Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Moderate
Catal Restaur ant/Uva Bar
MEDITERRANEAN/T APAS Branching out
from the acclaimed P atina r estaurant in Los Angeles, high-priest-of-cuisine J oachim
Splichal brings us this S panish-inspired M editerranean concept duo at the hear t of
Downtown Disney. The main restaurant, Catal, features a series of intimate second-floor
rooms that combine rustic Mediterranean charm with fine dining. Complemented by an
international wine list, the menu is a collage of flav ors that borrow from France, Spain,
Italy, Greece, Morocco, and the Middle East—all united in selections that manage to be
intriguing but not overwhelming. Though the menu will v ary seasonally, expect to find
selections that range from seared sea scallops over saffron risotto or chorizo-spiked Span-
ish paella to herb-marinated rotisserie chicken or Sicilian rigatoni with ricotta cheese.
The Uva Bar (
uva
means “grape” in Spanish) is a casual tapas bar located at an outdoor
courtyard right in the middle of the Downtown Disney walkway. Martinis are a standout
here; and there are also 40 different wines by the glass. The affordable menu features the
same pan-M editerranean influence, ev en offering many items fr om the Catal menu;
standouts include cabernet-braised shor t ribs atop horseradish mashed potatoes, mari-
nated olives, and cured Spanish ham; and Andalusian gazpacho with r ock shrimp.
1580 Disneyland Dr. (at Downtown Disney).
&
714/774-4442.
www.disneyland.com. Reservations rec-
ommended Sun-Thurs, not accepted Fri-Sat for Catal; not accepted for Uva Bar. Main courses $14-$24;
tapas $5-$8. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm; Fri-Sun 11am-midnight.
Goofy's Kitchen
Kids
AMERICAN Your younger kids will never forgive you if they
miss an opportunity to dine with their fav orite Disney characters at this color ful, lively
restaurant inside the D isneyland H otel. Kno wn for its enter tainment and wacky and
off-center Toontown-esque decor, G oofy's Kitchen featur es tableside visits b y D isney
characters (G oofy, Alice, G eppetto, P ocahontas, Aladdin, the B east) who thrill the
youngsters with dancing, autograph signing, and up-close-and-personal encounters.
Meals ar e buffet-style and offer an adequate selection of cr owd pleasers and r eliable
standbys, fr om bacon and eggs at br eakfast to fried chicken, Caesar salad, deli sand-
wiches, and Italian pastas at lunch and dinner. The most popular kid food is the peanut
butter and jelly pizza (even for breakfast), the buffet of gummy worms, Mickey Mouse-
shaped waffles, and Mickey ear-shaped chicken nuggets. This place isn't really about the
food, though, and is definitely
not
for kidless grown-ups (unless you're trying to make up
for a deprived childhood). Bring a camera and Disney autograph book for capturing the
family's “candid” encounters.
Tip:
Make reservations for an early or late breakfast or din-
ner to avoid the mayhem.
1150 Magic Way (inside the Disneyland Hotel).
&
714/956-6755
or 714/781-DINE (714/781-3463). www.
disneyland.com. Reser vations r ecommended. Buff et dinner $40 adult, $18 childr en age 3-9; buff et
breakfast/lunch $32 adults, $18 children age 3-9. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 7am-9pm.
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House of Blues
AMERICAN/SOUTHERN For y ears, fans hav e been comparing
the House of B lues to D isneyland, so this celeb-backed r estaurant/nightclub fits right
into the Disney compound. Locations in Las Vegas, L.A., Orlando, and so forth all sport
a calculated backwoods-bay ou-meets-Country-Bear-Jamboree appearance that fits right
into the Disney-fied world. The Anaheim HOB follo ws the formula, filled with made-
to-look-old found objects, amateur paintings, unev en wood floors, seemingly decay ed
chandeliers, and a countr y-casual attitude. The restaurant features Delta-inspired stick-
to-your-ribs cuisine like Louisiana crawfish cakes, C reole seafood jambalaya, cornmeal-
crusted catfish, bab y back ribs glaz
ed with J ack D aniel's sauce, and spicy Cajun
