Andrew is a huge fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, so when we heard that Disneyland Paris has a pirate themed restaurant we knew this was a must do on the list. Captain Jack’s Restaurant des Pirates is located inside the Pirates attraction and is themed after Captain Jack Sparrow himself. Arrr you ready to adventure on and learn more about this dining experience?
Making a Reservation
For this trip we purchased a Premium meal plan and we received one table service meal per day, so we did our best to carefully select our top picks. We heard this may be a popular spot so we made sure to book 60 days out. Being in the U.S. we had to call to make our reservations. The restaurant didn’t seem completely packed while we were there, but we did notice throughout our trip a restaurant would claim fully booked status even though tables did seem empty (perhaps a staffing situation?). Captain Jack’s was our first dining experience and we went on a Sunday night.
Atmosphere
Heading over to Captain Jack’s we noticed that the themeing for Adventureland is very heavy on Pirates, which we loved. From Skull Rock and a huge pirate ship, to movie soundtrack music being played we felt really immersed. Captain Jack’s has a similar feeling to Blue Bayou in Disneyland or San Angel Inn at Epcot, with the restaurant being located right inside the attraction building. It was really cool to see Pirates of the Caribbean ride boats floating past us as we dined.
We love a restaurant with a lot of ambiance and this definitely had it. Upon check-in we noticed lots of vintage pirate artwork on the walls and props such as barrels and weapons. There was a lot of use of rustic wood and tropical plants to give it an island vibe. The restaurant was also VERY dimly lit with hanging lanterns and flickering candles on the tables. While it made for a romantic dinner date, we actually had to use our cell phone light to read the menus. (We also used them to get a better idea of what our food actually looked like when it was served.)
Vintage ride artwork in ornate frames.
There were a lot of Jack Sparrow details.
The decor felt very rustic.
Weapon props near check-in.
A page from the menu book.
Our Table
The one thing we thought was great about the design of this restaurant as opposed to others mentioned above is that the dining area was tiered. This offered a better view of the boats to tables in the back. Our two seat table was located on the lower level right near the entrance. We were kind of in a corner next to a tight walkway where guests would walk by on the way to their tables. Considering how quiet the restaurant was, it was a little disappointing to be placed there. We were close-ish to the water, but there were probably better views right against the railing or more towards the middle.
Regarding seating, there may be a method to their madness when it comes to seating and preferred language. We were seated in a section served by a gentleman from Ireland. We found throughout our trip that we tended to be seated in and around others who spoke English as their main language. This may just be coincidence but it is something we noticed.
Our table was on the lower level, the ride boats were to the right of this view.
The Food
With the meal plan we each received an appertizer, an entree, dessert, and a non-alcoholic beverage. There was a page in the menu labeled “Premium”, but in this particular restaurant we were told we could order off any other page as well. As with just about every other meal we had in France, this too came with bread and butter. These baguettes had some corn flour in them and were really good. We asked our server for guidance on his recommended items to order. This is what we chose (warning since this restaurant was so dark, please excuse our poor food photography):
The bread service.
There were plenty of rum based drinks available here.
Starter: White Tuna Ceviche (€17,99)
Julie ordered this ceviche made with pieces of tuna and veggies tossed in seasonings and lime. It was served with fried tortilla chips. The ceviche was fresh and flavorful and the chips were nice and crispy.
Starter: Crab Bake (€ 17,99)
Andrew ordered this dish which consisted of a large crab cake in a breaded crust. The presentation was really cool as it is served on top of the shell. There was also a tangy multicolored carrot salad on the side which was fresh.
Entree: Grilled Beef Tenderloin and King Prawns (€ 42,99)
This surf and turf featured a grilled beef tenderloin with smoked spiced pepper glaze and king prawns (stop staring at me!). It seemed like a decent cut of meat and a flavorful sauce. The dish also had a mix of sweet potatoes, onions, and bell peppers. The veggies were good, but nothing spectacular. The presentation wasn’t that pretty but the food was good.
Entree: Caribbean Chicken and Prawns (€ 34,99)
This dish almost resembled a stew of sorts with the chicken and prawns mixed together with veggies. It also included a side of “Captain’s Rice”. Andrew was a little nervous about this dish but ended up really liking it. The sauce had the perfect kick and was great mixed with the rice.
Dessert: Banana Baked in Rum (€ 14,99)
Julie was excited for this dessert. Similar to a Banana’s foster this skillet included bananas baked in rum and cane sugar, and topped with caramelised pecan nuts. A side of ice cream was the perfect addition.
Dessert: Chocolate Mousse (not sure on price)
On the other hand Andrew wasn’t super excited about anything and ended up ordering a simple chocolate mousse off the children’s menu. Which was perfectly fine. It was a nice size with a Mickey wafer.
Service
We had heard some complaints about some people’s experience here but our service was awesome. The check-in was quick and easy. Our server was very knowledgable and friendly with a few jokes here or there. We appreciated his insight on what dishes were best, and he was always prompt with anything we needed. We enjoyed chatting with him and truly enjoyed our overall experience.
Final Thoughts
Captain Jack’s was a winner for us based a lot on the atmosphere. We loved the pirate theme and the romantic ambiance. The menu had mostly seafood inspired dishes which we enjoyed. The food isn’t the best we have ever had, but was certainly good and filling. (Presentation was very hit or miss.) There wasn’t anything we regret ordering and we left satisfied. We think Captain Jack’s is a solid choice for the meal plan as we received more value in what we ordered, vs what we paid up front for the voucher. The only exception to this is if someone doesn’t like seafood they may be more limited on options they would like.
It would have been nice to have a better seat actually on the water, but our view wasn’t terrible. We still enjoyed the scenery and the relaxed pace compared to a hectic character meal. Of the five sit down meals we had in Disneyland Paris, this would rank third overall on our list. Stay tuned to hear what we thought of the other restaurants we visited on this trip!
(By the way check out this quick video below of Captain Jack speaking in French!)
