If you’ve been here a while, then you know that we’re experts when it comes to Disney food.

We’ve tried EVERY restaurant in Disney World and Disneyland Resort, and we’ve got the food reviews to prove it! But to keep that status going, we have to check back in on Disney restaurants whenever they’ve made major changes or updates…and that’s exactly what we did recently with a Downtown Disney spot.

Today we’re taking you along on a visit to Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio at Downtown Disney in Disneyland Resort. This spot is the rebranded version of Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen. Let’s see what the “new” spot is like!

Jazz Kitchen does accept reservations, and we recommend making those well in advance to make sure your spot is secured.

Atmosphere

Jazz Kitchen got a pretty massive refurbishment to go along with the rebranding, which means the atmosphere is completely different now.

The new decor features some bright colors and well-lit spaces. It just feels really cheerful in here!

There are multiple places to sit indoors if you prefer to dine under cover, and there are tables in a variety of sizes to fit different parties.

But if you’re okay with heading outside, there’s a lot of patio seating as well. The upstairs patio has a great view that you could enjoy during your meal!

And downstairs, there are several tables with umbrellas that you can choose from.

Now that we’ve covered the seating, let’s dive into the menu!

Menu

The menu is inspired by both Louisiana and coastal flavors, and you’ll see that evident in the options available. There are several different Po-Boys and sandwiches on the menu, including a French Quarter Po’ Boy Dip or a Lobster & Crawfish Remoulade Roll.

There are also some options that are made to share, including a Grilled Open-Faced Lobster BLT Po-Boy, a Blackened Chicken, Avocado & Bacon Flatbread, and Zesty Back Porch BBQ Pork Flatbread.

For starters, you can get poutine fries, calamari, or lettuce wraps, as well as a number of salads. And then, of course, there are two different types of gumbo.

If jambalaya is more your speed, then that’s available as well in couscous and creole pasta flavors.

They also have eight different main entrees, including shrimp & grits, salmon, a burger, and more.

For a kids’ meal, you get an automatic first course of fresh veggies and then the choice of a second course with several different entree options.

And of course, you can finish off your meal with a selection of desserts. They have Bananas Foster Glazed Beignets, Double Chocolate Bread Pudding, Lemon Jar Pie, Hot Classic Beignets, and an Abita Root Beer Float.

Everything sounds so delicious! But how does it taste?

Eats

Let’s start out with our appetizer! We got the Roux Ya-Ya Poutine Fries for $16. They’re made with french fries, white cheddar cheese curds, and gumbo ya-ya.

This was our absolute favorite thing we ate! The creole seasoning was absorbed by the fries, chicken, and sausage, and the meats were really flavorful. The creole seasoning wasn’t too strong or overwhelming, but oddly, we didn’t notice any cheese curds. Instead, there was melted cheese on top.

All in all, it was really meaty and cheesy and just generally good comfort food. We would totally order this again!

Second on the list was the Creole Pasta Jambalaya for $35. It’s made with gulf shrimp, andouille sausage, roasted chicken, creole seasoning, and spinach fettuccini. It’s a Jazz Kitchen signature dish!

The noodles in this were really oily with a creole flavor to them. The chicken and sausage were seasoned well, but unfortunately, the shrimp were pretty bland. Again, we got some of those cajun spices that give it a little kick, but it didn’t really extend to the shrimp.

Ultimately, this was a little underwhelming, which was disappointing for being a signature dish. The spices overpowered the natural flavors of the chicken and sausage, and yet the shrimp wasn’t flavored much at all. Bizarre, indeed.

The other entree we ordered was the NOLA BBQ Shrimp & Grits for $34. These shrimp are simmered in a New Orleans “BBQ sauce” with roasted garlic, lemon, Worcestershire, creole seasonings, andouille sausage, parmesan grits, and blistered cherry tomatoes.

The grits didn’t have much flavor on their own, and honestly, we couldn’t really taste the parmesan. But once the grits were mixed with the other elements, they were quite delicious! We had a really generous portion of shrimp with a lot of creole flavor, but we didn’t really get the “BBQ” part of the dish.

All in all, they were pretty good shrimp and grits, even if we couldn’t taste all the ingredients that the description promised.

And finally, let’s talk about dessert! We got the Double Chocolate Bread Pudding for $15. It’s made with semi-sweet chocolate, a white and dark chocolate ganache, and can be ordered a la mode for an additional $2. It takes 25 minutes to prepare, which is specifically noted on the menu.

The top reminded us a lot of a muffin with the crunchy texture on the outside and the warm, chocolatey center. It wasn’t too rich or too strong, and we totally thought that the extra $2 was worth it for the ice cream. It really took the treat to the next level!

The ice cream melted into the bread pudding to add a vanilla flavor throughout, but you could get more rich chocolate flavors if you used the sauces that came along. We liked this a LOT!

So what did we think overall?

Overall

All in all, we enjoyed the meal and thought the food was good if you’re a fan of creole seasonings and Louisiana-inspired dishes. The entrees didn’t hit every point for us (especially that jambalaya), but the appetizer and the dessert were spot-on.

We think this is a good option if you really crave those southern and coastal eats, or if you’re just visiting Downtown Disney, but in the end, we think that there are better values for the cost across Disneyland Resort. The meal is a bit on the pricier side and some of the options were hit or miss.

Nosh or Not

Take a trip down to the Bayou and eat here if…

• You’re really craving cajun and creole food. They’ve got all the classics on the menu, some with new twists, so it can be a great choice if you want a specific type of cuisine.
• You’re only visiting Downtown Disney and you want a sit-down meal. As far as sit-down spots in Downtown Disney goes, it’s pretty good. This could be a nice night out with friends or a good date spot if you order the right things.
• You’re going for apps or desserts. The appetizer and the dessert were the things that impressed us the most, and we would definitely recommend them!

Scoot on down to another spot if…

• You’re on a tight budget. It’s not the cheapest restaurant available, so if you’re on a tight budget, it might not be worth the cost.
• You want a lot of variety in your flavors. Most everything was “creole” seasoned, so if that’s not your vibe, you might want to skip this place.

That’s all from our visit to Jazz Kitchen! Stay tuned to DFB for more restaurant reviews and thoughts from Disneyland Resort to help you prepare for your visit. We’ve got all the tips to share!

Click Here to See Our Ranking of Disneyland Restaurants!

 

Would you dine here? Let us know in the comments!