California Grill

[GailT]

Yes it is well worth it, going to try to get it for Christmas eve again this year. Last year we had ressies at 9 by the time dessert came they lowered the lights turned up the sound and we watched wishes from our table. Enjoy dinner no matter where you decide to eat

 

[gillep]

When DH and I did the Deluxe Dining plan I thought it was worth the 2 credits however, if we had only been on the regular Dining plan then there is no way that it would be worth 2 credits. Of the six signature dinners we planned on while at WDW this was the one that we were most looking forward too and was a little bit dissapointing.

First as others have said it was very very loud thankfully we were seated in the wine room, which only had about 5 tables, and not the main dining room or else I don't think I would have enjoyed my meal at all as the noise level was really insane.

As we were in the wine room there was no possible way to see wishes from our table so we went to the viewing are which was very nice and quite enjoyable, especially with a glass of wine, but it is nothing like seeing the fireworks from main st.

The food was pretty good DH had a sushi app which he liked but we both felt was a little small and I had one of the flatbreads (I think just the cheese one with roasted tomato and pesto) and both of us thought it had a weird taste but it was probably just a cheese that we didn't like. Beyond that it was very salty not inedible but just too salty.

Both of our entrees were good although again we felt they were both a little saltier than necessary but not enough to send them back.

Desserts were very good especially my chocolate cake with cherries, although the peppermint ice cream it was paired with just didn't seem to go with it and I love peppermint ice cream so I just ate it after the cake/cherries.

Service was fantastic and well paced.

Overall it was a good meal and worth it because we did deluxe and had tons of credits to spend and apps were also included but In my opinion I would not use 2 regular dining credits on this meal.

 

[MrsLS]

It was great again. Its worth the 2 credits if you do the math & what you will order off the menu is worth it to you, we are on the delux plan so it didn't matter. There are 2 observation decks, so its very easy to see the fireworks.
& I didn't find it very loud, it wasn't quiet but we could certainly hear each other & there were a lot of kids & large tables around us.

 

[OhioWDWDuo]

DH and I enjoy the CA Grill, with a few caveats. First, we've always had fabulous food there! We've been many times and only a few times were we disappointed with our server. We've had one or two that seemed a bit snobbish.

If you're going for a romantic meal, I'd find somewhere else. This restaurant is loud and a bit crazy, especially around fireworks-time. We don't find it romantic at all.

We have always been a bit disappointed in the waiting area. Once you check-in and are escorted up the elevator, you enter the craziness. On many occassions, there is no room in the bar area to sit and the small number of chairs they have set up against the wall are filled. So there's lots of people standing around with their pagers. Once, we waited almost an hour to be seated (an hour past our ADR time).

But the food is great and we like viewing Wishes from the observation deck. In our opinion, it's worth 2 credits but it's not a must-do for us on every trip.

Enjoy!

 

[Mosca]

Huh. I went to make an ADR for The Plaza, and that date/time was unavailable... but we were offered CG instead, so I made the res (with CC guarantee). Then I checked the menu, and prices... Big difference from The Plaza! It looks like folks here by and large like it. My question: is it REALLY good, or is it "really good, for Disney World"?

My thought right now is to hold onto my slot, we won't need it until the end of June and I have a 2 day window to cancel. GF is our home resort; it is heartening to see someone say that the GF Grill is also very good (for Disney, anyhow).

 

[Tara]

Huh. I went to make an ADR for The Plaza, and that date/time was unavailable... but we were offered CG instead, so I made the res (with CC guarantee). Then I checked the menu, and prices... Big difference from The Plaza! It looks like folks here by and large like it. My question: is it REALLY good, or is it "really good, for Disney World"?

My thought right now is to hold onto my slot, we won't need it until the end of June and I have a 2 day window to cancel. GF is our home resort; it is heartening to see someone say that the GF Grill is also very good (for Disney, anyhow).

I've never had a bad meal there - it's always well worth the prices in my experience. But yes, it's substantially more expensive than the Plaza, which is essentially a sandwich bistro. I always find CA Grill very good - far better than most WDW restaurants (a small handful are in the same company), and as good as upscale restaurants I've dined at in Orlando outside WDW. Every restaurant has off moments, off servers, and off dishes and I have no doubt that some have experienced less-than-excellent food or service. I've eaten there maybe 10 times in the last 12 years and have never had anything but a very satisfying experience.

Pick up just about any travel guide (Fodor's, Frommer's, etc) and you'll find positive, if not outright enthusiastic reviews of the restaurant. It gets 4 out of 5 on Trip Advisor with 150 ratings, 4 stars on Urban Spoon.