Must do dining for a first timer?

[nkereina]

Curious to know opinions on the must do restaurants (QS or TS) for a first timer? We'll have 1 night, 3 full days, and 1 morning/afternoon. DL seems to have a lot of great snack options so I'm trying not to book myself up with TS dining, but I do have these planned:

Lunch - Café Orleans (DL)
Lunch - Carnation Café (DL)
Drinks/Snacks - Lamplight Lounge (DCA)
Dinner - Storytellers Café (GC)
Dinner - Ballast Point (DTD) (DH request, a must do for us lol)

I wanted to work in Blue Bayou, but the menu wasn't as appealing as Café Orleans and the fare was too similar for us to do both. Are we missing anything by not doing any breakfasts on-site? Anything else we should add?

Also if there are staple Disneyland/DCA snacks that instantly come to mind - please share!

Thanks all!

 

[dieumeye]

Depends on what you like. Carthay Circle and Napa Rose are two common recommendations that aren't on your list, but if you are looking at menus then I assume you have a pretty good idea whether or not those places are for you. Same goes for Steakhouse 55.

On your list, I'd say Storytellers is the only one you could drop or replace if necessary. There is nothing wrong with it at all, but unless you are doing character dining (which is not during dinner) I'm not sure that there is anything specific to make it a real standout.

Are you interested in character dining? If so, Plaza Inn has a great character breakfast. And Goofy's Kitchen does character dining for every meal.

For drinks, go to Trader Sam's. It's busy but really fun.

There are more snacks than you'll be able to handle - especially with TS lunch and dinner booked. Churros are classic. Dole Whip is classic. Little Red Wagon Corn Dog is the best corn dog anywhere (although that's more a meal than a snack). Everyone loves Bengal BBQ in Adventureland.

Edit: going to second Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen Express beignets!! Amazing!

 

[smiles33]

OOH! I love these threads like this because we plan all our vacations around food (even at Disney).

I've eaten at both Cafe Orleans and Blue Bayou and they offer different experiences. BB just feels unique because it's dark and inside the ride. I'm glad we did it once but I'd probably just do CO on the next trip.

I've never eaten at Carnation and heard so much about Chef Oscar (who I believe has since retired). I choose based on menus and it seemed a bit standard to me.

I've heard the Lobster Nachos are good at LL, but there was recently a poor review of their burger and chicken sandwich. Take a closer look at the menu as I'm not sure the view justifies it (unless you time it so you can watch WOC?).

We've never eaten at SC (my kids didn't know those woodland characters so we did all the other character meals when they were younger--Goofy's, Minnie at Plaza Inn, Mickey at Surf's Up, and the old Princess lunch at Ariel's Grotto). If you're headed to GCH, I HIGHLY recommend Napa Rose if you're into food. It was exquisitely prepared and excellent cocktails by Joe (one of the bartenders who was there both nights we went).

For what it's worth, my DH enjoyed his late night snack at Ballast Point in DTD but I was out with the kids on GOTG so I missed it.

Other restaurants have trade-offs. We enjoyed Carthay Circle but it's a LONG meal and you only have 2 dinners (one of which is reserved for BP). I don't like taking long lunches, personally, unless you can time it for when the park is super busy (like 2-3 pm). The other DTD restaurants are good, but involve walking out of the park so that sucks up more time. We found it nice to get away from the crowds and eat at Catal and Naples on our last trip and then just returned to our room for an afternoon nap.

In terms of snacks, we LOVE Dole Whip Floats (use Mobile Ordering to "skip" the long line), churros, the turkey leg (it's a HUGE "snack" that can be shared), and corn dogs.

Have fun eating your way around DLR!

 

[GatorChris]

When it comes to DL for dining, it's nothing like WDW. In FL, it's a must to have a sit down meal every day at one of their many excellent TS options. But at DL, it's the opposite. I much prefer to maybe have one or two reservations for a 5 day trip and CS the rest.

I like three of your five. The one's I'd skip: Storyteller's is just Ok. Even the character breakfast just had ok food. And Lamplight - I do NOT get the hype on this one. It's a replacement on the Cove Bar which is another place I didn't get. I think it was more about the alcoholic beverages than the food.

Our preference are the many CS options. At DL, Plaza Inn has amazing fried chicken and some pretty good pot roast. Bengal BBQ is great for quick and tasty kabobs. I love Rancho Zocalo for the Mexican food and Big Thunder ambiance. And strangely enough, the Corn Dog Wagon will blow your mind with how they are.

DCA has some great option, too! Award Weiners has really gourmet hot dogs. Really!!! Flo's V8 is good 50s food with the best ambiance on property, IMHO. My wife and kids love Lucky Fortune Cookery (GF Chinese food!). And my personal favorite is Pacific Wharf, where you get Boudin's clam chowder in a freshly made sourdough bread bowl - that is AMAZING!

