Help! California Grill, Artist Point, Narcoossee's or Citricos????

[IUHoosiers]

I have begun thinking about the ADRs for our November trip (never too early!). We will be staying at the Polynesian, so we plan on trying a Kona breakfast, Ohana dinner and maybe even an Ohana breakfast. I have something in mind for our visits to Epcot, AK and HS - but would also like to try one of the nicer restaurants at an MK resort. I am trying to decide between California Grill, Artist Point, Narcoossee's or Citricos. All of these menus appeal to us, but I would be interested in hearing about decor, service, food quality, etc. It will be myself, DH and DD4. Which is your favorite?

Thanks!

 

[Tink-n-Peter]

I am trying to decide between California Grill, Artist Point, Narcoossee's or Citricos. All of these menus appeal to us, but I would be interested in hearing about decor, service, food quality, etc. It will be myself, DH and DD4. Which is your favorite?

Thanks!

My vote is for either Narcoossee's or CG!

Have fun.

 

[lindakmonty]

Narcoossees has incredible food, service, decor, view...you name it! It wasn't noisy or crowded. It was very comfortable and not very big. nice and enjoyable. Our food was fantastic! It was so beautiful walking through GF...would also be great if you're planning the GF photo shoot !

oh...you'll love your adr's at Poly!! can NOT go wrong there at all!!!

 

[LAS321]

We went to Narcoossee in last August and loved it. The food, service and the view were incredible. We were able to see Wishes from our table and were not rushed at all.

 

[LowesChevy]

This is a tough decision. I have not yet been to Narcoosess, but the other restaurants i have eaten at several times. These 3 are all very kid friendly. Here is my take on each of them.

California Grill: so many items on the menu I want to try, so little time. Food is top notch and so is the service. we did have a bad server once in like 10 visits, so pretty good there. The view is awesome, even without the fireworks-the observation deck is cool too-bird's eye view of MK and most of the World. It tends to be loud because it is one large open area with an open kitchen. There is a bar in the middle of the restaurant, which contribrutes for most of the noise. I personally love the atmosphere. It is bright inside and they dim the lights for the fireworks. My favorite dish is the pork tenderloin with goat cheese polenta and anything chocolate for dessert. The food is of course fresh Californian cuisine, lots of seafood items and new American style

Artist Point: food and service are also top notch here. The menu offers more Pacific Northwestern flared items-salmon, game meats and beef. The food is more like upscale comfort food-pork chops, smokey mushroom soup & big pieces of meat. I love the buffalo sirloin with onion marmelade, beet salad, venison rolls, the woodplank salmon and the cobbler, which is the one non chocolate dessert I love. Lots of dark wood tables, vaulted ceiling that makes the dining area feel huge, and the lighting is enjoyable as well. This restuarant is not as loud to me as CG, it is a little more calm because there is no bar here. Artist Point offers a view of the resort pool.

Citricos- is a large open room with an open kitchen. It has a lovely view of the quiet pool and grounds of the GF. The noise level is higher than AP, but definetely lower than CG. Not many people eat at the bar here-in fact I do not know if you can eat there. The service has always been wonderful-the staff is great here. The food is influence by Mediterranean cuisine-flavors from Italy, Greece, Northern Africa and southern Spain. There are several fish entrees as well as some seafood appetizers. The filet Sicilian with crushed 4 cheese potatoes is delicious. I have also had the bass with rissoto, veal shank, gateau of crab, arancini, goat cheese salad, and hearts of palm salad. All were spot on and the desserts are great too. This is probably our favorite place.

Well I do not know if I helped or confused you more. you can always ask more questions . Have fun.

 

[IUHoosiers]

Thanks for the great feedback!!! Anybody else??? Any can't miss menu items at these restaurants?

 

[Uncleromulus]

They are all good. OF course California Grill and Narcoossee's have a "view", so that's an advantage for them. In order, I prefer California Grill, Citricos, Narcoossee's, and then Artist Point. The menu at Artist Point is a bit too Northwestern for me, and the decor is sort of "Lewis and Clark"--

At California Grill a "can't miss" is one of the appetizer flatbreads. And at Citrico's, the Veal Shank is a house specialty. The salmon used to be pretty good at Artist Point, but some years since we've been there--

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Huge fan of Citrico's here, was not impressed with the other two as I was with Citrico's...

There is a review recently that I did and a brand new one with pics on the review board..


