Disneyland offers a special dining experience that you CAN’T get at any other Disney Park!

It’s tough to find a more notable bucket list Disneyland restaurant than the Blue Bayou Restaurant! This atmospheric dining experience in New Orleans Square sits within the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction near the bayou and boarding area of the ride. This historic and gorgeous restaurant opened in 1967  and now serves as inspiration for many other atmospheric dining experiences that you can find at Disney Parks worldwide. While this iconic restaurant is more divisive these days when it comes to quality and service, one of our most recent reviews tried to settle the debate of whether or not a visit is still worth your time.

Atmosphere

Blue Bayou is tucked away in New Orleans Square, but once you enter, you know you’re in for something unique and special. The waiting room features upscale bayou architectural theming and a nice getaway from the craziness of Disneyland.

Once inside the restaurant, you’ll notice there is only one dining room that is ALWAYS dimly lit with a romantic ambiance under the bayou night sky.

Decorated with romantic candles and enhanced with the quiet sounds of the bayou, this restaurant offers outdoor vibes without being outdoors at all! However, there is one level of thrill as you get to watch Pirates of the Caribbean riders sail by as they go from the relaxing bayou to the perilous drops!

It’s worth noting that while the ambiance can be felt all throughout the dining room, the best views are closer to the water. Otherwise, you might just be staring at other guests and servers.

Additionally, while it presents as intimate, Blue Bayou can feel cramped at times, with tables and chairs placed close together to accommodate as many people as possible. The lighting in this restaurant seems like it could also be a problem since the room is so dim, but the lanterns, table lights, and menu lights typically suffice to provide just enough light while maintaining a romantic feel.

All in all, Club 33 is still the pinnacle of ambiance (and food) in New Orleans Square, but Blue Bayou, with its setting within Pirates of the Caribbean, might be the next best thing.

Menu

The menu at Blue Bayou changes seasonally (and you might not see what we ordered in this review during your next visit), but you can always expect a menu catered towards Cajun cuisine.

Blue Bayou serves lunch and dinner and is one of the rare Disneyland restaurants that serves alcohol. You’ll find wine, beer, cocktails, special kid-friendly lemonade, and even juleps. Appetizers can include gumbo, salads, and crab cakes, and entrées can feature market fish, steak, chicken, and pasta dishes.

Can’t forget dessert! You’ll often find sweets like crème brûlée, macarons, cheesecake, ice cream, and teas and coffee.

Keep in mind that Blue Bayou is considered a Special and Unique Dining experience, so the bill will be on the pricier end. Just something to be aware of before booking advanced dining reservations or joining a waitlist…

Eats

During this review, we tried the Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad, Pistachio Lemon-Basil Pasta, and Crème Brûlée Tart.

The Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad was served with greens, agave crema, pickled watermelon rind, and a shallot vinaigrette for $15.

We found it to be incredibly light and refreshing! Everything tasted really fresh, especially the tomatoes and greens. The tomatoes were juicy, sweet, and full of flavor.

Our major complaints were that the shallot vinaigrette was too simple in its tangy and vinegary taste, and the watermelon lacked a distinct flavor. We could’ve used more fresh and flavorful watermelon in the salad.

If you’re looking for a light and refreshing salad, check this out! It was also the only vegan appetizer on the menu when we visited. If you’re not a fan of tomatoes, we recommend trying something else. Unfortunately, this item isn’t on the menu at this time, but it may come back again!

Another veggie option, the Pistachio Lemon-Basil Pasta, will cost you $32 and was the cheapest entrée on the menu.

Made with asparagus, squash blossoms, pea tendrils, and cherry tomatoes in pistachio-basil pesto, we found this dish simple yet tasty. The pasta was cooked perfectly and had hints of basil and light lemon flavor throughout. The pistachio flavor was also light except for bites that had chopped-up pistachios. The cherry tomatoes added a refreshing and sweet flavor, but we would’ve liked more. 

Overall, we were fans of this pasta! The portion size was generous, and the pasta itself was the right amount of citrusy in flavor. Simple, tasty, and a safe dish, we would get this again. Of note, this pasta dish is now only made with leeks, spinach, and cherry tomatoes in pistachio-basil pesto.

For dessert, we tried the Crème Brûlée Tart in a tart shell for $10.  

The berries were sweet and fresh, complementing the vanilla flavor of the custard well. The crème brûlée had a pleasant and rich vanilla bean flavor, topped with a satisfying caramel and burnt sugar taste. The tart shell tasted like shortbread and had a crumbly shortbread texture.

The only downside is that this dessert isn’t really shareable, as it is kind of small. However, since it’s only $10, we really couldn’t complain.

Crème Brûlée fans HAVE to try this! We think any crème brûlée fan would love it. It’s also a vegan option with a rich vanilla flavor, so if that sounds appetizing to you, give it a try!

And that’s everything we ate! Overall, we have plenty of thoughts…

OVERALL

Blue Bayou remains Disneyland’s most unique (and accessible) dining option. Atmospheric, unique, delicious, and featuring a kind, personable, helpful, and quick waitstaff, this Disneyland restaurant remains worth the visit after all these years.

Our food came out quickly and tasted amazing. The ambiance is one of the best at Disneyland and, despite being one of the price options at the theme park, Blue Bayou is worth dining at at least once, thanks to the experience and food quality.

Nosh or Not?

Head on down to the Blue Bayou if…

• You want to get away from the crowds. The Blue Bayou transports diners to the bayou away from the sunny confines of Disneyland. It feels like a getaway and is separate from the park, featuring a high-class meal and a relaxing atmosphere.
• You want to celebrate a special occasion. Blue Bayou dining feels special with its elevated menu and brilliant theming, so it makes sense to eat here if you want to celebrate someone or something special. Perfect for romantic dates, birthdays, and most special occasions, Blue Bayou offers an experience you can’t get anywhere else at Disneyland.
• You’re a fan of Disneyland history. Pirates of the Caribbean is quite literally setting sail right next to you, so if you’re a fan of this iconic Disneyland attraction, it’s a ton of fun to get a view of it from the other side. Additionally, Walt Disney worked on the Blue Bayou project! Although he wasn’t alive to see it open in all its glory, he did eat here and put a lot of his own influence into its design.

Skip on past this bayou if…

• You’re on a budget. The Blue Bayou is NOT budget-friendly and will likely be one of the most expensive meals you purchase at Disneyland. The nearby Cafe Orleans offers similar Cajun cuisine for a generally lower price, and there are plenty of other quick-service locations in the area that will offer you a tasty meal for a lot less.
• You’re in a hurry. Dining at the Blue Bayou will take a chunk out of your day, despite the prompt service. You’ll naturally want to linger and get your money’s worth. If you need a quicker meal, Disneyland has plenty of other options that will save you time.
• You’re traveling with small children. While the Blue Bayou caters to kids and adults alike, this is still a fine dining experience by Disneyland standards. If you’re looking for a simpler, cheaper menu, Tiana’s Palace and Harbour Galley are both close by.

Have you dined here? Share your review in the comments below and continue to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Disneyland restaurant reviews!

REVIEW: We’re Not Calling This Disneyland Restaurant Perfect, But It’s Nearly There