Chef's table?

[brendahamlincoln]

Hi all! I was curious about the dining options at the nicer places in the Disney hotels. When my boyfriend and I went to DL in October '10 we had an amaaaazing dinner at the Napa Rose, we did the four-course tasting menu. After the meal our waiter told us that they have a chef's table in the kitchen for Napa Rose. Had I known about that beforehand I totally would have made a reservation for that! My question is does anyone know if any other restaurants, like Steakhouse 55, have chef's tables? My next trip is in February and my boyfriend and I decided that we have to have one super-awesome fancy meal, so unless I win the lottery and get into Club 33 Napa Rose or Steakhouse 55 will be it! I won't be making reservations for a while but I know to book a table like that you have to be on top of it ahead of time. Thanks!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I don't know of any chef's table at Napa Rose, but there is a chef's counter. You can make reservations for that directly with the restaurant, not the Dine Line. It is a great experience, but not cheap!
Other nice restaurants, like Steakhouse 55 or Carthay Circle may do a special tasting menu for you if you ask the chef ahead of time.

 

[OKW Lover]

You may want to refer to this thread in which I talked a bit about our experience at the Chef's Counter back in March. In a word - outstanding.

 

[brendahamlincoln]

OKW, great thread. Gave a lot of info. I think that's what we'll do when we go next year. The meal we had last time was honestly one of the best meals I've ever had in my life, and since I had mentioned that it was for our anniversary when I booked our hotel a few weeks prior, they brought out our desserts with "happy anniversary" written on the plates in chocolate. I love the idea of just going with what the chef wants to make. Even if you're told beforehand what you're getting it's still a bit of a surprise. A delicious, delicious surprise.

 

[wbl2745]

Just want to add my recommendation for the Chef's Counter at the Napa Rose. A PP mentioned that the cost of eating at the Chef's Counter was quite high. That is true only if you go for letting the chef decide on your meal for you. The cost is the same as the "Vintner's Menu" or whatever they call it. It is a prix fix meal. You can sit at the Chef's Counter and just order off the menu, but I agree that the fun is in letting the chef decide for you. When each course is delivered either the chef or your server tells you what it is and you can ask questions.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[tchrrx]

My DH loves to cook, and I think that he would enjoy this very much. Do you think it would be a good choice for DD's 13th birthday? She enjoys helping her dad in the kitchen, and is used to eating at fairly nice restaurants.

How many people are at the Chef's Counter at a time?

 

[ArchOwl]

My DH loves to cook, and I think that he would enjoy this very much. Do you think it would be a good choice for DD's 13th birthday? She enjoys helping her dad in the kitchen, and is used to eating at fairly nice restaurants.

How many people are at the Chef's Counter at a time?

If she enjoys eating at fancier places, I think she would have a great time. Be advised, the five course tasting menu at the counter is a 2 hour+ dining experience. But they do keep you very entertained and it doesn't seem that long to me, but I am not a teenager anymore .

The counter is split into three sections with four seats each. Seats 1-4 overlook the apps, salads, and soups. Seats 5-8 overlook the grilling station, fish, and the wood fired ovens. You also get a partial view of the desserts. Seats 9-12 are on the far side do the dessert station. In my opinion, seats 5-8 are the best since you see a lot of the action. The dessert seats are quite far away and I don't think I would want to sit there at all.

The only drawback to the counter seats are that it is more difficult to carry on a conversation with four people, since you are spread out along the counter instead of at a table. You would not want to split up your party between the sections because you won't be able to see or talk to them. The "pass" is in the middle of sections 1-4 and 5-8. This is where the servers pick up the food and the chefs expedite the preparation. If you are sitting in seat 4 or 5, you could reach out and touch the plates in the pass.

Normally seats 1-8 are filled when we have been there. They do two seatings, 5:30 and 8pm. During busier times, I have seen them use seats 9-12, but normally those remain empty.

 

[mysteriouspnai]

I have done Chef's Counter with DBF and his family. There were 5 of us total, so we opted for the Dessert area, so we don't have to be split up. This means that there are more than 4 seats at the dessert area. If you have a party of 4 or less, definitely sit in front where there's more action. But if you have a party of 5, it's better to sit together rather than get split up, so you would probably want the dessert area.

 

[Here4mydisneyfix]

We are going for the very first time in three weeks! My sweet hubby made reservations for the chef counter, seats 5 & 6 for me and him for my Birthday! He researched it all out and found out the best time and best seats and called really early to make sure he got them and then he surprised me! What a guy! It's been my dream to go there and do the chefs table for sooo long! Cannot wait!!

 

[SGDisneyFam]

We've ate twice at the chefs counter at Napa Rose, both times in seats 5 & 6. Both times were amazing.

First time Chef Sutton was in and interacted with us all evening, second time he wasn't in the restaurant but his sous chefs were just as personable and nice to talk with. My wife had mentioned during one course that I really like turnips that were part of her course. Next course I had some of my own on the side.

Both times we let the chefs decide for us and I would strongly recommend doing this. Regrettably this isnt a restaurant that we get to eat at very often (once maybe every year or 2) and I would very strongly recommend letting the chefs come up with your dining choices. They ask you what you don't 100 percent like and they then come up with dishes for you

Even if you don't like something, unless you are allergic i would still try it. I did and I am glad I did.

 

[tchrrx]

Thanks so much for the replies! I think that I will be surprising my DH with this.
We don't drink alcohol, so would a $350 estimate be about right for three of us?

Also, how does tipping work in a situation like this?

Do you tip like you would for a regular table?

Can you provide me with the phone number and time line for booking this experience?

Thank you!!!!

 

[ArchOwl]

Thanks so much for the replies! I think that I will be surprising my DH with this.
We don't drink alcohol, so would a $350 estimate be about right for three of us?

Also, how does tipping work in a situation like this?

Do you tip like you would for a regular table?

Can you provide me with the phone number and time line for booking this experience?

Thank you!!!!

You probably need to bump up the amount just a bit if you are doing the tasting menu, since it is $98 pp. Add in any drinks other than water plus a 20% tip, and you are looking at $360-$370.

You do still have a server who brings you your dishes, drinks, and checks in on you. So the standard tipping applies.

The number to Napa Rose directly is 714-300-7170. I am not exactly sure how far out you can book. I normally book 4-3 weeks out.

Have fun!