Finally! Dining Reviews 9/3 Peco Bills & Cali Grill

[LglBlonde]

Dining Review – four adults, no kids! Me & DH – Ages 30 & 29 from NC. Brother & girlfriend, ages 26 and 26 and from Texas. Since we are all “family,” we frequently taste-tested each other’s meals! And we are on the FREE dining plan! Woohoo!!

Saturday, September 3, 2005

Today, we headed back to Magic Kingdom to finish up a few things we missed earlier in the week (Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Hall of Presidents, etc.)

For lunch, we stopped in at Peco Bill’s. DH and I had really liked this place last year! We decided to split a CS credit to save one for Sunday. We split the chicken wrap – it came with fries and we were able to get a large drink. The dessert was a Peanut Butter Mousse on a Brownie. The chicken wrap was good – it was freshly made and very large. We put some cheese and other yum stuff on the fries from the topping bar! We also enjoyed the Peanut Butter Mousse Brownie – pretty tasty for prepackaged dessert.
(Brother & GF headed to DTD for lunch and went back to WPE in Marketplace where they both ordered Chicken Lasagna. GF had the Caesar Salad in lieu of dessert and brother had the roasted squash soup in lieu of dessert – they raved about the Squash Soup and said the Caesar was pretty standard.)

Later in the afternoon – I had my first Dole Whip Pineapple Float – I enjoyed it immensely!

That evening, we had our ADR for California Grill for 7:30. We arrived a tad late at 7:35 p.m. and were told we could be seated immediately for any table or could wait about 30 minutes for a “window seat” or “good view.” We opted for the window seat and proceeded upstairs – no rush – Wishes was not until 10 p.m.! Just enough time for a cocktail! I had a Cosmopolitan, DH had a Dirty Grey Goose Martini, brother had a Cheviss with a splash on the rocks, and GF had Malibu Rum and Coke. All drinks were well made!

Around 8:00 p.m. we were seated for dinner. We took our time selecting a bottle of red wine to enjoy. I’ll have to get the name from my brother! We selected our appetizers: DH had the Big Bang Roll, I had the Crab Napoleon, brother had the BLT flatbread and GF had the Steak Can Be Sushi. The real winner here was the flatbread, but the sushi was outstanding, and I do not like sushi. Let me repeat, I am *not* a sushi eater, but this I could even eat! It was extremely impressive. Unfortunately, I was less than impressed with my Crab Napoleon, and I suppose I should have read the description better to have understood it was a ‘cold’ appetizer. For some reason I envisioned something hot. On the plus side, there was an abundance of crab meat and it was extremely fresh. It’s just not what I was expecting. I wish I had gotten the flatbread – oh well, we’ll just have to go back!!!

On to the entrees – I had the: Veal Tournedos with ricotta gnocchi, Tuscan kale, Neuske's bacon, and roasted fig-veal jus; DH had the Oak-fired Beef Filet with Three Cheese Potato Gratin, asparagus, and Tamarind Barbecue Sauce, as did my brother. I believe GF had the Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta, Cremini Mushrooms, Zinfandel Glaze and Sage. My veal was cooked just right. I did not care much for the ricotta gnocchi much, they were quite dry. The kale & bacon had a good flavor that was complimented nicely by the fig-veal jus. DH’s beef filet was just excellent as were the sides. It was during the entrees that Wishes started – so right there in the middle of dinner, we all adjourned to the observation deck! It was quite a view!!

On to dessert of which we could only take a few bites! DH & brother had Blueberry Bliss, summer blueberry clafouti with natural blueberry sauce and buttermilk-blueberry swirl ice cream, which was good. GF had the L'Opera Sings - Biscuit Joconde, mocha cream, "California Crunch," chocolate glaze, candied filberts, and gold leaf. I had a Banana Dessert – that had a toffee/caramel crisps. It’s hard to describe and not on the All Ears Net menus – if someone has the description – please provide it. It was reminiscent of Bananas Foster (without the flames & ice cream!) and was just excellent.

It was a spectacular meal!! We’ll definitely return. The service was TOP NOTCH, as was the food and the view.

Our server even brought the wine list and took the wine label from the bottle we’d purchased and affixed it to the wine list and presented it to my brother at the end of our meal as a keepsake. Needless to say, we tipped her very well!!!

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http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=909618 Monday, August 29

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=909623 Tuesday 8/30

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=909632 Wednesday 8/31

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=909644 Thursday 9/1

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=909700 Friday 9/2

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=909708 Saturday 9/3

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=909735 Dining Plan Evaluation

 

[jgreen]

I've enjoyed reading all of your reviews. Thanks for posting.

 

[Leota]

Great review of one of our favorite restaurants (CG) Thanx!

 

[vettechick99]

Wow, what a nice server to send you home with a souvie! Great review, thanks!

 

[ladysoleil]

I *love* the pork tenderloin, it's one of my favorites at CG.

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your reviews ~ Thanx for posting.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Excellet reviews!!
The BLT flatbread has become a favorite of mine!!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks for the great review. We ate at California Grill on Sept. 27 and just loved it. It was the top meal of our trip along with Jiko's. I had the Pork Tenderloin and it was fantastic.