I had a very nice (and expensive) meal there a couple of weeks ago. Good service/food.
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Steakhouse 55 Permanently Closed?
- Thread starter mickEblu
- Start date
TP2000
Well-Known Member
This was a great question!
From the reports above, Napa Rose seems to have come out of the 15 month Covid closure doing just fine.
It's baffling how TDA was able to carve out that little island of higher standards amid their Anaheim sea of messy mediocrity.
I wonder what the secret is to Napa Rose? I have to imagine it's a combination of things; HR exceptions, management autonomy, a higher cultural and culinary calling, a price point that allows steady reinvestment into the product, and perhaps just some luck.
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I'm sure all of these. It's why Victoria & Alberts at WDW has been able to stave off the worst of WDW's cost-cutting and homogenization in the DDP era. They get all kinds of exceptions to ensure the quality of service is unrivaled anywhere else on property.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
I also have to wonder if it's also because it becomes the de facto entertainment dining room for senior TDA execs.
Before Covid, I was going to Napa Rose about once per year. Sometimes twice. And in that time I had seen almost all the TDA Presidents at some point in that place. Once they had Cynthia Harriss holding court in a private dining room that was created by sliding hidden moving panels along the north end of the main dining room (who knew?) to create a private room; it was notable because the panels were not cooperating and Cynthia was visibly perturbed at the waiters clanging them around in front of her guests and I chuckled. Eventually the panels were forced into place, and Cynthia held court in secret away from the icky paying tourists.
I think the only TDA Prez who I never saw in Napa Rose was Ed Grier, who no one ever saw, and the last two ones; Ken Potluck and that lady in the Olivia Newton John slacks who had a minion Instagram her 15 minute long Disneyland career for us. But I blame Covid for missing out on those two.
The logistics of valet parking at the Grand also make it an easy spot for schmoozy entertaining. No dealing with parking hassles and the miserable Guest Arrival Experience the idiot tourists put up with.
Napa Rose probably gets what it wants and keeps its high standards free from the latest lowering standards because TDA execs need a place to schmooze politicians and sponsors and muckymucks, and technically they can't crash in Club 33.
May have changed but SVP and above generally can use Club 33 for company-related entertainment needs. Napa is often chosen over the Club though, as it's much easier to access for visiting guests and executives. Only a small handful of TDA execs have backstage "drive on" privileges, while a far greater amount get free valet thanks to the "gold football" parking sticker that is bestowed on VPs and above.
My former SVP, for example, bought out the whole Club one night.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
I am not a Club member, but I know several members back home in OC. When I migrate north next month, I'll have to ask them how often they've seen the TDA Prez Du Jour taking up a table in the Salon Nouveau.
I do know that just before Covid the non-member Jeff Bezos and his noticeably younger girlfriend got a table in Club 33, per instructions from Bob Iger. When you are the richest man outside of Communist China, that kind of thing happens.
But the fact that I just happened to have spotted a majority of the TDA Presidents of the last 20 years at Napa Rose is more than coincidence. When forced to think about it, they were always in early December when schmoozy corporate entertaining is at a peak nationwide. But still, it's obvious to me that Napa Rose is the de facto corporate dining room for TDA and whomever they want to impress or suck up to. The valet parking is a nice logistical plus there.
I think we can all agree that must be a factor in the ongoing ability of Napa Rose to avoid TDA's continually lowering standards.
Hearing that Uva Bar (or some Patina Group variation thereof) may be moving to the '55 space, while Tortilla Joe's is going to move to Uva Bar space. Unclear what is going to the TJ spot, but the feeling is that it will do better as more of an outdoor margarita bar.
Stevek
Well-Known Member
Interesting. Joes seems to be doing very well most times we are there so a move seems odd. I'd personally like to see something new and unique to in to the 55 space though I do think the resort could use a nice steakhouse without having to leave property...as there are clearly plenty of steakhouses in the vicinity.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Yes, I was thinking exactly the same.
If Tortilla Joe's does take over Uva Bar, let's hope that fast food taco stand on the side of Tortilla Joe's is not their answer there. That place is like a Chipotle from hell; you want it to be good, from 50 feet away it looks like it should be good, but then you go inside and start seeing how they dish up the sad looking steam tray food and you pay more than Chipotle and sit down and it's... not good.
Keep Walking! There's a reason most of the chairs are empty.
Yes, I was thinking exactly the same.
If Tortilla Joe's does take over Uva Bar, let's hope that fast food taco stand on the side of Tortilla Joe's is not their answer there. That place is like a Chipotle from hell; you want it to be good, from 50 feet away it looks like it should be good, but then you go inside and start seeing how they dish up the sad looking steam tray food and you pay more than Chipotle and sit down and it's... not good.
Keep Walking! There's a reason most of the chairs are empty.
Heard a bit more about this. Sounds like Patina's plan for the TJ's space is to make it into a Morimoto Asia, as they have at WDW.
Definitely a flavor profile DTD is lacking. I like this change.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Ohhh reaaaaally?
No kidding. Those cheaply sourced and sloppily prepared "sushi" abominations made without any skill or talent they offer at Splitsville don't stand a chance if Morimoto actually shows up right next door.
Splitsville might be able to sell that junk as "sushi" in a bland entertainment mall in Ohio or Virginia to drunken suburbanites from, well, Ohio or Virginia. But in SoCal? It's just so embarassing for Splitsville, but what can you do?
Splitsville Loose N' Sloppy Sushi - Presented by the Krab Producers of North America
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el_super
Well-Known Member
I know it's pretty early still... but I've basically been hearing the same thing. Just in a far more drastic manner than just Steakhouse 55.
CaptinEO
Well-Known Member
They should just open it back up, problem solved.
But the greedy b@stards make so much more on $50 powdered scrambled eggs. Much better margins than premium steaks.
Inspired Figment
Well-Known Member
If they simply marketed it well like Steakhouse ‘71 at Walt Disney World. We wouldn’t be having this problem.
CaptinEO
Well-Known Member
They never seem to market the hotel restaraunts at Disneyland and they never take part in any celebrations or holidays.
It's like the parks blog writers forget they exist. They should encourage people to visit them, at least during the off season.
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
Which is weird because everything at Disneyland is walkable. People jump through all sorts of transportation hoops to eat at Boma and Ohana, but at Disneyland you can just like... walk to somewhere.
truecoat
Well-Known Member
Not today, have you seen the price of eggs? Go back to steaks, it's cheaper!