Disney is refunding our less than satisfying California Grill meal!

[cbg1027]

After this comment, I am starting to wonder if your expectations weren't a bit too high. I honestly do not think that it is CG's fault that you left hungry if the food 'tasted great'. If you are a 'big eater' then maybe you should have ordered more and not just expected more.

It has nothing to do with being rich or not. As you pointed out, that same money could've gone towards 2 Ohana dinners (or 1 Boma dinner and 1 Ohana dinner, or 1 Ohana dinner and 1 Chef Mickey's dinner, etc). It's all about how you spend your money.

I'm sorry, but Disney isn't a charity, and California Grill (or Jiko, or V&A, or Bluezoo, or any other upscale WDW restaurant) shouldn't have to give refunds because someone is used to Ohana or Sci-Fi portions. Just like Prime Time wouldn't give a refund to an eclectic foodie who's upset that the food is simple but tastes good. That's why people go there - they want basic comfort food that even the pickiest of eaters would enjoy.

This thread really has me taken aback. I'm not a light eater by any stretch of the imagination, and I've dined at CG many times. And I've never left hungry. I order a salad of some kind for an appetizer, and usually get the filet or the pork entree, and I'm generally too full for dessert. If I ever truly felt the portion sizes were too small, I'd say something right then and there to my server. I'm inclined to think if the OP complained about the portion sizes when the food was served, management would have let them order something else. (We did just this one time at Coral Reef when DD's child's portion of mahi-mahi was just TINY. They gladly brought her another serving, and it was more substantial. And they didn't charge us any more.) But if you're still hungry AFTER you eat...order something more at your own expense (just like the OP said she would have expected to do.)

I just can't imagine filing a complaint after the fact, given there were no other issues with the quality of the food or service. How do you get "less than magical experience" from "small portion sizes?" IMO, Disney is being very generous in completely reimbursing the OP.

I only can advise you never to go and dine at Victoria &Albert's or eat in Europe.
You will not survive the tiny portions there.
I never understood the obsession for big food portions any way.

ITA will all of you. I find the OP's complaint unwarranted. I've eaten at CG five times and never left hungry. I find most of the entrees fairly large in portion size.

 

[Bunless]

We were just talking about our California Grill experience on 10/31. DH and I were complimenting the fact that the appetizers were actually of a size where it's just a small bit to whet your appetite, instead of big enough to serve as an entree.

At a finer dining experience you're supposed to be able to have several dishes to have several different tastes. If the dishes are too large, then the diner fills up on the first dish and can't enjoy more. For a restaurant like California Grill, we're going to have five courses (sushi, appetizer, entree, cheese, dessert), if that ravioli is more than one piece, there's no way I'm going to make it even to a third course.

One of the things that really impressed me was that they let you order the cheese by the ounce. Too often if you get a cheese plate, it's a cheese duo or trio that equates to about six ounces, which is way too much for two people.

That ravioli was really good, I'm wanting it right now.
So was the pork belly.

 

[Liandro]

ITA will all of you. I find the OP's complaint unwarranted. I've eaten at CG five times and never left hungry. I find most of the entrees fairly large in portion size.

I fully agree. We dined many times there. The two of us and also with a large group. We never left hungry.
Eating the entrees they always come and ask if you want more side dishes. Fries, vegetables, potatoes whatever You name it and they bring it whit no extra cost.
Heck they even made a special children's diner for my niece. She just had to tell them what she liked and they served it in children's portions. ( just waiving at G. our special waiter. I know you will be reading this )

 

[Toad_Passenger]

I only can advise you never to go and dine at Victoria &Albert's or eat in Europe.
You will not survive the tiny portions there.
I never understood the obsession for big food portions any way.

This would be my in-laws.

Seriously, the higher end places are actually giving out portions that are the size everyone should be eating. My in-laws always complain when we take them somewhere special because they can't believe the size of the portions, I guess they'd rather be at a buffet somewhere.

 

[Lewisc]

After this comment, I am starting to wonder if your expectations weren't a bit too high. I honestly do not think that it is CG's fault that you left hungry if the food 'tasted great'. If you are a 'big eater' then maybe you should have ordered more and not just expected more.

I have no idea what the OP looks like (weight) or what kind of appetite they have. Tasting great isn't enough. The OP went for dinner. A reasonable explanation is the portions served would be enough for one diner to have enough to eat.

No offense, but it sounds kind of snobby to tell someone they're unreasonable to think that $140 should fill their stomachs, even if they are a "big eater".

