The Solo Scale:
Downtown Disney has plenty of options for dining. There’s quick service, full dining, franchise options, and snacks galore. It can be difficult to decide which one that you want to spend your time at. However, if you’re of drinking age, one of the best spots you can rest your feet is Ballast Point.
That goes doubly so if you’re travelling solo or in a small group, the bar is typically always open. That makes it easy to quickly sit down and enjoy a drink, even if you didn’t make any reservations to dine. However, even though you’re on the second story of the restaurant, there’s not much of a view as Ballast Point looks out over the rest of Downtown Disney and not the parks. So the bar options mean facing a wall or facing a window and more buildings.
If you’re not at the bar, there’s limited seating. However, the bar typically always has a place to sit, and that gives you even better access for drinks. Plus, if you’re dining at Ballast Point, the beer is one of the highlights. If you’re determined for a table, you can always ask the host downstairs (you won’t be able to make reservations ahead of time for this location, like you might with other Disney restaurants).
Now, as for the food, I’ve had nothing but fantastic experiences every visit. My personal favourite is the sourdough pretzel on the starter menu, which comes with a mustard and a beer cheese. The dips and pretzel are both fresh & delicious. It’s not a super heavy meal, which makes it a great option for the middle of the day if the California heat is a bit too much.
Another option isn’t a regular item, but if ever there’s a fig salad on the seasonal menu, don’t hesitate to get it. That said, all the food has been stellar, so there’s few places you can go wrong and there’s such a variety of beer that you can pop in just for a drink if that’s more your style. If you choose to drink & eat at the bar, you’ll open a tab and pay when you’re done. You can linger for a while and try a few options on tap, if you’re not in a rush! It’s one of the perks of sitting at the bar, after all.
Top Tip! There’s a very limited dessert menu at the restaurant. Skip it and head outside, where Salt & Straw is just next door. The ice cream you’ll get there has more choices and will be a great end-cap to your meal!
Check out the menu here!
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