Tinkerbellarella
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2008
- Messages
- 3,520
My BF and I just returned from a 5 night vacation to Universal/Islands of Adventure/Sea World and while it wasn't Disney 
I was still able to add a little bit of Disney dining magic to our week.
When we decided to book the vacation about 5-6 weeks ago, we tossed around the idea of either having a great dinner out or going to see Cirque du Soleil in Downtown Disney. Even though we were undecided about what we were ultimately going to do, since California Grill was an option, I got right to securing us an ADR just in case.
Well.
We FINALLY decided after much hemming and hawing and flipping of coins to go with the Cali Grill.
Our ADR was for Tuesday, 4/14/09 at 5:55 p.m. (Seriously, does Disney Dining EVER book a normal, round time, like, oh I don't know, 6 p.m.??? LOL)
If you were anywhere in the central FL area on 4/14, you know what the weather was like - lots of wind, horizontal rain and tornado watches through most of the afternoon. Thankfully, though, it cleared up (mostly) and we made it to the Contemporary by way of a towncar from our hotel (Crowne Plaza Universal) to Downtown Disney and then a Disney bus right on time. We checked in and were given a pager and directed to the elevator. When we arrived on the 15th floor I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant didn't look anything like what I'd anticipated...in a good way! It was much bigger and brighter than I'd envisioned.
The hostess told us where the restrooms were, provided us with directions to the three observation decks and invited us back after our meal for the 10 p.m. viewing of Wishes. We had barely found a couple of seats to settle into to wait for our table when our pager buzzed. We were led to a window table at the very center of the restaurant, right by the center observation deck. Our server came over and introduced himself immediately. His name was Billy and he mentioned he was also a sommalier for the CG. He handed us the menus and left us to peruse.
I was surprised to see some marked changes to the menu we'd checked out on allearsnet, most noticeably, the absence of the flatbreads. In addition, my BF had been really looking forward to the rabbit for the First Course but it was no longer. Instead, it seemed to have been replaced with a duck dish (the duck entree is now no longer). Also, the Butternut Squash Soup has been replaced with an Asparagus Soup. The Pear Salad with Fall Greens is a bit different also, rather than pear, it is now apple with dates, etc.
I was happy to see that the famous Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli had remained intact.
After deciding on the First Course, the ravioli for me, the duck for BF, we moved on to the Entrees. There is now an ostrich entree and I believe the scallops have been removed. It was a fairly easy decision for me - Grilled Pork Tenderloin with button mushrooms and parmesan polenta. After some deliberation between the Oak-fired Filet and the Free Range Chicken, BF decided to go with the Filet, medium rare.
I had just picked up the wine list when Billy returned to take our order. Seeing me with list in hand, he asked if I had any interest in a glass or a bottle for the table. BF declined but I decided to be brave.
Me: "Well, I think I'd like a glass, but I'm pretty clueless about wines..."
Billy: "Oh that's no problem. I can help you out with that. Do you prefer red or white?"
Me: "White." (This, at least, I know.)
Billy: "Sweet or dry?"
Me: "Oh, definitely sweet, I think."
Billy: "No problem. I think I have two perfect options for you. Easy."
He then took our order and promised to return in short order. While there was always a marked absence of Billy from our table, we were never wanting for anything. It was nice to be left to our own conversation, only to have him pop up just before we realized we needed/wanted something. He returned with their fantastic sourdough bread and some olive oil and two German Reislings for me to try. The one I preferred was A-MA-ZING. (Stupidly, I forgot to write down the name. I will be calling the restaurant tomorrow evening to get it.) It was light and sweet and perfect. The second selection he brought was also good, with a hint of green apple, but the tang of the aftertaste was a little too strong for my liking.
Not too long after, we received our first courses. BF still cannot stop raving about the duck. He said it wasn't gamey at all and the sauce it was served in was delicious. He said that next time he'd love to have a larger serving of it for his entree. (FYI - you can ask them to do this - the woman at the table next to us asked for the Sonoma ravioli for her entree and they gave her two.) My ravioli was...I just have no words. It was excellent. Better than I imagined or anticipated. The cheese was strong but not overpowering and I loved that it's served in a broth rather than, say, a thicker marinara sauce.
