Food quality in DL and CA. WTH??

[tink89]

I think LL has gotten mixed reviews since it opened. Having been to other theme parks I do think DL food is much better than what is out there. We almost never eat anything at Universal in the park and the theme parks near home are just basic theme park food that cost about $17 for just chicken strips and fries without a drink, churros at $9, hot dog and chips are almost $20.

We like to eat at Rancho del Zocalo, Craftsman Grill, Flo's, Lucky Fortune, or just grab a corn dog or hot dog at Angry dog. We will eat at BB when just a small group and can get a reservation. We will do Goofys Kitchen every now and then when daughter requests.

There are many other places we eat at the parks. We do not expect a 5-star meal, but overall when compared to other theme parks DL food is pretty great and so is the cost.

 

[pindecisive]

Personally, I don't think any food at DL or CA Adventure is out of this world delicious, except for the steak at Blue Bayou. I've only eaten at CA Adventure probably twice. So maybe there's a good restaurant I don't know about? The ice cream however is amazing. I know it's Dreyer's, but you can't buy ice cream THAT fresh tasting at any store.

I second Blue Bayou being awesome and Corn Dog Castle being a must do.

Overall, we've found the food at WDW to be awful outside of Epcot. It's so bad that DH has said randomly, "Why is the food at DL so much better?!!"

So for us, it's not that DL/CA has amazing food, it's that the food is good compared to the absolute travesty that WDW has.

 

[irlandaise]

Overall, we've found the food at WDW to be awful outside of Epcot. It's so bad that DH has said randomly, "Why is the food at DL so much better?!!"

Could be many factors, but one is probably that California is known for good food whereas Florida not so much (in general). And with so many locals going to Disneyland, the park probably needs a pretty good food game to avoid them deciding to bring their own food or leave the parks before dinner.

 

[pineapplepalms]

The food isn’t always consistent either, so if you hit it on a bad day you could have an entirely different experience. One day we got the new food items at Lucky Fortune Cookery and it took an hour to come out with mobile order, and just wasn’t that good. We had it again later that week, and it came out much faster and the food itself was way better than the first time. Sometimes at Bengal BBQ the meat is so tough I can barely eat it, but other times it is tender and delicious.

With LL, I find that usually when I try one of their newer menu items, I regret it and wish I got one of my old favorites. I feel like they do their sandwiches/burgers the best, and brunch is my favorite. We recently got seated at The Office which was a really fun experience. Service has generally been great there for us, and they were even able to seat our large party together at a couple of tables when we had all booked separate reservations.

 

[starlite_]

From my last few trips, the only food I haven't liked was the burger at Red Rose Tavern. It was so plain.

 

[GenGen22]

Personally, I do think it has gone downhill. Carnation Cafe used to be one if my favorite restaurants to get breakfast at and now I avoid it. They changed their freshly made eggs and eggs benedict for egg bites that they warm up. Actually you see these egg bites in many Disney restaurants, and I prefer fresh made eggs. So disappointing. For upscale they got rid of Steak house 55 which was amazing! And LaBrea Bakery was another favorite of mine which is now gone as well.

Places I still love to eat would be the Plaza inn Fried chicken meal, Naples pizza, panzerotti and Caesar salad, Cafe Daisy has a good pizza flop over that's quite yummy, I still love the wedge salad at Riverbelle Terrace but I miss the Gorgonzola dressing. In DCA they have Cocina Cucamonga that has yummy QuesaBirria tacos and Pacific Warf Cafe has a good mac and cheese bowl. I also really like the brunch at Lamplight lounge. They have perfected the Chilaquiles. I think you just have to read the menus and reviews is all.

 

[NorCalFanatic]

We find the food overall better at DCA than DL. We do enjoy BB, Carnation and character breakfast at Plaza Inn in DL. Brunch at LL is great, dinner not as good. Best food we’ve had is the multi course meal at the princess breakfast at Napa Rose. Craftsman Grill is also good, storytellers and our kids love Goofys (we’ve had a few dishes there that were pretty good). We always eat at wine country trattoria, but their menu is hit and miss. They have a few dishes they do really well and others are kind of meh. I really like Tangaroa ( especially the fluffy pancakes for breakfast, and Panko crusted green beans, and Hawaiian platter). I was disappointed to hear they aren’t reopening steakhouse 55, they really need another sit down at DLH especially with the VDH tower opening. Quick service we like Golden Horseshoe in DL and flos, smoke jumpers and corn dog castle in DCA. We really enjoy the food festivals at DCA, and try and do both the spring and fall festivals.

 

[SpaceMan5]

Disneyland's food blows WDW food out of the water (WDW does resort food well but for some reason quick service and snacks at WDW leave a bit to be desired).

Wow, interesting opinion. And here I thought DL had some issues. I realize yours is just one opinion but I will need to spend some time lurking on the WDW boards

 

[Yarbogash]

Personally, I don't think any food at DL or CA Adventure is out of this world delicious, except for the steak at Blue Bayou. I've only eaten at CA Adventure probably twice. So maybe there's a good restaurant I don't know about? The ice cream however is amazing. I know it's Dreyer's, but you can't buy ice cream THAT fresh tasting at any store.

