Please recommend some restaurants

[Minnie824]

We're working on planning our trip for 2007. We've never been to Disneyland before, and will be staying at the GC for 4 nights. I'm not familiar at all w/the restaurants. We'll be traveling w/our DDs ages 5.5 and 3 at the time. We don't need to do character meals, but would be willing to try some if they're really recommended. They love princesses. We don't want to eat at anything tooo fancy w/our DDs, just something good. Any recommendations? Also, how far in advance can you book dining? Is it 180 days like WDW?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think you would like Ariel's Grotto at California Adventure. They offer a full meal, but nothing really fancy, and it is a Princess Celebration Lunch or Dinner. We're going there this Tuesday so I can tell you what it is like.

Storytellers Cafe is located at the Grand Californian, and the food there is pretty good. Also, they have Whitewater Snacks where they can cook you up burgers, simple breakfast items, etc.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Our family enjoys Pizza Port in Tomorrow land. The pizza isnt great, but the pasta and salads are. The kids meal is good, ravioli with red sauce or alfedo sauce. My kids like that better then all the chicken nuggets. LOL The BBQ at the Riverbell terrace is pretty good- and the portions are big enough to share. We LOVE breakfast the the carnation cafe on main street. The clam chowder in a bread bowl at the royal street veranda is really good- lots of clams.

Out of all the places I've listed the only one that takes PS (priority seating) is Carnation cafe. PS can be made up to 60 days in advance.

They just refurb'ed the New Orleans Cafe. It is now full service with a new menu. Might be worth checking out for a nicer meal. Or the Blue Bayou if you are looking for a really nice meal. Both take PS.

 

[AStamm]

Only 60 days in advance for PS at DL.

Definitely plan on doing Ariel's Grotto if your girls love princesses. The girls (Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White) are all decked out in their finest and are ready to interact. My DS7 had a fabulous time there last week, getting 4 of the 5 of them to kiss him!

 

[MateasMom]

Our favorites for just a quick meal are probably Pizza Port, TastePilot or whatever it's called next to Soarin, and Chip/Dip place on the pier at DCA. At Pizza Port they have pasta dishes that are super cheap and quite large portions. The girls and I like the chicken alfredo which is $7.99 I think and feeds myself and 5 and 7YO DDs. At the Pilot place next to Soarin I like the salid, DH likes the burgers, the girls get the kids meals. And then at the fish/chip place on the pier at DCA they have great chicken strips, fries, mozzella strips. I don't like fish but DH says those are good too.

 

[fidoprincess]

We always make at least one PS for each day. IN DL, our favorites include Carnation for any meal (lunch and dinner menu is the same), and Blue Bayou. We always do the Plaza Inn for breakfast because that is the only place to see Pooh, Tigger, EEyore and Piglet without waiting in the long character line. There are also other characters like Minnie, Fairygodmother, Capt. Hook, Chip and Dale and some times more. The food is good, the kids love the Mickey waffles and we like the cooked to order omlettes.

For dinner, we always do Goofy's too. The adults like the food and the kids love helping themselves and seeing more characters. We also tried Storytellers and Paradise Pier's Lilo and Stitch breakfast but did not enjoy them as much. My kids also love Rainforest Cafe in DTD but it can be scary for a 3 year old because they have a "pretend" storm but mine got over it really quick and have loved it ever since. We also do Pizza Port for quick dining and really enjoyed breakfast at River Belle Terrace but the line can be long. My kids like the kids menu at Tratoria in CA and the adults liked the Jazz Kitchen but the kids meals of chicken strips were horrible and inedible!

Remember it is Disneyland so any restaurant you choose will have kids so not to worry about that part!

 

[YoHo]

I really like Ariel's Grotto, Storytellers and the Old Blue Bayou.
Unfortunatly, the BB menu does not excite me and is overrpiced now, so I can't recommend it despite it being an absolute tradition. Cafe Orleans however has a number of nods to the old BB menu, so it may be worth it.

The Italian place by the Vineyard in DCA is nice if you like Lasagna. Other then that the menu is a bit underwhelming.

Goofy's Kitchen is a great Buffet.

Also, there's always rainforest Cafe and ESPN zone. I also like the Jazz Kitchen, but mainly for atmosphere. I've heard mixed reports on it.

For counter service, The boudin bakery/Mexican place in DCA are less crouded and offer excellent food. And for any adult meals you may want to have, I'm a big big fan of the wine cellar at the DH. Hook's is nice too, but it's very California quisine.

And of course, should you need them, Dennys and IHOP are right near by.

 

[MATTERHORN]

The Artist PB & J at Carnation Cafe was a lot of fun for our DD's 5 and 3. And I love the soup and sandwich there too! We also like Whitewater Snacks at the Grand.


Andrea

 

[DancingQueen]

We just got back, and our favorites were Cafe Orleans, Carnation Cafe, Goofy's Kitchen, and Pizza Port.