Is Cali Grill overrated?SideSA

[goofyintoronto]

We just got back and ate there our first night. I haven’t been there since they changed the menu. I won’t go back unless they change the menu. I don’t eat red meat or pork no biggie, I ordered the chicken my meal was awful and so was the service. I loved that restaurant, the view, the service but no longer. No Thanks.

I had the same experience. Ive been there a few times since the refurb, and my meal was disappointing every time. It'll be a while before I return as well.

 

[louey]

I had the same experience. Ive been there a few times since the refurb, and my meal was disappointing every time. It'll be a few before I return as well.

My go to great meal for now is at Narcoosees, been there three times. Expensive but sooooooo good!!!

 

[goofyintoronto]

My go to great meal for now is at Narcoosees, been there three times. Expensive but sooooooo good!!!

I need to try that place! Im sooo in love with Artist Point, but i now hear that they're going to make this into a character meal for ALL meals. I need a new fave place...so Narcoossee's is on my list next trip!

 

[louey]

I need to try that place! Im sooo in love with Artist Point, but i now hear that they're going to make this into a character meal for ALL meals. I need a new fave place...so Narcoossee's is on my list next trip!

I don’t think you will regret it. If you like cheesecake you Have to Have to get the almond crusted cheesecake IMO it’s the best!!!

 

[crabbygal902]

No, not overrated. It is the best dining experience at Disney, but then again I’ve never been to V&A’s.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I don’t think you will regret it. If you like cheesecake you Have to Have to get the almond crusted cheesecake IMO it’s the best!!!

YUM! I love cheesecake! Thanks for the tip.

 

[David Gardner]

Possibly the best meal I've ever had was at the California Grill. It was a bison filet, and until that meal, I've never had meat that literally melted in my mouth. It was amazing. Since my first meal there I've gone during every trip, and I proposed to my wife on the deck after the fireworks.

All that said, I agree with the previous poster who said that the quality has dipped after the refurb. I wonder how much of this is the contrast effect, the idea thhat the food was so good before the refurb that the new level of quality after the refurb, while still good, is a letdown. For me, I'm questioning the value, not the quality.

 

[drwadadli]

No, not overrated. It is the best dining experience at Disney, but then again I’ve never been to V&A’s.

I am always curious....is it the best dining experience (in your opinion) because of the food (in my opinion good but not great), the atmosphere (very noisy) or just the view of fireworks????

Possibly the best meal I've ever had was at the California Grill. It was a bison filet, and until that meal, I've never had meat that literally melted in my mouth. It was amazing. Since my first meal there I've gone during every trip, and I proposed to my wife on the deck after the fireworks.

Have you ever tried the bison filet at Artist Point? I have been enjoying the bison filet over at Artist Point for the past 10 years and almost never needed a knife to cut it as it was that tender. In my opinion, Artist Point prepares the bison filet better than at California Grill.

 

[KenHutch]

We have only eaten here twice and both times the meal was very good and the waitress spent a lot of time with us on food choices and recommending things.

 

[David Gardner]

Have you ever tried the bison filet at Artist Point?

I've only been to Artist Point once. I enjoyed it, as did my wife, and we both thought the food was very good. For me, I don't think it held a candle to CG in its heyday, but was on a level with CG the last few times I've been there. I had the Salmon, but I'll try the bison next time we go.

 

[crabbygal902]

I am always curious....is it the best dining experience (in your opinion) because of the food (in my opinion good but not great), the atmosphere (very noisy) or just the view of fireworks????

1. My food has been consistently great. We order apps and bevs and have been very pleased with the quality, the standouts being the goat cheese ravioli and sushi. I’m pretty fond of that bread basket, too. It is the only place I can get Kim Crawford Spitfire Sav, so yes, I consider food and bev to be stellar here.

2. Where you see noisy, I see lively.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I don't see it as noisy. Personally, I hate it when restaurants are too quiet...almost seems creepy. The food, however, has been mixed for us. Our appetizers and sushi have mainly been wonderful...minus that goat cheese ravioli that everyone raves about (I thought it was incredibly blah). It's the entrees where I have issues with California Grill. I have yet to have anything off of the entrees that has been great. I've had some good stuff, some average entrees and one where it was salted to the point that it was inedible. I've seen people rave about their filet, but even that has me scratching my head. It was OK...but nothing amazing.

The DIS team has often asked the question if California Grill would be as popular if it didn't have the view or if it would be this raved about place in the world outside the Disney bubble. My answer has always been - No. If it weren't for the view, we wouldn't keep going back.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

The DIS team has often asked the question if California Grill would be as popular if it didn't have the view or if it would be this raved about place in the world outside the Disney bubble. My answer has always been - No. If it weren't for the view, we wouldn't keep going back.

or is it’s continued popularity due to how good it was in years past? I’ve experienced the change firsthand (last 2 meals) and I get my views of the fireworks elsewhere, so it does come down to quality and execution in the kitchen for me. If you want to stay at the top, you have to keep upping your game, for me CG is slipping.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

or is it’s continued popularity due to how good it was in years past? I’ve experienced the change firsthand (last 2 meals) and I get my views of the fireworks elsewhere, so it does come down to quality and execution in the kitchen for me. If you want to stay at the top, you have to keep upping your game, for me CG is slipping.

My first time trying CG was 2011 and we were mixed on what we were served for this visit. Mind you, we went into that hearing all of the hype, but all opinions from me are based on experiences from 2011 through 2017.