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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 |
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The sign over the door says “Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar Restaurant.” So is this a restaurant with a bar? Or are these two separate restaurants? |
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The answer is somewhere in-between. They are closely related, essentially sharing the same space and listed on the same signs. You could certainly have a drink at Uva Bar before dinner at Catal. Or you could treat them as entirely separate. |
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Photo by Kevin Yee, 2005 Catal Restaurant in 2005 |
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Photo by Kevin Yee, 2005 Uva Bar in 2005 |
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Çatal (with a C-cedilla as the first letter) is Turkish for fork. But this isn’t a Turkish restaurant. It’s ostensibly Mediterranean. Uva is Spanish for grape. Uva is also Italian for grape or grapes. But this isn’t just a wine bar. It’s a full bar with all kinds of liquor, beers, and wines. And it serves food, with a different menu than Catal. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2015 Deciding where to dine |
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You may have heard that Catal is the indoor part and Uva Bar is the outoor part. It’s not that simple. In addition to a large indoor dining room, Catal also has outdoor balcony seating. In addition to ground floor patio seating, Uva Bar also has indoor seating on the ground floor, below Catal. It would be more accurate to say Uva Bar is on the ground floor, while Catal is one floor up. |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2022 Bar at Catal Restaurant, not to be confused with Uva Bar |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2015 Indoor dining at Catal Restaurant |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2022 Outdoor dining at Catal Restaurant |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2018 A sea of yellow umbrellas at Uva Bar |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 Uva Bar, with “Catal” in front of “Uva Bar” on the sign, but it’s not Catal |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2017 Lunch at Uva Bar |
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For lunch, try the Salmon Club Sandwich. It features a salmon filet, applewood smoked bacon, pickled onions, a thick slice of a vine ripe tomato, arugula, and lemon dill aioli. It’s served with garlic fries. Bacon and garlic on the same plate! Yum. Here’s an idea if you’re visting one of the theme parks. In the afternoon, when you’ve been going all day and it’s the most crowded, head over to Happy Hour at Catal Restaurant or Uva Bar. Relax with some good food and, if you so choose, an adult beverage. |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2022 Uva Bar Happy Hour |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2022 Catal Restaurant happy hour menu in 2022 |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2015
Catal Restaurant Happy Hour: |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2022
Catal Restaurant Happy Hour: |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2022 Sangria: red or white housemade sangria with wine, port, citrus, fruit |
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Chilaquiles with Fried Eggs for breakfast, California Fish Tacos for lunch, Cuban Sliders in the afternoon, and Alaskan Halibut for dinner may not be Mediterranean—but they’re all delicious. |
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Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar were original tenants of the Downtown Disney District, which opened at the Disneyland Resort on January 12, 2001. A day earlier, an article in the Los Angeles Times (“Adventurous Eateries; World cuisines beckon inside the new park and Downtown Disney” by Angela Pettera, Jan. 11, 2001) summarized what to expect: “Catal is controlled by the Patina Group, which runs L.A.’s Patina restaurant. It features a tapas and wine bar outside at street level that will offer 40 to 50 wines by the glass. The tapas will run $5 to $8 per plate. Upstairs, Catal will serve a full menu of dishes from Spain, the South of France, Greece, the Middle East and North Africa. Main dishes top out at $16.95 for lunch and $19.95 for dinner.” |
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Photos by Allen Huffman, 2001 (left) and 2022 (right) Original and updated color schemes |
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Over the years, the menu changed and prices increased. The focus at Uva Bar changed from tapas to hamburgers and salads, reflecting what guests wanted, but the menu continued to offer some small plates. In addition to lunch, happy hour, and dinner, both restaurants served breakfast during much of their existence. Catal and Uva Bar both achieved solid 4-star ratings (out of 5) on Yelp, with thousands of enthusiastic reviews. |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2022 Catal Restaurant toward the end of its run |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2023 Uva Bar toward the end of its run |
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All good things must come to an end. In April 2022, Patina Restaurant Group revealed that two new restaurants would replace Catal & Uva Bar. |
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Artist Concept, 2022 © Patina Restaurant Group Paseo, replacement for Catal Restaurant |
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Artist Concept, 2022 © Patina Restaurant Group Centrico, replacement for Uva Bar |
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Here’s how the Disney Parks Blog announced it on April 28, 2022: “Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytan will bring his inclusive vision of Mexican cuisine to Paseo and Centrico in the locations currently occupied by Catal & Uva Bar, brought to life by Patina Restaurant Group. The restaurant and central courtyard bar and dining area will offer guests a multi-sensory journey to the heart of Chef Gaytan’s homeland.” It took eleven months until there was more news. “We’re celebrating an incredible, delightful, delicious 22 years — from now until our last day of service, April 14. Sip favorite cocktails from the last two decades as we toast to the laughs, the memories, and the meals,” announced Catal Restaurant on Instagram on March 27, 2023, adding, “Come cheers with us one more time.” And, with that, loyal guests had a chance to return to Catal & Uva Bar until last call on April 14, 2023. |
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© 2024 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks Updated April 19, 2024 |
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