is CG too fancy?

[tiggerlvr27]

I just wondering if anyone has ever felt "out of place" at the Cali Grille? We have ressies there for out anniversary. The draw was going to a nice place for the dinner and I have heard the food and view are great! I have seen pictures on the review board and I am worried it may be too fancy. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[BriarRosie]

Not at all. People wear anything from dress shorts, to "nice" jeans, to capris, sundresses, you name it. They will also come in theme park casual, less "nice" than resort casual.

There's a dress code for no tank tops, ripped clothes, etc. The only place that requires more fancy clothing would be Victoria and Albert's.

California Grill is not that intimidating, IMHO.

 

[MrSplashMountain #1!]

Far, far too many kids running around and screaming for it to be considered "too" fancy.

It is very nice though, and having to go up in a special elevator just to get there makes you feel rather special

 

[PelletierBears]

I totally agree. I was a bit surprised to see some people as casual as they were. I thought people would dress up more. I wore black capris, sandals and a blousy top and husband wore chinos and a polo shirt. We ABSOLUTELY LOVED EVERYTHING about the Cali Grill !!!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I just wondering if anyone has ever felt "out of place" at the Cali Grille? We have ressies there for out anniversary. The draw was going to a nice place for the dinner and I have heard the food and view are great! I have seen pictures on the review board and I am worried it may be too fancy. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

I confess-not me, but DS thought it was too fancy and complained that the food was too "fru-fru" for him. He and his wife went for their Anniversary, but he thought it was too fancy. However, he spent several summers working with cotton farmers at the cotton gin, and I really think that's where his heart still is-he's VERY country-fied.

 

[dwaters]

Yeah, I found the menu to be more intimidating than the atmosphere.

You're not going to find burgers and chicken nuggets with fries on there, that's for sure.

The view is absolutely spectacular. You can even see the spray from each log coming down Splash Mountain. There is also an open-air observation deck.

 

[magik]

For me personally, the food itself is "too fancy." And as a vegetarian, I don't really want to spend over $20 for ravioli (with chunky tomato sauce...something I do not like *at all*) which is my only choice. That's all personal taste though. I don't think the restaurant itself is "too fancy."

 

[tiggerlvr27]

Thanks for the feedback! It gives me something more to think about. I usually don't worry about stuff like this but I have to make DH happy.

 

[MommyGina]

Narcossee's and CG have the same dress code. It is casual. I wore a skort and sandals. My DH wore dockers and a print shirt. DM wore pants and a nice top.

As long as you don't wear something really grungy, you will be okay.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

The problem, as always, is what people consider "casual and comfortable." vs. "really dressed-up."

I find dockers, a polo and sandals to be normal daily casual clothing.
My husband finds that to be "really dressed-up"
For me to be "really dressed-up" requires at least a nice summer dress and dress sandals or shoes.

Hubbys daily attire is cargo shorts and rock-band tour t-shirts.
I MIGHT wear that to wash the car or mow the lawn.

My daily summer clothes are walking shorts or skorts with plain tees or polos...other people call this dressed up, I call it daily life.

Other people think "really dressed-up" is formal evening gowns and suits. I saw a few on the way up the elevator while we were there 2 yrs ago.

So I think Cali Grill is a "really dressed up" place, but that will not stop people from being there in park clothes...everything from formal wear to super casual is likely. I even made hubby buy a pair of linen dress pants...he will be dressed up whether he likes it or not Will you feel comfortable if you are "underdressed" or "overdressed" compared to most of the room...that is the real guide on what to wear.

 

[LisaInNc]

It's one of those places that you can go fancy smanchy if you want or just casual. It will be as fancy as you make it.

 

[shendley]

We ate there a little over a week ago and my daughter, who is Vegan, had something not on the menu they call "Veggies Unplugged" which is basically several portions of different things the Chef throws together from what is on hand. And she absolutely loved it - especially the flatbread they made for her.

On the issue of fancy, I can see why some would call the food fancy. But we loved it. Their tuna three ways was quite simply the best sushi style fish I've ever had.

For me personally, the food itself is "too fancy." And as a vegetarian, I don't really want to spend over $20 for ravioli (with chunky tomato sauce...something I do not like *at all*) which is my only choice. That's all personal taste though. I don't think the restaurant itself is "too fancy."

