Got the Chef's Counter @ Napa Rose!

[Luv4Disney]

DH and I are very excited about this! Please share your experiences with us!

 

[Docter419]

Saw your thread and I had to respond. My wife and I went on our honeymoon in disneyland, we stayed at the GCH for a week and it was the best trip of my life. The best dinner of the trip was at the chef's table at the Napa Rose. We got two seats right in front of the kitchen.

me

My Wife

We had a great mushroom soup as an appetizer and some wonderful steak, it was the best meal I've had in a long time. But the best part was afterward, we had watched several Samantha Brown specials on the Napa Rose and the Head Chef chef there became a minor Celebrity. But my wife was too embarrassed to ask to meet him so I took charge and asked if we could thank him for the meal. He came right over, and we thanked him for the meal and he told us about Samantha it was so cool! And the best part was once he learned we were on our honeymoon he comped us an awesome wine and cheese pairing which he explained to us what to taste for! He taught us about different cheeses and what wines pair with them it was so cool! and after that he wiped up a free dessert as well.

Needless to say it was an awesome dinner, and we tipped very well

 

[calanniebu]

We have eaten there twice as it's one of my husband's favorite restaurants and that's saying a lot since we live in Boston and he grew up in NYC. We will be headed back again. We have done it both ways. Once we just ordered off the regular menu and the second time we allowed the chef to pick for us. The interaction with the chef and the kitchen is awesome and my foodie husband and I just have a ball!!!

oh and we plan on dining there on our trip in three weeks ... what can I say, we're addicts!

 

[Heymy]

We went for our anniversary in December and it was AMAZING
I highly recommend doing the chef's choice for the experience, interaction and wonderful food combinations. I couldn't stop talking about it for weeks. Expect to spend a couple of hours. We easily closed down the restaurant and we sat down at 7 (the 5:30 reservation had cancelled and they let us sit early). Both our waiter and the chef went through our likes and dislikes and encouraged us to try new things...so much fun! My only word of advice, beware of the wine pairing. Since I knew this would be a 6 or 7 course meal I was apprehensive, but our waiter told us he'd only do a 2 oz pour, I thought great. Well I don't know if it's because it was our anniversary, but I got a full glass of wine with each course. Needless to say, it was a painful day after To top it off they sent us home with a box of the most wonderful chocolates...I so wish I could buy those!!! Enjoy yourself!

 

[Luv4Disney]

We have eaten there twice as it's one of my husband's favorite restaurants and that's saying a lot since we live in Boston and he grew up in NYC. We will be headed back again. We have done it both ways. Once we just ordered off the regular menu and the second time we allowed the chef to pick for us. The interaction with the chef and the kitchen is awesome and my foodie husband and I just have a ball!!!

oh and we plan on dining there on our trip in three weeks ... what can I say, we're addicts!

I think we'll be there the same time. We leave in 22 days and a few hours. Aaah!

 

[Luv4Disney]

Thanks for the reviews! I don't think I could let the chef choose for me as I'm a very picky eater, but maybe DH will give it a whirl. Not sure if he's that adventurous though.

 

[oc_tony]

DH and I are very excited about this! Please share your experiences with us!

Here is a link to my latest DIS blog entry, Culinary Quest: Napa Rose. We ate at the chef's table for our anniversary and loved it.

 

[DisneyCruisin']

We're eating there during our 10th Anniversary trip in June! Cannot wait! I'm a picky eater too - but a generic no seafood and no duck - I should be just fine!

 

[franandaj]

The first time I ate there we sat at a table. Ever since we have sat at the Chef's counter every time. I started doing the cooking school with him three years ago and did it last weekend. AMAZING as usual! Chef Sutton always comes over and talks to us, but that could be since he knows us from the Cooking School.

In my Food & Wine Review there are some pictures from one of our dinners there last year. I know I've posted other dinners at the Chef's Counter places here on the DIS, but just to let you know that is the only place to sit, IMHO. I'll be there next Saturday for my birthday and I can't wait!

 

[Meriweather]

We dined there for our first time last week. It was amazing.
I am a picky eater, so I ordered off the menu.
DH did the chef's choice and wine pairings.
It was his birthday, so they comped my dessert :rotf: (since his was in his meal).
Also no charge for my non-alcoholic drinks....that surprised me.

How do you get the chef's table? Do you request it with reservations?
DH would love it.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Here is a link to my latest DIS blog entry, Culinary Quest: Napa Rose. We ate at the chef's table for our anniversary and loved it.

Read it before! That's what made me call back and see if the Chef's Counter was available. They don't say anything about it in the guidebooks. Great blog, btw!

 

[Luv4Disney]

We dined there for our first time last week. It was amazing.
I am a picky eater, so I ordered off the menu.
DH did the chef's choice and wine pairings.
It was his birthday, so they comped my dessert :rotf: (since his was in his meal).
Also no charge for my non-alcoholic drinks....that surprised me.

How do you get the chef's table? Do you request it with reservations?
DH would love it.

I had to call the actual restaurant. I couldn't find the number in a guide book or anywhere else so I googled it. We had a choice between a 5:30 and 8:30 seating. We chose the 8:30. I'll be sure to post about our experience when we get back!

 

[Luv4Disney]

We're eating there during our 10th Anniversary trip in June! Cannot wait! I'm a picky eater too - but a generic no seafood and no duck - I should be just fine!

I don't eat any seafood, vegetables (except corn and peas), or "gamey" meat: ostrich, venison, duck, quail, buffalo, etc. I also don't like curry, sweet potatoes or basmati rice. Also not a fan of cream sauces. I don't even eat salad. LoL. Random I know. I guess if I let the chef choose for me, he'll defnitely have a challenge!

 

[utopia74]

I'm thinking of trying this in a few weeks. My question is, how is the seating setup? I would have a party of two.. are the seats clustered together so that we would be elbow to elbow with another party of two?

 

[oc_tony]

I'm thinking of trying this in a few weeks. My question is, how is the seating setup? I would have a party of two.. are the seats clustered together so that we would be elbow to elbow with another party of two?

At the chef's counter, you sit in a "row" of four. We were a party of two, so we were seated next to another couple. I wouldn't say we were elbow-to-elbow, but you are definitely right next to your neighbor. If you are a party of two, expect to sit with two others. More info and pictures are in my aforementioned blog entry, if you are interested.

Luckily, the couple next to us ended up being WDW vets with whom we had much in common. We talked often throughout the meal and felt like we had made new friends by dessert. It was a very positive experience for us.

 

[franandaj]

I'm thinking of trying this in a few weeks. My question is, how is the seating setup? I would have a party of two.. are the seats clustered together so that we would be elbow to elbow with another party of two?

There is enough room even if there are four people sitting there, but rarely have I sat there with anyone else. At Christmastime, they sat a solo diner one seat away from us. However, we struck up a nice conversation and had a really good time.