REVIEW: This ICONIC Disney Restaurant Still Lives Up To the Hype

Have you tried every Disneyland restaurant?

We’ve made it a point to visit every single restaurant at the Disneyland Resort, and one of our all-time favorites is without a doubt the Blue Bayou Restaurant. Found in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park,  this atmospheric dining experience is one the most unique dining experiences at any of the Disney Parks worldwide, as it is located INSIDE of Pirates of the Caribbean! Blue Bayou has existed since 1967 and, so far, has remained one of the premier restaurants in all of Disneyland. But is it still worth visiting? We headed over to this famous Cajun restaurant to find out!

Tucked away next to the Pirates of the Caribbean exit, Blue Bayou welcomes you into an upscale waiting room that has you guessing as to what you’ll see next.

It can get crowded in here quickly, but if you’re fortunate, you won’t have to wait long. As soon as you step inside the dining room, you’ll see the wait was worth it.

The view inside the dining room is incredible! Guests dine under the bayou night sky (no matter the time of day) while Pirates of the Caribbean boats pass by. You can wave to riders as they head toward the two drops that will send them deeper into the attraction. As for the diners, there’s no thrill here — just relaxation and an atmospheric meal service.

The dining room itself isn’t very large, which can make getting a reservation tricky. We’ve had a ton of success with joining the Blue Bayou waitlist, but you can also make advanced dining reservations via the Disneyland app.

Aside from the bayou, nothing in the dining room feels particularly large. With standard tables and chairs and not a ton of walking space, it’s easy to feel cramped. Fortunately, the rest of the experience more than makes up for it.

Blue Bayou is one of the few restaurants at Disneyland Park that sells alcoholic beverages, featuring a solid wine, beer, and cocktail list. The menu takes heavy Cajun influence, boasting appetizers like gumbo and crab cakes, as well as entrées such as market fish, Creole Roasted Chicken, and filet mignon.

Blue Bayou also offers some great dessert options, like crème brûlée and macarons.

First, we tried the Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad for $15. This salad is made with greens, agave crema, pickled watermelon rind, and a shallot vinaigrette.

The only vegan appetizer on the menu during our visit, this salad was light, refreshing, and incredibly fresh. The tomatoes were especially juicy, sweet, and full of flavor. With that said, the vinaigrette was a tad too simple and we could’ve used more fresh and flavorful watermelon. Still, we thought this was pretty tasty and recommend it if you’re looking for something super light to kick off your meal.

Next, we tried another veggie option with the Pistachio Lemon-Basil Pasta!

This pasta entrée costs $29, the cheapest entrée on the menu. It’s made with asparagus, squash blossoms, pea tendrils, and cherry tomatoes in pistachio-basil pesto.

This was a really simple dish, but we really liked it! Our pasta was cooked perfectly, sporting hints of basil and light lemon flavor throughout. Aside from the actual chopped-up pistachio, the pistachio flavor never felt overwhelming, which was one of our concerns before eating. We would’ve like more cherry tomatoes, but we still felt the portion size was generous and the citrusy flavor of the pasta was delicious. This pasta is safe, but that’s a good thing.

Finally, for dessert, we tried the Crème Brûlée Tart in a tart shell for $10.  

Disneyland generally makes some pretty good crème brûlées and this one is no exception. The berries on our tart were sweet and fresh,  and the vanilla flavor was akin to vanilla bean. Delicious with a creamy texture and topped with the perfect caramel and burnt sugar taste, this crème brûlée left us satisfied.

The tart shell tasted like shortbread, another plus. However, one negative is that this dessert is small, so don’t plan on sharing. All in all, this dessert has great value and you can bet on us getting it again and again!

Overall, we’re happy to report that Blue Bayou is still a fantastic dining experience! Romantic and atmospheric with many delicious offerings, this Disneyland staple provides diners with a bucket list dining experience. Top-notch food served by a top-notch waitstaff elevates Blue Bayou into the “Best Disneyland Restaurant” conversation.

While the price is hefty and the experience will eat into your park day, Blue Bayou is still worth the visit for the elite food, an atmosphere that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of Disneyland, and the unique experience it offers.

As always, we’ll continue to bring you all kinds of Disneyland reviews, news, tips, and more, so stay tuned right here at AllEars for all the latest!

New Report Shows People Are Going Into Debt To Take Their Families on Disney Vacations

Have you eaten at Blue Bayou over the years? Share your reviews in the comments below!

Post a Comment