My Disneyland dining reviews, with pictures

Figment's Diamond Sparkling End of the Celebration Trip, 2016
Figment and family decided to make one last trip down to Disneyland for the Diamond Anniversary Celebration before it ends.

Cafe Orleans, Lunch
Cafe Orleans is a great spot to have a yummy lunch and soak up the atmosphere of New Orleans Square at the same time. The rail side tables have an excellent view of the area, so we always request one at check-in.

Mint Julep - Figment always gets a Mint Julep at Cafe Orleans. It's great because there are free refills!
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Pommes Frites - Traditional French-fried potatoes tossed with Parmesan cheese, garlic and parsley, served with a Cajun spice remoulade. This is Figment's favorite appetizer at Cafe Orleans. Lots of garlic and Parmesan cheese and the remoulade is really tasty (you can ask for extra).
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French Onion Soup - Sautéed sweet-onion medley in a traditional broth with Croutons and Melted Gruyere. Even when it's warm outside, this soup is still yummy!
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New Orleans Gumbo - A rich, flavorful stew with chicken, andouille sausage and tasso ham, served with white rice. This can be either an appetizer or entree, but Figment had it as his entree this time. It's very filling and so tasty!
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"Crescent City" Salad with Pan-seared Atlantic Salmon - Fresh Mixed Greens, tossed with Caramelized Pecans, Red Grapes, Navel Orange Segments, Caramelized Onions, Chopped Green Onions, Roasted Sweet Corn, and Orange-Cilantro Vinaigrette. This is Figment's favorite salad at Cafe Orleans. Lots of good flavor and variety of ingredients.
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Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, Sunday Brunch
This is Figment's traditional last meal at Disneyland, but this time he went for dinner. He sat inside so he could enjoy the live music while eating!

Popcorn Calamari - Creole mustard aioli and marinara sauce. This is Figment's favorite appetizer at Brennan's!
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Soups 1-1-1 - Trio of Gumbo Ya-Ya, Louisiana Soup of the Day (Tomato & Artichoke Bisque) & Chicken Etouffée Soup. All three soups were really good. The soup of the day was very simliar to the Tomato Basil soup at Jolly Holiday. The Gumbo had a deep rich flavor and the etouffée was spicy, but yummy!
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Pasta Jambalaya - Gulf shrimp, andouille sausage, roasted chicken, creole seasoning with spinach fettuccine. The Jambalaya has quiet a kick, but very good flavor and quite a good sized portion.
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Pork Torchon Dole® - Slow-roasted pork, corn bread pudding, Cajun slaw, BBQ mango glaze. The flavor was good (on the sweet side, but not overly sweet), but it would have been better if it had been warmer (it was served a little above room temperature).
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BBQ Shrimp & Grits - “New Orleans” barbecue sauce and andouille sausage grits. That night's chef liked the heat; it was pretty spicy, but still yummy!
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French Market, Lunch
Figment had lunch at the French Market, another great spot for a meal plus guest-watching.

French Market Chicken - Southern-style Oven Roasted Half Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and Seasonal Vegetables served with a Roll. The chicken was very tender and moist. Not spicy, but lots of good flavor!
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French Dip Sandwich - Thinly sliced Roast Beef with Crispy Onion Straws and a Horseradish Mayonnaise on a Potato Roll, with in-house Seasoned Cajun Chips and Au Jus and a Mint Julep. The sandwich is yummy and the chips have a bit of a bite.
DSC_0229_zpsxwhsy9et.jpg
 
Figment's Diamond Sparkling End of the Celebration Trip, 2016
Figment and family decided to make one last trip down to Disneyland for the Diamond Anniversary Celebration before it ends.

Cafe Orleans, Lunch
Cafe Orleans is a great spot to have a yummy lunch and soak up the atmosphere of New Orleans Square at the same time. The rail side tables have an excellent view of the area, so we always request one at check-in.

