Disney4me Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 Ah, Steakhouse 55, a bastion of yesteryear near the Park That Started It All. Going to this place is like a living time capsule. Some historical exhibits celebrate the past by letting you look at it. But at Steakhouse 55, it’s like you’re actually stepping back through the years. And that’s a good thing.But if we’ve learned anything about Disney, it’s that change is always potentially on the horizon. Recently, they decided that the menu needed an overhaul. Maybe to match to some degree the rest of Disneyland’s emphasis on healthier fare?We actually visited Steakhouse 55 prior to the recent menu refresh. But there has been so much to tell you guys over the last month, I’m just getting around to sharing my experience! So be aware that if you plan to visit, the menu will look a little different than what you see here.AtmosphereWhile Steakhouse 55 underwent a bit of a refresh in the decorating department last year, we didn’t find much different when we visited recently. You’re still greeted by this iconic, enlarged photo of Walt Disney as you enter the space. Rich wood trim and painted paneling hint at the more formal environment. Once you’ve entered, it’s very hard to remember that Goofy’s Kitchen is right next door.Photo of Walt in EntrywayYou’ll come to the Steakhouse 55 Lounge first. Incidentally, this is a great spot to keep on your radar. Reservations are not required and they feature a bar menu with some delicious and satisfying options.Recently they’ve also begun offering the full Steakhouse 55 Restaurant Menu in the Lounge as well. Stash this away in your bag of tricks in case you find yourself starving and looking for an upscale dining experience if the steakhouse itself is booked up.Steakhouse 55 LoungeYou’ll find shades of plum and silver, with plush finishes like satin and velvet. The bar area features a flat screen television, handy for checking out the latest scores.Full Bar with Seating and TelevisionFind a spot at the bar, or enjoy comfortable seating in softly upholstered chairs and plush couches and chaises.Steakhouse 55 Lounge SeatingSmall tables are perfect for Bar Bites and Cocktails, but might pose a challenge if you’re enjoying a full meal.Additional Lounge SeatingExit the lounge and you’ll find the main dining room. Low lighting and white tablecloths hint at the more formal setting here.Inside the Cool and Serene Steakhouse 55But you’ll find the same understated decor, punctuated by those large photographs of famous faces from years gone by.Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland HotelThe feeling here is retro chic, and it’s not hard to imagine what this spot may have been like when the name over the door was still Granville’s, and the people in the pictures were sitting at the next table.EatsI’ve shared with you that Steakhouse 55 is my absolute most favorite spot for breakfast at Disneyland, and Heather has written about her delicious experience dining in the Lounge. But it had been a while since I had taken in dinner here.Unfortunately, my timing was just a little off. Immediately after we enjoyed this experience, the menu underwent a change.Here is the menu that Steakhouse 55 featured at the time of our dinner.Menu: Starters, Soups, and Salads — Click to EnlargeMenu — Main Dishes and Side Dishes — Click to EnlargeChef Marcel St. Pierre, a Disney veteran who was most recently over the kitchens of Club 33, has taken over at Steakhouse 55. Not surprisingly, he is eager to put his stamp on things here, and to experiment with some popular trends and classic French preparations.Since the changes, I’ll try to note where the dishes that we ordered have been updated.We began our meal with fresh, warm Sourdough Bread, served with softened, Unsalted Butter.Bread and ButterMy husband was dining with me. And you long-term DFB Readers know — he never passes up the chance to enjoy a Caesar Salad, and this visit was no exception!The classic version of the salad was served with Olive Tapenade atop a Parmesan Crisp. This salad has been replaced with Hearts of Romaine — served with Caesar Dressing. Yep. Basically the same. Just fancier.Caesar Salad with Olive Tapenade and Parmesan CrispAnother classic dish that we couldn’t pass up ordering was the legendary Steakhouse 55 Seven Onion Soup. It’s delicious, but even better — it’s food theater. The soup comes together from two different dishes.You are presented a soup bowl with French-Fried Onion Bits.Seven Onion Soup — French Fried Onion BitsThe soup is poured over the bits of onion for lots of flavor and texture.Combining the Soup Seven Onion Soup ComponentsThe finished product is a rich, brothy soup that reminds me of French Onion Soup