California Grill - Appropriate Attire?

[Kimmer322]

Can anyone tell me if this is a fancy place or casual or what would be appropriate attire?? I have early dinner reservations and want to make sure I leave enough time to head back to my resort to dress up or clean up and make myself presentable! Thanks

 

[stinkerbelle]

From what our server said to us on 1/20, they are starting to switch over to a more "business casual" dress code. (no more "park attire" as in the past). This was news to us.

Personally - it's such a fancy restaurant, IMO, that one should make an effort and wear something apporpriate.

 

[lillygator]

I have seen everything in there....personally - it is such an excellent meal and nice atmosphere we always dress up when we go. But then we like to dress up!

 

[nhpooh]

When we go DH will wear a polo shirt with a nice pair of pants, and I will were nice top with a pair of Capri's (sorry about the spelling).

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

ladies will feel like they fit in if they wear a skirt, summer dress, or blouse with khakis
gentlemen typically wear khakis with a top that does not have logos or writing on them.
Jacket and tie not required.
I would steer clear of jeans and shorts with t-shirts.

 

[sanibelover]

They told us "business casual" or some such name, BUT folks had on absolutley everything except maybe bathing suits. LOTS of kids there late into the night also.............

 

[Uncleromulus]

That's about it--they "prefer" business casual", but absent a bathing suit or a tank-top on men, most anything else will get you in.
And don't feel that there's going to be some "dress code" committee at the door to look you over when you arrive. No one will even give you a second glance.
Bottom line-dress how you want to. If dressing up a bit for dinner is what you prefer--do it. If not, it's just fine. Based on our previous trips to CG, the % of what people wear seems to be 75% "business casual" and 25% theme park casual. On occasion is the odd duck with a jacket, but most trips there's no one with a coat/tie. When we did see such dress, it seemd to be a "locals" special occasion--.

 

[MrsTink04]

They have changed up CG recently. They are requesting business casual dress. (though we go for my B'day, so I dress up a little special for it) Also, they are making patrons check in on the 2nd floor and are escorted to the restaurant. With this info in mind, I am sure they are cracking down on everything inclusing attire.

 

[BCV23]

While they changed the seating procedure and now use the term business casual, I don't think the dress has changed at all in reality.

In fact when I made our PS for our next trip and was told business casual, I asked what that meant. It was the same old line...no tank tops, no swimwear. Like Uncleromulus, we've dined there many times. His description is right on IMHO.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Mrstink:
I can't imagine them wanting to turn away at least 25% of their business. If you are right and there IS a crack-down, then CG has probably seen the last of Uncleromulus (of which I'm sure they could care less).
WDW is a place where lots of folks are coming and going to the Theme parks, etc and casual dress is the norm for them. Worrying about "looking good" at the CG is probably the last thing on their minds---

 

[MrsTink04]

Unclero...I was just guessing that since you have to be escorted into the restaurant after checking in that they are not just letting everybody (from the pools, parks, etc. just roam on up there) The CM I talked to did specifically say "No jeans", but just like anything else, this CM could have been misinformed or embellishing the fact that CG is ONLY allowing CG patrons in there and that they require business casual attire. I am ONLY repeating what the CM told me. I will be there next Friday (2/11). I will be happy to give you the"skinny" when we get back.

By the way...the CM I spoke with was a talker!!! She could have been overzealous!

 

[IWANNAGOBACK!]

are they escorting only for The Grill, cause we always dress up and just go to the lounge for atmosphere and flat bread pizza and one of their great martini's
will we still be able to do that?

 

[ducklite]

Yes. If the lounge is full they will not allow you up. you will be welcome to wait for a table, however if someone with a PS for dinner gets there and wants to sit at the bar or a lounge table prior to dining they will get priority over you.

Anne

 

[justhat]

We missed our flight homefrom a cruise from Ft. Lauderdale on 1/2/05 and had to drive to Orlando and fly out the next morning, so what better place to eat than our favorite restaurant, CG! We called Disney dining on the drive to Orlando and they had a 7:40ps at CG (told us about the business casual), so we took it, thinking we'd get to Orlando around 5, check-in at the airport hotel, change, go eat (we were dressed like you would be after a cruise when all your luggage is taken the night before and you just keep out something comfy to travel in). Well there were a few accidents and lots of traffic on the FL Turnpike so we ended up going straight to Disney, wearing what we had on, old jeans, sweats, t-shirts. We checked in on the 2nd floor and were brought straight up to our table. Not one CM looked at what we were wearing and my infant daughter was the best dressed in her fleece Disney outfit. It wasn't exactly how we wanted to look, but they didn't care. Ordinarily when we eat there, we often go straight from the parks. Sometimes we go back and change, but most often not, and we've never been given a 2nd glance.

 

[sanibelover]

They are requesting "business casual" when you make PS, but I think as long as you are not nude, they will let you in. They met us at 2 and took us up as well as folks who had just returned from one of the parks complete with shorts and flip flops. Of course, there were many nicely dressed people there. It's funny how you don't feel out of place in a Disney restaurant if you are dressed up or dressed down.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Mrstink:
The new escort up policy was put in place to keep the hundreds of would-be "fireworks only" viewers out of the restaurant. Before, anyone could just come up to the CG and stand around waiting for the fireworks. It made for a HUGE mess!!
Will await your report from dinner on 2/11!!

And tho I have somewhat of a passion for this dress code thing, I am far more concerned how people (and their children) BEHAVE at a restaurant rather than how they look. How people are dressed has never really bothered me, but loud, rude, or drunk restaurant patrons (irrespective of dress), or those who seem totally unwilling to control kids, have sometimes disrupted my meals.