Napa Rose or Carthay Circle

[PrincessSophiesMom]

5 year anniversary is coming up. We've always celebrated at napa rose, I'm wondering if we should mix it up and try out Carthay circle. 3 year old and 5 month old will be in tow. Napa rose has always been amazing with our toddler.

 

[BruinEd03]

My one and only experience with Carthay Circle was less than desirable.

The service was pretty bad and the food was nothing special. We had a reservation for a certain time, which was getting kind close to the last showing of WOC, but which they indicated we would still make in time. I checked in early just to be safe and reminded them that we were trying to make it to the last WOC showing. Well it was well past our reservation time before they seated us. However, where they sat us, it was unclear why there was a delay for seating us. The area had plenty of empty tables, meaning that the delay wasn't caused because they had to clear a table from the last patron.

I reminded them again that we were trying to get to the WOC showing. However, they took their time to take our order and also to bring the food out. In addition, I ordered a side dish, and they pretty much forgot to put it in. I was pretty much done with my main course when they got around to bringing out the side dish, which I could not eat anyways given our time constraints.

Of course others may have different and hopefully wonderful experiences, but for the price that we had to pay, it was simply not worth it.

 

[Astylla]

If not Napa - have you considered Steakhouse 55 ?

We saw many families there and couples as well as just friends/associates and I found the atmosphere very classic Disney without feeling at all too upscale. The food was fantastic and my DH planned a recent anniversary dinner there..I don't have enough good things to say about the entire experience.

I just wanted to throw out another suggestion

 

[nwlovely]

We've done both with our toddlers and really preferred Napa Rose. Carthay Circle is beautiful but we were less impressed by the food. I agree, the Napa Rose staff were fantastic with our girls.

 

[Jacqui8374]

I did both in april napa rose chef counter was fantastic I was less than impressed with cathay circle, lousy service never before had an appetiser and main dumped on the table at the same time and they were baffled when I refused and asked for the main to be returned then when eventually it did come out it was the same one dried up and again baffled when I sent it back. Would not go there again

Jacqui

 

[Congo Queen]

I hate to pile on the Carthy Circle (I am sure someone with a good experience will chime in soon), but I too had poor service there. We are looooong time fans of Napa Rose. Eating dinner there has been a highlight of our summer Dland vacation for years (since my DS was 4 and he just turned 16). Anyway, last summer we thought exactly as you are thinking now - why not change it up and try Carthay Circle instead. Our experience was mixed I'd have to say - decor lovely, food mostly v good w/ a few exceptions, but just v amateurish service. The Napa Rose waitstaff are excellent, and so I was expecting that same level of service at Carthay Circle as they are on par in terms of prices. Alas, not so. The Carthay server did not seem to know what basic mixed drinks were (my mother ordered a Rob Roy which never wound up being served to her b/c as our inquiries later uncovered the waiter did not know what it was and how to order it). The waiter was also not comfortable making wine recommendations. We asked to speak to the sommelier but gave up on that when it was just taking too long. Overall service was slow and dirty plates sat much too long in front of us between courses. We wanted to order dessert (it was my mom's bday) and had not seen our waiter for a v long time and so I had to flag down a busboy to find our waiter. It was frustrating and turned what should have been a special evening into an irritating experience. Thus, for my upcoming trip, we are back to the Napa Rose.

 

[larina]

I haven't done Carthay Circle yet, but Napa Rose is incredible. I highly recommend it!

 

[k3chantal]

5 year anniversary is coming up. We've always celebrated at napa rose, I'm wondering if we should mix it up and try out Carthay circle. 3 year old and 5 month old will be in tow. Napa rose has always been amazing with our toddler.

Napa Rose hands down. It is a highly rated restaurant in the area and almost received a Michelin star. We too have had a great experience with our kids there and we brought three (11, 7, and 8 months).

 

[Nonsuch]

I hate to pile on the Carthy Circle (I am sure someone with a good experience will chime in soon), but I too had poor service there.

I have received very good service at Carthay Circle, but both Napa Rose and Steakhouse 55 have a higher level of service -- more support staff filling water glasses, clearing tables and generally better "timing" of food delivery. The higher level of service at either would be better for a special dinner.

