We’re visiting the Disneyland Resort to check out a new menu being offered at one of the BEST lounges on property!

I recently stopped by Carthay Circle Lounge at Disney California Adventure to try the new lunch menu, and it’s safe to say that I had PLENTY of thoughts! Should you visit this popular lounge and try out these new offerings? Find out in my review below!

Atmosphere

Tucked within the gorgeous Carthay Circle Restaurant (one of Disneyland’s best Signature Dining experiences), Carthay Circle Lounge still maintains a ton of elegance in a refined and upscale setting themed after the classic Hollywood theater where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937.

The restaurant is like a time capsule — featuring old-timey-looking furniture with pictures of Walt (some with stars of his time) on the walls. It also features mood lighting and a relaxed setting that takes you away from the hectic theme park atmosphere. Well, at least inside…

There is an expanded outdoor seating area as well that provides views of Buena Vista street with plenty of fresh air to spare.

All in all, it’s a gorgeous space that transcends typical theme park dining — but what matters most is everything you can eat, so let’s get into it!

Menu

Carthay Circle Lounge offers a seasonal menu of Mediterranean-California light fare that is styled kind of like tapas — small bites that you can share or stack with other choices to create a full meal. These aren’t exactly the heartiest of dishes compared to the attached restaurant, but there are TONS of eats to choose from. Keep in mind that this is one of the pricier locations at California Adventure.

As a lounge, you will also find plenty of signature cocktails, wine, and other alcoholic beverages that are a bit more elevated than most other offerings at the park. Of course, there are some great mocktails here as well.

Of note, everything we tried on the new lunch menu is ALSO available with the dinner menu, so worry not if you’re trying to squeeze in time here during your next visit! With that said, let’s get into everything I tried!

Eats

First up, I grabbed the Braised Short Rib Sliders for $28. This beauty is made with caramelized onions, sun-dried tomato aïoli, and arugula.

This dish comes with three sliders that are PACKED with flavor. The buns had a fantastic texture that absolutely held up well. They were crispy, yet still soft and fresh, and the beef was so tender and paired wonderfully with the spinach and sauce (which had subtle tomato flavors that neither overpowered the snack nor were ignored).

The onions here provided a really great earthy tone, and I was really impressed by the balance of all these ingredients. These were fantastic sliders made with top-notch quality ingredients, and everything worked as intended in my opinion. I would absolutely get these again, and it’s safe to say this may be my favorite thing that I tried during my review — and this is coming from someone who doesn’t usually opt for short rib options!

Next up was the Green Tai Curry Baked Bay Scallops for $16. This is made with macadamia nuts, green papaya, and Thai basil.

Served in a shell, the presentation here is visually pleasing and inviting. As for the taste, it was very citrusy (even before applying the lime) with a surprisingly subtle kick. The bread crumbs provided a nice crunchy texture, and the scallops were cooked perfectly to give you that soft versus crunchy combo you’d expect when ordering this dish. The nuts also give the scallops an extra dimension, but there aren’t a bunch. You get an earthy aftertaste, but the scallops are allowed to shine.

The basil cut through quite nicely with a freshness that helped keep everything light, but ultimately, I wish this flavor provided a bit more boldness, as it got lost within the fishiness of the scallops.  Still, this is a solid dish and will likely appease seafood lovers. I really dug the fresh flavors happening here, and I appreciate that it’s a light option.  I wouldn’t say it’s filling, but if you get it with something else, you should be fine. If you don’t like scallops, you won’t like this.

Next, I tried the Beef and Spinach Cannellonis for $22. This is made with parmesan, sungold tomato, and pomodoro.

I found this to be rich and tomato-forward. This was the heartiest thing I tried, making the cost stomachable. Be warned that this is fairly acidic thanks to all that tomato. Each tomato element tastes differently, and the cherry tomatoes added a sweetness I really loved — but I couldn’t help but get distracted by the tomato acidity. The arugula cut through the acidity at least, and the fried parmesan added a fun, cheesy element that was almost a bit bitter.

The meat was very tender and worked in tandem with the soft pasta for a dish that melts in your mouth. There are also peas in this, and they’re fine, but I felt they were included just to combat some of the tomato. There is just so much tomato here that I felt more herbs would’ve been appropriate. This was probably my least favorite of the three, but it was still pretty good. The Quality at this restaurant is just so good that even the things I wouldn’t get again were pleasant.

Finally, for dessert, I got the Tahitian Vanilla Bean-Root Beer Float Popsicle for $15. This comes with the leftover root beer in a side cup to enjoy.

Now THIS is a fun way to do a root beer float! It has a great crunch on top thanks to those earthy Tahitian beans, but if you’re worried about those, just dunk the popsicle in the root beer, and they’ll be nothing more than an afterthought! A couple of different servers reiterated that there’s no right or wrong way to enjoy this dessert, so I dunked it and turned it into a classic float.

It was a little sweeter than your regular float and a bit nutty in the best ways. The Tahitian vanilla bean was a little fruity, and the textures were almost like cherry seeds, but they were subtle in flavor, and I ultimately found this to be an elevated root beer float, but still a root beer float. Maybe it’s a bit overpriced, but on a blisteringly hot day or one when you’re CRAVING a root beer float, this should hit the spot.

I quite enjoyed this, along with everything else I tried!

Nosh or Not

This DCA lounge is a must-visit if…

• YOU WANT LIGHT FARE. These are smaller plates that can add up to a full meal, or they can simply be a delicious snack.
• YOU WANT SOMETHING MORE THAN REGULAR THEME PARK FOOD. This is part of the Carthay kitchen, which offers signature dining. This lounge is not your mere bar food quality…
• YOU WANT A SITDOWN EXPERIENCE THAT DOESN’T BREAK THE BANK. It is on the pricier side, but not by a lot. At no point during my meal did I feel like I was getting ripped off. You’re ultimately paying fair prices, for the most part.

You should skip this DCA spot if…

• YOU NEED SOMETHING HEARTY. This is a lounge with smaller bites. The larger Carthay Restaurant is a better bet for big meals.
• YOU’RE ON A TIGHT BUDGET. There are quick-service restaurants all over the Disneyland Resort that offer more eats for a lower cost. The quality isn’t as good, but you will save a few bucks while taking care of your hungry party.
• YOU HAVE PICKY EATERS IN YOUR PARTY. The ingredients used here can get slightly adventurous. As I previously mentioned, the offerings here aren’t your standard theme park fare. If that’s what you’re craving, this lounge might be overkill.

Overall

This is a great seasonal menu that suits this fantastic lounge well. If you dine here, expect an attentive staff, a memorable environment that honors the legacy of Walt Disney, and a bunch of tasty lates that will satisfy most diners.

We’ll continue to keep you posted on all the latest Disneyland dining reviews and updates, so make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog to stay in the know!

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

Have you eaten at Carthay Circle Lounge before? Share your review in the comments!