Official California Grill Open ADR Watch Thread

[TheMaxRebo]

I know people will be upset with me but this is my family opinion. W e ate at CG on Friday the 13th. LOVED what they did with the restaurant it is beautiful!

But the food was, well, just not that good at all. First not to wild about the selection of apps they had but we went with the duck in its glory and spicy roll. We loved the spicy K roll it was out of this world. The duck one was just ok and we all love duck. Just was not that great. Than we received our dinner, 2 of us had the fillet and 1 the scallops and the other the 3 pork dinner. The fillets came out wrong, way over cooked. We ordered them rare, and black and blue. My DD who ordered hers black and blue came out rare, and she could live with it but mine came out medium, no where near rare. They did offer to take it back and get me another. The reason I hate this, is that everyone will be done with their dinner or close to when I get mine. But I did have them recook the steak, and of course everyone was done when it finally came out. My SIL scallops where way under cooked and my DH did not have enough.

So over all not a great experience. Watching the fireworks from our table was magical but the meal was not worth 2 dining credits. I know people will be upset with this, and to be honest this broke my heart. I have been going to CG since it was a dinner show. Loved it when it went to CG but this new change, well my family and I are not even sure we will give them a second try. That's how bad it was.

Laura

sorry to hear about your experience. You seem to highlight some good and some not so good - do you think it was just that you had high expectations and were disappointed and that is why you may not go bad or was it really that bad.

Surprised to hear about the over-cooked steaks. One would think that a high-end restaurant - be it open a day or a decade - could cook steak properly.

One quick question, when you say the "3 pork dinner" was this the "Pork Two Ways - Grilled Tenderloin, Goat Cheese Polenta, Mushrooms, Lacquered Belly, Applesauce"? If so was it really that small? seemed like a normal portion in pictures I have seen and was planning to get this when I go next month so that is why I am checking on confirmation for this one )

 

[snausman]

sorry to hear about your experience. You seem to highlight some good and some not so good - do you think it was just that you had high expectations and were disappointed and that is why you may not go bad or was it really that bad.

Surprised to hear about the over-cooked steaks. One would think that a high-end restaurant - be it open a day or a decade - could cook steak properly.

One quick question, when you say the "3 pork dinner" was this the "Pork Two Ways - Grilled Tenderloin, Goat Cheese Polenta, Mushrooms, Lacquered Belly, Applesauce"? If so was it really that small? seemed like a normal portion in pictures I have seen and was planning to get this when I go next month so that is why I am checking on confirmation for this one )

First, we were very surprised by our fillets being over cooked. Not to know how to cook a fillet at a 2 credit restaurant is terrible. This, really turned us off as we had dinner a couple of nights before at Citricos and our meal was perfect!!

And yes sorry, it was the pork two ways. It was not my meal so was not sure about the name. And yes it was that small. I would say each piece of meat was the size of a half dollar piece. My husband just looked at me when they sat his meal down. And then started to laugh. It was that small.

Again, this was our favorite restaurant to go to for over 35 years.

Laura

 

[mickeymotto]

I know people will be upset with me but this is my family opinion. W e ate at CG on Friday the 13th. LOVED what they did with the restaurant it is beautiful!

But the food was, well, just not that good at all. First not to wild about the selection of apps they had but we went with the duck in its glory and spicy roll. We loved the spicy K roll it was out of this world. The duck one was just ok and we all love duck. Just was not that great. Than we received our dinner, 2 of us had the fillet and 1 the scallops and the other the 3 pork dinner. The fillets came out wrong, way over cooked. We ordered them rare, and black and blue. My DD who ordered hers black and blue came out rare, and she could live with it but mine came out medium, no where near rare. They did offer to take it back and get me another. The reason I hate this, is that everyone will be done with their dinner or close to when I get mine. But I did have them recook the steak, and of course everyone was done when it finally came out. My SIL scallops where way under cooked and my DH did not have enough.

