Lamplight Lounge is my new favorite dining location at Disney California Adventure. Here’s why...
By: Danielle Elliott, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Looking for the picture perfect place to grab a bite while at Disney California Adventure? Lamplight Lounge is where it is at! Located in the Pixar Pier section of the theme park, I had the opportunity to dine here for dinner during my most recent trip to Disneyland and I cannot say enough about what a stand-out performance of a meal that my group and I had! You will find this gem of a restaurant to your right after you pass through the colorful Pixar Pier sign!
Named after that famous (and delightful) Pixar Lamp, Luxo Jr, that fans have come to love, this restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The interior celebrates all things Pixar of course and showcases memorabilia in some creative ways! I just loved all of the unique touches that were put into the atmosphere, even down to the artist-inspired menu cover and the coasters, featuring beloved Pixar characters accompanied by their artists’ signatures!
My dining party and I were thrilled however to be seated outside on the outdoor patio during our meal. Initially, I was simply excited to take advantage of the warm California weather, but my mouth dropped when I saw our view. It doesn’t get much better!
While Lamplight Lounge’s drink menu has a lot of the usual suspects, you will find a lot of creative (and creatively named!) cocktails like the Over Budget (Grey Goose Vodka, Liquid Alchemist Passion Fruit, fresh Lime Juice, Agave Nectar and Ginger Beer), The Sequel (a Bubbling Cocktail with Absolut Citron Vodka, Bacardi Superior Rum, Liquid Alchemist Passion Fruit, fresh Lime Juice and Agave Nectar) and Non-alcoholic drinks aren’t lost in the shuffle either as fans of Monsters Inc will love the 2319, a frozen Mocktail made with Strawberry Purée, Cream of Coconut and Pineapple Juice topped with Coca-Cola.
The menu here is perfect for all taste buds! My group and I started off with some appetizers: a unique take on potato skins with brown butter-caper yogurt, smoked paprika aioli and manchego cheese. I loved how all these flavors complimented each other– definitely something I would suggest if you are looking for something light! We also tried the popular Lobster Nachos. As a New England girl, I was skeptical that I’d be impressed by these, but Disney proved me wrong (I should know better by now than to doubt them anyway 🙂 ) These were not only delicious with so many toppings but the portion was MASSIVE!
For my meal, I ordered the cheddar burger, which may seem like a ho-hum choice but this burger was anything but! My burger came cooked perfectly to my liking. I switched out my cheddar cheese for manchego and asked for some of the paprika aioli from our appetizer on the side, and the kitchen was happy to accommodate both of my requests. My burger came with some crispy steak fries and avocado ranch sauce for dipping!
Other entree options that were on the menu during my visit included Roasted Chicken, Al Pastor Pork Chop, and a grilled salmon sandwich.
As if I were not already impressed with the food and unique touches of Lamplight, their signature donuts that my table shared for dessert sealed the deal for me. Not only did they arrive warm and covered in sugar but just look at this box--Bravo Lamplight Lounge!
In short, I am adding this dining location to my “must eat” list whenever I visit Disneyland! Whether you are dining with budding artists, a group of friends or just looking for a place to grab a drink and a bite before venturing back out to the theme parks, Lamplight Lounge is sure to leave your group applauding!
Ready to plan your adventure to experience the magic on the West Coast? Please reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels to be connected to a travel agent!
