There are good meals, great meals, fun meals, and sometimes a meal encapsulates all of these positive descriptors. On Sunday night, we ate at Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby for the first time. This new gastropub in the Downtown Disney District brings a Gordon Ramsay experience to The Happiest Place on Earth for the first time.

Reservations for Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby are available through OpenTable or via the restaurant’s website. One of our party grabbed a reservation for this experience. We arrived at 4:30 PM and were very thankful to get out of the heat of the day and head into the air-conditioned comfort of the restaurant. The greetings were warm and hospitable. This started a multi-hour dining experience that was full of laughter, delicious food, wonderful interactions with the team, and happy memories being made. Below is a look at our evening along with my thoughts/reviews of the food, the restaurant, the service, and the entire experience (including my thoughts on the prices).

The Atmosphere

Walking into Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby is a surreal experience. If there weren’t windows, it would be easy to forget that this restaurant is at the Disneyland Resort. The walls are adorned with photos and posters that transport you to London. From photos of Carnaby Street (one was right behind me at our table!) to posters showcasing The Beatles, there is definitely a British invasion vibe that is really a lot of fun. This is accompanied by music that fits perfectly with the decor. As a fairly big fan of The Beatles, I was very happy to be hearing their music and songs from the individual members after they went off on their solo careers. I also liked that the music loop is quite long.

Getting to the specifics of the restaurant. We were seated inside with a beautiful view looking out toward the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage. I was seated on the bench that ran along the wall and was quite comfortable there the entire time. The tables aren’t too close together, so while the restaurant did fill up while we were there, we still felt like we were only a part of our party instead of joining our neighbors on either side. About half of the tables are indoor, and half are outdoor. I could imagine that on hot days the inside will be more popular while the sun is out and then the outside being more popular in the evenings. On cooler days, I could see this switching.

The feel of the restaurant is open and airy. The floor-to-ceiling windows around the outside of the building provide connection to the surrounding resort and offer some unique views of the west end of the Downtown Disney District. There are also some fun murals that can be found as well. There is one above the stairs that can be taken to the second floor when entering the restaurant (or you can take an elevator) that felt like something out of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. There was also a wall-length mural that led to the rear patio and restrooms that was basically the logo for the restaurant. Further back by the restrooms was another mural that was also awesome. The large murals combined with the small pictures around the restaurant really made for a nice contrast.

The Service

When visiting The Carnaby, guests begin to experience the service before even entering the front door. A host comes out and greets guests before they open the door to enter the lobby. The greeting we received was warm and kind. Almost immediately, they put guests (us and others I observed) at ease as they treated everyone as friends that they were very happy to see. Within moments of checking in, we were offered the choice to ride the elevator or climb the stairs. Always liking to see as much as I can, I requested the stairs. This led to that first amazing mural.

As we reached the top of the stairs and the first bar in the restaurant, we were greeted by the staff in that room. This started a trend of friendly greetings as we were led to our table. In fact, all of the staff seemed quite friendly. While this wasn’t a surprise to me, I think what did surprise me is that while they were friendly and professional, they weren’t friendly and overly formal. They did their jobs very efficiently and effectively, but they also did so in a way that really made you feel relaxed. I had previously visited Gordon Ramsay Steak in Las Vegas, and the experience there was more formal, which is perhaps why I was a bit surprised by this.

Throughout the meal, we enjoyed interacting with our server, the manager, and the general manager. There were other servers and staff who also stopped by throughout the night to make sure we were enjoying our meal, keeping our water glasses refilled, getting any cocktails we might need, or making sure we knew where the restroom was. A popular book we like at Daps Magic is called Unreasonable Hospitality, and I couldn’t help but think that this was a good example of that.

From the time we arrived until the time we left, I was very impressed with the service. It felt like everyone was excited to be working there and excited for the guests that were visiting. It all made for a very happy and professional culture. If this culture and feel at The Carnaby can continue on for months and years, guests will want to return again and again just to experience it.

The Food

Service and food go hand in hand for a great dining experience. The meals that are remembered from restaurants as highlights have to be equally yoked in terms of the service that is offered and the food that is served. In the case of Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby, I was happy to discover that this definitely is the case. In short, we loved the food. We also ordered a lot (and racked up quite the bill that, yes, we did pay ourselves) in an effort to get a wide range of offerings that would make a variety of diners happy. The full opening day menu can be found here.

