California Grill?

[goofy78]

I've been trying to get a ressie for Cali Grill and finally was able to get one at 7:30 on a Tuesday night in September. Is this a good time for the fireworks? Also, I've never eaten here before but always wanted to try it. Is it as good as some people say it is? Some seem to think it's over rated.

 

[PoohsFan1]

You should be fine, if you are done with your meal before Wishes (depending on when it is showing) starts, you can always go back up as long as you have your dining receipt. We love Cali Grill and dine there everytime we are in Disney. We always get the earliest seating and then head back up afterwards (after taking a ride on the monorail) and watch Wishes from there. Have a great time

 

[Nadjalu]

If you are wanting to watch them from your table I think it is a bit early. Don't they start at 10pm?
If they are at 9pm you are good, but 10pm you are way to early.

Of course you can always go out on the observation deck after you have eaten and watch them. You just need your receipt.

 

[murmkc]

I have only been a couple times but I absolutely LOVE it.

The service, the setting, and the food are all fantastic.

 

[OhThePain]

For a 7:30 ADR you may or may not still be eating your meal at the time the fireworks go off. Also, unless your ADR is on September 6th you will be watching HalloWishes since there is a MNSSHP every Tuesday in September after that. I believe those go off at about 9:30.

I personally think it is a decent meal but doesn't really deserve as much of the hype that it gets. I think a lot of the hype comes from the view, which is pretty awesome. You'll have a good meal and the service is usually pretty good.

 

[goofy78]

I completely forgot about MNSSHP! That's okay though. We will be at MK for Wishes another night. I think we'll like it here. The menu sounds good and we are adventurous eaters so I don't think it will disappoint!

 

[OhThePain]

I completely forgot about MNSSHP! That's okay though. We will be at MK for Wishes another night. I think we'll like it here. The menu sounds good and we are adventurous eaters so I don't think it will disappoint!

It won't disappoint as long as you have somewhat realistic expectations. If your going and expecting a nice quiet meal or expecting the greatest meal known to man, then you might be disappointed. If you go in knowing it could be loud, the view is nice and the food is better than a majority of the other dining options at WDW, you won't be disappointed. When in doubt you can have a really good meal on just the flatbreads and sushi there.

 

[bluejasmine]

Hallowishes is at 930 and worth it to see! If you finish your meal early you can walk around CR check out the gift shops then present your receipt in order to go back up and watch the fireworks from the deck!!

The food and service at CG is wonderful and so worth it!!

 

[iloveeeyore]

We have only been there once, but our experience was outstanding. It was DDs Sweet 16 birthday celebration and it could not have been more perfect. We were seated in a side room that in retrospect I believe might have been the lounge, not the main dining room. It was quiet and intimate and when I think about it, we were very near a couch on one side of us and a bar on the other. I would ask to be seated in the lounge again, and it is the portion of the restaurant that is closest to MK. We were not seated at a window table as we had requested, but we had an awesome view anyway. We had many courses to our meal, including a pre-ordered birthday cake for DD, so I think our meal lasted about 3 hours. I think we arrived around 7:30 and had dessert after 10:00 Wishes.

I recommend that you read reviews and find the dishes that people consistently rave about (there are a few). It seems to me that some dishes are not as great or are inconsistent. Most people enjoy the filet, but not the BBQ sauce that accompanies it, for example, so you would know to ask for that on the side. The pork tenderloin was perhaps the most delicious thing I have ever tasted, and my DS ordered salmon with fig risotto that he said was his best meal ever. The Valrhona Chocolate Cake is out-of-this-world!

Whatever you decide to do, do NOT miss HalloWishes. It is fantastic!

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

We tried CG in January for the first time and it is definately on my must do list now. We had an ADR at 5:30pm because we were staying at CR mk view so we didn't care about seeing the fireworks from the restaurant. We loved the steak, it was the best we've had on property and we have eaten steak at LC and YSH. It was melt in your mouth. The kids suishi rice crispy dessert was huge hit with DD. We love the view and serve was great. I remember not really enjoying the appy or dessert but that was a personal taste thing not poor quality or anything. I think we will try to eat there on our first night on our trip in Feb

 

[goofy78]

It won't disappoint as long as you have somewhat realistic expectations. If your going and expecting a nice quiet meal or expecting the greatest meal known to man, then you might be disappointed. If you go in knowing it could be loud, the view is nice and the food is better than a majority of the other dining options at WDW, you won't be disappointed. When in doubt you can have a really good meal on just the flatbreads and sushi there.

We are not looking for "quiet" but are looking for a better than average meal. No dinners are quiet with DS13 and DD8 and DD8!

 

[goofy78]

Hallowishes is at 930 and worth it to see! If you finish your meal early you can walk around CR check out the gift shops then present your receipt in order to go back up and watch the fireworks from the deck!!

The food and service at CG is wonderful and so worth it!!

Is Hallowishes just a Halloween themed Wishes? Will we definately be able to view it from the restaurant?