to eat there and I would just buy a side of fries and bring it with y'all to your reservation if they can't swap the side for fries.

Have them place his sides in seperate plates so that someone else could eat his side if they wanted.

 

[LisaT91403]

Great ideas! I think we might be covered at Carnation because one likes cheeseburgers and the other likes chicken (chicken fingers, chicken breast...both are good, as long as there is no sauce). And I know they have fries at Carnation, so we should be set.

Thanks for all the tips!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Be aware that the adult fried chicken is a little spicy. It's not overly spicy, but enough to detect if someone is sensitive to heat.

 

[LisaT91403]

Be aware that the adult fried chicken is a little spicy. It's not overly spicy, but enough to detect if someone is sensitive to heat.

Good to know!

 

[5forMickey]

Again I'm the mean one of the group, when my kids were little and they didn't like what I cooked they went hungry. I would do your best but wouldn't fret so much about it. If they are that picky, their parents might have to find an alternate meal for them after your dinner. Sounds mean, but you can't please everyone and if you spend so much time focusing on the "picky" eaters than the others that aren't that way end up not enjoying what they get. That being said, I don't think if they will eat a cheeseburger or chicken that is that picky. I have one that only wants to eat pasta and we usually find that just fine.

Sorry, I know it sounds mean.

 

[maltdizzy]

I think it'll be fine.

If they like chicken tenders.fingers, a kid should like the kid's "Chicken-Fried Chicken."

 

[lindyv321]

Is this fried chicken like the chicken at the Plaza Inn but without the bones? I really want to try Plaza Inn but the sides are very unappealing to me and this looks better! I'm a picky eater myself

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Is this fried chicken like the chicken at the Plaza Inn but without the bones? I really want to try Plaza Inn but the sides are very unappealing to me and this looks better! I'm a picky eater myself

They are both good but different from each other. The Carnation Cafe chicken is a boneless breaded chicken breast that as mentioned by a pp does have a little spiciness to it. The fried chicken at Plaza Inn are bone in pieces, and the breading has no spiciness to it. The mashed potatoes at Plaza Inn and Carnation Cafe tasted about the same to me. I'm not a gravy person so haven't tried it lately at either location.