Mint Julep - Figment always gets a Mint Julep at Cafe Orleans. It's great because there are free refills!
DSC_0017_zpsbbf0lmva.jpg


Pommes Frites - Traditional French-fried potatoes tossed with Parmesan cheese, garlic and parsley, served with a Cajun spice remoulade. This is Figment's favorite appetizer at Cafe Orleans. Lots of garlic and Parmesan cheese and the remoulade is really tasty (you can ask for extra).
DSC_0019_zpskdj8m4ia.jpg


French Onion Soup - Sautéed sweet-onion medley in a traditional broth with Croutons and Melted Gruyere. Even when it's warm outside, this soup is still yummy!
DSC_0022_zpswcom14yd.jpg


New Orleans Gumbo - A rich, flavorful stew with chicken, andouille sausage and tasso ham, served with white rice. This can be either an appetizer or entree, but Figment had it as his entree this time. It's very filling and so tasty!
DSC_0029_zpssamzi8cc.jpg


"Crescent City" Salad with Pan-seared Atlantic Salmon - Fresh Mixed Greens, tossed with Caramelized Pecans, Red Grapes, Navel Orange Segments, Caramelized Onions, Chopped Green Onions, Roasted Sweet Corn, and Orange-Cilantro Vinaigrette. This is Figment's favorite salad at Cafe Orleans. Lots of good flavor and variety of ingredients.
DSC_0026_zpssbyocmyf.jpg


Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, Sunday Brunch
This is Figment's traditional last meal at Disneyland, but this time he went for dinner. He sat inside so he could enjoy the live music while eating!

Popcorn Calamari - Creole mustard aioli and marinara sauce. This is Figment's favorite appetizer at Brennan's!
DSC_0080_zpspxxzgi8f.jpg


Soups 1-1-1 - Trio of Gumbo Ya-Ya, Louisiana Soup of the Day (Tomato & Artichoke Bisque) & Chicken Etouffée Soup. All three soups were really good. The soup of the day was very simliar to the Tomato Basil soup at Jolly Holiday. The Gumbo had a deep rich flavor and the etouffée was spicy, but yummy!
DSC_0071_zpsp8lfj47z.jpg


Pasta Jambalaya - Gulf shrimp, andouille sausage, roasted chicken, creole seasoning with spinach fettuccine. The Jambalaya has quiet a kick, but very good flavor and quite a good sized portion.
DSC_0083_zpssoenglbd.jpg


Pork Torchon Dole® - Slow-roasted pork, corn bread pudding, Cajun slaw, BBQ mango glaze. The flavor was good (on the sweet side, but not overly sweet), but it would have been better if it had been warmer (it was served a little above room temperature).
DSC_0086_zpswwhfbjpk.jpg


BBQ Shrimp & Grits - “New Orleans” barbecue sauce and andouille sausage grits. That night's chef liked the heat; it was pretty spicy, but still yummy!
DSC_0092_zpsp4metkdy.jpg


French Market, Lunch
Figment had lunch at the French Market, another great spot for a meal plus guest-watching.

French Market Chicken - Southern-style Oven Roasted Half Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and Seasonal Vegetables served with a Roll. The chicken was very tender and moist. Not spicy, but lots of good flavor!
DSC_0228_zpshmlikya8.jpg


French Dip Sandwich - Thinly sliced Roast Beef with Crispy Onion Straws and a Horseradish Mayonnaise on a Potato Roll, with in-house Seasoned Cajun Chips and Au Jus and a Mint Julep. The sandwich is yummy and the chips have a bit of a bite.
DSC_0229_zpsxwhsy9et.jpg

Did Figment need a Prilosec after all that Cajun food?

Looks so yummy. Especially Ralph Brennan's. If RB wasn't as expensive as Blue Bayou, I'd probably eat there a lot.
 

I think next week I am finally going to have to try the BBQ Shrimp & Grits! I've been wanting to try it for a while now, but usually end up with a salad and some gumbo. That pic looks good!!
 
