For the longest time, I always thought Refreshment Corner (one of the last places on the left side of Main Street, located right before the Jolly Holiday Café) was called "Corner Café," thanks to the sign above the outside dining area that does indeed read, "Corner Café." This small quick-service spot is in the same shop as The Penny Arcade (just literally around the corner).
This small spot is great for snacks--like Mickey pretzels--or a truly "American" lunch, if you're in the mood for hot dogs or chili. But, this place was on my radar once I found my beloved "Mac & Cheese Dog," which has since become one of my favorite park snacks/meals (more on that later).
Refreshment Corner's trademark is usually the live ragtime music coming from the cheerful piano player seated immediately outside of the quick-service spot. Though immediate outdoor seating's a bit limited--there are a few tables along the sidewalk--you can always hop on over to the Jolly Holiday, cause there's plenty of patio seating there (great for parade watching).
Here are some of my favorites from Refreshment Corner:
"Mac & Cheese Dog": This lunch-sized entrée (or snack, if you're hungry) features a hot dog topped with cheesy, creamy mac & cheese and bacon bits. I always enjoy this treat because the mac & cheese is super cheesy, and they don't skimp on the bacon bits, either. This park treat is served with your choice of sliced apples or a bag of chips. I always go for the chips. If you're comparing this entrée to anything in DCA, I would say it's most similar to the "Cheese Dog" found at Corn Dog Castle ... but unlike its DCA counterpart, it does include a hot dog and does not come deep-fried.
"Cream Cheese-Filled Pretzel": This was the first place where I tasted the cream cheese-filled pretzel. While I don't like hard pretzel rods (the kind you usually find in party mix), I do love soft, warm, fresh-baked pretzels, and the pretzels served here don't disappoint. I like the cream cheese-filled pretzel because you get that salty-sweet taste in every bite. The warm, slightly salty pretzel exterior pairs nicely with the sweet cream cheese interior. The cream cheese filling isn't overwhelming--an important factor, if you are like me and tend to be wary of pastries with fillings--but you get a little bit of the cream cheese with every bite of the pretzel. You can't find this cream cheese-filled pretzel at many places in Disneyland -- the only places to get them are here, one pretzel kiosk in Tomorrowland (close to the Star Trader) and at one kiosk in Frontierland (close to the Mark Twain launching point, I believe). But since this was the place I discovered this wonderful pretzel, I usually come to Refreshment Corner whenever I'm craving it.
"Hearty Chili": Though I haven't tried the chili in a bread bowl from this place yet, it always looks yummy when I've seen other customers order it. Perhaps when I'm watching a parade on Main Street sometime during dinner, I'll opt for this entrée instead. This dish features Disneyland's hearty chili served in a bread bowl and topped with Cheddar cheese. I'm sure this is especially popular on colder nights, and from what I've observed, the amount of cheese sprinkled on top is usually a generous portion. read more