When I went to Disneyland last fall (and although I am also a So. Calif. native, I do go to the tourist attractions when I have out of town guests, since they want to go and I want to visit with them), I was very surprised and pleased to find that almost all the food places (non-fast food and fast food) offered non-meat and lowfat items. The second and third best non-fast food places are the eateries (whose names escape me) on Main St. at the circle/plaza on the southwest and southeast sides. I usually like to get the Tomorrowland Terrace fast food, and listen and dance (at night) to the bands that play there. Although, I don't know if Tomorrowland is still open, since I seem to recall reading about Tomorrowland getting an overhaul. I will never go back to Universal Studios. What a most unpleasant, crowded, and really touristy experience - I don't know how the professionals can stand to work there anymore. Just go to the City Walk and save the money.... I've never been on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, but local LA transplant, Huell Howser, on his Visting.... show, went there and it seemed like how the Universal Studios Tour used to be: a tour of a working studio. Go where the non-American tourists seem to be drawn to: Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino (near Pasadena). Don't bother with eating at the Russian Tea Room though, it's not worth it. If you are a AAA member, you can stop at any So. Calif. AAA office and pick up a Tour Book and maps for free. There are sometimes discounts for AAA members also. Get the LA edition of Zagats for restaurants. Have fun while visiting So. Calif.! Mark H. wrote: > > Someone wrote: > > > Pulpsmith wrote: > > > > We're going to be doing all the touristy stuff and we're staying in > > > Anahiem. How are the Disney restaurants? > > > > <snip> > > > > The best restaurant at D-Land is the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square. I > > suggest that you go directly there upon entering the park & make > > reservations, otherwise you'll wait at least an hour or more (emphasis > > on more) to get a table. This place is not cheap fast food. It's a nice > > sit-down restaurant inside the Pirates of the Carribean & we eat there > > everytime we're at the Magic Kingdom. > > The Blue Bayou is the best place to eat, but alas it's gone downhill, IMO. > The menu used to include a dozen choices, including things like tournedos > of beef, with carmelized shallots and bearnaise sauce. Now there are > three or four choices on the menu -- a new york steak, prime rib, chicken > and fish. There's also a kids menu. I think the change in the menu > reflects two things: a desire to increase the turnover (simpler meals take > less time to cook and more diners means more bucks), and a change in > kitchen staff (from chefs to fry cooks). Last summer I had the new york > steak -- overcooked and fatty. A real disappointment. And yes, sitting > next to the water looks nice, but you will smell the chlorine. It is > however, one of the few quiet places in the park. > > However, the only other choices in the park are basically fast food. > Another option is to take the monorail to the Disneyland Hotel. You have > more options (including alcohol), it won't be as crowded as the park, but > I'm not aware of any especially nice restaurant there. > > Mark > > -- > Mark Horne [email removed] > _____________________________________________________________________
Anaheim, CA
Opinions Wanted
P.S. If you like Japanese food, the Benihana's in Anaheim has a sushi bar (the only other one in this country is in Atlanta) and is my all time favorite sushi place (too bad I don't get down there often enough). Stuart Andersen's Black Angus is good and reasonable. Mario's on Katella at West, has what used to be my favorite pizza when I used to live in Orange County. In Fullerton, Rutabagorz is a really good natural foods experience, and has been there since the 70's. Check out any of the Hardrock Cafes - good food, neat stuff/props. Pat H. wrote: > > When I went to Disneyland last fall (and although I am also a So. Calif. > native, I do go to the tourist attractions when I have out of town > guests, since they want to go and I want to visit with them), I was very > surprised and pleased to find that almost all the food places (non-fast > food and fast food) offered non-meat and lowfat items. The second and > third best non-fast food places are the eateries (whose names escape me) > on Main St. at the circle/plaza on the southwest and southeast sides. > > I usually like to get the Tomorrowland Terrace fast food, and listen and > dance (at night) to the bands that play there. Although, I don't know > if Tomorrowland is still open, since I seem to recall reading about > Tomorrowland getting an overhaul. > > I will never go back to Universal Studios. What a most unpleasant, > crowded, and really touristy experience - I don't know how the > professionals can stand to work there anymore. Just go to the City Walk > and save the money.... > > I've never been on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, but local LA > transplant, Huell Howser, on his Visting.... show, went there and it > seemed like how the Universal Studios Tour used to be: a tour of a > working studio. > > Go where the non-American tourists seem to be drawn to: Huntington > Library and Gardens in San Marino (near Pasadena). Don't bother with > eating at the Russian Tea Room though, it's not worth it. > > If you are a AAA member, you can stop at any So. Calif. AAA office and > pick up a Tour Book and maps for free. There are sometimes discounts > for AAA members also. Get the LA edition of Zagats for restaurants. > > Have fun while visiting So. Calif.! > > Mark H. wrote: > > > > Someone wrote: > > > > > Pulpsmith wrote: > > > > > > We're going to be doing all the touristy stuff and we're staying in > > > > Anahiem. How are the Disney restaurants? > > > > > > <snip> > > > > > > The best restaurant at D-Land is the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square. I > > > suggest that you go directly there upon entering the park & make > > > reservations, otherwise you'll wait at least an hour or more (emphasis > > > on more) to get a table. This place is not cheap fast food. It's a nice > > > sit-down restaurant inside the Pirates of the Carribean & we eat there > > > everytime we're at the Magic Kingdom. > > > > The Blue Bayou is the best place to eat, but alas it's gone downhill, IMO. > > The menu used to include a dozen choices, including things like tournedos > > of beef, with carmelized shallots and bearnaise sauce. Now there are > > three or four choices on the menu -- a new york steak, prime rib, chicken > > and fish. There's also a kids menu. I think the change in the menu > > reflects two things: a desire to increase the turnover (simpler meals take > > less time to cook and more diners means more bucks), and a change in > > kitchen staff (from chefs to fry cooks). Last summer I had the new york > > steak -- overcooked and fatty. A real disappointment. And yes, sitting > > next to the water looks nice, but you will smell the chlorine. It is > > however, one of the few quiet places in the park. > > > > However, the only other choices in the park are basically fast food. > > Another option is to take the monorail to the Disneyland Hotel. You have > > more options (including alcohol), it won't be as crowded as the park, but > > I'm not aware of any especially nice restaurant there. > > > > Mark > > > > -- > > Mark Horne [email removed] > > _____________________________________________________________________