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?
Steakhouse 55 -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Disneyland Hotel
*This gluten free dining experience took place in October 2017.
Breakfast at Steakhouse 55
Steakhouse 55 is a signature dining location at the Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland in California. Having recently made a brief trip to Disneyland, we knew that we wanted to get some resort dining in on our trip. We were staying at the Disneyland Hotel, so Steakhouse 55 was high on our list. This restaurant serves both breakfast and dinner, both of which we go to enjoy. On our last day at Disneyland, I stopped by Steakhouse 55 for breakfast after Brandon left for the airport for home and I headed to a work conference in Anaheim. After eating here, I so wish we would have enjoyed another breakfast there during our trip.
Atmosphere
Steakhouse 55 has a classic steakhouse feel to it. Everything about it reminds me of a 1950s or 1960s steakhouse, complete with a cozy lounge outside of the main restaurant and vintage themed decor inside.The restaurant is filled with dark wood, high-backed booths, and cozy chairs.
There are also plenty of vintage photos of classic Hollywood actors. The theming is so good, you'd swear Walt Disney himself might pop in for a dinner or breakfast while you're there.
During breakfast, I had a cozy corner table, and I pretty much had the restaurant to myself, as there were only 2 other tables with guests at them. It was earlier in the morning (around 8 a.m.), but I'm guessing this is a restaurant that isn't typically super busy at breakfast.
The Food
During dinner service at Steakhouse 55, guests with special dietary needs are given an allergy-friendly dinner menu. At breakfast, though, they do not have one on hand. So, this means you'll speak with a chef before you order. I personally always prefer this method because it gives me a chance to ask questions and sometimes get dishes that I wouldn't have thought about ordering. On this visit, I had my heart set on the Pork Belly Chilaquiles -- a traditional Mexican dish that's a bit like nachos. The chef told me that it was gluten free, which was great news. So, I definitely had to order it. But, there were plenty of other gluten free (and even gluten free and dairy free) options on the menu.
The Pork Belly Chilaquiles included Two Eggs, Corn Tortilla Chips, Salsa Roja, Charred Avocado Crema. This dish is gluten free, but you could modify it to be dairy free by omitting the cheese and avocado crema.All I can say is WOW!This dish was so flavorful and delicious, that I'm kind of kicking myself that we didn't dine here more than once. The pork belly was insanely rich, tender, and delicious. And, there were huge chunks all throughout the dish. The salsa roja was packed with flavor that was perfectly balanced by the queso fresco cheese and avocado crema. Be warned though, this dish was spicy. It wasn't unbearably spicy, but it was spicier than I expected. So, if you aren't a fan of spicy food, you may want to skip this dish.Seriously, this might have been one of the best things I ate while were at Disneyland. So, I can't say enough good things about it. I would definitely have a hard time not ordering this if it were still on the menu whenever I go back to Disneyland again.
I also really wanted the allergy-friendly Mickey waffles after reading Alexis's Gluten Free Adventure's review of them. The ones offered at Steakhouse 55 are large single waffles and not the ones we're used to at Disney. But, I couldn't resist the chilaquiles. I asked the chef if it was possible to have smaller ones made. And, he offered to get me allergy-friendly Mickey waffles from Goofy's Kitchen, a buffet located next door, which were smaller.I was so happy to get these with my meal. They were the perfect sweet treat to cap off my meal. These were really well cooked and super crispy. Though, I have to admit, I want to try the large allergy-friendly Mickey waffle someday. The photos from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures looks amazing. You can read her full review and see photos on her blog.
Overall
Steakhouse 55 is a must-do breakfast spot the next time that we visit Disneyland. I was so impressed by the quality of the food and the offerings here. The service here was also really wonderful too. I'm still dreaming of the chilaquiles from Steakhouse 55. And this will be a restaurant we make breakfast reservations for at least one breakfast on our next visit.Have you been to Steakhouse 55 for breakfast? What did you order when you dined there?