CG without the view

[OKW Lover]

I've often felt that CG gets much of its love because of the view. So, a hypothetical question - would you eat there even if it wasn't where it is? Say they simply moved the whole restaurant (food, servers, etc) down to where Steakhouse 71 is. Would it be worth the price?

 

[Minnie1222]

Definitely not! We only go there for the view.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

No, the magic view from CG is a huge part of the experience. Throw in some very good food and a view of the fireworks! CG stays right where it is!

 

[Brian Noble]

I would have with the a la carte menu. There were several *very* good dishes on that one. Prix fixe, not so much.

I think of the PF menu as a character meal, where the character is the view.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I like the food more than the view.

 

[liquid17]

The food was very good but the service put it over the top. Maybe we just lucked out, but I have read that the service is generally top-notch. The price was reasonable, I thought. I would eat there for a special occasion if it were a local place with no fireworks.

 

[jimmymc]

Not for that price. Knock off $10 and it would be borderline.

 

[PetePanMan]

Good question. The view is a huge part of the overall experience for us. We may still go if you could order a la carte but likely would not for the current prix fixe.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

To use your specific alternative of Steakhouse 71’s physical location - I really don’t love the windowless setting of that particular example. But that aside, I appreciate CG’s consistent quality of both food and service, that’s what keeps us coming back. Heck, I’m weird and even sometimes request the back room area (still a good view but not the MK direction).

 

[NYCgrrl]

Heck, I’m weird and even sometimes request the back room area (still a good view but not the MK direction).

That’s a favorite sitting area on this end too; love watching the boat traffic.

 

[NickC]

I tend to pick WDW restaurants for the theming, not the food. I would rather eat at Sci-Fi than Steakhouse 71 for example.
But, at $356 plus drinks and tip for a family of 4, I'd want more than a view of MK to make it 'worth it.'
Fortunately, it's not one of our family's favorites, so I never had to say 'no' to it---because I probably couldn't say 'no.'
We've been in restaurants during the fireworks a bunch. But, and I got some flack for saying this before--but I prefer to be in the crowds for fireworks.

 

[CraigInPA]

Steakhouse 71 used to be The Wave, and before that, it was the Contemporary Game Room. I've been to all three iterations. As a game room, windows didn't matter. When it became a restaurant, I figured that windows didn't matter because the views, on the one side that has windows, would be under the terrace outside of the 3rd floor of the Contemporary and your only view there would be bushes and, far off in the distance, the marina.

On the other hand, California Grille and its predecessor, Top of the World, were always known for the view, and were always advertised as the place to be to see fireworks. Personally, I like the CG food, but I think they trade off their view, and that allows them a higher price. Since it's been a price fixed menu, I haven't gone back. If I want to see the fireworks from way up there, I'll go to the Top of the World Lounge in Bay Lake Tower. If they moved CG's menu to a spot like Steakhouse 71, I would expect the prices would have to drop to achieve similar levels of bookings.