What are your favorite restaurants for theming/view/ambience?

[MermaidMommy]

I'm planning our first DL trip, and I'd like to concentrate our restaurant choices on ones that have some special DLR magic -- either in theme, or a view of the parks or a ride, or special ambiance. If there's a restaurant where we can see a parade or show, that would be great, too. So far, my list includes:

Blue Bayou (of course!)
Flo's
Cozy Cone (for snacks)
Ariel's Grotto

A couple of specific questions, too: At Ariel's, should we sit inside for the "under the sea" theming, or outside for the view? Also, Rancho del Zocalo looks pretty, especially at night. Is this worth adding to my list?

Thanks!

 

[spacemermaid]

Rancho del Zocalo is very pretty at night; the room with all the star-shaped lanterns is especially magical:

 

[jemmi]

We really enjoyed the theming of Carthay Circle at DCA. Our waitress gave us a tour of the different rooms and decorations. It's amazing they put forth so much effort to make it as close to the original theater as possible, then again it is Disney and they know how to do it right.

 

[tamiandryan]

I agree with your list.

Blue Bayou - One of the coolest in the parks for ambiance and atmosphere (over priced mediocre food, but nice theme)
Flo's - Either with views of RSR, or go in the evening when all the neon is lit up.
Cafe Orleans - Fun to sit on the patio and watch the hustle and bustle of New Orleans.

Honorable mention:
Hungry Bear - Counter service, but one of the nicer views. Just overlooking the Rivers of America.

 

[DLFan123]

I agree about Rancho del Zocalo at night. It's one of our favorite places! We also like the French Market, especially on a day when they have ambience music. The view and vibe is just so charming, and the food is quite good. You'll find most of Disneyland's counter service places a step above those at WDW, so don't count them out as you make your plans. We also really like River Belle Terrace for breakfast, on the New Orleans/Frontierland side. You can get the Mickey pancake there, too!

 

[figment_jii]

Carnation Cafe (TS) - limited view of the parade. It can be great or not, depend on the people standing on Main Street between the parade and the outdoor seating area. You can usually see the tops of the floats without any issues, but the street level parts are more iffy.

Carthay Circle Restaurant and/or Lounge (TS) - good food (both upstairs in the restaurant and downstairs in the lounge). Lots of details to look at. There is a free tour of the restaurant in the morning (10:00 am, I think) and the CM that leads it will give you a lot of history about the building.

French Market (QS) - good food and great place to people watch. There is also live music (check the schedule for show times) from the Royal Street Bachelors, which is a nice touch. It's a great place for people watching because you can see a wide area from there. If you are eating during Fantasmic, you'll be able to hear the music (seeing the show is very dicey and not terribly likely).

Cafe Orleans (TS) - good food (some items are similar to Blue Bayou) and another great people watching spot. The view is pretty much the same as at French Market.

Hungry Bear (QS) - I haven't eaten here in a while, so I can't really comment on the food, but the seating area has a view of the Rivers of America. You can watch the canoes and River Boats (Mark Twain and (if running) Columbia) go by. You can also see folks on Tom Sawyers Island.

Plaza Inn (QS) - great fried chicken. Some of the outside seating area might have a view of the parade. There are a lot of bushes that get in the way, but you can certainly hear the parade.

Rancho del Zocalo (QS) - I wasn't that enamored of the food (it was kind of spicy), but it does look pretty at night. You don't have to eat there to stop and see it.

Flo's V-8 Cafe (QS) - the food is okay, but depending on where you sit you can either watch Route 66 or part of the race on RSR. If you want to sit outside, there is eating that will potentially allow you to do both. It's a nice place to take a break and watch things in Carsland.

Pacific Wharf (QS) - lots of different QS options here and depending on the table, you might have a view of the parade (I haven't tried this, but you can see the route area, so I'd guess you can see something - probably the tall stuff).

Starbucks in DCA (QS) - there are a handful of tables that are outside and face onto Buena Vista Street. It's another good people watching spot. You might also be able to see Five & Dime or the Newboys performances, depending on the timing.