So over all not a great experience. Watching the fireworks from our table was magical but the meal was not worth 2 dining credits. I know people will be upset with this, and to be honest this broke my heart. I have been going to CG since it was a dinner show. Loved it when it went to CG but this new change, well my family and I are not even sure we will give them a second try. That's how bad it was.
Laura

Really bummed to hear about your experience at CG. It has been one of my favorites for years too. You are right about knowing how to cook a steak. You are paying a premium price for this food and would expect at the very least for it to be prepared properly.

We have scored one of the coveted ADRs for our upcoming trip and have already decided to stick with the sushi and desserts for our meal. I used to love their (5-6) scallops on the old menu, but I really can't justify $42 for 3 flipping scallops ANYWHERE!!! Seriously?! I can't help but think we are being taken advantage of with some of these "changes".

The restaurant just reopened about a week ago. I'm glad we're not going till December so hopefully all the wrinkles will be ironed out by then.

I thought about this too...briefly. Then I decided, no way! They should already have their act together. (If not, why open?)This was a rehab of the restaurant, not the people. This is not a NEW dining experience, but should be an IMPROVED experience with the rehab, not a downgrade! There should be no kinks or learning curves here - maybe just shortcuts or shortcomings?

I still plan on going, but with limited expectations. As I mentioned, I will stick with the sushi I know is prepared well and we will try some new desserts; however I will miss the Chocolate Valrhona cake. No matter what, it is still one of the best seats in the house for the fireworks!!!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

First, we were very surprised by our fillets being over cooked. Not to know how to cook a fillet at a 2 credit restaurant is terrible. This, really turned us off as we had dinner a couple of nights before at Citricos and our meal was perfect!!

And yes sorry, it was the pork two ways. It was not my meal so was not sure about the name. And yes it was that small. I would say each piece of meat was the size of a half dollar piece. My husband just looked at me when they sat his meal down. And then started to laugh. It was that small.

Again, this was our favorite restaurant to go to for over 35 years.

Laura

Thanks for clarifying - probably just hoping for the best since this has been our favorite place as well.

And that does seem really, really small. Maybe just stick with sushi and flatbread when we go

 

[tarheelmjfan]

The early reviews are making me second guess our ADR next month. If they need a while to get up to speed, they shouldn't be charging the high prices. In other words, I don't think people should be making excuses for the bad reviews. This is not a brand new restaurant with rookie chefs. It's a renovated restaurant with some of the best employees WDW has to offer. I've been disappointed in the dessert menu, since it was first posted. I was still holding out hope the desserts would be better than they sound. The early reviews are kind of dashing those hopes. I can deal with a mediocre appetizer or entrée, but the dessert needs to be outstanding. We'll hold onto the ADR awhile hoping things improve. If not, there are other places to dine that we know will be great. We can never fit everything in anyway.

 

[disneynanacat]

I still have faith! Lol.

 

[snausman]

Thanks for clarifying - probably just hoping for the best since this has been our favorite place as well.

And that does seem really, really small. Maybe just stick with sushi and flatbread when we go

The sushi was very good, but not for 2 dining credit. I would pay for it using my TIW card, if I should ever go again.

The early reviews are making me second guess our ADR next month. If they need a while to get up to speed, they shouldn't be charging the high prices. In other words, I don't think people should be making excuses for the bad reviews. This is not a brand new restaurant with rookie chefs. It's a renovated restaurant with some of the best employees WDW has to offer. I've been disappointed in the dessert menu, since it was first posted. I was still holding out hope the desserts would be better than they sound. The early reviews are kind of dashing those hopes. I can deal with a mediocre appetizer or entrée, but the dessert needs to be outstanding. We'll hold onto the ADR awhile hoping things improve. If not, there are other places to dine that we know will be great. We can never fit everything in anyway.

I am a dessert person also. This is how I judge a restaurant. The desserts were good, not great but just good.


Laura

 

[2manypets]

I know people will be upset with me but this is my family opinion. W e ate at CG on Friday the 13th. LOVED what they did with the restaurant it is beautiful!

