My California Grill experience

[LSUfan4444]

What day/time/number of people are you looking for? I will look for you.

Im looking for 9 people on Sunday Jan 9 or Mon Jan 10

 

[eileen2664]

Thank you for the review, OP. We’re coming up on our 60days and I’m saddened that CG won’t be one of our reservations this trip .
We’ve always had fantastic food and service there. The prix fixe doesn’t bother me too terribly, if it were just dh and I we’d be willing to give it a try. The problem is that ridiculously picky ds is now 11. I just cannot justify paying $90 for noodles with butter. If he were still a Disney kid, we’d choke down the $40 price tag in order for the adults to enjoy the experience. If he were a bit older we’d leave his picky butt in the room and go without him but he’s at that weird age where he’s not a kid (according to Disney ) but not an adult or even a teen.

 

[MJ6987]

Are Disney gradually phasing out a la carte menus in favour of fixed price menus?

 

[gharter]

Are Disney gradually phasing out a la carte menus in favour of fixed price menus?

Good question, and hard to tell. This may be a way to try and increase the revenue per seat and decrease their food cost. I would expect at some time in the future, it will go back to a menu more like they used to have. But, also concerned that may not happen.

 

[PWDmom11]

Does the price include non alcoholic drinks?

 

[cruisin5]

Are Disney gradually phasing out a la carte menus in favour of fixed price menus?

It appears so when it's a restaurant which special appeal, like BOG, Space, Cali. I'm not a fan of it, would prefer a minimum charge per person instead. I like the option of fixed price or regular menu at Chef's.

We're on the fence for our trip ... CG, Citrico's or Narcoosee. Seems the menu at Narcoosee appeals the best to all of us. It will certainly be more expansive than CG.

 

[MJ6987]

Good question, and hard to tell. This may be a way to try and increase the revenue per seat and decrease their food cost. I would expect at some time in the future, it will go back to a menu more like they used to have. But, also concerned that may not happen.

It appears so when it's a restaurant which special appeal, like BOG, Space, Cali. I'm not a fan of it, would prefer a minimum charge per person instead. I like the option of fixed price or regular menu at Chef's.

We're on the fence for our trip ... CG, Citrico's or Narcoosee. Seems the menu at Narcoosee appeals the best to all of us. It will certainly be more expansive than CG.

I assume it’s to stop the “booked for a dessert and a drink” brigade.

 

[gharter]

I assume it’s to stop the “booked for a dessert and a drink” brigade.

I saw that definitely happen at B0G frequently at dinner.
I can't say that I have ever seen that happen at California Grill. The many times we've dined there, most , if not all the tables around us seemed to be having full meals.
Maybe that did happen, which could explain the change.

 

[LSUfan4444]

The prix fix menu allows for a smaller kitchen staff as well. Less substitutions, controlled menu with few options means less prep work/staff, and likely a smaller line to cook the food.

 

[LiteBrite]

I'm wondering if it also has to do with supply chain issues, so they don't have to stock as many different items.

 

[godisneyboat]

Does the price include non alcoholic drinks?

I would like to know this also???

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I would like to know this also???

Yes - my kids ordered cokes and it was included in the price. I'm sure if you ordered some sort of specialty non-alcoholic drink it would be extra though.

 

[DisneyByMarriage]

The prix fix menu allows for a smaller kitchen staff as well. Less substitutions, controlled menu with few options means less prep work/staff, and likely a smaller line to cook the food.

We just ate there last week (Thanksgiving week) and can confirm there are noticeably fewer cooks/chefs in the kitchen. My husband is a restaurant manager and spends most of our meals out staring at the operations and cooks (super romantic, I know!).

 

[DisneyByMarriage]

To everyone who posted here- I just got back from Disney and had a 8:45 reservation on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, a party night. We ended up being seated a little early as it was freezing outside and the BLG shop was lacking in merchandise (specifically noticed a lack of Xmas ornament choices and jewelry). We had a reservation for two and we got the following: short rib wontons, duck pizza, beef main and pork main. Those were all outstanding. I had the French Rose and my husband had some sort of bourbon drink. They were fine, I’m just not much of a drinker and should have done caffeine instead. Our desserts were the “taste of the 50th” or whatever it’s called and the lavender donuts. Both desserts were kind of lame. My son’s lava cake at Skipper Canteen was better than either of these two. Our server was amazing (Sima, I believe) and our table and a few others stayed to see the xmas fireworks. They were impressive but we couldn’t see any castle projections so we both thought the fireworks view from the Riviera Room (8815/17) was just as good. We’d do it again but it think we would pick Citricos instead because the view wasn’t great. The other thing we noticed was that the majority of people were dressed in park clothes versus nicer clothes. But honestly those spirit jerseys are $75 so they should be nice enough!

 

[Aela]

Havent had it personally but it was shared by the man and DGD the last time we visited. They seems happy chewing away and goodness knows it’s a dramatic dish best served in a restaurant. The average home doesn’t have plates big enough for that rib bone, LOL.

there was a post released recently by Disney indicating that the tomahawk steak was 2-entree cost, and the extra $80 was not required for the steak (that it is an add on for something else above the “basic” tomahawk for two, and optional..). Was this what you experienced when your party had the steak? Or was it “for two” plus $80? Did that make sense?

 

[Eastern]

Havent had it personally but it was shared by the man and DGD the last time we visited. They seems happy chewing away and goodness knows it’s a dramatic dish best served in a restaurant. The average home doesn’t have plates big enough for that rib bone, LOL.

Is there an $80 upcharge on this?