BF was a big fan of the bread and when Billy saw us with an empty bread basket and gravy/broth left at the bottoms of our respective bowls, he refilled the bread basket "for our dipping pleasure".
Our entrees were brought to us about 10 to 15 minutes later by one of the restaurant managers. He told me I was looking beautiful this evening and commented on our choices for entree. He made sure we were all set and Billy stopped by not long after to make sure we had all we needed.
My Pork Tenderloin was probably the best pork dish I've ever had. The meat was done perfectly and was fork tender. It comes with a rich glaze/gravy. The consistency of the polenta was excellent and the parmesan was present without being completely overpowering. While each separate part of the dish was flavorful in its own right, I will say that all together they worked well, if they weren't all a little too much.
BF has said that his filet was the best cut he's had in some time. He'd asked for it medium rare and that's exactly how he received it. It was just about fork tender and he loved the teriyaki glaze. I tried a bite (and of course shared my pork with him) and enjoyed it, though would probably order it without the glaze myself. I didn't get to try his cheesy mashed taters (darn it!) but he said they were great. The filet is no longer served with broccolini and instead was accompanied by asparagus. BF isn't a fan but tried a small piece - to no avail. I don't care for asparagus either, but I will say it looked great. Large, thick stalks, a nice bright, crisp green.
Though I finished most of my meal (BF finished all of his and some of mine) I was trying to save room for dessert. Billy returned to remove our plates and brought us the dessert/dessert liquor menu. I refrained from any more wine (though I felt like I could've drank glass after glass all night - dangerous!) and opted for a cup of coffee and the Caramel Apple. BF had the Valrhona Chocolate Cake. The dessert menu was pretty much intact except for the omission of the Chocolate Temptation.
A word of warning, the Caramel Apple is DELISH but large! The tart itself is about 2.5" tall and is stuffed and brimming with apple, raisins and walnuts. I enjoyed the caramel ice cream more than I thought I would have and the apricot jam was tasty as well. BF is an extreme chocoholic and so the Valrhona cake was right up his alley. He let me try a bit and I found it far too rich for my palate. However, the dish is currently being served with homemade strawberry ice cream instead of raspberry and I absolutely fell in L-O-V-E with it. It was so fresh and fruity it tasted more like a smooth sorbet than an ice cream. The coffee was nothing special.
Sometime around the time we were finishing up our entrees and deciding on dessert, we noticed the sky had cleared considerably and we were being treated to an absolutely stunning sunset. It was the perfect accompaniment to the meal. I glanced at the time shortly after Billy came to remove the dessert plates and was pleasantly surprised to find it was just after 7:30. My hope for an unrushed, intimate meal had been fulfilled.
Our bill came to $153 and change and, in accordance with the impeccable service we received, we left a nice tip. Before heading out (we had other plans and wouldn't be returning for Wishes!) we did venture out onto the observation deck facing the Magic Kingdom. BF was surprised at how close we actually were to the park, the castle, etc. and we enjoyed the beautiful view. I pointed out the Polynesian (where I'd stayed in Sept. with a friend) and gave him some random factoids about Disney in general (he wouldn't actually consider himself a fan though, today, he said to me, "You know, maybe we SHOULD go together." HAHAHAHAHA VICTORY IS MINE!!!!! ::ahem:: I mean, yes, my love, I completely agree!
)
Overall I really have no complaints AT ALL about our experience at the California Grill. It really was everything I could've asked for and more. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of our food but, finally being IN Disney with the man who'd vowed we'd probably never go, I didn't want to completely freak him out! LOL
The atmosphere was bustling and a little loud, but we had no trouble hearing each other. Though surrounded by families, we still found it romantic. The food was better than the menu could describe with words. Each new dish blew us away. The service, Billy in particular, was outstanding. Truly, the Cali Grill deserves the designation of a "Signature" dining experience and we look forward to dining there again...
you know...on that trip I'm slowly getting BF to commit to...
