REVIEW: Does the NEW Menu at Disney’s Carthay Circle Lounge Deliver or Fall Flat?

Will the new menu at this pricey Disneyland Resort lounge keep you coming back for more, or is it a total dud? I found out!

The AllEars team prides itself on knowing the ins and outs of Disney restaurants — including where you should definitely eat, and where you should skip. In our pursuit of experiencing everything Disney dining has to offer, I recently stopped by Carthay Circle Lounge at Disney California Adventure for lunch, and I’m bringing you my FULL review!

Background

Located within the unmistakable Carthay Circle Restaurant on Buena Vista Street near the park’s entrance, Carthay Circle Lounge offers a lot of the elegance and upscale dining experience of the restaurant while serving up a smaller menu that focuses more on the beverages and lighter eats.

The building and the restaurant are based on the old Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles, where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937. The entire building is decked out in homages to Walt Disney, the Golden Age of Hollywood, and Disney history — giving its diners a unique glimpse into the past.

Inside, you’ll experience an atmosphere that’s tough to come by in a normal theme park setting. As for what you should expect to eat, the menu changes seasonally, but it’s traditionally beverage-forward while providing plenty of small bites in the $15-$30 range.

For this review, I tried the new lunch menu. Everything I tried is also on the dinner menu.

Atmosphere

This is one of the nicer — if not the nicest — dining areas in California Adventure that is accessible to general guests.

Inside, you’ll be able to spot old Hollywood photos of Walt and celebrities of the time, as well as remnants of old-school Hollywood — all in a calm setting that takes you out of the theme park setting.

There is also ample outdoor seating that allows guests to take in the views of Buena Vista Street as well as Hollywood Boulevard.

Even though it’s a lounge, the feeling of fine dining certainly exists here in this space. Does the food measure up?

Food & Drinks

First up, we grabbed the Braised Short Rib Sliders for $28. These sliders are made with caramelized onions, sun-dried tomato aïoli, and arugula.

This dish comes with three sliders, and I was a big fan! The buns held up well and were crispy, yet still soft and fresh. The meat was tender, and the spinach and sauce complemented it so well. There were subtle tomato flavors that blended perfectly, striking a really tasty balance.

The onions provided a really great earthy tone, and I was so impressed by how well everything worked. I’m not a big short rib guy, but this was my favorite thing that I tried during my review.

Next up was the Green Tai Curry Baked Bay Scallops for $16. This is made with macadamia nuts, green papaya, and Thai basil.

These are served in a shell, and the dish looks great. It tasted very citrusy (even before applying the lime) and had a subtle kick that wasn’t overwhelming, but was noticeable. My scallops were cooked perfectly, and I liked the crunchy texture of the bread crumbs. The nuts also gave the scallops an extra crunch and earthiness without taking away from the seafood flavor.

I would’ve liked more basil, as it cut through the fishiness with a nice freshness. There just wasn’t enough. Still, this was a solid dish, and it will likely appease seafood lovers. There are some great flavors happening here, and it’s a solid light option.

Next, I tried the Beef and Spinach Cannellonis for $22. This is made with parmesan, sungold tomato, and pomodoro.

This was rich and tomato-forward, making it kind of overly acidic. Each tomato element tastes differently, and that’s great — but I would’ve liked some real competing flavors. Despite some extra sweetness, it was so tomato-y that fun aspects like the arugula and cheese were overshadowed.

The meat was very tender and worked well within the soft pasta, and overall this was a really solid (and hearty) dish — it just wasn’t my favorite.

Finally, for dessert, I got the Tahitian Vanilla Bean-Root Beer Float Popsicle for $15. This comes with the leftover root beer in a side cup to enjoy.

It had a great crunch on top thanks to the earthy Tahitian beans, and I really loved the creativity of this float. A couple of different servers reiterated that there’s no right or wrong way to enjoy this dessert, so I dunked it and turned it into a classic root beer float. While dunked, the crunch went away, so if you’re worried about the beans, this is the way to go.

It was a little sweeter and nuttier than you’d expect, but in a subtle way that never negated what a root beer float should taste like. I love a good root beer float, and this checked all the boxes for me.

Magic or Tragic?

This DCA restaurant is a must-visit if…

• YOU WANT SOMETHING LIGHT, YET REFINED.
• YOU WANT TO RELAX WITH GOOD EATS AND SATISFYING DRINKS.
• YOU LOVE DISNEY HISTORY.

You should skip this Disney spot if…

• YOU’RE ON A TIGHT BUDGET.
• YOU WANT STANDARD THEME PARK FOOD.
• YOU’RE IN A HURRY.

Overall, I can’t recommend this lounge enough! The quality of ingredients is noticeable, and I appreciate that the menu takes risks. It mostly stuck the landing, and I can’t wait to visit again!

 

In the meantime, we’ll be compiling more restaurant reviews from the Disneyland Resort, so stay tuned to AllEars for the latest updates!

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Have you eaten at this DCA restaurant before? Share your review in the comments!

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