California Grill Review

pennyplanner

DIS Veteran
Joined
Aug 25, 1999
Messages
1,554
Day 3 Thanksgiving Week Trip

Cast includes me, Disney Nut 48 and teen DSs. Dad stayed home!
We were on the dining plan.

We had a reservation for an early dinner at California Grill. We did not intend to dine and see the fireworks. The CMs working the check-in desk were less than welcoming. I remained hopeful for a wonderful dining experience. And to my pleasure, California Grill delivered. We politely asked for a table on the MK side and although the checkers suggested the wine room, I declined. I didn't think it fair or appropriate to bring teens into what I think of as an adults only area.

We were seated near a wait staff island and were not bothered by it at all. The view was simply magnificent. My kids loved being able to check everything out below!

Onto the food... I can understand why people either love or hate this place. The menu is very different -- unique combinations, exotic ingredients. If you like plain food, this is not the place for you. My boys, adventurous eaters, were somewhat unsure of what to order. They both started with quadruple cheese flatbreads. Absolutely delicious. I had the shrimp and melon soup that was kind of peppery with ham and a cool honeyed yogurt cream garnish. Mmmmmmmmm. Really different, really good.

For dinner, one DS had the beef filet. He was not crazy about the blue cheese potato side dish. I managed to snag a forkful. It was heavenly to me! DS #2 had the house specialty pork tenderloin with goat cheese polenta. Very good and again, I tried the polenta. It was creamy and flavorful. My own dish was a curious mix of ingredients. It was tile fish with a piperade sauce (a pepper mixture as explained by our waitress). The dish included small lamb sausage and crispy rock shrimp with a side of mashed potatoes. Everything was very, very good and yet an odd combo. I'm not sure how the ingredients were actually meant to compliment each other.

Dessert was the crowning glory! DS # 1 had a special of a buttery, flaky crusted apple tart that I think came a la mode. I'm sure he would have liked to lick the plate! DS # 2 chose a variation of one of the desserts. It was the warm Valrhona cake with vanilla instead of the listed peanut butter ice cream. Molten chocolate filling...need I say more? I had the mango creamsicle that was just light and softy sweet to the palate. A perfect ending to a dinner. It included toasted meringue and sweet cream. Honestly, it was heaven on a plate.

Our server was just wonderful. Friendly, informative and appropriately attentive. We asked, she explained. No high handed attitude like we found at the check-in desk, just really polished service. There was a black tie affair going on at the bar area. When we mentioned we felt slightly underdressed, our server laughed and said, "No, that crowd is overdressed." She explained that they were attending a hospital charity event downstairs following their cocktail hour in the restaurant. It immediately put us at ease. My boys went and checked out the viewing area outside while we waited for dessert. They raved about the view and we all checked it out after we finished dinner. This restaurant was a comfortable fit for my older kids and I was relieved. I was the one who really wanted to go there. It was a special evening and I was wishing my DH could have been there with us!

Dinner, Service and Ambiance:
A


We'd return in a hearbeat! I had a couple of glasses of wine and left a generous additional tip for the whole meal to our deserving server.

Next up: Toy Story Pizza Planet
 
Great review. Thanks for sharing your experiences! It makes me really look forward to our ADR at the California Grill in March.
 
Thanks for sharing your review. I happen to love California Grill, but DH doesn't like it much anymore for some reason. We're skipping it next trip, but hopefully we'll get to go there again on the trip after. :)
 
Ooooo...we have an ADR for my DH's birthday! I'll have to remember the thing about NOT accepting seating in the wine room since we have a 9 yr old. Sound's wonderful, I really look forward to dinner at California Grill!
 

Thank you for sharing your experience. We enjoyed it as well on our last trip and can't wait to go back in Oct. Those will be 2 TS credits well spent. Thanks again, Melissa
 
AmyG,

It's not that kids can't sit in the wine room, it's just that I thought it wouldn't be a good idea. I've always heard (from here on the DIS Boards :goodvibes ) that the wine room is more quiet and intimate. It always struck me as more of an adults only atmosphere.

--penny
 
Enjoyed reading your review ~ Thanx for posting.
 
Thanks for the review! We ate there once on our first family trip to WDW (in 2001) and we keep saying we want to go back, but there are so many new places to try. After reading your review, I realize we MUST dine there on our next trip!
 
Once last comment...

I think if you are a "foodie," you will enjoy California Grill. It's not enough to want an aerial view of the fireworks.

I know some very good friends of ours that would absolutely hate the place. It's definitely not a snob issue. It's just a matter of preferences in what makes a restaurant the right one for you and your family. :goodvibes

For us, it was a good choice.

--penny
 
pennyplanner said:
AmyG,

It's not that kids can't sit in the wine room, it's just that I thought it wouldn't be a good idea. I've always heard (from here on the DIS Boards :goodvibes ) that the wine room is more quiet and intimate. It always struck me as more of an adults only atmosphere.

--penny

Oh yes, I understood your reasoning and I agree. I'd love it if they placed us next to the window!
 
How old were the youngest children that you saw at the California Grill? My mom and I want to try it but I have 2 little boys. When we go back they will be 2 and 6. The six year old eats nothing and the 2 year old eats anythign that isn't nailed down. My oldest has good restaurant manners (occasionaly has to be reminded but otherwise very good) the one that will be 2 when we go is learning.

So do you think we would be out of our minds to take them there or would they be okay?

thanks,
tara
 
They'll be fine. There's lots of kids in every WDW restaurant (except V&A, that's the only one I'd skip w/ children). It's just a matter of how comfortable you'd be there, and whether you'd enjoy your meal while looking after your 2yo. I find food always tastes better if you don't have to grab bites between refrains of "sit down, behave yourself, stop touching your brother". Only you know your family dynamics.
 
I agree with Ursula. It all depends on you and your family.

I know I would not enjoy a dinner like that with so young a child. My kids, usually good restaurant diners, weren't ready for that kind of atmosphere when they were two. The drill used to be we'd make it through most of dinner and then my husband would take the antsy kid(s) outside and let me finish and pay the bill. We did not get to order dessert! ;) They just couldn't sit still that long.

Our CA Grill experience was a leisurely dinner when ordering the three courses on the dining plan. Defintely a couple of hours.

Think it over and decide what would make everyone happy diners! :goodvibes

--penny
 
I am so excited...after going to Disney for about 30 years this will be our first time at the Cal. grill! We are staying at the CR for a class DH is taking, and thought what a great time to finally try it! Was a bit unsure of the menu, but sounds like it ought to be fun!
 
pennyplanner said:
Day 3 Thanksgiving Week Trip

....There was a black tie affair going on at the bar area. When we mentioned we felt slightly underdressed, our server laughed and said, "No, that crowd is overdressed." She explained that they were attending a hospital charity event downstairs following their cocktail hour in the restaurant. It immediately put us at ease. ....

We are going to WDW in 3 days just for the weekend. We are planning on only taking jeans. I was thinking about eating dinner at CA Grill. What were you wearing, and did you see anyone there in jeans?
 
My DM and my DD17 wore nice jeans (no rips, not too worn-looking) and a nice top. They looked and felt like they fit in fine.
 
Jeans will be just fine at CG.
And there have alway kids aplenty (including infants and preschoolers) at CG every time we've dined there.
 





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