Good Dining in Anaheim?
 

Alrightie, I know we're not going to Napa Rose (:mad: - I tried but my travel companions nixed it) Anyone got any dining recommendations for the area around or near the DoubleTree? I can't imagine we're dining at the DoubleTree more than once and I don't know if we'll be in the park dining or not. Never having been to DCA, any good options for eatz in the old parking lot?

Can't you tell I'm already hungry this morning?

Storytellers at the Grand Cal is a good choice. DCA has some good on-the-go food places. Award Weiners in Hollywood Pictures Backlot is good for a hot dog, Corndog Castle in Paradise Pier has (duh) corndogs, spicy corndogs, and cheese dipped in corndog batter. For more meal-like food in DCA, there's a Mexican food window service place attached to the tortilla factory (you know the tortillas are fresh), and Boudin's across from that which serves pretty good salads and soups in sourdough bread bowls.

In terms of sit down dining, options are limited inside DCA to either the Golden Vinyard winery or the Tratoria. Golden Vinyard is spendy multi-course dining with the option of wine pairings. Fantastic last time I went. TheTratoria just below it (they're near the Tortilla factory) with Tuscan style sandwiches, pastas, and other faire. It's been literally years since I've eaten there. At one time it was very good, but the last couple of times we were there the service sucked and the food had taken a turn for the worse. Don't know if things have changed for better or worse since.

And you can always get free tortillas at Mission (one per pass through unless it is someone's birthday and they get they get a badge saying so - then you get a dozen warm fresh tortillas).

You can also get free breads samples at Boudin's.

I'd disagree with Storytellers. I always find the food unimpressive and several times bordering on bad and with poor service. But generally the lines aren't too bad so that is a point in its favor.

The Doubletree is by the Convention Center, right? If you've a car driving another half mile that way down Harbor you'll get to strip malls that have a number of the standard chain restaurants (Red Robin, Outback, Buca di Beppo, etc.).

If you're looking for a quick bite then take a look at the grill at Whitewater Cafe in GCH. Their breakfast stuff is large, their nachos are huge (but seem to vary widely in quality by preparer) and it isn't too expensive.

If anyone will have a car your options open a great deal.

If not, WhiteWater Snacks is good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They have some of the best "park" burgers and their prices are "reasonable". Lost Bar and Crocs Bits n Bites (at the DLH) has a decent selection of food. ESPN Zone isn't horrible.

Nope, no car this trip. We'll make due somehow. Also in the mix is one of the party is a vegetarian, so that leaves out the corn dogs! Much as I'd enjoy one (it's been a long time). There are always taxis!

If you start paying for taxis around here you might as well just go to Napa Rose.

Across Harbor from Disneyland there is a Mimi's Cafe and a Millis. And a Capt something-or-other restaurant too. Stay away from the Denny's or IHOP or whatever is right there.

Stay very far away from Captain Kidds. Even the IHOP next door (worst one ever) is better than Captain Kidds.

There is a new Mortons and a few other off site restaurants right next to the Marriott and Hyatt. Plus some of the restaurants at the new Anaheim Gardenwalk open Nov. 15th. I know for a fact that the Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant opens the 17th.

And, of course, there's always Village Haus at Fantasyland...

:D

Oh, and Belisle's...nevermind.

Angelo and Vinci's is not in Anaheim but they have good pizza.

I second A&V's, we try to make it there when we have a car. Not sure how much a taxi would cost, it's about 15-20 minutes away if I remember right.

You are correct on the time (depending on traffic of course) straight up Harbor Blvd. It is in Fullerton, just north of the other Chapman.

If you have a car, I highly recommend Azteca in Garden Grove, especially if you love Elvis. It's only about 10 minutes from the park.

The Mexican food is good and cheap, the waiters are friendly, and the atmosphere totally rules. It's one place I always take our out-of-town guests. :)

My favorite is Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney. Service is hit-and-miss but the food has always been excellent when I've gone.

Inside DL, the Cafe Orleans is the same -- hit and miss service but usually good food.

ESPN Zone (downtown Disney) is good food, but is noisy inside.

The Trattoria is usually pretty good (sit down restaurant in DCA at the winery... there's a pricey upstairs and a not-pricey downstairs, I've never eaten upstairs but at that point you might as well go to Napa Rose).

The restaurants I absolutely despise are: Storyteller's Cafe, Tortilla Jo's, Catal, Ariel's Grotto. All of those have either abysmally bad food, abysmally bad service, or both.

Food at DLR? Not easy to find.

Cafe Orleans
Goofy's Kitchen
Storytellers (Breakfast buffet is pretty good)

Off site - MIMI'S is very good. Breakfast is out of this world. Thier muffins are like small planets and very good.

Wow...I'm really surprised with the bad reviews for Storyteller's Cafe. We try to go once every trip for dinner, and we have never had anything but great food and service.

In fact, if you end up there for dinner ask for our favorite server, Vincente. He's an absolutely terrific waiter.

swanie

From a previous post:

__________________
I'm with you on Storyteller's. Overall, I've had good food and good service there. I like the Corn Chowder.

