California Grill service going downhill

[LowesChevy]

Service has been in a decline at many Disney establishments in recent years. For the most part, there are still a lot of great servers, but the days when everything was 100% great are gone. Welcome to the new Disney.

ITA...we have seen service decline at the signatures the past few years

 

[woodkins]

We actually had the opposite (but still poor) experience last week. We had a 4 course meal from arrival to departure all within about an hour and 5 mins . We put our dd in the kids club at the Poly to enjoy a nice dinner together. Our ressie was for 7:45 and were were told that we could get a drink at the bar as they were running slightly behind and given a buzzer. We walked over to the bar and as soon as we ordered our drinks the buzzer rang. Dh stayed to wait for the drinks as the seater came and found us to go to our table.

We had a lovely table and the server seemed attentive, knowledgeable and kind. It took her about 5 mins to come to take our order and she requested that we order all of our courses at once, we ordered sushi, salad, and entrees. The sushi arrived within 5 mins. As we were eating (and we are fast eaters) a server arrived holding our salads, he stood behind my husband with the two plates waiting. It didn't even dawn on me that those were our salads that is how quickly they arrived! As soon as our chopsticks hit the table the sushi plates were replaced with salads. I was surprised at the speed of service and when the waitress came to check on us I made a hinting joke to her asking if they were doing marathon meals tonight, she asked if we would like the service to slow down and I said that would be wonderful.

Low and behold 5 mins later a server appears again behind dh holding our entrees. Now I am thoroughly annoyed as not only are they pumping our food out but they are literally standing over us waiting to clear one plate and replace it with the next. I asked the server if he could hold our meals for a few more minutes as we were still eating the salads. He said fine, and I watched him walk over to the kitchen area, and stand there with out plates.

By this time we are feeling nauseous from our speed eating experience and they have now brough over the entrees. We were so disappointed and disgusted with the service and experience we just wanted to leave. The topper to the evening was that it took 15 minutes for the check to come....it took longer for us to pay than to get any of our courses. I will add we were not on the dining plan so for those who feel the dining plan reduces service this was not a factor.

The only bonus to the speed dinner was that we were able to watch the fireworks from the outdoor viewing platform. It was the first and last time we will eat a $300 fast food meal.

 

[BLTLDZ]

We actually had the opposite (but still poor) experience last week. We had a 4 course meal from arrival to departure all within about an hour and 5 mins . We put our dd in the kids club at the Poly to enjoy a nice dinner together. Our ressie was for 7:45 and were were told that we could get a drink at the bar as they were running slightly behind and given a buzzer. We walked over to the bar and as soon as we ordered our drinks the buzzer rang. Dh stayed to wait for the drinks as the seater came and found us to go to our table.

We had a lovely table and the server seemed attentive, knowledgeable and kind. It took her about 5 mins to come to take our order and she requested that we order all of our courses at once, we ordered sushi, salad, and entrees. The sushi arrived within 5 mins. As we were eating (and we are fast eaters) a server arrived holding our salads, he stood behind my husband with the two plates waiting. It didn't even dawn on me that those were our salads that is how quickly they arrived! As soon as our chopsticks hit the table the sushi plates were replaced with salads. I was surprised at the speed of service and when the waitress came to check on us I made a hinting joke to her asking if they were doing marathon meals tonight, she asked if we would like the service to slow down and I said that would be wonderful.

Low and behold 5 mins later a server appears again behind dh holding our entrees. Now I am thoroughly annoyed as not only are they pumping our food out but they are literally standing over us waiting to clear one plate and replace it with the next. I asked the server if he could hold our meals for a few more minutes as we were still eating the salads. He said fine, and I watched him walk over to the kitchen area, and stand there with out plates.

By this time we are feeling nauseous from our speed eating experience and they have now brough over the entrees. We were so disappointed and disgusted with the service and experience we just wanted to leave. The topper to the evening was that it took 15 minutes for the check to come....it took longer for us to pay than to get any of our courses. I will add we were not on the dining plan so for those who feel the dining plan reduces service this was not a factor.

The only bonus to the speed dinner was that we were able to watch the fireworks from the outdoor viewing platform. It was the first and last time we will eat a $300 fast food meal.

I'm sorry for your experience, that is unacceptable! We ate at CG the night of 10/16/11, and I told the waitor in my phoney polite voice: "We would prefer to linger tonight", with a
It worked. But I could tell he was taken aback, and of course, his intention was to rush everything. He too asked us to order all at once, which I did, AFTER I made it crystal clear time was to be taken. Nothing annoys me more than rushed service.

 

[LynneyPooh]

WOW! I've only been to CG twice. Once in June and again last week. Both times we had excellent service. Both times we had DD9 with us, and purchased NO adult drinks. LAst week, Ron from Kentucky was our waiter, and I believe we left a tip like we never had before anywhere. He charmed me, DD, and even DH. He was attentive, offered suggestions , and even offer to split the sushi with a shrimp tempera when he realized where we hailed from. At this point I laughed and told him, no thanks give me what was on the menu. After delivering the sushi, he realized DD was sharing, he came right back with a set of chopsticks for her. He did not ignore DD at any point throughout the meal, and on two different occasions surprised her with a confetti shower. Towards the end of the entrees when he realized DD was finished, and DH and I were still eating, her handed her an ink pen to keep to give her something besides the cheap crayons kids always get with their menu.
He paced our 7:20 ressie perfectly, so we were handing him payment a few minutes before the fireworks began.

On the other hand, a family with 2small children, 1 VERY annoying, You know the type, up and down, on the floor, very loud, was seated AFTER we were and they were definatly rushed through their meal. They received their entrees before we were even finshed with our apps. They DID NOT have our waiter, but a lady who did not look very happy to be their server. I do believe this was an extreme circumstance, as when we checked in I got behind her to check in. Another cast member rescued me after a couple of minutes, as she was arguing that they had lost her ressie, but no she did not her her conf #, but did have the old one where she cancelled and re-booked. I was there long enough to hear the CM tell her the only ressie they had was for the next night. She then replied that was too late because they had MNSVSHP tickets. IMHO she had wrangled her way in for that night, and they worked her in for better or worse. Lucky for us they did rush them, as it was obvious her DH wasn't very happy, neither was her DD (the one who couldn't stay seated, but looked old enough to have a few resturant manners). The only content one in that group was DS who was sending food all over the table and floor (he was about 2yrs).

I do not think that this was the OP's circumstance, and I hate that OP was dissatisfied. Orginally I had CRT dinner ressies, and DD chose CG over CRT because she said it was WAY better than CRT. I think that the excellent service in June was remembered, as well as the quality of food. for her, their steak and mac and cheese was the highlight for both the June and Oct trips. Of course, obviously DH and I had no problem going to CG over CRT. We too had remembered the excellent food and service from June.
Hopefully the powers that be will read this, and address the rushed service of many patrons that want to linger, and want the excellent service they deserve when at a resturant of that caliber.