In the realm of a food brat (i.e. my world), Napa Rose is an oasis within the wasteland of the Land that Walt Wrought. Ensconced inside the massive Grand Californian Hotel on the even bigger Disneyland resort, Napa Rose offers an upscale dining experience to match its upscale prices. The signatures of a well-executed restaurant – thoughtful wine list, escapist setting, professional service at the bar and tableside, and good food – are all present here. For my annual pilgrimage to Anaheim for the Natural Products Expo nearby, I make my reservation months in advance and look forward to my literal and figurative escape from trade show hell.
This year, my dining companions were impressed whereas I had a mixed experience. Service (called “Performers” in the Disney parlance) was excellent with exacting attention paid to my allergies with no mistakes. Wine, a few bottles of Hartley Ostini Highliner Hitching Post Pinot Noir 2005, was fruit-forward and a solid choice with our entrees which ranged from game to pasta to fish. Sadly, my meal did not receive a rave. My seafood pasta missed the mark; the pasta was over-cooked as were the mussels and scallops, and, though served in a delicious tomato sugo, there was a decided grit in every bite. No diner should experience grit. It literally leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
In sum: an A for effort and overall experience, a C for the food. I plan to make my reservation for next March’s trek in December.
Napa Rose
The Grand Californian Hotel
Disneyland
1600 S. Disneyland Drive
Anaheim, CA 92803
T: 714.781.3463
Visited March 10, 2007Labels: american cuisine, anaheim, disneyland, restaurant