Planning a trip to Disneyland and not sure where you should eat while you’re there? We’re here to help you decide!
Here at AllEars, we know all the ins and outs of Disney restaurants — including where you should definitely eat, and where you should skip. We recently stopped by Cafe Orleans in Disneyland Park to see if it’s worth a stop on your next trip, and we have to admit, one item really surprised us (but not in the way you’re expecting).
Background
Cafe Orleans is a quick-service restaurant located in New Orleans Square, and is home to classic eats with French Quarter flair at a historic New Orleans Square eatery. It opened in 1966 and has been serving up Cajun charm ever since. Inside, you’ll even find the original espresso machine that made Walt his favorite brew!
Here’s what you need to know about dining at this restaurant.
Atmosphere
You can sit inside or outside at this restaurant, and we highly recommend the patio when the weather is nice to get gorgeous views of the Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, and Rivers of America as a whole.
However, if you sit inside, you can enjoy the ambiance, enhanced by the character displays from The Princess and the Frog. Inside is more spacious than you may think, and we love how much natural light comes through the windows during the day.
But enough about that, what are we eating?
Food & Drinks
First up, we grabbed the Cup of Chicken Gumbo Soup for $12, which is made with Tasso Ham, Andouille Sausage, Peppers, Tomatoes, and Steamed Rice. Our only complaint was that we wished it were a bigger portion! There’s a warm, spicy Cajun flavor throughout the whole dish we loved, and the sausage had a richer, meatier flavor than the ham, which had a sweet, sort of honey taste to it. The peppers added to the heat from the Cajun seasoning, and while the tomatoes didn’t add too much flavor, they blended well with the rest of the dish.
For our main entree, we snagged the Battered & Fried Monte Cristo Sandwich for $26. This is made with Sliced Turkey, Ham, and Swiss with Seasonal Preserves and a choice of Pommes Frites or Petite Salad.
This was allllmost as good as it normally is, but we noticed one big problem. The seasonal preserve this time was a fresh strawberry jam, while the other sauce it came with is like a spicy remoulade meant for the fries. The batter was sweet with a crispy outside, but it was very doughy inside, almost too much for our liking. There was too much of the batter; it took away from the other flavors in some bites.
However, the fries were amazing, and the sauce helped take them to the next level! There was a light garlic parmesan flavor to them, while the sauce added a spicy kick with a light tangy flavor. Those were a real winner with us, and we still love this dish as a whole; we’d just like to see a bit more balance.
For dessert, we grabbed the Crème Brûlée Tart. This is $10 and is Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée in a Tart Shell. The vanilla creme had one of the most vibrant, flavorful, and sweet vanilla flavors we can recall recently. We were seriously thinking after the first bite that it was one of the best vanilla desserts we’ve had! The berries were fresh and made for the perfect complement to the vanilla creme. The tart shell was softer and chewier than we expected, but everything else made up for that! We highly recommend.
To drink, we picked up the Signature Bourbon Julep, which is Bourbon, Citrus, and Mint for $20.
While we enjoyed this, we’re not sure it’s worth $20 for a premade cocktail. At first, you get a sort of sweet taste from the bourbon. As opposed to the normal spice/burn that follows straight bourbon, you get a tart lemon/citrus flavor. The mint here is definitely less noticeable than in the regular/non-alcoholic mint julep. We do think this is worth getting if you don’t mind the price, but we don’t think it’s worth over double the price of the regular mint julep.
Magic or Tragic?
This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…
- You’re looking for a hearty meal in Disneyland
- You really love historical buildings and love the little details
- You don’t want to sit down for too long for a meal
You should skip this Disney World spot if…
- You’re not into Cajun-style eats/have pickier members of our group
- You’ll be in DCA, not Disneyland
- You want a meal that’s really going to wow you
Cafe Orleans Restaurant
Services: Table Service
We really enjoy this spot and all it has to offer, but we’re also the first to admit that we’ve seen how it can be a little inconsistent, and it may not be for everyone. Take a look at the menu closely before you make the choice to eat here to make sure they’ll be something everyone in your party will enjoy!
We’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more!
Read all about Disneyland Resort dining to prepare for your upcoming trip!
Have you eaten at this Disneyland restaurant before? Tell us in the comments.
I think you meant “59 years” in the title. I doubt a restaurant at Disneyland has been around that much longer than the park itself lol
Yikes! We definitely meant 59 years! Thanks so much for letting us know, Dan. I went in and did a quick title change.