Guests are once again be able to embark on a culinary adventure with Louisiana-inspired cuisine as they watch Pirates of the Caribbean boats glide past. The Blue Bayou restaurant reopened yesterday, May 27th with a refreshed menu and a new option that was not previously available – alcohol. We were able to try several items last night during our dinner reservation.
The Hurricane Cocktail ($15.00)
Alcohol is now on the menu at Blue Bayou and this is their signature cocktail. It has Bacardi Reserva Ocho Rum, Myers’s Original Dark Rum, Simply Orange Juice, Passion Fruit Purée, Grenadine and Lime Juice, Luxardo Maraschino Cherry and Orange garnish. Definitely, recommend this one. The ingredients come together nicely, and everyone at the table wanted more than one after trying it.
Signature Gumbo (Appetizer – $7.00)
The signature gumbo is a small bowl of gumbo to help get your meal started. It has chicken, Andouille Sausage, tomatoes, Okra, Jasmine Rice, and green onions. It’s very small, but a delicious few bites of food.
Petite Filet and Cold Water Lobster Tail ($52.00)
This was my personal choice for dinner. It included country mashed potatoes, heirloom carrots and wilted greens, and charred onion-bourbon demi. The steak was cooked to medium-rare perfection (they cook it to your liking in terms of wellness). So tender and soft that you could cut through it with a fork. The lobster tail was succulent with each bite. The heirloom carrots had a delicious texture and flavor. The country mashed potatoes were so delicious that I found myself wishing they had included a few more ounces of them. In short, this was a fantastic meal – which probably isn’t shocking given the price tag. We remarked that is hard to remember that you are inside Disneyland as you sit and enjoy the ambiance and the fine dining.
The Monte Cristo ($29.00)
This might have been the only disappointment of the night at our table. I sampled one of the three wedges of the sandiwch, and we all agreed that it was a subpar Monte Cristo. It had an oily, tasteless profile. It was very surprising to me, because I have always loved Disneyland’s Monte Cristo sandwiches. For the $29.00 price tag you only get three wedges – for comparison at Cafe Orleans you get two wedges and Pomme Frites for $21. At Blue Bayou it comes with a tiny salad. The Monte Cristo itself has Turkey, Ham, and Swiss, served with Crème Anglaise, and Seasonal Preserve dip. For guests who love the Monte Cristo you can get 2 wedges (half) of a Monte Cristo (only one less than pictured here) for under $11 at Smokejumpers Grill in DCA right now. Is this one worth $19 more for a bit of salad and one more wedge? Not in our opinion.
Citrus Chicken ($35.00)
This chicken has a Spanish-style Marinade comes with Jasmine Rice, heirloom carrots and wilted greens, and roasted shallot demi. The chicken was tender and packed with flavor. It was also a very generous portion of chicken. Chicken might not be as flashy of a choice for dinner, but it was a highly satisfying meal according to my friend at the table with us.
Vanilla-Bourbon Crème Brûlée ($9.00)
This Vanilla-Bourbon Crème Brûlée comes with Macerated fresh Berries, Vanilla Bean Chantilly and Madeleines. Words won’t do this dessert justice. It is among the finest desserts I’ve had at Disneyland in all my years of dining. The macerated berries add the perfect touch to the already delicious Vanilla-Bourbon Crème Brûlée. You will be very happy if you’re a Crème Brûlée fan and order this.
8-Layer Chocolate and Hazelnut Cake ($9.00)
This layered cake comes with Chantilly Cream and a macaron. The Chantilly Cream and raspberry glaze gave it a delightful touch of flavor when combined with the layered chocolate-hazelnut cake. I will admit to indulging in two desserts last night. I had this one before the crème brûlée and thought it was a 5/5 in taste. If you’re a cake lover then this is definitely something you’ll enjoy. Of the two, I preferred the crème brûlée which doesn’t mean this was bad – we heartily recommend both desserts.
Final Thoughts
The Blue Bayou was a great experience. Watching guests float past as they begin their Pirates of the Caribbean journey while enjoying the ambiance, decor, and lighting in the Blue Bayou was a great experience. I watched a family of five at a table near us as their three children lit up with excitement when their Louisiana Lemonade drinks came to their table with glow cubes inside. Everyone was happy, relaxed, and enjoying themselves. It felt great to be dining inside at Disneyland. Overall, the food was delicious with the one exception, and the waiter took care of the problem with the Monte Cristo by replacing it for the person at our table who ordered it with another option. The staff and service were excellent. We spent nearly two hours at our table, and it felt like it went by in a flash. Reservations are available 60 days in advance and no doubt will get gobbled up quickly. If you only have one visit to Disneyland and want a great experience for you and your family or friends then this is a great option if you are able to get a reservation. They weren’t doing walk-ups yesterday, but we don’t know if that will continue or not.
