Most people who book a table at a celebrity chef restaurant worry about the menu, the dress code or whether they will get a good seat. Here is a worry you might not expect: a security line. At the new Gordon Ramsay restaurant at Downtown Disney, the couple behind Bill & Lisa’s Food and Travel point out something they say sets it apart from every other restaurant with that famous name.
“This is the only Gordon Ramsay restaurant that you have to go through a security screening,” they say. It is a fun fact, and a handy one if you are planning a dinner there.
What The Security Screening Really Means
Here is the detail that matters. The screening is not something the restaurant itself puts you through at the host stand. It covers the entire Downtown Disney district, so you pass through it on your way in, the same as any other visitor to the area. The restaurant just happens to be inside it.
So the practical advice is simple: expect a checkpoint, and do not plan on strolling straight to your table. Build a few extra minutes into your evening, and treat the screening as the first stop of the night rather than an interruption.
Getting Seated Upstairs
The couple visited when the restaurant had been open about three months, and they describe it as a one off. They say reservations are highly recommended, which is good advice for any popular restaurant, especially one in a busy tourist area. Check in happens downstairs, but the restaurant itself is upstairs only.
That means a climb of two flights of stairs, or a ride in the elevator, which they point out is a good option for anyone with mobility issues. If you do not have a reservation, there is a walk up bar, though you need to be over 21 to sit there. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, and an extra patio opens after 4 pm.
Sixties London on the Walls
Once they were seated, the couple were struck by the atmosphere. They say the room is very casual and very comfortable, and the theme leans into 1960s London. Think Beatles, Austin Powers and pictures covering the walls, along with models and artwork, all of it meant to take diners back to London.
The drink list is long. They describe an expanded wine and champagne list, and the most expensive bottle they spotted was a Dom Perignon at $675. The bar covers whiskey, scotch, cognac and vodka as well, and the cocktail menu uses fruit purees that the kitchen makes in house.
Starting With Drinks and Appetizers
The couple tried two drinks first. One was a watermelon and lime drink, and they report it was not sweet at all. It tastes like watermelon with a splash of lime, with a little tartness, and they call it very refreshing, though not for anyone expecting a sweet watermelon cooler. The other was a honeydew ginger lemonade, a mocktail with a pretty honeydew green color. The flavor, they say, is mostly lemonade, with a hint of lime and honeydew, and it is medium sweet.
For starters, they picked a tomato salad with whipped cheese, fresh peaches and arugula. The peaches add a gentle sweetness, the whipped cheese brings a little tang, and the arugula adds pepper. They call it a very good salad, and a good size, but not one they would want to share. The second appetizer was salt and pepper squid with a lime and cilantro aioli. The pieces are small, including the little tentacles and the rings, lightly fried and crispy, and the limey aioli matched the squid.
The Main Event
When the entrees arrived, the couple had a full spread. There was the famous beef Wellington, which they have tried in versions at his restaurants in Las Vegas. They say this one looked as good as the ones they have had before, and once they dug in, they called it perfectly done. It comes with a red wine sauce, and the potato on the side was creamy enough that it needed nothing added.
They also ordered the fish and chips. The fish is haddock, and the plate comes with mushy peas, fries and a house made tartar sauce. The third plate was a beef cottage pie, a cousin of shepherd’s pie made with short rib. It arrives in a real cast iron mini pie dish, which crisps the edges of the mashed potato on top. A side of broccoli rounded things out so the table had a little green. Since the pair were splitting everything, each got a fork and knife for the Wellington.
How To Plan a Dinner That Starts With a Checkpoint
A security screening is not a big deal, but it is one more step between you and dinner. A little planning keeps it from turning into a stress point.
- Book ahead. The couple say reservations are highly recommended. Do not count on a table appearing when you walk up.
- Allow extra time. Because the screening covers the whole district, build in time to get through it before your reservation. Arriving a bit early is better than arriving late and flustered.
- Plan for the stairs. Check in is downstairs and the restaurant is upstairs, so use the elevator if anyone in your group has trouble with two flights.
- Remember the bar. There is a walk up bar for guests over 21 if you want a drink or a bite and do not have a booking.
- Think about the hour. There is indoor and outdoor seating, and the extra patio opens after 4 pm, so if you like to eat outside, plan your time to match.
- Tell your group. If you are meeting family or friends, let them know about the screening so nobody is surprised and the whole party arrives together.
The Bottom Line
If you are headed to the new Gordon Ramsay restaurant at Downtown Disney, you will pass through a security screening before you can sit down. The screening is for the whole district, not just the restaurant. Book a table, give yourself extra time, and know that a walk up bar, an elevator and an extra patio after 4 pm are waiting on the other side, along with a menu built around beef Wellington, fish and chips and a short rib cottage pie.
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