I will also say this. I’m not a professional food reviewer. I also am not a chef. I am someone who enjoys cooking a lot and likes playing with flavors (as you’ve seen if you follow my Instagram stories) and enjoys many different types of foods. With that in mind, I’m not going to overcomplicate things but rather just share my thoughts about everything I tried throughout the night. Recognize, these are my preferences and thoughts, and others will have different perspectives (as can be seen in the above video with the four different opinions found in it). Alright, let’s get to the food!

Handcrafted Cocktails

• Peach & Basil Old Fashioned — $21.00
  • Description: Elijah Craig Rye, Basil Sugar, Bitters, topped with Peach Cotton Candy.
  • Thoughts: I didn’t order this, but Caitie did let me try hers. Our server (who was awesome) said this would be just on the edge of being too sweet but works without the cotton candy on top. I mostly agree with this. I am not a sweets guy at all, particularly for cocktails. I thought it was a nice drink but definitely would never drop the cotton candy in it if I had ordered it. I personally would choose a regular Old Fashioned, I think. However, if you do enjoy a sweeter approach to this beverage, this probably would be a hit (as it was for Caitie).
• Tea & Whiskey — $22.00
  • Description: Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon, Lemon, Earl Grey Tea, Bitters, Egg White, Fresh Rosemary.
  • Thoughts: I enjoyed this drink a lot. It was a lovely beverage for the warm summer day. None of the flavors overpowered each other, and in my perfect world, I would have taken it outside with a favorite book and a chair in the shade. While it doesn’t have a huge bourbon-forward taste, it definitely still had a bit of a kick to it.
• Lychee Colada — $19.00
  • Description: Bacardi & Malibu Rum Blend, Lychee Purée, Pineapple, Dragon Fruit.
  • Thoughts: Mike ordered this drink and let me take a try of it. This was completely different from the other two cocktails at our table (Matt also ordered and enjoyed the Peach & Basil Old Fashioned). This drink surprised me as it wasn’t as sweet as I was expecting. I think floral might be a better description? It is definitely one I would also enjoy on a hot day (which this was). It almost headed in the flavor direction of a gin and tonic.

We did order other drinks off the menu as well but weren’t as diligent about tasting and reviewing them as the night went on and our focus turned to the food. They were all good, including a classic Manhattan that I ordered. I will say, these three were perhaps the most fun and memorable. If and when we return, I would definitely like to continue to try other drinks from the bar and see what the bartenders can do. Their first impression was a good one; I’d like to really see what they can do!

Appetizers

• G.F.C. Chicken Wings — $19.00
  • Description: G.F.C. Sauce, Bleu Cheese Crumbles.
  • Thoughts: These are not your Buffalo Wild Wings chicken wings; these are the G.F.C. Chicken Wings. As I sit here writing this a day later, they are still making my mouth water. These were so good! They had a nice kick (but not too spicy), they weren’t too sweet, and while we shared the appetizer… I could have eaten all six of the chicken wings myself. I would just love to put the sauce on everything. The blue cheese was a nice addition, and the house-made Ranch dressing was incredible as well. As I think back about this meal, this was most likely my favorite bite of the night. In the moment, I commented on how they were the best wings since the old Duck Wings that were served at Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure. I still think that comment is accurate and I can’t wait to have these again.

I will note that we also had the Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese served for us as an appetizer. My thoughts on this dish will be found below (basically to help organize where this would be found on the menu). I will say, getting it as an appetizer, which we shared, was a solid move.

