I need DL Dining help!!

[Winston1204]

I have been to WDW 10000 times but we are taking our 1st trip to DL this winter. It will just be my and my Boyfriend going from December 1st - December 8th. We are staying at HOJO. Now being that we are WDW Veterans, we know to book all of our ADR's (advanced dining reservations) plenty ahead of time. Dining in DL...I'm CLUELESS!! We are not big breakfast people....we eat park food for lunch...and then we like a nice sit down meal for dinner. Can anyone recommend places for a sit down dinner in the Parks, in the Hotels, at DTD?? Also, is DL like WDW in that we need to make ADR's?? Any help would be MUCH appreciated as for the first time in my life I cannot plan a Disney vacation and it's driving me CRAAAAAZY!!!

 

[Jennifer03]

I highly recommend Storytellers Cafe at the Grand Californian Hotel. They have very nice food and the atmosphere is very cozy in my opinion. In the park, I like Carnation Cafe. It's a nice outdoor sit down restaurant on Main Street. As for reservations, I have been able to walk right in to both restaurants, without reservations. However, it's probably safer to have reservations just in case it's really crowded the night you are there. If you would like, you can view Disneyland restaurant menus here:
http://www.themouseforless.com/tripplanning/menus/dl/menus.shtml

http://allearsnet.com/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm

Have fun on your trip!

 

[Amy&Dan]

My favorites are:
Naples in DTD
Hooks Pointe in the DLH
Tortilla Joes in DTD

We also love character meals and enjoy the Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans (both inside DL) but we have kids so our dining is going to be different than yours! I would suggest Napa Rose and Ralph Brennans (they have upstairs dining room), I haven't been but always hear good things.

Dining at Disneyland is so different than WDW! However, with DTD right there, as well as the three hotels you do have more options than one might think. You can make priority seatings 60 days in advance by calling: 714-781-3463. You won't get a confirmation number like you do from WDW dining, so make sure you call again before your trip to reconfirm everything. Definitely check out those menus, there are lots of places in DTD that look nice like the Uva Bar and Catal that I have never been to. They look great for couples. I love the outdoor seating at many of the places on DTD (Naples for example), the southern Californian climate is nice all year long to enjoy eating outside. No humidity and even on cool nights they have heat lamps to keep you comfortable. And with all the outdoor musical acts they have, you can enjoy those from some of those outdoor areas or stroll along afterwards to enjoy. Disneyland's DTD feels more upscale and entertaining than WDW's.

I do have to say, if you like a character meal, Goofy's for dinner and Storytellers for breakfast are two good ones. And also, Disneyland does have some really good counterservice options. Some of them (the Plaza, Rancho de Zoccalo, French Market) are called buffeterias. You go through a line with your tray, pick what you want and they then dish it up and hand it to you so you can pay. At those I listed, you are even served on a real plate which is sort of nice. I love the full restaurants of WDW better for the most part, but think Disneyland's counterservice options are better. And Goofy's is my favorite character meal at either park. I would suggest doing some meal at one of the onsite hotels, so you can see them. The GCH is spectacular in the lobby area, and the DLH has lovely grounds, koi ponds, waterfalls and remote control jungle boats anyone can use. The DLH also has a fun outdoor bar area that is great for drinks and light (as in snack food) appetizers, right next to Hook's Point.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[cyndisun]

If you're going to splurge there isn't anything better (IMO) than Napa Rose at GCH. Unlike most other Disneyland properties, they do not have to order all their supplies/ingredients from one huge vendor like Cosco. They are able to buy local, fresh products from the best vendors. DH and I treat ourselves to one "grown-up" dinner there each trip. Our DS loves Pinocchio's workshop and we love a night out alone. We like to sit at the chef's counter and watch all the kitchen activity. We tell the chef to "take care of us" and he prepares whatever he thinks is best that night. He serves it in the same way as the evening's tasting menu. We have never been disappointed!

Have fun!

 

[biolabetty]

Steakhouse 55 at the DLH is a very nice restaurant, right next to Goofy's Kitchen. I like Hook's Point too, but it isn't always open, you might need to check if it will be when you are there. Places like Naples, Catal, and Tortilla Joe's in DTD don't take reservations, or at least that's what they've told me every time I've gone. Sometimes the line to get in can be pretty lengthy, I've waited 45 minutes for Tortilla Joe's. One thing to know about Tortilla Joe's, they have an outdoor Cantina as well as a take out window and indoor seating. The indoor seating is handled separately from the outdoor Cantina seating, so sometimes when the seating for indoors is a long wait, the outdoor seating may not be.

 

[DangerMouse]

I'm going to recommend MiMi's Cafe for dinner. It's not on property, but it's right across the street from the HoJo and has really awesome food and great prices, and you don't need priority seating reservations!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Steakhouse 55 at the DLH is a very nice restaurant, right next to Goofy's Kitchen. I like Hook's Point too, but it isn't always open, you might need to check if it will be when you are there. Places like Naples, Catal, and Tortilla Joe's in DTD don't take reservations, or at least that's what they've told me every time I've gone. Sometimes the line to get in can be pretty lengthy, I've waited 45 minutes for Tortilla Joe's. One thing to know about Tortilla Joe's, they have an outdoor Cantina as well as a take out window and indoor seating. The indoor seating is handled separately from the outdoor Cantina seating, so sometimes when the seating for indoors is a long wait, the outdoor seating may not be.

Tortilla Joes takes reservations but only for a party of four or less. Which makes no sense to me! However, I've always been able to sit outside as a walkup. But I do believe the menu at the outdoor cantina is a bit more limited but its worth it to not have to wait so long. And I had forgotten that Hook's Pointe isn't always open. For our June trip it was closed on Sunday but I was able to get a reservation for a different night okay. I have always been able to make reservations for any sized party I have had for Naples but they fill up and then won't accept anymore reservations for that particular day. I believe they like to keep some openings for walk ups.

 

[biolabetty]

Tortilla Joes takes reservations but only for a party of four or less. Which makes no sense to me! However, I've always been able to sit outside as a walkup. But I do believe the menu at the outdoor cantina is a bit more limited but its worth it to not have to wait so long.

That's good to know. I usually have a party of 2-4 and would enjoy getting a reservation finally. Thanks for the update.

 

[Amy&Dan]

That's good to know. I usually have a party of 2-4 and would enjoy getting a reservation finally. Thanks for the update.

Thats what they have always told me. Sort of the opposite of most places that take reservations for larger parties only, not the small ones! We sometimes travel with family to DL and when we do, can't eat there. Dh refuses to wait for his food so we need a reservation always! Good luck!

 

[staley7580]

I'm going to recommend MiMi's Cafe for dinner. It's not on property, but it's right across the street from the HoJo and has really awesome food and great prices, and you don't need priority seating reservations!

Oh yeah!!! I LOVE Mimis!! The honey oat muffins.. YUM!!