This was our first time at California Grill, we had a 9:20 pm reservation so that we could see the fireworks too, since you can't go to CG for the first time and not see fireworks right?
We took the elevator up to the restaurant and were given a pager, we sat in the lounge area to wait for a table. The lounge area had a nice view of the MK and if you didn't have reservations I think you could come up here and have a meal anyway, that's at least what it seemed like many people were doing. DF went to the bar to get a beer, but the bartender had been a bit smart-alecky with him, so he was a little annoyed.
. DF looks pretty young so I guess the bartender was giving him a hard time and thought he was being funny. DF did not like it one bit.
Luckily our table was ready and we had a seat right by the window!
It was also decorated with Mickey confetti, I love that!
Our server asked if we wanted our appetizers to come out after the fireworks, but we said it would be okay if they came out when they were ready.
I of course had to have one of the famous flat breads. So I ordered the three cheese flatbread, I think, sorry the menu on allearsnet is pretty old.
It was amazingly delicious! Definitely big enough for a few people to share, and if we had some way of heating it up again I may have had it wrapped up. It came out during the fireworks and I was a little too engrossed in the fireworks and ended up getting some of the green pesto....on my white dress
. I knew there was a reason I don't usually wear white! Luckily our server saw and brought over some club soda for me to get the stain out and that worked pretty well.
DF got the goat cheese ravioli. He discovered that he loves raviolis after the one he had at the Brown Derby. He devoured this in like 10 seconds! I was going to ask for a taste, but too late! He said it was awesome.
For our entrees I ordered the Seared Pork Tenderloin - with goat cheese polenta, button mushrooms and zinfandel glaze. Wow this was awesome! The pork was so tender, and that goat cheese polenta was amazing! I could have just eaten a big dish of that!
DF of course got a steak. Filet of Beef - with Cheesy Idaho Potato Mash, Buttered Asparagus, and and teriyaki barbecue sauce. He really liked this, I tried a bite and didn't care for the sauce on the steak so I was glad I went with the pork.
At this point we were exhausted, we had gotten up for Rope Drop at MK and then had an engagement photo shoot that afternoon, so there wasn't much rest time today, and we were really feeling it, but I had to have dessert and DF didn't want anything so I got two!
Dessert #1: Had to be the Valrhona chocolate cake and I think it was served with a cherry ice cream. This was a really good lava cake. Nice and gooey in the center. I really liked the ice cream that came with it.
But the dessert winner was Dessert #2!
Unfortunately I have no idea what this was called but it was some type of peach cake, and you can't really see much of it from the picture.
. But it was the celebration dessert and it was soooooo good. It was nice and light and creamy, the flavor wasn't overwhelming and it was just perfect. I should also say that I can get a good lava cake back home and I've even made them in the past, so while that dessert was good, it wasn't as special. This was like nothing I had ever had and was so delicious, a great summer dessert!
We both really liked California Grill but I think next time we would make an earlier reservation considering we both almost fell asleep at the table
! I think I would rather eat there when it was still light out and you could see all of MK. I also am not a huge fan of fireworks outside of MK since they aren't centered on the Castle and that kind of bothers me, but it was fun to do once. We will definitely be back for the food!
Lately, I've read a lot of reviews that said the Wave was just as good or better than California Grill, and I don't think that is the case at all. The Wave is very good for a 1 ts credit but we found California Grill to be significantly better (as it should be) and thought the menu was more appealing. So if you are considering one or the other and have the extra ts credit, California Grill is the way to go!
.
. We only got the slipper, I didn't ask for the buckle too, but I'm sure if you asked they would give it to you. It doesn't make you a bad person at all to want more dessert. 
, I had heard how good it was so I was hoping, but no dice.
