Artist Point or Cali Grill?

[Mousemommy1]

We've never eaten at either, the kiddos will go to a kids club and DH and I will have our 10th anniversary dinner alone We currently have ressies at Cali Grill, but since we are staying at WL, I feel we should consider Artist Point for the convenience factor...but how do they compare food wise? Would you chose Artist Point or Cali Grill for a delicious romantic meal??

 

[btk2333]

Both! Haha just kidding (although my wife and I did AP for a 530 dinner and CG for a 945 dinner/desert/Wishes! for our anniversary this year); however, I would pick CG if I were choosing just one. We LOVED AP; however, the view from CG is great and there are so many great options on the menu. I think CG is just a little more romantic, and it really isn't much of a hassle to get from WL to CR. Enjoy your anniversary dinner!

 

[wyonative78]

I have eaten at both restaurants twice, and I enjoyed Cali Grill more both times. Service, ambiance, and food at Cali Grill were on a totally different level than Artist Point. It just feels more special and refined to me.

If you're looking for romance, request the wine room at Cali Grill. It's much quieter than the main dining room.

 

[Pakey]

I have dined at both many times. Artist Point is definitely quieter but since I'm a sushi lover, I'd pick Ca Grill. Excluding sushi, I think the food quality and service are on the same level at both; it depends on which menu appeals more.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Ok, thanks all! I think we'll just stick with our Cali Grill ressie, that wine room sounds fantastic, I'll have to ask for that! Plus, I think the little boat ride from WL to CR could add to the romance.

 

[bedogged]

We've never eaten at either, the kiddos will go to a kids club and DH and I will have our 10th anniversary dinner alone We currently have ressies at Cali Grill, but since we are staying at WL, I feel we should consider Artist Point for the convenience factor...but how do they compare food wise? Would you chose Artist Point or Cali Grill for a delicious romantic meal??

Do Artist Point. CG is LOUD, so loud that often, especially near Wishes, you can't hear yourself think. Artist Point is quiet. The food in both places is good.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

(AP is far better than CG. CG does not even make our Top-5
list of eateries at WDW.)

Our Ratings of Artist Point: (rev 9/16/2011)
. . . food price value: B
. . . food quality: B
. . . food quantity per serving: B
. . . food prep speed: C
. . . food selection: B
. . . seating quantity: B
. . . seating comfort: A
. . . eatery atmosphere: B
. . . eatery convenience: B
. . . staff friendliness: A
. . . staff attentiveness: B
. . . character interaction: n/a

NOTE: Artist Point was a highly respected and highly touted
eatery in the 90's. Since that time it changed, and the food,
quality and menu uniqueness began to pale. They have lately
made changes to revive the quality of the food, the menu, and
service. It is getting really close to the reputation of the past. It
has now replaced Bistro de Paris on our list of eateries that we
patronize. And, we only eat at five of them.

As a postscript, if you eat there, get a window table. The view of
courtyard and lake are grand and romantic, versus just looking
at the rest of the dining room. Also, arrive early and have a drink
in the Territory Lounge. It and Mizner's are probably the two bars
at WDW for serenity, civility and atmosphere.

 

[Mousemommy1]

(AP is far better than CG. CG does not even make our Top-5
list of eateries at WDW.)

Our Ratings of Artist Point: (rev 9/16/2011)
. . . food price value: B
. . . food quality: B
. . . food quantity per serving: B
. . . food prep speed: C
. . . food selection: B
. . . seating quantity: B
. . . seating comfort: A
. . . eatery atmosphere: B
. . . eatery convenience: B
. . . staff friendliness: A
. . . staff attentiveness: B
. . . character interaction: n/a

NOTE: Artist Point was a highly respected and highly touted
eatery in the 90's. Since that time it changed, and the food,
quality and menu uniqueness began to pale. They have lately
made changes to revive the quality of the food, the menu, and
service. It is getting really close to the reputation of the past. It
has now replaced Bistro de Paris on our list of eateries that we
patronize. And, we only eat at five of them.

As a postscript, if you eat there, get a window table. The view of
courtyard and lake are grand and romantic, versus just looking
at the rest of the dining room. Also, arrive early and have a drink
in the Territory Lounge. It and Mizner's are probably the two bars
at WDW for serenity, civility and atmosphere.

Thanks for the review...silly question for you...does it have a simple filet on the menu?? I see the buffalo steak and the beef tenderloin...what about a regular steak...DH likes stuff simple...

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Thanks for the review...silly question for you...does it have a simple filet on the menu?? I see the buffalo steak and the beef tenderloin...what about a regular steak...DH likes stuff simple...

The tenderloin was basically a hand-cut filet. It was simply served with potatoes, veggies, and peppercorn butter (which he could probably get on the side if he prefers). Here's a pic of it from the summer:

I also prefer Artist Point over California Grill. AP has a tranquil, more relaxing atmosphere, and there's some calming background music. California Grill is much noisier and more hectic - I find it's harder to have a conversation there because I can barely hear the person across from me. Also, I like AP's food more. It's inspired by the Pacific Northwest (seafood, buffalo, berries, mushrooms, other veggies, etc) and the dishes range from simple to creative flavor combinations.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Wow! That looks really yummy!

