New blog up -- Culinary Quest: Napa Rose

[oc_tony]

Hi All,
Click here to read the latest installment of my DIS blog series, Culinary Quest. This time, we visited Napa Rose at the Grand Californian.

 

[Flitterific]

Hi Tony! Glad you had a great experience at Napa Rose...makes me want to go back again Thanks for sharing all those lovely pictures with us...since I can't have the real thing right now, that will have to do

 

[lulubelle]

Sounds like another perfect experience at Napa Rose.
We did the Chef's counter last November for my birthday and it was the best meal we've ever had. And Steven is our favorite waiter, too. We really like him.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[jwwi]

What a great report, thank you for all the pictures too. Really sounds like you had a wonderful meal.

 

[TronkoMouse]

Do you think that it would be allowed/acceptable/appropriate to dine with children (10 and 7) at the chef's counter? We will be dining at the Napa Rose next Thursday, and your blog has got me wondering about this experience for my family.

Being east coasters, my kids have been to almost every WDW signature restaurant (only missing Narcoossee and -- obviously -- V&A) so I am not too worried about their behavior.

Also they are big Food Network fans, and still talk about the Sam Brown great hotels episode where she eats at the Napa Rose chef's counter so the kitchen "show" should keep them engaged for the longer than normal dining experience.

I am just hesitant to go for it because it might be uncomfortable for others at the counter looking for that "adult" experience, and that would make it an uncomfortable meal for us.

 

[oc_tony]

At the area of the chef's counter where we were, guest are seated in groups of 4, so if there are just 4 of you, there will not be anyone else really sitting near you. You may want to request this specifically when making your reservation.

If your kids do well at sig restaurants at WDW, then they will probably be OK at Napa Rose, but we did not see any children at the chef's counter areas. Nobody knows your children better than you, so that is always a judgement call for the parent to make. Just keep in mind that it is a long meal (2-3 hours). I suppose you could eat faster, but when I'm paying that much for a meal, I like to take my time. Also, you sit in "tall" chairs side by side at a counter, not across from each other. Hope this helps.

 

[kyirish25]

Do you think that it would be allowed/acceptable/appropriate to dine with children (10 and 7) at the chef's counter? We will be dining at the Napa Rose next Thursday, and your blog has got me wondering about this experience for my family.

Being east coasters, my kids have been to almost every WDW signature restaurant (only missing Narcoossee and -- obviously -- V&A) so I am not too worried about their behavior.

Also they are big Food Network fans, and still talk about the Sam Brown great hotels episode where she eats at the Napa Rose chef's counter so the kitchen "show" should keep them engaged for the longer than normal dining experience.

I am just hesitant to go for it because it might be uncomfortable for others at the counter looking for that "adult" experience, and that would make it an uncomfortable meal for us.

We dined at the chef's counter with our 8 year old DS earlier this month. Despite being a long meal he was well entertained watching everything going on in the kitchen and finding out what Chef Alex would be bringing us out next as we allowed him to choose our meal for us.

Here is a link to my pictures I put on the dining thread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36282171#post36282171

We sound like your family in that we started the fine dining experience with him at an early age and his favorite WDW restaurant is Citrico's. Of course he also loves Chef Mickey's but that is what makes Disney so great in that you can have both within a vacation.

 

[TronkoMouse]

We dined at the chef's counter with our 8 year old DS earlier this month. Despite being a long meal he was well entertained watching everything going on in the kitchen and finding out what Chef Alex would be bringing us out next as we allowed him to choose our meal for us.

Thanks for the info! Great to read about (and see) your experience at the chef's counter. We always try to work in some fine dining experiences at Disney, it really is a great, safe way to educate the children that there is more to the world (pun intended) than just fast food and chain restaurants.

Am I correct to assume that your son was able to order off the children's menu? Was there an option for your son to have a children's portion "tasting menu"?

Kevin

 

[kyirish25]

Thanks for the info! Great to read about (and see) your experience at the chef's counter. We always try to work in some fine dining experiences at Disney, it really is a great, safe way to educate the children that there is more to the world (pun intended) than just fast food and chain restaurants.

Am I correct to assume that your son was able to order off the children's menu? Was there an option for your son to have a children's portion "tasting menu"?

Kevin

Our son did just order off the children's menu but they would have happily did a tasting for him if he desired. He is just too picky of an eater at this age but I hope these experiences will help him expand his taste buds.