California Grill Menus

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I know Cali Grill isn't particularly flexible with its menus, but I was wondering just how flexible they are.

I have the banqueting menu, but can you choose items off the normal restaurant menu?

Could they make simple items such as Caesar salad, despite it not being on any of the menus?

I assume that you can 'mix and match' dishes - e.g. the polenta with chicken

Thanks!

 

[carisdcnj]

According to my paperwork, you cannot change it at all. I'm considering changing my venue, but love the view.

 

[carisdcnj]

The paperwork I have says specifically that it can not be changed. However, if you are having a brunch wedding, you can use the lunch menus.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

You can delete things from the existing menus (like we're not having the app.), but you can't substitute anything except in the case of dietary needs.

So you can't change the polenta from the chicken, but you could choose not to have the chicken.

We didn't ask about a salad, but we did request ice cream with our cake, and that was fine.... so it couldn't hurt... but that was an addition not a substitution.. yours may be seen as a substitution.

sorry to be the barer of bad news....

 

[padisneyfour]

That is my understanding as well no substitutions,,,,

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Wow - I knew they didn't let you have anything you want, like the GF for example, but I didn't know they were that inflexible.

I'd (wrongly) assumed that you could just substitute stuff and perhaps use the restaurant menu - we really want the filet with teriyaki sauce. Gah.

So you have to choose one of the banquet menus they offer?

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Unfortunately, yes.

The reasoning (I was told at least) is that they're a full resturant not a catering kitchen like GF, so it's much harder for them to honor requests. Since they might not always be able to offer additional options (like if you have an even reception when the resturant is open), they don't do it at all. The dishes on the banquet menus are simpler to make than the resturant items.

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Thanks Joanna - I guess I shouldn't just assume without asking! For some reason I thought we'd be OK choosing off the CG menu since it's at the CG and there's only 15 or so of us

Which menu have you chosen if you don't mind me asking? And do you know what the 'california style platters' are? I can't work out if you choose an entree, or if it's family style, or what!

Sorry for all the questions!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

No problem. When I first started looking there was like no information about the CG anywhere - and even less for an evening reception, so I'm happy to share what I've learned.

We're having a group of 30-50, so the rules made sense for us... With such a tiny group, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask - the worst they could say is no, which you're expecting anyway, right?

"California style" is "family style" not really sure why they don't just call it that... I think it's just to confuse you... I had to ask too

We chose the Healdsburg Dinner (we wanted the Calistoga, but our guest list of un-adventurous eaters made us choose this one - Salmon, Beef, and Chicken are pretty safe choices) which is normally $80 per person.

We added the
California Vegetable Wrap with Herb Aïoli ($6)
Petite Crab Cakes with Sauce Rémoulade ($10)
for the pre-reception - we're using both the Napa and Sonoma rooms, so we wanted 2 "events"

We're keeping the Assortment of Oven Baked Flatbreads and having them passed in the Pre-receptoon as well.

We cut out the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli as we know our guest list and though I think goat cheese is a gift from heaven, most people wouldn't, and since we added the passed items, we decided to cut that.

We also cut the Banana Bread Pudding, as we're having wedding cake.

The modified price of the Healdsburg dinner is $65 per person, plus the $16 from the pre-reception items, we're back to $80 - well okay - $81. So by adjusting things and spending an extra dollar, we're getting a menu that's much more us...

The menu thing was an issue for me at first too, becuase I liked peices of all of them, but wasn't sold on any of them, but being able to delete items, and add the "enhancements" really helped.

There is flexibility, but you have to work within their peramiters. If you're willing to get creative, I'm sure you can make it work...

For instance - if you like the teriyaki filet... what about adding the "Beef Skewers with Teriyaki Glaze" to be passed as an apetizer as guests enter? And then deleting one of the other courses?

Are you having a dinner or lunch reception?

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Thanks so much for that info Joanna!

We're having a lunch reception, but I really want 'dinner' food as opposed to a brunch. We're also using Sonoma and Napa as we wanted 2 events - I don't think we're allowed flatbreads for a lunch reception, which is a shame as their flatbreads are delicious. I was thinking of adding the crab cakes, egg rolls, vietnamese chicken and vegetable wraps instead as the pre-recp. but that's a great idea with the beef teriyaki as an appetizer!

Thank you for clearing up the California style thing! I'll ask about the restaurant menu - if I just get the Teriyaki sauce I'm happy... we'll just have to head back there another night!

That's actually a really great price! We'd probably cut out dessert too and serve wedding cake.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

No problem - I did tons of resarch and asked a billion and 4 questions, so I'm glad to help.

You are correct, flatbreads and sushi are offered after 5 only.

Though you didn't ask, I just wanted to tell you about the "vegetable wraps"... It seems like you're going for an Asian theme, and probally like me were thinking that they were like vietnamese spring rolls.... they're not. They are "pinwheel" style -tortilla-style wrap with cream cheese and veggies on the inside. Still good, but not what I was expecting - so I just wanted to pass that tidbit on to you.

Also, did you look at the Santa Clara lunch menu? It's the Healdsburg meal, but plated (not "California style"), and no salad or sorbet... but if your having so many apetizers, it might be good to have less food...plus it's like 1/2 price!

That's what we said too.... we decided that the reception food would be for the guests (not quail, or hearts of palm or exotic at all) and then when they leave, the rest of the honeymoon will be ours to be adventerous!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I agree - that Calistoga menu looks delicious! I would also love to have a fish course, but if a few guests don't like fish then I'm not sure what they'd do for that one! I wonder what mains they do for vegetarians?!

You know, I don't have the Santa Clara lunch menu! I have the Calistoga, Occidental, Petaluma and Healsburg!

Thanks for the tidbit about the vegetable wraps - I was wondering how they would look! We have at least 2 vegetarians in our party, so I figured I had better have something for them at the cocktail hour!

I really like the look of the Occidental (except for the salad!) but chicken and salmon might suit everyone better instead of pork and snapper! I am wondering about the semolina gnocci and farro wheat risotto though!!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

I agree - that Calistoga menu looks delicious! I would also love to have a fish course, but if a few guests don't like fish then I'm not sure what they'd do for that one! I wonder what mains they do for vegetarians?!

You know, I don't have the Santa Clara lunch menu! I have the Calistoga, Occidental, Petaluma and Healsburg!

Thanks for the tidbit about the vegetable wraps - I was wondering how they would look! We have at least 2 vegetarians in our party, so I figured I had better have something for them at the cocktail hour!

I really like the look of the Occidental (except for the salad!) but chicken and salmon might suit everyone better instead of pork and snapper! I am wondering about the semolina gnocci and farro wheat risotto though!!

If you have vegetarians, just tell them, and they'll make arrangements... that's concidered a "dietary restriction" I have one guest who has cilliac disease (allergic to gluten), and they're accomodating her.

If you PM me your email, I'd be happy to send you the lunch menus.

I just looked at them as gnocci and risotto... basically side dishes, the "semolina and farro wheat" just describe what kind of grains are being used. I think it's just to sound fancy. Then again I've never met a gnocci or risotto i didn't like, so I'm not too worried to begin with