RESERVATION/ WAIT:
Placed a reservation a week before. We asked for a 9 pm dinner reservation. I was told it was just for a reservation but not guaranteed for a table next to the water. I was advised to mention about getting a table by the water when you talk to the greeter at the podium. Also, we were told to be there 10 minutes before 9pm but not before 850 pm. We got there at 8:40 pm and they didn't mind at all. We insisted waiting for a table by the water so it took a little longer. It was our first time to eat there, so YES we wanted to experience that. Also, one of the usherettes was very gracious and kept checking on us if we wanted to be seated right away but not by the water. It was very nice of her to do that. It took about 30 minutes to be seated next to the water. If we wanted a table right away, we could have been seated after 15 minutes of waiting.

APPETIZER: Isla Cruces Crab Cakes (pan-seared, then topped with mango salad and zesty lime aioli)
Our review: Oooh. I want some more! (because there were only 2 crab cakes).

MAIN ENTREE:
He ordered: Royal Street Seafood Jambalaya (A robust combination of king crab, jumbo gulf shrimp, mahi mahi, tasso ham, andouille sausage and chicken, tossed
His review: Yummy, yummy on my tummy.
Her review: Oooh. I want some more!

She ordered: Molasses-Brined Bayou Pork Chop (10-oz chop, pan-seared and topped with sauted Granny Smith apple wedges. Choice of two sides: Blue Bayou potatoes, seasonal vegetables or sauted spinach.)
His: It was good but I'll try something else next time.
Hers: Yummy, yummy on my tummy.

DESSERT: Flying Dutchman Cookie Boat (warm chocolate chip cookie boat, served with Dreyer's vanilla-bean ice cream, caramel and chocolate sauce.)
Both: Yummy, yummy on my tummy.

AMBIENCE: It's dim but then again they are trying to give you the sense of being out in the bayou. I can't imagine the place being bright when the boats are passing by.

PRICE: $71.71 (tax included). It would have cost more but our server forgot our appetizer. We reminded him about it when he served the entrees. He was very apologetic and comp'ed the appetizer. He even gave us 4 Chocolate Mint Doubloons for free without us knowing about it. The menus served as souvenirs as well.

SERVICE: Very satisfied.
OVERALL: We will go again. Check out our posted pics.

1 dot - Never again.
2 dots - Only when I'm really hungry.
3 dots - It was good but I'll order something else next time.
4 dots - Oooh. I want some more but I'm full!
5 dots - Yummy, yummy on my tummy.

This is one of two full service restaurants in the Disneyland Park and probably the most popular. It's located in New Orleans Square and on the exit side of The Pirates of the Caribbean Ride.

It's so popular I can't urge you enough to book a table in advance. They do have some stand-by tables, but the wait can be long if the waitlist is even open. We went for lunch. We had reservations. When we were seated, we had the first table by the entrance door and it was bright and the whole atmosphere was lost. We asked our hostess for a new table and she was very sweet and gave us a wonderful table right on the bayou -- it pays to ask!

When seated, you are fooled to thinking you are dining outdoors in a little patio somewhere in Louisiana on a bayou. The frogs croak, the sky is dark, and they even have fireflies flickering. Brightly colored paper Chinese lanterns hung between Spanish moss draped trees provide the only light. It's dark and the boats heading off to the Pirates ride passes you by. It's all Disney magic and great fun! Extremely effective!

The food was just okay. I had pasta -- it was lukewarm and not very flavorful. The kids had the standard chicken fingers and those too were only slightly warm. Chris had a Monte Cristo sandwich and that may have been the best bet. As it's in the park they do NOT serve any booze, which is funny as this place has a New Orleans theme -- where in the Big Easy can't you find a cocktail?

The food was so-so, but it's all about the theme here and the illusion of being somewhere else. It's a wonderful show and you don't for minute care the food is so average and bland. I highly recommend you request a table on the water or wait a bit for one that is. You really will have to remind yourself you are NOT outside in the evening having a meal on a bayou.