Surprise Birthday Dinner for Hubby

[Tyggress]

Hey all~!

I am planning a surprise birthday trip to DLR for my hubby...he has NO idea!
While we have AP's and go the parks often, I still want some opinions on a birthday dinner:

We ALWAYS eat special occasion meals at BB...but I'd like to try a different one this time around.

So...what's your favorite special occasion restaurant at DLR and why?

I'm leaning towards Napa Rose, Steakhouse 55 or Carthay Circle....we haven't eaten at ANY of these before.

 

[ImDMous]

I love Napa Rose, especially the chef's counter. I've only had breakfast at Steakhouse 55 and it was good so I'd love to get there for dinner. Carthay was good, it's been a long time since we've been so they might have found their groove now.

 

[Aladora]

I would eat at any of those but if budget is not a concern, I would go for Napa Rose Chef's Counter. We ate there in February and it was amazing!

 

[Tyggress]

Oooohhh...I didn't even think of the Chef's Counter! If you don't mind me asking, roughly/ballpark how much that meal cost you?

 

[CassieF]

For Napa Rose chefs counter, you can order anything off the regular menu if you wanted to, but you could also order a special tasting menu for $100 per person and if you want to add a flight of wine believe it's $45. It is well worth it! I usually do it 2 to 4 times a year and it's not enough! The food is phenomenal, and it's fun to interact with the chefs, and there's usually fantastic service. This last round our waiter was pretty bad but everything else more than made up for that, and we will of course be back!

 

[MommyJKM]

I say go for the Chef's Tasting Counter at NR. Great experience. Make sure you call the restaurant directly to make the reservation, Disney Dining cannot do it for you.

If you choose Carthay Circle, you could request a private room. It's not a guarantee but you can ask.

If you do Steakhouse 55 (which is great too), you could find out if Chef Marcel is there and ask to meet him.

 

[Aladora]

Oooohhh...I didn't even think of the Chef's Counter! If you don't mind me asking, roughly/ballpark how much that meal cost you?

We did the chef's tasting menu with the wine flight for 3 of us and the total was a bit over $600.00, including a drink before dinner for each of us.

Pricey but well worth it in my opinion. We are likely doing this again the next time we stay at the Grand.

 

[SMD]

Of the 3 you mentioned, I think Carthay is the easiest to pull off as a surprise. You just have to go to the park and then when you walk by, "Surprise! We have a reservation." For Napa Rose chef's counter you might have to explain why it's best not to wear regular park clothes that day. I'm not sure there is a dress code, but maybe he'd want to know in advance to wear something nice. And for Steakhouse 55 you'd have to explain why you're going to DLH. Unless the surprise is that you're going to tell him before you leave for the park that you made the reservation, in which case, all good choices.

 

[Tyggress]

Of the 3 you mentioned, I think Carthay is the easiest to pull off as a surprise. You just have to go to the park and then when you walk by, "Surprise! We have a reservation." For Napa Rose chef's counter you might have to explain why it's best not to wear regular park clothes that day. I'm not sure there is a dress code, but maybe he'd want to know in advance to wear something nice. And for Steakhouse 55 you'd have to explain why you're going to DLH. Unless the surprise is that you're going to tell him before you leave for the park that you made the reservation, in which case, all good choices.

Well...what he ALSO doesn't know, is I booked one of the DVC Studio Suites at GCH for the weekend. So I'm going to pack his things while he's at work and won't tell him until we're on our way where we're going. He knows I'm planning something for his birthday, he just doesn't know WHAT. This is all happening in December...so tons of time to plan, but that's also why I wanted to get opinions on a dinner. For Chef's Counter, of course, I'll need to save up for that expense...without him knowing why I'm saving all this money...so a little each month put aside is the best way to do that. I'm sneaky!

Anyhow...all that said, once we're there I can always tell him we're going out for a nice dinner for his birthday....I'll have already packed his clothes for him. The next day (Saturday) I'm having a friend of ours bring our 4-YO son to the resort to spend part of the weekend with us, too...but that first night is just us!

 

[Tyggress]

For Napa Rose chefs counter, you can order anything off the regular menu if you wanted to, but you could also order a special tasting menu for $100 per person

Ordering off the regular menu at the Chef's Counter seems like a waste to me! I would definitely let the Chef "wow" me!

 

[Tyggress]

I say go for the Chef's Tasting Counter at NR. Great experience. Make sure you call the restaurant directly to make the reservation, Disney Dining cannot do it for you.

Good to know, thank you....is it still limited to 60 days out? Hubby's birthday is smack-dab in the middle of Christmas season, so I anticipate it will be busy...

 

[Aladora]

Good to know, thank you....is it still limited to 60 days out? Hubby's birthday is smack-dab in the middle of Christmas season, so I anticipate it will be busy...

I think it is but just as a heads up, the restaurant only takes calls as of 5:00 pm and calling is the only way to make reservations for the counter.

Definitely on the pricey side but oh so worth it!