Steakhouse 55 -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Disneyland Hotel

*This gluten free dining experience took place in October 2017.

Dinner at Steakhouse 55

Steakhouse 55, a signature table service restaurant at the Disneyland Resort, was high on our list when we recently visited Disneyland in California. I had been to Steakhouse 55 in 2006 with my mom and knew that for a great steak this was the place to go. Brandon and I wanted to have one "fancy" meal during our Disneyland trip. And, since we were staying at the Disneyland Hotel, Steakhouse 55 seemed like a great choice. As I learned from both breakfast and dinner at Steakhouse 55, they had plenty of great options that could easily accommodate special dietary needs.

Atmosphere

Steakhouse 55 is a classic steakhouse. The decor is refined and just a bit retro. In fact, you'd swear Walt Disney himself might just come through the door's -- that's how classic it looked inside.Prior to dinner, we made sure to stop by the Steakhouse 55 Lounge. This is a great place to stop by for a cocktail or an appetizer or dessert. We loved all the vintage and classic cocktails on the menu too.I ordered the French 75 -- a classic gin cocktail made with Gin, fresh Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, and Sparkling Wine. It was the perfect drink before our dinner.The inside of the restaurant has both booths and tables with cushy chairs -- all of which harken back to the 1950s and 1960s.

The Food

While we loved the classic steakhouse decor and retro vibe, our favorite part of Steakhouse 55 was the food. The restaurant has an allergy-friendly dinner menu. And, you can also speak to a chef for any questions that you might have. I opted to order off of the menu, since I was eating some dishes with dairy in it on our trip. (I have reintroduced dairy back into my diet in limited amounts)Up first was the amuse-bouche. This is a fancy term for a small bite or taste to get you started for your meal. We were served a house-made burrata cheese with cherry tomato, basil emulsion, and balsamic vinegar. This was naturally gluten free and a great option for those who can have dairy. The flavors were bright and a bit sweet from the tomato and balsamic.Next, I was served Ener-G rolls with some butter and thyme. I decided to eat the rolls plain (and save my dairy consumption for other dishes), but I could have also asked for extra virgin olive oil too. I really didn't eat much of the rolls because I was saving my appetite for the rest of the meal. The rolls were heated OK. But, they aren't my favorite.I decided to order the Steakhouse 55 "Wedge" Salad to start served with Cherry Tomato, Bacon Lardons, Candied Pecans, and Blue Cheese Vinaigrette and is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies.Wow. If you can have dairy and love a good classic wedge salad, this one is for you. It wasn't really a wedge per se, but I liked the thick slice of lettuce topped with all the steakhouse must-do's. The bacon lardons were incredible. Super rich and decadent. Add in the candied pecans which gave a pop of sweetness and the tart of the blue cheese vinaigrette for the ultimate steakhouse salad. I would definitely get this salad again.For our steaks, both Brandon and I chose the Center Cut Filet Mignon 8oz. without any sauces that is marked as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies.Each steak was served with a side of bone marrow. Mine was made gluten free and dairy free by omitting the breadcrumbs in it (Brandon's had breadcrumbs). This was another wow for both of us. The steak was cooked to perfection and super flavorful. Both of us agreed it was probably the best steak we've had at any Disney restaurant anywhere (including Walt Disney World restaurants). It was insanely good and exactly what you expect at a good steakhouse.And, like any other steakhouse, sides are ordered a la carte. We decided to get 2 sides -- both of which were gluten free.Up first were the Yukon Gold Mashed Potato with Green Onion that is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies. I ended up only taking a bite of these. But, they were really good. Super creamy, rich, and a solid side dish for those who can have dairy.We also ordered a Loaded Baked Potato with Bacon Lardons and Broccolini. This is not marked gluten free on the menu because it normally comes with a Fontina Cheese Sauce that contains dairy. But, they were able to modify it to be gluten free (and even dairy free) by removing the sauce. You can also get shredded cheese on the potato if you want to add dairy back in too.This was actually the only "dud" in our meal. The potato was dry, bland, and just not at all that tasty. It was definitely "missing" something by lacking a cheese sauce. And, we realized we should have gotten another side instead. Still, it wasn't bad. It just wasn't very good either. We'd skip this on future visits.

Overall

If you're looking to have a meal that's a bit special or decadent at Disneyland, Steakhouse 55 is a great option. We thought the service was impeccable, the food outstanding, and the overall ambiance charming. We both said that on our next Disneyland trip, Steakhouse 55 will be a must on our reservation list for at least one meal. Both the breakfast and dinner were outstanding.Have you been to Steakhouse 55? What did you think of their special diets options?