Sit Down Dining in DL

[AmongMadPeople]

I've been working on our trip plans and budget while I wait for park hours to be released for our upcoming trip. We'll be in the parks for 5 full days. Just looking for some general insight and experience with these locations that accept PS-

Blue Bayou - I didn't originally want to eat here because the menu doesn't particularly excite me. But the more I researched, the more it seemed like an experienced we'd want to have. We aren't into Monte Cristos, so I'm leaning toward dinner. It seems in the fan community, lunch is more popular. I'm hoping even with dinner, we can request and get a waterside table. Anything particular to dinner we should know? All the tips I read are about lunch seatings.

Cafe Orleans - Once I actually looked at their menu, I realized that probably the only thing we'd really want is the pommes frites everyone talks about. Any items other that frites you would recommend?

Carnation Cafe - We'll definitely do lunch here. Seeing a picture of breakfast in the Picture of the Day thread made me wonder if we should also add a breakfast here another day? I'm not really sure how to fit it in though. Of our last three mornings, one is Walk in Walt's Footsteps, the next day we have to transfer hotels, and the last is a free day that I expect we'll be doing RSR one last time. Are breakfast seatings easy to get without PS? I see a lot of people say thing like, "We didn't make reservations, and we only had to wait 30 minutes to get seated." The last thing I want to do on vacation is wait 30 minutes just to be seated.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I liked the atmosphere of the Blue Bayou a lot, even though we didn't have a waterside table. It was neat to watch the boats go past, it was unique. We went at lunch and had the monte cristos, which you mentioned you aren't into, but they were good. My hubby had the gumbo as a starter and I had salad, we liked both.

I ate at Cafe Orleans, while the food was good it wasn't really anything special in atmosphere, although I was facing a door, so that might have colored my experience. Again I had the monte cristos, and shared the pomme frittes. I liked both a lot. But if nothing else on the menu interests you, I wouldn't go there just for the pomme frittes which are essentially seasoned fries. If I had my choice on a budget I would go to Cafe Orleans because it had what I would like to eat at a cheaper price than the BB.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

Right now I'm leaning toward scratching Cafe Orleans off the list. I think I've have my husband read the menu and see his reaction. I'm guessing he'll say he'd rather spend the money somewhere else. Originally Cafe Orleans was my "since we aren't doing Blue Bayou" restaurant. But if we do BB, I don't think we'll miss CO.

 

[devoy1701]

we really loved our meals at Wine Country Trattoria in California Adventure (are you not going here?). We've eaten here on both of our Disneyland trips, plus you can combine your meal to get yourself some preferred seating for WoC. We also had a wonderful meal at Steakhouse 55 in the Disneyland Hotel last week. Blue Bayou is great for ambiance, and would be better if they switched their Filet Mignon sauce from Bearnaise (yuck!) to Hollandaise or a Blue Cheese Buttery Garlic topping. The only thing we remember about our dining at Blue Bayou in 2009 is that terrible sauce!

 

[AmongMadPeople]

we really loved our meals at Wine Country Trattoria in California Adventure (are you not going here?). We've eaten here on both of our Disneyland trips, plus you can combine your meal to get yourself some preferred seating for WoC. We also had a wonderful meal at Steakhouse 55 in the Disneyland Hotel last week. Blue Bayou is great for ambiance, and would be better if they switched their Filet Mignon sauce from Bearnaise (yuck!) to Hollandaise or a Blue Cheese Buttery Garlic topping. The only thing we remember about our dining at Blue Bayou in 2009 is that terrible sauce!

Yes, we're doing a WOC package at Wine Country Trattoria. But our DCA dining was super easy to pick, since neither of us are interested in the other two options.

I've read good things about Steakhouse 55. We decided to dine at Napa Rose, so Steakhouse 55 will have to wait for a future trip.

Thanks for the heads up on Blue Bayou filet. Hubby would be drawn to a filet, so I'll warn him if necessary

 

[Lizzie In Disney]

I love breakfast at Carnation. The food is wonderful, and the early morning atmosphere is spectacular. It is always my first recommendation for breakfast at DL. If you are able to squeeze it in, I highly recommend it. However, you are still doing lunch here, so will be able to gain some of the Carnation's wonderful atmosphere. I have made a PS every time, because I also don't like to wait. Even with our reservations, we had to wait a few minutes for our table. If it was me, I would make a PS. I also love the Blue Bayou, simply because it is in Pirates, one of my favorite rides. I can't really comment on the food though, because we never enjoyed a meal there. Enjoy your trip to Disneyland! One of my favorite things about the park is exploring it's many amazing food options.

 

[Nicole220]

I tried Blue Bayou for the first time last December and was pleasantly surprised! I had hear that the food wasn't great but that it was a must try just for the ambience. I thought my meal was spectacular! And we were one row away from being next to the water and it was still perfect

With the steak there, I agree stay away from it. My siblings had it and I wasn't a huge fan. But I'm spoiled from Napa Rose and other restaurants. I'm usually drawn to steaks. But I got the short ribs and there were SO good. Everyone was jealous of my meal. My parents enjoyed the salmon.