Tink Tested: Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe Lunch

Location: Downtown Disney, West Side, on the waterfront

Parking/Transportation Situation: General Parking in Orange Garage, parking lot behind Cirque du Soleil, or behind the Hess Station. Bus service from all parks and resorts.(If using Disney Transportation, allow 1-1.5 hours transportation time. Due to current construction in this area, allow for a minimum of 30 extra minutes driving time, more if visiting on a weekend evening.) 

Meals Served: L, D

Characters/Entertainment: None

Type of Cuisine: Californian, including pizzas and sushi

Type of Menu: A la carte

Pricing/Dining Plan: $/ 1 Table Service Point Per Person
Full Menu: Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe Lunch Menu

Atmosphere: Pop Art Café  
Dress Code: Theme park casual

Guests Who Would Enjoy This The Most: Couples, Adults

Level of Difficulty of Getting a Reservation: Moderate

Fun Stuff for Kids: Though there are plenty of fun things for kids at Downtown Disney, there's not really much for them in this restaurant, other than views of the Characters in Flight Balloon, and the Amphicars from The Boathouse. (Depending on where you are seated.)
Rating of Appeal to Kid-Diners: Are we done yet???

Stand out dishes: Butternut Squash Soup, Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf, BBQ Chicken Pizza, Roasted Chicken and Key Lime Pie
Best Use of Dining Plan Points: Roasted Salmon or Seasonal Fish and any dessert

Experience: The hubs and I decided to do this one at the last minute on a weekday afternoon that we were both off and the kids were at school. Normally getting into Wolfgang Puck's at a desirable time, can be tough, but for lunch on a weekday, Downtown Disney, (or at least this side of it), is pretty empty. We were kid-free and ready to paaaarty! Or, just have lunch without any interruptions, potty breaks, hysterical crying or thrown silverware. I would be on my best behavior. We parked in the technologically advanced Orange Garage and walked on into the West Side and down to Wolfgang Puck's. 
     It's interesting to note that Wolfgang Puck was one of the very first "celebrity chefs", and his opening a restaurant in Downtown Disney was a very big deal when it first happened. Of course, thanks to The Food Network, there are hundreds of celebrity chefs now and many of them have had their hand in Disney dining in one way or another. Cat Cora helped create the recently closed Kouzzina at the BoardWalk, and Chef Morimoto will be bringing Morimoto Asia to Disney Springs in just a few months. Not to mention, many celebrity chefs make appearances at Epcot for Food and Wine Festival. And all of them can thank Wolfgang Puck for helping make cooking shows, and owning your own big-name restaurants, a "thing". Thanks, Wolfy. (We are tight. He lets me call him Wolfy.)
     I had dined at the Cafe several times before, sometimes having great meals, sometimes only so-so. There are certain dishes there that I know I love, and that's typically what brings me back. I have also eaten at the counter service option, Wolfgang Puck Express, several times. (Both the one in the Marketplace and the one attached to the West Side cafe.) I love the Express. In fact, the Express is one of the very best uses of a Disney Dining Plan counter service point! Great food and since the prices are on the high side for a counter service place, it's a great deal. 
     Anyway, the restaurant was very slow when we arrived and we were greeted and sat right away. The more upscale "Dining Room at Wolfgang Puck", which is on the second floor, is only open for dinner, and the Cafe, downstairs, was pretty empty. Again, weekday dining, and eating at an odd time makes all the difference in the world. Our table offered a view of the Characters in Flight hot air balloon, which is located just to the side of the cafe. I will gladly share with you the fact that sitting there, watching the breeze sway that balloon from side to side pretty much helped seal the deal for me that I do NOT want to experience that anytime soon. Yikes! From our table, we could also see the beautiful show kitchen. Because cooking with flare is done on an expert level here, there are seats available facing directly into the pizza kitchen, and seats surrounding the sushi bar. Most tables in the main dining area do have at least a bit of a view of the show kitchen.
     While we looked over the main menu, we decided to take the server up on her offering of the "Pizza of the Day", and put one in for an appetizer. Wolfgang Puck always has great wood-fired pizzas, so we knew we would enjoy that. I normally always get the Butternut Squash Soup here, because it is fantastic, but since it was 100 degrees out, I was not in much of a soup mood. Can ya blame me? Just as we put in our entree orders, the pizza came out. It was covered in meatballs, onions and ricotta cheese. It smelled delicious and tasted even better! Wood-fired pizza is where it's at, man. Yum-o! 

     Our entrees came out within 15 minutes of ordering them, and also looked quite tasty. The hubs went with the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf Sandwich with homemade chips and I got the Orecchiette Pasta. The sandwich was topped with onion straws, smoked mozzarella and garlic aioli. It had a nice, savory and slightly smoky taste. It was filling and really enjoyable. My pasta was beautiful on the plate, since the broccolini and cherry tomatoes gave the dish a lot of color. The Italian sausage was abundant and had a nice fennel flavor that wasn't too overpowering. I loved that the pasta was just in an olive oil base, without a heavy sauce dragging it down. I usually get the roasted chicken at Wolfgang Puck's, (which is weird, since I am not a big chicken eater, but it's pretty incredible from here, as are the garlic butter mashed potatoes that come with it). I was happy that I decided to try something new and get the pasta though. I really liked it! Reminded me of something my grandmother would make. Except my grandmother would have made it with about 8 other side dishes and then demanded that you try them all. And leave room for dessert. 

     Speaking of which, we did not leave room for dessert. They do have great Key Lime Pie at Wolfgang Puck's, which the hubs is always excited about, but that pizza did us in. In fact, both of us took leftovers home. Plus Candy Cauldron is like right across the walkway, so how could we not go get caramel apples, right? We were practically obligated. Very important thing at Disney... always keep your snacking options open. 
     It was nice having the afternoon to ourselves, but there were two little munchkins who would be wanting a ride home from camp, so we figured we should roll out instead of going to see a movie, (or take a nap in a movie). Both of which, we considered doing. Parenting makes me sleepy. 

Will we be back: I wouldn't say no if someone wanted to go there, but if I was going to Downtown Disney for a full service meal, I'd pick Raglan Road over Wolfgang Puck's, every time. And honestly, if I had a craving for pizza, roasted chicken, or butternut squash soup, I'd go to the Express over the Cafe. It's cheaper and the food is the same.