After a year-long reimagining, Disneyland Lodge’s #1 eating place at its flagship Grand Californian Resort is in spite of everything in a position to welcome visitors. We had the chance to preview the prix fixe menu and new-look eating room, and are satisfied to document that Napa Rose is again and higher than earlier than.
We’ve been followers of Napa Rose since our first talk over with to Disneyland once we first skilled the eating place by means of consuming in the living room. That hooked us from day one, and we made some extent of returning to Napa Rose on every go back and forth. After shifting to California for the primary time, Napa Rose changed into our default “big day” eating place at Disneyland Lodge and one in every of our most sensible spots in all of Orange County.
We’ve carried out Thanksgiving Dinner at Napa Rose (our least-favorite meal at Napa Rose), the Chef’s Counter at Napa Rose (our absolute favourite strategy to dine right here), gentle foods in the living room, particular occasions with distinctive meneus, and same old dinners in the principle eating room. With neatly over a dozen foods at Napa Rose during the last decade-plus, we skilled the various seasons of the vine at Napa Rose.
Within the closing 5 years, our reports at Napa Rose were extra blended. Like such a lot of eating places at Disneyland Lodge (and past), it felt like Napa Rose had misplaced a step popping out of the closure. The delicacies wasn’t reasonably as bold, the choices extra restricted, and the full revel in wasn’t one we discovered ourselves desperate to revisit–particularly given the ever-increasing costs.
Napa Rose nonetheless crowned our checklist of the Absolute best 26 Eating places at Disneyland Lodge, nevertheless it got here with the above caveat that it had misplaced its luster and was once now not the unequivocal #1. Carthay Circle Eating place and the bettering culinary scene in Downtown Disney had began to offer Napa Rose a run for its score, while in the past it wasn’t even a detailed name.
That is one explanation why we have been taking a look ahead to the Napa Rose reimagining. It will give the eating place an opportunity to hit reset, providing the inventive culinary staff an opportunity to paintings its magic and reinvent the menu. Overhauls like this virtually at all times end result eating places returning with bolder and higher menus.
Extra clearly, the reimagining would refresh the internal. Admittedly, I used to be extra worried about this core element of the reimagining. There are facets of the Grand Californian obtain undue complaint about being dated, when in point of fact, that’s the Craftsman genre. And admittedly, it’s a method that I really like.
The issue is that, as a sensible fact, Craftsman doesn’t at all times “learn” as sumptuous or comport with visitor expectancies once they’re paying top class costs for a luxurious resort. And the Grand Californian and its choices have grow to be very, very dear.
It’s additionally honest to mention that there are parts of Napa Rose’s design the place it’s tough to discern the place the Craftsman genre ends and the early 2000s design sensibilities start. For Walt Disney International followers, the comparability I’d draw is one thing like Citricos on the Grand Floridian previous to its reimagining a couple of years again. Like that, Napa Rose without a doubt wanted an replace; this mission was once undeniably past due.
Towards that backdrop, let’s take a excursion of the new-look Napa Rose. We’ll get started with pictures of the bar & front room:
Napa Rose Bar & Front room
Visitors taking a look to drop in at their recreational for a crafted cocktail and sumptuous small bites served à l. a. carte will need to talk over with the bar and front room at Napa Rose.
This house provides comfortable and intimate seating spaces round a bar, all lit by means of the heat of a brand new fireside for a comfy night time. The bar and front room additionally provides alfresco eating on a newly renovated outside patio.
Reservations don’t seem to be required to dine on the Napa Rose bar and front room; walk-ins are welcome and matter to availability. This may be essentially the most economical strategy to benefit from the Napa Rose revel in, with the bar & front room meals costs starting from $18 to $75, with maximum dishes within the $25 to $35 ballpark.
Subsequent up, pictures of the principle eating room at Napa Rose:
Major Eating Room
The primary eating room will debut a seasonal prix fixe menu, with the choice so as to add customized wine pairings to the multi-course meal. A brand new and enhanced kids’s menu for children 9 and more youthful will likely be to be had for households taking a look to experience a distinct dinner in combination.
The eating place’s redesigned inside attracts inspiration from California’s Arts and Crafts custom and honors the historical past, other folks and nature of Napa Valley. Every considerate element will pay homage to the colours and textures of the area, incorporating each herbal and hand made fabrics and a powerful connection to put with paintings and artifacts taking pictures the adventure of Napa Valley.
