California Grill ?

[jewelray]

Hi everyone, I know I'm early but I will be back in DW Easter break 2003 and would like to know if the California Grill is a good choice for Easter Dinner for me and my 9 yr old dd? We would like a nice sit down dinner with some traditional choices. Anyone know if this fits the bill?

 

[Pa@okw95]

I would say no!! It is just not the type of restaurant for the typical 9 year old. There are only a few restaurants in WDW i would say this about, California Grill is one of them. Now there are exceptions, but if it is just you and a 9 year old, I assume you want to go where it is more to a 9 year olds liking. The restaurant menue does not have what I believe you would call tradition menu items for a 9 year old. Check the menus on this site for yourself.

 

[jewelray]

Ok I read the menu and some reviews and tend to agree the atmosphere is probably too grown up for my dd. I still want to find a nice unrushed atmosphere with some traditional foods for our Easter Dinner something nice . . . . Anyone ????

 

[Pa@okw95]

jewekray---I have the place for you and your son. It is the Liberty Tree Tavern. At dinner time they have a character meal that serves all the "traditional" Easter stuff like turkey and ham etc. If you don't want a chartacter meal then go to the same place for lunch. I eat quite often for lunch, the meals are great and the atmosphere is what I think you may be looking for. They serve pot roast, turkey, etc for lunch. The salads are great as is the bread. Liberty Tree Tavern is at Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom.
I would stay away from the restaurants at Epcot, I tell everyone that not just people with kids.
Hope I was some help!

 

[Barrett Nichols]

I agree with the last post, if there ever was a place that saio traditional it is the Liberty Tree Tavern. I love the california grill, but the only way it could be called traditional would be if you were raised as the child of a hollywood producer and grew up on the kind of food they serve there. Not that they will not make you feel comfortable, they really go out of their way to make everyone feel like they belong.
How about Boatwrights, over at Dixie Landings? We love it.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Here is another vote for Liberty Tree Tavern!! We had a great time and can not wait to go back on 10/11 just before the MNSSHP!

 

[tripben]

California Grill does not serve traditional, aka popular type foods , but my kids loved it. Whenever we go to Disney, my kids know it is dining experiment time. One of traditions we have is to try as many different types of food that we can. They have developed an appreciation for how a food actually tastes, and not what it is or what it looks like. Of course it doesn't work this way when we go home.

If you are looking for a good home cooked type of meal, you might want to try someplace else. But do try the grill sometime, we loved the food and the view.

Sam

 

[jewelray]

I guess my idea was to take her there because of the view and I did check the child's menu out which seemed appropriate but I don't want to take her somewhere where it's real hush hush and adult like. She loves to get dressed up and at home we sometimes go to nice restaurants just her and I.

I was thinking about Liberty Tree too, but I thought that because it's a character meal in MK they might rush us a bit which I don't want for Easter Dinner. Hmmm maybe we can try the 1900 or something in Epcot. I do have some time to decide but always feel better when I've got my ps all set up

 

[tripben]

I heard that it was a super adult type atmosphere as well, but it did not seem that way to me. We actually went there twice. The first time we went to see the view and sat at one of the little round lounge tables near the window and ordered drinks and just relaxed, with three kids.

The second time we made PS for dinner and decided that we did not want to sit in the resturant part, because we found a table in the lounge area with a great view of the fireworks. We ate our dinner at the low tables in the lounge area with four kids from 2 to 16. It just did not seem stuffy to me, and the server was great too. He went out of his way to make all of us feel comfortable, and was very accommodating to the kids as well.

There were people dressed up and some dressed sort of casual, not park casual, but not formal either. You would probrably have a great time. Go for it!

Sam

 

[jewelray]

Thanks Sam and maybe I will reconsider it. I think she will enjoy it and maybe it will give us an excuse to dress up a bit. Being a girl, she loves to do that and be in nice surroundings. As a matter of fact, she wanted to stay at the GF this time around. I told her we would definitely stay there one day . . . .

 

[BCV23]

Since the menu appeals to you, I think you should go. It is not a hush-hush atmosphere at all. It's a fine dining experience but like all Disney restaurants, children are expected, welcomed and accomodated. The food is very good and it is not a rushed meal at all. We've taken our children to the "nicer" Disney restaurants since they were wee things. Some small children can't sit still for a leisurely meal but as your daughter is older and used to eating in nice places...go and enjoy. I think I'd make an earlier reservation so you don't have to wait very long for your table.

 

[4crusinransiers]

We took our 9 and 11 yos there in aug. It was great and the kids had a good time. They like that they can color on the table!!!!
We would go back and we will take the boys again.

 

[jewelray]

Do you actually mean color ON the table itself LOL??? She would do it up.

 

[Jen D]

I don't want to take her somewhere where it's real hush hush and adult like.

That's definitely NOT the California Grill-- in fact the number one complaint you read about that restaurant is the noise level.

I say go for it. There are plenty of good choices, and if you want a special occasion place to dress up for, this is a good one.

 

[4crusinransiers]

LOL~~~~ the tables have white linin, covered with white butcher paper. My boys did some awesome dragon pictures on it.
We even received comments from tables around us and our servers. My sons begged me to take photos of them before we left. This was by far one of our best meals at WDW!

 

[jewelray]

Thanks everybody for the great reviews. I think I'll certainly consider the CG for our Easter Dinner now on to some other places to munch at

 

[catheren]

Jewlray, definitely consider the CG!

We have taken our DD every year to the CG since she was 8 years old. I never felt out of place w/ her there and never received "the look" from any guests dining at CG.

She was made to feel more than welcome by our servers.

We try and book our PS around the EP on the seven seas lagoon and fireworks at the MK.

I found the CG not to be stuffy, nor would I consider it a romantic place.

 

[imbe@aol.com]

The California Grill IS wonderful, but I would not call it traditional, so it might not be the best choice if that's what you're looking for.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

The CG is the one place that my 10 year old has ask for our next trip. He is a very picky eater and could not care less about the menu as long as he can get the traditional kid meals there. He just thinks it's cool to eat at the top of the CT. We are staying at the CT next trip and so that makes his choice even better. As long as your child can handle a more formal setting, I say try to make a PS to match the MK fireworks and go for it!!

Jordan's mom