Main Courses

• Beef Wellington — $73.00
  • Description: Potato Purée, Fresh Herb Salad, Red Wine Demi.
  • Thoughts: A Gordon Ramsay Beef Wellington is one of those things I feel like you have to have at least once in your life, especially if you are a fan of Gordon Ramsay. This beef is tender, the layers delicious, and the pastry on the outside was perfectly browned. The accompanying potato puree, salad, and red wine demi were a perfect complement to the dish. Everything was delicious, and the beef was so tender. We also really enjoyed using the demi with other things, like the Yorkshire Pudding! This isn’t something I would get every time, but as I mentioned before, it’s a dish that should be tried and enjoyed at least once in life! It is quite expensive but also shareable if you are trying to experience multiple dishes.
• Cottage Pie — $38.00
  • Description: Beef Short Rib, Potato Crust, Baby Vegetables.
  • Thoughts: This one surprised me a bit. It wasn’t the top of my list of things to order and, frankly figured it would be another pub-grub cottage pie. There is NOTHING wrong with that. In fact, I love a good cottage pie, and that’s what I expected. This is a great cottage pie. I love the short rib that was chosen as the protein. This is a dish I would happily enjoy again and again, especially on a cooler or rainy day. It isn’t over-the-top fancy. It is delicious comfort food and makes you feel and remember things. It reminded me of being around the table with friends and family on a cozy rainy/snowy day.
• Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips — $33.00
  • Description: Triple Cooked Chips, Tartar Sauce, Mushy Peas.
  • Thoughts: I could simply say that I loved this dish, but I do have more thoughts. This was delicious. The fish was cooked perfectly. It wasn’t dripping with oil in or outside the batter. This also stayed crispy while we worked our way through so much food. As seen in the video review, it was still crispy and delicious after being on Mike’s plate for an HOUR! I loved the fish; the fries were great, the mush peas… well, they were mushy peas. I had a bite or two, and they tasted like mushy peas. If you like that, you’ll enjoy these. If you aren’t a fan of peas or mushy peas, enjoy the fish and fries. This is a dish I could see becoming a part of a regular rotation if I were to become a regular at The Carnaby.
• USDA Prime Rib Cart (California Cut – 12 oz) — $68.00
  • Description: Served with Cream of Fresh Horseradish, Yorkshire Pudding, Roasted Carrots, Creamed Spinach, and Au Jus.
  • Thoughts: This was a star of the night. I loved it. From the presentation/delivery with the cart, the cutting of the Prime Rib itself, to the sides that come with it, my mouth began watering before I’d tasted anything! Then I began to eat… and eat… and eat. This was a highlight of the meal as well. The prime rib was perfect. I loved the Yorkshire Pudding with the jus that came with the rib (and even more with the red wine demi that had come with the Beef Wellington). My favorite bite of the main course offerings was a piece of the prime rib, with mashed potatoes, and jus. I also swapped out the jus with the red wine demi and loved that as well. This is a dish that could easily be shared by two people, especially with the accompanying sides. The creamed spinach was almost like a hot spinach artichoke dip and was also a nice accompaniment. The roasted carrots were also quite nice but did get overshadowed by some of the other offerings. These carrots weren’t too sweet, which sometimes happens. I enjoyed them much more than I expected.

Sides

• Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese — $16.00
  • Description: Smoked Gouda Sauce.
  • Thoughts: As I mentioned earlier, we got the Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese as one of our starters instead of a side. This was a good move. I love smoked Gouda and was very happy that I could easily taste this wonderful cheese. It was nice and creamy. The top was also nicely toasted. This led to an enjoyable and happy eating experience. This was another comfort food that I would enjoy having again.
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes — $14.00
  • Description: Creamy House Potatoes.
  • Thoughts: The creamy mashed potatoes are very good. They are exactly what you want them to be. They are mashed potatoes that act as an accompaniment to the proteins at the table. We ordered a side of these even though they also came with the USDA Prime Rib Cart, mainly because there were four people at our table. These aren’t mashed potatoes that I would necessarily order and eat by themselves. They are mashed potatoes that if I had a steak of some sort that didn’t have them on the side, I would absolutely want them. I also applaud whoever made them for showing restraint. They could have ended up being very heavy and overpowering; instead, they were definitely a side that helps make the star of the meal (in this case the Prime Rib) remain the star.

For our first meal at Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby, we definitely ordered more than we needed. We probably could have dropped at least one dish and still been quite full for the four of us. Other dishes that I would love to try include the Bangers and Mash and the Branzino. There is also Salmon, Curry, and other dishes that looked delicious. At the end of the day, we could only eat and afford so much, so we went with things that we thought would be of most interest to those who read/watch our review that we also personally really wanted to try.

