Dining Recommendations for DL

[hmontgomry]

I've seen some of the threads for dining, but have only heard of a couple of suggestions-Goofy's Kitchen, Blue Bayou, Plaza Inn. What meals should I eat where?? Thought about a character breakfast (maybe two), a character dinner, and one other nice place to eat dinner (with good food-seafood/steak) to make our PS for. We will be leaving Sept.1st-I'm so excited!!

 

[daannzzz]

We love Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast. It has a large variety of good foods. Pleanty of breakfast items to choose from and there are other non breakfast items as well. There are almost always green salads and dressings which makes me happy. We have yet to try Goofy's for lunch or dinner.
The Blue Bayou has an awesome atmosphere but the food for lunch and dinner is just okay. At lunch you can get the Monte Christo Sandwich which is real good. It is not served at Dinner. Salads are good here.
I have not tried the Plaza breakfast (we are always over at Goofy's Kitchen) but lunch and dinner (which are the same menu) are good and the setting is pretty.
Another good place to eat is the Storyteller Cafe at the Grand Californian Hotel. If you are at DCA it is an easy 2-3 minute walk from the side entrance of the park. Has a nice variety of food and a nice setting.
At DCA there is a character lunch and dinner at Ariel's grotto. I really like the food here and the interior is nice. Or you can choose to sit out on the dock. There is a limited menu but everything I have had was good....except I can't handle eating the cotton candy at the end of the meal!
You can get good salads and soup in a bread bowl at the Pacific Warf Cafe at DCA.
Back at Disneyland for counter service places, Red Rockets Pizza Port has bland, expensive pizza but decent pasta. The French Market in New Orleans Square has some good food and I like their pasta as well. In Adventureland there is a little place to get skewers / kabobs that are really good. It is called the Bengal BBQ. In Frontierland is Rancho Del Zacolo which I wish was better. It is Mexican food but somehow just missed the mark for me. They also have BBQ which we have not tried. The setting is nice though.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I think Daaannzzz killed it All my favs are on that list..

Next week Ill be doing Goofy's, the Plaza Pooh breakfast and Storytellers- Ill report back -em

 

[hmontgomry]

Thank you so much for your very thorough reviews Daannzzz!! Disneyland_emily-I can't wait to hear how your trip was!!! How far in advance do I need to make PS's?? Do I need to make one for most of the ones listed-I'm sure Goofy's Kitchen (that will be nice since we are staying at the DLH.

 

[Firefly777]

Here are my recommendations:

Blue Bayou (New Orleans Square)- Great atmosphere, decent food. I would highly recommend it. Go for lunch, as it's cheaper.

Red Rockett's (Tomorrowland)- I really like their pasta. I haven't had much experience with their pizza.

Bengal BBQ (Adventureland)- Great place. The kabobs are wonderful, but the seating/tables are limited. So keep that in mind.

Rancho Del Zocalo (Frontierland)- I thought their Mexican food was pretty good. I've had their BBQ once. I thought what I had was okay.

French Market (New Orleans Square)- I've only eaten there once, but I thought the food was good and the atmosphere was nice. They sometimes have live music in the seating area.

New Orleans Square Verandah- They serve Gumbo and Clam Chowder in a bread bowl. Good food.

Blue Ribbon Bakery (Main Street)- You can't go wrong here. Lots of baked goods, treats, etc.

Plaza Inn (Central Plaza)- I liked the pasta that I had there. We went during the parade and it was not crowded at all. It had a nice atmosphere outside with the parade in the background. They also have indoor seating.

 

[iceskatejen]

I love Bengal BBQ. I think the enchiladas (the cheese ones anyway) at Rancho Del Zocolo are about as good as any you'd find outside the park. And the price is not bad considering the amount of food you get (I've paid more for less food at a similar quality at other places). I think it's one of DL's better bargains.

 

[Alice28]

I like the fried chicken at Plaza Inn. Yummy- very crispy and fresh.

I used to have some old stand-by favorites at French Market, but the menu has changed.

 

[scanmom]

the food here is pretty good....but remember... the portions are LARGE... so share a meal and save some $$. I shared chiken nachos with my 2 DD's (ages 14 and 16), and we could barely finish the platter!!!

 

[Di$neyDad]

Am I the only one that likes the Carnation Cafe in DL? It's a little place about half way down main street with covered outdoor seating. It's about the cheapest table-service place I've found and the food is good - at least the items I've tried. They have salads and sandwiches as well as hot meals like roast beef and pot pie. For kids, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich is cool - they get to build a sandwich with different ingredients. You get little cups with grape jelly, marshmallows, and chocolate chips. There's also a sliced banana and strawberries and one of the bread slices already has the peanut butter spread on it. I cut the bread into sections and my 6 year-old had a blast trying different combinations.

At the other end of the spectrum, I was dissappointed with Napa Rose at the GC. I don't mind dropping big bucks on a great meal once in a while, and the meal was good. But it seemed about 30-40% overpriced compared to fine dining restaurants I enjoy at home. The waiter was also up-selling quite a bit, which I found annoying. Perhaps I would have a different view if I was into wine, which I'm not.

 

[BurleyGirl]

Thanks Di$neyDad for telling us about the Carnation Cafe--sounds wonderful for kids, and I love outdoor seating. I'll add this one to my list!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I like Carnation Cafe, as well, plus they take PS, which is nice.

 

[dsnylndmom]

I like:

HOTELS/DTD
Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast-I didn't care for their dinner
Uva Bar/Catal-has some great meals and great appetizers
Rainforest Cafe-is okay, but the kids love it. Heard they have really good breakfast!
ESPN Zone-has GREAT nachos!
White Water Snacks in GCH-hidden jewel! Good food, cheap prices!! Really really good prices

DCA
Ariel's Grotto-we always go for lunch, because we can't fit the desserts in! The Cobb and Fish n Chips are faves with us.
The mexican place in Pacific Wharf-Chicken Nachos are sooo good!
Taste Pilot's Grill-Good burgers, decent price

DL
Rancho Del Zocalo-agree with the enchiladas! Also really good is the tortilla soup and the campfire fries!
Blue Bayou-agree with danzzzz I like lunch
Riverbelle Terrace-love this place for breakfast!! Love sitting outside watch the Mark Twain!
French Market-Make sure to get a Mint Julep
Plaza Inn-LOVE the Cobb Salad
Redd Rocket's-there's a salad there I love too

I have to try Carnation Cafe though, my 5 year old would LOVE that PB&J!! On the list for next trip! 10 days from now!