Dress attire at California Grill?

[contemp_mj]

I was wondering if I could wear my Tommy Bahama shirt and shorts to dinner at California Grill. I guess I could call and make sure, however they may give me the same old scripted response, “ business casual only”.

 

[trivial]

They'll certainly let you in wearing that. The man at the table next to ours was wearing shorts, and I think a tank top (although my memory might be failing me... at best, it was a t-shirt).

 

[bradk]

there's no doubt it's not strictly enforced, it's really mostly a matter of courtesy to the restaurant and fellow diners. from everything i've heard, swim attire would be the only thing really out of reach.

this is disney's official description of business casual:

Men: Dress slacks, jeans, trousers, or dress shorts, short or long-sleeved shirt with a collar required. Jackets are optional.

Ladies: Jeans, skirts, or dress shorts with blouse or sweater, or a dress required.

Not permitted in dining room: tank tops, swimming suits or swim suit cover ups, t-shirts, hats for gentleman, cut offs, or torn clothing of any kind.

 

[chasgoose]

You could wear shorts, and people certainly do, but it is probably better if you wear pants. It's not that hot out at night and you will be inside.

 

[slug]

You could wear shorts, and people certainly do, but it is probably better if you wear pants. It's not that hot out at night and you will be inside.

I have to disagree that it would be better to wear pants. When dining in a resort-type atmosphere, whether it be Disney or another warm area, dress shorts are no more or less appropriate than dress pants. "Business casual" has a different defintion at a resort than it does for a business meeting.

 

[chasgoose]

Well I live in AZ, which has a similar resort atmosphere to Florida and whenever I eat at restuarants similar in quality to California Grill in resorts, there are rarely people in shorts and when there are it is sort of awkward. A Tommy Bahama shirt and pants aren't that formal anyways, I think shorts take it over the edge.

A lot of this is just my opinion in general about California Grill's lax dress code policies. I don't think it should go the way of Victoria and Albert's or anything, but a mandatory pants rule would be nice.

 

[emerymt]

I was wondering if I could wear my Tommy Bahama shirt and shorts to dinner at California Grill. I guess I could call and make sure, however they may give me the same old scripted response, “ business casual only”.

You should be fine. Tommy Bahama is nice stuff. My DH and I wear it a lot and it always looks good in a resort atmosphere. Well, except at the Breakers, but that's another story .

 

[slug]

Well I live in AZ, which has a similar resort atmosphere to Florida and whenever I eat at restuarants similar in quality to California Grill in resorts, there are rarely people in shorts and when there are it is sort of awkward. A Tommy Bahama shirt and pants aren't that formal anyways, I think shorts take it over the edge.

A lot of this is just my opinion in general about California Grill's lax dress code policies. I don't think it should go the way of Victoria and Albert's or anything, but a mandatory pants rule would be nice.

I completely agree that if I were to eat at a restaurant of similar quality to the CA Grille that I would wear pants if it were not on a resort. If the CG were in the middle of Orlando, I'd never even consider wearing shorts. However, when a restaurant is on a vacation resort in a warm climate, shorts are more than appropriate. I've eaten at nicer restaurants than the CG (not meant as a jab at the CG - I love the place) at resorts in different parts of the world and dress shorts are very common.

We also ate at some real nice places in Arizone when we were there and I would absolutely not considered wearing shorts - but these were places in the city, not at a resort.

 

[rodkenrich]

Well I live in AZ, which has a similar resort atmosphere to Florida and whenever I eat at restuarants similar in quality to California Grill in resorts, there are rarely people in shorts and when there are it is sort of awkward. A Tommy Bahama shirt and pants aren't that formal anyways, I think shorts take it over the edge.

A lot of this is just my opinion in general about California Grill's lax dress code policies. I don't think it should go the way of Victoria and Albert's or anything, but a mandatory pants rule would be nice.

I would agree that there are rarely people in shorts.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Actually we almost always wear dress shorts to the California Grill. They are a perfectly acceptable part of the stated dress code, so no worry about not being allowed in, looking out of place etc.

 

[slug]

I'll admit that I haven't been to the CR in 3 years. I don't even remember what I wore. But I know there were people (I thought most people but, again, it was 3 years ago) there w/ khaki shorts.

 

[bradk]

i don't recall exactly when the policy went into place, but it's been much less than 3 years ago. i would think sometime mid-2006

 

[OKW Lover]

You could wear shorts, and people certainly do, but it is probably better if you wear pants. It's not that hot out at night and you will be inside.

I've got to agree with this suggestion. Disney is trying to upgrade the dining experience for these signiture restaurants and this is just one of those little things that makes it nicer for all.

 

[slug]

i don't recall exactly when the policy went into place, but it's been much less than 3 years ago. i would think sometime mid-2006

Oh, I didn't know that. I assumed that there was always a dress policy for the signature restaurants.

 

[eva]

The policy has been around a bit longer. The first year they started it was the year that my DSis and DBIL went with us. DBIL was wearing a tank top at Artist Point and they did enforce the policy. Luckily, DSis had a camp shirt in her bag that he could put on. That would be 4 years ago this coming May.

 

[MagicFam5]

We've gone to the Cali Grill many times over the years. We've always dressed up--collared shirts for the boys with nice dress shorts and sundresses for us girls. I have a confession. Last week we went to the Grill in our park clothes ! We were not our shiny best. We usually are seated to the left of the resturant but we were seated to the right this time. This is the area behind the lounge/waiting couches. We were in a booth that backed up to the waitstaff station. It was pretty much the kids section because most of the tables around us had little kids at them. If we had been feeling better about our clothes we would have asked to be seated over on the left. Not because of the kids but the view wasn't very good from the booth. We had a great meal and good service. Just a cautionary tale about clothing choices and where they might seat you!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I know that CG says business casual, and I always interpret that to mean to wear something that you would wear to the office...however, that is us. We have seen many people in there wearing shorts. I think as long as it is neat and tasteful, who really cares? I'd be totally shocked if a CM said something to you because of your attire. Like someone else said, Tommy Bahama is nice stuff...wear it and don't worry!

 

[cdtommie]

There are folks out there like me that are hot at all times of the year. Florida is way too warm for pants for my personal situation - I usually wear dress shorts to Signature restaurants during our May and October trips and pants in December if the temperature cooperates.
Not everyone is comfortable at the same temperature. I still don't understand why people care about this. We never notice what other people are wearing when we are dining.

 

[Amyg]

Last summer me, DH & DS all wore shorts and a collared shirt. There were others dressed in this manner as well as in long pants. For men, I see nothing inappropriate at a resort.

On the other hand, as a woman I wished that I had worn a skirt instead.

 

[Katiebell]

There are folks out there like me that are hot at all times of the year. Florida is way too warm for pants for my personal situation - I usually wear dress shorts to Signature restaurants during our May and October trips and pants in December if the temperature cooperates.
Not everyone is comfortable at the same temperature. I still don't understand why people care about this. We never notice what other people are wearing when we are dining.

Wow, that's actually a rather profound point. When I go out to dinner, I never pay attention to what other people are wearing, unless it is something so stunning that it is head-turning But for the most part, I don't worry about other folk's clothes, or what they are ordering either -- again, unless it looked so wonderful that I couldn't help but notice and wanted it too About the only time I notice other people in restaurants is if their behavior is rude, they are drunk and obnoxious, and especially if they are rude or nasty to the servers. Then it's pretty hard to ignore.