California Grill's gone WAAAY downhill...

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I think we have seen a very telling tale of WDW dining.
. . . some have had very good experiences
. . . some have had disappointing experiences
. . . some have had miserable experiences
2) Now, many wonder about my "telling" statement.
. . . when things are usually very good, you have uniform quality (good)
. . . when things are usually very bad, you have uniform quality (poor)
. . . when you have good and bad, you have major variances in quality
3) Statistically speaking, extreme variation means you are out of control.
. . . if uniform (good or bad) one can easily address issues
. . . if not uniform, one does not know where to begin
. . . an eatery can be good or bad on the same night at the same moment

4) When you are out of control, you have no idea what to fix or leave alone.
5) IT IS THE WORST POSSIBLE QUALITY CONDITION.

6) This means that Disney has a problem that requires major work.
7) They must
. . . do a lot of experimentation
. . . do a lot of testing
. . . do a lot of lot control
. . . do a lot of means testing
. . . do a lot of process improvement and documentation
. . . do a lot of in-process checking
8) I know this sounds clinical, but this is what brings about uniform quality.
9) And, it costs a bunch of bucks to do it. A bunch!
10) Disney needs to hunker down and get their food quality uniform!

The leaders in quality control (in auto parts, electronics or food prep) live by major process dictates. The leaders educate and train their people in Statistical Process Control - even for food and customer service. The best quality practitioners attain a level called Six Sigma "Black Belt" or "Master Black Belt". Maybe Disney needs some instruction, or at least to re-start the Continuous Improvement Program that they dumped in 2004.

I know this sounds overly technical for food, but if one applies sound techniques and procedures, the kitchens get better. This has been proven over and over in 4-star and 5-star eateries.

As a uniform and guaranteed statement - not just a generality - when companies reduce expenses related to quality control, the quality ALWAYS gets worse and unpredictable.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Sorry for the bad meal you had. Unfortunately,that can happen at any restaurant.
We eat at CG each and every trip and always had great meals with good service.
I should add that if the food at CG was uniformly bad, it probably would not be as crowded as it always is.

 

[jerivera]

...I should add that if the food at CG was uniformly bad, it probably would not be as crowded as it always is.

Not so sure about that one. The major draw of CG has always been the view & fireworks. That's what draws most folk the first time around.

Then they taste the food and decide if the view is worth it or not. Up to our last trip, it was.

Sushi used to be worth it, but they don't let you use your Dining Plan for it (if you do, you were seriously ripped off). And we found an excellent sushi place here in Austin (Uchi), so we no longer think CG is the best on that arena.

Other signature places live and die by their food. So we'll need to try those next time around.

 

[TDC Nala]

I've had no problems at Ca. grill and since I discovered the lounge I drop in there almost every trip. I don't use the dining plan and usually just get sushi though. Have never been impressed with Narcoosees though.

 

[pixie08]

1)

As a uniform and guaranteed statement - not just a generality - when companies reduce expenses related to quality control, the quality ALWAYS gets worse and unpredictable.[/I]

I have never had a really bad experience yet (knock on wood) but I think you are right. I think they should be doing this anyway every so often no?For quality control? To check training of staff?

So I have to agree, I used to work for a few chain restaurants and even they performed these sort of test. Disney should too.I know these chains dod it to check marketing etc, to keep customers. In WDW we are a captive audience, but I will tell you if the food is on a slow decline, attendance will be as well.

 

[TDC Nala]

If they think they can fill the restaurants with dining plan guests despite the quality of the food, they're going to cut back as much as possible.

 

[snykymom]

For those not on the dining plan, I suggest ordering at least the appetizers or soups. Since they're not part of the regular dining plan, and the deluxe costs so much, I think that they have suffered less in quality than entrees and desserts have.

And I agree with a previous poster about Brown Derby - I just had the Oyster & Brie soup there, and it was delicious!

 

[HsvTeacher]

We've eaten at California Grill twice during the past year, and to be honest, we didn't see what all the fuss was about. The food was mediocre and overpriced. Like the OP said, we've had counter service that was better.

During our last visit, the bartender suggested coming up to get a drink. He said it wouldn't require a reservation, and we'd still be able to see the fireworks.

