After a year-long reimagining, Disneyland Resort’s #1 restaurant at its flagship Grand Californian Lodge is lastly able to welcome visitors. We had the chance to preview the prix fixe menu and new-look eating room, and are comfortable to report that Napa Rose is again and higher than earlier than.
We’ve been followers of Napa Rose since our first go to to Disneyland once we first skilled the restaurant by consuming within the lounge. That hooked us from day one, and we made some extent of returning to Napa Rose on every journey. After shifting to California for the primary time, Napa Rose grew to become our default “special day” restaurant at Disneyland Resort and one in every of our high spots in all of Orange County.
We’ve executed Thanksgiving Dinner at Napa Rose (our least-favorite meal at Napa Rose), the Chef’s Counter at Napa Rose (our absolute favourite approach to dine right here), mild meals within the lounge, particular occasions with distinctive meneus, and customary dinners in the primary eating room. With effectively over a dozen meals at Napa Rose during the last decade-plus, we skilled the various seasons of the vine at Napa Rose.
Within the final 5 years, our experiences at Napa Rose had been extra blended. Like so many eating places at Disneyland Resort (and past), it felt like Napa Rose had misplaced a step popping out of the closure. The delicacies wasn’t fairly as formidable, the choices extra restricted, and the general expertise wasn’t one we discovered ourselves wanting to revisit–particularly given the ever-increasing costs.
Napa Rose nonetheless topped our listing of the Greatest 26 Eating places at Disneyland Resort, however it got here with the above caveat that it had misplaced its luster and was now not the unequivocal #1. Carthay Circle Restaurant and the enhancing culinary scene in Downtown Disney had began to provide Napa Rose a run for its rating, whereas beforehand it wasn’t even a detailed name.
That is one purpose we had been trying ahead to the Napa Rose reimagining. It will give the restaurant an opportunity to hit reset, providing the artistic culinary group an opportunity to work its magic and reinvent the menu. Overhauls like this nearly at all times outcome eating places returning with bolder and higher menus.
Extra clearly, the reimagining would refresh the inside. Admittedly, I used to be extra anxious about this core part of the reimagining. There are facets of the Grand Californian obtain undue criticism about being dated, when actually, that’s the Craftsman type. And admittedly, it’s a method that I like.
The issue is that, as a sensible actuality, Craftsman doesn’t at all times “learn” as luxurious or comport with visitor expectations once they’re paying premium costs for a luxurious lodge. And the Grand Californian and its choices have develop into very, very costly.
It’s additionally truthful to say that there are components of Napa Rose’s design the place it’s tough to discern the place the Craftsman type ends and the early 2000s design sensibilities start. For Walt Disney World followers, the comparability I’d draw is one thing like Citricos on the Grand Floridian previous to its reimagining a number of years again. Like that, Napa Rose undoubtedly wanted an replace; this venture was undeniably overdue.
Towards that backdrop, let’s take a tour of the new-look Napa Rose. We’ll begin with photographs of the bar & lounge:
Napa Rose Bar & Lounge
Visitors trying to drop in at their leisure for a crafted cocktail and opulent small bites served à la carte will need to go to the bar and lounge at Napa Rose.
This space affords cozy and intimate seating areas round a bar, all lit by the heat of a brand new hearth for a relaxed night. The bar and lounge additionally affords alfresco eating on a newly renovated out of doors patio.
Reservations aren’t required to dine on the Napa Rose bar and lounge; walk-ins are welcome and topic to availability. That is additionally essentially the most economical approach to benefit from the Napa Rose expertise, with the bar & lounge meals costs starting from $18 to $75, with most dishes within the $25 to $35 ballpark.
Subsequent up, photographs of the primary eating room at Napa Rose:
Primary 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 youths 9 and youthful can be accessible for households trying to get pleasure from a particular dinner collectively.
The restaurant’s redesigned inside attracts inspiration from California’s Arts and Crafts custom and honors the historical past, individuals and nature of Napa Valley. Every considerate element pays homage to the colours and textures of the area, incorporating each pure and handcrafted supplies and a robust connection to position with paintings and artifacts capturing the journey of Napa Valley.
