California Grill- go for food or fireworks?

[dreaming4disney]

I know CG gets some good reviews, but I was wondering if its the atmosphere and fireworks that is the main draw or is the food really good and worth the prices they charge.....

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

It's the food. The fireworks are a draw that really irritates the staff.

 

[madalex]

I know CG gets some good reviews, but I was wondering if its the atmosphere and fireworks that is the main draw or is the food really good and worth the prices they charge.....

The food is really good and I would go for that, rather than for a view of the fireworks.

 

[dreaming4disney]

Thanks for the quick reply. I really want to eat here if the food is good. My husband thinks that maybe the food is just ok and that people just go for the fireworks. The menu looks interesting though......

 

[jennylyn_b]

Absolutely hands down the food! Sure the fireworks are nice but the food is such an experience. worth every penny for us. Enjoy!

 

[SusieBea]

The food is excellent, and the view is wonderful even without the fireworks. The service is also very good.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Honestly, I don't even like the fireworks view from CG since it's from an odd angle. But I think the food is very good, in particular the sushi, appetizers, and chicken/seafood dishes I've had.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have actually never been there for the fireworks so it mut be the food

 

[Uncleromulus]

The food is certainly worth the visit.

But it must be said that a large # of folks seem much more interested in seeing the fireworks, and how little they can get by with while eating at CG.

 

[Pakey]

We prefer to dine here late, after the fireworks. The restaurant almost goes back to the way it was in the old days before it became the darling of the fireworks viewing. The place empties out, it becomes a quiet, adult, almost romantic meal.

The sushi here is very good. I'm not sure the rest of the menu is worth putting up with the zoo this place is before fireworks.

 

[pixiesnake]

We went last year for the first time mostly for the view of the fireworks. We are returning this year for the food.

The food was fabulous - everything from the appetizers and sushi to the dessert was wonderful. We also really enjoyed the view in general. We had a clear night and you could see most of Disney World from up there. The sunset was gorgeous.

As far as the fireworks go, I prefer the view from the beach at Poly. The angle of the view from CG isn't the best.

 

[janeapplemeadow]

I agree with Pakey, I love the food and usually book an early reservation to avoid the fireworks crowd. I can always go back to watch them as long as I have my dinner reciept. While the fireworks are an impressive view for a first-timer, I much prefer the view from Main Street. So for me, it is definitely the food!

 

[dreaming4disney]

I think we will definitely try this one this time. Thanks for the help everyone. I believe I have 7:30pm ADR but maybe an earlier time would be better. We are staying at BLT so the fireworks viewing isn't a draw for us. I just want a nice place to eat and the menu looks good for all of us.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I like the food and the fireworks! It's not my favorite view of the fireworks, but it's different enough for me to keep going back. In April DSis and I ate in a little room off to the right side in the back, and wow the view was spectacular and the ambiance wonderful.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

2009-2010 we had fantastic meals here. We saw fireworks once while waiting on our table--but the food was just great. We went in March and May this year. March, my order was wrong and our server was not as "on" as previous times. In May, we had a terrible server with an attitude, I went through 3 terribly cut steaks before I told them to just forget it. Although he loves his sushi--we'll wait a bit until we'll be back. He was very upset with how I was treated, and the quality of my food. It's no longer on our "must-do" list.

 

[cmwilson523]

We have had wonderful meals there - as well as one that (for me) was a real clunker. It really had more to do with the server who was just trying too hard. He told us to "just relax" at least 20 times (no exaggeration) before even bringing our drinks. It was all I could do not to say "I was relaxed until you told me to relax this many times!" Plus, he kept pushing me to get a chardonnay, and gave me this really irritating "wow, you women almost always get charddonay - do you know what that wine is?" response when I ordered a different white wine. As you can tell I probably don't react well to "you women always do X" kinds of comments - plus, don't insult me by suggesting that I don't know what I am ordering when I choose a wine.

After that I was not really up on going back, but we did and we had a fabulous server: Billy. He was pleasant and friendly, there when we needed him but not hovering when we were talking or eating, knowledgeable about the meals and the wine list.

The sushi is great, and the food is delicious. They do a wonderful job with adapting the menu to seasonal ingredients, and coming up with some unexpected options without being so out there that a less adventurous eater would be turned off by the place.

We try to eat there early to avoid the crowd that is coming just for fireworks. I agree with the previous poster that it isn't really the best location for fireworks - plus I am admittedly sort of a snob when it comes to restaurant dress codes (especially when they tell you about it when you make the reservation), and it drives me crazy to be there when people are rolling in from the parks in grubby, messy clothes for a place like this. I get irritated that the CMs don't enforce the dress code, even after they make the people at Central Reservations rattle off the list of what is not accepted in the restaurant. (Let the "we are on vacation and should be able to wear what we want" flames begin!)

 

[minniebeth]

I think it's the total package that we like. The food is very good, they have a nice wine list, and the service is usually very good. Personally, I love viewing the fireworks from inside the MK better, it's not the best most fabulous view of them, but for me it's really cool to have a view of all of the MK area, including the MK resorts, transporation, etc. We love pointing out all the things we love from a nighttime bird's eye view. It's a different, unique experience, and that's why I like it.

Personally, I really love to watch the sunset from the CG the most, if you can go for dinner then and be fortunate enough to have a window table facing the MK, it really is quite beautiful!

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have been 3 times and it is always because of the food...we go to MK after dinner and watch the fireworks in the park

 

[beautyqueen]

What time should an ADR be if you want to avoid all the fireworks crowd?

 

[sotoalf]

Around six.