The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (102 page)

There are also
the
Café Orleans Salmon Sandwich
($19), the
N’awlins Vegetable Ragout
($15.50, or $17.50 with blackened chicken, or $19.59 with pan-seared salmon), and
Chicken Gumbo
or
Seafood Herb Crepes
($18.50).

The e
xotic desserts cost around $8 each and include
Royal Street Bananas Foster Crepe
,
St. Charles Mixed-Berry Crepe
, and
Beignets
shaped like our favorite mouse
Mickey
, dusted with powdered sugar and served with berry and crème sides. 
Beignets
are a southern specialty, little pastries made of deep-fried dough, and were referenced in
Disney
’s
The Princess and the Frog
, a 2009 animated feature set in New Orleans.

Children have their own menu: 
Chicken Breast
served with spaghetti, veggies, and fruit ($9),
Mickey’s Cheesy Macaroni
with veggies and fruit ($8.50), or
Pan-Seared
Salmon
with veggies and fruit ($9).  Each kids’ meal is accompanied by the child’s choice of juice, milk, or water.

Y
ou’re well advised to arrange for
Priority Seating
.  As explained in the
Blue Bayou
entry,
Priority Seating
is not a reservation
per se
but will substantially decrease your wait time for a table.  Call
Disney Dining
for
Priority Seating
at (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463 or email
[email protected]
.

French Market
(L, D, S)

[
FastView:
 
Jazzy fun.
 
This mid-priced buffeteria offers southern dishes and a shaded patio where musicians play classic Crescent City jazz and Dixieland.
]

A restaurant in the cafeteria/buffet style of
Main Street
’s
Plaza Inn
, the
French Market
serves up a hearty mélange of Cajun, Creole, and southern cooking.  The
French Market
opened on July 24, 1966, the day that
New Orleans Square
opened to Guests.  The
French Market
therefore pre-dates the
Blue Bayou
, which wasn’t ready for business until March of 1967.

The cuisine is less expensive and correspondingly less fancy than that of the
Blue Bayou
or
Café Orléans
, but it’s tasty and filling, and it’s the atmosphere even more than the food that’s the star of this restaurant.

Guests
choose from a range of entrées, salads, and po’ boy sandwiches:
Cajun Meatloaf
($13.50),
Creamy Corn Chowder
($9.60),
French Quarter Chicken
($13.50),
Jambalaya
($13.50),
Marinated Shrimp Salad Sandwich
($13.30),
Market French Dip
($13.30),
N’Awlins Salad
($11.50),
Red Beans and Rice with Andouille Sausage
($12),
Royal Street Chicken Caesar Salad
($11.50), and
Slow Roasted Louisiana Beef Stew
($9.60).

Children three or younger can
manger
the
Yummy Cheesy Macaroni Toddler Meal
with apple sauce and small beverage for only $4.50, while kids 3 – 9 years old choose between
Campanelle Pasta with Marinara Sauce
,
Chicken Breast with Rice
, or
Macaroni and Cheese
, including fruit, vegetable, and small beverage, for $7 per plate.

Beverages range from
around $2 to $3.50.  Since you’re in New Orleans (or the
Disneyland
version, anyway), why not order a refreshing, non-alcoholic
Mint Julep
for about $3.30?  It comes with plenty of ice, a sprig of mint leaves, a slice of lime, and a cherry.

As is the case at most
Disneyland Resort
buffet/counter restaurants, there are
à la carte
snacks like fruit, cookies, and crispies available near the cash registers.

After you’ve navigated crowded lines of fellow Guests and are balancing your tray of food, beverages and desserts, you pay
the cashier and then head outside into the
al fresco
dining area.  You can almost always find a table under the charming awnings.

The views are excellent:  T
o the east, the
Esplanade
and the busy
Rivers of America
; to the west,
New Orleans Square
’s
Train Station
, where an unseen telegraph repeatedly taps out the first two sentences of
Walt
’s
Opening Day
speech; and to the north, tiny
Magnolia Park
and the deceptively well-manicured grounds of the deceptively well-groomed
Haunted Mansion
.

New Orleans isn’t just famous for its amazing food and architecture, it’s also known for incredible music. 
If it’s late morning or afternoon, the
Royal Street Bachelors
might appear on the
French Market
’s small outdoor stage, entertaining Guests with lively Dixieland music and jazz.  This trio includes a bass cello, guitar, and saxophone, often fronted by a talented singer.

At times, y
ou’ll also find the trio playing under the archways of
New Orleans Square
’s sinuous lanes. 
New Orleans Square
also boasts the
Jambalaya Jazz Band
, composed of drum, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, and tuba, also playing spirited jazz and Dixieland tunes.  Fronted by singer
Queenie
, they roam
New Orleans Square
making every day
Mardi Gras
.

Neither the
Blue Bayou
nor the
Café Orléans
presents live musical entertainment, so that makes the
French Market
a must destination for Guests looking to save some money but to be royally entertained.

