Help us pick! Jiko, California Grill, Artist Point, Citricos

[dqpowell]

Here's the situation: For our trip in December, most meals will be with the group -- four adults, three children.

However, my wife and I will have two evenings to ourselves on the trip thanks to Grandpa & Grandma, who will be watching the kids. Each of the following restaurants intrigues us: Jiko, California Grill, Artist Point and Citricos. So now we're trying to figure out which ones to try!

The question is this: which of the four is your favorite? It would be helpful if you mentioned which you've tried and which you haven't in your comments. We'll be picking two of the four after we get some feedback.

Thanks!
David

 

[madalex]

Jiko, Citricos and AP are my three favorite places at WDW (in that order). I also like CG, but just not quite as much. If I had to pick only two, I would go with Jiko, because of its very interesting food, great wine list and it is in AKL, which is a beautiful resort, and Artist Point, which also has great food and wine list and is a quieter place to enjoy an adults-only meal (last time I went to Citricos, there were many, many children there and it was kind of loud; not that there is anything wrong with the kids there, but if I was trying to get away from kids for an evening, AP is somewhat quieter). They are all great restaurants and you can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[Wazzo]

Hello!

I have been to all of them, except Citricos.

We LOVE the food and atmosphere at Jiko. The filet with mac n' cheese is amazing...
Jiko Review and pictures: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1222133&referrerid=&highlight=Jiko+September

We LOVE the atmosphere at Cali Grill, and the food is very good too.
Cali Grill Review and pictures: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1222140&referrerid=&highlight=grill+september

The atmosphere at Artist Point is very nice, but the food wasn't so hot.
Artist Point review and pictures: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1222235&referrerid=&highlight=artist+point+september


Unfortunately your choice will be hard to make, because fortunately you probably can't go wrong with any of them! Enjoy!

 

[John's Mom]

Out of the four, we have only had dinner at Jiko and the CG. Both are excellent restaurants. Jiko is our favorite WDW restaurant.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Well--they are ALL good spots, and as Wazzo and Madalex said, you can't go too far wrong no matter which two you choose.
We've been to all 4 on multiple occasions. In order, we like Jiko, California Grill, Citrico's and Artist Point.

 

[BCV23]

We've been to all four multiple times too and my personal ranking is California Grill first (I think all six in my family agree on that one), Jiko and Citricos tied. Artist Point is my least favorite but still very good. AP would come in 2nd for some of us I think.

But all good choices.

 

[pilferk]

I've eaten at all 4.

Jiko's is by far my favorite (though I liked AP & Citrico's too...we had AWFUL (2x) expereinces at CG and I just won't go back). In fact, IMHO, Jiko's is the second best restaurant on property....2nd only to Victoria and Alberts.

In addition, since these are "nights away", I think Jiko's is much more romantic. One of our other problems with CG was that it was very loud, and hard to hear your dining companion without shouting. Citrico's has very good food (especially lately, I've heard), but the atmosphere is only so-so. AP has great atmosphere (and is likewise quite romantic) but the food is only (IMHO) "eh".

 

[oybolshoi]

The only one we haven't tried is Citricos (we're going in October...I'll give you my opinion when we get back!).

Of the other options.. I opted for California Grill for the variety of items on their menu. I'm a pickier eater than my husband, so I like having a lot to choose from. And CG is one of the few places on property where you can have sushi if you are so inclined. If you want a more romantic atmosphere ask to be seated in the wine room - it's much quieter there than in the main dining room and although you won't have a view of the MK, the view is still stunning.

Jiko was also very good, but I personally find more on the menu to order at CG than at Jiko.

Service, atmosphere, and food were excellent at both restaurants so in my opinion you can't go wrong with either, it just depends on your taste in food.


I didn't care for Artist Point - maybe we were there on an off night, but I wasn't impressed with the food or the service. I personally have no desire to dine there again.

 

[jeepgirl30]

I've only been to Jikos and Cali Grill. I like them both but I voted for Jiko because it is so much more than just great food.

AKL is a really cool resort and its more of an experience overall.

 

[DisneyDad61]

I have also tried them all several times except for Jiko in which I have visited only once.
Result - depends on what you are looking for. Food Selection, wine list, atmosphere, price.

For me and my wife, our First choice almost every year is Artist Point. We love meat and seafood. The Grilled Buffalo Steak is just about the best piece of meat I have ever had next to a Fillet Mignon. The Venicin (sp?) spring rolls are great appetizers and the mushroom soup is awesome. We have consistently have excellent service and the restaurant is relatively quiet and the resort is awesome.