The restaurant inside makes use of pure textures reminiscent of reclaimed French oak flooring and columns (a sort of wooden used to make wine barrels), hand-pinged artisan metals, leathers, deep colours of cabernet, and different considerate particulars.
In the primary eating space, a surprising chandelier is modeled after the Mission Vine, with hanging glass bauble-like grapes and a branch-and-vine design. Towering picket columns with metallic bands are traditional Craftsman architectural particulars, whereas 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 area, whereas architectural references to wine barrels and winery constructions create a welcoming and refined ambiance. Distinct eating areas, together with an open present kitchen, non-public eating area, out of doors terraces, and a bar and lounge, provide a wide range of experiences inside a cohesive design.
A dramatic floor-to-ceiling wine wall and artwork set up showcasing Napa Valley historical past greet visitors upon entry. Napa Rose has one of the vital in depth wine packages 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 through the restaurant.
“At Napa Rose, we invite visitors to savor a eating expertise that honors the previous, attracts deeply from nature, and takes inspiration from innovation,” mentioned Katrina Mosher, artistic director, Walt Disney Imagineering.
“The restaurant’s design displays Napa Valley as a spot the place historical past, nature and other people fantastically converge and is impressed by the tales advised each inside and outdoors of the bottle. The aesthetic influences harmonize into an up to date and extra fashionable Craftsman look, paying homage to the roots of Disney storytelling and Napa Valley.”
Throughout our preview of Napa Rose, Mosher mentioned a few of the particulars in Napa Rose. These included artisan-made tiles embedded with leaves from the Golden Vine Vineyard in Disney California Journey, glasswork that includes recycled unintended breaks from parks across the globe, and the inspiration to carry the outside in and have a good time the pure world.
Right here’s a take a look at the Chef’s Counter:
Chef’s Counter
The Chef’s Counter will provide as much as 18 visitors the chance to sit down and dine in direct view of the dynamic exhibition kitchen, the place the Napa Rose cooks personalize every course of your meal, based mostly on seasonality and creativity. Reservations are extremely beneficial for this interactive and fascinating eating expertise, 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 expertise, you might also select to have a good time a special day in our newly renovated non-public eating room, accessible for as much as 16 visitors. Visitors can contact the restaurant instantly for reserving.
Right here’s a take a look at the out of doors terrace:
Outside Terrace
The out of doors terrace has been enhanced to welcome extra visitors for al fresco eating. This out of doors area affords snug seat surrounded by lush greenery and comfortable lighting, with the crisp California breeze being ‘offset’ by the nice and cozy, flickering fireplaces.
The ambiance of the terrace is gorgeous, laidback and lowkey. What they’ve executed seems to be improbable. On the similar time, a giant a part of Napa Rose’s attraction, a minimum of for us, is the power of the primary eating room. Seeing the open kitchen provides to the kinetics, and provides 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 beneficial to dine in the primary eating room or out of doors terrace at Napa Rose. They are often booked as much as 60 days upfront at Disneyland.com or NapaRose.com. Similar-day reservations will be made on a restricted foundation and are topic to availability.
Our Impressions of the New-Look Napa Rose
Previous to stepping foot within the new-look restaurant, my concern was that Napa Rose would commerce one distinct type blended with an period (Craftsman plus early 2000s) for an additional. That it was only a bit too on-trend, that includes presently stylish design thrives. That it could be catering extra in the direction of first-timers and non-fans selecting Napa Rose not for its Disney-ness, however despite it.
My different hope was that Napa Rose would stay unapologetically Craftsman. As famous above, the type is timeless, and distinctly Californian–it’s simply usually misunderstood.
In reality, the new-look Napa Rose lands within the candy spot someplace between the 2 extremes. The type is finest described as fashionable Craftsman, which was the acknowledged goal of Walt Disney Imagineering on the venture in accordance with Katrina Mosher. On condition that, I’d say mission achieved.
