Chef's Counter at Napa Rose

[MMBunny]

Hey All!

I've booked reservations at the Chef's counter at Napa Rose to kick off my first ever trip to Disneyland!!

WOOOHOOOO

It didn't cost anything extra to book it.

From what I understand, there are only 8 seats available and they told me that we could book either the 5:30 or 8:30 seating. I don't know if that was all that was available or if that is standard on any day of the week.

I'm really interested in what it means to be at the Chef's counter. I understand that we will be able to watch the Chefs cooking but is there anything else that we should expect?

Do you recommend getting the:

The Vintner's Table
A Prix Fixe Chef's Tasting Menu inspired by the fresh flavors of summer in wine country
Pan-seared Lobster-Scallop Sausage with sauteed heirloom cherry tomatoes and opal in a light "sunburst" tomato broth
Oak-roasted summer artichoke topped witha tri-colored salad, crispy duck confit and a cherry-goat cheese crostini
Santa Maria BBQ - Wine-country barbecued certified Angus beef tri-tip with black-eyed pea ragu, and a roasted corn and nameka mushroom salsa
Summer Peaches in all their Glory! Sweet "Arctic White" peach semi-freddo with roasted honey-crisp peaches and boysenberry granite
Four Course Vintner's Prix Fixe $75... add a flight of four wines $35
(*Thanks to http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/din/menu/men_napa.htm*)

Or do you think that this is over priced and better to order from the main menu?

Anyone care to share their experiences at Napa Rose and or the Chef's Counter?

I'm so excited and would love to hear what you all thought about it!

[adriennek]

I don't think the prix fixe menu is overpriced, myself. I think it's actually a better price than if you order all those courses separately. I don't have a problem with four glasses of wine for $35 either. Usually we spend well over that to buy a bottle of wine and what's that? Four or five glasses of wine? I don't think you could get four glasses of wine by themselves at NR for $35 if you bought them by the glass, either. Maybe, maybe if you only ordered the lowest cost white on the menu.

Now, I don't see that particular menu at All-Ears? When I followed the link I got an error. I don't know when that menu was available but I doubt it's the current Vintner's menu because Summer Peaches aren't in their glory in February. The Vintner's Menu is continually changing at NR, just to give you the heads up. You don't say when you'll be going but that won't be the menu even if you go this summer because they'll choose a new menu then.

Personally? I don't eat fish. I might eat the menu you posted but everytime I've gone to NR, the Vintner's menu has had something on it that I didn't eat, so I tend to order a la carte when I'm there. Whatever you order is totally up to you. You don't have to order from every course on the menu (We usually do. - we usually each order appetizers, soup or salad, entree and a dessert. We don't usually order a side dish, I guess.)

When we go, we tend to divide and conquer. We never both order the same item on a menu. We'll talk about what sounds good to us and negociate two items from each course, that way we get to taste even more different items from the menu.

You'll have a great time no matter what you order, I'm sure. One benefit of the Chef's table, as I understand it, depending on where you sit, is that the chef talks to you and may even customize a dish for you depending on your tastes.

Adrienne

[MMBunny]

http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/din/menu/men_napa.htm

how about now?

Hopefully that one will work.

I agree that the price is looking better by the minute! Doesn't matter, I'm just excited to be going!

[adriennek]

Ok, that menu says at the top of the page "August 2005" - so whenever you go, there will definitely be a different menu.

The main menu changes seasonally. There are a few items or ingredients that are consistent or that I have seen on more than one menu, not necessarily consecutively, but you can count on it changing. I don't remember how often the Vintner's menu changes but it's at least as often as the main menu.

Adrienne

[RockDoc07]

Actually, the Vintner's Menu is changed every week so you will always be getting something new. In addition, it's no problem if you are a vegetarian or whatever other food restrictions you might have. They will gladly taylor things on the presentation. The Chef's Counter is completely worth it especially since it doesn't cost anything extra (IMHO). I personally don't eat mushrooms (I hate them) and my DW2B doesn't eat meat (but does eat fish) and they threw out the menu that night and made us a completely new one. We each got our own menu. THey made 10 dishes for us just like that. It was awesome. And Michael Jordan paired all our wine for us (he was just promoted to rank of Master Somalier, but ALL the waiters at the restaurant are licenses somaliers which makes wine pairing awesome, even if you don't do the four glasses).

Have a GREAT time. This was, to this date, the best meal I have ever had in my life. We went back to NR last week and sat at a regular table with my parents and had an awesome meal and they loved it, though none of us got the Vintner's Menu.

OOoooh, also, a fun side note. In the 7 years the restaurant has been opened they have NEVER duplicated a weekly Vintner's Menu. That's awesome!!

Bon Apetit!

Cool Runnings
Doc

[KarenW2]

Ever since I booked the CC for my hubby's birthday dinner years ago, we've never eaten at a "regular" table since! We both enjoy the interaction with the chefs and staff, watching the meal being prepared. My hubby always gets the Vintner's Menu and I always order ala carte. If we're staying at the resort, he'll get the complete wine flight with dinner, otherwise, he'll select one of the wines and go with that, so he can still drive home.