__________________


Another place that has not been mentioned in this thread is Hook's Pointe in the Disneyland Hotel complex. Because of it's "hidden away" aspect, one can usually get in pretty easily. I also like it because it tends to be quieter than most of the other eating locations.

Hook's Pointe has wonderful service, too.

If you like fish...try their salmon sometime. It's yummy :D

swanie

I second the recommendation for Jazz Kitchen. Easily the best restaurant on-property that you needn't rob a bank to pay the check. I've eaten there dozens of times, and have never had a less-than-delicious meal. (Um, try the soups ... don't think, just do it).


Everything else is just bleh. Storyteller's was good ... once upon a time, heheh. Trattoria also slid seriously downhill. I don't know if these restaurants ever recovered, and I'm not giving them any more of my time and money to find out.

Catal is usually good, but getting toward the expensivo side. Tortilla Jo's ain't bad ... but pretty expensive for Mexican food.


Don't go anywhere near Naples.



The Cafe Orleans in Disneyland is just about the best in-Park food. Other than that, don't expect anything good inside the theme parks.

Jazz Kitchen isn't really any good if you have a vegetarian in the group. Last time I was there they didn't have a single entree that was vegetarian without modification.

That may have changed though.

It really depends want you want to spend and what you expect for the money.......so darn may choices in and around the Resort area. My favorites are Jazz Kitchen (a bit pricey if you to have it all), Rainforest Cafe (for the atmosphere) and of course Napa Rose's Lounge (which you can do, if your not going all out).

Well good (and yummy) suggestions!

I may have to rethink the no car idea. I just can't see us dining in the Italian Restaurant in the DoubleTree more than once. If it were me, alone, I'd try the steak house in the Disneyland Hotel (that's where it is, right?) I'm craving a nice rib-eye or something like that. With a vegetarian in tow, this is not a likely scenario (though she does eat fish)

Oh, if seafood is acceptable vegetarianism then Jazz Kitchen should be fine.

Ugh, your friend is NOT a vegetarian if she eats the flesh of animals. Sheesh.


Does she eat animals with beaks, too, or just with gills? Either way, she can now dine splendidly at the Jazz Kitchen! :cool:

Ugh, no kidding, she used to be vegetarian, when I told her I was investigating spots, she piped up, oh, I eat fish and shellfish! Sorry all!

She eats shellfish and yet is deliberately avoiding the opportunity to have the scallops at Napa Rose?

Steakhouse 55 - in the location of the former Grandvilles

You might want to call the steakhouse(s?) ahead of time about the vegetarian who eats fish. The chef may be able to prepare something non-steakish, even if it's not on the menu. Also, some restaurants may have a vegetarian or vegan dish that they don't list on the menu.

We were uber impressed by the Cove Bar, drinks, view and food. I haven't had time to read all the other responses, but I sould strongly reccomend them. (I can't remember the meals available, whether dinner and lunch or not, sorry... Hey, Locals...?!?)

Anyway, we REALLY liked it. :cool:

Oh, and Mimis does excellent french onion soup.

It's been years since I've eaten there but there also used to be some decent food over at the Hilton. Considering how much time has passed, I wouldn't necessarily recommend anything in particular but it might be worth checking out. I remember thinking that the sushi bar was quite nice. The Italian place, Pavia, also had decent food.

From Ken,

I forgot to log Disneyphile out before I posted

Sorry Love

As long as you are willing to take the extra time, the ART bus goes to all the hotels and so can be used for cheep transport to most of the restaurants mentioned above. When people come to Target to shop during their trips we always tell them to take it back to their hotels and around the area.

You're right. The correct term is pesca-vegetarian.

I, for instance, am a lacto-ova-pesca-vegetarian. But that's a mouthful and it's annoying to explain, so I just say "vegetarian."

And vegetarianism, even of the hypenate variety, is not always due to "flesh of the animals" concerns. My concerns have more to do with cholesterol than PETA.

Rather than the confusing use of vegetarian wouldn't it be simpler to just say "the only meat I eat is seafood"?

I don't say "I'm a pollo-pesco-vegetarian" I just say "I only eat birds and fish."

I've always found weird the idea that somehow fish are less meat. A person that only eats cows and bacon wouldn't ever be called a bovo-porco-vegetarian.

I'm a spino-mushroomo-anythingbuttomato-meataterian.

yeah, no offense to anyone, but the hyphenates are pure bullsh!t.

I eat plenty of vegetables. That does not make me any sort of hyphenated vegetarian. The term implies the limitations and boundaries of ones diet. To say that you are a vegetarian who eats meat is not a hyphenization; it's an outright conflict.

Isn't it easier to just say, for example, you don't eat beef - - rather than saying you eat chicken and fish and vegetation and dairy and fruits and legumes?



Sorry about the ongoing tangent that has little to do with Anaheim restaurants .... but these vegetarianism qualifiers that refute vegetarianism are pet peeves. Where's that Cricket Rant Thread??

I'm an omnivore.

Fine, then.

Next time I'm invited to dinner I'll be sure to tell you that I don't eat beef or ham or pork chops or bacon or chicken or goose or duck or turkey or buffalo or squirrel or rabbit or lamb or veal or sausage or liver or tripe.

