Carthay Circle Lounge — Restaurant in Anaheim

Had the pleasure of dining at the Carthay Circle Lounge on our recent trip to Disneyland and had by far one of the most magical experiences I've had in the park. The ambiance is spectacular with seating options from their outdoor patio, to their central lounge and cocktail bar. The menu is Alfresco, so expect smaller plates, but there's nothing small about their flavors. We had the Moroccan Chicken Meatballs and Malai Kofta Potatoes, and were pleased with both dishes! But by far what wowed me the most was the exceptional service.

I came by early for our reservation to let the staff know I planned to propose to my partner. I knew that Disney restaurants and the park staff in general were known to be helpful and accommodating for special occasions, but my every expectation was still blown away. First, they offered us seats upstairs in the main restaurant, despite being booked that night. When I said our group wasn't quite hungry enough for the larger entrees, they let me choose the table I wanted downstairs and coordinated with me on taking the ring and bringing it out for me to surprise my partner. When we checked in, the hostess saw us to our table cool as a cucumber like we had never spoken. They brought the ring out on a beautiful centerpiece with our drinks (I regret I was too full of nerves and adrenaline to think of taking a picture at the time!) and as an additional surprise, the manager gifted us VIP passes for World of Color that night, for our full group. Thank you to Michael and the rest of the Carthay Circle Lounge for helping me make an unforgettable memory...

The first thing I wanted to highlight is that if you're reserving the lounge, be aware that at least half of the seating is outside. It is mostly covered, but there will be areas that are in direct sunlight. If it's hot out, you will still going to be hot. It's also clear that people will sit inside longer if it's hot out and the Disney way is not to press that issue. Apart from that, the food was good, although a bit pricey for what it was (which others have mentioned). Our server was quick, kind and informative as the vast majority of customer facing cast members tend to be. This is an issue with the way Disney manages things here (and it seems to be a bit different than the East Coast) and they should make very clear when you make a reservation that there is a strong possibility that you will be seated outdoors. Pics of Ratatouille and chicken...

We reserved that morning for a lounge spot and thought it'd be overpriced or too fancy, but it was the best meal I've had in both Disneyland resort and DCA. For an extra few dollars, I thought the food and drink quality was top notch. All their drinks are doubles. The chicken (while it's a protein I don't usually order) was extremely juicy and fresh. The kid's chicken skewers was devoured by my daughter (and she barely eats anything). I think the Vietnamese lettuce wrap was the star of the meal. I wound up putting the extra chicken and other bits into the butter lettuce and cross dipping sauces. I'd come here just for the drinks, but it was all delicious. French onion soup is fantastic. Shout out to Jacob who steered us in the right direction and was so lovely with suggestions and small talk. Can't wait to come...