 

[Meteora]

Sorry for the bad meal you had. Unfortunately,that can happen at any restaurant.
We eat at CG each and every trip and always had great meals with good service.
I should add that if the food at CG was uniformly bad, it probably would not be as crowded as it always is.

I don't think anyone has suggested that it is uniformly bad. But for those prices, it's not acceptable to have a bad meal. The restaurant should have rectified its mistake with the pork (serving pork that is raw in the center goes beyond subjective ratings of something being good or not--it's flat-out dangerous), and it didn't. The manager was also given the opportunity to make up for the fact that the meal was less than good, and didn't.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

We too had a really bad experience at the CG back in September...but ours had more to do with our server than our food (although the food was just okay, in my opinion).

As soon as our server found out we were on the dining plan and not ordering alcohol he treated us like second class citizens...so much so that he asked my Mom and I if our "drinkies" were okay...not once but twice...not very professional. Also, he never came to check on our meals after they were delivered (someone else brought out our dinners) and when he did come by to pick up our plates after we had finished eating, he asked if we hadn't eaten for a week since we cleaned our plates so well...again..not professional.....our meals were just okay and we were really disappointed with the service especially since I had read so many great reviews. We didn't even stay for the fireworks despite having a window table because we just couldn't take any more of our server.

I know I should have addressed the situation with the manager at the time but my Mom was so upset, that I just took the managers card off the reception counter by the elevators. I wrote a letter to the manager when we got home - an actual letter not an email - and I didn't so much as get a phone call to apologize so I am not surprised by the managers response to the OP.

We have a trip coming up in January - and if we are in the area I might stop by to find out why they do not acknowledge letters that are written regarding poor service - considering that the CG is supposed to be a signature restaurant.

 

[Pakey]

Outside of the sushi, I've been disappointed at CG for the past few years. I've resigned myself to limiting my nicer dining to V&A and those restaurants not on the dining plan. There are still 4 of the WDW signatures that I enjoy but even they are not on the same level as the Swan/Dolphin restaurants and I hate the noise level now that it's important to pack in the people. Since we pay OOP, we are going to the places with the best food/dining experience.

 

[ClareH37]

Sorry to read the OP's review

I'd eaten at the CG pre DDP days, fantastic meal and service, great ambiance - no faults at all from my perspective, went with parents the year following the introduction of the DDP, on exiting the elevator we were greeted with a scene of chaos, people propping up the walls, sitting on the floor (and the noise, OMG the noise!), all waiting for their tables. After waiting 35 minutes I was set to leave, but thankfully were shown into the 'wine room' where we ended up having a good evening re. ambiance (it was a haven from the main dining room, and perhaps rather controversially, but everyone eating there that night was in suitable dress ). We paid OOP that night and IMHO it was not worth doing so, we paid a lot of money for just an 'OK' meal including (expensive) wine. It wasn't 'bad' exactly, but not up to the standard we had experienced in the past (like my experience with Yachtsman, but that's another long story ).

I was toying with the idea of returning next year (for the sushi) after reading some great reviews but recently I've been reading more and more negative reviews (not just on this site), whilst I know dining can be subjective, it concerns me when the negative reviews are increasing.

 

[smidgy]

We've eaten at California Grill twice during the past year, and to be honest, we didn't see what all the fuss was about. The food was mediocre and overpriced. Like the OP said, we've had counter service that was better.

During our last visit, the bartender suggested coming up to get a drink. He said it wouldn't require a reservation, and we'd still be able to see the fireworks.

do you mean "The Outer Rim"? or another lounge. I thought there was a sep. elevator up to the top (with the fireworks viewing area) and only those with reservations could go up there?

 

[HsvTeacher]

do you mean "The Outer Rim"? or another lounge. I thought there was a sep. elevator up to the top (with the fireworks viewing area) and only those with reservations could go up there?

I thought that was the case, too, but the bartender in the restaurant told us that. Since then, we've had others tell us the same thing.

 

[ElizabethB]

We've enjoyed CG for years. However, after our visit 6 weeks ago, we have crossed it off our list.

