On To Food!

[Mickey527]

Ok, I found a hotel, I booked a flight, now I need to eat.
I did a 1 day trip to DL last summer with my son and we had the much raved about Monte Cristo. Definately not my cup of tea, jelly with meat and covered with powdered sugar and fried.... Yuck.
I am planning a 4 day trip with another older adult (58 is not old) but we have more adult tastes.
I don't need to go to character meals but it seems like that is the only thing I can find info about.
I do want to do either the picnic or sit down meal for WOC, let me know which is better.
Can you all give me ideas for restaraunts to book, what is their best food etc...
We will be staying at Disneyland Hotel.
I do plan on going to "Trader Joes" (thefun bar) or whatever it is called for a drink or a few.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

For more mature tastebuds, you may want to steer towards DTD or the DL Hotel restaurants.

We love Ralph Brennan's-everything we have had there has been excellent-try the chocolate soufflé or the bananas Foster-or both!

We love Steakhouse 55 in the DL Hotel for breakfast.

Storytellers at the GCH is also pretty good outside of the character meals.

We have eaten at Napa Rose a few times and it is always excellent. We always have our kids with us so we have not had the chance to do the chef's counter-it gets rave reviews, so you may want to check it out. The NR lounge is also pretty inviting for a laid back cocktail hour.

 

[eduk8r26]

We did Ariel's Grotto last week for the WoC. I thought the food was awesome!! Appetizers to share, a choice of about 6 main dishes and desserts to share. I'm thinking of doing it again next week when I go with my niece.

 

[Susie63]

Ralph Brennan's.....mmmmmmm!!!! Everything we ate was excellent! DD fell in love with the garlic bread and when I couldn't duplicate the recipe I emailed the restaurant to ask about their cookbook. Instead the Chef emailed me the recipe!!!Banana's Foster was excellent(they invented this recipe)and the tableside presentation was great fun,but I have heard amazing stories about their chocolate bread pudding!!
It was our fav dining experience. Have fun!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

mmmmm Ralph Brennan's!!!! LOVE it!!! We like AG, they have an amazing tri tip! We like going to the Cove Bar for Lobster Nachos and a drink, they have some good drinks. Storyteller's is very good, we like Cafe Orleans, I loved the Ratatouille, so good!! Pomme Frites are delish and the Mickey beignets are good too. I like Rancho Del Zocalo and the French Market for CS places and DBF and I love the big thunder ranch BBQ, so so so good!!!!

 

[Escape2Disney]

Our favorites are:

Ralph Brennan's
Cafe Orleans
Storytellers (for Lunch or Dinner)
Ariel's Grotto (minus the princesses)
Catal
Carnation Cafe (for more casual sit-down meals)
Pacific Wharf (for counter service)
Royal Veranda (for counter service)

 

[SilentFeline]

I would recommend Carnation Cafe if they're open during your visit. I've only been there for lunch, but their breakfast sounds fantastic (DBF and I were going to try it on our January trip but they were closed) and the loaded baked potato soup is to die for! Storytellers Cafe at the GCH is a great place to dine for a nicer sit-down meal. They have lots of options and everything DBF and I have tried there has been delicious (especially the four cheese ravioli). Steakhouse 55 at the DLH is great for breakfast.

For quick service meals, we enjoy White Water Snacks at the GCH (very affordable and splittable meals), Troubadour Tavern for their baked potatoes, and Pacific Wharf Cafe at DCA for their salads. Jolly Holiday Bakery is nice too, although the line can sometimes be quite a wait.

Out of all of these places, Carnation Cafe, Steakhouse 55, and Storytellers Cafe are the only restaurants where you should make reservations. Sorry, I can't comment on the WOC meals because I've never had any of them. HTH! Have a great time!

 

[CamoMama]

Blue Bayou - for dinner gumbo, tesoro chicken or filet mignon, YUM.

The Golden Horseshoe - great quick service lunch, the 9 layer chocolate cake is awesome and the entertainment is hilarious; check the times guide for Billy Hill and the Hillbillies

Cafe Orleans - the chicken sandwich is pretty good, outdoor shaded seating is nice, especially when the Dixieland band is moving through New Orleans Square

Carnation Cafe - the sandwiches are great, but when I was there the only seating available was outdoors and it was difficult to find a well shaded area to eat without squinting

Hungry Bear - when we were there I had an amazing sandwich on focaccia, not seeing that on the menu now, though

The rest of our meals were either character meals or otherwise geared toward the kids.

 

[SilentFeline]

Carnation Cafe - the sandwiches are great, but when I was there the only seating available was outdoors and it was difficult to find a well shaded area to eat without squinting

There will be indoor seating when the renovations are complete. That's why it's closed for such a long time.

 

[lovedisneyland1]

Yum! Susie63, Can you post the recipe for the garlic bread? That would be greatly appreciated!

 

[pixiewings71]

Blue Bayou - for dinner gumbo, tesoro chicken or filet mignon, YUM.

The Golden Horseshoe - great quick service lunch, the 9 layer chocolate cake is awesome and the entertainment is hilarious; check the times guide for Billy Hill and the Hillbillies

Cafe Orleans - the chicken sandwich is pretty good, outdoor shaded seating is nice, especially when the Dixieland band is moving through New Orleans Square

Carnation Cafe - the sandwiches are great, but when I was there the only seating available was outdoors and it was difficult to find a well shaded area to eat without squinting

Hungry Bear - when we were there I had an amazing sandwich on focaccia, not seeing that on the menu now, though

The rest of our meals were either character meals or otherwise geared toward the kids.

No more Mile High Chocolate Cake at the Golden Horseshoe.......

 

[azdisneylover]

For a quiet place to relax and enjoy the scenery, I suggest the Whitewater Snacks in the Grand Californian Hotel. I like the chicken nachos. They have a nice variety of food at a decent price. Very casual and the perfect place to get a bite to eat and get back into Disney California Adventure park in a jiffy.

 

[CamoMama]

No more Mile High Chocolate Cake at the Golden Horseshoe.......

No? That stinks! Well, their sundaes are yummy too.