 

[SauceBoss]

Honestly, if you're going here solely for the fireworks, go somewhere else to eat. Here is some of the best food in town, if that doesn't inspire you to eat here then it's better just to watch the fireworks from Main Street where they were intended to be viewed from.

 

[Jletendre]

CG is an upscale dining experience - it hasn't won countless awards due to it's fireworks view. It's somewhat a fusion type menu with a few more standard "meals" but it changes frequently.

So think of the best dining establishment in your town / city and whatever you would wear there is a good rule of thumb in my book.

 

[Popovich]

I don't think too fancy at all. We've gone dressed resort casual and also straight from the parks not at all dressy and have never felt out of place.

The food and service have always been great.

You'll see people dressed nicely, some resort casual and some just from the parks. Wear what's comfortable for you and enjoy your anniversary dinner!

Good luck with your decision.

Gailyn

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

...So think of the best dining establishment in your town / city and whatever you would wear there is a good rule of thumb in my book.

I am smiling here, only because the best in my town is a jeans and t-shirts place....not what I am hoping for at CG, but probably it's the best some people have ever worn. (best friends hubby comes to mind...he wore a button up shirt untucked with jeans...to his own wedding...full bridal gown, semi-formal wedding!)

I know what you mean though It should be a dress up occassion.

 

[bluwater]

CG is an upscale dining experience - it hasn't won countless awards due to it's fireworks view. It's somewhat a fusion type menu with a few more standard "meals" but it changes frequently.

So think of the best dining establishment in your town / city and whatever you would wear there is a good rule of thumb in my book.

Sorry - I disagree with this as a general rule. CG is casual. The best dining establishment in my town is definitely not --- many of them are not.This will depend on where you are from. If you are from a big restaurant city, the finest place may be Armani suits for the men and St John for the ladies.

At CG, not only was the attire casual, the service was also easy-going and casual.

It's all very relative.

Intimidation Factor: 0

Some people think the food is fancy; while I was a little disappointed that my steak was served sitting on top of my mashed potatoes. On top? That wasn't fancy - that was like what happened when I was in college, went through the buffet line at Sizzler, and ran out of room on the plate.

 

[Jletendre]

Casual to me is a chain restaurant (ruby's, uno etc). If one decided to dress up they certainly wouldn't be out of place. I guess it depends if your are dining at CG to have a special dining experience or just going to use your dining plan credits.

The issue is CG and similar signature restaurants are inside an amusement park so for whatever reason the thought of having to "dress up" is skewered in the name of being casual e.g. (we recognize people are laid back on vacation) I don't think the service is any less then I've had anywhere else, our servers have always been professional and in this day in age that is about all you can expect.

Seeing that my last dining experience there was around $150 I don't find a meal in that range casual at all no matter if I'm wearing park attire or a full suit.

Bottom line is whatever your view of what a "fancy" restaurant is wear something that is clean, neat and presentable and you'll be fine.

 

[ElizabethB]

Fancy is the last word I would use to describe CG. The food is excellent and the view gorgeous. But, the ambience is pure Appelby's. Kids running all over and everybody in park wear.

WDW has tried mightily to make it something nicer -- and for a while it was. Dh and I used to enjoy going up to the lounge for drinks and appetizers. It was a quiet, upscale restaurant.

Then word got out on the internet and elsewhere that it had a great fireworks view and Disney created the DDP. The gig was up. The ambience is noisy, crowded and, frankly, unpleasant -- no different than Chef Mickey's. The only answer to this, we have found, is to book very late after the fireworks are over. The place is a bit saner then.

Last time we ate there before we caught on to going after the fireworks, the table next to us to the left had four adults all in sloppy cargo shorts and the men in sandals. They were celebrating something because they had a prime view table with flowers on the table. Didn't matter, they still dressed like they were cleaning out the garage.

On the other side we had a couple and two children. The little boy -- age about 8 -- had taken the chopsticks and was using them to drum on the table, the plates, the chairs, the water glasses and his little sister's head, which made her scream. The parents did zip about it.

Fancy -- uh no.