But the food was, well, just not that good at all. First not to wild about the selection of apps they had but we went with the duck in its glory and spicy roll. We loved the spicy K roll it was out of this world. The duck one was just ok and we all love duck. Just was not that great. Than we received our dinner, 2 of us had the fillet and 1 the scallops and the other the 3 pork dinner. The fillets came out wrong, way over cooked. We ordered them rare, and black and blue. My DD who ordered hers black and blue came out rare, and she could live with it but mine came out medium, no where near rare. They did offer to take it back and get me another. The reason I hate this, is that everyone will be done with their dinner or close to when I get mine. But I did have them recook the steak, and of course everyone was done when it finally came out. My SIL scallops where way under cooked and my DH did not have enough.

So over all not a great experience. Watching the fireworks from our table was magical but the meal was not worth 2 dining credits. I know people will be upset with this, and to be honest this broke my heart. I have been going to CG since it was a dinner show. Loved it when it went to CG but this new change, well my family and I are not even sure we will give them a second try. That's how bad it was.

Laura

DH & I went on the 10th and ordered a Spicy Kazan roll which was really good. For entree's we ordered the steak for DH and the Scallops for me. DH's steak was cooked to the correct temperature but it had absolutely no flavor, well it kind of tasted like liver. My scallops had so much grit in them they were inedible. I wasn't crazy about the menu to start with but had high hopes. We were very disappointed and most likely won't be back until they change the chef. The wait staff were superb though.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

What is going on?? I haven't seen a good review yet. I'm a little nervous. It's a lot of money to spend to not like the meal.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[AquaDame]

What is going on?? I haven't seen a good review yet. I'm a little nervous. It's a lot of money to spend to not like the meal.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Same... we might do something else and just got cocktails/a spicy kazaan roll when the times comes and call it good.

 

[Kimosabe]

Same... we might do something else and just got cocktails/a spicy kazaan roll when the times comes and call it good.

I'll take a spicy kazan roll any day of the week! That might be my favorite food item on property, so I was very glad to see that it stayed on the menu.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Since the dining plan explosion, this is the new way of Disney Dining. It has been quite a while since I have gotten the dining plan, but our strategy was to never use two dining credits for a signature meal and pay out of pockets for those, then grab an extra table service lunch somewhere throughout the week.

While paying OOP for the meal, the last few years we have found (and not limited to Cali Grill, but Narcoosee's, Yachtsman as well), out best meals have been while my wife and I each get a small (or split a) salad, then we split two or three apps. The prices for alot of these entrees have gotten too high to justify.

It's not that I am against $40-$50 entrees, and I know you'll usually pay more while at vacation destinations, things have gotten pretty bad.

 

[Kimosabe]

wdwinfo has it (updated 9/13): http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.id=105#menu

Appetizers/Starter:

• Baby Iceberg Wedge Salad - with curled Carrots, Baby Tomatoes, and Fat-free Ranch Dressing - $5.00
• Grilled Seasonal Vegetable Lettuce Wraps - with Hummus Dip - $5.00

Entree/Main Course:

• Mickey Check Meals: Grilled Beef Tenderloin - Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Baby Carrots, crushed Sweet Potatoes and Ketchup Sauce, and Seasonal Fruit Kabobs with Freshly Made Yogurt Dip. Choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani® Water. Meets Disney Nutrition Guidelines for Complete Meals without substitution - $18.00
• Mickey Check Meals: Grilled Chicken Breast - Citrus-glazed Grilled Chicken Breast with Baby Steamed Carrots, crushed Sweet Potatoes, and Sesaonal Fruit Kabobs with Freshly Made Yogurt Dip. Choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani® Water. Meets Disney Nutrition Guildelines for Complete Meals without substitution - $15.00
• Mickey Check Meals: Pasta - Whole-Grain Macaroni Pasta with Oven-fired Tomato Sauce served with Seasonal Fruit Kabobs with Freshly Made Yogurt Dip. Choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani® Water. Meets Disney Nutrition Guildelines for Complete Meals without substitution - $14.00
• Provolone and Fresh Tomato Pizza - served with choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice - $9.00

Dessert:

• California Grill Signature Puffed Rice Sushi - . - $6.00
• Cookies and Cream - Fresh-baked Petite Chocolate Chip Cookies with Vanilla and Chocolate Pop Rocks Ice Cream - $6.00
• Seasonal Fruit Kabobs - with Freshly Made Yogurt Dip - $5.00

I hate to pile on, especially since we haven't been to the refurb'd version yet, but...

