Everything You Need to Know About Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa
I get asked a lot by those planning a first-time Disneyland getaway about my favorite places to eat and Napa Rose at Disneyland’s Grand California Hotel and Spa consistently comes out tops!
This stunning restaurant celebrates the diverse tastes of California via the delicious Wine Country cuisine of Andrew Suttion culinary director of signature restaurants at Disneyland Resort. The restaurant’s menu changes seasonally but remains consistent in the commitment to source only the finest freshest ingredients from the California coasts to farms, ranches and vineyards. You’ll also find an extensive California-dominated wine list that is sure to impress.
The Design
Let’s move away from food for a moment to talk about another major feature of the Napa Rose dining experience – the Ambiance! Located within Disney’s majestic Grand Californian Hotel, the crescent-shaped restaurant surrounds a bustling centrepiece exhibition kitchen and like the resort is decorated in the style of the Arts and Crafts movement. That means lots of relaxing earth tones, along with handmade ceramic and hand-hammered metal.
The rosebud is a consistent theme throughout the restaurant and you’ll find it depicted in the carpeting, lighting, fixtures, handrails, chairs and even the staff uniforms. The vines of the Napa vineyard are also paid tribute to with the free-form wires of chandeliers. There are also 20 ft. vaulted ceilings lending to the majestic quality of the dining room.
In addition, diners are treated to beautiful views through the floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Grizzly Peak at Disney California Adventure Park. There’s also a stunning wine cellar displaying over 600 bottles which provides an extra visual attraction for wine connoisseurs.
The Cuisine
Created to be paired with wine, the food at Napa Rose resonates with the discipline of Andrew Sutton’s formal French training. As a chef who cherishes the product rather than the process, Sutton’s food seduces the palate with flavors of the natural essence of its ingredients. Sutton firmly believes that for optimum health and flavor, people should stick to eating produce and protein that is grown or ranched in their own hemisphere and at the time nature intended for them to sprout.
EXAMPLES OF CURRENT DISHES
Appetizers:
- Grilled Diver Scallop with whipped potatoes, and English pea coulis
- Braised Wagyu Beef Cheeks, baked with herb dumplings
- “Smiling Tiger Salad” with spicy beef, asian greens, lobster shrimp fritters and coconut vinaigrette
Entrees:
- Market Fish of the Day
- Grilled Colorado Lamb Porterhouse
- Skuna Bay Salmon
- Grilled Filet Mignon
- Pomegranate-glazed Veal Osso Bucco
- Harvest Market “Paella”
Wine Program
At Napa Rose more than 50 members of the floor staff – including Andrew Sutton – have completed at least the Level I Introductory Sommelier Course and work with a frequently adjusted wine list to complement seasonal menu ingredients, and an award- winning list of 1,100 international wines, based upon a stock of more than 17,000-bottle cellar, with 80 wines available by the glass.
Private Dining
Celebrating something special during your Disneyland visit? Did you know that Napa Rose offers a special private room with a fireplace that can accommodate from two to thirty private guests! You can also rent out the entire restaurant for functions of up to 200 guests.
For groups of 60 or more, Napa Rose also offers a signature “Kitchen Party.” It invites guests into the kitchen to be served by the Chef and also includes additional service stations for wines and cold dishes.
Princess Dining
One of Disneyland’s newest character dining experiences now takes place at Napa Rose in Disneyland. The Princess Adventure Breakfast is a one-of-a-kind adventure featuring some of Disney’s most beloved princesses. Guests can dine on a delicious three-course breakfast and enjoy personal interactions, photo opportunities, fun takeaway bag and themed activities. You’ll be charmed as Disney Princess stop by your table for a personal visit while adults savor delightful treats like speciality coffees. This special dining experience takes place Thursday – Monday between 8 am – 12pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged.
Awards and Accolades
In 2011, Napa Rose earned one of the most prestigious honors a restaurant can receive, the AAA Four Diamond Award. In 2017, Wine Spectator recognized Napa Rose as one of its 16 Superstar Los Angeles-area wine lists, saluting the breadth of vintages, regions and wine styles served at Napa Rose. In 2013, Napa Rose was recognized by the Orange County Register as the year’s “Icon,” a restaurant open 10 years or more that continues to set a high standard for others. In 2010, Napa Rose was presented with the highest “Golden Bacchus” Cellar Award from the Southern California Restaurant Writers Guild and a coveted 5-Star rating. In the Zagat Surveys, Napa Rose consistently is awarded a top food ranking among Orange County restaurants. In 2005 and again in 2007, the restaurant received a DiRōNA Award from the Distinguished Restaurants of North America. The Award is given to restaurants that offer outstanding food, wine, hospitality and service. The restaurant was honored as “Best Southern California Restaurant 2007” in the Orange County Business Journal and was selected as a “Most Popular Restaurant” in the 2008 Zagat Survey.
Chef Sutton is also a 2009 recipient of the prestigious Antonin Careme Medal given by the American Culinary Federation San Francisco Chapter that honors those who have made extraordinary contributions to the culinary profession, particularly to education and the advancement of gastronomy and the culinary arts.
The restaurant’s wine list also received the highest award from Wine Enthusiast Magazine, the “Award of Ultimate Distinction,” Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence” and a “Diamond Wine Award of Excellence” from the International Restaurant and Hospitality Rating Bureau. In addition, it was named “Best New Wine List” of 2002 by Food & Wine.
So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of one of the finest dining experiences on Disneyland property during your next visit! Reservations can be made at 714.781.DINE.
Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to assist you with everything from finding your perfect package to helping you plan lots of special touches to make your visit truly magical. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook
