Carthay Circle: Vegetarian options? WOC priority, pasta/salads as "entree"?

[kimc0486]

Hello!

I am wondering about vegetarian options at Carthay Circle. I have done a search on google and on here, but there do not seem to be many reviews one way or the other. Do they do substitutions on the pastas? IE, if I ask for mushrooms instead of the chicken sausage, is it likely to happen?

Also, for the WOC priority seating with the app+entree or entree+dessert, do the pastas ("noodles") or salads count as an entree?

Is the priority seating any different than WOC FP front area?

Thanks!

[AnotherJenny]

Sorry, I can't answer either question, but...

The Carthay Circle menu is really terrible if you're a vegetarian. I do remember reading it awhile ago and thinking, "Meh. Nothing I really have to try." I do eat fish, so I mostly noticed things I would/could eat. Looking at it now as a vegetarian, hmm, you better like appetizers and salads, because there's 2 options there, but otherwise, sorry! Wow.

(And from the reviews on Yelp, it sounds like Disney expects vegetarians to eat pasta, or pasta.)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/carthay-circ...m?q=vegetarian

[Drince88]

Since it's not a fast-food restaurant, can you ask the chef to 'make you something vegetarian' off the menu?

I know some places are open to that, and others aren't - but I'd THINK they'd be more open than many????

[bennette]

Hmm. I will assume we are talking about a lacto-ovo vegetarian and not a vegan or one of those people who eat fish and poultry and call themselves vegetarians. If you do eat either of those things, you'll be fine. I'll write with an eye toward vegans, just in case.

Like many places, Disney does unfortunately tend to be heavy on the pasta options for vegetarians.

It's not a bunch of choices but the menu there is pretty slim in general, as the kitchen is fairly small.

The portobello gorditas are definitely vegetarian and without the cheese would be vegan.

The grape leaves stuffed with goat cheese should be fine.

I feel like there *might* be pancetta or something on the simple green salad. It has brie and I know it's not really all that simple. But any meat could be left off.

The heirloom tomato salad has a parmesan dressing but I think Mamma Silva got it without. It comes with a lemon olive oil sorbet that "feels" to me like it has egg in it. It shouldn't, because sorbet doesn't, but if you aren't ovo vegetarians, I'd ask. It's awesome, though.

At dinner they have a watermelon salad that comes with lime mascarpone.

The pappardelle pasta comes with chicken meatballs but the sauce seemed like pretty straightforward tomato sauce to me (albeit made from yellow tomatoes). So without the meatballs it would still be a pretty nice plate of pasta. It's the one pasta they make in house. It looked as if it might be egg pasta but I didn't taste it.

There is a daily pasta now, it looks like. So one to ask about. Also a daily soup; they will know what's in the stock.

And there is a kids' pasta that comes with several sauce options, all of which are meatless. You should be able to get that in an adult size and price.

The ice cream, fortunately, is awesome. Don't forget the kids' desserts.

And remember that this is a somewhat seasonal menu. It won't change every week but I wouldn't be expecting tomato or watermelon salad in the Fall...

I've always gotten the seating despite not always ordering an entree. They seem to be looking more for a minimum dollar spent.

We've never gotten around to using out seating, though. I think if you read the "Carthay Circle, Who's Been" thread, you'll find some comments on the seating and what people ate to get the seating.

I've found them very knowledgeable about what's in the food. The chef is right there if there are any questions... Substitutions are not always that easy because many of the stocks and sauces are made in advance. If you are interested in having them make you something special, I think you'd do best to put in a request to the dining line.

[AVP]

At the media event before the restaurant opened, we asked Chef Sutton about the noticeable lack of vegetarian dishes. He said that he'd rather cook a vegetable dish for a guest based on whatever happened to be in season that week, than try to create a permanent menu item that would, be necessity, then be limited to veggies that are always "in season," or available canned.

In other words, he'd rather just cook for you that day after discussing your specific preferences, than try to create a menu with vegetarian / vegan / gluten-free / nut-free / low-sodium / Paleo / whatever entrees.

[MammaSilva]

Just to reinforce Bennettes answer, my daughter is the pickiest child ever and is NOT open to new experiences unless she see's someone she loves and trusts eating it first and even then it's iffy. We had the best experience ever at the Carthay. I explained her limited acceptable choices and got absolutely the most outstanding personalized dishes for her, the manager of the restaurant came out with her salad, it was perfect and any vegan would have scarfed it up. The brought the sorbet on a separate dish for the rest of us to taste, she did taste it and found it worthy and ate it up as well. I can't believe that even a vegan couldn't find an acceptable meal at this location. The menu might not be huge but it is very adaptable when you discuss your needs and tastes with the staff.

[CariBelle]

At the media event before the restaurant opened, we asked Chef Sutton about the noticeable lack of vegetarian dishes. He said that he'd rather cook a vegetable dish for a guest based on whatever happened to be in season that week, than try to create a permanent menu item that would, be necessity, then be limited to veggies that are always "in season," or available canned.

In other words, he'd rather just cook for you that day after discussing your specific preferences, than try to create a menu with vegetarian / vegan / gluten-free / nut-free / low-sodium / Paleo / whatever entrees.

This makes me happy to hear! I'm taken a gluten free friend for our post race celebration dinner. I've made a note with the dining line, but hadn't spoken with anyone at the restraurant, so this makes me feel much more at ease.

[AVP]

This makes me happy to hear! I'm taken a gluten free friend for our post race celebration dinner. I've made a note with the dining line, but hadn't spoken with anyone at the restraurant, so this makes me feel much more at ease.