We have never allowed our kids to be the all-the-time chicken nugget and french fries kids, so I can appreciate trying to get kids to eat new things....but, wow....clearly the person who created this kids menu does not actually have kids. My DD8 would have a really hard time finding a full meal here that would be desirable. And, unfortunately, DD11 (who is the same size as DD8) would be expected to order from the adult menu ($$$$) unless we get an agreeable server, but frankly, she would probably want to, given these kid options. They both enjoy steak and chicken, so as a basic entree, they would be OK with those choices, but carrots and sweet potatoes (with ketchup sauce...???) as the only sides...for both of those entrees? And both are old enough to want something other than the same macaroni or pizza that they could get at any other restaurant on property (although I can appreciate the need for these items to keep some kids happy). I love(d) CG and we'll try the new version for sure, but I may have to bring a second wallet with me, as the kids are definitely going to want to order from the real menu. Maybe my tune will change when we actually get there to try it, but I'd be interested in reviews from families with kids who have eaten there already.

 

[budafam]

I'll take a spicy kazan roll any day of the week! That might be my favorite food item on property, so I was very glad to see that it stayed on the menu.

This is the entire reason I made a reservation there. As long as I get my Spicy Kazan Roll.. anything extra is just that, extra. You won't hear any complaints from me

 

[carlys13]

This is the entire reason I made a reservation there. As long as I get my Spicy Kazan Roll.. anything extra is just that, extra. You won't hear any complaints from me

How spicy is this Spicy Kazan Roll? Would love to try it but concerned about the level of heat lol

 

[budafam]

How spicy is this Spicy Kazan Roll? Would love to try it but concerned about the level of heat lol

I would say it's pretty spicy. My level of tolerance for spice is extremely high but this is a different type of spice... it doesn't hit you right away.. kind of a layer type thing. I remember eating about half of it and not able to finish the rest but I took the leftovers back to our resort and enjoyed them later on

 

[robinb]

I hate to pile on, especially since we haven't been to the refurb'd version yet, but...

We have never allowed our kids to be the all-the-time chicken nugget and french fries kids, so I can appreciate trying to get kids to eat new things....but, wow....clearly the person who created this kids menu does not actually have kids. My DD8 would have a really hard time finding a full meal here that would be desirable. And, unfortunately, DD11 (who is the same size as DD8) would be expected to order from the adult menu ($$$$) unless we get an agreeable server, but frankly, she would probably want to, given these kid options. They both enjoy steak and chicken, so as a basic entree, they would be OK with those choices, but carrots and sweet potatoes (with ketchup sauce...???) as the only sides...for both of those entrees? And both are old enough to want something other than the same macaroni or pizza that they could get at any other restaurant on property (although I can appreciate the need for these items to keep some kids happy). I love(d) CG and we'll try the new version for sure, but I may have to bring a second wallet with me, as the kids are definitely going to want to order from the real menu. Maybe my tune will change when we actually get there to try it, but I'd be interested in reviews from families with kids who have eaten there already.

Your 11-year old can order off the kids menu at the CG .

 

[Colleen27]

I hate to pile on, especially since we haven't been to the refurb'd version yet, but...

