Restaurant questions

[snowwhite84]

Hello! I am a WDW vet headed for my first DL trip next week. I have some questions about where to eat and I hope you all could help me out!

1. I know there is one character meal at each DL hotel; are they all breakfast only for characters or are characters at dinner, too?
2. What is the best character meal in the parks?
3. What is the best table service meals at either park?
4. If you had to pick one place to eat dinner at for DD, what would it be? (I am not a Rainforest Cafe fan)
5. What snacks or counter service options are not to be missed?
6. What are some good places for vegetarians?

We are two females in our mid-2o's. We aren't looking for anything refined; we do like a fun atmosphere, though.
TIA!

 

[iceskatejen]

1. Goofy's Kitchen at the DLH and Ariel's Grotto at DCA are the only character meals that offer dinner.

2. There's only two--Minnie & Friends at the Plaza Inn and Ariel's Grotto at DCA. Minnie's is breakfast only and Ariel's is lunch and dinner. They did offer breakfast for a while as a trial, but I'm not sure if they are now as it wasn't very busy at breakfast.

3. I like Cafe Orlean's in DL. I haven't had table service in DCA since they tok out the Soap Opera Bistro.

4. I don't care for Rainforest either. I like Naples and Tortilla Joe's.

5. Easier to suggest ones to avoid than what's not to be missed as most are good. Avoid Village Haus and I personally don't like Hungry Bear either (nice setting but the food leaves a lot to be desired). I will only go to Tomorrowland Terrace for breakfast. Pizza Port is good for pasta and salads. I love the fried chicken at Plaza Inn. Golden Horseshoe/Stage Door Cafe have good chicken strips. Bengal Barbecue is great too, but I never get really full there, but it's yummy.

6. Pizza Port works well as they have a lot of meatless options. I'm not vegetarian but I don't eat beef or pork, so I know all the chicken options.

 

[bumbershoot]

Answering your last question first....

At Royal Street Veranda in New Orleans Square there is a Vegetarian Gumbo in a BreadBowl.

At Pacific Wharf Cafe in DCA there is a Vegetarian Chili in a BreadBowl.

Both, IMO, are delicious.

At the Trattoria in DCA there's a Caprese Sandwich that was VERY good. Rather olive-heavy, since it comes with a pasta salad with olives and the spread is olives (and I ordered a side salad which also had olives!) but all of the olives were good and I couldn't finish the whole sandwich it was all so good and filling.

The Blue Bayou restaurant (which *could* be an answer to number 3, for Most Unique Dining at DLR, if not "best") has a portobello and couscous dish that many like. It has a vinegar plate dressing that I went overboard with, so all I remember is VINEGAR from that meal, but DH liked it (we split the dish for the the-$4 split plate fee, and that got us one mushroom each and we each got a wedge salad). Speaking of that Wedge Salad, it's a quarter of an iceberg head, and a vegetarian will want to order it withOUT the sausage.

We found many options as ovo lacto vegetarians at both Lilo and Stitch and the Chip and Dale b'fasts (Paradise Pier hotel and Grand Californian). Extra bonus at the GC b'fast was vegetarian sauages! Others have reported them at Lilo too, but we didn't see them.

Have you looked at the menus online? They are at allears.net and dlresortinfo (the latter is better IMO), and can give you an idea of ingredients with the description of the dishes.

There are also veggie burgers scattered around...we tried one at The Hungry Bear, but it was cold and dried out, so I can't recommend it (though I've seen people's reviews with the opposite feeling!).



1. I think Goofy's Kitchen has both lunch and dinner. I think. The others are open for other meals, but are NOT character meals. Both PP and GCH also have menus to order from for b'fast, if you don't want the buffet. GCH stops serving off the menu at 11:30am, so if you have a reservation (priority seating) for that time, you will ONLY get the buffet, FYI.


2. Haven't had a character meal IN the parks yet. We have enjoyed both of the hotel-based character b'fasts. GCH had the veggie sausage and a beautiful setting, while Lilo and Stitch was happy and upbeat, Daisy Duck was there, and they had rice in a rice cooker (made my Korean DH happy).


3. Blue Bayou is very unique, though not always a fabulous *dining* experience. You're inside the beginning of POTC ride, and it's just sooooo cool. I enjoyed the casual atmosphere at the Trattoria, and my server was great. She forgot to put my $6 pint of beer onto my check (the week after I got home I bought a 6 pack of the same beer for less than $6! lol) and when I pointed that out, she waived it, telling me it was her mistake. She got a pretty tip for that kindness.


4. Only food we had in DTD was Rainforest, sorry!


5. Those two restaurants I started the post with were counter service, and it's hard for me to miss them. Many love the dole whips, but I've seen the ingredients and they aren't pretty. And I think it tastes like pineapple flavored melted plastic. So I don't like them. But I DO like, as a snack, a latte and chocolate chip cookie. Can get them many places, but for some bizarre reason I like them especially from the only outdoor vending cart that takes "plastic", just outside the castle on the left.

Sort of a hybrid of table vs counter is Plaza Inn. I had the kid's meal of pasta with marinara sauce, and a side salad, and it was sooooo good! The ranch dressing was perfect, and I'm picky with my ranch dressing!

Oh, and a similar not-quite-buffet but not-really-table-service but also-not-walk-up restaurant is Rancho del Zocalo, which also has a vegetarian option or 3. We liked our fajita veggie soft tacos in September, but during my solo trip I had a bean and cheese burrito kid's meal, and it was delicious.

 

[audrabolster]

I don't care for Rainforest either, but haven't eaten anywhere else.

As for vegetarians, there aren't too many options really, which saddens me a bit.

My wife likes going to the french market- sometimes they have vegetarian gumbo (which they also have at the little counter service place under the dream suite by pirates) and their salad and fries.