I want to be adopted into Figment's family ..... they know how to have fun and eat well!!!
:thumbsup2

Did Figment need a Prilosec after all that Cajun food? Looks so yummy. Especially Ralph Brennan's. If RB wasn't as expensive as Blue Bayou, I'd probably eat there a lot.
:rotfl:French Market is pretty mild, but Brennan's can vary depending on the day. This time, it was on the spicy side, but most times it's closer to mild-spicy. Sometimes around the holidays they offer a deal on gift certificates (e.g., buy $100 and get a $25 bonus one), which can help with the cost, plus they offer an AP discount.

I think next week I am finally going to have to try the BBQ Shrimp & Grits! I've been wanting to try it for a while now, but usually end up with a salad and some gumbo. That pic looks good!!
The BBQ Shrimp & Grits is my favorite! I have to admit though, the "grits" are nothing like the grits I've found elsewhere. These are really smooth and creamy, without any "gritty" bits.
 
Did Figment need a Prilosec after all that Cajun food?

Looks so yummy. Especially Ralph Brennan's. If RB wasn't as expensive as Blue Bayou, I'd probably eat there a lot.

RB is one of my favorites honestly , the quality has really upped it's game from the first few years I started eating there.
The prices are really not that high for the resort area and quality of food when some of the other places like ESPN bar are your run of the mill everyday bar fare. Not that it's a bad thing but it's nice to have some variety too , to each their own but I'm a sucker for spicy and cajun food though have yet to ever do Sunday brunch ironically!
 
Figment's Diamond Sparkling End of the Celebration Trip, 2016, Continued...

Carnation Cafe
, Dinner
It was kind of warm during the day, but by dinner time it had cooled down enough to eat outside.

Walt's Chili - Hearty Chili topped with Cheese and fresh Tomatoes. So good!
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Deep Fried Pickle Spears - Dill Pickle Spears dipped in Parmesan and Panko, Fried Golden Brown and served with a House Sauce. Figment highly recommends this appetizer! It's his favorite item on the menu.
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Baked Potato Soup - with Bacon, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Sour Cream, and Chives. A very rich, but yummy, soup!
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Walt's Favorite Homemade Meatloaf - Our special blend of Beef and Pork served with Ketchup Glaze, Mashed Potatoes, Mushroom Gravy, and Seasonal Vegetables. This is Figment's favorite entree at Carnations.
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River Belle Terrace, Lunch
Figment decided to have the last meal of the trip at River Belle Terrace (that way, if there were left overs he could take them home for dinner!).

Pork Spareribs - Spice-rubbed and Slow-cooked served with Cole Slaw and Potato Salad. The ribs were still really good and very tender.
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Pork Spareribs - Spice-rubbed and Slow-cooked served with Cole Slaw and Tater Tots.
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Jolly Holiday, Lunch
Chocolate Eclair - Still very yummy!
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Strawberry Meyer Lemon Tart - Lemon custard with a little bit of strawberry and a shortbread cookie crust. A nice light summer dessert!
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Raspberry Mickey Macaron - Raspberry and a raspberry creme between two Mickey shaped macarons. So good!
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Pineapple Upside Down Bundt Cake - The cake was very moist with a fairly good amount of pineapple flavor.
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Figment you are killing me with all these amazing eats!!

We have never done a TS meal inside either of the parks but I'm contemplating Carnation Cafe for a late lunch/early dinner on the night we are going to the Halloween party. It's either that or Plaza Inn.... Having ADR's stresses me out for some reason.. I don't like the thought of dropping what we are doing to go eat
 
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We've had a early dinner at Carnation Cafe ahead of the MHP in the past. It's fun and Carnation is a relatively quick meal (<60 minutes). Lunch and dinner have the same menu, so it doesn't really matter when you go. I would make a reservation for somewhere between 4:00 and 5:00 pm, depending on whether you wanted to get to the Toontown Pre-Party early or not (assuming it's happening this year and that's still an unknown).
 
