Justin M.
Yelp
One of the more welcome rebrands.
Let me just preface this by saying: as a Southern California native, Disneyland in the 90's was essentially a "Rite of Passage".
That said, for the life of me, I really can't remember dining here before the restaurant was rebranded in Sepetmber 2023. Like literally, ever.
I remember that there was a side service window for those quintessential mint juleps & mouse ear-shaped beignets (I highly recommend the pumpkin-flavored variants during Fall season).
FOOD:
Entrée
Jambalaya - 8.5 / 10
Considering that I hadn't had breakfast, I knew that I wanted one of the more heartier options. Of the more uniquely themed offerings, it came down to choosing this or the gumbo. Luckily, I convinced my friend to get the latter so that I could get this. I'm glad that I opted for the Jambalaya. On paper, it reads pretty similarly to the gumbo. But to put is simply, the similar ingredients in both are served in a spicy broth. Here the same ingredients take the center stage & you don't feel like you're eating a stew / drinking a soup.
I will say, although I have a high tolerance for spice + strong flavors, I not only understand, but I appreciate that the meal development team went rather tame. It's a wide, wide, net of people that you want to try this dish, so it's smart for them not to put anyone off. The chicken + Andouille Sausage provide the necessary heft, both surprisingly tender, yet bold in flavor because they're served in the creole spice. I would definitely get this again.
Dessert
"70th Anniversary" House Filled Celebration Beignet - 6.2 / 10
I really wanted to like this. Maybe it's my older age, but it's just too sweet. I knew this was going to be the case, so I had my friend get the regular beignet. From the raspberry mousse to the buttercream glaze, I'd recommend spreading the excess sugar onto an order of plain beignets. The fact that the candle was edible (all I could taste was sugar, which I didn't finish) was cool. For a limited-time offering, I'd say just get it once just to try it. Order that side of plain beignets to offset the excess sugar in this one. If you're rather sensitive to higher amount of sweet, then go ahead & steer clear.
I really, really like that Tiana's Palace is a fast casual option. Considering the popularity of "The Princess & the Frog", you already know that a restaurant based on the film is going to be uber-popular. Yes, there will be a line & a considerable wait. Patience is a virtue.