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REVIEW: We’re Revealing Where to Find Disney Italian Food That’s ACTUALLY Good


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Let’s go dining at Disneyland!

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Naples Ristorante

The Disneyland Resort is known to have some really amazing dining options and the Downtown Disney District is home to several. One of our favorites, Naples Ristorante E Bar, recently changed up its menu so we headed over to try out some new offerings and see if this location is still worth visiting!

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Atmosphere

Naples Ristorante can be found in Downtown Disney not far from the parking lot tram dropoff area near the Disneyland Esplanade. Its location makes it a great location if you want to leave the parks for lunch but don’t want to wander to far, as you’ll be only minutes from both gates.

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Naples Ristorante

The restaurant features plenty of seating with an indoor portion attached to a visible kitchen, an upstairs area, and a pretty sizable outdoor patio area.

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Naples outdoor seating area

Inside, you’ll find plenty of art and a laid-back vibe that is very welcoming after a long day at the parks.

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Naples Ristorante

Vibrant and contemporary, this restaurant offers plenty of seating but we still recommend making reservations just to be safe.

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Naples Ristorante

The vibes here are more upscale than most restaurants you’ll find in the parks but still laid back enough that almost everyone you see will still be in park attire. Of course, you’ll also get some Neapolitan theming to match the menu.

Menu

Naples offers southern Italy and Neapolitan cuisine at a moderate price.

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Naples Menu

There are tons of options to choose from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert menus. The restaurant offers several different pizzas in 10″ and 20″ options. You’ll also find several entrées like prime steak and a solid selection of pastas.

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Pizza, pasta, and entrées menu

Can’t forget the wide variety of cocktails, appetizers like calamari and fried mozzarella, and salads!

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Naples menu

Naples also suggests drink pairings to take your meal to the next level.

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Drink Menu

And, of course, feel free to finish off your meal with a dessert like zeppole or New York-style cheesecake!

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Dessert menu

We tried quite a bit from the menu and we can’t wait to tell you how it all tasted!

Drinks

For our beverage, we tried the Blue Galaxy for $18. This drink is concocted with Empress, blue curacao, Chambord, pomegranate & lemon juice, and simple syrup.

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Blue Galaxy

Our drink was really smooth and was almost like a subtle Bomb Pop popsicle with its mix of flavors. Not overly sweet, the drink toed the line really well from being too sugary to being just right. The curacao stood out as did the tartness of the pomegranate, but everything came together quite nicely. The black cherry garnishes were also a nice touch and quite tasty. This refreshing cocktail is ideal for a hot Southern California day and looks great year-round.

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Blue Galaxy

We also grabbed some food of course!

Eats

For our meal, we tried the House-Made Bread, Shrimp Penne Alla Vodka, Pesto Genevese Pizza, and Cheesecake.

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Naples Spread

First up, we tried the House-Made Bread for $7! This starter is plant-based and made with focaccia and arrabbiata dipping sauce.

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House-Made Bread

The bread was nice, fluffy, and surprisingly filling. This a starter that you would need multiple of if dining with a large group, but it probably serves two, maybe three people just fine. Ours had a nice crunch and tasted fresh.

The sauce, however, is gonna divide diners. Arrabbiata is generally made with garlic, tomatoes, and dried red chili peppers cooked in olive oil to make a spicy marinara. It’s safe to say the sauce lived up to the billing, as ours had a kick. If you have trouble with spice, don’t lather the bread in the sauce. You could also opt for butter instead. While the sauce won’t be for everyone, the bread itself is pretty good, even if $7 is slightly steep.

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The sauce has a kick

Next, we tried the Shrimp Penne Alla Vodka. This $28 dish is made with shrimp, tomato sauce, Calabrian chili peppers, garlic, and cream.

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Shrimp Penne Alla Vodka

Have you ever ordered a pasta dish that comes with chili peppers and it’s just too hot because the peppers were applied too liberally? We’re happy to say that wasn’t a problem with this pasta dish! The flavor here was top-notch, blending tons of different components seamlessly. The vodka sauce was creamy and delicious while the peppers added a subtle kick that contributed to the flavor instead of overpowering it. The texture of our pasta was also perfect and this was a very satisfying meal.

