Dining Questions

[jmcalister]

Dear Dissers,

We're visiting DLR this summer for the first time. I have a lot of questions concerning dining below. Your input and opinoins are valuable. Thanks for helping me out.

jmcalister

Between the two, is Hook's Pointe better or Steakhouse 55? Is Napa Rose worth the price? What are your favorite restaurants in Downtown Disney? Is Storyteller's a good choice for lunch or dinner? Is the food at Ariel's Grotto tasty? What are the best 2 character breakfasts? If you could have breakfast at any DL restaurant (counter service or table service), what would you choose?

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I'll answer what I can ~

DD & I had breakfast at Ariel's Grotto last Sept, we sat down to a tiered tray of breakfast breads, meats, cheeses, croissants, fruit; next came eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes. We both enjoyed it.

This is the only character meal I've been to, though I'm planning on taking the kids to breakfast at Storyteller's in Apr.

Sorry I'm not much help.

 

[Princessleia]

Howdy!
My favorite food spots at DLR are:

DTD: Naples italian restaurant for dinner, Marceline's for yummy treats, Ralph Brennan's walk up counter for a quick and easy breakfast, La Brea bakery is decent.

DL: Carnation Cafe is a great little breakfast lunch spot right on main street, not to be missed! The Riverbelle Terrace just reopened, and I haven't been back yet. But it was always a reliable breakfast spot. So enjoyable and peaceful for an early morning b-fast right after the park opens. And of course a Dole Whip at the Tiki Room! We don't do a lot of "mid day meals" or dinner in Disneyland. The little red Corn Dog cart is yummy if that's your style.

Character Breakfast: Chip and Dale's at Storytellers in the Grand Californian is good (the only one I've been to).


Don't forget to make your priority seating reservations!

 

[ScooterL]

Steakhouse 55 is waaaay better than Hook's Pointe. The food at Hook's Pointe is nothing too fancy - more like what you'll find at an Applebee's or someplace like that. Steakhouse 55 is a higher-quality restaurant.

Can't speak for Napa Rose as I haven't tried it yet...but I want to!!!

Storyteller's Cafe is quite good for lunch and dinner - it's a tad expensive, I think, but it IS at the Grand Californian, so I guess that raises the price. The dinner buffet is very nice.

If I could choose any DL restaurant for breakfast...probably Carnation Cafe or Steakhouse 55. If you want Mickey Mouse pancakes then Riverbelle Terrace would be the choice - but it's counter service and not table service. Rainforest Cafe has a pretty extensive breakfast menu but I haven't eaten there. I was not impressed by Cafe Orleans' breakfast. The Monte Cristo French Toast was pretty rubbery and not real appetizing.

By the way...you can find menus for the Disneyland restaurants on AllEars at http://allearsnet.com/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm

 

[DevilDuckie]

Between the two, is Hook's Pointe better or Steakhouse 55?

We like Hook's Pointe but have not tried S55.



Is Napa Rose worth the price?

I hear mixed reviews. Most of my foodie friends are not impressed.



What are your favorite restaurants in Downtown Disney?

Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. Hands down.



Is Storyteller's a good choice for lunch or dinner?

We love having dinner there.



Is the food at Ariel's Grotto tasty?

I haven't been to Ariel's. maybe next trip...


What are the best 2 character breakfasts?

We prefer character dinners. Goofy's Kitchen is a great experience.

If you could have breakfast at any DL restaurant (counter service or table service), what would you choose?

Either the Carnation Cafe or Cafe Orleans. For a quick bite, I love the begniets in the take out at Ralph Brennan's. In comparison the ones at CO were a little disappointing.

 

[AndyJohn1]

We absolutely love Steakhouse 55.....also suggest you eat at Blue Bayou next to Pirates inside Disneyland....the food is really great.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

Between the two, is Hook's Pointe better or Steakhouse 55?
We've never eaten at Hook's Point but it always smells so delicious when we order from Crocs n bits. We have eaten at Steakhouse 55 and we absolutely loved it. Food and service was great.

Is Napa Rose worth the price?
We've only eaten there once and the food, wine and service were impeccable. We're not "fine dining" people so this was by far the fanciest restaurant we've ever been to. Luckily we didn't pay for dinner that night (my wonderful, fabulous, loving brother in law paid). Would we go back on our own. Yes, definitely, but only for a special occasion.

What are your favorite restaurants in Downtown Disney?
We like Rainforest Cafe and Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen

Is Storyteller's a good choice for lunch or dinner?
We've only done breakfast and dinner and both were good. I know many people like Storyteller's, but I' not a big fan. Service has been so-so to poor the last few times. I would only eat there if staying at GCH.

Is the food at Ariel's Grotto tasty?
It's okay. Nothing to write home about. We go for the convenience of seeing multiple princess without a long line rather than for its food.

What are the best 2 character breakfasts?
We like Lilo & Stitch's the best for interaction & food. I'd rank Goofy's second as we've never done Minnie & friends

If you could have breakfast at any DL restaurant (counter service or table service), what would you choose?
Carnation Cafe. Food was good and the price was decent. You also get to meet Oscar.

 

[staley7580]

Dear Dissers,

We're visiting DLR this summer for the first time. I have a lot of questions concerning dining below. Your input and opinoins are valuable. Thanks for helping me out.

jmcalister

Between the two, is Hook's Pointe better or Steakhouse 55? Is Napa Rose worth the price? What are your favorite restaurants in Downtown Disney? Is Storyteller's a good choice for lunch or dinner? Is the food at Ariel's Grotto tasty? What are the best 2 character breakfasts? If you could have breakfast at any DL restaurant (counter service or table service), what would you choose?

Ill answer what I can... We LOVE the Jazz Kitchen. We eat there at least once every trip. YUM!! We also really like Storytellers for dinner. We have always done the buffet, and while it doesnt have a lot to choose from, the food is VERY good! We like the Lilo and Stitch breakfast, and Goofys Kitchen for dinner. Its okay for breakfast, we just prefer it for dinner.

 

[Goldies 4]

My family really enjoys eating at the Rainforest in DTD. I am not a big eater and am very picky and I can always find something. My kids and husband are big fans of their burgers. The kids menu has large portions as well. It is just a high energy, fun place to eat.
We have only eaten at Goofy's Kitchen once, following advice here to eat at the latest sitting for breakfast. We did that at 11:00. It was really awesome. My family really enjoyed the food. It was breakfast and lunch together. Mickey waffles and pancakes and pluto dogs etc.for kids For grownups there were so many choices too salad, omeletes, sausage, pizza. There were too many things to remember and all kinds of deserts. Then when my father was out of his seat and my head was turned Peter Pan turned up in his seat. He sat there and interacted with us for awhile and even gave my son who loves him an autograph on the very tablecloth covering our table. We had no lack of charcters, Chip and Dale, Aurora, Baloo, Snow White, Goofy and I think there were others. Anyway the food was great and we will definetely do a meal there again it was worth it to us.

 

[ShawnaF]

Character meals - keep in mind ours is a 3 year old girl so it's based on that. Ariel's Grotto (I like lunch husband likes breakfast), Lilo & Stitch breakfast, and I have to keep Goofy's Kitchen as my favorite dinner.

Breakfast foods at Ariels are good, but I HATE onions - food is served family style and WITH onions, doesn't work for me. But, lots of breads and cheeses and I'm great with that. Lunch and dinner are the same menu - it's good, not overwhelmingly fantastic but more than satisfactory.

ANY place to eat that I would pick - Jazz Kitchen hands down, Blue Bayou (any place that has Creme Brulee is a hit with me), and Carnation Cafe - fantastic food and quality and not expensive.