Best Disneyland Restaurant Gives in to Guest Requests with New À La Carte Menu, No Longer Prix Fixe Only

One of the biggest fan criticisms of Disneyland’s #1 restaurant when it reopened earlier this year was that it had done away with the a la carte offerings, and only offered a prix fixe menu. A proper meal at Napa Rose required dropping over $200 per person, which was a non-starter for many guests. Thankfully, Disney has heard the feedback and Napa Rose has debuted a new a la carte menu just in time for Christmas!

We’ve been fans of Napa Rose since our first visit to Disneyland when we first experienced the restaurant by eating in the lounge. That hooked us from day one, and we made a point of returning to Napa Rose on each trip. After moving to California for the first time, Napa Rose became our default “special occasion” restaurant at Disneyland Resort and one of our top spots in all of Orange County.

Prior to the restaurant’s lengthy reimagining, our experiences at Napa Rose had been more mixed. It still topped our list of the Best 26 Restaurants at Disneyland Resort, but came with the caveat that it had lost its luster and was no longer the unequivocal #1. This was why we were looking forward to the overhaul. Unfortunately, Napa Rose found a new way to disappoint us despite our first experience with the prix fixe menu being fantastic. 

As much as we enjoyed our prix fixe meal at Napa Rose earlier this winter, we haven’t been back since. Whereas it used to be the case that we’d dine at Napa Rose about once per season, we haven’t returned in 2026. That’s especially rare during a D23 year (we’ve instead done several meals at Hearthstone and GCH Craftsman). There’s only one reason for that because, again, our first meal was excellent. It all comes down to cost.

We are simply not looking for a $188 per person prix fixe menu the vast majority of the time. After drinks, tax and tip, that’s close to $500 for the two of us. While I don’t have comprehensive records of how much we used to spend at Napa Rose, it was probably in the ballpark of $200 total. Often even less when we dined in the lounge, which likewise changed its approach to seemingly “discourage” guests from making a meal of it.

Accordingly, we’re very happy to report that Disneyland Resort is debuting a new à la carte menu at Napa Rose! Disney indicates that this is happening as seasons change and the signature restaurant “continues to evolve.” This new addition is being offered alongside the prix fixe menu in the main dining room, “provides diners with more flexibility to build the culinary journey of their choosing.”

Disney would never say so outright, but this is likely the result of guest feedback and (more importantly) the prix fixe menu not being as popular as Disneyland anticipated. Disney loves prix fixe menus, which lock-in a minimum spend per table, and would likely roll them out at more restaurants if demand would sustain it. Either way, we’re happy to hear about the change and pleased to see that Disney is being responsive to fans and/or demand.

Unfortunately, online pricing is not yet available for the à la carte menu at Napa Rose. These new menu items are shown on the official menu, but the price field is blank. Hopefully this is an oversight, as restaurants typically do not decline to display prices because they’re bargains. When that info is withheld, the rationale is usually the opposite of that. It’s possible this just hasn’t been updated yet, as Napa Rose does show the prices for the pricier prix fixe and chef’s counter menus.

Another thing we’d note while browsing the official website is that Advance Dining Reservations are available for most dates between now and mid-January 2027. The only exception is New Year’s Eve, which might be blocked out. Even Thanksgiving and Christmas Day have availability, albeit limited. If you’re considering a holiday time meal at Napa Rose, we’d recommend making ADRs ASAP. This introduction of an à la carte menu at Napa Rose is likely to spike demand.

Here’s what’s on this new à la carte menu at Napa Rose!

Late 2026 À La Carte Menu at Napa Rose

First Course Selections

• Diver Scallop, Red Grapes, Applewood Smoked Bacon Emulsion
• Autumn Pear & Goat Cheese Tart, Tangerine, Local Honey
• Apple & Endive, White Cheddar, Pecan, Tangerine-Cider Vinaigrette

Second Course Selections

• Olive Oil-Poached Red Snapper, Potato Confit, Golden Pepper Romesco
• Truffle Potato Gnocchi, Delicata Squash, Wild Foraged Mushrooms
• Orvia Duck “Crisp Cannolo,” Citrus-Mascarpone, Fig, Apricot

