The smaller, more laid-back sibling of Carthay Circle Restaurant, Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining is a great table-service option for those who don’t want the full Fine/Signature Dining experience of the larger restaurant, but still want to enjoy the cocktails, wines, and California-inspired food.
Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining takes guests outside, offering a smaller menu of shareable bites along with some of the staple adult beverages the restaurant is known for. What started as a post-pandemic outdoor dining alternative has since turned into a great place for a casual meal in the California sun.
Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining Location
Carthay Circle Restaurant sits on Buena Vista Street. It’s the centerpiece of the land, so you can’t miss it – you’ll enter underneath the theater’s marquee. However, instead of heading inside and upstairs to the formal restaurant, you’ll enjoy your meal on the left-side patio outdoors.
Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining Menu
While the larger Carthay Circle Restaurant offers full meals, the lounge operates on a smaller scale. So, when you dine at Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining, you’ll be able to choose from a seasonal menu of Mediterranean and California bites, all of which are designed to be light fare.
Open for lunch and dinner, the menu at Carthay Circle Lounge stays the same all day long. All dishes are meant for each table to share, though they can be enjoyed individually (and there are a few kids’ entrées on the menu, too).
See what’s on the menu at Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining below.
Alfresco Dining
- Spring Roll with Spicy Crab
- Spanish Roasted Shrimp
- Vietnamese Twice-cooked Beef Lettuce Wraps
- Moroccan Roasted Chicken Meatballs
- Lotus Salad
- Carthay Ratatouille
- Malai Kofta Potato
- Bao Buns of Soy-Ginger Braised Pork Belly
- Summer Corn & Roasted Poblano Soup
- Achiote Glazed Salmon
- Strozzapreti Pasta
- North African Roasted Organic Chicken Breast
- Filet Mignon Beef Skewers
Desserts
- Mickey Hazelnut Crunch
- Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae
- Artisan Selected Cheese Board
Kids’ Entrées
- Classic Cheese Quesadilla
- Orecchiette Pasta with Marinara
- Chicken Skewers Pineapple-Ginger Glazed
Kids’ Desserts
- Mickey Hazelnut Crunch
A menu of cocktails, wines, beers, and more is also available.
Advance Dining Reservations
Although more casual thanks to its outdoor setup, Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining does offer advance dining reservations (ADRs). And since the lounge is a pretty popular spot to grab a cocktail or glass of wine, you will want to make a reservation ahead of your visit.
However, if you’re visiting on a weekday, you’re likely to have better luck grabbing a last-minute reservation or even a walk-up table. The lounge is less popular than the restaurant itself, so there’s often great flexibility here Monday through Thursday.
Is Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining Kid-Friendly?
If you’re concerned about bringing your kids to Carthay Circle Restaurant because of its fine dining nature, the lounge is a great alternative. Thanks to its outdoor setting, it’s far more casual – and a bit more kid-friendly – than its indoor counterpart.
At Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining, kids will have a bit more freedom to be loud, wiggly, and just generally themselves. There is a kids’ menu with some entrées and dessert choices, so they can find something to snack on here.Â
But it’s worth noting that the food at the lounge is less kid-friendly than what’s available inside the restaurant. Ultimately, the lounge is really best set up for adults who want to enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine, plus some shareable bites. And if you’re already paying the $14-per-child dish price here, you might want to consider the restaurant to have more options (and air conditioning!).
