Breakfast With Santa at Catal Restaurant, Downtown Disney

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{No compensation was received for this post. I was invited to a media breakfast which facilitated the writing of this post}

Having lived in Orange County for 8 years now, I’ve managed to uncover many of Orange County’s hottest dining spots. I love restaurants that boast a bit of cultural flare as well as venues that offer healthy, gourmet dishes with a twist. Catal Restaurant, located at Downtown Disney, has been one of my favorite places for casual al fresco lunches and leisurely, upscale dinners. Recently, they started serving breakfast and menu options include traditional favorites with an infusion of Mediterranean flavors.

Perfectly timed for the holiday season, Catal Restaurant is offering a special Breakfast With Santa, a festive, memorable tradition perfect for families with children. Having previously dined at the restaurant for lunch and dinner, once again our expectations were exceeded as far as the attention to detail, personalized nature of the experience, and the diverse, mouthwatering array of menu items.

Breakfast With Santa is a special event held 2 weekends in December ahead of Christmas. This immersive holiday experience includes breakfast with Santa and his elves, a gourmet family-style breakfast, entertainment by Charles Dickens’ Carolers, holiday-themed activities, pictures and a meet and greet with Santa and ice skating at Olaf’s Ice Skating Rink.

Located on the second floor of the restaurant, you’ll begin your leisurely morning with coffee and views of Downtown Disney. Each family is then escorted to their private table by one of Santa’s elves, who will also gift each child with a personalized stocking filled with holiday activities and a craft. As a parent, I appreciated this added detail as it helped keep my kids engaged while we waited for breakfast to be served. The blueberry muffin and croissant platter that is initially served also helps settle kids who may be hungry as they sit down.

Breakfast is served in generous, family-style portions by Santa’s Elves and includes Organic Scrambled Eggs, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Smoked Sausage, Roasted Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes, Vanilla Bean French Toast, Buttermilk Pancakes, and a Holiday Greek Yogurt Parfait. Non-alcoholic drinks are also included such as fresh juices, coffee, and tea. But what kids will love most about Breakfast With Santa is the Hot Cocoa Station, with toppings that include marshmallows, sprinkles, M&Ms and Mint Chocolate Cookies. The food is substantial, but most importantly absolutely decadent. My personal favorites included the French Toast and the Holiday Greek Yogurt Parfait. Each of the menu items are kid-friendly yet will appeal to adults with more upscale palates.

The entire atmosphere at the restaurant boasts a classy holiday flare and the entertainment by the Carolers helped get us in the mood for Christmas. The service is impeccable and highly personalized. Our family adheres to a vegetarian diet and I was impressed by the fact that the staff took note of this as they served our breakfast dishes. Additionally, you’ll be asked if anyone in your party has food allergies and the restaurant will accommodate as they are able.

For kids, meeting Santa is the highlight of this experience. Because of the intimate nature of the event, families can enjoy breakfast at their table without having to wait in line to meet him. Each table will be escorted for a visit, which includes photos and time to share wishes with Santa.

As breakfast concludes, kids are invited to pick out a bag of cookies and milk, courtesy of St. Nick himself. Don’t forget that you’ll also receive ice skating tickets that can be used after breakfast or on another day through the season.

Breakfast With Santa is a tradition your family will want to enjoy for years to come. You can still make reservations for the second and last weekend by booking online or via phone at 714.774.4442. If you happen to be visiting outside of the holiday season, I also recommend Catal Restaurant as one of the best breakfast restaurants at Downtown Disney.

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Caryn Bailey

Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.