Truth. Had the Blue Bayou ribeye this past Sunday and it was fantastic. Best I’ve had in a long while.

Bengal Barbecue was delicious; could’ve eaten the pork skewers all day. And the fried chicken at Plaza Inn was almost as good as the hype.

As long time WDW regulars this was one of the best food days we’ve ever had in a park.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Truth. Had the Blue Bayou ribeye this past Sunday and it was fantastic. Best I’ve had in a long

That's exactly what I had two weeks ago and loved it.

 

[NVDISFamily]

Wow, interesting opinion. And here I thought DL had some issues. I realize yours is just one opinion but I will need to spend some time lurking on the WDW boards

We had plenty of snacks during our 12 night trip in June to WDW and nothing in the parks was awesome. All seemed to be just a little undercooked/warmed to the point that when you start eating them they don’t taste fresh and when you get towards the end they are getting cold.

In our trip to DL just over a week ago everything was fresh and firing on all cylinders. I’m not sure why DL quick service and snacks are so much better, they just are and better menu options too…

Now the resort food at WDW is a different story. That’s where it (if for pure variety alone) flips the script and WDW > DL IMO:

Boma - the hype is real and if you want a buffet where just about everything is sit down quality and unique… this is the spot.

Olivias - as a new DVC member we had to pay our respects and visit and we were well rewarded with delicious food and a lower price point than many others. Pay your respect to this OG spot and you won’t be disappointed.

Just about everything at Riviera and Wilderness Lodge = win…

And a special mention to Flying Fish at the Boardwalk. Took @MrsNVDISFamily there for our 22nd and had one of the best NY Strip ever.

Better pivot back to DL - we had a great time at Storytellers during our last trip for our daughter’s b-day. We love both coasts but DL is more home for us and I grew up just down the road from it. The food is much better now than it was years ago.

 

[GoofyGoofyGoofy]

Our family’s guidelines:

LL: Go for brunch.

Carnation Cafe: Go for lunch if you like comfort food. My order every time is Walt’s chili, fried pickles for the table, and chicken fried chicken.

Blue Bayou: Go for lunch. Gumbo for my first course, please!

Napa Rose: Go for dinner. Will be $$$ but usually worth it unless you have pre-teens who are forced to eat off the adult menu.

Carthay: Go whenever you can get a reservation.

Wine Trattoria: Avoid except the shrimp salad. Not an impressive wine list, you have to go to Carthay and Nappa Rose for that.

Magic Key Terrace: My wife really likes this one. Fun cocktails.

Ronto Roasters: Go for breakfast.

Bengal BBQ- possibly the best value on property.

Carnation Cafe needs to bring back a few things, especially the meatloaf.

 

[DizMe]

Carnation Cafe needs to bring back a few things, especially the meatloaf.

I used to love it. I don't ever go now. Most of the things I loved are no longer on the menu and the breakfast is a shadow of its former self. It's still a cool place and I'm hoping that one of these days the food will improve. I miss Chef Oscar!

 

[SpaceMan5]

Now the resort food at WDW is a different story. That’s where it (if for pure variety alone) flips the script and WDW > DL IMO:

Ah, I see what you are saying. At least the WDW is great.

You look to be Vegas Knight fans. We watched Theodore and Kolesar grow up while playing for the Seattle Thunderbirds. Always root for them

 

[Foxhound3857]

Only one eatery stands out to me in DL as being absolutely delectable, and that's Bengal Barbecue. Those Banyan and Safari Skewers are 100% chefs kiss.

 

[NorCalFanatic]

I do agree that Carnation has gone downhill. I miss the old menu and the old chef (Oscar).

I miss when they were the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant......Gibson Girl is just not the same.

 

[GatorChris]

For the 10 years I did WDW, I used to rave about the food and couldn't wait to get to certain places like Liberty Tree Tavern, Tangerine Cafe and other fun places. While they make it on the cheap, the experiences and variety made it great.

During the last 10 years where it's been nearly all DL, I've never gotten excited over the food. Outside of the Fried Chicken at Plaza Inn and the beignets at Jazz Kitchen (not French Market, blah), there are no must-do's. That said, Disney is very good on the Gluten free side for my wife. It's much safer than most restaurant dining, which tends to ruin most of our trips. So, for that they get an A.

 

[DizMe]

I miss when they were the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant......Gibson Girl is just not the same.

For some reason I don't remember it as an ice cream parlor! I thought Carnation was over where the Princess Fantasy Faire area is now, to the left of the castle. But that would have been a LONG time ago (1960s).

 

[LKing]

For some reason I don't remember it as an ice cream parlor! I thought Carnation was over where the Princess Fantasy Faire area is now, to the left of the castle. But that would have been a LONG time ago (1960s).

Back in the day, they used to have ballroom dancing in the evenings.

 

[Tinkaboo]

I think it’s hilarious when I return from DL and the first question out of someone’s mouth is, “What did you eat?” I tell them “nothing, just the beignets, I don’t go there to eat”. LOL. We have become a food-centric society I guess but it just always shocks me…Not “what’s new there, did you do anything special, meet anyone interesting…”
just food. I never have considered DL a dining destination though I have eaten at all the major places over the years. It’s nothing great…maybe 15-20 years ago, yes, BB was a big deal. Not so much these days.