California Grill, post 2014 renovation???

[imthemamahere]

My husband and I went to California Grill a few years back (2012, maybe?) and loved it. Food, atmosphere, fireworks, service - all terrific. And our son was treated well there, too.

Fast forward to our fall 2014 trip, and we heard such negative reviews of California Grill after its renovation, we took it off our list for that trip.

We're planning another trip for this fall, and wondering whether it's time to go back and try California Grill again. So please, if you've been since the renovation, weigh in and let me know what you think?

Thanks so much!

 

[dancemonkey]

We love California Grille! Some times the service is hit or miss. But I like it better than Narcooses. My new favorite it Jiko!

 

[goofy4prez]

I like the California Grill but I'm no longer in love with it like I once was. The sushi is still very good and the food I would say is inconsistent with being from fair to very good. What is really the big disappointment is two things; The service which I think is just ok and the dessert menu is a huge letdown for a signature restaurant. Of the signature restaurants that participate on the DDP I like Narcoossee's (favorite), Jiko, Artist Point, Flying Fish and Yachtsman Steakhouse all higher than I would CG. What a shame, because the view is simply fantastic.

 

[Eastern]

I agree that service is just ok and can be quite variable. Dessert menu is eh but we usually get a creme brulee and that is good. We usually do cocktails, apps and sushi.
What negative reviews are you concerned about?

 

[jrmasm]

Had a great meal in August of 2015. Waiter was fantastic in the early part of the meal and then had a table seated that was way more interesting than we were.

I'd go back without hesitation.

 

[Lisa F]

I went with my son in September 2014 in spite of the bad reviews and it was a great meal. We went right at opening, 5pm, which is my preferred time with a little kid. it is mostly families there and the wait isn't too long for anything (service slows down a bit when it gets busier, which is probably just fine for adults but a slightly quicker pace is actually better with my kiddo). The food was delicious as always. I had the spicy kazan roll, pork two ways and the seasonal dessert sampler, which is no longer on the menu. My cocktail was EXCELLENT, the sushi was great and so was the entree. The dessert 2 out of 3 were good, one was meh. Kiddo had a no-sauce pizza and rice krispie sushi and requested we go back on our next trip (it is in his top 2 along with Sci Fi Dine in so take that for what it's worth!)

Now I can't wait to go back!

 

[imthemamahere]

I agree that service is just ok and can be quite variable. Dessert menu is eh but we usually get a creme brulee and that is good. We usually do cocktails, apps and sushi.
What negative reviews are you concerned about?

There were a bunch of complaints posted to this board around September 2014 (I think), when California Grill re-opened after a fairly lengthy renovation. I also heard some complaints from friends who'd been to California Grill before the refurb and went after. Seemed a lot of people rushed to go back, assuming there would be no "growing pains" in the first months because it had been an established restaurant with high quality food and service. Many were unhappy, especially those who'd gone before the refurb and could compare the before/after. We chalked it up to growing pains and took it off our list for October 2014, figuring we'd rather enjoy both food and service elsewhere, if the Grill was struggling in its reopening phase. But it doesn't just seem to have been growing pains. Since then, I've seen several threads pop up where people complain/comment on about the inconsistent food and service - as some of the above comments indicate!

We love California Grille! Some times the service is hit or miss. But I like it better than Narcooses. My new favorite it Jiko!

Of the signature restaurants that participate on the DDP I like Narcoossee's (favorite), Jiko, Artist Point, Flying Fish and Yachtsman Steakhouse all higher than I would CG. What a shame, because the view is simply fantastic.

This time around, we aren't doing the dining plan, though we have several times in the past. We love Jiko, Artist Point (probably my favorite), Yachtsman Steakhouse (probably my husband's favorite) - all have been top-notch experiences every time we've gone. (Well, okay, we had a cranky waiter at Yachtsman last time we were there, but he was efficient, if unfriendly - we didn't let his attitude ruin our meal.) Haven't done Narcoosee's or Flying Fish - I'm not a seafood person, neither is my son, so those two just aren't my cup of tea...

It's good to hear some positive reviews here now, though. Thanks, all. I need to give California Grill some thought.

If anyone else has something to say about California Grill, I'm all ears....

 

[madalex]

I've been to CG at least three times since the renovation. I don't really like the new look of the place, but it's still a great restaurant with great views. I've not had issues with the service on any of those occasions. The food also remains top notch, although the portions do seem a bit smaller. If you haven't been in a while, it's well worth a visit.