...next September...
...hopefully (fingers crossed) for Free Dining!
Say a little prayer for me!
I was still able to add a little bit of Disney dining magic to our week.When we decided to book the vacation about 5-6 weeks ago, we tossed around the idea of either having a great dinner out or going to see Cirque du Soleil in Downtown Disney. Even though we were undecided about what we were ultimately going to do, since California Grill was an option, I got right to securing us an ADR just in case.
Well.
We FINALLY decided after much hemming and hawing and flipping of coins to go with the Cali Grill.
Our ADR was for Tuesday, 4/14/09 at 5:55 p.m. (Seriously, does Disney Dining EVER book a normal, round time, like, oh I don't know, 6 p.m.??? LOL)
If you were anywhere in the central FL area on 4/14, you know what the weather was like - lots of wind, horizontal rain and tornado watches through most of the afternoon. Thankfully, though, it cleared up (mostly) and we made it to the Contemporary by way of a towncar from our hotel (Crowne Plaza Universal) to Downtown Disney and then a Disney bus right on time. We checked in and were given a pager and directed to the elevator. When we arrived on the 15th floor I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant didn't look anything like what I'd anticipated...in a good way! It was much bigger and brighter than I'd envisioned.
The hostess told us where the restrooms were, provided us with directions to the three observation decks and invited us back after our meal for the 10 p.m. viewing of Wishes. We had barely found a couple of seats to settle into to wait for our table when our pager buzzed. We were led to a window table at the very center of the restaurant, right by the center observation deck. Our server came over and introduced himself immediately. His name was Billy and he mentioned he was also a sommalier for the CG. He handed us the menus and left us to peruse.
I was surprised to see some marked changes to the menu we'd checked out on allearsnet, most noticeably, the absence of the flatbreads. In addition, my BF had been really looking forward to the rabbit for the First Course but it was no longer. Instead, it seemed to have been replaced with a duck dish (the duck entree is now no longer). Also, the Butternut Squash Soup has been replaced with an Asparagus Soup. The Pear Salad with Fall Greens is a bit different also, rather than pear, it is now apple with dates, etc.
I was happy to see that the famous Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli had remained intact.
After deciding on the First Course, the ravioli for me, the duck for BF, we moved on to the Entrees. There is now an ostrich entree and I believe the scallops have been removed. It was a fairly easy decision for me - Grilled Pork Tenderloin with button mushrooms and parmesan polenta. After some deliberation between the Oak-fired Filet and the Free Range Chicken, BF decided to go with the Filet, medium rare.
I had just picked up the wine list when Billy returned to take our order. Seeing me with list in hand, he asked if I had any interest in a glass or a bottle for the table. BF declined but I decided to be brave.
Me: "Well, I think I'd like a glass, but I'm pretty clueless about wines..."
Billy: "Oh that's no problem. I can help you out with that. Do you prefer red or white?"
Me: "White." (This, at least, I know.)
Billy: "Sweet or dry?"
Me: "Oh, definitely sweet, I think."
Billy: "No problem. I think I have two perfect options for you. Easy."
He then took our order and promised to return in short order. While there was always a marked absence of Billy from our table, we were never wanting for anything. It was nice to be left to our own conversation, only to have him pop up just before we realized we needed/wanted something. He returned with their fantastic sourdough bread and some olive oil and two German Reislings for me to try. The one I preferred was A-MA-ZING. (Stupidly, I forgot to write down the name. I will be calling the restaurant tomorrow evening to get it.) It was light and sweet and perfect. The second selection he brought was also good, with a hint of green apple, but the tang of the aftertaste was a little too strong for my liking.
Not too long after, we received our first courses. BF still cannot stop raving about the duck. He said it wasn't gamey at all and the sauce it was served in was delicious. He said that next time he'd love to have a larger serving of it for his entree. (FYI - you can ask them to do this - the woman at the table next to us asked for the Sonoma ravioli for her entree and they gave her two.) My ravioli was...I just have no words. It was excellent. Better than I imagined or anticipated. The cheese was strong but not overpowering and I loved that it's served in a broth rather than, say, a thicker marinara sauce.
