Review: Wine Country Trattoria
Wine Country Trattoria is a full service dining establishment located in Disney California Adventure’s Pacific Wharf area. Reservations are accepted, but not required. They offer lunch and dinner everyday.
Ambiance
Upon entering Wine Country Trattoria, the song “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin pops into my head. “When the stars make you drool, just like pasta fazool (pasta e fagioli), that’s amore.” The outdoor area is magnificent and offers great views of the Pacific Wharf section in DCA. A wood pergola provides ample shading and adds a bit of rustic charm. Inside seating is also available, but the ambiance is not quite as spectacular. Nevertheless, the interior design is quaint with attractive touches adorning the walls to represent an Italian motif.
Menu
The dishes represents a blend of Southern and Northern Italian cuisines with a touch of California influence. There is a menu for lunch and a slightly different one for dinner. The main distinctions were the entrées and an additional appetizer. They also have a trio of entrée salads for the light eaters during lunch. Several pasta dishes are featured on both lists, which range from Shrimp Scampi to a Lasagna Rustica. For dessert, they have a Tiramisú, Cannoli, and Panna Cotta.
Food and Drinks
My wife and I visited Wine Country Trattoria for lunch. We weren’t in the mood for anything too heavy since we planned on going to Steakhouse 55 for dinner later that day. As such, we avoided any pasta dishes and split a Grilled Chicken Sandwich. However, given our penchant for trying a variety of food, we also got the Fritto Misto appetizer and Italian Wedding Soup.
Upon sitting at our table, a server brought us some bread that looked like focaccia. On the side were a bottle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip the rolls. To be honest, the bread seemed slightly stale, cold, and gritty in texture. No amount of olive oil could help improve it. But, speaking of the olive oil, it was quite good. It had a nice viscosity and fruity notes. There was nothing noteworthy about the vinegar though. My basic thought was, “meh.”
The Fritto Misto appetizer was absolutely fantastic! One of the best Fritto Mistos I’ve ever tried. It was lightly battered, almost like a tempura, and cooked to perfection. As a seafood freak, I thoroughly enjoyed the calamari and mussels in the dish. My wife and I were both fond of the artichoke hearts, which were cut into nice bite-sized proportions. Alongside was a pepperoncini aïoli for dipping. This tasted excellent and offered a zippier finish than ranch dressing.
Then came the Italian Wedding Soup. This was okay. The main issue I had with this concoction was that the pearl pasta was overcooked. It reminded me of the type of soup you get out of a tin can from the supermarket.
Our Grilled Chicken Sandwich was tasty. Inside the Italian bread roll contained a marinated breast, provolone cheese, arugula, Roma tomatoes, and pesto aïoli. My wife and I both liked this sandwich a lot. The chicken was moist and tender. However, it probably needed a tad more seasoning. The Italian bread roll was perfect. It had a terrific crust and, most importantly, it was served warm! The side salad that came with the dish had a nice flavor. It was dressed with a creamy Italian dressing.
Besides the standard assortment of soft drinks, this restaurant offers a selection of wines by the glass, some cocktails, and a handful of beers on tap.
Service
Due to its location, the Wine Country Trattoria attracts a lot of guests. My wife and I waited about 20-minutes for a table. Once seated, the service was mediocre overall. Our waiter was not as attentive as one is accustomed to at a Disneyland Resort full service eatery. I had to flag down a server to order a beverage and also when needing refills. There is room for improvement in this regard. But, the food was delivered in a timely manner and our table cleared soon after we finished a course.
Overall
Wine Country Trattoria is a wonderful spot to dine, especially if seated outdoors. I believe this area would be magical on a warm summer evening. The view is superb and the décor fits nicely with the Italian theme. My wife and I really enjoyed the Fritto Misto and Grilled Chicken Sandwich. I look forward to dining here again. People have suggested that the Lasagna Rustica is particularly good. So, if you’re looking for a full service place to eat at Disney California Adventure, I would recommend giving this place a try.
Have you dined at the Wine Country Trattoria? We’d love to hear about your experiences!
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