Getting into the Napa Rose feels without delay acquainted and new. The restaurant retains its heat and coziness, and the format is mostly the identical. But, there are large variations in type and substance.
The eating room is without delay subtle, fashionable, elegant and themed. It appears like a recent Californian superb eating institution, and one that will be proper at house in Napa Valley, however that additionally matches on the Grand Californian.
The fairest criticism of the Napa Rose overhaul is that it’s not a pure Craftsman theme. That fashionable type crept into the design, and Walt Disney Imagineering purposefully selected fashionable design options. Not precisely a daring revelation, since they basically mentioned so.
Whereas that is correct, it’s additionally correct to say that Napa Rose was not beforehand a timeless Arts & Crafts type. It was beforehand California Craftsman as interpreted via an early-aughts lens, and is now that meets fashionable–a contemporary and posh intersection of two in any other case disparate design types.
We’ve been via this earlier than, most just lately with the Grand Floridian reimagining, which we gave extremely excessive marks. The problem Disney faces with each upscale providing is balancing the expectations of precise paying visitors with thematic integrity. That’s undoubtedly doubly true with Napa Rose, which is positioned as a superb eating institution geared toward prosperous clientele within the Los Angeles and Orange County markets, and never simply Disney followers.
Given these sensible realities, I used to be impressed by the new-look Napa Rose inside. We each had been.
Sarah has much less attachment to the Craftsman type than I do, so I’m undoubtedly the harder critic right here. She had no attachment to the prior inside, and was blown away by the overhaul. She loves the number of textures, lighting, and a spotlight to element. For her, it feels extra like a superb eating institution commensurate in high quality with its costs.
Napa Rose threads the needle effectively sufficient for me. It’s thoughtfully executed, with design options which are distinctly Craftsman, and stylistic thrives that reinforce the identical. It feels appropriately at house within the Grand Californian.
My favourite facet of the design is how the columns and overhead beams have been made extra elaborate and accentuated, mirroring the primary foyer. These are actually a focus, versus fading into the background of the design.
There are stylistic selections that I don’t love, like a few of the lighting fixtures (one in every of which is equivalent to Citricos). I don’t just like the murals overhead as a lot as I liked the previous ones, however by the top of our marathon meal, that they had already grown on me. There are methods the inside feels a bit extreme, drifting too far into fashionable territory for my very own style.
However by and enormous, the group threaded the needle rather well, and I’m cognizant of the truth that being each completely on-theme and catering to visitor expectations was an unimaginable activity. This was by no means going to be a reimagining that made me utterly comfortable as a lover of the Craftsman type, however it got here as shut as conceivably doable.
What I’d additionally add is that, setting apart thematic integrity and all else, the ambiance and expertise of the primary eating room at Napa Rose is just higher. The central cubicles breaking apart the area is a welcome enchancment that provides to the intimacy, the lighting is extra moody, and the seating is great.
In chatting with Chef Sutton after the meal, he shared that this was purposeful. For instance, he particularly requested that there be no tablecloths to make the area extra inviting and heat, letting the woods shine and provide a distinction with the plating.
The plating was additionally his doing, and it’s improbable. Not simply the presentation or meals styling, however the precise dishes themselves. It jogged my memory of, once more, Citricos or Takumi-Tei at Walt Disney World, and surpassed what we had skilled beforehand at Napa Rose.
The top result’s a restaurant that someway feels extra subtle than earlier than, but additionally disarming and comfy. It’s utterly unpretentious. I wouldn’t say that Napa Rose was stuffy earlier than–it wasn’t, we felt snug there from our first go to as faculty college students–however it’s extra inviting now. It’s the most snug, fancy expertise you possibly can think about. From that perspective alone, it’s an awesome match within the Grand Californian, which is actually that distilled into lodge type.
That is undoubtedly aided by the nice and cozy however attentive and professional service, however that’s nothing new on the subject of Napa Rose. The Forged Members listed here are pretty much as good as ever, as is the culinary group…
Napa Rose Culinary Staff
Chef Andrew Sutton, Culinary Director of Signature Eating on the Disneyland Resort, has a relationship with Napa Rose spanning its whole historical past. On the time of the restaurant’s opening, Chef Sutton was instrumental in shaping Napa Rose’s id as a wine nation–impressed vacation spot rooted in California delicacies.
