Captivating Carthay Circle in Disney California Adventure Park

By: Sarah McClureApril 26, 2018Hollywood’s Golden Age spanned three decades and gave us classic films and movie stars. From the late 1920’s through the late 1950’s, people were mesmerized by the glitz and glamorous lifestyles of film makers and actors.Now we can relive this magical era by dining at Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure Park. A meticulous reproduction of the original Carthay Circle Theater, which premiered Walt Disney’s Snow White in 1937, Carthay Circle Restaurant is located on Buena Vista Street.Upon entering the lobby, guests are immediately taken back to an opulent time when Hollywood’s elite mingled. Photos of celebrities from the Golden Era are all throughout the restaurant. The walls are covered in burgundy, patterned wall paper, while touches of deep mahogany accent the space. The black marble floors are lined with classic carpet runners. Guests should take time to explore and notice the intricately sculpted archways.The Carthay Circle Lounge is on the main floor of the building and to the right after entering. Here guests enjoy signature cocktails, beer and wine. The menu also includes Walt Disney’s favorite libation, the Scotch Mist. Dining choices include small bites, sushi rolls, plated dishes and sweet treats. Reservations are not accepted for Carthay Circle Lounge.To the left is a beautiful stairway leading to Carthay Circle Restaurant on the second floor where reservations are highly suggested. The lavish scene is breathtaking. One’s eye is drawn to the center of the dining room and the four beautiful chandeliers. A prolonged look at the ceiling affords the view of stunning scenes from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.The attention to detail in this dining room is remarkable. The rich, heavy, masculine elegance of Carthay Circle is comparable to the light, Victorian, feminine beauty found in Club 33. The color palate uses golds, reds and olive green. The furniture is strong, yet cozy and intimate with the high-backed booths and plush cushions.There are four smaller dining rooms located off the main dining room. Each room accommodates varying party sizes, from 5 to 20. One special dining room holds a secret! The base of the table is a replica of Snow White’s wishing well.My husband and I chose Carthay Circle Restaurant for our anniversary dinner and found the service to be impeccable and friendly. Our server started us off with fresh sour dough bread and butter, which was nice, but we had heard about the Signature Fried Biscuits and had to try them! These are stuffed with cheese, bacon and jalapeno (just a tiny kick) and are served with an apricot honey butter. The biscuits did not disappoint. They were a perfect mix of sweet and spice and paired nicely with the fresh Escarole Salad on a hot summer’s day.For our entrees (to be shared, of course!), we ordered the Thick-cut Pork Chop served with peas, fingerling potatoes and plum coulis. The second dish we ordered was the Artichoke Crepes with eggplant, Portobello and parmesan. Both dishes had a stunning presentation and smelled lovely. Even though the pork had a nice flavor and was served with a plum sauce, we found it to be a bit dry. This was disappointing, as this dish had been suggested. I did try the pork on a subsequent visit and found it to be dry again.The artichoke crepes, however, were absolutely wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed the vegetables.Carthay Circle Restaurant is child friendly, offering a small assortment of Kids’ Meals, like pasta, tacos, salmon and beef filet.We opted out of ordering dessert because of the sheer volume of food we had just consumed, with appetizers and entrees. Instead, we choose to get a treat during World of Color later that evening.My overall impression of Carthay Circle is that this is a lovely, unique, fine dining option at Disneyland Resort. Just like Steakhouse 55 and Club 33, the ambiance and décor is truly something to behold. While the entrees were wonderful, we expected a bit more from the pork and will select another meat dish next time.I would love to help you create a magical Disneyland vacation that includes a reservation at Carthay Circle Restaurant, or any other fine dining experience. Contact me to learn more!sarahmc@wishesfamilytravel.com