Of course, Gibson Girl and Clarabelle's both have great waffle cone ice cream, which I've turned into a meal many times. Clarabelle's also has a "make-your-own" ice cream bar, which is really good.

For snacks, head out to DTD to Jazz Kitchen Express and get some beignets. Don't get the Mint Julip Bar version at DL. The JKE versions are authentic and delicious!

Have fun!!!

 

[avalon451]

I've eaten at both Cafe Orleans (once, dinner) and BB (4 times, mostly lunch). They were both great service, lovely ambiance, and delicious. I guess I just really love Blue Bayou because of the ambiance. We've always had good service and enjoyed the food there. That said, I like doing an early lunch there best, generally on a Magic Morning or early rope-drop day. I book right at the 60 day mark for the first lunch seating at 11:30, show up to check in a bit early, and request waterside. They generally seat the first groups on the water, and the ambiance just can't be beat.

Also I've done the F! dining package there for lunch, and enjoyed a FastPass to see the early show of F! in the reserved area, with a seat cushion, and stayed to watch fireworks afterward from that excellent vantage point. It's expensive. But I figure I want to eat at BB anyway, might as well get the F! reserved seating while I'm at it.

 

[HydroGuy]

Flo's V8 is good 50s food with the best ambiance on property, IMHO.

I agree Flo's is something to work in. It is CS but fun.

 

[azdisneylover]

Tortilla Joe's in DTD is a place we eat at least once when we are there and we always order the guacamole (made at your table).

Snacks in the parks are: dill popcorn with a Pear-o-dice drink from Cozy Cones, nachos from Whitewater Snacks, and anything that is for a limited time. We will try one, split it and decide if we should get more!

 

[Eve & Wall-e]

Favorite Snacks:

Disneyland
- Ice Cream Cone @ Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, Main Street
- Almost anything @ Jolly Holiday Bakery, Main Street
- Gray Stuff Gateau @ Red Rose Taverne, Fantasyland

California Adventure
- Red’s Apple Freeze and Pretzel Bites @ Cozy Cone Motel #4
- Ice Cream @ Clarabelle's Hand Scooped Ice Cream
- Almost anything @ Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop

 

[Speedracer5]

My favorites:

-Corn Dog @ Little Red Wagon
-Clam Chowder @ Royal Street Veranda & Boudin Sourdough
-Pomme Frites & Beignets @ Cafe Orleans
-Grey Stuff Gateau @ Red Rose Taverne
-Raspberry Macaron @ Jolly Holiday

My husband loves the Monte Cristo at Cafe Orleans. Personally for me, it's way too much food. He also loves the gumbo at Blue Bayou.

We're leaving for Disneyland next Friday! This time, I want to get a Dole Whip. My husband and I have been there three times together and I have yet to get a Dole Whip. I would also like to try the bao at Tropical Hideaway. I also haven't been to Bengal Barbecue and hear nothing but good things about it. This year, we have reservations at Steakhouse 55 (breakfast), Lamplight Lounge, Cafe Orleans and Blue Bayou. I also have tickets for the World of Color Dessert Party. I hope to hit up some of my favorite counter service restaurants this time!

 

[nkereina]

So many awesome suggestions - much appreciated! I will let you know what we decide on and report back with some reviews

 

[geminimagk]

We just got back on Saturday. I agree with several of the above recommendations, but do have to add the funnel cake at Stage Door Cafe! It was so great!

 

[IAmDis]

Steakhouse 55 is a MUST.

You could miss Carthay and not feel too bad about it. But Carthay is actually pretty cool inside, whether you're in the lounge downstairs or upstairs in the restaurant itself. Still good, but it's a slight step down in my opinion from Steakhouse 55 and Napa. It's something to try if you've already done Steakhouse 55 and wanna try something different.

You could miss Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans. Both are very hit and miss, and I've been eating at both of these for years through the different menu changes. We only decide to go here only if: A)We don't wanna spend $140 (for 2) at Steakhouse or don't want to walk over to the Hotel or B) get the pomme frites at Cafe Orleans or C)We're super hungry and walk right by it. I find these locations have very bland meats, veggies and overall quality ingredients... and each time I go, I wonder why they can't get it right. I know they're trying, so I go just to go because as APers, we don't have many options like WDWers do, so we enjoy the ambiance and suck it up. Blue Bayou would be considered a Signature dining experience, but not because of the food... they rush you too much there trying to turn and burn tables.

There are a ton of pretty good QS locations at DL, so you can't go wrong with a lot of these. The Tostada Salad at Rancho is pretty good and a ton of food for $10+. Their mexican caesar is good too. You also can't go wrong with the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup at Jolly Holiday along with the Harbor Galley location where you can get Broccoli Cheese Soup bread bowls and lobster rolls.

