Narcoosee's vs. California Grill?

JennyMP03 · Oct 5, 2015

I'm hoping for one signature meal for a trip with my husband (no kidlets) next November or December.

We've eaten at California Grill on our honeymoon in 2008, and we greatly enjoyed our filet mignon as well as Wishes from our table. Just an incredible meal and experience. As far as signatures go, we've also eaten at Le Cellier (2008 and 2013) and thought the steak and creme brulee were fantastic. We don't often do fine dining at home, and never expensive steak, so to us it was all delicious. (I know some people on these forums think very little of the signature restaurants, so I just want to clarify that our expectations may be lower.)

So really my question is: how are the steaks at California Grill and Narcoossee's these days? We'd likely order the filet mignon at CG, and the filet + lobster at Narcoossee's (though we never eat lobster and don't really know how to get it out of the shell, ha). If you had to choose, which would you go for? And how is viewing Wishes at Narcoossee's?

I've never been to the Grand Floridian at all, and I want to go see Christmas decorations there, so I'm leaning toward Narcoosee's on arrival day. But I just wanted to see how others think the steaks and Wishes experiences stack up. If it's possible to see the holiday fireworks from either one, that is a somewhat important factor as I don't think we'd pay to go to the party otherwise.

Edit: Also hoping to go during free dining, FYI, and both are two TS credits, I believe.

kastoney · Oct 5, 2015

I've only ever done seafood at Narcoossees, but the steaks at Cali grill are wonderful (though yachtsman holds the steak award for me). That said, I'd stick with your honeymoon nostalgia and so California grill again

Dannek · Oct 5, 2015

You really can't go wrong as they're both great restaurants. Cali grill has their signature fillet, as you mentioned, as well as other fine entree's, and the flatbreads (try the lamb one) are great as well.
If you can't see wishes from your table, there are three observation decks that you can go out on. The one on the end of the restaurant that has two, toward the back is usually much less crowded then the one just in front of it, and the view from the outer end is just as good. That made it easy for our waiter to find us last week when he came out to deliver our drinks on the deck...

Thanks David..

Narcoosee's has good food as well, although it's been a while since I've eaten there. We enjoyed it, and if you don't score a table next to the windows (or if you do and someone stands in your way out on the deck) you can go out onto the deck and watch the fireworks from there. Enjoy!

gzmtlock · Oct 5, 2015

Narcoossee's. Ate there last month, steak and lobster. (The tail is split in half, super easy to get meat out - no worries there!) I absolutely loved my whole meal, from cocktail to dessert. Service was also excellent.

DH and I ate at CG several years ago. I don't remember anything about it, good or bad. (I do have memories from other restaurants on the same trip, particularly Jiko's, so it's not just age that is causing me not to remember anything about that meal.) :rotfl2:

I didn't see the fireworks from there, but the deck has full visibility to MK, so I imagine the view is great.

Hopelessly_Devoted · Oct 5, 2015

CG is wonderful. Give it a go, you will not regret it.

JennyMP03 · Oct 5, 2015

Thanks, guys! I have over a year to decide, but it's great to hear different opinions. Maybe we'll book fewer ADRs and use 4 credits to do both!

KiniShakenBake · Oct 6, 2015

JennyMP03 said:
Thanks, guys! I have over a year to decide, but it's great to hear different opinions. Maybe we'll book fewer ADRs and use 4 credits to do both!

That's what we're doing when we're there in 17 days for our honeymoon. SQUEE!!! We're headed to Yachtsman for one dinner and Narcoossee's for another, with one more set of TS credits to use somewhere... maybe BOG for dinner. Because we got free dining by accident (yeah, I know, humblebrag to the rescue), but we were headed down there SPECIFICALLY for food and wine festival, we wanted to actually minimize our TS dining so we could spend more time at F&W fest, and on multiple days so we can spread out the wonderful enjoyment. Seriously, we can only eat so much in six days, so we were not about to dilly-dally around with a wartload of TS meals. We're also not breakfast eaters, so there goes that option. Sad day that our only remaining option that we both liked was some sweet, sweet goodness of two signature meals in one stay. Good times. We may also drop by Le Cellier OOP, but we haven't decided yet if the Canada filet will hold us or not. DECISIONS!!!

