Disneyland restaurant suggestions needed

[Minnie824]

We're planning our first disneyland trip for next summer sometime and I need some restaurant suggestions! In WDW, we enjoy a lot of the nicer sit down restaurants, Le Cellier, Tutto Italia, Chefs de France, Kona Grill, etc. Can anyone give me suggestions of must-dos and anything to avoid? Also, will we need the priority seating far in advance like we do at WDW also?

And lastly, if you have any other suggestions for dining in the LA/Bev Hills area, that would be great too! Thanks!

 

[PinkBudgie]

DH and I went to Steakhouse 55 for our 20th anniversary and it was very good! It was expensive, but very high quality and fresh.

From what I've heard of WDW, I don't think DLR is that nuts about priority seatings. If you want to try the Blue Bayou, then get a PS for that for sure. If you already know the others, you may as well make them so you can plan around them. BB is an amazing place to eat inside POTC, but some people have complaints about the quality of the food not living up to the high prices. SH 55 is definately better food wise, but you may want to give BB a try just for the experience.

 

[daneenm]

We tried Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen on our last trip and really enjoyed it.

 

[aristocat65]

Blue Bayou is definitely worth a visit. The food is only OK and overpriced, but it is so pretty in there, and really a unique experience to eat in POTC. Definitely you will need reservations for that one. Food and Dining is not really the big deal at DL like it is at WDW though. A few places we enjoy though are: Storytellers Cafe on the GCH (a wonderful quiet place to go for lunch and a mid day break, or they have a really nice dinner buffet), Napa Rose in the GCH for a more upscale dinner and Cafe Orleans in DL for lunch.

 

[Mortimer Mouse]

I would suggest Napa Rose, it's big bucks but worth the spluge.....

 

[dawnrose]

...Another vote for Napa Rose...IMO, the best food at DLR (and the most expensive) We have eaten at Jazz Kitchen...loved it the first time, but not so good the second, guess it depends on what you order-loved the Bananas Foster...Blue Bayou atmosphere can't be beat, tho the food is overpriced and only so-so...We like La Brea Bakery for a quick bite and for sit down meals... We are going to try Cafe Orleans next trip...Also thinking of trying some of the restaraunts at Gardenwalk, like Fire and Ice...

 

[marshwiggle]

Blue Bayou would be a must-do for first-timers in our book, but only that one time for the ambiance - we used to eat there every trip but the quality/cost ratio has really taken a beating.

A night without the (young) kids:
Napa Rose = best food of the lot
Steakhouse 55 =
Jazz Kitchen = loved the bread pudding

Character Meals:
Storytellers Cafe = nice omelet station at breakfast and Chip + Dale
Ariel's Grotto = mediocre food but one-stop shop for princesses; you can buy meal vouchers online that can save you a decent chunk

It's not fine dining but we like to get an outside table at Trattoria around 4:30pm and if we time it just right, the kids can watch the Pixar Parade over the wall while we eat their desserts.

 

[Flitterific]

Another vote for Napa Rose! I'd rather save on other meals and splurge on a nice meal here

Goofy's Kitchen is really cool too if you're into character meals. The character interaction there is wonderful and the food is yummy too

 

[meehrm]

Steakhouse 55, a bit on the pricey side but so worth the steaks
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, really good food
while some people might not agree with me, our family enjoyed the ESPN Zone

we have not had any opportunity to eat at the Blue Bayou but our next trip for next year we will be celebrating 3 birthdays, an anniversary, and my husband's graduation so we are hoping to finally make it to the Blue Bayou.

we have also heard many good things about Napa Rose but heards it's really pricey. Is there a difference with the eating experience up at the bar area vs. table seating?

 

[disneyobsessed808]

Steakhouse 55, a bit on the pricey side but so worth the steaks
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, really good food
while some people might not agree with me, our family enjoyed the ESPN Zone

we have not had any opportunity to eat at the Blue Bayou but our next trip for next year we will be celebrating 3 birthdays, an anniversary, and my husband's graduation so we are hoping to finally make it to the Blue Bayou.

we have also heard many good things about Napa Rose but heards it's really pricey. Is there a difference with the eating experience up at the bar area vs. table seating?

The only food available at the bar is select appetizers and desserts (I believe). But the food is definitely worth the high price tag. My experiences there are some of the best dining experiences I've had anywhere.

For the OP, I definitely suggest eating at Napa Rose. I also like Naples in Downtown Disney, Goofy's Kitchen for a character meal. For quick service eateries, definitely get some nachos at whitewater snacks, and fried chicken at Plaza Inn.

You can only do priority seating 60 days in advance.

 

[ballarinamom]

We feel the food at Ariel's Grotto is sooo much better with the new menu. (new like from last year). It is our new favorite for in the park dining. The tri tip and ciapinno are really good.
A major difference in food for DL and WDW, is that DTD is right there. That is where you will find more options. Also, WDW is more of a destination that requires more days. Thus more dining options are needed.

As a pp said, we too love to get a patio table at Wine Country Tratoria and watch the parade. However, with the construction, the parade stops before WCT.

 

[Minnie824]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! DH & I will look into all of them and have a lot to start planning with! We'll probably need a character meal or 2 for DDs as well. Napa Rose sounds like a must do, as well as some of the others. Thanks again...so much better getting recommendations from people as opposed to just reading about the restaurants too.

 

[jlmarr]

And lastly, if you have any other suggestions for dining in the LA/Bev Hills area, that would be great too! Thanks!

Since you're talking about off-site, you might want to check out the Anaheim White House, which gets great reviews and sounds like the fine dining experience you're looking for. (Interesting list of celebs for such an out-of-the-way place.)

 

[GrandBob]

Since you're talking about off-site, you might want to check out the Anaheim White House, which gets great reviews and sounds like the fine dining experience you're looking for. (Interesting list of celebs for such an out-of-the-way place.)

I'm curious what other DISers think about this place. I checked it out online before my last trip. On tripadvisor, it seems that most of its reviews are either 4/5 stars (wonderful) or 1 star (awful), with nothing in between. I skipped it because it had too many bad reviews. But of course it has lots of good reviews too, which is why I wonder.

In any case, if you decide to go, know that they participate in restaurant.com. You can buy a $25 or $75 certificate there, good Sunday-Thursday. Restaurant.com runs specials, usually anywhere from 50-80% off their normal price for coupons. The current codeword for the special is SWEET, which gets you 60% off. But it expires today, Oct 19.

-Bob

 

[GrandBob]

BTW, there's a new restaurant.com promo code. Code is PUMPKIN, worth 70% off, valid Oct 20-25. (The coupons you buy are valid forever in California. Dates listed are just the dates that you can get 70% off when buying the coupon).

-Bob