Restaurants: Best and Worst

[iHEARTflorida]

What are the best restaurants in DLR? and which are the ones we should avoid? Both Table and Quick Service

I have heard good things about Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe, in Disneyland.

But what about California Adventure?

Also what's the best character buffet around in or outside the parks?

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Our favorites are Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe. We also like Pizza Port and Rancho Del Zocalo. We have eaten at Blue Bayou once, and the food (for us) was so good!

At DCA, we like Taste Pilot's Grill and Wine Country Trattoria.

The only character meal we have done is Ariel's, so can't help with the buffets.

At Downtown Disney we enjoy Rainforest Cafe, we also ate at Ralph Brennan's Express Kitchen for the first time and thought that was pretty good. I did not like Naples and wasn't a big fan of Tortilla Joes.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Best: Whitewater Snacks, Bengal BBQ, Steakhouse 55

Worst: Award Wieners ($6 for a normal small hotdog you can make at home)
Hungry Bear (not because it is horrible, but because the menu is nothing special. Mostly hamburgers and fries that taste like burgers you would get at the zoo or mini golf. Typical unremarkable theme park or fair food.)

 

[LavenderPeach]

DL: Carnation Cafe, Celebration BBQ, Bengal BBQ, Riverbelle Terrace

DCA: Wine Country Trattoria, Taste Pilot's Grill (love the ribs and full throttle fries - burgers not so much although they do have a bunch of stuff you can add to them)

 

[blackjackdelta]

Very subjective. You will see many anti-opinions. We like NR($$$), BB($$$$), SH55, TPG, CC, CO, PP,RBT and BBQ. Hungrey Bear and I do not get along other than the view. Never had a reasonable meal there.

Jack

 

[Sherry E]

Goofy's Kitchen is the buffet with the widest variety of food, no question. And Goofy's is almost a slam-dunk for me every time I go there. I think I have only had food that was not up to par maybe 2 times since 1992. Otherwise, it is always great, and I am happy with the character selection. There are usually 5 main characters there and then a rotating cast of guest stars which include Princesses and others. Last time I was at GK, I believe there were 8 characters running around in the restaurant (a couple were on the other side). Other folks have not been happy with the character selection when they were there, but more often than not, GK is a hit with people.

As Jack said, you will find differing opinions on all the restaurants, especially the character meals.

I have done Storytellers Cafe Critter Breakast a few times (that is a much smaller buffet as well as a la carte ordering) and it just lacks something for me. I have tried the buffet and the menu offerings. It's just blah for me. Many people LOVE the Critter Breakfast because it is quiet and not as high energy as Goofy's or (what used to be) Lilo & Stitch.

Now, of course, the Lilo & Stitch breakfast has become the Surf's Up with Mickey meal, and it is all buffet (with some specialty items), and people seem to like it. Its the only meal with Mickey. I had a chance to try the Mickey meal in December....and I went back to Goofy's instead!!! If it ain't broke....

There are also plenty of Minnie & Friends fans (that's served buffeteria-style but is considered a buffet), and everyone agrees this meal has the most characters of all the character meals, but there have been mixed reviews of the food.


Otherwise, I like Carnation Cafe, Blue Ribbon Bakery, River Belle Terrace and Bengal BBQ in DL.

I like Wine Country Trattoria and Taste Pilots Grill in DCA.

I like Storytellers as a regular, non-character restaurant for lunch or dinner.

I like Naples, ESPN Zone and Rainforest Cafe in DTD.

 

[FlameGirl]

We loved RB Jazz Kitchen and we also like Naples, which always gets roastsed over the coals on these boards, which I just don't understand.

 

[lwanthony]

We really love the BB, but for the atmosphere as much as the food. More really than the food. But for us, it is a must go to place for every trip!

 

[Sherry E]

We loved RB Jazz Kitchen and we also like Naples, which always gets roastsed over the coals on these boards, which I just don't understand.

I don't get it, either! I have had good, enjoyable experiences at Naples. My friend liked it too. But I can probably count on one hand the ones here on the DIS who actually really like it (now I can add you into that hand as well!). I think at the end of the day it boils down to personal taste in food more than bad service or poor quality of food. Our service has been great and the food was more than adequate!! Plus, great outdoor dining! I would always recommend Naples to people.

 

[FlameGirl]

I don't get it, either! I have had good, enjoyable experiences at Naples. My friend liked it too. But I can probably count on one hand the ones here on the DIS who actually really like it (now I can add you into that hand as well!). I think at the end of the day it boils down to personal taste in food more than bad service or poor quality of food. Our service has been great and the food was more than adequate!! Plus, great outdoor dining! I would always recommend Naples to people.

Actually, I kind of wonder if it is because of a certain expectation with pizza in general. Americans are used to big gooey, cheesey topping heavy pizza and Neopolitan pizza is more authentic Italian pizza - thin crust with sparse sauce and very sparse cheese. We happen to love Neopolitan pizza but if you're expecting the more traditional New York style pizza than I can see how one would be disappointed.

Who knows...all I know is, we like the food, the service is always great and we always make friends with the balloon guy.

 

[Hester]

Certainly this is a subjective issue, but here are a few suggestions based on outright quality of ingredients and preparation and the consistency of service:

Best sit-downs:
-Napa Rose (*must try, best dining experience hands down, exceptional food and service period)
-Hook's Point (consistent high-end food, service can be inconsistent)

Best counter service:
-Whitewater snacks (best walk up at DLR, consistently good quick service food)


A couple notes on the other eateries: The food and service can be a real hit-or miss thing. For example, several weeks ago we spent a very significant amount of money at the Jazz Kitchen - the service was good but the food was really awful. We could have spent the same amount of money at Napa Rose for a guaranteed magnificent dining experience.