Jiko's was just ok for us - the selection of food was a bit different and the portions were somewhat small and the service was less than average. We are not tremendous wine drinkers - so there infamous wine selection was not that important to us.
My ranking based on overall restaurant experience woule be:

Artist Point
California Grill
Citricos
Jiko

We have also had excellent meals at LeCellier (Epcot), Hollywood Brown Derby (Disney Studios) and Yachtsmen Steakhouse (Yacht Club) where we had some of the best Prime Rib I have ever had.

Good luck

 

[blanq]

Since I had to pick one for the poll, I picked Jiko. CG is a close second though. I really like the appetizers at Jiko. Any of their fish dishes and the filet with mac and cheese are wonderful entrees. For dessert, I can't pass up the pistachio creme brulee. Oh yeah!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I've been to each of the restaurants you've listed.

I'm in the minority though about Jiko, I just do not like that place that much.

I think Citricos and California Grill has the best appetizers, and Artist Point has the best entrees, and it's a toss up between Artist Point and California Grill for best dessert.

I like the atmosphere at California Grill best, especially if Wishes is going on as you dine.

I was dissapointed in the service at Citricos.

Between the four I'd pick California Grill and Artist Point.

 

[webray]

Hard choice, definately not Citrico's. I would put Flying Fish in the mix though.

You can't go wrong.

 

[dqpowell]

I wanted to thank everybody who has contributed a vote and/or comments so far. Jiko looks like a definite go; the problem is going to be picking between California Grill and Artist Point. They're only one vote apart at the moment. I've looked at the menus online and frankly, they both look great.

Unless there's a late surge for one or the other, I may have to base this on which one has an ADR time closer to my preference on that day. I'm thinking if I can get a reservation that coincides with the Wishes fireworks show at California Grill, that's where we'll go. If not, it'll probably be Artist Point as I have the impression it's less busy (or less known) than California Grill, making it more likely we'll get a reasonable reservation time.

If anybody else has any advice, we'd appreciate hearing it.

Thanks again,
David

 

[honeybee30]

I'd choose Jiko & Artist's Point. I've also eaten at Cali Grill, and it was very good, but the ambience was a bit hectic with lots of small children everywhere! Jiko & AP were more romantic and the food/ service was excellent at both.

 

[MK4ever]

We have been to CG, Citricos and Artist Pointe.
Citricos is our favorite, but for atmosphere (i.e., awesome view of Magic Kingdom) CG is the best. Food is great at both (my husband thinks Citricos is the best restaurant in Disney). Artist Pointe food was good, but I would rank that #3.

 

[jpaulgor]

Wow that Jiko's Filet and Macaroni looks awesome. I wouldn't think that a lot of people would consider Mac and Cheese to be fine dining but it sure does make me happy.

 

[pilferk]

I wanted to thank everybody who has contributed a vote and/or comments so far. Jiko looks like a definite go; the problem is going to be picking between California Grill and Artist Point. They're only one vote apart at the moment. I've looked at the menus online and frankly, they both look great.

Unless there's a late surge for one or the other, I may have to base this on which one has an ADR time closer to my preference on that day. I'm thinking if I can get a reservation that coincides with the Wishes fireworks show at California Grill, that's where we'll go. If not, it'll probably be Artist Point as I have the impression it's less busy (or less known) than California Grill, making it more likely we'll get a reasonable reservation time.

If anybody else has any advice, we'd appreciate hearing it.

Thanks again,
David

You actually (if you want a table near the window to watch wishes, and you don't want to have to head out to the balcony) will likely need an ADR at least an hour before the fireworks show...and linger over dinner. Tables just DO NOT turn over along the windows as you approach the show......

In addition, to see the fireworks, you're going to have to stick to the main dining room (not the much more intimate and quieter wine room, which was suggested by someone earlier).

 

[dqpowell]

Well, here's what happened.

I called this morning and got a reservation for California Grill at 7:30 PM. The CM indicated this was a good time to catch Wishes at 8, and that I should be able to get a table with a nice view of the fireworks. After reading pilferk's comments, I'm wondering if that's true.

Artist Point's menu is more in line with my tastes, and California Grill's is more in line with my wife's tastes. I'm sure we could both find something suitable at either location, but I didn't want to steer the decision based solely on which one I would prefer. So I was letting the fireworks show drive the decision.

Now I'm thinking we might be better off trying for an Artist Point reservation. Ugh... I'll show the menus to my wife and see what she thinks.

David

 

[Uncleromulus]

The problem with CG is that you really won't know about a window table being available until you actually get there and ask.
I should add that for us (and we've been to CG any # of times) a window table is of little concern. It's just as easy to get up at any point in the meal, go outside, watch the show, and resume the meal once it's all over.