The eating place inside makes use of herbal textures reminiscent of reclaimed French oak floor and columns (a kind of wooden used to make wine barrels), hand-pinged artisan metals, leathers, deep colours of cabernet, and different considerate main points.
In the principle eating house, a shocking chandelier is modeled after the Project Vine, with striking glass bauble-like grapes and a branch-and-vine design. Towering wood columns with steel bands are vintage Craftsman architectural main points, whilst evoking the essence of wine barrels. Arched ceiling detailing frames a mural evoking the vineyards of Napa Valley.
Heat woods, cork, stone, and leather-based outline the distance, whilst architectural references to wine barrels and winery constructions create a welcoming and delicate environment. Distinct eating spaces, together with an open display kitchen, personal eating house, outside terraces, and a bar and front room, be offering plenty of reports inside of a cohesive design.
A dramatic floor-to-ceiling wine wall and artwork set up showcasing Napa Valley historical past greet visitors upon access. Napa Rose has one of the vital intensive wine methods within the area, with a cellar housing greater than 13,000 bottles throughout roughly 1,500 labels. The brand new-look Napa Rose leans into this extra, with wine bottles displayed proudly all the way through the eating place.
“At Napa Rose, we invite visitors to savor a eating revel in that honors the previous, attracts deeply from nature, and takes inspiration from innovation,” mentioned Katrina Mosher, inventive director, Walt Disney Imagineering.
“The eating place’s design displays Napa Valley as a spot the place historical past, nature and other folks superbly converge and is encouraged by means of the tales instructed each outside and inside of the bottle. The cultured influences harmonize into an up to date and extra fashionable Craftsman appearance, reminiscent of the roots of Disney storytelling and Napa Valley.”
All over our preview of Napa Rose, Mosher mentioned one of the crucial main points in Napa Rose. Those integrated artisan-made tiles embedded with leaves from the Golden Vine Vineyard in Disney California Journey, glasswork that includes recycled unintentional breaks from parks world wide, and the muse to carry the outside in and have fun the wildlife.
Right here’s a have a look at the Chef’s Counter:
Chef’s Counter
The Chef’s Counter will be offering as much as 18 visitors the chance to take a seat and dine in direct view of the dynamic exhibition kitchen, the place the Napa Rose cooks personalize every process your meal, according to seasonality and creativity. Reservations are extremely really useful for this interactive and tasty eating revel in, and for the primary time, it is possible for you to to e book your seats on-line at NapaRose.com.
For a personal, extra intimate and curated revel in, you might also make a selection to have fun a special day in our newly renovated personal eating room, to be had for as much as 16 visitors. Visitors can touch the eating place immediately for reserving.
Right here’s a have a look at the outside terrace:
Outside Terrace
The outside terrace has been enhanced to welcome extra visitors for al fresco eating. This outside house provides at ease seat surrounded by means of lush greenery and cushy lights, with the crisp California breeze being ‘offset’ by means of the nice and cozy, flickering fireplaces.
The ambience of the terrace is gorgeous, laidback and lowkey. What they’ve carried out seems improbable. On the similar time, a large a part of Napa Rose’s enchantment, a minimum of for us, is the power of the principle eating room. Seeing the open kitchen provides to the kinetics, and will give you a better appreciation of the culinary artistry. To every their very own, however I’d do an out of doors meal at GCH Craftsman and indoors at Napa Rose.
Advance reservations are extremely really useful to dine in the principle eating room or outside terrace at Napa Rose. They are able to be booked as much as 60 days upfront at Disneyland.com or NapaRose.com. Similar-day reservations may also be made on a restricted foundation and are matter to availability.
Our Impressions of the New-Glance Napa Rose
Previous to stepping foot within the new-look eating place, my worry was once that Napa Rose would business one distinct genre blended with an generation (Craftsman plus early 2000s) for some other. That it was once just a little too on-trend, that includes lately elegant design prospers. That it will be catering extra against first-timers and non-fans opting for Napa Rose no longer for its Disney-ness, however despite it.
My different hope was once that Napa Rose would stay unapologetically Craftsman. As famous above, the way is undying, and distinctly Californian–it’s simply steadily misunderstood.
In reality, the new-look Napa Rose lands within the candy spot someplace between the 2 extremes. The manner is ideal described as fashionable Craftsman, which was once the mentioned purpose of Walt Disney Imagineering at the mission in step with Katrina Mosher. For the reason that, I’d say venture achieved.
Getting into the Napa Rose feels directly acquainted and new. The eating place keeps its heat and coziness, and the structure is in most cases the similar. But, there are large variations in genre and substance.
