California Grill!!

[winniethepooh4eva]

Hi everybody!! I was just wondering... My family and I have a reservation to eat at California Grill but we're not sure if we should keep the reservation. I'm a very picky eater so I'm not sure if this is a good place to eat for me. Is the food too fancy?? I've looked online at the menu and I'm not too sure this would be a good restauraunt to eat at. Anybody's comments would be great!! I'd love to hear how many people like or dislike California Grill!
Thanks so much!!

 

[Pakey]

The food is a bit more complex than your average restaurant. However, there are usually a few dishes that can be simplified by removing a sauce or something if you'd like. Also, have you checked the flatbreads? They are like individual pizzas and may have something that would appeal to you.

For the prices you pay to dine at Ca Grill, I personally would not want to go there and have them strip down the dishes. If you enjoy eating plainer food there are so many places at WDW that will get you what you want, probably at a better price.

 

[winniethepooh4eva]

OK thanks!! I think my family and I are leaning towards yes on this one.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I don't find the food especially fancy, and they will "plain down" most things that have sauces, etc.
If you're comfortable with that, I'd give it a try.

 

[winniethepooh4eva]

I don't find the food especially fancy, and they will "plain down" most things that have sauces, etc.
If you're comfortable with that, I'd give it a try.

Ok! Thanks for the advice!!!!

 

[kath2me]

hi,


we are plain eaters as well, and we are staying in the contemporary, but i have to agree in looking at menu, i couldn't find a thing i would eat for the expense of it, looks really nice , but we will just have to find another place

 

[JimmyV]

Take note that the descriptions often times are far more elaborate than the actual dishes. The filet is still a filet. They do not alter the taste through the preparation. It still tastes like steak. So too the chicken, pork and fish dishes. Trust me. There is nothing that is put on the plate that is unrecognizable, taste-wise, from what you would be expecting.

 

[dandave]

Ditto what JimmyV said! It may sound and look "fancy," but it simply tastes delicious.

 

[MickeyNicki]

You will love it! DH was always intimidated by the signature places but he was hooked on his first try at Jiko and Cali Grill.

The food is basically the same with some fancy names and you can ask for the sauces on the side

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I think you will find something to your liking. California Grill is our favorite place to eat at WDW.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I agree with the above posters. The menu does seem a bit overwhelming when you read it, but once you get it infront of you, you will know exactly what it is, with the exception of Sushi of course . Cali Grill is one of our must dos, the food there is so good and you just can't beat the view. My DH and I always get the filet, it has such a wonderful flavor and you can literally cut it with just your fork. Good luck deciding

 

[plien69]

As others have said, they tend to gussy up the descriptions, but many of the dishes are very recognizable:
"Artichoke and Pleasant Ridge Reserve Cheese filled Raviolis with Spinach, Black Garlic, and Parmesan Foam" = artichoke and cheese ravioli with spinach
"Cast Iron-seared Veal Tenderloin with Marble Potatoes, Florida Rattlesnake Beans, Morel-Vegetable Vinaigrette" - Veal with potatoes, green beans, and tangy mushroom sauce
"Oak-fired Filet of Beef, Mascarpone Potatoes, Roasted Delta Asparagus, Spring Onion Oil, and Teriyaki Barbecue" = Filet mignon, cheesy mashed potatoes, asparagus, and a sort of BBQ sauce.
"Petite Chicken with Pickled Ramps, Wild Mushrooms, Zellwood Corn, Bacon, Favas, Pommes Frites, and Sherry Jus" Chicken with onions, mushrooms, corn, bacon, beans, and french fries, and chicken gravy.
"Wild Columbia River Salmon with English Pea Risotto, Buttered Petite Carrots, and Pinot Noir Glaze" = Salmon with creamy rice with peas, and carrots.

 

[livinlife25]

I am a pretty picky eater. When planning my honeymoon I originally left California Grill off the list because I couldnt find anything on the menu I would like. Then I saw a picture of the pork tenderloin and thought it looked great and booked it. It was great and I also go the three cheese flatberad which was good and the chocolate cake was great!

 

[winniethepooh4eva]

Thanks for the help everybody!!

 

[winniethepooh4eva]

I am a pretty picky eater. When planning my honeymoon I originally left California Grill off the list because I couldnt find anything on the menu I would like. Then I saw a picture of the pork tenderloin and thought it looked great and booked it. It was great and I also go the three cheese flatberad which was good and the chocolate cake was great!

The cheese flatbreads do sound good!! Maybe I'll try them if I go there!!

Thanks for the help!

 

[ILoveWD]

The cheese flatbreads do sound good!! Maybe I'll try them if I go there!!

Thanks for the help!

We loved our meal.

The flatbread was great.

We ordered our filets with the sauce on the side and dipped. As it turned out, I liked the BBQ sauce. I even liked the asparagus. Yum ! Best steak all week for me.

We even tried sushi.

 

[spacemountain123]

California Grill is by far the most fantastic restaurant in all of Walt Disney World, and that's saying something because there are tons! My brother is an exremely picky eater, but he loved it! He just substitued things off the menu for other things he liked. He had pork tenderloin with roasted potatoes, and carrots, and he really enjoyed. Me, I had the steak with teriyaki sauce, and it was soooo tender. It melted in my mouth. The desserts are the best part! You won't be sorry, even the pickiest eaters will appreciate this restaurant.

 

[kittylady1972]

This is exactly why I avoided this restaurant for years. I'd read the menu and think NO WAY I was trying any of that fancy sounding food.

Then we had a meal there a few years ago and it was great...and now we go back every year!

Now I didn't used to like sushi, but now I do so that added one more item for me to try.

The Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli is also delicious...never thought I'd ever try goat cheese but I did and now I'm hooked...I make this dish at home and even my picky kids love it.

The flatbreads are my favorite. We ate here last week and I had the Triple Cheese flatbread. I normally would not eat Sun-dried tomato but I tried it on this and also enjoyed it.

The pork was my main dish...also very tasty.

It's definitely worth a try even for the picky eaters!

 

[SaraMar1]

Glad you guys liked it. I'll have to give it a try myself.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Two weeks ago I had the halibut and it was delicious!

However, neither my DH nor our DF had filets that were good. One was too done, way too done (their description of medium well mentioned the word pink, but there was none!), and DH says his was charred too much for his tastes, his was medium.

Another guest at the table had the ravioli covered with the parmesean foam, and it was not a pleasant sight. Plus, the ravioli were cold and sent back for heating.

The other guest at our table had the pork tenderloin and she seemed to indicated that it was good.

We shared 2 flatbreads as appetizers and they were delicious as expected, and desserts were fine.

All in all it was not the best meal we've ever had at Cali Grill, and it will be awhile before I will ask DH to go back. My halibut was excellent, I had Arctic Char there in April and that was great too. I'm sorry that our DFs won't join us there any more.

Bobbi