Originally Posted By Nan Looking for suggestions of good places to eat. Sit down...at least fairly good food. Not sure if we'll be doing this all the time but would like at least one place per park/location. DL and DCA and even Downtown. Don't mind heading to a hotel either since I want to check at least one or two out. Price is and isn't an object. I don't want to pay $50 per person or anything but don't mind paying a bit for a nicer meal than a hamburger. Not really interested in the chains like ESPN or Rainforest etc. Best Character meal? Was thinking of Ariel's maybe? Any better? The menu doesn't really thrill me though but it's for an almost 7 yr old so??? Open to suggestions and why the suggestion. Thanks a bunch!
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains For Ariels are you looking at the new menu - or the one from a couple months ago... I think Darkbeer posted the new one on this thread. If the 7 year old is a girl I would go with Ariels - you get princesses.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 DCA we like Trattoria. You can make PS which I'd recommend. We always enjoy La Brea in DTD for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Depends on when you go because most of the seating is outdoors. DL, Carnation Cafe for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We usually make a PS for a late breakfast and hope that Oscar is there They only have outside seating so it closes if it's raining. Phone for PS or walk up and make PS. Now that I think about it, all 3 have outdoor seating
Originally Posted By Nan Thanks to you both! Yes, I saw the new Ariel menu posted here. I can't do seafood so that left out some of the menu. Guess I'm use to WDW dining with Cinderella where you get prime rib I'll check out the menu for all the suggestions! Keep 'em coming! It's appreciated! Hoping to do some PS sometime in the next week. LOL amazedncal....just like eating outside?
Originally Posted By Nan Oops sorry. Yes, the almost 7 yr old IS a girl! This would be a surprise as she told me that she's not so sure about eating with Ariel because Ariel is TOO special. This from a kid who has eaten with Cinderella who is her favorite. Not sure where Ariel got top billing in the awe department.
Originally Posted By crazycroc Just feed yourself and your kids crap from the vending carts all day. It's a game I like to play called, "Iron Stomach" challenge. Whoever doesn't get sick, gets to stay at Disneyland, but whoever does has to stay in the hotel room. Alone. The feeling of being sick while at Disneyland, is one of extra sadness and woe, on top of the physical issues. You do what you want, but I suggest this as a way to weed out the weaklings and to channel your inner sociopath. Best! Crazycroc
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hi Nan, As a WDWer, let me give you some options. The Blue Bayou is as close to an Epcot experience as you can get at DLR. It is in the Pirates building, so like San Angel Inn, you can have lunch in the moonlight! The menu is quite good too. My fav restaurant in DL park. In DCA, sadly they closed all my favorites. So I would opt for the Grand Californian instead - Storytellers has a mix of buffet and a la carte and has my fav character breakfast (feels like a more subdued Whispering Canyon with Meeko, Pocahantas, Koda and Kenai - so quite unusual for a character breakfast). Napa Rose is my fav - it's like Victoria and Albert mated with California Grill in California - awesome. For something like the Yachtsman Steakhouse/Le Cellier meets the Brown Derby, I recommend Steakhouse 55 in the Disneyland Hotel. Also Goofy's Kitchen at the DLH is like Chef Mickey's but better (not as loud as at the Contemporary). In Downtown Disney, I like Tortilla Jo's - very good mexican by Jauquin Spitchel (sp?). Also Catal for Mediterranian is good too. Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen - is mixed. I have had good meals here, others have not. But it is unique and feels like eating in Bourbon Street. For character meals, Plaza Gardens in DL is good too - a little like Crystal Palace in the MK, and it's hosted by Minnie. For Japanese, Yamibuki at the Paradise Pier hotel is good too. Personally I think the table service are better quality across the board at DLR, but counter service are not. But the corn dogs at DL are to die for!
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP I personally prefer Cafe Orleans to Blue Bayou, but I'm wierd. We don't do a whole lot of sit down in the park, but I'm looking forward to have special dinners one day at Yamibuki and Napa Rose.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains We like the big salad at the Plaze Inn. We didn't really like Tortilla Joes too much.
Originally Posted By mater4 I enjoy Plaza Inn and Rancho Del Zocalo is not bad either. At DCA Trattoria and Pacific Wharf Cafe is good. DTD my fave is ESPN (though you are trying to avoid those places) and La Brea Bakery. Napolini is good too. I am with Villains on Tortilla Joes. For what you pay the food did not impress me.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney I agree with Mrs ElderP on Cafe Orleans over Blue Bayou. Breakfast is good there and they have a little more extensive kids menu than other places. My dd loved the kids chicken citrus drummettes and what it came with, can't remember. Also we LOVE the parmesean garlic fries there!! We also make a point of eating at Red Rockett's Pizza each trip because my whole family drools over the Chicken fussili dish. YUM! Our favorite is Carnation Cafe! Last time I called for PS, the CM I spoke with said, "Wow, you guys really like Carnation Cafe!" I told her we do, and she said a lot of people do. Seeing Oscar is totally fun too. Be sure to get your picture with him if you see him. At DCA, I love the broccoli cheese soup at Pacific Wharf Cafe. DH likes it too, can't remember what he gets though. Our favorite character meal as far as character interaction is Goofy's kitchen. My husband really loved the food at the breakfast buffet at the Lilo and Stitch breakfast at PPH, but our server was super grumpy, I don't think she liked kids! The character interaction was fun there too.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I believe Cafe Orleans has stopped breakfast for a while.. They are redoing the kitchens or such.. My DS17 LOVED the eggs bendict from there... There is also teh White Water Snacks near the GCH pool - it is a good deal and food is cooked to order with nachos, chicken, french dips...
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 White Water Nachos!!!! Yes!!!! We had a bad experience at Tortilla Joes when it first opened. I don't know that I could get DH to go back there. Then again we have lots of mom and pop Mexican food restaurants in our area that are GOOD so we usually look for other things when we are out of town. We've never been there but I'm pretty sure that at Ariels Grotto you have a meet and greet with Ariel (sitting on her shell) and then the other Princess' come to your table. Hotel Restaurants are all pretty good. Hooks gets big marks from our adult children. Goofy's is always fun if you are into character interaction and buffet. We thought Yamabuki was just OK. We might be picky. Pacific Warf cafe bread is sourdough french bread by Boudins. A San Francisco landmark. If you want a bit of San Francisco vibe it's a great spot to eat! I like the Sonoma Chicken salad and DH likes the chili bowl. I also vote for the Plaza Inn. LOVE the chicken ceasar salad and the fried chicken. You can eat inside or OUTSIDE DD loves the pasta, it's not a trip to Disneyland if she doesn't have pasta at the Plaza. I always forget about Cafe Orleans. We had a really nice dinner there last year. Character meals: Storytellers breakfast is either buffet or menu.... Goofys Kitchen breakfast or lunch/dinner is buffet only........Lilo and Stitch is buffet or menu........Ariels is table service.......Minnies Breakfast in Disneyland is buffet only......kind of depends on what you want. Do you want to eat in the park or does it matter? Princess' or bears or mice? Service or serve yourself. Character interaction seems to be hit or miss depending on the characters and who "cough" is portraying them. We've been to Goofys several times and it's always been just fine with us.
Originally Posted By Nan WOW all the suggestions and I have a menu page up. I'm getting hungry! So many choices! Forget the rides and shows. Maybe we should just eat?
