opinions on blue bayou please

[Hobbes]

DH and i are doing a 4 day trip to DL in May at the end of a tour of California. We were only going to do one TS meal whilst there and I always wanted to do Blue Bayou. However seeing a lot of negative reviews and frankly the latest photos I've seen of the food looks revolting! Any recent visits? If it really is bad, any alternatives-we aren't fine diners by the way...

 

[Jennafoo]

The food is far from revolting! I ate there for my birthday lunch in October and it was the best meal I'd had in a long time, and I am a bit of a foodie. I ordered a filet that came perfectly cooked and seasoned (and was a good, not overwhelming portion). The potatoes it came with were out of this world. I loved everything about this meal, from the hot sourdough rolls to the perfectly tangy lemonade to the chocolate mousse I got for my birthday. It was definitely the best meal I had at Disney, hands down. I did have a waterside table (11:30 reservation), but I was so bowled over by the food that I didn't need it for the atmosphere. The only thing I could say negative is that the restaurant is really, really dark. I heartily recommend eating there.

 

[StormyCA]

The food is very good. I had the Tesoro chicken (done gluten free) and it was very tasty. BFF liked her meal too, but I can't remember what she had! The only one who was disappointed was her DD, who had the Monte Cristo. Way too much and very 'heavy'. Her recommendation would be to share it with someone and be more 'in the mood' for a breakfast-type meal since it's basically french toast, ham, and cheese with jam.

I'd recommend lunch over dinner if you want a waterside table. Get the earliest reservation, get there about 20 mins early and request waterside. It's really fun to sit on the bayou and watch the boats go by.

 

[Canuck16]

We think that the food is awesome!

In fact we liked it so much that we have booked our ADR already for our upcoming trip in March.

 

[nannyz]

One goes to BB for the ambiance, not for the food or the service. Sometimes they are good; other times not.

 

[lalasmama]

We've never had a bad meal at BB. The Monte Cristo wasn't my favorite, but that wasn't their fault--I'd never had one, and didn't know what to expect, and didn't care for the side (it seems like it was a fruit kabob with uncommon things like starfruit, which I had no idea how to eat!). Otherwise, we've had great meals every time. I've got ressies for this Friday night, all by myself!

 

[VandVsmama]

We really enjoyed BB. DH is a vegetarian and the portobello mushroom dish was excellent. It was so good that I wish I had ordered it for myself!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

The food is very good-it is not great. If you want great food in the resorts, try Napa Rose or Carthay, both produce great food. If you want a great time, do BB. The food plus the atmosphere equals a great time.

 

[Disney Dudette]

We love the Blue Bayou and make it a part of our trip every visit. While it is pricey, I do highly recommend it! The atmosphere makes it!

 

[figment_jii]

Almost any restaurant can be somewhat hit-or-miss. Some folks love Blue Bayou, while others are disappointed. I've been several times and have always enjoyed my meal there. So I would not hesitate to return. As mentioned by others, I would request a waterside table at check-in. The CMs will usually say it'll add substantial time to the wait (e.g., 45 minutes), but in practice it hasn't seemed that bad and it's well worth it. I would put Blue Bayou slightly below Carthay Circle in terms of food, but I've had excellent and so-so meals at both locations.

 

[Jennafoo]

I also might suggest that the food photos that you saw that looked "revolting" might have a lot to do with the lighting in that place. All the photos of my meal looked terrible, but it was actually quite good.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I'm going to be in the minority here but after hearing about how wonderful the Monte Cristo (Crisco?) sandwich is I ordered it.
It was awful. A luke warm congealed mass of cheese and other set-up fatty material of indistinguishable origin that was so disgusting that I only ate about four bites before just pushing it away. Never. Again.
My wife and sons dishes looked good and they enjoyed them though.
We sat next to the water at the earliest lunch seating and the ambiance was incredible.

Maybe it's because we don't eat a lot of heavy fatty food or maybe they were just having a bad day. Either way it was very disappointing and I strongly suggest first timers order something, anything, else.

 

[Filipina]

I like the ambiance. I think lunch is better than dinner.

 

[ImDMous]

We love BB and always get the Jambalaya. So yummy!

 

[DahliaRW]

BB is not gourmet, but it's still good food. It's worth waiting for a waterside table, IMO.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

If you have never had a Monte Cristo sandwich, it can be very surprising, so I'm not surprised that people don't always like them. It is very, very heavy, and a mix of sweet and savory flavors. I agree that it's more like a breakfast in a sandwich, and if you aren't prepared for what you're getting, it can be quite off-putting. DH loves Monte Cristos, but I'm not a fan myself. I can do a few bites, but then it's too much for me.
I did really like the Jambalaya I had at BB, and the atmosphere is a lot of fun. It is quite dark, however, so it was a little difficult for me to read the menu (I have some mild vision problems in low light). I'd say that it's worth trying at least once, and we'll be headed back in March for another meal there.

 

[GatorChris]

Went once 9 years ago and never went back. It was pretty pricey, the food was just good, not great, and it didn't really live up to expectations. For us, if we want great food, we head over to Big Thunder Ranch. Or if we want to drop a ton on a meal, we go to a character meal because we love it as much as the kids.

 

[Disneyluvr2]

I love the atmosphere, but sometimes don't want to spend the time or money on a big meal, so we've gone just for dessert before. We try to choose an off time, like around 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon. The desserts are delicious and I never have room for them after a meal anyway, so this is a great option.

 

[TeamSy]

We were there in July. I thought the service was far worse than the food. I think they must have either been short that day or we just got the most horrible waiter ever. The food wasn't out of this world fabulous, but it wasn't bad at all! I would definitely return. It's worth it for the unique atmosphere.

 

[BoomerThePirate]

filet mignon is great, pork chop is great. ambiance is the best. love it