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Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland
Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland

A restaurant in the New Orleans Square section of Disneyland

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There is nothing Mickey Mouse about the Blue Bayou

  • Dec 2, 2009
  • by
Exclusive to the Lunch Network
Rating:
+4
The Blue Bayou offers a very unique fine-dining experience, namely because it is located inside of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland!  The attraction simulates a Louisiana bayou inside of a cavernous, darkened building.  The tables are at the waterfront of the ride and boats are constantly passing on their way to the basement portion of the ride.  So it is somewhat of a strange setting, having a nighttime, outdoors feel while indoors as a parade of boats passes by with excited tourists and young thrill-seekers.



The setting is not the only unique aspect of this upscale restaurant.  Operationally, it is very different from a typical restaurant of this class.  For starters, it does not serve alcohol.  You can only purchase alcohol at Club 33, but few have the connections and means for that type of experience.  In addition, most of the patrons are not looking to spend a leisurely time eating a multi-course meal, because they have already spent a substantial sum just to enter the park and want to maximize their value outside of the restaurant.  Therefore, the Blue Bayou operates in such a way as to maximize the number of guests served, since there is no opportunity to profit from alcohol sales.  This leads to a somewhat rushed fine-dining experience.  There are no appetizers and little variation in the price of entrees ($27.99 - $39.99).

Since this is a numbers game, Disneyland does an excellent job of ensuring that no table is empty for longer than it takes to clear off the plates of the previous patrons.  Therefore, it is wise and recommended to make reservations up to 60 days in advance.  The number to call for reservations is (714) 781-3463.  When I called the day before our trip, I was told there were no reservations available.  So we were "walk-up" customers.  Although we were seated, we had to wait for almost 45 minutes before a table became available.  Shortly after we were placed on the waiting list, the restaurant stopped taking "walk-up" customers altogether, so it is definitely advantageous to have reservations.

The service is quite professional and appropriate for this type of dining experience.  However, it is clear that this is not a leisurely meal.  Soon after being seated, the server arrives to take drink (as in soft drink) orders.  Once the drinks arrive at the table, the server is back to receive the entree order. 

Each entree comes with a choice of Cajun-inspired tossed salad or New Orleans gumbo.  My wife ordered the salad, which comes with crumbled bleu-cheese and a house vinaigrette.  I ordered the gumbo and was very pleased that I did, as it was extremely tasty.  The only issue with ordering the soup is that the cup is very small, so there was only enough to savor a scant few spoonfuls between the two of us.

We were not even finished with our salad/soup when the entrees arrived.  My wife ordered the Cajun-spiced Salmon ($29.99), while I ordered the Portobello Mushroom and Couscous Maque Choux ($27.99).  I am not a vegetarian and am loathe to spend $28 on a fungus, but it came with couscous and sauteed spinach and I am a sucker for sauteed spinach.  The menu also includes roast New York, seafood jambalaya, crab cakes, filet mignon, chicken, short ribs, and surf & turf.  Our dishes were of high quality and nicely presented, but the portions were rather small considering the price.  We both were happy with our choices, however, because the preparation was authentic and very flavorful.

We had to ask about the dessert menu (that was a first) and were reluctantly offered creme brulee and something else that I do not recall.  It was clear that a server would rather have a new set of patrons rather than serve dessert to the existing patrons, especially when it is just one couple at a four-seat table.  Neither offering sounded particularly good to us and we didn't want to slow down their system or ours, so we got ice cream later on Main Street.

The Blue Bayou is not the place for leisurely conversation and a slow-paced meal.  However, the food is quite excellent and the service is very timely and attentive, so it makes for a very nice alternative to the mainly fast food options elsewhere within Disneyland.  The atmosphere is nice, if somewhat cramped and dark for my tastes, and certainly out of the ordinary.  If you don't mind paying a little too much for a fast-paced, fine-dining experience, I would recommend it as another unique way to experience Disneyland.
Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland

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May 16, 2010
Well, I remember a few years back after visiting at the Shepherd's Conference at Grace Community Church that I and two other pastors had a great time at Disneyland, not so much because we enjoyed the ride, but because we had a red laser pen. We spent all day pointing it at people or near them and it was quite funny. The best place to do it, however, was from the Blue Bayou...as the boats came by we could point the laser on their person and it would stay on that spot the whole time and they wouldn't know where it came from...Oh, those were the days...couldn't...wouldn't do it now...
May 17, 2010
I probably won't do that now either! :-) I remember as a kid, though, that if you brought a flashlight with you on the Haunted Mansion ride and shined it on your face in the ballroom section, you would show up with the dancing ghosts for all to see.
 
