Catal Restaurant - dinner review - October 21, 2005

cstephens · 10-22-2005, 10:37 PM

For anyone who's interested, I've posted a new dinner review of Catal Restaurant.

Here's the link: http://www.colddeadfish.net/catal/catal10212005.html.
Thanks.

wendybeth · 10-22-2005, 10:49 PM

Okay, now I'm hungry....

Erica sold me on the compressed salad this past summer, and I loved it! I tried their seared bay scallops this summer, but like the lemon fish they were too undercooked. (The middle was cold- blech!) It's the only thing I've had there that I didn't care for- they really do run a great menu.

Prudence · 10-22-2005, 11:20 PM

Hey cstephens -- what's the deal with service at Catal? I know you've had great luck. We've been twice and, while we really enjoyed the food, the service has, frankly, sucked. The first time the waitress was just sort of blah and obviously wished she were elsewhere. The food convinced us to give it a second chance. The second time, the waiter was so condescending and obnoxious I really wanted to walk out. I'm not sure what the problem was. Both times my husband and I dressed nicely and ordered large meals with appetizers, entrees, desserts, expensive beverages, etc... Neither time was a particularly busy evening. I'm just not sure what's been wrong, as I don't think we looked like country bumpkins, and our orders didn't make us seem like cheapskates who skimp on the tip.

It's a bummer, because the food really is quite good. I'm not sure I'd want to give it a third shot, though.

Hopefully Bunny Travolta can back me up on my perceptions. (hint)

cstephens · 10-24-2005, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prudence

Hey cstephens -- what's the deal with service at Catal? I know you've had great luck. We've been twice and, while we really enjoyed the food, the service has, frankly, sucked.

Hmmm, I really don't know. I've heard from a couple other people that they've encountered bad service at Catal. I've never had an experience like that, even when we had servers we didn't know and before we became regulars at the restaurant. I have had servers who have forgotten things or encountered times when the kitchen has made mistakes, but nothing like you or others have described. I know that every server can have a bad night, but that's not really an excuse for bad service. I've also known of servers who haven't lasted very long, probably because of the poor service they were providing. My only suggestion is that if you like, I can send you a list of names of servers to ask for where you're most likely to get good service...

Drince88 · 10-26-2005, 05:24 PM

My sister and I ate there on the 22nd for her birthday dinner. The service was good, but we were there very early (5:00) so we didn't have to rush to be able to see the fireworks.

I started with the compressed salad of Manchego cheese, arugula, red apples, dates and walnuts. My sister had the soup of the day (potato cheese, I believe). I really enjoyed my salad and she liked her soup (but we thought they should have offered her fresh pepper, too).

For entrees, I had the Grilled Halibut and she had the pork chop. The Halibut was a little fishy tasting but was not over cooked. The pork chop was really big, and wasn't super tender, but she did finish it, so it couldn't have been THAT bad

For dessert, we 'shared' the creme brulee trio - vanilla, pomegrante and hazelnut - the hazelnut was my favorite.

I was fairly happy with the decision to go there, over the original plan to go to Storytellers. The menu at Storytellers just didn't seem that appealing, and when we walked by on Friday to check it out, the restaurant wasn't very full, and they'd seated a single man RIGHT next to a big table with 4 or 5 year olds who, by the time we walked by, were running around their table. Yes, it's the 'family' restaurant at the resort, but if you aren't full, give the guy a break and let him have a peaceful meal.

10-22-2005, 10:37 PM	#1
cstephens Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 231	Catal Restaurant - dinner review - October 21, 2005 For anyone who's interested, I've posted a new dinner review of Catal Restaurant. Here's the link: http://www.colddeadfish.net/catal/catal10212005.html. Thanks. __________________ Disneyland Resort trip reports and restaurant reviews and more The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
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10-22-2005, 10:49 PM	#2
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	Okay, now I'm hungry.... Erica sold me on the compressed salad this past summer, and I loved it! I tried their seared bay scallops this summer, but like the lemon fish they were too undercooked. (The middle was cold- blech!) It's the only thing I've had there that I didn't care for- they really do run a great menu. __________________
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10-22-2005, 11:20 PM	#3
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	Hey cstephens -- what's the deal with service at Catal? I know you've had great luck. We've been twice and, while we really enjoyed the food, the service has, frankly, sucked. The first time the waitress was just sort of blah and obviously wished she were elsewhere. The food convinced us to give it a second chance. The second time, the waiter was so condescending and obnoxious I really wanted to walk out. I'm not sure what the problem was. Both times my husband and I dressed nicely and ordered large meals with appetizers, entrees, desserts, expensive beverages, etc... Neither time was a particularly busy evening. I'm just not sure what's been wrong, as I don't think we looked like country bumpkins, and our orders didn't make us seem like cheapskates who skimp on the tip. It's a bummer, because the food really is quite good. I'm not sure I'd want to give it a third shot, though. Hopefully Bunny Travolta can back me up on my perceptions. (hint) __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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10-26-2005, 05:24 PM	#5
Drince88 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 481	My sister and I ate there on the 22nd for her birthday dinner. The service was good, but we were there very early (5:00) so we didn't have to rush to be able to see the fireworks. I started with the compressed salad of Manchego cheese, arugula, red apples, dates and walnuts. My sister had the soup of the day (potato cheese, I believe). I really enjoyed my salad and she liked her soup (but we thought they should have offered her fresh pepper, too). For entrees, I had the Grilled Halibut and she had the pork chop. The Halibut was a little fishy tasting but was not over cooked. The pork chop was really big, and wasn't super tender, but she did finish it, so it couldn't have been THAT bad For dessert, we 'shared' the creme brulee trio - vanilla, pomegrante and hazelnut - the hazelnut was my favorite. I was fairly happy with the decision to go there, over the original plan to go to Storytellers. The menu at Storytellers just didn't seem that appealing, and when we walked by on Friday to check it out, the restaurant wasn't very full, and they'd seated a single man RIGHT next to a big table with 4 or 5 year olds who, by the time we walked by, were running around their table. Yes, it's the 'family' restaurant at the resort, but if you aren't full, give the guy a break and let him have a peaceful meal.
	Submit to Quotes