OR I could tell you what I do eat. Four words, or one hyphenate. Eggs, dairy, fish, vegetables. Ova-lacto-pesca-vegetarian. It doesn't imply that I'm vegetarian. It tells you what I ****ing eat.

I understand the need to be concise about things. But are you seriously telling me you expect people to comprehend the (ironic) mouthful phrase "Ova-lacto-pesca-vegetarian" over the far less latin "I eat eggs, dairy, fish and veggies?"


Hey, but whatever floats.

Yes, that's why I don't walk around saying "ova-lacto-pesca-vegetarian." That is exactly what I am, but I in public I'd say "I'll eat seafood tonight" or "do they have vegetarian entrees"? By no means am I strictly vegetarian - but I tend nearly (mostly) that way and it's a lot easier to say "vegetarian" sometimes, even if it's only an aspect of my eating habits. Because putting a simple and clear label out makes it easier for me, and make it less likely that someone say "oh, I know you eat fish, and that's animal protein, so I made a nice beef chili tonight."

Or we send our hosts, when they ask, a clearly defined list of our household's dietary requirements. And since Tom is a vegan who cannot eat protein... they're extensive. But neither of us use any sort of labels at restaurants. If you've eaten with us, all you've probably seen is "is there cheese in that?"

Or you could say you don't eat mammals or birds.

But yeah, I know it's harder for Tom who has very specific and important needs to be met.

Me? Omnivore with carnivorous tendencies (means I eat everything but more meat than veggies). :)

Me, to West Hollywood Waiter:
Is there any mammal or bird in that?

West Hollywood Waiter to Me:
Mammal? What's mammal?

Hahah... it's funny because it's true.

I thought "vegetarian" covered the eggs/dairy thing all on its own, with "vegan" being the version that doesn't eat any animal products.

Generally, but not necessarily - as vegans 86 things like eating honey and wearing leather, and some vegetarians still do the no-dairy/eggs thing but aren't technically vegans.

Yeah, but those are the smart waiters.

If the restaurant had dumbwaiters you wouldn't need to talk to them at all.

And if the restaurant had dumb waiters you'd be at Storyteller's.

Don't go to Germany as a vegetarian. Getting a vegetarian meals means there's not a lot of meat in the dish.

I envision the German version of Andrea Martin (from My Big Fat Greek Wedding) "What do you mean he don't eat meat?

I love a good schnitzel!

Okay, thanks to all for the tips, I am sure we will be able to find some food during the 4 days.

So far I think we're good for the Whitewater Cafe and I'm still hoping for the Napa Rose (I'm calling the number to see if I can get reserves, just in case.)

Yay!
I guilted and whined so much, that I just called and made reservations for dinner at the Napa Rose in the Grand Cal.

November 30th for the 7:45 seating.

I suppose it would be asking too much for there to be a fireworks view from the Napa Rose, right? Since I've never been in there, I don't know quite where it is.

Is there a current menu online someplace? I'm hungry now!

Sorry: no fireworks visible from Napa Rose (unless you make your own; but that is generally discouraged).

Napa Rose is located in the Grand Californian complex. If you have every walked from the Grand Cal lobby to Storytellers, if you had kept walking along that walkway, the entrance is right at the next bend - about 30 feet away from Storytellers.

ETA: I may be incorrect about not seeing the fireworks. As I look at the Google map overview, the back patio to Napa Rose has a Northeast line of sight. If you look at this map, the building to the right and above the pool is the Grand Cal (as well as more of the building). If you look at the intersection of the "arm" of the building to the right, where it intersects with the section of the building above the pool, look at the far side of the building to the right, there is a white looking half circle. That is the patio to Napa Rose.

Some of the fireworks may be visible from there, but you definitely will not get the whole effect.

Time will tell on that count!

I've never been farther than the AP Lounge, I'm sure we'll find it and enjoy whatever views there may be (even a cute waiter, one might venture to hope)


Well, we will see them the night before in the park, camped out in front of the hub. I hope to maybe get some photos, maybe.

Have the scallops starter at Napa Rose. Trust me.

Why should I?

Oh yes, the scallops. By far the best dish they served us when we went.

I will watch for it! I love scallops!

Because I'm not a lawyer yet.

Best answer of the day!

Ah, so you DO eat Kangaroo? ;) :D

(sorry, Bad Aussie humour.)

Food at DL
 

You will find I most of the menu's updatedx at http://www.dlresortinfo.com

Just ate agt thge Blye Bayou on Friday and was impressed with my food.

Favorites: Carnation for breakfast, Zocalo for fast food.

For DTD: ESPN and the Jazz Kitchen

For the hotels: Hook's, Steakhouse 55 and Yamabuki.

Thanks judimouse! Good to know what's on the menu! Makes me look forward to Napa Rose all the more.

Next trip, though, I think a heroin chicken swanking is in order!

I think I've had the best luck with the food at Jazz Kitchen. Love it.
:)
Hey look, NA, judimouse speaks Lisaese!
:D

It's about time someone typed worse than I do.:D

I win that, hands down, I just type better on LoT cause I care, at work, all goes to hell in a handbasket