One of the times we've eaten at the CC, we brought my cousin and her husband, since they'd never been to the restaurant before. We'll usually eat at Club 33 with them, but they agreed with us that many of the meals at the Club aren't as good as those at Napa Rose. When they sat down and Chef Andrew asked if they'd been there before, he asked if she wanted to order off the menu, or if they'd like to put themselves into "his hands". He asked for any likes, dislikes, allergies, etc. and took it from there. We had a great meal!

We've also eaten at the different areas of the CC, since you can watch different things being made, depending on where you're sitting. I prefer sitting in the main entree/dessert section to the bread/salad section. We've even seen them seat the last 4 places at the end of the CC, for a total of 12 seats at the CC, but the view over the top of the dishes and dessert area isn't very good in our opinion.

Sometimes, the chef will even give you a special surprise, like a serving of that night's soup, or a small version of one of the appetizer's, but you can't always count on that. We just always go expecting to have a great meal and you can't go wrong.

Here's hoping you have a great time and a great meal when you go!!

[MMBunny]

I'm getting more and more excited about this with every post that I read!!!

This sounds so awesome, thanks for all the great replies!

Does anyone have any pictures of food from NR?

[AVP]

Tony and I enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner there the first year the restaurant was open, and the only spots they had open (we didn't have reservations, we just did a walk-up) were at the counter. Since then, we've requested the counter each time we've eaten there, and it's our favorite spot. I am unendingly fascinated with open kitchens, and I love being able to watch and occasionally chat with the chefs. We've never gone "off menu" at Napa Rose, nor have we ever had an extra course slipped to us, but we really, really enjoy our meals there.

I will say, and this is a pet peeve I have about most "fine dining" establishments, that those of us who do not drink alcohol often do not get the same level of attention as those who do. We've experienced that at Napa Rose, and I think it's one of the reasons I actually prefer the chef's table. We're there for the food, and so we can at least interact with that half of the operation.

AVP

[LdyApxr]

I am thinking this would be a neat thing for DH and I to do without the kids for our anniversary(6yrs on the 23rd). I am going to look for the number to book this. Does anyone know if I should call NR or someone else? We are staying at the PP on site if that makes any difference. I love that both of us can enjoy the wine and not have to worry about who is the designated driver. All we gotta do is make sure we can wobble back to the hotel. LMAO!

[adriennek]

Does anyone know if I should call NR or someone else?

I'd call NR directly and see what they say.

Adrienne

[RockDoc07]

You can make reservations for the NR by calling the general Disneyland dining line. To ask about availability of the chef's counter, you need to call the restaurant directly.

Doc

[LdyApxr]

Thanks! I am trying to decide between the Vineyard room and the NR. I made reservations at NR but after reading about some of the things on the menu(beef cheeks etc) I know I would not eat them so that may be an issue. I am not a picky eater but there are some things that I just don't feel the need to try. LOL

[adriennek]

Thanks! I am trying to decide between the Vineyard room and the NR. I made reservations at NR but after reading about some of the things on the menu(beef cheeks etc) I know I would not eat them so that may be an issue. I am not a picky eater but there are some things that I just don't feel the need to try. LOL

Keep in mind, they don't ONLY sell unusual items. In fact, the majority of their items are not unusual.

Also - don't entirely rule out trying something "sorta-newish". We tried quail once and honestly - we didn't like it. But one of the things we tried and really liked is a pheasant and gnocci dish that Chef Andrew puts on the menu from time to time (usually in the summer or fall.) Pheasant sounded a little out there for my husband who grew up eating mashed potatoes from a box, but it's one of his favorite dishes from NR now.

Adrienne

[LdyApxr]

Mashed Potatoes in a box! LOL That is my nieces favorite food(she is 18 now) and every year on her birthday I buy her a big box of them. She loves them and I can't figure out why! She has been like this since she was about 3yrs old. LOL

[rfaljean]

Hubby and I ate at the Chef's Counter December of 2005. It was awesome. I am a picky eater and Chef Sutton caught on right away. We had so much fun. I can't wait until we can get back there again. They do have some interesting menu options, but I was able to find something I'd enjoy and it was wonderful and a lot of fun.

[TinkUK]

I would like to book this for our summer anniversary trip. How far in advance can you call the restaurant directly to book? Also what is the direct line phone number to call? Thanks.

[adriennek]

I would like to book this for our summer anniversary trip. How far in advance can you call the restaurant directly to book? Also what is the direct line phone number to call? Thanks.

I don't know the number but you can call the restaurant 90 days in advance directly. The Disney Dining number only takes PS's 60 days in advance.

Adrienne

[Papa]

I have a reservation for my wife and I at the Chefs Counter at Napa Rose at 8:30pm this Saturday night. Do they have a dress code?

[AVP]

I have a reservation for my wife and I at the Chefs Counter at Napa Rose at 8:30pm this Saturday night. Do they have a dress code?

Not in the "if you aren't wearing a tie we'll turn you away" sense of the word, but they tend to be one of the dressier locations in the Resort. That said, it's a "resort casual" place, and regardless of how dressed up you get, there will be someone there in jeans, and there will be someone there dressed just short of a full tux.

I would plan to be at least as dressed as your wife.

AVP

[LdyApxr]

We have reservations for Easter evening(not for Easter dinner, it is our 6th anniv) and I told DH to bring his slacks and a nice shirt and I am taking something similiar although I am going to have to buy some flats because walking back to the PP in heels after wine is going to be tricky. LOL