Where to have lunch on arrival day: Carnation Cafe, Riverbelle Terrace, WoC Carthay Circle, or ??

[VandVsmama]

I'm trying to decide where we'll have lunch on our arrival day. We'll be arriving at DL on Tues 5/30 (day after Memorial Day) and will be checking into Hojo's first before heading to the parks. At first, I was thinking of doing Carnation Cafe because I was hoping that we could meet Chef Oscar if we went on a week day during the week.

However, now I'm having second thoughts and I'm thinking that maybe we should try Riverbelle Terrace instead. Has anybody here been there for lunch or dinner and, if so, what did you think? Do you think it would be a more pleasant dining experience eating outside rather than inside? I've seen pictures online and for what they charge you for the meals at Riverbelle Terrace, I'm not sure if I really want to be looking at the remnants of a CS restaurant set up while I pay TS prices.

On top of all that, I'm having a hard time deciding whether to go to DL or DCA first on arrival day. We'll probably end up getting to the parks about 10:30 am or 11 am-ish on that day.

I'm hoping that we can grab RSR FP when we get to DCA. So I guess that answers the question of which park we'll start out at! Haha! We're probably going to have dinner at Flo's V-8 Cafe.

We've also never seen World of Color. I'm tempting to do the dessert package, but I don't think I can stomach paying $79/person for that.

Plus, we've never eaten at Carthay Circle! so doing the WoC lunch package might be a nice idea especially since I'm pretty sure that day will be a Grad Night.

 

[GatorChris]

If you're going to DCA, head over to Pacific Wharf and have a bread bowl with clam chowder. That way it's not a huge meal that you have to be right on time for. And you'll still be hungry for Flo's when it's dinner time. You don't want to eat too late if you're catching World of Color. Gotta line up and all that.

Should you go to DL first, Carnation Cafe has some really good food. Can't vouch for Riverbelle. It's changed to TS and I can't justify spending what they charge when I look at the menu.

 

[figment_jii]

Are you planning on walking-up or making a reservation? I personally think you'll have a better chance at getting a walk-up at RBT compared to Carnation Cafe (even at off times of the day). I like both Carnation Cafe and RBT. Both have very good, but different, food. Both Carnation Cafe and RBT have indoor and outdoor seating. I generally prefer outdoor seating, unless it's really hot or cold outside. In late May, my guess is that it's more likely to be hot than cold.

In terms of Chef Oscar, I've mostly only seen him there in the mornings and early lunch times. So if you do go, I would go as early as possible (i.e., as soon as you arrive) for the best chance, but given that his schedule is unknown, he might not be there on the day you're there.

For RBT, I like the outdoor seating. It doesn't necessarily remind me of a CS location (indoor does, but not outdoor) because it looks like most other patio seating areas (e.g., Carnation, Cafe Orleans, etc.). I like the food and think the portion are pretty good sized (at least the ribs are - there are six to a plate and two sides).

 

[VandVsmama]

Are you planning on walking-up or making a reservation? I personally think you'll have a better chance at getting a walk-up at RBT compared to Carnation Cafe (even at off times of the day). I like both Carnation Cafe and RBT. Both have very good, but different, food. Both Carnation Cafe and RBT have indoor and outdoor seating. I generally prefer outdoor seating, unless it's really hot or cold outside. In late May, my guess is that it's more likely to be hot than cold.

In terms of Chef Oscar, I've mostly only seen him there in the mornings and early lunch times. So if you do go, I would go as early as possible (i.e., as soon as you arrive) for the best chance, but given that his schedule is unknown, he might not be there on the day you're there.

For RBT, I like the outdoor seating. It doesn't necessarily remind me of a CS location (indoor does, but not outdoor) because it looks like most other patio seating areas (e.g., Carnation, Cafe Orleans, etc.). I like the food and think the portion are pretty good sized (at least the ribs are - there are six to a plate and two sides).

We would definitely be making a reservation if it was for a TS location.

 

[VandVsmama]

If you're going to DCA, head over to Pacific Wharf and have a bread bowl with clam chowder. That way it's not a huge meal that you have to be right on time for. And you'll still be hungry for Flo's when it's dinner time. You don't want to eat too late if you're catching World of Color. Gotta line up and all that.

Should you go to DL first, Carnation Cafe has some really good food. Can't vouch for Riverbelle. It's changed to TS and I can't justify spending what they charge when I look at the menu.

Hm...that's a really good idea. I really love the clam chowder bowls in Pacific Wharf.

 

[figment_jii]

On the flip side, have you looked into either of the WoC dining packages? I did the Wine County Trattoria lunch in December and was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the food (previous experience at WCT was not so good). Getting a good viewing spot for WoC still took some work (and time), but the meal itself was very good.

 

[Congo Queen]

Here is my two cents. I would go light and quick at lunch because my family will want to be on the move during those first hours in DCA. They will be chomping at the bit to get out and on the rides, so a leisurely sit down TS lunch will be wasted on them those first hours in the parks. So I would do Pacific Wharf restaurants or skewers or pizza at Paradise Pier Garden Grill. But later that night, they will really want to sit because they will be tired. And that is one of the hard thing about WOC - it is at the end of the day and you are pooped and you want a seat more than anything, but you have to stand for the darn thing. So that is why I would spring for the WOC dessert Party as my family's dinner. You get quite a lot of food crackers/bread/cheese/fruit for the dinner part plus sweets for dessert. AND you get real chairs with backs to them and the best view of the show. All are worth it to me for the price per person.

 

[Imdboss]

We just ate at RBT 2 days ago and I really enjoyed our meal. We sat outside which was really nice for the atmosphere, we were in the shade and it was breezy so we were pretty cold but I don't think you'll have that problem in May. DD got the pork sandwich and DH got the ribs, the 3 of us split those two dishes. DS got a kids ribs which came with 3. It was the perfect amount of food for a nice filling lunch and I'd go there again.

Today we ate at Carnation Cafe for the first time. We sat inside, didn't feel the need to be on the patio. The prices were a few dollars less than RBT but the portions weren't as big. All 4 of us ordered our own dish. DH and DD had the chicken fried chicken, I had a burger. We didn't feel like anything was super great and likely won't eat there again.

 

[rentayenta]

Carnation Cafe all the way.

 

[Lm3js]

What about Plaza for lunch? It is QS and the fried chicken is great.

 

[Nevada Jen]

Dessert party first night. Trust me. It will make for an amazing trip and you will get so much more out of your day by taking away that wait time. I would do a dca quick service. Although if you happen to walk in and there is no lounge for carthay lounge visible, do that!

 

[Lynn CC]

We are at Carnation Cafe last week for lunch it was delicious!!
There was 6 of us.
The 2 guys said the burgers were delicious & I had the meatloaf, my daughter in law had shrimp & penne pasta...
The two boys had grilled chicken & fruit.
We all enjoyed it very much!!

We also ate Cathay Circle Asian soba salad, I had a burger, & daughter & law had a shrimp dish...the boys had grilled chicken & steeped broccoli everything was great there as well.