 

[Karlzmom]

We had a "date night" on our last trip in Dec and went with AP as we were also staying a WL and used the cub-den for our DS. What a disappointment! I had really thought long and hard about the restaurant choice and it was really nothing special. It started with our being seated in an undesireable location on the entryway, even though we were one of the 1st parties seated for the evening. When I asked about another seat such a fuss was made about it, that I ended up saying "nevermind"...I wouldn't want to put them out, you know

They had of course changed the menu and the one appetizer that I had wanted wasn't on the menu [I know the menu changes regularly, and I'm not really holding it against them, but sharing in the interest of full disclosure]

Our server was "meh" at best. The whole evening just felt "off"...like the staff was phoning it in. Dinner was only OK, certainly nothing to write home about and really in the bottom half of the dinners we ate while on the trip. We skipped dessert...

Now, our night at Cali Grill was a whole different experience. 1st class treatment all the way. The evening felt "special", the service was superb and the food was incredible. I enjoyed my dinner so much that I got the recipe and made it for Christmas Eve dinner! Cali Grill is now on our "must do" list for future trips and we lamented that we had done multiple trips before we had tried it...ah, the wasted opportunities!

No contest between Cali Grill and AP, in my mind...not even in the same category....

 

[my2disneyboys]

Our 10th anniversary is May 2013 and we will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge. I just started thinking about where we would have our 10th anniversary dinner and we will be doing the deluxe dining- so I think both cali grill and AP will be on our plan that week. Wasnt sure which to do alone (while the kids are in the den) So this thread is very helpful to me too!!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

Our 10th anniversary is May 2013 and we will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge. I just started thinking about where we would have our 10th anniversary dinner and we will be doing the deluxe dining- so I think both cali grill and AP will be on our plan that week. Wasnt sure which to do alone (while the kids are in the den) So this thread is very helpful to me too!!!

Glad it could help, since your WL one assisted in making my final decision for our July trip. . Loved your tripadvisor review too. And I noticed...we are neighbors!

 

[my2disneyboys]

Glad it could help, since your WL one assisted in making my final decision for our July trip. . Loved your tripadvisor review too. And I noticed...we are neighbors!

Thank you!!! I am so eager to hear how your trip goes- I hope you will do a Trip Report! So I can get some tips from you. I want to make our 10th anniversary really special!!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

Thank you!!! I am so eager to hear how your trip goes- I hope you will do a Trip Report! So I can get some tips from you. I want to make our 10th anniversary really special!!!

I hear you! This trip in July is our 10th anniversary trip, so I'm trying to make it super awesome. I've bounced around with resort ideas constantly, but it finally came down to Poly and WL, as those are the two we said we'd come back to for our 10th anniversary, when we were staying at All Star Sports on our honeymoon We've been perfectly happy at our values ever since but wanted to step it up this trip. Something about WL just speaks to me, it actually seems more intimate than the Poly, and I actually like the room decor more. I am thinking we will stick with Cali Grill this trip, as we've never done it before, and those rumors of it closing at the end of the year...

 

[MartyM]

CG has been a complete madhouse the 2 times I've been. AP was wonderful on all counts, drinks, food, service, atmosphere. At CG, food was great, but server and bartender were meh. It was a complete nuthouse, even after wishes was over.

If I were doing CG again, I'd go on a non-wishes night and make sure that I'm seated in the wine room.

 

[Mousemommy1]

CG has been a complete madhouse the 2 times I've been. AP was wonderful on all counts, drinks, food, service, atmosphere. At CG, food was great, but server and bartender were meh. It was a complete nuthouse, even after wishes was over.

If I were doing CG again, I'd go on a non-wishes night and make sure that I'm seated in the wine room.

I am definitely going to see if we can get the wine room, but if we can't, we are not the type to be bothered by a loud environment, so I'm sure we'll be fine.

 

[bedogged]

I am definitely going to see if we can get the wine room, but if we can't, we are not the type to be bothered by a loud environment, so I'm sure we'll be fine.

Good, because we have been seated in the wine room several times and never noticed a difference in how loud it is. It is all in whom you are seated with. Also, with us, it never was a problem with loud children, it always was with large adult groups that had been drinking. We like CG a lot, but it is not a quiet romantic restaurant.

 

[my2disneyboys]

I think I decided that we will do Artist Point the night the kids are at the cub's den and then go to Cali Grill with the kids. Last time we were there, I thought it was a great place to go for a really good meal and didn't feel uncomfortable with the kids because it was loud, but it was beautiful, and the service was wonderful and the food was great. The kids got this "sushi" for dessert and it was rice krispy treats with swedish fish- they still talk about our dinner at Cali grill!! When the fireworks were going off we went out on the patio with our wine and it was really romantic- kids and all!

 

[kelleigh1]

We are doing both on our upcoming October trip, so I love reading all the opinions and reviews. And since we don't have kids, we don't have to worry about doing one with and one without. Good luck choosing. I'm not sure that I could.