Large parties (8-12) can book the wishing well room, a private room with a large round table. The base of the table is modeled after the wishing well in Disneyland. A great unique experience with no extra cost, although a deposit might be required.

...It is a highly rated restaurant in the area and almost received a Michelin star.

A restaurant serving the poor meal my group received should not be considered for a Michelin star.

 

[larina]

A restaurant serving the poor meal my group received should not be considered for a Michelin star.

I may have requested this of you before, actually about the exact same post, but it would be nice if you would tell people when you post a link that takes them to another chat board. I don't want to visit other sites on accident when I think I'm just going to another Dis thread. Thanks!

Back to the topic, I think your poor experience at Napa Rose is pretty isolated, although I don't know the details (I don't troll, or lurk, other sites I'm not a member of, so I haven't read your review, would be happy to if you actually wrote it out, or just copied and pasted it, here) so I can't be sure. Most of us have had excellent service and experiences there. My family is looking forward to another Christmas Eve dinner there this year! It is our cant miss dining at DLR.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

if not napa - have you considered steakhouse 55 ?

We saw many families there and couples as well as just friends/associates and i found the atmosphere very classic disney without feeling at all too upscale. The food was fantastic and my dh planned a recent anniversary dinner there..i don't have enough good things to say about the entire experience.

I just wanted to throw out another suggestion

^^^^^this!!!!^^^^^

 

[k3chantal]

I have received very good service at Carthay Circle, but both Napa Rose and Steakhouse 55 have a higher level of service -- more support staff filling water glasses, clearing tables and generally better "timing" of food delivery. The higher level of service at either would be better for a special dinner.

Large parties (8-12) can book the wishing well room, a private room with a large round table. The base of the table is modeled after the wishing well in Disneyland. A great unique experience with no extra cost, although a deposit might be required.


A restaurant serving the poor meal my group received should not be considered for a Michelin star.

Despite the "poor meal" you received, it is still a restaurant with a high rating and my own personal experience was extremely positive. I am happily going back there when I am given the next opportunity.

Every place deserves a second chance especially when it usually gets such good ratings.......Harping on one bad seating doesn't seem fair. You have created a review that people can continually see; it doesn't need to be spread on every website. Have you been back to see if things have changed?

 

[Priory]

I had two terrible experiences at Carthay last July and October. However, I gave them another shot this May and everything was fantastic.

 

[Randy E King]

My wife and I have visited the Carthay restaurant about a dozen times, Napa four times, Steakhouse 55 four times, and we will probably do each again and again.

Of the three we rank them:

(1) Napa Rose

(2) Carthay Circle

(3) Steakhouse 55

My understanding is that all of the servers are required to pass sommelier level I (three have passed their level II; one was prepping for level III) before they are even allowed to serve guests at Carthay or Napa; which insures you will be served by someone that has more than a basic understanding of wine.

Whenever we visited Carthay, while Chef Andy was in, everything was perfect. The only time we detected a drop-off in quality was when Chef Gloria was at the helm, but this evidently had more to do with her nurturing of the staff than it did with her ability as a Chef. We were informed last visit that Gloria has since been rotated back to Napa; where we look forward to seeing here at the Chef's Counter.

We currently have reservations for Christmas Eve at the Carthay and we were informed by our server just last week that Chef Sutton was preparing a special holiday menu for the occasion - I imagine she meant Christmas and not our return visit.

 

[bleeps]

I ate at both last week -- Napa Rose on 11/3 and Carthay Circle on 11/4.

Napa Rose, no contest.

My server at CC was lovely. However, the small room where I was seated was packed, and the food was very disappointing (4 dried out, pre-cooked squash ravioli for $28? Outrageous.)

For a special occasion, I really feel that you cannot fail with Napa Rose. Carthay Circle has a long way to go before I am willing to try it again. I would have happily paid $28 for freshly prepared squash ravioli, but these were clearly re-heated and just, well, pathetic.

 

[Madx2]

Napa rose would be my preference...we have been there with the kids and it was a great experience