You might not want to ever find yourself in a kitchen cooking for Gordon Ramsay, but you definitely want the “Hell’s Kitchen” celebrity chef’s culinary team cooking for you at his new British-themed gastropub in Downtown Disney that makes fine dining fun.
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I managed to snag a hard-to-get table at Gordon Ramsay at the Carnaby during the soft opening phase of the new restaurant at the Anaheim outdoor shopping mall next to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
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Gordon Ramsay at the Carnaby sold out through the end of September in just 15 minutes after reservations became available on OpenTable, according to SFGate.
Ramsay is best-known as the strict, temperamental, profane and blunt TV chef who criticizes, insults and demeans reality cooking show contestants on “Hell’s Kitchen,” “MasterChef” and “Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip.”
The Carnaby expertly mixes Ramsay’s reputation for Michelin star culinary excellence with a 1960s British Invasion rock n’ roll vibe that’s retro hip, energetic and just a bit irreverent. It’s serious food in a fun Disneyfied environment.
The Carnaby combines Beef Wellington ($73), Prime Rib ($68) and Filet Mignon ($64) from Ramsay’s fine dining restaurants with Wagyu Burgers ($25), Fish & Chips ($33) and Bangers & Mash ($29) from his chain of fast casual restaurants into a menu that’s both refined and accessible.
We ordered the Parker Rolls ($14), Salt & Pepper Squid ($17), Branzino ($41), Carnaby Wagyu Burger ($25) and Sticky Toffee Pudding ($15).
The Parker Rolls should be considered an essential element of any meal at the Carnaby. The pull-apart Ramsay’s Kitchen staple was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Whatever you do, don’t forget to use the butter in your haste to get your fair share of the rolls before your tablemates devour the whole pan.
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The Salt & Pepper Squid is a fancy British way of saying calamari. The lightly breaded squid were not overly oily or fried. The coriander aioli was the perfect dipping sauce.
I went with the Carnaby Wagyu Burger because I wanted to try something from Ramsay’s fast casual offerings that I could come back to on repeat visits. I could smell the pig when my meal arrived thanks to the thick cut bacon on top of my burger. The glossy domed bun, truffle aioli and wagyu beef helped elevate the burger above standard pub fare. The french fries were not triple cooked the way Ramsay does at some of his restaurants.
My dining companion went with her favorite fish with the Branzino that also shows up on the menu at Gordon Ramsay Steak in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The fileted European sea bass was served in stacked pieces with the skin on rather than as a full fish — a presentation Ramsay prefers at his United Kingdom restaurants. The capers and sauce made for a delicately delicious fish dish served with a side of artichoke hearts and fingerling potatoes.
I was full by the time we got to dessert, but I was told there was no way we were leaving without trying the Sticky Toffee Pudding. The signature item on the Hell’s Kitchen dessert menu was gone within 60 seconds of hitting the table. The ice cream-topped cake was moist and not overly sweet like some versions of the classic English dessert.
The Parker Rolls, Fish & Chips, Beef Wellington, Sticky Toffee Pudding and the trolley with the prime rib carved tableside were by far the Carnaby’s most popular menu items — based on the servers flying past us during dinner.
I look forward to having a drink in the swanky British pub at the top of the Carnaby stairs during my next trip to Disneyland — preferably during the fireworks show that’s visible from the restaurant’s patio.
I also want to head to the hidden bar at the back of the restaurant to see if they’ll let me order a $16 smashburger and fries off the kids menu with a delicious Tennent’s Lager. Maybe they’ll have Gordon Ramsay come out and berate me for my Scottish cheapness.
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