Best Disneyland Resort Dining at Carthay Circle Restaurant

Housed in a replica of the original Carthay Circle Theatre where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937, this lavish, second-story restaurant exudes classic luxury with an emphasis on seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. No dowdy décor here. Instead there’s a masculine, old-Hollywood look with heavy drapery, hardwood flooring, rich wood paneling, a frescoed Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ceiling, inlaid tables (sans tablecloths), loads of banquettes, and candelabra-style chandeliers. The first restaurant in the world to open its doors with 92 sommeliers, here you’ll find 250 international wines on its prestigious menu with thirty available by the glass in both the restaurant and downstairs lounge. But after all the hype, what has been touted as the best theme park food in the world does have its up’s and down’s.

The Carthay house biscuits really are a must and worth the somewhat hefty calories—balls of delight loaded down with white cheddar, bacon, and spicy jalapeno accompanied by yummy apricot honey butter. A first-course beet salad was quite ho-hum with a promised blue cheese ingredient that was nowhere to be found. Carthay Circle’s duck wings have a cult following and managed to live up to their glorious reputation—giant things, slightly crunchy, superbly tender, and enlivened with an aggressively spiced glaze of soy and Sriracha.

Now what promised to be great braised lamb cavatelli pasta, a dish that has endured through several seasonal menu changes, was almost boring. The pasta, while nicely grabbing the rich jus, was totally overcooked, and the lamb lacked the zing that a bit of spice might have added. If it’s lamb you are wanting better to go with the lamb duo of Colorado rack of lamb and osso bucco, a much more satisfying choice. The saving grace as far as entrees are concerned proved to be short rib ravioli, flecked with slightly wilted sage leaves and a sprinkling of sautéed mushrooms swimming in a rich Cabernet jus; pity that the bed of carrot puree hindered rather than enhanced.

For intimate dining worlds away from the theme parks you MUST request to be seated in either the Hyperion or the Buena Vista room, single-table private rooms seating up to five and waited on by the upper echelon of wait staff—a true treat for any diner.

However, no matter how posh this restaurant is purported to be it’s still in a theme park and thus subject to those who ignore the business casual dress code and believe shorts, Mickey Mouse ears, and tennis shoes are de riguer. More polished wait staff assistants would be an immense improvement, too; I had to ask with each and every course for a new set of flatware. But if you seek the bliss of a quiet respite and the promise of food a few notches above that of the usual run-of-the-mill park restaurants, then Carthay Circle is the place for you.

CARA’S TIP: Choose an outdoor terrace seat if you want to catch the action on Buena Vista Street or have a primo view of the Disneyland fireworks show, but realize that the tradeoff is missing the ambience of the inside dining room. World of Color Dinner Packages are also available here.

If you are looking for a lighter meal head to the restaurant’s jewel box lounge where signature classic cocktails match with small plate appetizers.

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Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World® Resort. She is Chief Executive Concierge at Glass Slipper Concierge and has appeared as a leading Disney expert on two Travel Channel specials, Disney Splurge! and Disney Royalty. She has also been cited numerous times in national news articles, in such notable publications as Forbes Traveler, as an expert on the Walt Disney World® Resort.