California Grill Questions

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of booking California Grill for the first time next year. I think I have read before that they will hold your meal back if it is time for Wishes, so you can go on to the terrace and watch and then return to your meal - is that right??

Is it quite a "slow / relaxed" pace restaurant? Trying to work out how long it will take for just entree and dessert and so what time to book the meal for!

Has any one got any reviews of the restaurant? All good I hope!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

 

[kt_mom]

We eat there every trip. It's one of my favorites. I don't know about them holding back your meal, but I'm sure they would if you asked. We always do appetizers, meal and dessert when we go there. When DH and I went just the two of us we took our time more and were there about an hour and a half.

This last time with DD then 4, we moved a little faster. But I think it was more on our part then the restaurant. It was the end of the week and DD had sat through Shulas and Yachtsman already that week. She was getting tired of fancy restaurants and although she loved the view (we were right by the window) she was bored.

Don't forget though that seatings around the time of Wishes are very popular and I think it can take awhile to get seated sometimes. If you eat earlier and keep your receipt you can use it to come back and go out on the terrace and view wishes. I think it does have to be from that day though.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

If you eat earlier and keep your receipt you can use it to come back and go out on the terrace and view wishes. I think it does have to be from that day though.

Oh that's handy to know thanks! Is this a signature restaurant?

 

[Pakey]

We eat there often. They will try to pace your courses so that you are not in the middle of a course when Wishes starts. They generally ask you this if you are being seated during a time when Wishes will be during the middle of your dinner but if they don't ask, just remind them.

If you are going for entree and dessert without appetizer, you should be okay booking 1 hr before the fireworks. They often are behind on seating so if you try to book too close to the fireworks, you may find you won't get a table until after the show is over as diners have a tendency to hold onto their tables. It is very crowded here duirng that fireworks timeframe.

This is a signature restaurant. The food is nice, the sushi is exceptional. They have an excellent selection of wines.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I agree with Pakey. The restaurant itself is hardly "relaxed", but the pace of the actual serving can be slow because they are so busy.
And we had a 40 minute wait for our table two Saturday's ago. Reservations were at 8:00 and we didn''t get seated until nearly 8:40.

 

[kmk1180]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of booking California Grill for the first time next year. I think I have read before that they will hold your meal back if it is time for Wishes, so you can go on to the terrace and watch and then return to your meal - is that right??

Is it quite a "slow / relaxed" pace restaurant? Trying to work out how long it will take for just entree and dessert and so what time to book the meal for!

Has any one got any reviews of the restaurant? All good I hope!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

NOT AT ALL.
Everyone has discovered CG. It's no longer a romantic place to have a meal and watch fireworks. So if you can imagine everyone at Disney, you imagine kids and there is.
Personally I've had very very bad experiences there and will never go back.
(short version, tried fireworks dinner, had ADR, never got a table in time
and they said nothing they could do about it)
If you want more quiet dinner and watch fireworks, I suggest Narcossee's
If you want CG, go AFTER fireworks, let the kids clear out.
Or better, just go to Jiko for a great meal.

 

[bsmcneil]

I was told today that it would be fine if I wanted to wait in the lounge/on the terrace so we can watch fireworks (my ADR is 9:50) - what time I should go there to do this? 9? 8:30?

 

[dizneeat]

We've been to CG often and never been disappointed! We've been there at 6pm and come back for the fireworks after our meal.
We've been there at 9 and they held our desserts, so we could go out and watch the fireworks.
They run behind very easily, so do not plan your reservation for too late and with the later ADR times we haven't been bothered by children too much. (Beware we travel in August and Wishes is usually at 10 when we watch it!!)
If you need to see photos of the food, there are loads on my homepage, plus reviews in my trip reports!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

This is all really helpful thanks!

Have I read somewhere that you can get personalised menus created here? I know you can at Coral Reef, and I think thats such a lovely idea, but I don't want to go to Coral Reef (fish phobia!!). Or is there anything else "special" / personalised you can get done?

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

We've been to CG often and never been disappointed! We've been there at 6pm and come back for the fireworks after our meal.
We've been there at 9 and they held our desserts, so we could go out and watch the fireworks.
They run behind very easily, so do not plan your reservation for too late and with the later ADR times we haven't been bothered by children too much. (Beware we travel in August and Wishes is usually at 10 when we watch it!!)
If you need to see photos of the food, there are loads on my homepage, plus reviews in my trip reports!

I am already following your trip report avidley!! It is your report that has made me want to go there!!

 

[MomtoGKC]

We ate there early - around 6pm. It was very leisurely at that time since we were some of the first ones there. The food and atmosphere were great. After dinner we went downstairs and shopped for about an hour until it was time fro Wishes. We went back up and enjoyed the coolest view - my kids loved it! Good luck!