Dessert

• Sticky Toffee Pudding — $15.00
  • Description: Warm Date Cake, Ice Cream, Toffee Sauce.
  • Thoughts: If there is one thing on the menu at The Carnaby that can’t be missed, it is this. This was phenomenal. In my humble opinion, it is the best thing in the restaurant. It disappeared from the plate in the center of the table very quickly. This is one dish where I would have been very happy if we each had our own. The cake is warm and has a wonderful gooey texture. Throw the ice cream and toffee sauce on top, and this is pretty much a perfect dessert. It has just the right level of sweetness, and I loved it. I can’t wait to have it again!
• Ice Cream Sundae – $22.00
  • Description: Vanilla & Chocolate Ice Cream, Chocolate Sauce, Toffee Sauce, Pecans, Whipped Cream, Rainbow Sprinkles, Cotton Candy
  • Thoughts: This was delicious as well and perfect for a warm summer day, which Sunday, July 19th, was. The whole table enjoyed this, but I will say, it did get eclipsed by the Sticky Toffee Pudding. This was very shareable (I don’t think I could have finished it by myself) and was a fun eating experience as we worked our way through the layers. I don’t remember seeing/noticing the cotton candy, but that wasn’t an issue for me. While I enjoyed this quite a bit, I’m not sure I would get it again as I didn’t think it was as unique as other items found at The Carnaby.

The Takeaway

Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby is a fantastic addition to the Downtown Disney District. It was one of my favorite dining experiences in recent memory. I loved the service. I loved the food. I also loved the merchandise that was found down in the lobby and walked away with two wine glasses. I walked away happy from this meal and feeling like I had just met a bunch of new friends. At the end of the day, that’s really all that matters to me after going to a new (or returning to a favorite) restaurant.

The big question I’m sure everyone is wondering about is the prices on the menu. Yes, some of the items are expensive, particularly the Beef Wellington. As I was looking through the menu, I definitely had the thought that this wouldn’t be a place that I could have a meal like we were having regularly. I also realized that growing up, this probably wouldn’t have been a restaurant that would be in the cards for my family. However, I also was already experiencing the incredible service, loving the decor around me, and the company was fantastic as well, so I was beginning my internal evaluation of the value proposition of my experience. By the end of the meal, we had spent a lot of money. We split the price down the middle between the two couples. While it was a lot of money, I also felt it was fair. I felt like what I paid was worth what I had received. It was expensive, but I paid it and walked away with a smile. It is worth saving up for and having a special meal or experience.

Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby is a restaurant in Downtown Disney District that is special. It is different than the other restaurants throughout the resort. As we sat down, we had a conversation about our expectations for it. Looking through the menu, we wondered if this would be a Napa Rose or Carthay Circle Restaurant caliber experience or if it would be something else. I can happily say it is something else. While it is a nicer restaurant that could compare in ballpark price to these restaurants, it also is very much its own thing. It has a vibe to it with its atmosphere, music, and service that brings the spirit of the British invasion to California, specifically the Disneyland Resort.

Finally, I really like that The Carnaby and the Earl of Sandwich share a building. While The Carnaby is offering an incredible experience for its guests who want to sit down and enjoy a fantastic meal and relaxing dining experience, Earl of Sandwich also offers fantastic food in a more quick/casual environment. Earl of Sandwich continues to offer value for guests and guests with families who want delicious, quality food without breaking the bank. I’m thankful that there are both offerings in the same building at the Disneyland Resort. I hope this continues a trend of offering quality and delicious food that is accessible next to higher-end offerings. In this case, the higher end quite literally is higher and above Earl of Sandwich.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby grows into this building and Disneyland Resort community. I could envision this being a place where locals come to hang out and where those who come to town go to for a special meal. In both cases, I predict the experience will be wonderful, and I look forward to having it again. I’m taking my hat off to this restaurant and am very happy that it is now at The Happiest Place on Earth!

Mr. DAPs Hat Rating Scale

• No Hat – Didn’t meet expectations
• Hat Nod – It was ok
• Hat Tip – It was good
• Hat’s Off – Loved it!