For that money they could have eaten at Ohana twice, all you can eat, with a salad, several appetizers, 4 "main courses", and desert. To think that you'd leave hungry after dropping $140 at a restaurant is ridiculous no matter how high "quality" the food is.

+1

Where is it written that for $140 you get XX amount of food? If I go to a restaurant, order what I want, eat it all, claim it tasted great but leave hungry, that is my fault, not the restaurant's. If I am still hungry, it is on me to order more food. I think it is beyond ridiculous to complain and then get comped.

It's not the guests fault if the portion size is inadequate. It's beyond ridiculous to think a person going to a restaurant for dinner shouldn't expect dinner sized portions.

Sounds like you had buyers remorse and/or sticker shock after spending $140 on dinner. If your true complaint was portion size, it was very unreasonable and dishonest to write a portion-size complaint letter for a meal that included your husband's steak (which you claimed in your first post was $47 and large) and your adult beverages (which I'm sure you were aware of the price when you ordered them). Although you claim that you didn't expect a refund, why else would you really go through the effort of sending an e-mail without actually expecting a refund? You should have been honest with yourself before hand and come to the realization that you weren't okay with spending that much money on dinner. I know you don't think you were scamming them, but it's not their fault that they gave you great food & great service!

There is nothing in the OP which suggests they wrote expecting a full refund. That may be the only reason why you'd complain but it's rude to assume that's the only reason why others would write a letter. Some might write offering a constructive comment. Others might hope for a small gift card, part of the cost of the meal.

It's not the restaurant's fault they gave great food & great service. It is their fault if the portions weren't adequate.

Fine dining usually suggests small portions. Guests are having multiple courses.

I wouldn't be surprised if too many guests were ordering appetizers as meals or sharing large dinners. Disney doesn't have per person minimums. Disney doesn't want the portions so large guests share but neither should the portions be so small guests leave hungry.

Restaurant like Cheesecake Factory serve outrageously large portions. Enough for two to share and leftovers. Quantity of food served doesn't suggest how good the restaurant is.

Leaving hungry because the food was so bad you couldn't eat it isn't good. Leaving hungry because the portions are too small also isn't good.

 

[chris4disney]

I have no idea what the OP looks like (weight) or what kind of appetite they have. Tasting great isn't enough. The OP went for dinner. A reasonable explanation is the portions served would be enough for one diner to have enough to eat.



+1



It's not the guests fault if the portion size is inadequate. It's beyond ridiculous to think a person going to a restaurant for dinner shouldn't expect dinner sized portions.



There is nothing in the OP which suggests they wrote expecting a full refund. That may be the only reason why you'd complain but it's rude to assume that's the only reason why others would write a letter. Some might write offering a constructive comment. Others might hope for a small gift card, part of the cost of the meal.

It's not the restaurant's fault they gave great food & great service. It is their fault if the portions weren't adequate.

Fine dining usually suggests small portions. Guests are having multiple courses.

I wouldn't be surprised if too many guests were ordering appetizers as meals or sharing large dinners. Disney doesn't have per person minimums. Disney doesn't want the portions so large guests share but neither should the portions be so small guests leave hungry.

Restaurant like Cheesecake Factory serve outrageously large portions. Enough for two to share and leftovers. Quantity of food served doesn't suggest how good the restaurant is.

Leaving hungry because the food was so bad you couldn't eat it isn't good. Leaving hungry because the portions are too small also isn't good.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Perception that the dollar amount of a meal should equate to the quantity of food, who set that standard? High end restaurants provide finer cuisine not measured by quantity but rather by quality and imaginative preparation and yes, that comes at a premium!

I for one, focus on your statement, " You ate the food and enjoyed the food." End of story, no refund or compensation due! You made a choice to splurge, it was a learning experience, CG met it's obligation to you!

Will you eat at the CG again? If you do the experience will be no different because the restaurant did nothing wrong! What then....

Example: At the better steakhouse's you can get the 8oz or 12oz filet, sure it costs more as you increase the quantity of this expensive cut of meat. You can either eat with cost in mind and order the 8oz or get the 12oz if you're really hungry! At the CG same principle if you have a big appetite you can order more food, dessert....

