Am I the only one who doesn't like Cali Grill?

[Mom2darlingboys]

I tried. I really did. Twice. Bit times were an epic fail. The food was okay, but not great. Service was VERY slow. Second time we were stuck in the back room so maybe that didn't help, but the atmosphere was abysmal - I have never seen or heard so many misbehaving children.

Now, we are not big sushi fans, so maybe that has something to do with it, but I feel like we are missing something. Are we the only ones to find Cali Grill disappointing?

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I find certain things disappointing. We've always had great service, great drinks, awesome flatbread, and wonderful sushi....BUT....I hate that they are always running behind (like 30 min avg from our experiences) with seating people, and every single visit, at least one of my food items is either avg or not good. It's hard to give it full on raves when my sushi appetizer was amazing, but the entree was poorly seasoned/salted (either barely any seasoning or salted to the point of being inedible). At this point, flatbread, sushi, drinks and desserts are the only things I trust on the menu.

 

[Skip3key]

We are big fans of Cali Grill and have eaten there 5 or 6 times in the last 5 years... Not every visit is a hit, and many times the service has been less then stellar, but if you make sure you are there during Wishes, the atmosphere can be downright magical and make up for any other shortcomings. We researched here on the boards to make sure to order food everyone raved about, and for the most part the food has not dissapointed. The filet has always been a favorite, and last time I had the Pork 2 ways which was delicious (but was eventually outdone by the pork we had at the Flying Fish later that week. Came to find out the Chef's from the 2 restaurants are good friends and always competing with each other). My wife had the ramen last visit and it is still the best thing she's ever eaten....ever (I'm not a seafood fan, so I can't comment). Other big winners are the Pork Nigri rolls and the goat cheese ravioli.

 

[mevelandry]

Loved the view... But that was it. We've ordered two appetizers and a dessert, was disappointed with all of them.

 

[squeezle]

Not a fan either. Been there twice and both were a bust in different ways. The first time, I had a horrible MSG reaction to something in the appetizer and was unable to enjoy the rest of the meal. The second visit, we were seated behind someone wearing flashing/strobing Minnie-Ears which gave DP a major headache and the extreme distraction made it hard to enjoy the meal. I ask the other guest politely to turn the off because they were bothering us, and that only lasted about three minutes. After than, we asked our server and the manager several time for help to get them turned off, but no one was willing to ask the other guest to turn them off. The manager actually got very defensive and rude with us.

Either way, we might go back for cocktails, but never again for dinner.

 

[100acreHiker]

We had an excellent view, but we were there on the early side. The food was good, but not great (we had a better dinner that trip at both Le Cellier and BOG dinner, which I wasn't expecting). Everyone was nice and they took us on time, BUT, dessert came out undercooked/raw (banana fritters) and it was absolutely freezing the whole time. Like intolerably cold. I shivered the whole time and eventually, my kids and I left and my husband stayed to pay the bill. So not the magical time we had hoped for. I'd go to the bar and try the sushi, but I would rather put my money towards a meal at Hollywood Brown Derby or Citricos.

 

[DWillowBay]

I wish the menu appealed to me. I've had several chances to dine there, but always opted for other venues with a more attractive menu. I'm sure others like it just fine. Not my cup of tea.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I'm sorry you don't like it. We have been there 4 or 5 times. Love the saki martinis and the wine list as well as the cheese tray and the spicy tuna roll. The service has always been great. By we always go after 9 in anticipation of 10 pm fireworks. Last time we had a table right at the window and didn't even have to go outside to watch. The one downside are the loud and obnoxious children but unfortunately Disney can't control bad parents. It seems like most of the table service restaurants have a collection of rude, undisciplined brats. I have three of my own and two grandkids so I love kids that know how to behave. After I got hit in the leg by a plastic sword twice at my last dinner at CG, I turned around and took it away from a 9 or 10 year old kid. The parents didn't even notice. I gave him the look and whispered to him he could have it back before he left. He gulped and nodded and ate his dinner. After a few min I passed it back to him and he put it on the floor under his chair. Again his parents didn't even notice. Parents love to helicopter unless it interferes with their good time.

 

[Lee Matthews]

I'm getting married at WDW on my next trip and I've got California Grill as our evening meal (also on DDP)

I've heard so great things about it but for me, I need it to be perfect

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

Well, glad (and not glad) to hear that we are not alone. I just wish they could nail it.

And the misbehaving kids... I'm not sure why, but I don't recall any real issues anywhere else in Disney. I mean, it's Disney. There will be tired and cranky kids. But I certainly would be respectful of others and not take THAT child to a high end restaurant and expect anything short of disaster for everyone around me. But I agree... Too many parents fixated on their own good time. Or just plain worn out!

 

[robinb]

We go every trip. California Grill is my DD's favorite for the veggie sushi.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

There are certainly a lot of CG lovers. For the price, though, I'm not sure the value is there for us. I'd really like to see them step up their game.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

I'm getting married at WDW on my next trip and I've got California Grill as our evening meal (also on DDP)

I've heard so great things about it but for me, I need it to be perfect

Lee Matthews, have you considered Narcoossees or Citricos? We have had a better and far more consistent experience with both.

 

[robinb]

There are certainly a lot of CG lovers. For the price, though, I'm not sure the value is there for us. I'd really like to see them step up their game.

I would say that's true of most WDW restaurants.

 

[disneymom06]

First visit to CG was in the back room and was great. Dinner courses were paced nicely, our waiter was very attentive and appetizers, main courses and dessert were terrific. No sushi or alcohol as I was with two teens. Second visit, nice but lacking. The meal felt rushed, the main course was brought out when we were outside viewing wishes. Mine was too salty that I couldn't eat it. This time there were 6 of us dining. While the view is fantastic, the meal did not warrant what the cost was. I did not expect such as difference from our last visit.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

Victims again of their own success?

 

[olliesmom]

We enjoy California Grill, but primarily for the overall experience. We've had some amazing dishes and some disappointing dishes and do stick primarily to flatbreads, sushi and the filet, dishes we know they do well and we enjoy. I think we've lucked out with table placement every time as we have always ended up with a window table and time it so that we are there during Wishes. To us, that is a huge part of the experience and one that cannot be duplicated elsewhere.

I think one of the things that encourages us to give CG another shot even when we have had disappointing food has been the location and atmosphere. We have also had inconsistent meals at Narcoosee's, Citricos and Artist Point (just to compare other MK-area signature restaurants) and I think the issue there that because the focus really is more on the food than the view and overall experience, it has more of an impact. Whereas when we are at CG, we can still totally enjoy our evening because it feels so special despite a bad menu pick.

I would say it is our favourite signature restaurant because while we can get equal or better food at home at most of the signature restaurants in Disney, there is just nowhere else that we can watch the sun set over the MK, see the lights boats, ferries and electric water pageant float across Seven Seas Lagoon and then view Wishes from our table.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

I would say it is our favourite signature restaurant because while we can get equal or better food at home at most of the signature restaurants in Disney, there is just nowhere else that we can watch the sun set over the MK, see the lights boats, ferries and electric water pageant float across Seven Seas Lagoon and then view Wishes from our table.

While we are not mad about the offset fireworks from the angle viewed at CG (I'm a Main Street gal!), I will wholeheartedly agree that the view is great. I think that is why we keep trying... Maybe one more chance!

 

[Chae]

I've been twice - once in 2014 and once this past February. Neither were my favorite!

 

[ashmarie06]

We went there the night after we got engaged and had a reservation time that allowed us to see wishes. It is a beautiful place and we had amazing service. That being said- the food was in my opinion not worth the hefty price tag. But I would probably give it another chance if the situation arose.