Help me decide between Cali Grill and Artist Point!

[Angeliki19]

June 23 is our anniversary and as we just booked this trip in April we didn't have a lot of options as far as times available. So I am holding now two reservations and I cannot pick between them and I want to release one asap so someone else can have it.

The reservations I have are:

Cali Grill- 7:45
Artist Point- 8:35

I have been to the California Grill before and LOVED it so that was our first choice. But the issue is that we want DS to be asleep before we leave (my cousin is babysitting) and I am not sure if we have enough time to get over there by then. He goes to sleep around 8:30 these days (when I made the reservation he was going to bed around 7!)

So then I made the reservation at Artist Point because I thought that would be easier (staying at the Wilderness Lodge) and the time was better.

California Grill has an opening at 9:20 and I am debating on this as well. I am pregnant and get pretty hungry so I don't know if this will be too late but it might be nice b/c we would be there for the fireworks. And we wouldn't have to rush.

What do you think? Is CG worth going at an inconvenient time or is Artist Point just as good?

Thanks!!!!!

 

[disneypolybride2008]

we loved Artist Pointe. We went there during our disney wedding vacation, as well as the Contemporary. Both places gave a anniversary dessert. Artists Point also gave us a free salad, even though we were on the deluxe dining plan. They also gave us two free alcoholic drinks.. to celebrate with, but i dont drink alcohol but my DH enjoyed it. The atmosphere is romantic. We were late to our already late ADR b/c of the ferry from MK not running during the fireworks, despite the ferry attendant saying one is coming in a few minutes.. um NO, we were so late, but thankfully they let us in. We were one of 2-3 parties in there, with the other parties finishing up. The food was good. My DH said that was his favorite place out of all the ones we ate at on a week of deluxe dining. I liked the fireworks at CG but otherwise i would have been happier at Kona Cafe. They didnt have the flatbreads for an appetizer, so the one i got i ended up not liking. The bbq filet was just ok. I got a Napoleon for desert and it wasnt anything like i expected. The tables were close together, but atleast the couple we were next to were on their anniversary. Other people in the room were dressed in park wear, like character t-shirts, which broke the ambiance. So my vote is for Artists Point.

 

[ms mouse]

I think CG is all about the fireworks, its a must for us every trip but we like to relax and watch the fireworks over desert. For a quieter anniversary type dinner I like WL. The food is imo better and the atmosphere is not as rushed. If I were staying at the Lodge, that would be my choice.

 

[Ramsfan28]

California Grill.

AP has slipped over the last year in my opinion and I wont be going back anytime soon. California Grill has always been excellent in my opinion.

 

[adelheid1976]

There's a couple of good reviews that might help you decide, but this was the one I could find on short notice.

Starts with Artist Point, Cali Grill is further down the page
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2726651

 

[Angeliki19]

Thanks for the replies! Bumping this up to see if anybody else responds! I am still undecided but I am glad to see so many people like AP.. I thought it would be a landslide for the CG! I guess it really comes down to fireworks... we probably won't get to see them any other night since DS goes to bed early. We have seen them before and I know we will be back to WDW in a few years so its not a "must do" for this trip but it would be nice...

 

[DVCconvert]

Personally, I'd go with AP.

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I think with your timing issues alone you should go for Artist Point. If things don't work out w/ DS going to sleep or if you are starved by 9:30 when your reservation comes around, its going to add stress to an otherwise lovely occasion.

We've never done Cali Grill, but we have been to Artist Point and loved it. The food and atmosphere is wonderful there, plus it would be nice to stroll around the WL grounds after your meal.

 

[JMD]

I've eaten at both several times, and always had great meals at each restaurant. If I could only pick one, I would go to California Grill.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Artist Point is definitely my favorite WDW restaurant right now. I think the menu has improved a lot since late 2008-early 2009, and the menu is full of great, inventive choices. Plus, the atmosphere at Artist Point is very tranquil, whereas CG is a total mess if you're there shortly before Wishes. Not worth it for the oddly-angled view of the fireworks.

We're actually at WL right now, and we had 2 dinners in a row at AP (Sunday and Monday nights). It was so good once again, and the signature berry cobbler is no longer the inferior version that I had last summer. Will try to post a review later once I get home.