Love this review: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1765862

 

[BCV23]

I enjoy all four but California Grill is the clear winner for my family. Great food, service, view and variety.

We enjoy the other three as well and have dined at all of them multiple times. Two in my family would vote AP and another Narcoossee's. The salmon at AP is still excellent according to my salmon lovers. But there are fewer choices on these menus than at CG. The service at Narcoossee's has been a bit more....um, casual...than the other three in recent years..

We haven't eaten at Citricos in a couple years and LowesChevy described a couple things that sound intriguing.

Next trip includes CG, Narcoossee's and AP. I think I better plan Citricos for the following trip.

 

[WishesQueen]

Narcoossee's and California Grill during Wishes!!!

 

[IUHoosiers]

Awesome feedback, thanks!!! Our November trip is only 4 nights, and for the sake of our DD4 we were going to try Ohana and WCC for more casual experiences. We are also planning to spend our first night at Epcot as it will be the last night of the Food and Wine Festival. That only leaves us one more dinner, otherwise we would probably try several of these choices. Guess we'll have to plan ANOTHER trip to try the others!!!! My September trip is with a friend and her DD3, and we are opting not to do mostly character meals meals (Tusker House, CRT, 1900 Park Fare, Coral Reef).

So, do I understand that of the four choices you can only see Wishes at CG and Narcoossee's? Does one offer a better Wishes experience than the other?

BTW, can someone help be with the pronunciation of Narcoossee's? I have a version in my head...but I will bet it's not right!!!

 

[LowesChevy]

CG offers a bird's eye view from 15 floors up of Wishes through large windows.

Narcoosses-there is a deck around the restaurant and you can go outside and view them from ground level. So it depends what level you want to view them from.

Nar- pronounced like the "ar" in "bar"
Coo- as in a baby "cooing"
Sees- as in "see: like sight

 

[IUHoosiers]

Thanks!

I believe I read they pipe in the Wishes at CG? What about Narcoossee's?

 

[Pakey]

Neither Narcoosees nor CG guarantee you a seat where you will be able to watch Wishes. At Narcoosees, because it's at ground level, many times people stand outside on the dock which then blocks the veiws from the windows. At CG, there are a small number of tables that are windowside on the castle side and everybody wants them. At both places, you may have to go outside in order to get a good view of the fireworks.

I've eaten at each of these several times and my order of preference is CG, Citricos, Narcoosees and then AP. CG and Citricos offer a more unique menu with a more upscale environement than both Narcoosees and AP. AP is the quietest with the most space between tables but the atmosphere is very rustric which does not appeal to me. Narcoosees comes in 4th in food quality and menu diversity but does have a nice setting on the lagoon.

 

[BCV23]

BTW, you may see Wishes from 'Ohana. Some tables don't have a view but I would guess most do. The fireworks are centered best from the Polynesian. From Narcoossee's, it's off center but not bad. From CG, you get a side view. They're still awesome but be sure to see them centered at least once for the full effect. Best of all is from inside MK for Wishes.

 

[GF Girl]

Citrico's or Narcoossee's

 

[jerseygal]

I can get reserv for 8:00 when Wishes is 10:00 in the summer.. I was told that if you are done early at Calif.Grille, you can save your receipt and go outside I guess on their deck, but only if you have a receipt..I guess at Narcossees, if done early, is there also a viewing area outside? Patio or the like?

How is the timing of an 8:00 dinner for viewing?

Thx.

 

[BCV23]

I can get reserv for 8:00 when Wishes is 10:00 in the summer.. I was told that if you are done early at Calif.Grille, you can save your receipt and go outside I guess on their deck, but only if you have a receipt..I guess at Narcossees, if done early, is there also a viewing area outside? Patio or the like?

How is the timing of an 8:00 dinner for viewing?

Thx.

The viewing area at Narcoossee's is much smaller than those at CG. There's a smallish verandah off the small lobby area. There's also a wrap around deck but if anyone stands there, it block the view of those lucky enough to have window tables.

But there is a boat dock right outside Narcoossee's that affords a great view. If you finish dinner early, you could walk around the grounds of the GF. Go into the lobby and hear the band or pianist. Have an afterdinner drink at the bar at Narcoossee's or on the second floor of the main building. Lots to do until 10pm. Shop. But if you order 3 course, it will probably be close to 10 anyway.

Oh, and the soundtrack is very clearly heard from that boat dock.