When at Disneyland or on holiday anywhere for that matter, one of the worst things about the trip is agonising over what to eat. I'm pretty picky about what I eat and not very decisive when it comes to dining decisions, so on our most recent trip to Anaheim I had resolutely promised myself to make bold choices and try new things.


Taking the Plunge

After an early start on the first day of our stay we decided upon lunch at Wine Country Trattoria in Disney's California Adventure. I am not usually a big fan of Italian cuisine, preferring spicy food over rich, heavy food, but in the spirit of adventure we put our names down and after a brief ten minute wait we had our table. I would caution against expecting to practically walk right in because on other occasions we have checked on the wait times and they have been significant, so it may pay to check ahead.

We chose to eat inside which was a good choice, as it was a shaping up to be a fairly warm sort of day. From the outside looking in I initially thought the restaurant looked a little like a coffee shop, but once inside and seated it shaped up as a pleasantly rustic countryside type place with some Tuscan influence. Nothing overly trendy, but enjoyable surroundings which were subtly sophisticated. The tables aren't too crammed together, which is always a huge bonus, especially as Disney where the quality of dining out experiences are often dictated by the broods of nearby families and their behaviour. At a restaurant over the way in Disneyland the following day we had to watch (and hear at full volume) a mother playing the "aeroplane into the hangar" feeding game with an infant while the older two children talked loudly and threw silverware on the floor. Trattoria has very clear personal dining space boundaries with obvious care taken with seating for the comfort of each party.


The Food

While we were perusing the menu some breadsticks were placed on the table with a sort of sundried tomato cream-cheese dip. Since coming to the USA I have had a lot of trouble with the local bread, often finding it too sweet (what is it with the sugar in the bread here?) or too heavily glazed and almost always too fluffy and light inside, or a combination of all three. The Trattoria bread was just the right type of savoury taste, with just the right type of denseness that I enjoy and the dip went nicely with it.

My wife is a vegetarian so it was good that there was vegetarian lasagne or a caprese sandwich options available. (she went for the lasagne) I wasn't too sure about my choices, but I decided upon the meatball sandwich and a side salad.

My salad, although pretty basic, was fresh and crisp and served as the perfect appetiser for my Sandwich which proved to be surprisingly excellent - if a little difficult to eat without making a mess of my shirt. The bread was fresh and of a similar sort of composition and consistency to the bread sticks. My plate was garnished with a bunch of red flame seedless grapes which made a refreshing finish to the meal. As I said, I'm not usually big on this sort of food, but the meatballs and their sauce was enjoyably subtle without being heavy or bloating.

While I am not an aficionado of Italian, my wife loves it. Pasta and cheese are relished favourites and she is constantly in search of the perfect pasta or lasagne. She says that she doesn't normally think of lasagne as a warm weather food, but this one was delicate yet filling at the same time. She was unexpectedly pleased by the somewhat loose arrangement of the noodles, sauce and vegetables which were presented in a simple yet neat manner which emphasised the care that went into the preparation. This wasn't just some soul-less rectangle like your "meat and potatoes" type lasagne, but an inventive pasta dish, not overwhelmingly cheesy, but with just enough to compliment the flavourful sauce. The sauce was described as "expertly balanced so no one flavour dominates, but completely avoiding being bland" - pleasing to everybody whether you are a basil person, or an oregano person, or a tarragon person and not really playing to any one camp.


Service

I'm not sure if it was due to the fact that it wasn't overly crowded when we dined, but service was sensational. I have been described as a "camel" when it comes to beverages, drinking after nearly every bite of food. No sooner is the waiter's back turned than my glass needs refilling. Our server at Wine Country Trattoria barely let my glass drop below the halfway point, it was constantly replaced or topped up, which is a very different experience for me. With the level of fluids I consume when dining I'm often left sucking gracelessly on an ice cube waiting for a refill.


The Bottom Line

Overall Wine Country Trattoria was a really pleasing surprise and the closest the California parks have come to the excellent levels of quality and service we experienced at the Florida parks in 2001. While this a is more high-class establishment and more of a choice for couples or groups without children, the restaurant configuration is such that it never reaches the levels of crowded nightmare dining many Disney establishments can descend into no matter who attends. With fresh, delicious food, prompt service and a gorgeous environment, Trattoria ranks as my favourite Restaurant in either California Adventure or Disneyland.

Recommended: Yes

Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Check ahead of time to make sure you can get a table
Best Suited For: Romantic Evening