Getting Worried about CA Grill choice

[mcnuss]

We -- DD11, DH & me - are going to WDW week after next for the first time in <gasp> 3 years. Last time we went with with BIL, SIL & their 3 kids. Because of budget issues and 4 picky eaters (3 kids & SIL), the best restaurant we ate in all that week was the Crystal Palace. This time we decided to treat ourselves to something special. I ate once at CA Grill when I was there for a conference and I remembered the atmosphere being very lovely and grown up. However, I now keep reading posts about kids running around there and that they don't dim the lights anymore for the fireworks, and I wonder anymore whether I want to drop $200 on a dinner there.

I'd really love the advice of all you DIS-diners out there. Budget is not so much a concern as are atmosphere and quality of food. We just want this to be special. It can be at any Disney resort or in any park (we have hopper tickets).

TIA!!

 

[cityofweasels]

CG is never a bad choice, but I've found the atmosphere less pleasant recently than it used to be, particularly around fireworks time. Two others you might consider are Citricos, which I can vouch for, and bluezoo, which I have not been to but hear basically nothing but good about.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I have been there twice and never noticed lots of kids running around. It was just DH and I and we had a really nice time.

 

[Mike N Kathy]

How about Jiko at AKL

 

[WDW LOVR]

We've been there twice in the past couple years, both at fireworks time, and we didn't notice kids running around.

There were some tables with young kids at them that with the size of the group made me think that they were probably on the dining plan and probably wouldn't have been there without it (one table had 5-6 kids, mom and dad and grandma, who can afford that many at CG?), but no kids running around.

 

[Synonymous]

You can't go wrong with CG. My wife and go just about every trip for an "adult" meal. The atmosphere is great. It's not quiet there, but that's because of the buzz of lively conversation and a bustling kitchen, not because of kids. There are usually some there, but it's not the kind of place where they can run wild.

Don't know about dimming the lights for fireworks, because we always go out on the observation deck. It's hard to get a table with a good view of them, anyway.

 

[maggiew]

We were at California Grill and didn't notice any kids running around.

Maggie

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Let me know if you decide to cancel. I'd try to call and catch your cancellation in a heartbeat! CG is one place I wanted to go at the end of March and didn't this trip.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

We have eaten at the CG twice recently, and have noticed more kids than compared to our past experiences. However, none of them were running around.

However, for a truly nice and relaxed meal, Jiko has become a favorite of ours. It is on our must do list for every trip. Atmosphere is great... not as noisy as the CG. And although they are welcome, we haven't noticed many kids there.

 

[majortom]

If your prime reason for going is to see fireworks at dinner, it is a good choice. If you are going primarily for food or service, I would recommend Jiko, Todd English's Blue Zoo, and if you are willing to leave Disney property, Tchoup Chop or Emeril's Orlando.

/carmi

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

It waso ne ofthe most amazing experiences I have ever had! Make sure to book a time close to fireworks..so that you all can go out on the observation deck and watch! DBF and I did this last year...it was so romantic. In fact, when asked by a friend what one of the most happiest memoments in his life was...he reported our experience at CG watching Wishes from atop the CR. It was so memorable!

 

[majortom]

It waso ne ofthe most amazing experiences I have ever had! Make sure to book a time close to fireworks..so that you all can go out on the observation deck and watch! DBF and I did this last year...it was so romantic. In fact, when asked by a friend what one of the most happiest memoments in his life was...he reported our experience at CG watching Wishes from atop the CR. It was so memorable!

If you want to be seated at a table in the restaurant when the fireworks start, make sure you schedule one much earlier. Tables often do not turn over for thirty minutes before scheduled start of the fireworks, so many times those reservations are quite delayed. Your other option is to just book a table for right after the fireworks, get there a bit early and sit in the bar to watch them. Finally, since it seems that most people talk more about the fireworks than the food, skip the restaurant, and just go up to the bar 20 minutes before the fireworks, order a drink, wait and then go out on the terrace for the fireworks. After they are over, go some where with great food and service and enjoy your meal.

