Favorite restaurant for "adult night."

[Baklava]

Our party in December will be 4 adults and a 6 year old. The kid is NOT an adventurous eater and has requested an evening at the kid's club, so there will be a perfect opportunity for the adults to eat somewhere special.

DH isn't all that interested in CCR. We've done Steakhouse 55 and loved it and Napa Rose looks nice, but I thought I'd find out if I was missing a hidden gem somewhere. What's your favorite? Can be in either park or DTD, we're staying at the Grand, so we'd prefer not to drive somewhere else.

 

[rcs]

For adults night out, you named the two of our favorites. The Cathay Circle is nice depending on which room you are sat in, but not up to either of those. If you are looking for a special night out with some culinary adventure, try the chef's counter at the Napa Rose if you can get it. The only disadvantage is you'll be seated at a counter which makes conversation between the "ends" difficult.

Have a great night out!

 

[disland7]

Napa rose chef's counter was so fun. While pricey DH and I both felt it was the most fun and delicious meal we've had and are up for trying it again if we ever have an adults meal at DL again. (With 5 kids that opportunity is rare indeed)

 

[daddiojiggy]

are you litterally 'at the end of a bar'? how much $$ is a meal?
thanks

 

[disland7]

The counter is inset a little so it didn't feel like a bar or counter to me. We only had the 2 of us.
4 seats--counter where they place the ready to go out to the restaurant food---4 more seats. I was in the "end" seat closest to the ready to go counter. It was awesome to see all the different meals prepared and get ready to go out. I don't think it would have been hard to talk to the other people next to us had they been in our party. However sitting close to the counter where all the food goes out was really cool. I think I'd be disappointed if I didn't sit near it the next time. But maybe not the food was so good.

 

[Drusilla99]

My favorite is steakhouse 55...good food, full bar & it's always quiet!

 

[ADLFAN]

I have not been there yet, but Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen always tempts me with it's big menu and lively atmosphere. Looks like they have some fun cocktails and a pretty good selection of beers, too. I imagine it could be a fun place for a gathering! Maybe we'll make it ourselves later this month!

 

[LizzyS]

RB's Jazz Kitchen in DTD! Oh man, it's delicious.

 

[GoBears 1980]

For adult fun, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (they have actual jazz bands playing), the House of Blues or Catal.

To venture off Disney altogether, The Ranch, for great steaks, Roy's for Asian fusion or Manhattan Steak & Seafood.

If you are there on a Sunday, do look at the House of Blues Gospel Brunch.

 

[AustinTink]

The Cathay Circle is nice depending on which room you are sat in

This is absolutely true. In fact, I'll go one further and say don't sit inside at all. We love the balcony at Carthay Circle and request in every time now. Nothing better than a nice bottle of Silver Oak people watching from the balcony. An 8pm reservation is best, when it cools down in the evening. So lovely. We enjoy the privacy the bacony adds to our dinner. The indoor tables are too close together and loud for a real intimate feel in my opinion.

 

[Malcon10t]

are you litterally 'at the end of a bar'? how much $$ is a meal?
thanks

You are at more of a counter. You are looking in at the kitchen. It is a lot of fun. When I did it a couple years ago, my bill including the wine pairing and tip was about $160 I believe. The chef makes a meal he thinks you will like based on your likes and dislikes.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

For adult fun, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (they have actual jazz bands playing), the House of Blues...

HOB closed at DtD at the end of May and moved to GardenWalk. Not sure if they are open there yet. If the OP is willing to walk 10 minutes or so south on Harbor there are Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and Morton's Steakhouse. Trader Sam's at the DLH is a casual, fun (grown ups only after 8pm) option.

 

[choirboy501]

The pass. The counter where the expediter is working, checking that tickets are complete and plates are correct before calling for the order to be taken to the diners, is called the pass.

 

[BriannaRuth]

We're eating at the Chef's Counter at Napa Rose next week! Can't wait.

I agree that Trader Sam's at the DLH is alot of fun for adults -- just depends what you're looking for. Sometimes on our "grown up night" we do Uva Bar in DTD (the one outside in the middle of the walkway), then hop around to different DTD locations.

If you want to stay *in* the parks to eat, we like eating outside (but in the shade) at Wine Country Trattoria. We really enjoy their Disney-focused wine list and still being in the park. Food is not as good as someplace like Napa Rose but it's also not as expensive!

And while I'm not a big fan of dinner at CCR, DH and I do like going to the bar there for a cocktail when we're without kids.

 

[BriannaRuth]

We're eating at the Chef's Counter at Napa Rose next week! Can't wait.

I agree that Trader Sam's at the DLH is alot of fun for adults -- just depends what you're looking for. Sometimes on our "grown up night" we do Uva Bar in DTD (the one outside in the middle of the walkway), then hop around to different DTD locations.

If you want to stay *in* the parks to eat, we like eating outside (but in the shade) at Wine Country Trattoria. We really enjoy their Disney-focused wine list and still being in the park. Food is not as good as someplace like Napa Rose but it's also not as expensive!

And while I'm not a big fan of dinner at CCR, DH and I do like going to the bar there for a cocktail when we're without kids.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Our party in December will be 4 adults and a 6 year old. The kid is NOT an adventurous eater and has requested an evening at the kid's club, so there will be a perfect opportunity for the adults to eat somewhere special.

DH isn't all that interested in CCR. We've done Steakhouse 55 and loved it and Napa Rose looks nice, but I thought I'd find out if I was missing a hidden gem somewhere. What's your favorite? Can be in either park or DTD, we're staying at the Grand, so we'd prefer not to drive somewhere else.

Hands down, I'd choose Napa Rose. Everything we have ever eaten there has been fantastic. If we didn't have DD with us, I would do chef's table in a heartbeat.

 

[choirboy501]

I really need to try Wine Country Trattoria. It has to be a lot easier to get in there than The Cove Bar. The menu looks good, and bet it's nice for people watching.

I like the Cathay Circle Lounge, too, but have found that due to its popularity, they will sometimes restrict entrance to the lounge to those with restaurant reservations, and then only 30 minutes prior to the reservation.

 

[BriannaRuth]

I like the Cathay Circle Lounge, too, but have found that due to its popularity, they will sometimes restrict entrance to the lounge to those with restaurant reservations, and then only 30 minutes prior to the reservation.

Thanks for the heads-up ... hadn't had this happen before but will keep it in mind!

 

[Heymy]

The best meal we've ever had was the the Chef's Counter, hands down. The following year we decided to just eat in the dinning room at the Napa Rose and didn't have close to the experience that we did at the Chef's Counter. DH and I love to have one meal alone if the whole family comes along. Last time we did cocktails at Trader Sam's (my kids love this place, but it's so nice to actually sit at the bar and not deal with them) and then went to Catal....it was wonderful. We also really like the UVA Bar. After dinner drinks can't be beat at the Hearthstone Lounge...then again, they carry my favorite wine. In short, you can't go wrong with Downtown Disney!

 

[felice]

+1 for the mentions of Wine Country Trattoria (in Disneyland California Adventure) and also Catal in Downtown Disney.

My wife and I will be celebrating our wedding anniversary in October whilst we're in Anaheim, we're planning a meal at Catal on the special day itself if we can get a table.