Nancyg56 · Oct 6, 2015

JennyMP03 said:
Thanks, guys! I have over a year to decide, but it's great to hear different opinions. Maybe we'll book fewer ADRs and use 4 credits to do both!

My friend just returned on Sunday and she dined at both CG and narcoossees. Loved both! Given the opportunity , this is exactly what I would do, and time them for Wishes if possible. It has been a few years since we have dined at CG, we have been going to Narcoossees, but Boy is that stak and bitter poached lobster delicious!

JennyMP03 · Oct 6, 2015

KiniShakenBake said:
That's what we're doing when we're there in 17 days for our honeymoon. SQUEE!!! We're headed to Yachtsman for one dinner and Narcoossee's for another, with one more set of TS credits to use somewhere... maybe BOG for dinner. Because we got free dining by accident (yeah, I know, humblebrag to the rescue), but we were headed down there SPECIFICALLY for food and wine festival, we wanted to actually minimize our TS dining so we could spend more time at F&W fest, and on multiple days so we can spread out the wonderful enjoyment. Seriously, we can only eat so much in six days, so we were not about to dilly-dally around with a wartload of TS meals. We're also not breakfast eaters, so there goes that option. Sad day that our only remaining option that we both liked was some sweet, sweet goodness of two signature meals in one stay. Good times. We may also drop by Le Cellier OOP, but we haven't decided yet if the Canada filet will hold us or not. DECISIONS!!!

Yaaay, congratulations! We loved our honeymoon there so much that I made him promise we'd return for our fifth anniversary before we left. And five years later, we did exactly that!

We had the same problem with the dining plan. We go for maybe one big meal a day (dinner, generally) and snacky stuff otherwise. So at the end of both trips we had a ton of QS credits left because we booked a TS almost every day. I'm so glad for the change that allows you to convert 1 QS into 3 snack credits now. That will help a ton, but I also want to actually try some QS meals this time, so using credits for more signatures and not having so many ADRs to rush about to sounds ideal.

F&W festival is crazy fun! That's a perfect activity for your honeymoon. And we thought Le Cellier was SO GOOD, but it'll be a little expensive OOP. Cheapest among signatures though, I think. I was full when I left, having had cheese soup, the bread, filet with risotto, and dessert. I get full very quickly though! Sounds like a wonderful honeymoon however you decide!

disnie susie · Oct 7, 2015

We have enjoyed both. I would say CG wins for ambience and view of fireworks and Narcoossees wins for food. The steak with butter poached lobster tail and the whole Maine lobster was out of this world. Their almond crusted cheesecake with black cherry compote was the best dessert I've had at Disney(and I'm not even crazy about cheesecake). You can't go wrong with either. Have a great trip.

jpeden · Oct 7, 2015

Narcoossee's was easily one of, if not the best, meal I've ever had - start to finish. I highly recommend it.

SouthJersey · Oct 7, 2015

Narcoossee's is the winner for us.
We haven't been happy with GF ever since the renovation the other year.

hedberg1661 · Oct 8, 2015

The menu has drastically changed at CG since you were there. I would think twice if you are looking for a steak. You are better off at Yachtsman or Narcoossees with Yachtsman having the better cut of meat IMO.

disneydom · Oct 8, 2015

If your looking for a great steak try Shulas

jeepnjudy · Oct 8, 2015

Too funny...we could not decided which of these restaurants to eat at for our trip this coming spring 2016 so we will be eating at both and resolve that issue!

disneypanda11 · Oct 9, 2015

I'd vote Narcoossee's. I haven't been to CG since 2011 (pre-renovation). We had a nice meal there then, but there were some sweeping changes to the menu, and it just hasn't drawn us back since.
Narcoossee's on the other hand is a must-do each trip. We find the food to be consistently excellent (favorite dishes are the slow poached shrimp or calamari appetizers, filet and lobster entree- don't worry the lobster is in a half shell-very easy to eat!, and of course the cherry cheesecake for dessert). Of all of the signature restaurants we've tried (CG, Flying Fish, Yachtsman, Fulton's, Narcoossee's, Le Cellier), I find Narcoossee's to have the best steak. That being said, I wouldn't say it's on par with, say, a Capital Grille steak, but I believe based on how you've clarified your dining preferences, you will really, really enjoy Narcoossee's- we do!
We're trying Jiko on our next trip to see if their steak gives Narcoossee's a run for it's money.
We were only at Narcoossee's during Wishes once, and because of where our table was, we did not have a great view. However, we could have opted to go out on the deck, and it's a nice touch that they pipe the music in. Enjoy whichever meal you choose!

