Dining top 5

[cmwade77]

Ok, well, I am going to do my top 5 for CS and TS separately. There was a time that I could put them all in one list, but with the recent revamping of the menus, there are too many good places to eat now.

CS:

1. Tangaroa Terrace - The theming is great and extends even down to the food, the service is beyond anything you would expect, even at Disney. The food is delicious as well.
   
2. Hungry Bear Restaurant - The new menu fits extremely well with the location and theme. The food is amazing, love the dessert choices and sweet potato fries (also available at Tangaroa Terrace).
   
3. Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta (DCA) - Food is great, drink machines are self service (warning: even though, the drinks are self service, there are no free refills AND they only have one size at this location), there is a great band playing on the new stage here (I like Odyssey better than the other one there).
   
4. Mediterranean Grill (DCA) - Same basic location as #4, but no self serve drinks, but great food and very filling.
   
5. Village Huas - Air Conditioning, nice new refreshing menu, willing to accomodate special request, so don't be afraid to ask. Word of warning though: the pastrami burger comes with pickles, even though they aren't listed on the menu, and they are juicy pickles, so if you don't like the flavor of pickles, be sure to ask for one without pickles.

TS:

1. Wine Country Trattoria (lunch, not dinner) - I do not like the WOC dinner menu, but the lunch menu is really good and the atmosphere is nice. Tip: If you are going after parades start again, ask for and outside table near the parade route and have your ADR scheduled for about 15 minutes prior to the parade.
   
2. Ariel's Grotto (dinner, not lunch) - This is the best option for WOC preferred dining, the princesses no longer stay at your table long enough to make lunch a worthwhile experience, they stay maybe 30 seconds each at each table.
   
3. PCH Grill (lunch or dinner, not breakfast) - Never crowded, one of the cheaper TS options in the resort. Be sure to get the Mushroom Bisque Soup.
   
4. Celebration Roundup (Or whatever the name is this week) - Great entertainment, good food, all you can eat and if you buy a drink, it has free refills (some have reported being charged for each refill, be sure to say something if this happens, as it is not the policy).
   
5. Cafe Orleans - Good food, including the same Monte Cristo as Blue Bayou offers (for less money) and Mint Juleps with free refills.

Given recent changes, I have to suggest avoiding the following restaurants:

• Blue Bayou - Service has massively declined, last time we were there our drinks were never refilled, our meals were cold by the time they got to us, as they were sitting out while we were enjoying our first course.
  
• Carnation Cafe - The menu has changed to only offer sandwhiches, no dinner menu is left anymore. Hopefully this will change once they get back some indoor seating from the bakery.
  
• Stage Door Cafe - The menu is extremely limited, but note that cheese sticks are still available, but will take about 15 minutes.
  
• Golden Horseshoe (food) - Dessert is still good here, but the food is the same as Stage Door Cafe.
  
• WOC Picnic lunches - The food is not worth the price being paid (IMHO), you are definitely paying for the WOC ticket, even though Disney says you aren't. We just did it for the first time recently and this was our finding in the end. Even though it sounds like a better value.
  
• Whitewater Snacks (they have taken the tomato off of their burger and chicken sandwich and charge $1 for a single slice!)

As for downtown Disney, these are generally chains, so you can easily get the food there elsewhere for less money.

Ok, hope all of that helps.

 

[Caseystigger]

Top five...
1) Plaza Inn (Character Breakfast)
2) Carnation Cafe'...love it when Oscar comes and sits down to chat. He gave us the recipe for the potato soup and signed it for us.
3) Cafe' Orleans...have to have gumbo, pomme frites and sometimes a monte cristo
4) Bengal BBQ...have to have meat on a stick
5) White Water Snacks...yummy nachos

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I'm sorry to hear about the bad food at Rainforest. I've been to the ones in Orlando, Las Vegas, and San Antonio and have always had surprisingly delicious food. I had expected a place with so much "showmanship" to worry little about the quality of their food and have been pleasantly surprised. This last time in San Antonio, the fries were hot and crunchy and the chicken tenders were both crunchy and juicy (not like the little bricks I've had so many places). I actually had steak and shrimp at the one in Las Vegas and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this more upscale offering as well!

Maybe I need to try it again. It was very bad when we went, and later I spoke to friends who had been there and they said "yeah, never go there!"--so I figured it was just one of those places you go for the atmosphere, but not the food. I guess I feel like if I am going to pay that much for atmosphere and overpriced food, then we might as well go to Blue Bayou.

I think the food in California Adventure in the Pacific Wharf area is actually pretty good compared to Disneyland food. The Bread Bowl place always has a very long line, but the food is very fresh and the place looks clean. In Disneyland I think Carnation Cafe is the best. We have been for both breakfast and lunch, and LOVE their lunch. I use to always order the baked potato soup (heart attack in a bowl) and half turkey sandwich, but ever since ordering the chicken pot pie--I always order that. I love how Oscar (owner and chef) always comes out to greet us.

 

[franandaj]

My top 5 is really six with a tie for 5th. We are local AP holders so we usually only eat one meal while visiting the parks, sometimes our purpose for going is just to have lunch.