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Last month DH and I decided to go to California Grill to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We knew well in advance that the bill was not going to be cheap and that was fine, as long as we got a nice meal in return. We had looked over the menu ahead of time and saw many things that we would be happy to try. I will say that everything we ate was very good! My only complaint was that the portions of every course (except for my DH's $47 steak) was SO TINY! Seriously, my vegetarian pasta dish had maybe 8 bites of food. I've had larger portions of pasta in a frozen Lein Cuisine for $3.00. We both had an appetizer... DH had a $14 ravioli appetizer that came out in this huge dish with ONE ravioli in it. We had no salads, and no desserts. We both had one drink, and probably their cheapest on the menu. Anyways, our bill came to $150! I wouldn't have minded the $150 if we hadn't left the restaurant still feeling hungry!

So anyways, after we returned home from our trip I decided to email guest services about our experience. Obviously many people continue to go to this restaurant and share the same experence we did or it wouldn't be so popular. But regardless we had decided that we were never returning and our special Anniversary dinner was quite disappointing.

Of course, Disney is going to make it right.... they called me over the weekend and apologized for our less than magical experience and is mailing us a Disney gift card to refund our meal!! Thanks Disney, we had already started planning our next year's trip and this a nice little bonus!

You had no complaints about the food only the portion size?

You sent an e-mail to WDW complaining and they refunded your money for the meal?

Wow I can't wait to try that!!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I have no idea what the OP looks like (weight) or what kind of appetite they have. Tasting great isn't enough. The OP went for dinner. A reasonable explanation is the portions served would be enough for one diner to have enough to eat.



+1



It's not the guests fault if the portion size is inadequate. It's beyond ridiculous to think a person going to a restaurant for dinner shouldn't expect dinner sized portions.



There is nothing in the OP which suggests they wrote expecting a full refund. That may be the only reason why you'd complain but it's rude to assume that's the only reason why others would write a letter. Some might write offering a constructive comment. Others might hope for a small gift card, part of the cost of the meal.

It's not the restaurant's fault they gave great food & great service. It is their fault if the portions weren't adequate.

Fine dining usually suggests small portions. Guests are having multiple courses.

I wouldn't be surprised if too many guests were ordering appetizers as meals or sharing large dinners. Disney doesn't have per person minimums. Disney doesn't want the portions so large guests share but neither should the portions be so small guests leave hungry.

Restaurant like Cheesecake Factory serve outrageously large portions. Enough for two to share and leftovers. Quantity of food served doesn't suggest how good the restaurant is.

Leaving hungry because the food was so bad you couldn't eat it isn't good. Leaving hungry because the portions are too small also isn't good.

I agree.

 

[lovin'fl]

No offense, but it sounds kind of snobby to tell someone they're unreasonable to think that $140 should fill their stomachs, even if they are a "big eater".

For that money they could have eaten at Ohana twice, all you can eat, with a salad, several appetizers, 4 "main courses", and desert. To think that you'd leave hungry after dropping $140 at a restaurant is ridiculous no matter how high "quality" the food is.

+2
And that's why we have never done CG. My inlaws have done it several times on the DDP and they loved it the 1st couple of times, but the last time they went they said the portions were too small and quite smaller than their previous trips. They ordered everything allowed on the DDP and left hungry. They won't go again.

 

[ScoJo15]

Ok so there is a photo of HALF of the ravioli appetizer here:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/02/26/more-dishes-from-california-grill/

If you'd double that I think it would be more than enough for an appetizer dish. Combine that with a steak that you said was large and I'm not sure that meal would be insufficient?

As for the 'high cost', I will always pay a premium for great flavors, fresh ingredients and things I would not find at my local chain restaurant...over paying less and getting a huge heaping plate of bland food, or worse yet, a frozen entree (which I highly doubt was anywhere near the quality of the pasta served at CG).

I think the true issue here is the 'buyers remorse' from having spent 'a lot' of money for a great meal.

I'm shocked that Disney would refund a meal based on your portion size complaint...should we all now write to them and complain about all of the signatures serving higher quality, smaller portioned food?

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Ok so there is a photo of HALF of the ravioli appetizer here:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/02/26/more-dishes-from-california-grill/

If you'd double that I think it would be more than enough for an appetizer dish. Combine that with a steak that you said was large and I'm not sure that meal would be insufficient?

As for the 'high cost', I will always pay a premium for great flavors, fresh ingredients and things I would not find at my local chain restaurant...over paying less and getting a huge heaping plate of bland food, or worse yet, a frozen entree (which I highly doubt was anywhere near the quality of the pasta served at CG).

I think the true issue here is the 'buyers remorse' from having spent 'a lot' of money for a great meal.

I'm shocked that Disney would refund a meal based on your portion size complaint...should we all now write to them and complain about all of the signatures serving higher quality, smaller portioned food?