 

[LuvDaisy&Minnie]

We went in November 2015 and loved it. Food was good, waiter was excellent, watching Wishes there was great, and we liked the overall atmosphere. I never went before the renovation so can't compare.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I agree that service can be a little spotty. We've been several times pre- and post-reno, and we continue to be happy with the food. Have an ADR there for August.

 

[LuvinDisney83]

Had wonderful meal/service in December 2015, even with a not so happy 1 year old! Our server was able to get our food out super quickly since my girl decided she didn't really want to sit and eat that night. Thank goodness for the ability to go out on the observation deck!

 

[SingingMom]

We went for the first time, post renovation. Loved the atmosphere. Service was terrible and wasn't thrilled with the food or the too few selections. We returned to sit in the lounge. Again, service spotty (server excellent, but she had way too many tables) and the atmosphere is beautiful. But I don't really like the offerings.

 

[prgal0715]

I had dinner at CG last August after not going for several years and it was wonderful. Our server was top-notch, the food was delicious and you can't beat the views! I didn't go back to watch Wishes as I was staying at CR and could watch them from my room, but that's certainly another perk. I'm going back this August and can't wait! Okay, I really can't wait for vacation in general, but CG will be a highlight!

 

[akadada]

We used to love it pre 2015. We've tried twice since the reno's and were very disappointed. If you benchmark to pre reno's it may disappoint. If you had never been, then I think it would be okay.

 

[Dean Marino]

Well, just our experience....

We've been going to the grill about 4 times per year since 2008.... last visit was Nov, 2015. We're booked TWICE April 2016.
We LOVE the place - both pre and post remodel. Food & service perfect (at least for us), ambiance perfect , busy? yes - (busy like a good restaurant in San Francisco).
Only reno item I noticed that was a looser was the BAR - everything way too high up for the staff . Dad was a Restaurant Manager in SF - he taught me these things .

The BOOTHS are actually very GOOD - if one gets booths. VERY common in San Francisco, and the CG booths are done well. Not everyone LIKES these things - we're just very used to them .

 

[kiford]

We never went to Cali Grill before the renos but we've been twice since and had really good times both times. Loved the food and had very attentive and friendly service. It's on my list of recurring places to go.

 

[mousegear]

We've been to CG several time pre-reno and post-reno. I think it really depends on who your server is and how busy the restaurant is at the time. We've had some spotty service at times but it doesn't contain to just CG. It's with any signature restaurants. However, we return to them because we love the food. We've dined in all signature restaurants at Disney and CG might not be our favorite restaurant (Jiko and Narcoosee's) but it's pretty high up.

 

[imthemamahere]

Thanks, all. I think I'll end up putting California Grill on our tentative list - if we go in without the sky-high expectations based on our earlier pre-refurb experience, it sounds like we'll most likely be pleased. At least, that's my hope, as there seem to be more positive responses here than negative...

It's a bit odd, looking 8ish months ahead to make a list of restaurants. Thanks for helping me figure it out!

 

[jimim]

We have eaten at the cg for 15 years at least two times a year but after the update went for my daughters 4th birthday with a group of 6 adult and all 6 of us left and said ya done and done. So sad cause this was our place we loved it. My wife and I always loved our night out to dinner there when we were dating and then off to the magic kingdom for the night.

I really think they just tried too hard, why change a good thing.

Ya the place is beautiful inside, but man the service sucked. The server dropped the cake pretty much front of my daughter. Didn't say a work to her and walked away. We cut it up and all but realize we didn't get plated from her. She was pissed my mm asked for them. Didn't ask us to box up the leftovers. We had to ask. The food was a salt block for the main courses. All of ours. Our apps were good though. I will say that.

I want to try it again but my is like over dead body. Lol. Our fav places are now yatchsman, narcoossee's and jiko's. Yatchsman and narcoossee's has always been on our top list with cg but now the three I mentioned are ties for us cause they r all so different.

Jim

 

[jimim]

We've been to CG several time pre-reno and post-reno. I think it really depends on who your server is and how busy the restaurant is at the time. We've had some spotty service at times but it doesn't contain to just CG. It's with any signature restaurants. However, we return to them because we love the food. We've dined in all signature restaurants at Disney and CG might not be our favorite restaurant (Jiko and Narcoosee's) but it's pretty high up.

I really think narcoossee's might be the mos consistent place on property. Service is always exactly the same along with the food when we go. Consistency is what makes a restaurant successful. Yes along with good food but if u aren't consistent u are done.cand that's from growing up in a town with 17 family run restaurants that are all 50-80 years old. It's why they r still there. Consistency. They don't try to Change with fads or the time. They just do what they do from day one well.