December 02, 2009
The service sounds less than stellar (who has to ask for a dessert menu???), but the food sounds amazing!  It's completely coincidental that my friend was just telling me all about this restaurant the day before and how we have to go the next time we hit up Disneyland.  He told me that they take reservations up to three months in advance, but he could've been mistaken.  Great review, Dave! ...But where are the food pics? ;P
December 02, 2009
If I remember the recorded message correctly, it is 60 days in advance, but I could be wrong. Unfortunately, I only had my Flip UltraHD and iPhone with me, neither of which has a flash. It is so dark inside the restaurant, there was not chance of taking photos without a flash. I am definitely bummed I didn't have my camera with me, because the food presentation was quite nice and the review needs a couple of inside atmosphere shots to communicate the full experience. Oh well. Thanks for the feedback!
December 03, 2009
Drats, we have to get someone in there with a camera with flash to document this on Lunch then! :D
December 03, 2009
I know just the person. ;-)
 
December 02, 2009
I wish I was there right now!! Great review.
 
December 02, 2009
I'd have to disagree with you to some extent.  While I completely loved the atmosphere, I thought the service was terrible, the food even worse and way over priced.  I ordered a the London Broil and I had to send it back twice before getting the desired temperature.  Great Review though as I could have just been there on a bad day.. 
December 02, 2009
Sounds like you should have gone vegetarian like I did! :-) The service probably varies with the server, so we probably got a more experienced person. I agree about the food being over priced as I alluded to a couple of times in the review, but at least we were pleased with the quality if not the quantity.  Thanks for sharing your experience.
 
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More Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disne... reviews
review by . December 09, 2009
When you ride "Pirates of the Caribbean" at Disneyland, the first part of the ride takes you through a dark Louisana bayou bordered by a restaurant patio with live diners. That restaurant is Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square.      Blue Bayou is a dining experience unlike any other in the world. First of all, no matter what time of day or what kind of weather, it is always evening at the Blue Bayou with perfect weather on their faux outdoor patio. The restaurant …
see all Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disne... reviews (3)
About the reviewer
David P. Nesbitt ()
Ranked #60
Soul: The first thing to know about me is that my worldview is decidedly Christian. Therefore, my chief end in life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. My content on this site and my life in general … more
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About this restaurant

Wiki

From the Official website:

Savor down-home, Louisiana-inspired cooking and full table service in moonlit ambience as Pirates of the Caribbean passenger boats drift past. This popular restaurant serves a range of delectable dishes for lunch and dinner (children's menu available):
  • Fish and beef entrees — including mahi mahi, roast New York strip and an exquisite dinner special featuring surf and turf
  • Cajun classics like Tesora Island chicken, jambalaya and a Monte Cristo sandwich
  • Cajun-inspired tossed salad and gumbo (with entrees)
  • Specialty desserts like crème brulee (includes pirate keepsake)

Cuisine:  Vegetarian, Cajun-Creole

Service Type:  Fine Dining

Price Range:   $$$ ($20-$30 per person) *

Meals Served:  Lunch, Dinner

Location:  New Orleans Square

Additional Information
  • Priority Seating is recommended and can be made in person for this location on a limited basis. Priority Seating can also be arranged in advance by calling Disney Dining at (714) 781-DINE, or (714) 781-3463†.
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Tags

Restaurants, Disney, Fine Dining, Disneyland, Cajun Food
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Details

Address: Disneyland
Phone: (714) 781-3463
Cuisine: Cajun
Attire: Casual
First to Review

"There is nothing Mickey Mouse about the Blue Bayou"
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