Twenty-five years later, Chef Sutton’s management stays a guiding pressure as Napa Rose enters its subsequent chapter. Chef Clint Chin, Government Chef of Napa Rose, leads day-to-day kitchen operations, bringing classical French coaching and technical self-discipline to the menu. The eating expertise is overseen by Basic Supervisor Jess Soman, whose background in Forbes 5-Star and Michelin three-star eating informs the restaurant’s polished and attentive service.
The dynamic duo behind the delectable desserts at Napa Rose are Government Pastry Chef Jorge Sotelo and Pastry Chef Nubia Renteria. Every carry greater than 25 years of expertise at Disneyland.
This group is actually gifted. Our critique above that Napa Rose had misplaced a little bit of its luster post-reopening shouldn’t be construed as criticism of them. We’ve had sufficient distinctive experiences because of them through the years, and even a pair within the final 5, to know that wasn’t the case. Napa Rose has an all-star culinary group.
Likewise, the servers and entrance of home Forged Members at Napa Rose are superlative. And we’re comfortable to report that each one of them have returned with the reimagined Napa Rose. Regardless of the practically year-long closure, 100% of the group is again.
Each Forged Member we encountered in the course of the preview was beaming, energized and pleased with the brand new area they name house. So whereas I’m reluctant to say that the already-excellent group 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 take a look at what we ate in the course of the media preview of Napa Rose…
Prix Fixe Menu at Napa Rose
The primary eating room affords a four-course tasting menu offered as a cohesive expertise, permitting visitors to pick out from a number of choices for every course. Choose tableside preparations and the chef’s counter provide visitors a more in-depth take a look at the care and craft behind every dish.
Based on Disneyland, the reimagined Napa Rose menu is grounded in wine nation cooking and guided by the rhythms of the seasons. The culinary group works carefully with farmers, growers, and foragers to supply seafood, meats, and produce at peak high quality, permitting the integrity of every ingredient to outline the expertise. The method favors steadiness, restraint, and readability.
Entrees on the opening menu embrace favorites reminiscent of Colorado rack of lamb, tangerine roasted rocky hen or miso cabbage scallion crepes. Desserts embrace the Fiscalini reserve white cheddar cannoli or the nice and cozy apple honey brioche. The prix fixe menu is priced at $188 per visitor. There may be additionally a vegan menu accessible, in addition to three tiers of wine pairings and loads of a la carte cocktails and zero-proof drinks.
As famous above, this was a pre-opening media preview of Napa Rose. We hesitate to “overview” meals in such circumstances on account of issues about how our expertise will differ from the common visitor expertise. (In contrast to the eating room itself, which is a static area.)
This cuts in each instructions right here, because it was a media occasion but additionally a pre-opening preview after a yr of Napa Rose not opening. With that mentioned, what we had been served is on the prix fixe menu and I doubt our expertise will deviate materially from that of normal 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 welcoming.
That is quintessential Napa Rose. Earthy, wealthy, and addictively scrumptious.
The second course made a robust impression, Sautéed Seasonal Fish with Lobster Toast and Lemon Bubble.
The vary of this dish was exceptional, with the flaky fish providing a meatiness and hearty taste, which was additional enhanced by complimentary sauces. The lobster toast offered one thing lighter and the lemon bubble was a enjoyable burst of citrusy aptitude. I used to be far more impressed with the fish than the lobster toast, which was superb.
The second course featured American Wagyu N.Y., thinly-sliced medium uncommon and paired with grape mostarda.
We had been extra blended on this course. The American wagyu was a lighter dish whereas nonetheless, clearly, being wealthy and meaty, and a flavorful one. It was elevated when paired with the mostarda, and the beets beneath had been good (by beet requirements). However the meat itself struck me as a bit missing, particularly as contrasted with the standard of the opposite programs. It was nonetheless scrumptious and fantastically offered, however it did really feel like an outlier from the remainder of the meal.
