Favorite arrival day dinner

[LennyMachine]

As long as I keep my husband happy by heading right to Cafe Orleans for his three-cheese Monte Cristo fix (and revisiting it at least one more time after he's had a couple of days to digest it!), I feel I can continue to persuade him to keep visiting DL!

 

[Lebestiole]

We always go have dinner at Medieval Times!!! It's a family tradition and we love it! The food is amazing, the entertainment is great! It's just amazing!

 

[meggles]

The last few times we have done Catal (cocktails and paella, yum) in DTD, sitting outside on the second floor balcony overlooking DTD, listening to the music and taking it all in after the long drive. This time we'll do the same or maybe Jazz Kitchen or Steakhouse 55? We like to have some healthier food before hitting all the sweets the following days in the parks. I'd love to go over to Trader Sam's after checking into the the hotel and just relax a bit before dinner. We walk around DTD a bit too if we arrive in the afternoon or early evening. There is something nice about not going into the parks right away. It's fun to walk around the hotel (esp. if you stay on-site), explore DTD, or swim.

 

[arcadiandj]

Jazz Kitchen or UVA Bar, depending on the mood. If it's been a long day, we might hit the NR lounge for relaxation vs. people watching.

My wife and I ate at the Jazz Kitchen the first night of our honeymoon! We have very special memories of that meal! Not a first night tradition, and we've only been there once since.

But we have done the Carthay lounge several times-which might qualify for a tradition. KILLER ambiance, WONDERFUL appetizers, and entirely serviceable drinks. We CERTAINLY do the Carthay lounge every trip, and strongly recommend it!

 

[BriannaRuth]

Normally we arrive in the morning and don't really have a traditional first evening place. But this year we changed things around a bit, arriving the afternoon before and Rainforest Cafe is our first night. Will probably do that going forward. There used to be a Rainforest Cafe here in Seattle but it's gone now! So Disney will be our only chance to go.

 

[McNs]

Another one for Rainforest. It was our first meal on our first visit, so has become a tradition. Kids love it, food is fine, and I do like their coronaritas!

 

[Kittyskyfish]

We fly in from Ohio and our sole purpose in life that day is to spend as much time in Disneyland as possible. Usually our first dinner is a split-plate of fried chicken at the Plaza Inn and that's more than enough for two weary travelers, but this year I made our dinner reservation at the River Belle Terrace because the new menu looks so tempting! I'm especially eyeballing the wedge salad with brisket!
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/river-belle-terrace/menus/dinner/

 

[Tommy_B]

I think Rainforest Cafe is dreadful.... loud and overpriced for mediocre food.

Marri's Italian Restaurant is our old standby, but there are so many choices these days with the Packing House open and the Center Street Promenade that we go into downtown Anaheim now, usually to the Packing House.

http://anaheimpackingdistrict.com/merchants

 

[VandVsmama]

I second the Marri's recommendation. We ate there last year during both of our trips to DL. The food was really good, very affordable, and it reminded me a lot of the family-run Italian restaurants that I used to go to as a kid. We had a great time there.

 

[Blue32]

If not hitting the parks on our arrival day, it would be DTD for us. The best meals we have had there have been at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen and Naples(for pizza).

 

[BriannaRuth]

I think Rainforest Cafe is dreadful.... loud and overpriced for mediocre food.

Honestly I'm not the biggest fan of it, either. We mainly go there because my girls, 12 and 16, love it and there's not one near us anymore.

 

[VandVsmama]

I think that on our next trip, however, we'll eat at the Pizza Press since we'll be staying next door at the BWPPI.

 

[Winnowill]

DTD has usually been our tradition because we want to get full-day use out of our park tickets. However, we just bought APs, so this may change since we have the luxury of coming and going whenever we want. I really want to try out some of the in-park restaurants we haven't done, yet.

 

[GoBears 1980]

Since I used to park in the middle of DTD, nothing there could be traditional. Marri's is traditional, DLH was too until they took out my favorite restaurant. Don't get me started on missing Belisle's...... Might start a new tradition with Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles or Packing House.

I am in the "yuck" on Rainforest Cafe gang (and most Landry restaurants).

 

[danceanddisney2010]

It's always Tortilla Joe's! It's good.. the price is okay ... it's a fun atmosphere.. and usually the wait isn't TOOOOO too crazy

 

[Indiana Scott]

It's always Tortilla Joe's! It's good.. the price is okay ... it's a fun atmosphere.. and usually the wait isn't TOOOOO too crazy

And as a side note they have the best (IMO) margarita's in the entire resort!
It's great fun to relax outside with a couple and watch the world go by.