Entrée Course Selections

• Hazelnut-Crusted Kurobuta Pork Loin, Quince, Braised Belgian Endive
• Sustainable Fish of the Day, Charred Cabbage, Cashews, Mint, Pomegranate
• Creekstone Farms Filet Mignon, Braised Short Rib, Root Vegetable Velouté
• Oak-Roasted Poblano “Chili Relleno,” Filled with Mozzarella, Lentils
• Saddle of Colorado Lamb, Butternut Squash, Medjool Date Mole

Tableside Presentation Selections

• Tomahawk Ribeye – Black Angus Prime 32 oz, Chimichurri Roasted Potatoes, Caramelized Onions, Mushroom-Bordelaise Sauce
• Roasted Whole Mediterranean Sea Bream, Green Thai Curry

Seasonal Dessert Selections

• Apple Orchard, Brown Butter Croissant, Cold-Smoked Vanilla Ice Cream
• Heirloom Pumpkin, Fromage Blanc Crémeux, Molasses Crumble
• Valrhona Chocolate Bar, Hazelnut Praline

Advance reservations are highly recommended to dine in the main dining room or outdoor terrace at Napa Rose. They can be booked up to 60 days in advance at Disneyland.com or NapaRose.com. Same-day reservations can be made on a limited basis and are subject to availability.

Seasonal Menu at Napa Rose Lounge

For food enthusiasts looking for a more impromptu visit to the restaurant, walk-ins are welcomed and encouraged (subject to availability) at the Napa Rose bar and lounge, which offers its own à la carte menu, a selection of signature cocktails and options from both Napa Rose’s expansive wine list and whiskey library.

Bar & Lounge Menu

• Berkel-Sliced Charcuterie – Cinco Jotas Jamón Ibérico, Capocollo, Duck Pâté, Idiazabal Fondue
• Creek Stone “Prime” Beef Carpaccio – Warm Cassava, Pickled Shallots, Aji Amarillo Viniagrette
• Hawaiian Ahi Tuna Tataki – Avocado Velvet, Cashew-Chili Crunch, Yuzu Ponzu
• Baked Salt Spring Mussels – Nduja Butter, Breadcrumbs, Finger Lime
• Yukon Potato Royale – Scallop and Lobster Mousse, Citrus Crème Fraiche
• Laughing Tiger – Tamari-Glazed Prime Beef, Crispy Shrimp Fritter, Green Papaya Salad
• Burgundy Truffle Orvia Duck Melt – Onion Confit, Comté Cheese, Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes
• Ravioles du Dauphiné – Fairytale Pumpkin, Pepitas, Pomegranate, Foraged Mushrooms
• Roasted Heirloom Half Chicken – Spanish Red Fresno Chili Mojo, Blood Orange
• Tomahawk Ribeye – Black Angus Prime 32 oz, Chimichurri Roasted Potatoes, Caramelized Onions, Mushroom-Bordelaise Sauce (serves multiple guests)

Bar & Lounge Desserts

• Pecan Noir Caramelized Biscuit Praline, Guanaja Chocolate Ganache
• Heirloom Pumpkin, Fromage Blanc Crémeux, Molasses Crumble
• Valrhona Chocolate Bar, Hazelnut Praline

Our Commentary

As noted above, we dined at Napa Rose back when it reopened earlier this year. However, that was the winter prix fixe menu, and there’s minimal overlap between that and the new late 2026 a la carte menu. Not only that, but there’s been turnover on the culinary team since then, with the famed Chef Andrew Sutton departing Napa Rose shortly after the restaurant reopened.

In light of these fairly significant changes in just the last several months, I’m not sure what value there is in sharing our thoughts on the food from our previous meal in 2026. What I will say is that the cuisine had measurably improved as contrasted with our previous meals in 2022-2024, during which stretch it felt like Napa Rose had lost its luster and was arguably on autopilot. The reimagined restaurant felt reinvigorated, and the cuisine was both inventive and expertly-executed.

I’ll also add that we’re really looking forward to getting back to Napa Rose for an adults-only date night now that there’s an a la carte menu. The Pork Loin, Filet Mignon, and Saddle of Colorado Lamb all caught my eye, and strike me as new twists on familiar Napa Rose favorites.

Depending upon the cost, both the Tomahawk Ribeye and Roasted Whole Mediterranean Sea Bream also have my attention. The fish is the more interesting and unique of the two, but I’m never one to pass up a gigantic steak.