The eating room is directly refined, fashionable, chic and themed. It seems like a modern Californian nice eating established order, and one that may be proper at house in Napa Valley, however that still suits on the Grand Californian.
The fairest complaint of the Napa Rose overhaul is that it’s no longer a natural Craftsman theme. That fashionable genre crept into the design, and Walt Disney Imagineering purposefully selected fashionable design options. No longer precisely a daring revelation, since they necessarily mentioned so.
Whilst that is correct, it’s additionally correct to mention that Napa Rose was once no longer in the past a undying Arts & Crafts genre. It was once in the past California Craftsman as interpreted via an early-aughts lens, and is now that meets fashionable–a recent and posh intersection of 2 differently disparate design types.
We’ve been via this earlier than, maximum not too long ago with the Grand Floridian reimagining, which we gave extremely prime marks. The problem Disney faces with each upscale providing is balancing the expectancies of tangible paying visitors with thematic integrity. That’s without a doubt doubly true with Napa Rose, which is situated as a nice eating established order geared toward prosperous clientele within the Los Angeles and Orange County markets, and no longer simply Disney followers.
Given those sensible realities, I used to be inspired by means of the new-look Napa Rose inside. We each have been.
Sarah has much less attachment to the Craftsman genre than I do, so I’m without a doubt the more difficult critic right here. She had no attachment to the prior inside, and was once blown away by means of the overhaul. She loves the number of textures, lights, and a spotlight to element. For her, it feels extra like a nice eating established order commensurate in high quality with its costs.
Napa Rose threads the needle neatly sufficient for me. It’s thoughtfully carried out, with design options which are distinctly Craftsman, and stylistic prospers that enhance the similar. It feels correctly at house within the Grand Californian.
My favourite side of the design is how the columns and overhead beams were made extra elaborate and accentuated, mirroring the principle foyer. Those at the moment are a point of interest, versus fading into the background of the design.
There are stylistic possible choices that I don’t love, like one of the crucial lighting fixtures (one in every of which is the same to Citricos). I don’t just like the work of art overhead up to I cherished the outdated ones, however by means of the top of our marathon meal, that they had already grown on me. There are methods the internal feels a little over the top, drifting too some distance into fashionable territory for my very own style.
However by means of and massive, the staff threaded the needle in point of fact neatly, and I’m cognizant of the truth that being each completely on-theme and catering to visitor expectancies was once an unattainable activity. This was once by no means going to be a reimagining that made me utterly satisfied as a lover of the Craftsman genre, nevertheless it got here as shut as conceivably imaginable.
What I’d additionally upload is that, atmosphere apart thematic integrity and all else, the atmosphere and revel in of the principle eating room at Napa Rose is solely higher. The central cubicles breaking apart the distance is a welcome development that provides to the intimacy, the lights is extra moody, and the seating is superb.
In speaking to Chef Sutton after the meal, he shared that this was once practical. As an example, he in particular asked that there be no tablecloths to make the distance extra inviting and heat, letting the woods shine and be offering a distinction with the plating.
The plating was once additionally his doing, and it’s improbable. No longer simply the presentation or meals styling, however the true dishes themselves. It jogged my memory of, once more, Citricos or Takumi-Tei at Walt Disney International, and surpassed what we had skilled in the past at Napa Rose.
The outcome is a cafe that by hook or by crook feels extra refined than earlier than, but in addition disarming and comfy. It’s utterly unpretentious. I wouldn’t say that Napa Rose was once stuffy earlier than–it wasn’t, we felt at ease there from our first talk over with as faculty scholars–nevertheless it’s extra inviting now. It’s the maximum at ease, fancy revel in you’ll be able to consider. From that standpoint by myself, it’s an excellent have compatibility within the Grand Californian, which is basically that distilled into resort shape.
That is without a doubt aided by means of the nice and cozy however attentive and professional carrier, however that’s not anything new on the subject of Napa Rose. The Solid Participants listed here are as just right as ever, as is the culinary staff…
Napa Rose Culinary Workforce
Chef Andrew Sutton, Culinary Director of Signature Eating on the Disneyland Lodge, has a dating with Napa Rose spanning its whole historical past. On the time of the eating place’s opening, Chef Sutton was once instrumental in shaping Napa Rose’s identification as a wine nation–impressed vacation spot rooted in California delicacies.