At this point, aside from Jiko, we have given up on dining at the Disney signature restaurants and generally stick to non-Disney restaurants that do not take DDP.

 

[smidgy]

WHICH lounge? was it the Outer Rim? how did you get up the private elevator? thanks!

 

[mickeymotto]

I am so bummed to hear this. We have ADRs at CG in a few weeks.

We have always loved CG and have been there frequently. As a matter of fact, we were last there in February of last year and had a fabulous meal! Our waiter was spectacular and very helpful with our selections. The sushi was amazing (as always) and had some of the best scallops ever! The pork was also divine.

I am really looking forward to going again, so I hope we will have a good meal.
I do agree that the DDP had brought down the level of quality of food and service overall though.

 

[Tara]

I am so bummed to hear this. We have ADRs at CG in a few weeks.

We have always loved CG and have been there frequently. As a matter of fact, we were last there in February of last year and had a fabulous meal! Our waiter was spectacular and very helpful with our selections. The sushi was amazing (as always) and had some of the best scallops ever! The pork was also divine.

I am really looking forward to going again, so I hope we will have a good meal.
I do agree that the DDP had brought down the level of quality of food and service overall though.

I ate at CG 3 times this year and had 2 superb experiences and 1 very good one. I've not experienced anything like the OP described at all (not saying it's not true, just that I haven't experienced it).

 

[Colleen27]

I am right there with you! Our March trip will be the first time we have ever been able to enjoy any of the signature restaurants. Starting to wonder if upgrading to the DDxDP was the wrong thing do to since that is what is essentially allowing us to use two credits at a lot of dinners/shows. If the food isn't good in the signature restaurants, then the upgrade is a total waste of money in my opinion! I was planning on Cali Grill for my birthday. May be changing that now!!

I wouldn't put too much stock in the reviews you read. A lot of them - not this thread in particular, but generally speaking - come from people who are comparing each restaurant to what it was a decade or two ago when Disney had a very different focus with their restaurants and really their entire parks operation.

You still find more good reviews of the signature restaurants than bad, and with good reason. For those of us who aren't mentally tallying changes from the Eisner-era peak of the luxury/adult Disney experience, the food and service are for the most part excellent. We've had two incredible meals at California Grill and look forward to a third in March. (I did learn after the first not to order the pork - it was excellent but is intended to be served med-rare; I know the recommendations about pork have changed and that rare pork is considered safe now, but I just can't get used to the idea).

I personally like to look beyond the DIS for dining reviews. I read a lot of reviews here too, but I like to balance it out simply because all it takes is a menu change or for a favorite dish to disappoint to earn a terrible review from a regular guest. Sites like Yelp and Citysearch sometimes offer a different perspective from more "average" guests.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I wouldn't put too much stock in the reviews you read. A lot of them - not this thread in particular, but generally speaking - come from people who are comparing each restaurant to what it was a decade or two ago when Disney had a very different focus with their restaurants and really their entire parks operation.

You still find more good reviews of the signature restaurants than bad, and with good reason. For those of us who aren't mentally tallying changes from the Eisner-era peak of the luxury/adult Disney experience, the food and service are for the most part excellent. We've had two incredible meals at California Grill and look forward to a third in March. (I did learn after the first not to order the pork - it was excellent but is intended to be served med-rare; I know the recommendations about pork have changed and that rare pork is considered safe now, but I just can't get used to the idea).

I personally like to look beyond the DIS for dining reviews. I read a lot of reviews here too, but I like to balance it out simply because all it takes is a menu change or for a favorite dish to disappoint to earn a terrible review from a regular guest. Sites like Yelp and Citysearch sometimes offer a different perspective from more "average" guests.

Likewise I wouldn't trust a good many reviews that seem to gloss over every single negative and brush off mediocre food and service reviews in name of the economy or the new Disney model or due to 'old timers' who only have loooong memories...

The facts are obvious that the dining quality at WDW has reduced greatly, not only from the 90's but even as recently as the past 18 months.

There are a lot of great reviewers on the DIS who objectively state their opinion of their recent meals and sometimes add perspective to WDW, you just need to read carefully to find the ones that speak to you.