Calif Grille - My take

[PieInYourEye]

I think there's been some terrible mistake, I think I was supposed to be born rich!

The food is amazingly wonderful!

We started with the flatbread with triple garlic. (9.00) Very tasty!

I had the tuna filet ($23.00), my date had the swordfish ($27.00). Both were outstanding. The flavor was amazing and the portions were plenty.

The view of the MK fireworks was terrific!

We ended by sharing the chocolate banana bread pudding ($9.00)and coffee ($1.75) espresso ($4.00) . Absolutely wonderful.

The down side for me...

1. I was hoping/expecting a wonderfully romantic dinner. This was the noisiest place I'd been all weekend.

2. The tables were set lovely, then they ruin the atmosphere by putting a paper table covering over the table... cut just to the table top... it was most annoying and everytime I moved my arm, the paper came with it. I thought it was a poor, poor thing for this restaurant to do.

The bill with 3 glasses of wine at $7.75 each: $123.00

Our server was Steven B. and he was very nice. He especially enjoyed sharing his knowledge of wine.

 

[Krissalee]

Thanks for the review. I am looking forward to eating at California Grill in just 2 weeks!

The paper on the tables does surprise me. Is there a tablecloth under the paper?

 

[Muffy]

I enjoyed reading your review!

 

[PieInYourEye]

Yes, there is a table cloth underneath the paper topping. It just seems like such a cheap thing to do in what is generally an elegant setting. I jotted a thank you to the CM on ours.

I guess admittedly, the paper was a nice coloring surface for those who brought their kids.

 

[antnee]

could this be another cost cutting move?????

 

[PieInYourEye]

Absolutely. They don't actually have to change the table cloth, just the paper... or provide paper place mats for children.

Perhaps its just me, but I thought it was tacky for the setting and for the price.

 

[Samsma]

How kid friendly (or not) is the CG?

 

[PieInYourEye]

Oh, it's very kid friendly! Just not couple out on a romantic date friendly.

Kids were especially excited about seeing the fireworks... so much so that parents brought them to our window table and stood in front of my date's chair so that he could not see so well. LOL But we just laughed it off... he's a champ and didn't have one complaint!

 

[Belle5]

If pressed about the paper issue, I'm sure CG would hide behind "trying to be environmentally friendly" or some such thing.
We also found it to be loud but the food pretty good. I've not been in a huge hurry to go back, though.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

CG and quiet dining don't generally go together, unless you ask to be seated in the "wine room" (or whatever they call it). You don't have the window view of the fireworks, but the noise level is much more conversation friendly.

Ralph

 

[BCV23]

I agree with Ralph...if you want a quiet dinner for adults only ask for the wine room. The main room is busy and noisy but the food is so good and the view is pretty special !

The tables in the main dining room have always had paper on them. I think it's just part of the flavor of the restaurant. The servers even write their names on it and it is fun for the kids. The tables in the wine room do not have the paper...at least they didn't last month when we enjoyed a great dinner there.

Glad you enjoyed your dinner. Our next is December 27 and I'm hoping that they still have that great beet appetizer!

 

[MamaQuack]

PieInYourEye,

We were there in early October - I asked that the paper be removed . . . and it was!!!!!!! I noticed that some tables had it and some did not. Our waiter could not have been more gracious. It was Friday night and we had left MNSSHP right before the 2nd parade. Our server immediately recognized we were 'hot, tired and HUNGRY'. We did not even have ps for this night and just took a chance. Bob, our waiter, took one look at us and immediately brough my son a Coke and me the wine list. He also produced within minutes several slices of divine flatbread to tide us over until we could place an order. He did all of this unasked and did not charge a penny. I then ordered a glass of wine and we ordered several appetizers and salads. He had heard my son and I discussing sushi (we love to eat it there). He asked my son if he would like to go back in the kitchen and meet the sushi chef - nirvana!!!!!!

I am so sorry you had an otherwise nice evening ruined by stupid paper that I personally think should not be there in the first place. I hope you get another chance to eat at CG and I hope you request they remove it!!!

 

[LKS]

You just reminded me, (I had forgotten), that our table wobbled. As I had the filet and was cutting, it made for quite a bit of movement during dinner. We didn't mention it to our server as we couldn't imagine what they'd do. (Get down on their knees and stick napkins under there to level it up?) The child at the table next to us sure loved that paper though. She colored every spot she could reach. I think they do it to be child-friendly. It was just about the noisiest place I've ever eaten, not a problem for us and we still had a good time.

 

[PieInYourEye]

Oh, please don't misunderstand me! This was a fabulous dinner and I am so very glad we did it.

I appreciated the view and the food far more than I was bothered by the paper. Steven was great and I have no doubt that if I had asked, he would have removed the paper... I just didn't think of it.

One funny thing about the desert... When he brought our dinner, he told us that if we were thinking of ordering the chocolate banana bread pudding that it would be best to do it now as it takes quite a while to prepare. Quite frankly, at that point I wasn't even thinking about desert, but we said "Sure, we'll split one." Just as Steven promised, it was an incredible desert!

I think I'd like to go back for a late night desert and coffee.

 

[jdkdorn]

We asked about the paper when we went 3 trips ago. We were told it is on there for 2 reasons;

1. Is is there for children to color on

2. In many restaurants in europe they have paper on the tables and the waiters write the orders on the table and figure the bill on the table. It is meant to be a form of atmosphere.

If you are looking for fine dining and romance you can do V & A's or the french restaurant in EPCOT. Both are great choices.

We go to the CG every visit, because the food is great and the view is spectacular. On our visit in 2000 we saw Tom Hanks, Robin Williams & John Goodman. I was told by our server that most of the "stars" eat there when they are in town for meetings with Disney.

 

[kityrussell]

When we ate at CG 2 years ago for my friend's bday dinner, they seated us in the wine room. She was really disappointed that she didn't get a view of MK until looked out the window and saw Illuminations in the distance. So the wine room, in my opinion, is the best seating for a semi-quiet dinner at CG. I think there are only four tables. You can see Illuminations AND the EWP. I agree it is a noisy restaurant - so is Flying Fish- but you can't beat the food and service.