Please HELP! Narcoossees vs. CG??

[cdrn1]

We will be on the DP in Sept, a group of mothers/dau/sisters. The non-adventurous amongst us will leave on Sunday, and the adventurous will stay two more days. We want to do a Signature meal. Here are the things we love: Lobster, sushi, GOOD beef, and GOOD seafood, and GOOD cocktails/wine. I have made a reservation at CG for 9 pm on 9/15; wishes is also at 9 that nights. Then I saw the Narcoossee menu...WOW. Help me, please. Have you eaten at either of these on the DP...what did you order, what is allowed, what is NOT allowed on the DP? What are some wonderful appetizers/wines (of course realizing those are OOP). Thanks for your help.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

We ate at both places in January and were on the Deluxe Dining Plan. We totally enjoyed both places, but California Grill was tip top for sure!!! Nothing was excluded from the dining plan at either place. Lobster was included at Narcoossee's. We had wonderful appetizers and desserts at both as well. The sushi is excellent at CG!!! The pork tenderloin serves with goat cheese polenta is a signature dish at CG and was to die for!!! I would say California Grill for sure!!!! You just can't beat it. Beautiful restaurant, beautiful view, and superb food. We will be returning each and every trip!!!

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

Here's a breakdown exactly of what we ordered:

Appetizer:

DH - Ordered a combo sushi platter consisting of "Snake in the Grass" which is Shrimp Tempura with Avocado, Eel, and Cucumber and the California Roll which is jumbo lump crab with avocado and cucumber. This was his first time eating sushi and he LOVED it. I loved the shrimp tempura - so tasty!!!!

I ordered the Triple Cheese Flatbread with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Basil Pesto. It was really good and HUGE - it could have easily been an entree.

Entrees:

DH ordered the Oak-fired Filet of Beef with a teriyaki BBQ sauce. It was tender and cooked perfectly. He really liked the sauce it was served with.

I ordred the Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta, Cremini Mushrooms, Zinfandel Glaze, and Sage and it was TO DIE FOR!!!! I will get this each and every time!!!

Dessert:

DH ordered the "Caramel Apple" which is an Apple Jalousie Tart with Caramel Foam, Caramel Apple Shooter, and Green Apple Meringue with Apple Sorbet. This was so good and very well presented - so pretty!!!!

I ordered the Valrhona Chocolate and Coffee which is Warm Chocolate Cake with Molten Center, House-made White Coffee Ice Cream and Cappuccino Anglaise. The cake was really rich but the ice cream was light and soooo good - so was the sauce - really complemented the ice cream.

We really enjoyed this meal - it was the highlight of our trip!!!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We've done both and my vote would have to be for CG. Both are great restaurants, but CG has the edge IMHO. Considering what your likes are, I think you'd be equally happy with either choice.

 

[RCharnay]

We agree with the other posts-both have great meals. Both have great fireworks and views of the water. For us the difference was the ambience. Narcoossee's was a quiet evening -CG was a bit on the boisterous side. Not bad, mind you. Just very active. If you like the feel of being with "the in crowd" I think you'd really like CG. We are more the quiet romantics so we enjoy whispered conversations and quiet giggles. That could not have happened at CG. But our food was good, the wine selection was terrific, waitress great, fireworks..like I say-great. It's an event where Narcoossee's was a delightful (and quiet) night out.

 

[pbharris4]

I haven't eaten at CG so I can't compare, but Narcossee's was quiet and peaceful being on the water. Even with a few families with little children it wasn't that loud which was a nice change from all the other restaurants. DH and I both had the Whole Lobster with Citron Rice and whatever else came with it. We still want to try CG. I guess it depends on what you want to eat and the atmosphere you are looking for. Not sure what you meant by "adventurous." If you meant in the food department then I'd go with Narcossees because there's something for everybody. CG's menu looks more adventurous to me and although I consider myself an adventurous eater, CG's menu looks a bit much for me (which is why we haven't tried it yet.).

 

[EnnEss]

Narcoosee's is the only disney restaurant with full lobster or lobster tail and steak. I had the full lobster and it was absolutely delicious. I'm from the west coast though and California Grill and its fusion fare is pretty much the standard here. I had mussels for the appetizer and they were also delicious. I think i had some kind of cheesecake for desert, I dont really remember, I don't like desert that much. I was on the DDP. I had the waiter suggest a wine pairing, I don't even remember what it was.

With the 9 oclock ADR at CG you more than likely wont be seated immediately as people linger to watch the fireworks, but you can watch them from the balcony.

I think it comes down to what you want to eat really, I'm sure you'll enjoy either. I work at a japanese restaurant, CG doesn't seem all that exciting and I'm scared to try the sushi because there are 100s of sushi places where I'm from and I'd rather eat something really delicious and different. I eat it all the time here. Also, with so many here I'm afraid the quality might not match up at CG, and that'd be a let down.

 

[deej696]

We eat at both locations frequently, and I prefer Narcoossee's. Granted, the view is great at California Grill, but I prefer the food and atmosphere at Narcoossee's much more

 

[VBsHustla]

Tough choice - we've enjoyed great meals at both! Since you're going with a few people, I would be inclined to choose CG, which offers a greater variety, and is sure to have what each person in your group may be looking for.

 

[pixie08]

I think both are great but if you can only pick one I would say it has to be CG!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

We have eaten at both. I vote Narcoossees hands down. I remember the food at Narcoossees is fabulaous. We had lobster (myself) and surf & turf (DH). The whole lobster was fantastic and it comes split and ready to eat...no mess! The whole lobster was better than the lobster tail. The lobster tail wasn't bad though. The steak was great. We had wonderful desserts (almond crusted cheesecake was super yummy) and because it was my birthday I had ordered the castle cake to be delivered to the table. It was so much fun and it is one of the few places to get the castle cake. The service was great. The view beautiful and the best part was that it is a smaller restaurant and not nearly as crowded and loud. We liked CG but I honestly don't remember much of what we ate. We had a much longer wait at CG. It was much louder and crowded and I didn't feel the service was as good. To me the fireworks from CG wasn't all that great as it isn't over the castle it is off to the side of MK. It was very windy and chilly out on the walkway to see the fireworks. You can see them from inside CG, but I was trying to get some good pictures and we weren't seated anywhere near the window. I vote for Narcoossee's!!!!