We've had a early dinner at Carnation Cafe ahead of the MHP in the past. It's fun and Carnation is a relatively quick meal (<60 minutes). Lunch and dinner have the same menu, so it doesn't really matter when you go. I would make a reservation for somewhere between 4:00 and 5:00 pm, depending on whether you wanted to get to the Toontown Pre-Party early or not (assuming it's happening this year and that's still an unknown).

That's what I was thinking... The chicken fried chicken (no gravy lol) looks amazing but Plaza Inn is a bucket list place. We've never eaten there.... I need to make a chart for our three days and get it figured out!
 
Noticed a change at the Plaza Inn on our recent trip, the delicious green beans have been replaced with CORN! I wasn't impressed. I asked about the change and the CM said that it was 'seasonal'. Yes, canned corn season is finally here! Suspiciously, last year at the same time, and I'm fairly sure for a long time, it WAS green bean season, and they were fabulous...
 
Noticed a change at the Plaza Inn on our recent trip, the delicious green beans have been replaced with CORN! I wasn't impressed. I asked about the change and the CM said that it was 'seasonal'. Yes, canned corn season is finally here! Suspiciously, last year at the same time, and I'm fairly sure for a long time, it WAS green bean season, and they were fabulous...

Bummer! We were there in June and we had green beans. We're eating there next week and I am not a big fan of canned corn! Maybe I will just ask for extra mash and gravy no corn! LOL
 
We've had a early dinner at Carnation Cafe ahead of the MHP in the past. It's fun and Carnation is a relatively quick meal (<60 minutes). Lunch and dinner have the same menu, so it doesn't really matter when you go. I would make a reservation for somewhere between 4:00 and 5:00 pm, depending on whether you wanted to get to the Toontown Pre-Party early or not (assuming it's happening this year and that's still an unknown).

I love Carnation! Last trip, we shared the pickles, the baked potato soup, and the chili. Everything was delicious, but I think we wished we had more baked potato soup!
 
I forgot to take a photo of the Plaza Inn Fried Chicken dinner, but it did come with corn a few weeks ago. The corn was fine and it had little bits of diced red bell peppers added for color. I do think the green beans were better (in general), but perhaps it's a cost issue or a quality issue (we had some truly awful green beans at the French Market a few trips back).
 
I forgot to take a photo of the Plaza Inn Fried Chicken dinner, but it did come with corn a few weeks ago. The corn was fine and it had little bits of diced red bell peppers added for color. I do think the green beans were better (in general), but perhaps it's a cost issue or a quality issue (we had some truly awful green beans at the French Market a few trips back).

Honestly, with the drought in California, our produce has suffered. I'm not sure if that affects the green beans, or even if they're local, but it could be the case.
 
Figment you are killing me with all these amazing eats!!

We have never done a TS meal inside either of the parks but I'm contemplating Carnation Cafe for a late lunch/early dinner on the night we are going to the Halloween party. It's either that or Plaza Inn.... Having ADR's stresses me out for some reason.. I don't like the thought of dropping what we are doing to go eat

We did that a couple years ago before the MHP. It worked out great. By the time we were done eating at Carnation, we went straight to Toontown and only waited less then 10 minutes before it was open. Couldn't have timed it more perfectly! Then we didn't have to worry about wasting precious party time eating dinner! ;)
 
Figment you are killing me with all these amazing eats!!

We have never done a TS meal inside either of the parks but I'm contemplating Carnation Cafe for a late lunch/early dinner on the night we are going to the Halloween party. It's either that or Plaza Inn.... Having ADR's stresses me out for some reason.. I don't like the thought of dropping what we are doing to go eat
You only need reservations for breakfast at Plaza Inn, other than that, for lunch or dinner you just show up :). Enjoy!
 















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