The shrimp is very meaty, which gives you some bang for your buck. Be advised though that you will get that seawater smell and flavors with this dish, so if that’s not your thing, you might want to go with something more veggie or land-based. Also, this plate is just slightly overpriced at nearly $30. Don’t get us wrong, it was tasty and filling but just be warned before you order it.

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The shrimp are a good size

Pizza time! Next up we have the “speciale” Pesto Genevese Pizza! We got the 10″ smaller-sized pie for $25 but the larger 20″ will set you back $42. This vegetarian pizza is topped with pesto, mozzarella, diced tomato, and basil.

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Pesto Genevese

If you’re looking for a light and healthy pizza, this is your guy. The pesto and cheese were real standouts while the arugula provided a nice fresh flavor. The crust had a really great texture as well and we were overall very happy with the taste of this pizza.

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A healthier pizza option

There are a couple of downsides here. The smaller size isn’t really shareable unless you don’t have an appetite or you get several different items. Our pizza also had a slightly burnt undercarriage that charred our fingers. Fortunately, flavor wasn’t affected and this is more of a minor grievance.

All in all, howver, flavor is king here and we think this pizza was very delicious.

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Pizza undercarriage

Naples offers different types of seasonal desserts but we tried one of the more constant offerings: the Cheesecake for $13. This cheesecake features New York-style cheesecake with strawberry sauce.

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Cheesecake

This dessert was so good that we devoured it in a matter of seconds!

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YUM!

The cheesecake was rich and creamy, leaving us with no real complaints. The added whip was generously applied and had a great sweet vanilla offset that, when mixed with the strawberry sauce, created an amazing blend.

The quality of the dessert matched the quality of our dishes and might’ve even been our favorite item of the day. We recommend giving it a try if you like strawberries and/or cheesecake!

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Joy in every bite

And that’s everything we tried! Obviously, we have some thoughts overall…

Overall

Naples isn’t the fanciest restaurant you’ll find at the Disneyland resort, nor is it the best, but it remains a solid choice when visiting. If you’re craving good Italian food with good service, this is your spot.

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©Disney

The prices are a little high and it’s easy to rack up a bill, but if you’re searching for quality dining outside of the parks, this is a very good spot for diners of all ages.

Nosh or Not?

Head over to Naples Ristorante E Bar if…

  • You want a quality restaurant close to the Disney Parks. Naples is a short walk from both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, making it a good choice if the plan is to settle down immediately after a long day or hop right back over to the theme parks.
  • You want good southern Italian food. We were pleased with the variety of food we ordered here, and the menu offers a little something for everyone so even picky eaters should be able to find something they’d like.
  • You’re looking for good drinks and shareable food. While you won’t save a buck on drinks, the larger pizzas become really good value when shared. The restaurant also features a happy hour with curated food and drink specials every Monday through Friday.

Avoid Naples if…

  • You’re on a budget. Pastas setting you back nearly $30 and pizza in the $20 range is a recipe for disaster unless you’ve planned for it. If you’re looking for a much cheaper alternative close by, head on over to Earl of Sandwich!
  • You want something fast and easy. Naples is close to the parks but it isn’t in the park. It’s also a table-service restaurant, so be prepared to spend some time here. If the goal is to grab and go, we recommend dining at one of the many quick-service restaurants in the parks. Next door, you’ll also find Napolini Pizzeria, which serves the restaurant’s “famous wood-fired pizzas, freshly prepared boxed salads, and sandwiches for hearty meals when you’re short on time.”
  • You want a broader menu. Italian food has a wide appeal, but if you’re with super picky eaters, the menu is restricted to one type of cuisine. Because it’s a sit-down restaurant, you can’t bounce between restaurants to get what everyone wants. If that’s something you’d be interested in, you’re better off visiting several different quick-service locations in the parks.
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Napolini

We’ll continue to keep you posted on all things Disneyland, so stay tuned right here at the Disney Food Blog for all the latest news, tips, reviews, and more!

I Spent $22 On A Disney Lunch, And It Was 110% Worth It

Have you eaten at Naples Ristorante E Bar? Share your review in the comments below!

The post REVIEW: We're Revealing Where to Find Disney Italian Food That's ACTUALLY Good first appeared on the disney food blog.

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