I mentioned earlier today how much I enjoyed Soarin’ Around the World at Disney’s California Adventure. One thing I enjoyed just as much was the chance to dine at the Blue Bayou Restaurant.
As a kid, I always wanted to eat at Blue Bayou. Every time I got on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, I’d look off to the right and see the beautiful restaurant patio with hanging lanterns and the smell of Creole food wafting over.
But my parent’s response was always the same: too expensive. And it was. It still is if you forget that you are in the middle of a theme park. I always looked forward to dining there one day and finally was able to experience it with my wife during a recent visit.
What always impressed me about this restaurant was that you could step from the bright, warm afternoon sunlight of Southern California into a cool, dark Louisiana evening. Look up and it appears to be night sky. Look back and you see the facade of buildings like you would find on Canal St. in New Orleans.
And the food is great. The menu is small, but every dish sounds delicious.
Fresh sourdough rolls and focaccia bread to start with tasty salty butter:
Next up is a choice of gumbo soup or a green salad:
Heidi had a flat-iron steak while I had strip loin.
Both dishes were incredible.
Lunch set us back $95 with tip. That’s higher than I like paying for lunch, but this is actually one of the better values in the park compared to the overpriced snacks and junk food.
If you’re looking for a nice meal in Disneyland, look no further than the Blue Bayou. While not the elusive Club 33, it is a gourmet dining experience and is a great break from the California sun. Reservations are recommended. Hours of operation are 11:30p – 3:55pm for lunch and 4pm to 10pm for dinner (unless the park closes earlier).
Same deal from my parents growing up, and I couldn’t wait to take my children there one day. Eventually we did take our girls there, and have been able to enjoy it several times over the years. It’s the only resturant where I’ll splurge on a Montecristo sandwich. The corn dog red wagen was always fun too.
Of course you’ll need to diet for the next week.
I had the pleasure of eating here, and it was everything I wanted it to be. Expensive, yes, but we had outstanding service and food. And what a cool atmosphere! They also went out of their way to acknowledge our anniversary.
The Blue Bayou has some tasty food, but this restaurant is more about the experience (…of dining out under the stars along the Bayou while actually inside a temperature-controlled building in the middle of the day). I love eating here!!! If you get a water-adjacent table, see if you can spot “Laffite’s Landing” from the restaurant (it’s the area where guests board and disembark their boats.) The area was named after a real-life historical pirate turned ‘Privatier’ (think goverment-sponsored pirate) that helped turn the tide at the Battle of New Orleans. Other references to actual historical pirates can be found in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride queue. – John Glass, Travel Book Author.