JZCubed · Oct 9, 2015

JennyMP03 said:
I'm hoping for one signature meal for a trip with my husband (no kidlets) next November or December.

We've eaten at California Grill on our honeymoon in 2008, and we greatly enjoyed our filet mignon as well as Wishes from our table. Just an incredible meal and experience. As far as signatures go, we've also eaten at Le Cellier (2008 and 2013) and thought the steak and creme brulee were fantastic. We don't often do fine dining at home, and never expensive steak, so to us it was all delicious. (I know some people on these forums think very little of the signature restaurants, so I just want to clarify that our expectations may be lower.)

So really my question is: how are the steaks at California Grill and Narcoossee's these days? We'd likely order the filet mignon at CG, and the filet + lobster at Narcoossee's (though we never eat lobster and don't really know how to get it out of the shell, ha). If you had to choose, which would you go for? And how is viewing Wishes at Narcoossee's?

I've never been to the Grand Floridian at all, and I want to go see Christmas decorations there, so I'm leaning toward Narcoosee's on arrival day. But I just wanted to see how others think the steaks and Wishes experiences stack up. If it's possible to see the holiday fireworks from either one, that is a somewhat important factor as I don't think we'd pay to go to the party otherwise.

Edit: Also hoping to go during free dining, FYI, and both are two TS credits, I believe.

You're asking a bunch of questions, but it boils down to what you really want to accomplish.

You had a memorable experience at CA Grill. While I might have mixed feelings about CA Grill, it remains the one Disney Signature where a truly memorable experience is possible and it can include fireworks. My mixed feelings come from the fact that I find the food too hit-or-miss for the money and where you're seated really matters to that memorable experience. But there is no other Signature dining room at Disney that has the potential for so much magic.

My family enjoys Narcoossee's, not because it is a great fine dining experience (it's not), but we enjoy the consistency of quality food and we have no expectation of having a magical memory (because the dining room is adding nothing nor detracting from )the experience. Yes, you can also enjoy the fireworks. But this is like a really good neighborhood spot - you love it because it's familiar, not because it's impressive - with solid seafood and some filet mignons to accompany.

But as you point out, the Grand Floridian can be more magical than a stroll around the Contemporary. If going after Thanksgiving, when the Gingerbread House is up along with all the other decorations, Grand Floridian is spectacular. If it's just an adult evening: arrive early to stroll the shops, enjoy the live jazz band in the lobby (grab a seat at Mizner's Lounge if available), enjoy dinner, and then sit down in Mizner's for a nightcap.

If it's about the possibility of a magical meal that includes fireworks - CA Grill.
If it's about capturing the holiday spirit after an adult evening at Grand Floridian - Narcoossee's (or Citrico's).

This is not about anyone providing a recommendation one way or the other, this about your having to decide how you imagine a night spent with a loved one.

Be advised - neither place is as fancy as the term Signature implies. There will be children and there will be adults in Park attire.

JennyMP03 · Oct 9, 2015

Thanks, guys! I appreciate all the opinions and detailed input so much. I think if I can only do one, I'll go with Narcoossee's. More of you seem to enjoy the food there, and it'll be a new experience for us anyway. Since we can't go regularly, I think it's important to try new things when we do. And I definitely want a reason to go to the GF and see that beautiful gingerbread house. We may end up skipping it if we don't have an ADR over there, ha.

Otherwise, we'll use 4 credits and do both!

Narcoosee's vs. California Grill?

DIS Veteran

Disney foodie served with a side of sarcasm

So many roads to ease my soul...

DIS Veteran

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

Disney is for Adults, too!

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran and Patreon Supporter

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Share this page