- Mickey beignets at Mint Julet Bar are a home run, if you're craving sweets. These are 100x better than the ones you'll find at the Jazz Kitchen in DD.

But again, just go to Steakhouse 55 if you have the budget for it and want a quiet, classy meal. It's very old Hollywood in there. Get the Bone-In Filet with the S55 Butter - I have dreams of this at least once a week. They pile that butter so high it makes you do a double-take, but once you try it, you can literally eat the butter alone by itself. It's just on a whole other level that steak.

 

[Blue32]

The previous posters credibility went down a bit when noting that Mickey Beignets are 100x better than the ones at Jazz Kitchen. I believe this to be the other way around and you might be the only person I’ve seen say this.

 

[LilyJC]

The previous posters credibility went down a bit when noting that Mickey Beignets are 100x better than the ones at Jazz Kitchen. I believe this to be the other way around and you might be the only person I’ve seen say this.

We used to prefer the Jazz Kitchen Express beignets, but the last times we had them they were a nasty grease bomb. We now prefer the light, fluffy Mickey beignets at Mint Julep. I can’t even bring myself to try the Jazz Kitchen ones after the last time made me nauseous.

 

[IAmDis]

The previous posters credibility went down a bit when noting that Mickey Beignets are 100x better than the ones at Jazz Kitchen. I believe this to be the other way around and you might be the only person I’ve seen say this.

You're crazy. The ones at Jazz are super dry and bland. I'd go Mint Julep beignets alll day over those, plus they're not even in the park. Would not want to go all the way back out there to get those dry treats. Ha.

Also, pretty sure Jazz Kitchen does not do the seasonal offerings also. The pumpkin-spiced beignets are their best at Julep. The strawberry sugar ones are ok, but not as good as the original sugar or pumpkin-spiced ones. Bomb. It's not an every time treat I get, it's maybe an every 3rd or 4th time we go, we get them, so basically once a month, ha!

 

[LilyJC]

Our only TS must-do currently is the Afternoon Tea at the DLH. It is a huge splurge, but definitely my favorite! We also enjoy breakfast at Steakhouse 55. Storytellers dinner buffet is a huge pass for us.

There really are so many decent QS options that I wouldn’t waste much time on TS on your first visit. Rancho del Zocalo was mentioned above and I agree with the tostada salad being good. I’ll also sometimes get the citrus chicken if someone is willing to share with me. It’s so much food! And my family always has to grab a bag of the lime chips.

Right now our sweet treats are:

-raspberry/pineapple dole whip from Tropical Hideaway
-piranha lemonade slushy from Bengal BBQ (great protein options here as well to balance the sweet)

We also enjoy snacks from Troubadour Tavern (bakes potatoes and giant pretzels) when Mickey and the Magical Map is playing.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Your list looks fine, but I would sub Napa Rose lounge for Storytellers. We're not usually hungry enough to make a buffet worthwhile, and the NR lounge is such a relaxing way to have dinner before heading back to the parks. This past weekend, we took a first time guest to the lounge for dinner -- he had a great time. Loved his meal, loved his drinks, really enjoyed the service and the vibe in the lounge. Salt & Straw for dessert to top it all off! Our friend was a super happy camper.

 

[gregf71]

Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel for breakfast is a hidden gem! Beignets at Jazz Kitchen Express in Downtown Disney; they blow away the ones Disney sells in New Orleans Square. Carthay Circle in DCA is wonderful, especially their signature fried biscuits appetizer!!!! Tiki drinks at Trader Sam's at the Disneyland Hotel, and the Hearthstone Lounge at the Grand Californian ain't too shabby either. In Disneyland, the skewers from the Bengal Barbecue are the stuff of legend, and we LOVE the Boysenberry Apple Freeze from Maurice's Treats! Oh, and the Raspberry Rose Mickey Macaron from the Jolly Holiday Bakery is a must every time we visit.

 

[tarheelalum]

Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in downtown Disney. And a churro at pretty much any food kart.

 

[avalon451]

Oh, man. Now I would really love to see a beignet showdown. Somebody here who goes regularly please do this! I wanna see somebody with a group buy beignets at Jazz Kitchen while somebody else buys them at NOS. Hurry to meet in the middle (so they're still warm), say in the Esplanade. Blindfold everybody except the person handing out the bites. Everybody comment on taste, texture, fluffiness, greasiness, etc. Of course, if one place or the other is having an off day I guess you'd have to account for that, but...

I wish I could do this. We're gluten free due to celiac; while we're pretty accustomed to it, every once in awhile it's still sad not to be able to share in these incredible treats! Disneyland treats are just so yummy!