What's the best way to do Napa Rose?

[DizMe]

My sis and I have ressies for next Sun evening. I remember reading about chef's table or chef's choice or something like that but I never really thought I'd go to NR so didn't pay much attention. Does anyone have suggestions? I don't know if we should ask for a particular area of the dining room etc. I'm not really a foodie (though my sister is), so if you have things you love, let me hear 'em!

 

[Heymy]

The chef's counter is amazing. You have to call the Napa Rose directly (Disney Dining will have it) and they offer 2 seatings an evening (5:30 and 8:30?). We sat on the dessert side (can't remember which seat numbers those are). Two sides, each side can accomodate 4 people. If you do sit up there, I highly recommend doing the chef's menu which is different than the pre-fixed menu. The chef and waiter will spend time finding out likes and dislikes. It really is an incredible experience. My one word of advice, be careful of the wine pairing. They say they will pour 2 oz per course....I got an entire glass each course...after 6 or so courses....ummm made for a painful next day.

We're going again this year for our anniversary, but DH wants to try just sitting in the dinning room...who knows why. So I'd be curious what people have to say about the dinning room.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[oc_tony]

DW and I have done the lounge, the dining room and the chef's table, and we both liked the chef's table best. Here's a link to the DIS blog I wrote about our chef's table experience.

 

[rubysparkles]

I was going to ask about this too. I hear they have a seasonal menu, which sounds amazing.

Do you think it's appropriate for a single traveller to eat at the chef's table? I was hoping to do the whole shebang for a treat!

 

[lulukate]

How do you book for the chef's table? We have been to NR once, food was fabulous - we had the seasonal tasting menu with the wine pairing, it was wonderful!!

 

[DizMe]

OMG!! OC Tony, I read your blog and my mouth was literally watering the entire time. And as I said, I'm not even what you'd consider a foodie!!

I would lOVE to do the chef's counter, but have 2 concerns: first, I just can't eat very much at one time. I hate to sound like a skinflint, but I really don't want to spend a ton of money on food I won't be able to eat.

Second, I can handle about 1 glass of wine (migraines). My sister loves it and would want the full experience. Can she opt for the wine without my having it as well?

Finally, how much would a chef's counter dining event like that cost? Or perhaps more accurately, what kind of price range should I expect? I fully realize that this is an experience and not just a meal and am prepared to pay for that, but it would help to have an idea as to how much I should budget.

 

[brergnat]

I'm debating about this as well. DH is coming home from a six month deployment in 3 weeks and in December, he and I are going to GCH for 2 nights of "alone time" without the kids, while my MIL is in town for Xmas. I want to definitely eat at Napa Rose, and am very interested in cooking (love food network) but I'm not really a "foodie." I mean, I like good food, but I don't like seafood (at ALL), game meats, and stuff like poached quail eggs. I don't want to insult the chef!

I would love to do the Chef's counter because open kitchens fascinate me, but don't want to seem out of place there. I don't want to be seated with a hoity toity foodie couple or something. And, I'm not sure we'll be up for "socializing".

Is a regular table at NR just as good? I wouldn't do a wine pairing, although DH probably would (I also get bad migraines from wine).

 

[oc_tony]

OMG!! OC Tony, I read your blog and my mouth was literally watering the entire time. And as I said, I'm not even what you'd consider a foodie!!

I would lOVE to do the chef's counter, but have 2 concerns: first, I just can't eat very much at one time. I hate to sound like a skinflint, but I really don't want to spend a ton of money on food I won't be able to eat.

Second, I can handle about 1 glass of wine (migraines). My sister loves it and would want the full experience. Can she opt for the wine without my having it as well?

Finally, how much would a chef's counter dining event like that cost? Or perhaps more accurately, what kind of price range should I expect? I fully realize that this is an experience and not just a meal and am prepared to pay for that, but it would help to have an idea as to how much I should budget.

I should clarify something. The chef's counter doesn't require that you order a five-course meal with wine pairings. I ordered a beer and DW order one glass of wine and that was enough for us. As for food, we ordered off the same menu as the dining room guests rather than the full chef's menu with multiple courses. You can order as much or as little as you want.

As for the seasonal thing, there is a portion of the menu that changes seasonally, but there are other items that are there year-round. We really love the signature pizzetta and order it every time. Enjoy your meal!

 

[Angel Ariel]

does anyone know how much the full chef's experience (the chef analyzing your likes/dislikes, creating the menu, etc) costs? We're heading there sometime early in the new year, and would definitely be interested in eating at the Chef's Counter

We'd have no problems ordering off of the regular menu, but I may want to surprise DH with the full experience if I can make it work!

 

[DizMe]

WooHoo!!! Got reservations for the Chef's Counter on Sunday night at 8:30! For those interested, the times available were 5:30, 8:30, and 9:00. Don't really get the 9:00 thing but I didn't ask questions.

OC Tony, thanks for the clarification. That helps considerably!

Angel Ariel, from what I was able to Google, the Chef's Counter experience you asked about costs $85 with $45 more if you want the wine flights (is that the right term?). I thought that sounded pretty reasonable considering all that you get. I usually pay $40 for the Surf and Turf at BB so the Chef's Counter thing with all of that food, including appetizer and dessert, didn't seem bad, though I wouldn't be doing it on a weekly basis .

The phone number to call Napa Rose directly is 714-300-7170.

I found the following information very helpful with its current reviews http://www.yelp.com/biz/napa-rose-at-grand-californian-anaheim . Scroll down to the post by Chad A and you can click on links to lots of pictures. One person mentioned that he and his wife split a chef's counter and wine pairing and NR didn't have any problem with that.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I assume those numbers are per person?

That's definitely reasonable for, what, a 5 course meal?

 

[DizMe]

I assume those numbers are per person?

That's definitely reasonable for, what, a 5 course meal?

Yes, that's per person for *I think* a 4-course meal. It might be 5...I'm not exactly sure, but thought I remembered reading it was a 4-course dinner.

ETA: I looked back at the site I linked to above and saw everything from 4-6 courses mentioned as part of the Chef's Table, so all I can say for sure is that it sounds like plenty of food!