Favorite, not to miss, restaurants.

[KarlaG4Kids]

If you could only choose 1 sit down restaurant and 1 counter service restaurant at DL, which ones would you choose and why? Also, are there any "don't miss" restaurants near DL? 2 more sleeps and I will be at DL for the very first time!

 

[Sherry E]

Well, my first inclination would be to choose the Goofy's Kitchen character buffet for my one sit-down/table service meal. BUT, it is not quite the standard table service (they do bring beverages to you, but basically you serve yourself) so I am going to leave it out. However, that would be my one choice of a place to eat in all of DLR if I only had one choice!

So, for counter service, I have to say that right now, at this point in time, I am loving Taste Pilots Grill. Excellent BBQ chicken sandwich with great, soft criss cut fries (that look like pickle slices or Ruffles potato chips). They also have great onion rings.

For my one table service/NON-character buffet, that is tough.....I have eaten at Carnation Cafe on every trip to DLR since back in the '90s, and they have good food for any meal of the day, including dessert. But I am kind of burning out on them a little bit. I like Wine Country Trattoria but not enough to choose it over everything else. I like ESPN Zone, Rainforest Cafe and Naples in Downtown Disney, but it seems wrong to choose non-Disney restaurants. So......if I didn't choose Carnation Cafe, then I would probably have to go with Storytellers Cafe in the GCH! I like the cozy ambience there. They have a good lunch menu and they have great spaghetti at dinner!

 

[cheshiregirl]

On DLR property my faves are Storyteller's (table service) and White Water Snacks (counter service), which are both located in the GCH. A close second for CS is Pacific Wharf for the yummy soups and salads in bread bowls. I like the atmosphere of Storyteller's and the fact that I can order off a menu while my husband (a big eater) can get the buffet for dinner. WWS wins for me due to the amazing steak nachos and the excellent french dip sanwich. My DH and I usually order both items and share and both of us are stuffed at the end of lunch. PW is great because it's not your typical theme park fare--no burgers, hot dogs or pizza anywhere in sight!

Off DLR property my favorite is Mimi's Cafe for breakfast. The pain perdu breakfast is my favorite thing ever. In addition to eggs, potatoes and your choice of bacon or sausage and a glass of fresh squeezed juice, you get this amazing french toast that is stuffed with a mixture of cream cheese and orange marmalade... it is simply heavenly and you will leave very, very full!

 

[Albertan mom]

Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream.

Yum. Yum. Yum.

Enough said.

Oh, Ok, I will add more:

Don't know if I will get in trouble for posting this but check out
Our Laughing Place. (be sure to put the 'our' in there.)

There are reviews, pictures, and pics of the menus on there.

I love
Goofys Kitchen
Rainforest Cafe
ESPN
Taste Pilots Grill
Hungry Bear
Bengal Barbeque

That is all I have eaten at. Will let you know in a few weeks what other places are good!!

 

[Stacerita]

I don't have a fave table service
But I love French Market for counter service.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I would choose Cafe Orleans for table service (because of the Monte Cristo) and Rancho Del Zocalo for counter. The food is good there and it's a nice atmosphere.

 

[mystic_path]

My favorite counter service is the little red corn dog wagon at the end of Main Street, and my favorite sit down meal is Cafe Orleans for the food. But if we are just talking about the atmosphere then its gotta be the Blue Bayou (But in my opinion the food at the BB is lousy with service to match). As for places to eat NEAR Disneyland then I would highly recommend Mimi's down the road by Howard Johnson on Harbor, or the Rainforest Cafe in DTD!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

Hmmm, 1 each? That's really really hard to do.....but if I could only chose 1 each I'd go with

TS Blue Bayou
CS Taste Pilots Grill
outside DL Joe's Crab Shack

Those would be number 1 choices, that doesn't mean we eat at them every trip, those are just my number 1 picks.

 

[audrabolster]

Our favorite sit down in the park is Blue Bayou. We go for lunch because the portions are still large and the prices are not as expensive as dinner. We love the atmosphere of it there! And mmm cookie boat for dessert LOL. As for counter service- in DL we like the Hungry Bear because you feel kind of secluded, you can watch the ducks and the food is yummy. For DCA we LOVE taste pilots grill!

 

[vettegirl]

Blue Bayou is my favorite restaurant in the world!

 

[Gisele]

How terrific!, that this will be your first trip to Dl. I hope that you and your family will have a wonderful, and awesome time!
Do not forget to ask for your first visit buttons. There are buttons for other occasions too, such as for birthdays.


The Blue Bayou is my most favorite restaurant. It has been since I was a child. I recommend sitting by the waterside. As well as making a p.s. for the BB. The waterside request cannot be honored over the phone, however, if you arrive early for your p.s., I recommend at least 20 minutes, then request it.
I also very much like (CS) Bengal BBQ. The bacon wrapped asparagus skewers are very tasty.

 

[Jennifer03]

My favorite counter service restaurant is Plaza Inn. My favorite sit down restaurant is Storytellers Cafe (which isn't actually in Disneyland, but at the Grand Californian).

 

[Gisele]

Oops, should have reworded myself. Regarding waterside seating requests, one can of course make them, at the time of your scheduled p.s.
However,in order to have the best chance possible for receiving said request, arrive early. I arrived @30 minutes early, last year, made my request, and in less than 10 minutes I was seated. I think that is pretty awesome. In the meantime, there were people being turned away at the podiums, for they had no p.s. and none were available at the time. At times like that, one can feel like the Cheshire cat.

 

[Princess_Couture]

OOH you want me to just choose one of each hmmmm

Ok well I really like the skewers that you counter buy from the Bengal BBQ in Adventureland, and I love Cafe Orleans.

 

[IASWAM]

Corn Dog Castle in CA for the counter service and Carnation Café for the sit down.

 

[youmyflower]

my favorite CS restaurant is Hungry Bear. Not so much for the food but for the ambience. It is so peaceful and relaxing to sit back there and watch the ducks and the Mark Twain float past. It's in a really secluded area away from the hustle and bustle.

In lieu of choosing my fav TS restaurant, because there's so few there, I'll tell you my second fav CS restaurant is Rancho del Zocalo. Sit by the BTMRR and watch all the screaming fans on the roller coaster.

Enjoy!

 

[eduk8r26]

Carnation Cafe for sit-down--it's the only place I've found where I can get iced tea with lemon--and Redd Rocket's Pizza Port--is that counter service? I love the chicken fusilli. We usually hit one or both every time we go.