Twenty-five years later, Chef Sutton’s management stays a guiding power as Napa Rose enters its subsequent bankruptcy. Chef Clint Chin, Govt Chef of Napa Rose, leads day by day kitchen operations, bringing classical French coaching and technical self-discipline to the menu. The eating revel in is overseen by means of Normal Supervisor Jess Soman, whose background in Forbes 5-Superstar and Michelin three-star eating informs the eating place’s polished and attentive carrier.
The dynamic duo in the back of the delectable truffles at Napa Rose are Govt Pastry Chef Jorge Sotelo and Pastry Chef Nubia Renteria. Every carry greater than 25 years of revel in at Disneyland.
This staff is in point of fact proficient. Our critique above that Napa Rose had misplaced a little of its luster post-reopening will have to no longer be construed as complaint of them. We’ve had sufficient outstanding reports because of them through the years, or even a pair within the closing 5, to grasp that wasn’t the case. Napa Rose has an all-star culinary staff.
Likewise, the servers and entrance of space Solid Participants at Napa Rose are superlative. And we’re satisfied to document that every one of them have returned with the reimagined Napa Rose. Regardless of the just about year-long closure, 100% of the staff is again.
Each Solid Member we encountered all through the preview was once beaming, energized and happy with the recent house they name house. So whilst I’m reluctant to mention that the already-excellent staff at Napa Rose is “higher than earlier than,” they’re.
With all of that out of the best way, let’s dig into the dishes–right here’s a have a look at what we ate all through the media preview of Napa Rose…
Prix Fixe Menu at Napa Rose
The primary eating room provides a four-course tasting menu introduced as a cohesive revel in, permitting visitors to make a choice from a couple of choices for every direction. Make a selection tableside arrangements and the chef’s counter be offering visitors a better have a look at the care and craft in the back of every dish.
In keeping with Disneyland, the reimagined Napa Rose menu is grounded in wine nation cooking and guided by means of the rhythms of the seasons. The culinary staff works intently with farmers, growers, and foragers to supply seafood, meats, and convey at height high quality, permitting the integrity of every factor to outline the revel in. The method favors steadiness, restraint, and readability.
Entrees at the opening menu come with favorites reminiscent of Colorado rack of lamb, tangerine roasted rocky rooster or miso cabbage scallion crepes. Cakes come with the Fiscalini reserve white cheddar cannoli or the nice and cozy apple honey brioche. The prix fixe menu is priced at $188 consistent with visitor. There may be a vegan menu to be had, in addition to 3 tiers of wine pairings and quite a lot of a l. a. carte cocktails and zero-proof drinks.
As famous above, this was once a pre-opening media preview of Napa Rose. We hesitate to “evaluation” meals in such cases because of considerations about how our revel in will fluctuate from the common visitor revel in. (In contrast to the eating room itself, which is a static house.)
This cuts in each instructions right here, because it was once a media match but in addition a pre-opening preview after a 12 months of Napa Rose no longer opening. With that mentioned, what we have been served is at the prix fixe menu and I doubt our revel in will deviate materially from that of standard visitors.
Accordingly, I’m going to supply ‘fast hit’ impressions of every dish…
Our dinner started with Napa Rose’s Signature Mushroom Cappuccino amuse bouche, which is a returning fan-favorite that opens the meal with one thing acquainted and inviting.
That is quintessential Napa Rose. Earthy, wealthy, and addictively scrumptious.
The second one direction made a powerful impact, Sautéed Seasonal Fish with Lobster Toast and Lemon Bubble.
The variability of this dish was once exceptional, with the flaky fish providing a meatiness and hearty taste, which was once additional enhanced by means of complimentary sauces. The lobster toast introduced one thing lighter and the lemon bubble was once a amusing burst of citrusy aptitude. I used to be a lot more inspired with the fish than the lobster toast, which was once nice.
The second one direction featured American Wagyu N.Y., thinly-sliced medium uncommon and matched with grape mostarda.
We have been extra blended in this direction. The American wagyu was once a lighter dish whilst nonetheless, clearly, being wealthy and meaty, and a flavorful one. It was once increased when paired with the mostarda, and the beets beneath have been just right (by means of beet requirements). However the meat itself struck me as a little missing, particularly as contrasted with the standard of the opposite classes. It was once nonetheless scrumptious and wonderfully introduced, nevertheless it did really feel like an outlier from the remainder of the meal.
This distinction was once introduced into sharp aid by means of the 3rd direction, Sorpresine Pasta with California Crab Broth and Pacific Uni.