1. Napa Rose - I always sit at the Chef's counter and Chef Sutton has never served us a bad meal.

2. Steakhouse 55 - Their 7 Onion soup is awesome! And as a PP noted, they know how to cook a steak perfectly.

3. Cafe Orleans - We get the same thing every time, Onion Soup, maybe the pomme frites, a Monte Cristo, and Mickey Beignets. We split it between two of us and never leave hungry.

4. Ralph Brennans - For some reason we've never actually ordered an entree here, we split a few appetizers and soups to save room for the amazing bread pudding.

My other two favorites are CS, the Bengal BBQ is a place that I love, but don't get to eat there nearly as often as I would like. The bacon wrapped asparagus is my favorite! The other is the Corn Dog Castle, both the regular dog and the cheese (hot cheese in fried corn batter, what's not to love! ) both really hit the spot.

There is one more TS that I would put on my list, but it's really not fair due to it's exclusivity. If you know someone and are lucky enough to score a reservation at Club 33, that place rocks!

 

[stampinshauna]

Thank you for all of your opinions so far! We have tried several of the places suggested, but it has been a while for a lot of them. I love reading about why you like certain places and what menu items you like. This will definitely help us make some decisions for our up coming trip (and we'll be sure to try some new things). Carnation Cafe and Storytellers (dinner buffet) were on my must do list before I started this thread, now I have many more things to try--good thing we'll be there for a week!

Keep the ideas and recommendations coming!

 

[momjkm]

I have no list. but I can begin to make my own in 1 week!!! Yes I am excited and yes I am rubbing it in!!!

I do plan on trying Celebration Roundup, Minnie & Friends breakfast, Ariel's WOC for dinner, and Ralph Brennans. Also bread bowl place (PCH?) and Bengal BBQ ( meat on a stick!)

Jill

 

[DeluxePrincess]

1. Blue Bayou- Everyone must try this at least once! Make lunch reservations at 11:30am and you are almost guaranteed a seat by the water. (Thanks for that tip, disboards)

2. Carnation Cafe- Loved having breakfast on Main Street!

3. La Brea Bakery @ Downtown Disney- We all enjoyed dinner here. The pizza they served was great and big enough for 2.

4. Storyteller's Breakfast @Grand Californian- We really enjoyed the breakfast buffet. The characters weren't our faves (Meeko, Brother Bear, Chip & Dale), but the service and interaction was top notch.

5. Pacific Wharf (DCA counter service)- Everyone must try a breadbowl once in their lives! DH and I really liked this place.

 

[cmwade77]

For those that like meat on a stick, I really think I should clarify my earlier post. The new Mediterranean grill has meat on a stick and is $10.95, which is about $1-$2 more than most items at Bengal BBQ the last time I went. The portions are larger than Bengal, you get a sauce, you can ask for it on the side and you get rice and a cucumber and tomato salad as well as a piece of pita bread. The food is better tasting as well and there is a vegetable and tofu skewer that I am told is good for the vegetarians out thereabd they will do a kids meal with it (or any of the menu items), if you want a smaller portion, even though it isn't listed on the menu.

Ok, I just looked at All Ears, I may have to give Bengal BBQ another chance, they were just way too expensive last time I went for what you got, but it appears the prices are now more within reason. That being said, the Mediterranean grill at DCA is about 2.5 items at Bengal BBQ plus you get the sides and Pita Bread. So I think it still might be the better value, but bacon wrapped asparagus is yummy.

 

[thelittletiffany]

I agree with the dislike of Rainforest Cafe. We have one at a mall here so maybe I'm just overexposed. I've eaten there two or three times and was never impressed by the food, it's definitely the atmosphere that draws people in I think. They used to have a really good dessert, but they took it off the menu.

I never really was a huge fan of Disneyland food, there are a few things that I love but other than that I found it hard to find good places to eat. However, after reading a lot of the posts on here it seems like maybe I'm just not giving enough restaurants a chance. I'm excited to try new food on my visit this year. But here is my top 5:

1. Bengal Barbecue - I go here every time I visit Disneyland, I love the chicken skewers! I usually order two and it fills me up, I could live off those things.

2. Tommorrowland Terrace - Their breakfast platter is another one of my favorites! I haven't seen this mentioned very much by anyone else, so maybe I'm in the minority. It's fairly priced and it just automatically brings me back to when I was little and going to Disneyland during the early mornings with my family.

3. Tiki Juice Bar - The pineapple whip is sooooooo good. I guess this isn't really a restaurant, but it's worth mentioning!

4. Corn Dog Castle - I'm a big fan of corn dogs and I remember eating here first thing when I visited California Adventure on my most recent trips. The corn dogs are really big though so I usually can't finish them.

5. Churro Cart - Again, another place that isn't really a restaurant but I just couldn't resist. Churros are such a staple in my Disneyland diet, they're just so good!

 

[Castaway Kev]

Storytellers
Cafe Orleans
Pacific Wharf
Carnation Cafe
and finally--Club 33 (which I've never been to, although I'm sure it will be #1 if -- or when -- I ever get the chance)