Hungry bear and the food place in tomorrowland also have veggie burgers that are yummy according to her. The river belle terrace has a veggie sandwich, but she hasn't had that.

 

[snowwhite84]

Thanks for the replies! I have been looking at the menus on allears, but it's a bit overwhelming as I have no point of reference to compare it to.
My friend is the vegetarian and I am an extreme carnivore, so we sometimes have difficulty fitting both our needs at one place. It's not uncommon for me to buy my item and carry it to a different location for her to order hers
Also, she loves sweets. Are there any great dessert items that are unique to DL? We have dole whips here if Florida. I saw a pic of a tiger tail...what's that all about?

 

[fairycat]

Bumbershoot hit many of my favorites. But wanted to add

Rancho del Z. has a good veggie tostada that is perfect to split and a good price.

I do Jazz Kitchen at DTD but if you don't eat fish you will have to have them adjust something for you. I tend to eat any of their salads (they are all excellent), the garlic bread (which is to die) and save room for desserts since they have the best desserts.

I have done Catal a few years back and remember it being good. Skip Naples CS it was some of the worst food my friend and I have ever had, not just at the parks but EVER.

Also if you want a great light night snack or a kicked back dinner, I suggest UVA bar. It sits in the walkway of DTD so you can people watch. They have great appetizer style food that work for a great meal or snack. Veggie Pizza, Hummus Platter, Garlic Fries and more. The prices are also good. I also like the drinks!

 

[bumbershoot]

As for vegetarians, there aren't too many options really, which saddens me a bit.

My wife likes going to the french market- sometimes they have vegetarian gumbo (which they also have at the little counter service place under the dream suite by pirates) and their salad and fries.

Royal St Veranda *always* has the vegetarian gumbo...


To the OP, that same restaurant also has a steak gumbo. So one walk-up restaurant, same basic dish, meets both of your needs. (works for me and DH when we're traveling with my carnivorous brother and SIL)



fairycat, that UVA bar thing sounds so good!


We've only had b'fast at Cafe Orleans, but it was really good. Just tell them to keep the meat (or have them put hers on your plate!) and you can get an ovo-lacto veggie meal easily.


OP, I like dlresortinfo better for ease in navigation. We can't link to that for various reasons, but I'm sure you can get there.

 

[snowwhite84]

Thanks for all the info! About the character breakfasts; someone mentioned you can order a la carte at Goofy's Kitchen. What type of items are a la carte, and what types of prices are they? Is there any way to get a menu for that online?

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

For a really yummy snack, don't miss the Bengal Barbeque in Adventure Land. Someone already mentioned it above.....and it is SUPER good. They have meat on a stick which is excellent. But they also have a vegetable skewer which is delicious. And they have an really yummy breadstick (Tiger Tale???), which paired with one of the skewers (meat or veggie) makes a great lunch.

As far as the sweet Tigger Tale, we got those in Critter Country at Pooh Corner. They are 2 or 3 big marshmellows on a stick, dipped in carmel, then dipped in white chocolate (?) colored orange with dark chocolate stripes....like Tigger's tale. My kids loved them. They are gooey.......

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

Actually......it looks like Tigger Tales have 4 big marshmellows!

 

[DevilDuckie]

Most of this is really good- I have just a couple things to add.


I think the best publicly accessible table service in the parks is the Vineyard Room. If you are not looking for something quite so upscale, we really enjoy the buffet at Storytellers.

In DTD we like Ralph Brennan's. Get the Bananas Foster! Flambe! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

In general our finding has been that the food in DCA counter service is bigger and better for the same prices. Don't miss the loaded fries at Taste Pilot's, the free tortilla at the Mission factory tour or the bread bowls at Boudin if you don't live where there is good sourdough.

I could quite cheerfully never waste money on the Blue Bayou or the Dole Whip again. BB's atmosphere doesn't make up for the unimpressive food and service for us.

 

[ScooterL]

3. What is the best table service meals at either park?

I like The Vineyard Room at DCA, though the Trattoria is good, too. At DL I like Carnation Cafe or Cafe Orleans - I'm not a big fan of Blue Bayou.

4. If you had to pick one place to eat dinner at for DD, what would it be? (I am not a Rainforest Cafe fan)

I like soups and sandwiches, so I think La Brea Bakery Cafe is very good. Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen has a really wonderful variety of desserts and I like their selection of appetizers, but am not overly thrilled with their entrees. I think Naples looks good, but I haven't eaten there yet.

5. What snacks or counter service options are not to be missed?

Bengal BBQ at DL - meat and veggies on skewers. Yum. A lot of people rave about the corn dogs at the Red Wagon on Main Street, but I haven't tried those. I think the beignets at Ralph Brennan's Creole Cafe are good if they are fresh. The sugar buns at La Brea Bakery Express are yummy. Pacific Wharf Cafe at DCA has delicious soups and salads served in sourdough bread bowls, but it also usually has a long line. Schmoozies at DCA has good smoothies.

6. What are some good places for vegetarians?

I think every place has at least a salad available. But Bengal BBQ has a veggie skewer that's good, and Redd Rockett's has nice fresh salads. I believe there are vegetarian options at Pacific Wharf Cafe, and the Trattoria at DCA has several entrees that can be made vegetarian. River Belle Terrace at DL has a vegetarian Po'Boy sandwich. The two bakeries (Blue Ribbon at DL and Bakers Field at DCA) used to have a vegetable sandwich...not sure if they still do or not.

 

[CupidsKiss]

Veggie burger at White Water Snacks hidden away in the Grand Californian was awsome (Moneys trype patty) while the Veggie burger at our Disneyland Hotels Crocs Bits and Bites was blech (meat simulated overly sodium).
We liked the Trattoria in DCA for sit down service.