So, our final table service restaurant was the California Grille at the Contemporary Resort, which we were really looking forward to. We had the first sitting (at 5:30) and we did check in early
shortly after 5:00, because wed heard that was your best bet for getting a window table. Although we werent the first people there, we were maybe the 4th or 5th party checking in.
Anyway, after sitting in the lounge area watching the waiters scurry around setting up tables, we were seated - at a window table- right at 5:30. It
should be a very nice view from there - its all windows - but they have the blinds closed until the sun goes down. Now, they are light-filtering blinds, so you can kind of see through them but not really. Whats the point of having this fab view if you cant really see anything? Well, about ½ way through the meal, they did put the blinds up about 6 inches. So if you kind of scrunched down in your seat, you had an unobstructed view. Still
was kind of disappointed by that whole set-up. I guess you have to go for a late seating/dusk to see anything
course then itd be a short time before dark when the view would disappear again, so WTH?
Now, the Cali Grille is a fairly posh place
the kids had a great time doing the drop-jaw routine at some of the prices on the wine lists ($100 a glass!) But were just not that into wine, or spending that kind of money on a 3 oz beverage. So we skipped that expense (we really wouldnt have paid that much for a glass of wine even if we were into wine!) I did however have one of my frozen fruity thingies
just a regular pina colada this time, and DH had a Corona.
For our main courses, 3 of us chose the Oak-fired beef filet, which was served with fresh steamed asparagus and a grits-cake that had some sort of fancy name on it. BFF chose some type of fish (want to say it was one of the Pacific islands types with a Hawaiian sounding fish name similar to mahi-mahi, but cannot remember for sure, and the online menus are not correct about the fish offered last week.) He liked it, but said it was not the best hed ever had.
Now, Im sure this is going to be sacrilege to some, but I have to say the beef filet was good
but
just good.
Not fabulous.
Not outstanding. Just good. It was cooked correctly, it did have a nice little sauce on it. Frankly, I would never in a million years pay $38 for this dish had we not been on the
Disney Dining Plan. Both DH & I felt it did not come close to Le Celliers filet (which we would pay the cash price for, any day of the week.)
The asparagus served with it was delish
actually cooked to perfection (not soft & mushy, like so many places do it) The grits-cake thing was just spicy corn grits, compressed into what resembled cornbread, but not nearly as good
not real impressed. DH liked it, but DD & I basically took one bite and said WTH? Dont think so.
So, after enjoying, but also being a tad disappointed with the entrees, we ordered desserts, going for four different desserts & planning on sharing bites. After the little let-down on the steaks, we figured the $10 desserts werent going to be all that, either. So, I got the Honey crunch cake, DH got the Butterscotch & Bananas, DD got some sort of molten chocolate Cake with fresh Apricot Sorbet & BFF got some other sort of triple chocolate tower something or other (dont remember the exact names on these things, & the on-line menus I find do not list the exact same desserts we saw offered last week. Dont know how often they change the menus there, but most of what we saw on the menus was somewhat different than whats listed on the online version.)
So, back to the food. O.K., THE DESSERTS WERE ABSOLUTELY 100% OUTSTANDING. So good, that everyone wanted to keep their own & not share! So we all grudgingly gave up tiny tastes to our tablemates, but oh, we all savored these. The only thing that did not wow everyone was the fresh apricot sorbettaste was just way too strong (more like stewed apricots, frozen.) But the cake with it was oozing this incredible chocolate sauce, so that made up for it. The rest of the desserts were start-to-finish-lick-your-plate good. After, we went out on the decks to see the incredible view , take pictures (and watch lightening off in the distance.) A very fitting end to a week of Disney Dining Plan. They told us to hang onto our receipt, we could come back & watch MK fireworks from the deck that night, but we chose to stay in the park for the fireworks instead.
Would we go back to California Grille
probably not. On the
DDP, it takes 2 table service credits, which we just did not think the main entrees warranted those prices. And though the desserts were spectacular, I wouldnt use 2 credits to get them! And since the awesome view was mostly obscured by the blinds during the meal, the location didnt justify the price for us either. But, it was good, and it was something we had to try once. And really, maybe if wed done the California Grille first - before Le Cellier - we would probably have enjoyed the Grille more. Who knows
anyway, that's the last food report of my trip...after the Cali Grille, we caught the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom, to finish out our WDW vacation in the most magical place on earth
and even though it rained quite a bit that night, the rain magically stopped long enough for us to see Spectro Magic for the first time in more than 10 years...we had a great view near the end of the parade route (over across from Splash Mountain. Not near as many people as near Main Street & Castle viewing spots.) That was quite the magical way to end our trip!
But guess what? DH & I are returning to WDW in September for a birthday trip
and all our ADRs are at different restaurants. So lots of new things to try & review! Until then, pixie dust to all!
I'm really enjoying your reviews. Can't wait to read more.
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I see you have 