 

[Carolynleanne]

Oh this thread is KILLIN me!!! Can I go back RIGHT NOW please!?

I agree with PPs. Love Blue Bayou, Flos and Rancho del Zocalo! I also enjoy Hungry Bear for a relaxing lunch in the shade

 

[ashleysev]

Blue Bayou is my favorite. Then Carthay.

 

[BriannaRuth]

At Ariel's, should we sit inside for the "under the sea" theming, or outside for the view? Also, Rancho del Zocalo looks pretty, especially at night. Is this worth adding to my list?

Thanks!

I don't remember an outside seating area at Ariel's other than the Cove Bar upstairs. Ariel's is character dining (and the price tag that comes with it). Cove Bar is not. The name is misleading, though. There's a bar there but also regular tables and you can take kids.

I also like the atmosphere at Rancho del Zocalo at night. Not as special during the day. Food is ok.

Blue Bayou is my favorite as well, but I only do it for lunch because it's a little less expensive for the mediocre food and I like the Monte Cristo, which is not available at dinner.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I don't remember an outside seating area at Ariel's other than the Cove Bar upstairs. Ariel's is character dining (and the price tag that comes with it). Cove Bar is not. The name is misleading, though. There's a bar there but also regular tables and you can take kids.

There is seating outside at Ariel's. They use it for overflow after the inside fills up. During character dining the princesses make their way through the inside first before visiting the guests outside. Outside is also a cool place to eat dinner. Waterfront with a view of the boardwalk. As long as you don't mind the rollercoaster taking off every 30 seconds!

 

[CrabbyPatty]

We really enjoyed the Cove Bar one evening last August ....... great view of the Paradise Pier area, good food and drinks, and we watched WOC - granted it's very much a side view, but we didn't want to stand in line for WOC and were happy with what we saw.

 

[whjensen]

Don't forget Goofy's Kitchen for a character breakfast!

We're not big fans of Blue Bayou (mediocre, but expensive food) but our kids love it for the ambiance.

I'd second the Carnation Cafe. The location just delivers the Disneyfication of it - even without good parade views.

Great restaurants that a little ambiance-challenged: Cafe Bayou and Wine Country Trattoria.

 

[goooof1]

Big Thunder BBQ......decent food and the "ranch" theme is nice. it is back away from the crowds so a pretty relaxing area.
Agree with Blue Bayou for lunch.....it's in a ride.....can't beat that!

 

[tarheelalum]

Cafe Orleans for the food and view. We really love it there.
That part of DL is our favorite overall place to sit and relax. Just writing this makes me want to go to DL tomorrow. . But I'm going to go to work instead.

 

[Midnightred]

For ambience, my #1 pick would be Flo's, sitting outside, you feel as though you are really in a desert. Plus, it's pretty exciting with the racing cars zooming by. If we are talking ambience, Blue Bayou just has to be included, expensive or not, it's pretty amazing!

Midnightred

 

[GatorChris]

All of these are really great, though I haven't done Carthay and probably never will at those prices.

I think Rainforest Cafe' has a great feel. The waterfall, the animals, the thunderstorms. The food is alright and maybe a little overpriced, but I love the feel in there.

 

[SugarQuill]

French Market was especially charming with the live band.

 

[Aspoonfullofsugar]

Don't discount the Jolly Holiday. Some of the tables have very good parade views and there's great people watching. Who doesn't walk past that corner at some point?

 

[gerilyne]

I agree with Blue Bayou and Flo's... Also we enjoyed Hungry Bear's seating as well. We sat down on the lower level at the back table next to the river and it was so quiet and peaceful and a nice place to relax and enjoy a bit to eat, watching all the boats and canoes go by.

 

[BriannaRuth]

There is seating outside at Ariel's. They use it for overflow after the inside fills up. During character dining the princesses make their way through the inside first before visiting the guests outside. Outside is also a cool place to eat dinner. Waterfront with a view of the boardwalk. As long as you don't mind the rollercoaster taking off every 30 seconds!

But the Cove Bar is the only place at Ariel's where you don't have to do the dining package, right? It seems like to me that we sat there and were still able to see the take off. Or am I imaging things?