BF was a big fan of the bread and when Billy saw us with an empty bread basket and gravy/broth left at the bottoms of our respective bowls, he refilled the bread basket "for our dipping pleasure".
Our entrees were brought to us about 10 to 15 minutes later by one of the restaurant managers. He told me I was looking beautiful this evening and commented on our choices for entree. He made sure we were all set and Billy stopped by not long after to make sure we had all we needed.
My Pork Tenderloin was probably the best pork dish I've ever had. The meat was done perfectly and was fork tender. It comes with a rich glaze/gravy. The consistency of the polenta was excellent and the parmesan was present without being completely overpowering. While each separate part of the dish was flavorful in its own right, I will say that all together they worked well, if they weren't all a little too much.
BF has said that his filet was the best cut he's had in some time. He'd asked for it medium rare and that's exactly how he received it. It was just about fork tender and he loved the teriyaki glaze. I tried a bite (and of course shared my pork with him) and enjoyed it, though would probably order it without the glaze myself. I didn't get to try his cheesy mashed taters (darn it!) but he said they were great. The filet is no longer served with broccolini and instead was accompanied by asparagus. BF isn't a fan but tried a small piece - to no avail. I don't care for asparagus either, but I will say it looked great. Large, thick stalks, a nice bright, crisp green.
Though I finished most of my meal (BF finished all of his and some of mine) I was trying to save room for dessert. Billy returned to remove our plates and brought us the dessert/dessert liquor menu. I refrained from any more wine (though I felt like I could've drank glass after glass all night - dangerous!) and opted for a cup of coffee and the Caramel Apple. BF had the Valrhona Chocolate Cake. The dessert menu was pretty much intact except for the omission of the Chocolate Temptation.
A word of warning, the Caramel Apple is DELISH but large! The tart itself is about 2.5" tall and is stuffed and brimming with apple, raisins and walnuts. I enjoyed the caramel ice cream more than I thought I would have and the apricot jam was tasty as well. BF is an extreme chocoholic and so the Valrhona cake was right up his alley. He let me try a bit and I found it far too rich for my palate. However, the dish is currently being served with homemade strawberry ice cream instead of raspberry and I absolutely fell in L-O-V-E with it. It was so fresh and fruity it tasted more like a smooth sorbet than an ice cream. The coffee was nothing special.
Sometime around the time we were finishing up our entrees and deciding on dessert, we noticed the sky had cleared considerably and we were being treated to an absolutely stunning sunset. It was the perfect accompaniment to the meal. I glanced at the time shortly after Billy came to remove the dessert plates and was pleasantly surprised to find it was just after 7:30. My hope for an unrushed, intimate meal had been fulfilled.
Our bill came to $153 and change and, in accordance with the impeccable service we received, we left a nice tip. Before heading out (we had other plans and wouldn't be returning for Wishes!) we did venture out onto the observation deck facing the Magic Kingdom. BF was surprised at how close we actually were to the park, the castle, etc. and we enjoyed the beautiful view. I pointed out the Polynesian (where I'd stayed in Sept. with a friend) and gave him some random factoids about Disney in general (he wouldn't actually consider himself a fan though, today, he said to me, "You know, maybe we SHOULD go together." HAHAHAHAHA VICTORY IS MINE!!!!! ::ahem:: I mean, yes, my love, I completely agree!
)Overall I really have no complaints AT ALL about our experience at the California Grill. It really was everything I could've asked for and more. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of our food but, finally being IN Disney with the man who'd vowed we'd probably never go, I didn't want to completely freak him out! LOL
The atmosphere was bustling and a little loud, but we had no trouble hearing each other. Though surrounded by families, we still found it romantic. The food was better than the menu could describe with words. Each new dish blew us away. The service, Billy in particular, was outstanding. Truly, the Cali Grill deserves the designation of a "Signature" dining experience and we look forward to dining there again...
you know...on that trip I'm slowly getting BF to commit to...
...next September...
...hopefully (fingers crossed) for Free Dining!
Say a little prayer for me!