If this meal is your final stop in the park, you can stroll west to the adjacent
New Orleans Square Train Station
after you eat and catch a
Disneyland Railroad Train
back to
Main Street
and the park exit.  During the leisurely train ride you can relax and let your meal settle as you get a peek into the magical interior of
Splash Mountain
, see wildlife along the
Rivers of America
, pass behind the clock tower and façade of
“it’s a small world,”
and encounter the grandeur of the
Grand Canyon
and the amazing
tableaux
of
Primeval World
.

Bon appétit
, cheries
!

Mint Julep Bar
(S)

[
FastView:
 
Beignets and tres beau beverages.  Seek out this gem!
]

Like the
French Market
, this little hidden treasure was open for business on July 24, 1966, the day
New Orleans Square
launched.

A real gem, it’s secreted in
one of
New Orleans Square
’s serpentine lanes.  I won’t tell you precisely where it is; in mysterious
New Orleans Square
, it’s fun to search for such treasures, and feel that thrill of triumph when you finally discover it, or stumble across it by chance.  One hint:  it’s not too far from the balcony of a Voodoo practitioner (so decide how much you
really
want a julep!).

Cast Members at this little wi
ndow dispense tasty
Mickey-shaped Beignets
(around $4 for a 3-pack, $7 for a 6-pack).  Special treats like pumpkin-flavored beignets are available in season.  You can also purchase cold water, sodas, and juices, and
Specialty Coffee Drinks
like
Café Lattes
and
Café Mochas
(iced or hot) for $2 to $4.50.

The house specialty is a non-alcoholic
Mint Julep
(about $3.50), a minty, citrusy beverage that cools you on a hot day.  It’s dressed with a sprig of mint, a slice of lime, and a cherry floating among the plentiful chunks of ice.  Some Guests love it; some are glad they ordered it once, but it’s not their cup of tea, so to speak.

Challenge yourself to
find the
Mint Julep Bar
.  Lines are usually short because it’s off the beaten track.  Be forewarned: This counter opens later in the morning and sometimes closes early, and some days it isn’t open at all.  If you find it open on a dark, freezing cold winter evening, and purchase a piping hot mocha drink, it’s like nirvana!

A
nother hint to help you find the
Mint Julep Bar
:  It’s within earshot of
The Royal Street Bachelors
, a jazz combo, usually with singer, that play jazz and Dixieland tunes like “Down By The Riverside” to entertain diners while
ils mangent
.  Happy hunting!

Royal Street Veranda
(L, D, S)

[
FastView:
 
Chowder and heavenly gumbo.
]

A snack counter near the mouth of
Royal Street
, just above the
Pirates of the Caribbean
queue, the
Royal Street Veranda
is easily overlooked by Guests in a hurry. 
New Orleans Square
is all about slowing down to enjoy the sights, the scents, the music, and the flavors of the Crescent City’s French Quarter, so if you’re looking for a refreshing beverage or a hearty snack, slow your pace and seek out this window.

Except on the most crowded days, lines are usually short at this snack counter.  Offerings are limited but potent, and include
Creamy Clam Chowder
,
Steak Gumbo
, and
Vegetarian Gumbo
at $9.60 each.  They’re served up in sourdough bread bowls that are freshly baked at the
Boudin Bakery
in sister park
Disney California Adventure
.

If your sweet tooth wants to be
satisfied, try the
Trio of New Orleans Fritters
with fruit sauce for $3.70.

Beverages
at the
Royal Street Veranda
include juices, milk, and sodas from about $2 to $3.50, or flavorful
Specialty Coffees
, hot and iced mochas, lattes, and espressos for $2.50 to $5 per cup.

As with all counter and buffet venues within the park, you’ll find
à la carte
treats like cookies for sale at the register.  These snacks are usually melt-in-your-mouth delicious, but ask for the prices if they’re not posted; small treats can be pricey, and a way to nickel-and-dime your way through your food budget.

There are a few tables near the order and pick-up windows, but between the queue and the waiting diners and the tables and chairs crammed together, this isn’t the most comfortable place to eat.  Watch the Guests in the
Pirates of the Caribbean
queue just below you while you wait for your food and drinks; but once the grub is ready, I suggest you take your food and find a roomier and more picturesque dining spot north at the
French Market
, or claim a bench along the
Esplanade
or at tiny
Magnolia Park
near the
Haunted Mansion
.

On a hot day,
fruit and a cold bottle of water will hit the spot; on a chilly day, a piping hot café mocha and
Steak Gumbo
bread bowl will warm and re-energize you, and make you feel like a royal! 
Teen’s Eye View:
  As a picky eater, I never thought I’d like their gumbo.  I tried the vegetarian gumbo and I found it delicious.  The bread bowls are fresh.  The seating area [here] is small but cozy, and the food is great. So even if [your] kid is picky, you might be surprised!