We have never allowed our kids to be the all-the-time chicken nugget and french fries kids, so I can appreciate trying to get kids to eat new things....but, wow....clearly the person who created this kids menu does not actually have kids. My DD8 would have a really hard time finding a full meal here that would be desirable. And, unfortunately, DD11 (who is the same size as DD8) would be expected to order from the adult menu ($$$$) unless we get an agreeable server, but frankly, she would probably want to, given these kid options. They both enjoy steak and chicken, so as a basic entree, they would be OK with those choices, but carrots and sweet potatoes (with ketchup sauce...???) as the only sides...for both of those entrees? And both are old enough to want something other than the same macaroni or pizza that they could get at any other restaurant on property (although I can appreciate the need for these items to keep some kids happy). I love(d) CG and we'll try the new version for sure, but I may have to bring a second wallet with me, as the kids are definitely going to want to order from the real menu. Maybe my tune will change when we actually get there to try it, but I'd be interested in reviews from families with kids who have eaten there already.

I'm disappointed that the kids mac & cheese went away - CG was the only place on property my kids would eat the macaroni & cheese because they're used to homemade style. But the chicken breast entree was always very good, and you could request they leave off the sauce or serve it on the side if you're concerned with your kids liking it. I'm thinking there should have been a comma there, though... Not "sweet potatoes and ketchup sauce" as a single item but "with carrots, sweet potatoes, and ketchup sauce" as a list of all the accompaniments to the steak/chicken.

Overall the kids' menu still looks pretty good to me, though $18 for a kids meal is a little insane. But I'll admit the bad reviews along with the reports of smaller portions/higher prices are putting a damper on my excitement to try the re-imagined California Grill. I am toying with the idea of leaving it for my January adults-only trip and trying to book the omakase dinner, rather than taking DD5 in December... DD loves sushi, but we could always get that over at Kona or at Kimonos on our Studios day.

 

[bdklein]

our best meals have been while my wife and I each get a small (or split a) salad, then we split two or three apps.

We order ths way a lot, whether at Disney or somewhere else. Usually the apps are more interestign and varied then entrees. I think Marrakesh is great restaurant to go without an entree.

 

[GladGame]

I hate to pile on, especially since we haven't been to the refurb'd version yet, but...

We have never allowed our kids to be the all-the-time chicken nugget and french fries kids, so I can appreciate trying to get kids to eat new things....but, wow....clearly the person who created this kids menu does not actually have kids. My DD8 would have a really hard time finding a full meal here that would be desirable. And, unfortunately, DD11 (who is the same size as DD8) would be expected to order from the adult menu ($$$$) unless we get an agreeable server, but frankly, she would probably want to, given these kid options. They both enjoy steak and chicken, so as a basic entree, they would be OK with those choices, but carrots and sweet potatoes (with ketchup sauce...???) as the only sides...for both of those entrees? And both are old enough to want something other than the same macaroni or pizza that they could get at any other restaurant on property (although I can appreciate the need for these items to keep some kids happy). I love(d) CG and we'll try the new version for sure, but I may have to bring a second wallet with me, as the kids are definitely going to want to order from the real menu. Maybe my tune will change when we actually get there to try it, but I'd be interested in reviews from families with kids who have eaten there already.

We ate there last week. My daughter ordered the kids steak -- it wasn't good -- flavorless and tough. She ended up sharing my filet, which was good, and I had enough to share. She also shared my sushi appetizer, and she liked that a lot. Her carrots were very plain and tasteless as well. The sweet potatoes were somewhat like mashed sweet potatoes, but again, not good -- more chopped than mashed, I guess.

My other daughter liked her pizza. It had full tomato slices on top, which she removed, but it looked good. Our other child got macaroni, and I don't remember much about it. It wasn't a huge hit, but she ate it fine.

Maybe you could share an appetizer and entree or something??

My daughter did love the dessert made to look like sushi from the kids' menu! That was a huge hit!!

All in all, I liked the old Ca Grille menu better. For adults, I thought the sushi was better before, and while the filet was good, I actually thought the filet was better at Le Cellier during our trip. It was worth it to go to CG -- we had a great time, but it used to be a must do for us, and now, I am not sure it would be a must. But it also might improve after they have been opened longer.