I'd say that all of the pictures on that page show standard portion sizes.

 

[budafam]

I agree that I don't think you should have been given a refund. You enjoyed the meal and said the food was good, just not enough. I can eat a lot but to be honest, I wouldn't go to California Grill for a filling meal. An all you can eat buffet would suit you better if that's what you're trying to accomplish.

 

[Lewisc]

The blog you quoted is based on a meal experience 2 1/2 years ago. A PP in this threads inlaws have dined at the CG several times and commented the portion sized have recently been reduced.

Did you take the time to read the blog you linked to? The couple started with a cheese plate. Split the ravioli. Had soup. Two entrees. Two desserts.

I don't think Disney would have given a complete refund unless the complaint had merit.

Ok so there is a photo of HALF of the ravioli appetizer here:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/02/26/more-dishes-from-california-grill/

If you'd double that I think it would be more than enough for an appetizer dish. Combine that with a steak that you said was large and I'm not sure that meal would be insufficient?

As for the 'high cost', I will always pay a premium for great flavors, fresh ingredients and things I would not find at my local chain restaurant...over paying less and getting a huge heaping plate of bland food, or worse yet, a frozen entree (which I highly doubt was anywhere near the quality of the pasta served at CG).

I think the true issue here is the 'buyers remorse' from having spent 'a lot' of money for a great meal.

I'm shocked that Disney would refund a meal based on your portion size complaint...should we all now write to them and complain about all of the signatures serving higher quality, smaller portioned food?

 

[ScoJo15]

The blog you quoted is based on a meal experience 2 1/2 years ago. A PP in this threads inlaws have dined at the CG several times and commented the portion sized have recently been reduced.

Did you take the time to read the blog you linked to? The couple started with a cheese plate. Split the ravioli. Had soup. Two entrees. Two desserts.

I don't think Disney would have given a complete refund unless the complaint had merit.

The blog was linked to show the size of the appetizer.

Did you read that I pointed out the PHOTO and not the rest of the meal in the link that I referenced?

Glad to see that the OP and one set of inlaws have noticed portion sizes being reduced over 50% in the last two years. Thanks for pointing that out.

I am not a fan of California Grill, and I actually am doubting that Disney offered a full refund for a meal that had nothing wrong with it...do you know what kind of precedent that would set?

 

[gatormommy07]

We had a big service and food issue there in May--I wrote--They refunded the amount for our Dining Credits to my Visa. We had been there several previous times and this was the first time things were bad.

We decided to go again.

We ate there the night of our wedding (Nov 10) and had a fantastic meal, a fantastic server, and totally remembered why we love the place. Don't let an off night scare you away--it's truly a great restaurant.

You got married on mine and my hubby's 10th anniversary!!That is so cool!!

 

[chris4disney]

You got married on mine and my hubby's 10th anniversary!!That is so cool!!

Nov 10th is also our 10th anniversary! too funny!

 

[Princess Dolly]

Here is a much more recent review with pictures: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011/11/20/review-california-grill/

My DH and I love the California Grill. We have not had a bad meal there (been four times). I have always found the portions fine, but sometimes food is about taste first, filling your belly second.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't think you can go by a plate of food that was served to someone else, as a means to judge the OP's circumstance. It wasn't his plate.

 

[MSLRAC]

Sounds like you had buyers remorse and/or sticker shock after spending $140 on dinner. If your true complaint was portion size, it was very unreasonable and dishonest to write a portion-size complaint letter for a meal that included your husband's steak (which you claimed in your first post was $47 and large) and your adult beverages (which I'm sure you were aware of the price when you ordered them). Although you claim that you didn't expect a refund, why else would you really go through the effort of sending an e-mail without actually expecting a refund? You should have been honest with yourself before hand and come to the realization that you weren't okay with spending that much money on dinner. I know you don't think you were scamming them, but it's not their fault that they gave you great food & great service!

I agree 100%. I also think that it is unrealistic to expect CG to provided unlimited amounts a food or a refund to people that are 'big eaters' and who left hungry. Had the OP received a smaller portions than those around them, than sure you have a portion complaint (that should have been made then) but otherwise, I think there is no basis for an email complaint after the fact.

I also think that if more and more people pull this little stunt or ones similar that the price of food at WDW is going to continue to rise as will the price of the dining plans because Disney will have to recoup that money from somewhere.

ETA: We have eaten at CG every trip we have made to WDW and we have always found their portions sizes to be more than adequate. We also find them to be very much in line with the portion sizes of similar dining experiences elsewhere in the US.