This distinction was introduced into sharp aid by the third course, 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 an surprising and ingenious favourite, a fragile pasta in a wealthy broth. This was a flawless duo, and a dish that was indulgent and addictively scrumptious. A lot so, in reality, that I discovered myself uncomfortably/audibly scraping my spoon on the underside of the (stunning) textured bowl.
Our major entree course was the Sustainable Fish of the Day with historic grains, black lentils, and hijiki.
At opening, that sustainable fish is swordfish. I’m a giant fan of swordfish, which in my opinion, is the right marriage of ‘steak’ and seafood. That is in all probability the very best swordfish I’ve ever had. Meaty and hearty, nice exterior texture, gentle and semi-sweet taste, and the signature earthiness of Napa Rose. Every part about this dish was divine.
Our different major course was the Roasted Boneless Colorado Rack of Lamb with Dried Fig-Orange Gremolata.
Since we’ve been eating at Napa Rose, it looks as if there’s at all times been some twist on Colorado Rack of Lamb on the menu. This nearly Wellington-style preparation was the very best but. The hefty hunk of meat was tender, perfectly-prepared and seasoned appropriately to principally mitigate the gamey high quality of the meat. Or a minimum of, that was our impression–we each love lamb and don’t thoughts it tasting…like lamb. This was one more flawless dish.
Each of those major programs are dishes we might love to have the ability to order on an a la carte foundation on the lounge. I hope that choice is on the market sooner or later, because it has been up to now, as a result of I can’t see having the funds–in time or {dollars}–to do that marathon meal greater than as soon as each few years. Whereas we’d drop in to the lounge to order these two entrees and desserts regularly.
Final however not least, the Elevated and Reminiscent Valrhona Chocolate Bar with Hazelnut Praline.
A number of Signature Eating places at Walt Disney World (and possibly Disneyland?) have dabbled in ‘grown-up sweet bars’ as desserts. Some have been good, none have been nice. Till now. Chef Sutton advised us the culinary group wished one thing playful for the finale, evoking childhood. It’s undoubtedly playful. I’m unsure what sort of fancy sweet bars you all had been consuming as youngsters, however this was nothing just like the Little Debbies of my childhood.
This dessert was a symphony of flavors and textures, harmoniously coming collectively with out something overpowering. It was wealthy and decadent, as anticipated, however by no means extreme or overly-indulgent. The caramel, particularly, was improbable. Excellent in candy and savory qualities–only a pure pleasure. This may go down as among the best desserts I’ve ever had at Disney, a lot of which have additionally been at Napa Rose through the years. I’d love to have the ability to order this on an a la carte foundation.
For the longest time, we thought of Napa Rose to be the second-best Disney restaurant at which we’ve dined, behind solely Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World. Once more, there’s a purpose it’s at all times ranked so extremely on our our Record of the Greatest Eating places at Disneyland Resort.
After falling off post-reopening, the new-look Napa Rose as soon as once more is within the dialog for Disney’s second-best restaurant. For us, it’s proper up there with Citricos, Takumi-Tei, Monsieur Paul, and the premium Disney Cruise Line eating places. (Though, admittedly, our firsthand expertise with a few of these isn’t utterly present now that we’re dad and mom.)
Extra to the purpose, Napa Rose is again because the #1 restaurant at Disneyland Resort. It as soon as once more far surpasses Carthay Circle and all the things at Downtown Disney, and oddly has no competitors from the opposite resort resorts. After all, this ought to be anticipated with the $188 prix fixe price ticket. Whereas we received’t be frequenting the primary eating room as usually as a result of price, we’re trying ahead to celebrating extra particular events at Napa Rose within the years to come back.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Suggestions for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Lodge Opinions & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Opinions. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and plenty of different SoCal cities!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the new-look Napa Rose? Any of those new dishes look intriguing to you? Excited for the restaurant’s luxurious reimagining or are you superb with the type because it was earlier than? Will you do the prix fixe dinner at $188 per individual? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