Part of the fun is discovering different eateries and trying things out - however, bad food at a high price is always disappointing and frankly a waste of money.

 

[wbl2745]

We like going to Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand Californian for lunch. It usually isn't very busy, the food is good, and you get away from the crowds in the park. Being in the Grand California, it isn't cheap.

The Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland is one of my favorites. There's often a crowd and nowhere to sit, but the bacon wrapped asparagus is great! Back behind the French Market is the Mint Julep Bar which serves mint juleps (go figure) and fritters; a great snack in the afternoon or evening.

 

[SouthernExplorer]

In Disneyland my husband and I ate at Café Orléans and the Bengal BBQ.

We split the Monte Cristo sandwich, and we had the beignets (yummy) for dessert. My husband thought that this was an authentic-tasting Monte Cristo, but this sandwich is too fried for my taste. Because of the split-plate charge we will probably not go to a Disney sit-down again. Service was good.

We went to the ESPN Zone and got a free mug with our beer. We both remember enjoying our burgers, and have been to the Las Vegas location as well. We also went to Tortilla Joe's, and we both really loved the food. We would definately go back to both restaurants.

Bengal BBQ was a disappointment. My bacon-aspargus skewer was burnt to a crisp and was disgusting, and the Tiger Tails were bland.

 

[kkmcan]

Our must do's every trip are:

Whitewater Snacks
Wine Country Trattoria
Corndog Castle
Goofy's Kitchen!!

We've done Blue Bayou a couple of times but I really dont care for it. I hear rave reviews for the Plaza fried chicken platter. Sounds awesome but nothing there my kids will eat so we've never tried it. Also never tried Taste Pilots Grill- I need to put this on our list for next time.

 

[Flitterific]

Best full-service restaurants: Napa Rose, Cafe Orleans, Jazz Kitchen, Carnation Cafe is pretty good too

Worst full-service restaurant: Catal, expensive and food was meh...only thing I liked was the compressed salad

Best counter-top service: White Water Snacks, Taste Pilot's Grill, Pacific Wharf Cafe, Plaza Inn for their fried chicken

Worst counter-top service: Lucky Fortune Cookery...so overpriced for the food they churn out

Best character meal: I've only been to Goofy's Kitchen and Minnie & Friends and personally liked GK a lot better. Not only was the food way superior to the selection offered at M&F but the character interaction was a lot better. M&F had a lot more characters (I think 11 when I went) but a lot of them missed our section, more than once too! On the other hand, the characters at GK make a point to come to all the tables and we saw a few of them more than once. But like everyone else said, it's definitely a personal preference and I think it really depends on which characters you want to see. (i.e. Mickey's Surf Up is the only one that you can meet Mickey and Ariel's Grotto is the only place that you are guaranteed to meet Ariel and her princess friends).

 

[briangl]

I love the pizza at Naples. Some of the best pizza I've had outside NYC/NJ.

 

[nana50]

I like Plaza Inn with my grandkids. My kids loved the "fancy room" when they were little and now my grandkids do too. They are all vegetarians and like plain pasta, so that suits us.

The worst places are pretty any of the walk up counters that serve burgers. I also though Redr Rockets pizza was yucky.

 

[Hester]

Just wanted to add to my previous comments:

The Plaza Inn is pretty darn good (besides the fried chicken, the roast is very good) and the walk up place in New Orleans Square ... the name escapes me at the moment.

Avoid pizza in the parks at all cost!!! It's not really pizza, it's a pre-fired bread platter with nasty, nasty stuff on it. Really aweful stuff. Funny story during our last trip, I saw a Japanese family trying their "pizza" - they made funny faces and then started puting ketchup all over it. Naples pizza is good, though some on this board don't like it -- I think it may be more for East coast style pizza? I don't know, I liked it a lot.

I want to reiterate one thing ... a lot of people recommend the Jazz Kitchen ... be prepared for incosistency here. Our last meal was really aweful and really expensive ... all of our dishes, with the exception of the mac & cheese and the garlic bread.

Be safe, for the money, hit up the consistently good places first: Napa Rose, Hook's Point, Whitewater Snacks - then - Plaza Inn and the New Orleans Square place.

OOOHHHH ... I forgot ... Steakhouse 55 (Disneyland Hotel) is AWESOME. Ranks #2 after Napa Rose. Dang, I totally forgot that place.

 

[Dobie]

Good food: Carnation Cafe, Cafe Orleans, Churro Carts!!!!, Bengal Barbeque, Storytellers, Napa Rose, Taste Pilots, Whitewater Snacks


Icky food: Cucina Cucamonga, Ariel's Grotto

Food to be avoided at all cost: any pizza, French Market

 

[Mugglemama]

we eat most of our meals outside the parks because we've just never found anything we *love* inside. but we do usually eat one meal per day on-site, and it always seems that everyone in our family unanimously chooses Taste Pilot's Grill in DCA.

it's nothing extraordinary, and finding seating can be a real pain in the neck, lol. i think my kids always pick it because when we had AP's several years ago and were in the parks weekly, we'd often run in to TPG for dinner. i think they always choose it simply for the nostalgia of it.

that said, i've never eaten anything there that didn't taste good.