Otherwise, it’s potentially worth revisiting our thoughts on the reimagined restaurant, as that’s one thing that hasn’t changed since Napa Rose reopened. In a nutshell, the restaurant lands in the sweet spot between chic-modern and circa 2000s California Craftsman.

The style is best described as modern Craftsman, with the new-look Napa Rose feeling at once familiar and new. The restaurant retains its warmth and coziness, and the layout is generally the same. Yet, there are massive differences in style and substance.

The dining room is at once sophisticated, modern, elegant and themed. It feels like a contemporary Californian fine dining establishment, and one that would be right at home in Napa Valley, but that also fits at the Grand Californian.

The fairest criticism of the Napa Rose overhaul is that it’s not a pure Craftsman theme. That modern style crept into the design, and Walt Disney Imagineering purposefully chose modern design features. Not exactly a bold revelation, since they essentially said so.

While this is accurate, it’s also accurate to say that Napa Rose was not previously a timeless Arts & Crafts style. It was previously California Craftsman as interpreted through an early-aughts lens, and is now that meets modern–a fresh and posh intersection of two otherwise disparate design styles.

We’ve been through this before, most recently with the Grand Floridian reimagining. The challenge Disney faces with every upscale offering is balancing the expectations of actual paying guests with thematic integrity. That’s undoubtedly doubly true with Napa Rose, which is positioned as a fine dining establishment aimed at affluent clientele in the Los Angeles and Orange County markets, and not just Disney fans.

When taking those tensions into account, we felt that Imagineering did a good job on threading the needle with the new-look Napa Rose interior. This appeals to both fans and upscale clientele who are not “Disney people.”

Sarah has less attachment to the Craftsman style than I do, so I’m undoubtedly the tougher critic here. She also felt the prior interior looked date, and was impressed the overhaul. She loves the variety of textures, lighting, and attention to detail. For her, it feels more like a fine dining establishment commensurate in quality with its prices.

Napa Rose strikes me as thoughtfully modernized, with design features that are distinctly Craftsman, and stylistic flourishes that reinforce the same. It feels appropriately at home in the Grand Californian. My favorite aspect of the design is how the columns and overhead beams have been made more elaborate and accentuated, mirroring the main lobby. These are now a focal point, as opposed to fading into the background of the design.

There are stylistic choices that I don’t love, like some of the light fixtures. The new murals overhead also feel too on-trend, and I prefer the previous artwork. There are ways the interior feels a bit excessive, drifting too far into modern territory for my own taste.

But by and large, the team struck the right balance in the design; being both perfectly on-theme and catering to casual guest tastes was an impossible task. This was never going to be a reimagining that made me completely happy as a lover of the Craftsman style, but it came as close as conceivably possible.

What I’d also add is that, setting aside thematic integrity and all else, the ambiance and experience of the main dining room at Napa Rose is better than it used to be. The central booths breaking up the space is a welcome improvement that adds to the intimacy, the lighting is more moody, and the seating is excellent.

The end result is a restaurant that somehow feels more sophisticated than before, but also disarming and cozy. It’s completely unpretentious. It is at once the most comfortable and fanciest experience you can imagine. From that perspective alone, it’s a great fit in the Grand Californian, which is essentially that distilled into hotel form.

For the longest time, we considered Napa Rose to be the second-best Disney restaurant at which we’ve dined, behind only Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World. Again, there’s a reason it’s always ranked so highly on our our List of the Best Restaurants at Disneyland Resort.

The new-look Napa Rose once again is in the conversation for Disney’s second-best restaurant. For us, it is right up there with Citricos, Takumi-Tei, Monsieur Paul, and the premium Disney Cruise Line restaurants. (Although, admittedly, our firsthand experience with some of those isn’t completely current now that we’re parents.)

Ultimately, Napa Rose is the #1 restaurant at Disneyland Resort for good reason. It far surpasses Carthay Circle and everything at Downtown Disney, and oddly has no competition from the other resort hotels. Of course, it ranking highly should be expected with these prices.

Our hope is that the new a la carte menu delivers as well as the prix fixe menu, but at a more approachable price point. We’re also intrigued by the new lounge menu, as several of the options there could serve as more substantive meals. Given that we’re now parents to a toddler, the lounge right around when it opens is probably our best practical option for the foreseeable future.

Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and many other SoCal cities!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Are you pleased to see Napa Rose add an a la carte menu? Any of these new dishes look intriguing to you? Will having a cheaper option make you more likely to dine here? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!