Now that is the kind of creativity and high quality that’s emblematic of Napa Rose. It was once an sudden and creative favourite, a mild pasta in a wealthy broth. This was once a flawless duo, and a dish that was once indulgent and addictively scrumptious. Such a lot so, actually, that I discovered myself uncomfortably/audibly scraping my spoon at the backside of the (stunning) textured bowl.
Our primary entree direction was once the Sustainable Fish of the Day with historic grains, black lentils, and hijiki.
At opening, that sustainable fish is swordfish. I’m a large fan of swordfish, which individually, is the easiest marriage of ‘steak’ and seafood. That is most likely the most productive swordfish I’ve ever had. Meaty and hearty, nice external texture, delicate and semi-sweet taste, and the signature earthiness of Napa Rose. The entirety about this dish was once divine.
Our different primary direction was once the Roasted Boneless Colorado Rack of Lamb with Dried Fig-Orange Gremolata.
Since we’ve been eating at Napa Rose, it kind of feels like there’s at all times been some twist on Colorado Rack of Lamb at the menu. This virtually Wellington-style preparation was once the most productive but. The hefty hunk of meat was once comfortable, perfectly-prepared and seasoned correctly to most commonly mitigate the gamey high quality of the beef. Or a minimum of, that was once our impact–we each love lamb and don’t thoughts it tasting…like lamb. This was once but some other flawless dish.
Either one of those primary classes are dishes we would really like so that you can order on an a l. a. carte foundation at the living room. I’m hoping that possibility is to be had sooner or later, as it’s been prior to now, as a result of I will be able to’t see having the funds–in time or greenbacks–to do that marathon meal greater than as soon as each few years. While we’d drop in to the living room to reserve those two entrees and truffles frequently.
Closing however no longer least, the Increased and Reminiscent Valrhona Chocolate Bar with Hazelnut Praline.
A number of Signature Eating places at Walt Disney International (and perhaps Disneyland?) have dabbled in ‘grown-up sweet bars’ as truffles. Some were just right, none were nice. Till now. Chef Sutton instructed us the culinary staff sought after one thing playful for the finale, evoking adolescence. It’s without a doubt playful. I’m no longer positive what sort of fancy sweet bars you all have been consuming as children, however this was once not anything just like the Little Debbies of my adolescence.
This dessert was once a symphony of flavors and textures, harmoniously coming in combination with out the rest overpowering. It was once wealthy and decadent, as anticipated, however by no means over the top or overly-indulgent. The caramel, particularly, was once improbable. Absolute best in candy and savory qualities–only a natural pleasure. This may cross down as some of the ideal truffles I’ve ever had at Disney, a lot of that have additionally been at Napa Rose through the years. I’d love so that you can order this on an a l. a. carte foundation.
For the longest time, we thought to be Napa Rose to be the second-best Disney eating place at which we’ve dined, in the back of best Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney International. Once more, there’s a explanation why it’s at all times ranked so extremely on our our Checklist of the Absolute best Eating places at Disneyland Lodge.
After falling off post-reopening, the new-look Napa Rose as soon as once more is within the dialog for Disney’s second-best eating place. For us, it’s proper up there with Citricos, Takumi-Tei, Monsieur Paul, and the top class Disney Cruise Line eating places. (Despite the fact that, admittedly, our firsthand revel in with a few of the ones isn’t utterly present now that we’re folks.)
Extra to the purpose, Napa Rose is again as the number 1 eating place at Disneyland Lodge. It as soon as once more some distance surpasses Carthay Circle and the entirety at Downtown Disney, and oddly has no festival from the opposite lodge inns. In fact, this will have to be anticipated with the $188 prix fixe price ticket. Whilst we gained’t be frequenting the principle eating room as steadily because of the associated fee, we’re taking a look ahead to celebrating extra particular events at Napa Rose within the future years.
Making plans a Southern California holiday? For park admission offers, learn Guidelines for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Know about on-site and off-site inns in our Anaheim Resort Evaluations & Scores. For the place to consume, take a look at our Disneyland Eating place Evaluations. For distinctive concepts of items that’ll make stronger your go back and forth, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Holiday Making plans Information. In the end, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and plenty of different SoCal towns!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you recall to mind the new-look Napa Rose? Any of those new dishes appearance intriguing to you? Excited for the eating place’s luxurious reimagining or are you nice with the way because it was once earlier than? Will you do the prix fixe dinner at $188 consistent with individual? Do you compromise or disagree with our remark? Any questions we will can help you solution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas beneath within the feedback!
