Eating at Napa Rose

[splash5]

We are going to try out Napa Rose this time. I thought we would eat at the chefs table - any advice? It will be myself, DH, and DS (14). We would like to get the full experience!! Also, what night is better? The boys were talking about going on our first night (Sunday) around 6:30 or 7:00. We arrive at the hotel around 5:30 this day. How much do people dress up here?

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We used to be Napa regulars before the kids came along and before the exhibition counter used to be called the "Chef's Table".

Dress code - while many dress up or at least put on business casual for the eatery, you can still wear jeans. I've been pretty darn casual there before. It is, after all, a Disney eatery.

They have 2 major seatings for the counter really - pretty much 5:30-6pm ish and 8pm. You won't be disappointed. The counter is really what makes that restaurant shine.

It's easier to get PSs for a week night. Saturday is worse than Sunday. Since you arrive on sunday, it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Bunless]

People wear jeans, people wear cocktail dresses--and of course all in between. I like to dress up a little bit, just because I think it's appropriate to acknowladge how special the meal is and how great the chefs, sommaliers, and servers are...I think nice, dark jeans and an evening appropriate top would be fine, or a casual dress.

Also know that if you eat at the chef's counter, it can get warm since you're right there by all the ovens.

I've never eaten at a chef's table so I can't tell you the difference between that experience and this one, but I did really enjoy the chef's counter at Napa Rose. They don't create a menu just for you, but it's a great experience to be right there watching it all happen.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We've done regular chef's tables before - including the one at Victoria and Albert's at WDW's Grand Floridian Resort. They really are not the same experience at all. That's why I had to have a chuckle when they started calling the counter seats "Chef's Table" .

Can you believe that up until 1.5 years ago, those seats were for "walk-ins"? We ought to know - we used them an awful lot - like once a month......

 

[amyamya]

People wear jeans, people wear cocktail dresses--and of course all in between. I like to dress up a little bit, just because I think it's appropriate to acknowladge how special the meal is and how great the chefs, sommaliers, and servers are...I think nice, dark jeans and an evening appropriate top would be fine, or a casual dress.

We always get a little dressed up for dinner, but we like to. For us it's part of the fun of being on vacation, and for me it's a reminder I don't have to cook it, serve it or do the dishes! BUT, we must have been TOO dressed up because we had people stop us to ask what the occasion was!
This was on the way back from dinner at Jazz Kitchen. Maybe it was my husband's tux JUST KIDDING! (Oh, no Princess Tiana is rubbing off on me!) No, we were just wearing some dressy stuff that packs well. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Another perk of being at Disneyland!

 

[avalon451]

DD13 and I went and sat at the chef's counter for a wonderful experience on our Mom/daughter trip in October. Somebody told me to request seats 4-8? I think it was-- is that right, YellowMickey? Because that puts you right in front of the action. It was very fun! There's a more detailed description of our experience in my trip report, page 5, near the end of our Wednesday report. In there I also detailed how DD13 had gotten her face painted, and was worried about wearing it into the nicest restaurant she'd ever been in. However, they not only didn't blink an eye, she even got compliments from the host, two servers, and two chefs.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[M4travels]

....Somebody told me to request seats 4-8? I think it was-- is that right, YellowMickey?

I'm not YellowMickey, but it's close. 1 through 4 are one counter section (near salads, I believe), 5 through 8 are the second section (which is the hot-line area - LOVE watching them prep the meats) and 9 through 12 are over near the dessert section. Of all our times that we've eaten at the counter we've never seen anyone over near the desserts.

It really is a fun place to dine at Napa Rose, however, if it's not available I enjoy the regular dining room, as well.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

BUT, we must have been TOO dressed up because we had people stop us to ask what the occasion was!
This was on the way back from dinner at Jazz Kitchen. Maybe it was my husband's tux JUST KIDDING! (Oh, no Princess Tiana is rubbing off on me!)

Or maybe you just looked very young , because I've seen teens and college-age people go to eat at the Jazz Kitchen before formals in the past (or at least I'm assuming that they're going to a big thing after because it's not often you see a teen girl in a ball gown...or at least it isn't a regular occurrence for me ).

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I'm not YellowMickey, but it's close. 1 through 4 are one counter section (near salads, I believe), 5 through 8 are the second section (which is the hot-line area - LOVE watching them prep the meats) and 9 through 12 are over near the dessert section. Of all our times that we've eaten at the counter we've never seen anyone over near the desserts.

It really is a fun place to dine at Napa Rose, however, if it's not available I enjoy the regular dining room, as well.

You are correct with the numbers. The reason I suggest 3-6 is that 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 are the ones on either side of the pass. Since the chef is there directing the kitchen, you can get a lot more interaction with him and the dining room coordinators.

3 and 4 were our traditional seats....