Originally Posted By Ella0618 We had a very good, quiet lunch at Naples last week when the crowds were really bad in the parks. It's not that far from the entrances to either park, and the relatively quiet atmosphere (compared to the madness in the parks) was welcome. I had a rigatoni, and my mother had gnocci (sp?), both of which were flavorful and plentiful. It's not cheap, though. Our entries cost approximately $17 each. Salads and soups are extra, but the free bread basket was delicious. We also ate at Catal, Blue Bayou, and the Wine Country Trattoria for lunches on other days, and had dinner at Napa Rose as well. I would recommend all of them, but be prepared for high prices. Eating a hearty lunch, however, made us less hungry at night, and most evenings we just snacked.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I've perhaps lived in Europe too long now, but that is our preference (and cheaper too). A latish table service lunch and then some snacks when at the parks. The crowds are easier to handle, it's healthier for you, and it ends up cheaper most of the time.
Originally Posted By ni_teach My $0.02 Inside the DL: Blue Bayou - You just can't beat it. But you must get there early to get a reservation. There use to be more places to recommend, but the food quality inside DL has really gone down hill over the past few years. DTD: Catal - Great Food. A not to be missed restaurant. Brennan's Jazz Kitchen - Good food and great entertainment. GCH: Napa Rose - The Best, but also comes with the highest price tag! Storyteller's Cafe - Good food and quite enough to talk to the people around the table. (Try the corn soup!) White Water Snacks - As the name says "Snacks" but it big step above the rest of the fast food around the park. (Why can't the rest of the fast food restaurants at DLR be as good as White Water????)
Originally Posted By ncnike7 Just get a jalepeno cheese filled pretzel and your life will be complete!
Originally Posted By junglejoy That sounds delish. And all my family hate jalapenos, so I would get the whole thing - he, he, he... Where do you get those?
Originally Posted By ncnike7 I always get mine from the bengal bbq but I think you can get them from the outside cart stands too, and maybe even the coca cola corner.
Originally Posted By Indigo <<Blue Bayou - You just can't beat it. But you must get there early to get a reservation. >> Please don't wait until you get to the park to attempt to make a ressie at Blue Bayou. Use the call ahead number and make ressies upto 60 days ahead of time.
Originally Posted By Chelledun Okay, I've started to make reservations. It's a little annoying, because they are only letting me make them until exactly 58 days ahead (since February is a short month) and I must call back daily to do each one, but I'm getting through them. I'm ending up booking more than I thought, because we really do enjoy having a nice meal each day. We wanted to do one character dining meal and don't like buffets, so I have made a reservation for Ariel's Grotto for the first night of our stay. I got lunch at noon at Blue Bayou (yay!) for the second day of our stay. I'm calling back tomorrow to get Catal for day three. Day four is still undecided - We're trying to decide if we can afford Napa Rose and if not doing the Trattoria. We actually have a day off in the middle there to do Hollywood stuff, so that will be counter service at the hotel. Thanks again for all your help! I'm so excited about Blue Bayou.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Storyteller's is one of the restaurants inside the Grand Californian Hotel. They offer both buffet and ala-carte service, and a character breakfast. Typical menus can be seen here: <a href="http://www.dlresortinfo.com/grandcalifornianrestaurants/grandrestaurants.html" target="_blank">http://www.dlresortinfo.com/gr andcalifornianrestaurants/grandrestaurants.html</a>
Originally Posted By whistler If you can swing napa rose, do go for it. It's one of the best restaurants in southern california. The wine list is great, as is the service (at least in my experiences), and the ambience. Have a great trip.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo In fact whistler, I can say based on my experience in 2002, it's one of the best restaurants in the world, and definately better than anything WDW or DLP has to offer IMHO.
Originally Posted By whistler Hey Davewasbaloo, have you been back since? I have not been in the last couple of years. On my first visit to napa rose, right after it opened, I had a half chicken that was as satisfying as a steak from a good steakhouse. I don't know what they did to it.....
Originally Posted By elsid50 storyteller's cafe is great-especially the Critter Breakfast. And of course Blue Bayou