/carmi

 

[Synonymous]

Finally, since it seems that most people talk more about the fireworks than the food, skip the restaurant, and just go up to the bar 20 minutes before the fireworks, order a drink, wait and then go out on the terrace for the fireworks. After they are over, go some where with great food and service and enjoy your meal./carmi

You've gotta be kidding... CG is among the top 3 at WDW for food and service, IMHO. The fireworks are nice, but you're better off seeing them from Main Street. Go to CG for the great food and atmosphere and if it works out that you can see the fireworks, then great, do it.

 

[majortom]

You've gotta be kidding...

Not kidding at all.

CG is among the top 3 at WDW for food and service, IMHO.

While you are entitled to your opinion, I do not share it, (nor do many others on here). It was at one point a great restaurant. From my experience, ever since the open Chef and GM left, it has deteriorated to the point that it is no longer a place I where I will dine.

/carmi

 

[mapny90]

We have eaten at CG each time we've been to WDW and have found the food and the service to be impeccable. It will be four years since we've been there when we do our next WDW trip and I realize that a lot can happen in four years. I think that we will go for nostalgia's sake and it we don't like it cross it off our list.

Does anyone know if Yoshi is still the sushi chef there? At least the sushi should be good and inventive if she is.

 

[Hollymom1229]

I had gone here for the first time in 2001, food was very good, atmosphere was quiet and adult, service was stellar. This last trip the food was even better than the first trip, atmosphere had become more boisterous, and the service was solid, not great.

In 2001 we got the perfect fireworks view table against the window. This past trip, we made our ADR for the fireworks start time, we went up, watched the fireworks from the platform, and were sat within five minutes of the fireworks being over.

 

[Synonymous]

Does anyone know if Yoshi is still the sushi chef there? At least the sushi should be good and inventive if she is.

Yes, Yoshi is still there (although Yoshi is a "he.") We usually sit at the sushi counter and have a great time chatting with the guys back there (and we get lots of extra treats).

We've made CG a regular part of our trips for the last few years. Haven't seen any change in the quality, at all. I prefer Jiko, but just by a little bit, and I think the atmosphere at CG is more exciting.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Kids were plentiful at the CG when we went. But they were all very well behaved and weren't loud at all. They pipe the wishes program onto the balcony and the view of Wishes up there is really nice. Also. Do not plan on going up to the bar without a ressie. The reason is if they are full, and they usually are come wishes time, you will not be allowed up.

The food was really good and we had no problem with the service at all.
Now if you're used to service where it's appetizer, meal, desert, check, bing bang boom out in less than an hour, this will not be it. Service is very pedestrian. But that doesn't mean it's bad. The wait staff was very attentive, helped us as to what we could and couldn't have on the meal plan, held up dinner so that it wouldn't be coming out during Wishes, didn't snicker, sigh, or look down on us in any way for being on the mealplan.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Finally, since it seems that most people talk more about the fireworks than the food, skip the restaurant, and just go up to the bar 20 minutes before the fireworks, order a drink, wait and then go out on the terrace for the fireworks. After they are over, go some where with great food and service and enjoy your meal.

/carmi

You are not allowed to do this anymore. You have to have a reservation just to get up to restaurant. (You have to check in on the 2nd floor and a CM takes you up on the elevator.) You also have to use a credit card for a deposit when you make your ADR.

 

[majortom]

You are not allowed to do this anymore. You have to have a reservation just to get up to restaurant. (You have to check in on the 2nd floor and a CM takes you up on the elevator.) You also have to use a credit card for a deposit when you make your ADR.

Sorry, you are incorrect. You do have to check in on the second floor, but you may still say that you are going to have a drink at the bar and go up to the restaurant. If it is too busy (a definition that is somewhat randomly applied), they will not let you go up, but nine times out of ten you will no problem.

/carmi