I would definitely call the restaurant and make sure they have that note, and possibly discuss options before showing up. My take-away from the interview with Chef was that he didn't want to create set menu items for every possible contingency, but that isn't to say that they can't do more if they have some advance notice.

AVP

[CariBelle]

I would definitely call the restaurant and make sure they have that note, and possibly discuss options before showing up. My take-away from the interview with Chef was that he didn't want to create set menu items for every possible contingency, but that isn't to say that they can't do more if they have some advance notice.

AVP

How would I go about doing that? I've never spoken with anyone at a specific restaurant before.

[tea4two]

Hello!

I am wondering about vegetarian options at Carthay Circle. I have done a search on google and on here, but there do not seem to be many reviews one way or the other. Do they do substitutions on the pastas? IE, if I ask for mushrooms instead of the chicken sausage, is it likely to happen?

Also, for the WOC priority seating with the app+entree or entree+dessert, do the pastas ("noodles") or salads count as an entree?

Is the priority seating any different than WOC FP front area?

Thanks!

Just to make clear, there is no seating for Preferred Dining Fastpasses (WCT or CCR). Preferred areas are standing just like all other FPs. The only seating areas are for people with GAC/disabilities and for VIPs.
The preferred dining area for WCT is supposedly different (closer to the front, read that it was the flat circle in the center of Paradise Park) than the area for CCR (further back from the circle and a bit to the left). But I have read that CCR guests can move further forward to the wet zone if they desire. The preferred dining areas keep moving, according to recent reports, so if you do choose the CCR or WCT option, please report back on the location of your section.

[AVP]

How would I go about doing that? I've never spoken with anyone at a specific restaurant before.

Call Dine Line and tell them you'd like to speak with a chef before your meal. They'll usually have someone call you back.

AVP

[bennette]

I would definitely call the restaurant and make sure they have that note, and possibly discuss options before showing up. My take-away from the interview with Chef was that he didn't want to create set menu items for every possible contingency, but that isn't to say that they can't do more if they have some advance notice.

AVP

To this I would add that while I know the chefs and managers want everyone to be happy, this is still a new restaurant. Some of its wait staff are new to fine dining service or to Disney altogether. While I think they'll get the kinks out within a few months, I think that notation on the reservation, along with your willingness to have a server secure a chef or manager if they seem unsure about anything, is critical to getting your best meal.

[kimc0486]

Hey everyone, thanks for your we'll thought out responses! It seems like the pasta with chicken sausage, sans the sausage will work. That pasta seems to be made fresh in house from what I've read, is that correct?

I meant staking area when I said seating. It is good to know that some people have been getting reserved space even without the required app and entree or dessert. Though I think I may be ok now with pasta. Plus, I will be dining with three others who assuredly will be satisfying the requiremen
t, so hopefully I can get a pass too!

Thanks!!

[bennette]

The pappardelle pasta dish is the ONLY housemade pasta. It comes with chicken meatballs (not sausage) with a yellow tomato sauce.

You can ask if the daily pasta is housemade but for now, there's just the one.

[catnip13]

I've never eaten at Carthay Circle, but I have eaten at both Blue Bayou and Ariel's Grotto as a vegan. Blue Bayou has a veg entree that is easily veganized. There's nothing on menu at Ariel's Grotto, though, but the chef managed not one, but THREE different off-menu vegan meals for my family, plus a really delicious sorbet for dessert. Call the dining line, but I am sure they can accommodate you. I was really leery of going to AG, because I figured it was a ton of money to waste on what I was sure was going to be substandard food, but it was AMAZING.

[lovechows]

We ate at Carthay Circle yesterday for the first time--because of this thread. Sadly, our experience was not what was reported here. Our server was either new or just unhelpful; we were seated in an area next to two large groups so our service was poor at best (our server spent most of her time with them and we seldom saw her); and she had no clue how to adjust the pappardelle pasta into a vegetarian pasta. Also, we weren't even informed of any daily specials. After reading previous reviews of this restaurant (a four-star wannabe), we waited until the wait staff went through their trial period. The rest of the meal was okay--but not that great and I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. Wine Country Trattoria's food and menu choices are far superior to CC. I had to practically pull teeth out of my server to get any information about what I could do to alter my meal to turn it into a veggie option. And, I even asked if I could substitute shrimp (which I do eat) and was given the impression that it couldn't be done. Still don't understand that, especially considering that my husband's meal cost the same and had shrimp and mussels. And, when I mentioned that the service hadn't been the best, they really didn't seem to care. AAA 4 star? Don't think so.

[kimc0486]

Thanks for that heads up, I have read that elsewhere online, which is why I asked here. Did you end up just having pasta in the tomato sauce? Hopefully they can get the kinks ironed out for everyone's sake!

[candles71]

It sounds like calling ahead and letting them know, results in a better outcome, greater selection.

[tea4two]

It sounds like calling ahead and letting them know, results in a better outcome, greater selection.

Absolutely! The more information the restaurant has ahead of time, the easier it is for them to accomodate your needs. I'm responsible for my dietary needs, not the restaurant, so the better I can communicate with the staff, the better my experience will be (and the easier things will be for the kitchen staff). Also, there is nothing wrong with speaking up about seating problems, ideally before you are seated ("we'd like a quiet table, please"), but even afterward if the party next to you is disruptive.

[CariBelle]

It sounds like calling ahead and letting them know, results in a better outcome, greater selection.

Agreed. I forgot to mention it in the other thread, but I did call the Dine Line back and ask for the restaurant to call me back. I had a call within a couple of hours and while I told them that I didn't know the specifics of her (her being my friend) preferences she assured me there were plenty of gluten free options on the menu. And if you didn't see the other thread, they brought out a gluten free bread basket that pretty much made her night!