Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
cheese, choppedegg,bacon,andgrilled chicken inabalsamic vinaigrette—is arguablythe
best one on the menu.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
The Mojo Bones (barbecued baby back ribs) are passable;
the Volcano chocolate dessert (complete with sparkler top) is gargantuan and irresistible,
so invite your posse because you'll never find the bottom of the bowl alone. The sandwich
wraps are also a good alternative with some tasty meat and sauce mixes.
SUMMARY AND COMMENTS
If the Adventureland experience just doesn't satisfy your lust
for all things green, lush, and wildlike, this is the place for you. The menu is massive
(maybe a little too large) and mostly palatable, but none of it is truly great. They do make
up in quantity for any lack of quality; plates are enough for two in most circumstances.
Children love the rain forest theme, and you can count on any number of the chain's sig-
nature animal characters to show up during the meal for photo ops and a little interaction
with the kiddies. All in all, a bit distracting—but maybe that's the point.
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
Downtown Disney; 714-776-5200;
rbjazzkitchen.com
Reservations
Available.
When to go
Lunch or dinner.
Entrée range
$7-$33.
Service
.
Friendliness
.
Bar
Full bar.
Dress
Casual.
Disabled access
Yes.
Hours
Sunday-Thursday, 8
a.m.-4 p.m. and 4:30-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday
(zydeco jazz brunch),
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
SETTING AND ATMOSPHERE
Takeastepbackintimeandspacetothe19th-centuryFrench
Quarter of New Orleans. Almost half the seating area is an open-air courtyard surrounded
bywroughtiron,hangingferns,andmilled hardwood.Aboveasmallstagewherelivejazz
plays daily, there's a pounded-copper ceiling; to stage left is a beautiful enamel-finished
grand piano. You can people-watch from a balcony dining area, but no matter where you
sit, you're going to enjoy the ambience and music.
HOUSE SPECIALTIES
Gumbo Ya-Ya, blackened fish, and New York steak with Tchoupit-
oulas sauce.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Barbecue shrimp and grits, grilled filet mignon medallions,
and pasta jambalaya are all good. A $30 three-course special is a good value.
SUMMARY AND COMMENTS
This used to be one of our favorite restaurants in or imme-
diately around the resort, but it seems to have suffered a little through the recession. The
Brennan family is still intimately involved with every aspect of the menu, but both qual-
ity and presentation suffer between visits from the New Orleans crew. Servers, including
actual Southerners and even a smattering of Louisiana natives, exude a laid-back (some-
times too laid-back), gracious attitude most of the time but have been known to get a little
testy and impatient during the restaurant's busy times. This is a dining experience best
suited to adults. Add live jazz to the mix (the zydeco brunch is especially fun), and, all
