California Grill - Dinner or Brunch?

[mernin]

We are trying new restaurants on our upcoming trip and this is one that is on my list. Both menus look delicious so I’m having an issue deciding which reservation to keep as I just found one for Sunday brunch as well as the dinner on we had booked (7:15 pm so I believe we will be there for fireworks). We will have the DDP (very long shot but we may get DxDP, and if so we’ll keep both reservations) for my family - myself, DH, DD10 & DD5.

If you’ve been to both, which is your favourite - dinner or brunch?

 

[Keels]

I prefer dinner as my one brunch was lackluster - that said, it was the second weekend it was ever offered so I need to go back to try it again.

But I always enjoy dinner at Cali!

 

[Fangorn]

My experience:
Dinner is wonderful. Brunch is stellar.

If you do brunch, you are allowed back that evening for fireworks if that's something you want to do.

Steve

 

[mernin]

Brunch would be our departure day, so it’s that or hang at the hotel until checkout, head to Disney Prings for lunch then to the airport. We don’t have a park ticket for that day.

 

[JZCubed]

We are trying new restaurants on our upcoming trip and this is one that is on my list. Both menus look delicious so I’m having an issue deciding which reservation to keep as I just found one for Sunday brunch as well as the dinner on we had booked (7:15 pm so I believe we will be there for fireworks). We will have the DDP (very long shot but we may get DxDP, and if so we’ll keep both reservations) for my family - myself, DH, DD10 & DD5.

If you’ve been to both, which is your favourite - dinner or brunch?

We stay at Bay Lake and eat at CA Grill for at least one meal each vacation.

Dinner is not only hit-or-miss, the place can get loud and/or you can be seated in that back room without a view of Magic Kingdom.

Brunch is far less crowded and noisy (so you can hear the live music). I do not believe that the back dining room had people seated there, and the place was 'sold out'.

BRUNCH.

P.S. Plan on leaving with your dessert to save for later. You can use your brunch receipt to return for fireworks.

 

[ctipp79]

I did both on our last visit. Had an amazing experience at both. Brunch tho gave a little more to me. It was quieter for one and just completely relaxed. Plus the Bloody Mary was phenomenal lol

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I have a reservation for brunch this coming Sunday and I'm curious, are the mimosas bottomless? I only see bloody mary and I'm not a fan. I don't want to pay $80 for brunch if I have to also pony up for drinks.

Thank you.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I have a reservation for brunch this coming Sunday and I'm curious, are the mimosas bottomless? I only see bloody mary and I'm not a fan. I don't want to pay $80 for brunch if I have to also pony up for drinks.

Thank you.

Haven't been there yet but have read several reviews that say yes the mimosas are bottomless.

 

[punkin712]

I have a reservation for brunch this coming Sunday and I'm curious, are the mimosas bottomless? I only see bloody mary and I'm not a fan. I don't want to pay $80 for brunch if I have to also pony up for drinks.

Thank you.

Yes - they serve bottomless mimosas. According to some guests who have been to brunch more recently, there is also another bottomless drink available but I can't remember what it was.

 

[Aela]

Dinner was such a disappointment! Do brunch!!!!

 

[BK2014]

Yes - they serve bottomless mimosas. According to some guests who have been to brunch more recently, there is also another bottomless drink available but I can't remember what it was.

We were there for brunch on January 21, 2018. The bottomless mimosas that we were offered were not traditional mimosas. Ours consisted of champagne with little "boba perls" filled with berry juice. It came with a large bore straw through which you could suck up the perls and pop them in your mouth. It was hard to get a good mix of the champagne and berry flavors. I would have preferred traditional mimosas. However, I did not inquire if those were available as bottomless drinks instead.

That being said, we really enjoyed the brunch. The food was great and the view was great. However, I am still think the price might be a little high.

 

[OhThePain]

We have never been impressed with dinner, before or after the overhaul a couple of years ago. Don't get me wrong, it's better than most 1TS restaurants, but we find it to be underwhelming as a Signature. It just doesn't quite hit its mark. With that being said, we are looking forward to our Sunday Brunch there in a few weeks.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

Yes - they serve bottomless mimosas. According to some guests who have been to brunch more recently, there is also another bottomless drink available but I can't remember what it was.

Thank you, and just to be sure, you get the bottomless mimosas AND your one free signature drink? I know I sound like an alcoholic but it's just me and my husband and I want the breakfast to be worth it. Thanks.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

We were there for brunch on January 21, 2018. The bottomless mimosas that we were offered were not traditional mimosas. Ours consisted of champagne with little "boba perls" filled with berry juice. It came with a large bore straw through which you could suck up the perls and pop them in your mouth. It was hard to get a good mix of the champagne and berry flavors. I would have preferred traditional mimosas. However, I did not inquire if those were available as bottomless drinks instead.

That being said, we really enjoyed the brunch. The food was great and the view was great. However, I am still think the price might be a little high.

Something about boba makes me want to gag. Not a fan. LOL

 

[gillep]

This thread encouraged me to try to find a reservation for brunch for our April trip, I have been searching periodically for a couple of days and just found a 10:30am reservation, this will be the perfect post star wars half marathon experience for my husband! I am not a fan of California Grill dinner at all, but I have high hopes for brunch.

 

[punkin712]

Something about boba makes me want to gag. Not a fan. LOL

LOL! I've never had boba, but it does seem a little strange to put it in champagne (which normally isn't drunk through a straw). Maybe this new drink is still in test mode We're going back for brunch at the end of May. The last few times, they have only offered the standard mimosas so I'm hoping those are still available.

 

[Brer Brian]

What is the best dinner item at Cali Grill?

 

[goofyintoronto]

Dinner is not only hit-or-miss, the place can get loud and/or you can be seated in that back room without a view of Magic Kingdom.

This is so true. I've been to CG a few times since the refurb, and all my meals have been disappointing. And wow is it loud in there! People complain about Via Napoli being loud, i think its much worse here. Not a big fan of dinner, so i say go for Brunch.

 

[HolRae]

I prefer brunch. Last time I was there I enjoyed the boba mimosas. I think that the mimosas are the only cocktails included. The bloody Mary’s are extra.

 

[Dean Marino]

BOTH.
All personal opinion - I'm not necessarily right, no one else is necessarily wrong