 

[Sinderelly]

I would choose AP. DH and I had dinner at CG on May 12 for our anniversary and were not impressed. The food was not very good at all but the view was great.

 

[Golf4food]

We prefer AP. CG is over-rated and if it were on the first floor of the CR instead of the 15th it would be no more popular than any other signature on property. AP is currently the best signature meal we've had of the ones we've been to, including CG. Not that CG is bad - far from it - it is just over-rated because of the view - you can get just as good (or better) food elsewhere without the hassles.

 

[disneymommy78]

We prefer AP! DH and I celebrated our 10th anniversary there and since we started going Christmas Week, it has been our Christmas Eve dinner.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

I think CG is all about the fireworks, its a must for us every trip but we like to relax and watch the fireworks over desert. For a quieter anniversary type dinner I like WL. The food is imo better and the atmosphere is not as rushed. If I were staying at the Lodge, that would be my choice.

Personally, I'd go with AP.

I've eaten at both several times, and always had great meals at each restaurant. If I could only pick one, I would go to California Grill.

Artist Point is definitely my favorite WDW restaurant right now. I think the menu has improved a lot since late 2008-early 2009, and the menu is full of great, inventive choices. Plus, the atmosphere at Artist Point is very tranquil, whereas CG is a total mess if you're there shortly before Wishes. Not worth it for the oddly-angled view of the fireworks.

We're actually at WL right now, and we had 2 dinners in a row at AP (Sunday and Monday nights). It was so good once again, and the signature berry cobbler is no longer the inferior version that I had last summer. Will try to post a review later once I get home.

I would choose AP. DH and I had dinner at CG on May 12 for our anniversary and were not impressed. The food was not very good at all but the view was great.

We prefer AP. CG is over-rated and if it were on the first floor of the CR instead of the 15th it would be no more popular than any other signature on property. AP is currently the best signature meal we've had of the ones we've been to, including CG. Not that CG is bad - far from it - it is just over-rated because of the view - you can get just as good (or better) food elsewhere without the hassles.

We prefer AP! DH and I celebrated our 10th anniversary there and since we started going Christmas Week, it has been our Christmas Eve dinner.

Could you guys that have eaten there before tell me what you had or what you really liked. We are AP rookies and a little leary of menu.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Could you guys that have eaten there before tell me what you had or what you really liked. We are AP rookies and a little leary of menu.

I've tried many dishes on the current menu, such as:

-Smokey portobello soup
-Dungeness crab salad with cucumber mint sorbet
-Rainbow asparagus salad with truffle chips (not on the online menu, but I had it yesterday)
-Spring pea risotto with pork belly
-Cedar plank-roasted salmon with bacon-egg vinaigrette
-Pan-seared chicken breast with citrus-cracked pepper pasta
-Grilled certified prime black angus beef tenderloin with green peppercorn butter
-Every dessert on the current online menu (berry cobbler, chocolate indulgence, strawberries and cream, peach upside-down cake, berry mousse)
-There are also 3 sides that are not shown on the online menu but are available: glazed carrots, three cheese mac, and corn soufflé

Everything was very good, and most of the dishes were great. I would happily recommend any of the above, but the real standouts to me were the crab salad, risotto with pork belly, salmon, chicken, corn soufflé, and berry cobbler.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Could you guys that have eaten there before tell me what you had or what you really liked. We are AP rookies and a little leary of menu.

Here is my latest Artist Point review - hope it helps!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

California Grill is our favorite restaurant at WDW. We have eaten at AP several times over the years and been disapointed every time.

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Could you guys that have eaten there before tell me what you had or what you really liked. We are AP rookies and a little leary of menu.

We loved the cheese plate from AP. I had a fish that is not on the menu at current and my mom had the buffalo sirlion which she really enjoyed. Berry cobbler was yummy for dessert.

 

[NJEeyore]

Scheduled to eat at both spot same week you will be there. Luckily, I get to go to both. AP is our favorite place at WDW. No reason to stress going there instead of CG It is a different dining experience but just as enjoyable.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Thanks for the reviews! Keep them coming.