Citricos or Cali Grill for overdue date night?

[syp4dis]

Our kids are finally old enough to go into the Sandcastle club giving my husband and I a long overdue date night. We loved the California Grill when last there, about seven years ago (!), and really want to go back, but I've been reading some negative reviews lately, and would be very disappointed if it didn't live up to our memory, so I've booked Citricos instead. We've never been to Citricos, but have heard good things.

However, I love California Grill and can't stop thinking about it!! Any advice? We'll only have the one night free of the kids and really don't want to take them to either of these restaurants, so we only have this one shot to make it right.

I'd love to hear from anyone that may have been to either restaurant lately.

Thank you!

 

[BlueSkies]

syp4dis Thats a tough decision to make! I think the CG is all about the view...but Citricos ..which we try and dine at almost every trip has delicious food...wonderful service and a very nice ambiance..just not that view...

HTH a little...???

I am sure that no matter what you choose you will have a lovely evening out!

 

[Pakey]

Citricos has better food, better service and a more adult atmosphere.

While I enjoy the sushi at Ca Grill, I would never pick this place for a date night dinner.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I have never been to Citrico's but we were in WDW in March, and my Mom watched the boys for us one night so dh, and I could have "date night." We chose CG. We totally lucked into a table overlooking the castle as the sun was setting. It was truly magical. We shared a flatbread, appetizer, sushi, an entree, and a bottle of wine. We told the waitress at the beginning of the meal we did not want to be "rushed." She was very gracious and we lingered over each course. We then headed into MK to ride some rides and watch "Wishes." It was awesome!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Citricos has better food, better service and a more adult atmosphere.

While I enjoy the sushi at Ca Grill, I would never pick this place for a date night dinner.

I agree with this!

 

[disneychic]

Citricos has better food, better service and a more adult atmosphere.

I agree

 

[EastonCat]

The service level at Citricos is dramatically higher. The restaurant's manager is fantastic and has always been hands on making sure things were spot on when we were there. Post dinner, you can take in a drink at Mizner's and listen to the band or stroll around the grounds at the Grand Floridian. This is a much better date night than the austerity of the Contemporary (which is a resort that I like very much and have enjoyed staying at; it's just a little austere compared to GF). You can even walk down to the Poly and enjoy the torchlit gardens.

 

[missminniemouse]

For a special date night I'd choose Citricos. As others have stated, the food and service are better than Cali Grill. You can't beat the atmosphere of the Grand Floridian to make you feel truly special. We found Cali Grill to have a lot of loud, obnoxious children dining there, while the children at Citricos were well behaved. Granted, it's Disney and the reverse could happen on any given night, but we've dined at Citricos the past 3 years straight and had no problems whatsoever.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I prefer the food at California Grill, but I agree that Citricos and the GF overall have a much nicer ambiance for a date night.

 

[JZCubed]

My wife & I also do date night, but we sometimes stay at Bay Lake Tower and simply find the location of CA Grill more convenient.

That being said, if you are indifferent, Citrico's is just as most folks here have said - more quiet and romantic for date night.....but Victoria & Albert would work too.

 

[wendydarling826]

Citrico's hands down. The atmosphere is relaxing, the food is wonderful, you can actually hear each other in conversation, and after dinner you can walk on the beach, take the boat back to MK or watch the Electric Boat Parade.
We went to CG for the first time last year. The food was great, but we waited forever for our table and the whole place had a noisy, frenzied, rushed feel. It would not be my choice for a date night.

 

[Halle]

We have been to CG numerous times, 3 times this past year. We tried Citricos for the first time in March. We were seated at 6:10 and received the bill at 6:50. We had a drink, appetizers and the main course. DH had told the server that he wanted wine with dinner, the server came to the table when my DH was half way done with the entree'. Needless to say he passed on the wine. The food was delicious but the service was ridiculous. My vote is for CG.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Personally, I'd look at the menus and then decide. I did not care for the menu at all when I went to Citrico's and thus would definitely pick California Grill.

 

[minnie mum]

I have to add my endorsement for Citricos. We have dined at both places and enjoyed the food at both. But the atmosphere is like night and day. A PP got it right when they said that CG is all about the view. But if you don't have a window table with a MK view then... We also found CG to be unacceptably noisy (some of the kids there were downright rowdy), and too 'busy'.

Citricos, on the other hand, we enjoyed as much for the ambiance and service as we did for the food. Quiet enough to carry on a conversation using our 'indoor voices' (now that's special at WDW). Can't say enough good things.

Then after dinner you have so many options for a date night: Mizner's Lounge, strolling the grounds and watching the ELP, taking the walk over to the Poly and perhaps relaxing on a beach lounge chair.

Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll have a lovely child-free evening.

 

[mskayjay]

In the past I would have said CG hands down but it has changed quite a bit over the years. The view and fireworks are still magical but it has become noisier, more families there at all hours (yes even the late diners!!!), and the food has gone down in quality. We still do it every trip but the new add for us has been Citrico's. Much more adult, exceptional food even by Disney standards, our waiter was amazing, the chef befriended us, ambiance is great, very peaceful and romantic!

If it were me, I would do Citrico's without the kids and do CG with them.

 

[cbg1027]

Citricos has better food, better service and a more adult atmosphere.

While I enjoy the sushi at Ca Grill, I would never pick this place for a date night dinner.

I love both places, but Cali Grill is raucous and loud - not a good environment for a date.

 

[syp4dis]

Thanks everybody, Citricos, it is. I didn't notice many kids the first time we were at the California Grill, but from everyone's comments, it sounds like Citricos is the way to go. I'm leaving my kids behind for a reason! And thanks for the after dinner suggestions. I hadn't even thought of that! I'm really looking forward to it now.