without the cheesy crouton.Seven Onion SoupThis classic has been replaced by a more decadent-sounding Creamy Onion Soup on the current menu, which no longer comes with the “presentation” element.Having thoroughly enjoyed our starters, we turned our attention to the Steaks we ordered. Our first selection was the Bone-In Ribeye, which is dressed with the signature “Steakhouse 55 Rub”. The steak was garnished with French-Fried Onions and was cooked perfectly.To dress your steaks up a bit, you can choose from a number of toppings: Bearnaise, Peppercorn, or Chimmichurri Sauce, or Bleu Cheese or 55 Butter. We opted for the 55 Butter. The rub and butter combined to provide a savory seasoning.Sadly, the Bone-In Ribeye did not make the cut on the new menu (although other classic steaks did, thank goodness). But don’t stress if this is your favorite. Steaks change here from time to time based on what’s available in the marketplace at a good price, so the ribeye may be on the menu when you’re here.Bone-In RibeyeWe also decided that we couldn’t pass up the chance to compare the Filet Mignon with others at Disney, so that was our next choice. Served with the same French Fried Onion Garnish, the Filet was cooked to a perfect medium rare temperature as well. The Filet remains on the menu, of course.Filet MignonBecause steaks do not come with sides, we welcomed the opportunity to choose a few of the a la carte offerings. We started with 55 Fries. There’s really nothing special about them, but they were well executed and fresh.Fry lovers can now enjoy a more upscale version of the side on the new menu: Duck Fat-Fried Pommes Frites, which are sprinkled with Aromatic Salt and are served with Blood Orange Sabayon for dipping. (FYI — Heather tried these recently and wasn’t wowed.)French FriesMaybe I was thinking about my favorite Disney Filet, the Wild Mushroom Filet at Epcot’s Le Cellier Steakhouse, but I knew I had to try the Seasonal Risotto. It just happened to be — you guessed it! — Mushroom!The Seasonal Risotto continues to be offered at Steakhouse 55. Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried it — and what the chef was serving up during your visit!Seasonal Risotto — MushroomWhile I don’t love mushrooms on their own, I think they’re delicious in a soup or risotto with a healthy helping of cream, butter, and/or cheese. So this was a win for sure.We also couldn’t pass up the Yukon Gold Garlic Mashed Potatoes. And I’m glad we didn’t, because they were incredible. Creamy, buttery, and seasoned perfectly, they were a hit.Fortunately, this is another classic they didn’t mess with. You can still get these dreamy clouds of potato goodness when you visit these days.Yukon Gold Garlic Mashed PotatoesAfter such a delicious and filling dinner, we were tempted to skip dessert. But we didn’t. Dessert Menu — Click to EnlargeIt was a given that we’d sample Steakhouse 55’s signature dessert, the 24 Layer chocolate Cake. Isn’t it beautiful?While I’m not always a huge chocolate cake fan, this is a thing of beauty. It’s so over the top, how could you not love it? And the Chocolate Sponge Cake combined with Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, and Nutella is a chocolate lover’s dream come true. And it’s still available on the new menu. Yay!24-Layer Chocolate CakeOur other sweet option was a little lighter — Vanilla Bean Yogurt Cheesecake. We enjoyed the tangy sweetness of the cake and the fresh, bright flavor of the Berry Compote, but honestly, the dessert isn’t one we’d order again.Vanilla Bean Yogurt CheesecakeOverallI have had delicious experiences across the board when I’ve visited Steakhouse 55. Whether I’m meeting friends for a quiet breakfast, having cocktails and snacks in the Lounge, or I’m digging into a luxurious dinner, this has always been one of my favorite spots to dine. Because it’s understated, it tends to fly under the radar a bit. But sometimes, in the midst of over the top theme park themeing, that’s not a bad thing. And if the menu were the same as it’s been in the past, I’d have no trouble recommending that you visit Steakhouse 55. It’s always been pricey, but the food quality and nod to Disney tradition was worth it for me.However, with the menu changes that have come about under Chef Marcel, I’m going to have to reserve judgement until I can visit again.Have you visited Steakhouse 55 at Disneyland Hotel? Leave us a comment and let us know your impressions of this classic dining spot.Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts:Review: Disneyland Hotel’s Steakhouse 55 Dining in Disneyland: Steakhouse 55 Lounge at The Disneyland Hotel Review: Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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