Can someone tell me about Cali Grill?

[jgperkin]

Hi Everyone!

Happy New Year!


Ok... Disney Planning Again!

Here is the scenerio. 6 adults 1 child (6) want to go to California Grill August 12th to celebrate anniversaries. We will NOT be on the dining plan for this portion of our stay. However, can you tell me about what you must order when eating at Cali Grill. Can you order just a flat bread for your meal? Must you order from the main entree etc. Just curious on how this works. We have neve ate there before and are very excited about going!

Also, what time is the best to eat and then watch fireworks from the balcony? Any suggestions on that? T

THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[KAB1]

We actually never make ADR's to eat there. You can sit in the lounge part without an ADR and just have app's. There's great views and you can keep your reciept to come back at 10 PM for the fireworks. The apps are big enough for a meal.

 

[SuzieN]

Honestly, California Grill was one of our biggest disappointments. LOVED the dessert but the rest of the food was kinda...eh. Not worth it for the big price tag, at least for me.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can order anything you want. I never order anything but sushi and flatbreads (both are outstanding in my opinion). I think it might be a little difficult for a party of seven to eat in the lounge, even just appetizers, but that is definitely doable (wouldn't count on being able to seat your party of seven there comfortably)

If you have a receipt, you can go back up later and watch the fireworks from the observation deck.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Honestly, California Grill was one of our biggest disappointments. LOVED the dessert but the rest of the food was kinda...eh. Not worth it for the big price tag, at least for me.

ITA---except even our desserts were disapointing, the only thing we really liked was our flatbread. DH went to celebrate our 15th Anniversary, the view was beautiful but after our meal we both were disapointed. However, I am glad I went once, and someday I may like to take the kids but if we ever do, we'd do what PP said and go to the lounge and just have flatbreads.

 

[jgperkin]

So, I can make adr's and we can order flatbreads if we want? I was just wondering if you HAD to order the main entrees to have an adr. Sorry for any confusion. I think Ive confused myself too!

 

[jamstew]

Wow - I'm surprised at the negative reviews so far. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've always had excellent food there. It's one of two restaurants where I eat every time I go (the other being Jiko).

 

[TDC Nala]

You can order anything off the menu you want. You are not required to order an entree.

 

[robinbutterfly]

Hands down, my favorite restaurant in WDW!!! A must in my book!

 

[jgperkin]

Wow - I'm surprised at the negative reviews so far. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've always had excellent food there. It's one of two restaurants where I eat every time I go (the other being Jiko).

I agree. I am getting a bit nervous about the reviews. This is our friends first time to Disney. They have two teenage boys coming 19 & 17. We want this trip to be special for them! We were thinking of parasailng and then going to cali grill for dinner and fireworks. I hope this will b a great way to start our vacation off with them!


We just werent sure about the California Grill menu. I think we have that questioned anwered now. I just hope it is great!

 

[jamstew]

We just werent sure about the California Grill menu. I think we have that questioned anwered now. I just hope it is great!

The current menu is not the one shown on allears. I was very disappointed to find that the lobster risotto is no longer offered. I had the new cheese board as an appetizer, and it was outstanding. I've forgotten now what the new entrees were. Overall, there were less things I liked, but the filet, ostrich & pork tenderloin were excellent (yes, I ate there three times in December )

 

[Pakey]

I've always been disappointed in the entrees and desserts at CG but the flatbreads, sushi and cheese plate are good.

The noise here, not so good.

OP, I would make ADR 90 minutes prior to fireworks.

 

[TDC Nala]

California Grill changes its menu often as they make use of new or seasonal ingredients. What you see on allears or any other site is most likely not exactly the same menu you will see on a future trip, although some dishes are standards. If I feel like eating a lot of food here I would hope they still have the ostrich, I love that.

The cheese board now costs $20 which has put it out of my price range.

 

[megsher]

This was def. our favorite restaurant. I ordered an amazing soup and the tuna 3 ways, both off the appetizer menu. DH ordered an appetizer and an entree. We were on our honeymoon, so they brought out a free dessert. We were too stuffed to eat it, so they boxed it up. After dinner, def. go out to the viewing deck to watch the fireworks. Magical!!

 

[jamstew]

California Grill changes its menu often as they make use of new or seasonal ingredients. What you see on allears or any other site is most likely not exactly the same menu you will see on a future trip, although some dishes are standards. If I feel like eating a lot of food here I would hope they still have the ostrich, I love that.

The cheese board now costs $20 which has put it out of my price range.

My server last time said he really hoped they put the lobster risotto back on the menu. It has always been one of their most popular items, and lots of people are complaining about its being gone. I agree about the price of the cheese board. Had I not been on the DxDP, I wouldn't have had it

FWIW, I did find out that Brown Derby had recently changed chefs. To me, neither the food nor the menu was as good as it was before the change.

 

[allicat1214]

I just made an ADR at Cali Grill at 9 on a Thursday night in June when WISHES is at 10. There wasn't anything available at 8:30. Next spots were 7:45 and then 9:05.....

We'll prolly just get appetizers and dessert and plan on getting there around 8:20.... Hoping to be okay as far as finishing up our meal and seeing wishes on balcony.

 

[mousefan64]

we like the flatbread, pork tenderloin, sushi, we haven't had a bad exprerience there at all ask for ryan as your server he is great, we ask for him all the time and even wait if we have to

have fun...

have a glass of wild horse pinot noir for me

 

[Uncleromulus]

I get the flatbread as an appetizer, along with drinks, the entree and then dessert.
Which is to note that the flatbreads--if that's all you are going to eat--aren't all that large. You still may be hungry after dinner.

 

[tdsbu]

I have a theory that DIS posters intentionally bash CG to try to steer the unenlightened towards Tony's and FF.
CG is our personal favorite.
The two-day fresh policy ensures a market menu that changes regularly and offers high-quality choices.
The sushi is some of the best we've tasted anywhere in the US.
The place is expensive, so if you're looking for value, go to Boma (and free up some ADRs for the rest of us).
Your server in the lounge would allow you to order anything off the regular menu - however, I agree the lounge would be tough with a large group. The wine room might work for a larger group, and it would be a bit quieter ... although the view would be less desirable back there.

 

[imLissy]

in response to one of the above posts - we were on our honeymoon and we had to pay for our dessert, ***? All we got all week was some free champagne at Le Cellier and Il Mullino and we don't like champagne
Actually this was the most expensive meal of our trip. $120 for the two of us. We were uncomfortably stuffed by the end of it though. I loved the soup I had and the dessert, but I was adventurous and tried the tuna for my entre and I didn't like it. I think it would have been better if it was just plain raw tuna. I didn't enjoy the spices at all, but it's kinda a weird dish.

We had 6:00 resies, but we got there early and we were done eating by around 7:20 even though we took our time. We waited for the fireworks. It was freezing outside (literally 30 degrees and windy), but we still enjoyed it.