Uncleromulus
Plain grey will be fine
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
- Messages
- 15,529
First a bit of a rant. I know the new seating policy has done a lot to avoid the mayhem of earlier times. But it isn't quite perfect. Here's how it went for us:
We arrived for our 8:00 ADR's at about quarter 'til and after valet parking the car (a DDE perk!) we went to the second floor check-in podium. There was no one there save the two CM's and so I thought--this is pretty good. But you know how that goes. We learned that there was a 1/2 hour wait from our ADR time, but the CM suggested we have a drink while we waited. I thought she meant at the Outer Rim, but no--since we had ADR's we were invited upstairs to have a drink at the bar or lounge. We went on up and guess what--not only were there no bar seats left, but there was a crowd of people THREE DEEP standing all around the bar. And no seats in the lounge! We couldn't even get NEAR the bar to get a drink, and no one was waiting on the few lounge tables. We finally managed to spot two unattended straight back chairs sitting up against the wall, and that was where we spent the next 1/2 hour --watching the servers trying to make their way back and forth through that sea of people in the bar area.
OK. That's over. Now to the meal. Our server was Gary (whom we had before) and he did a wonderful job as usual. I was able to find Anchor Steam among the beer offerings while Mrs U wasn't quite sure which wine she wanted. Not a problem, as she was offered small samples of the two she had finally decided on, selecting the Angoves Claire Valley Reisling.
At the CG I almost always order a flatbread as an appetizer and this night I was in luck--BBQ pulled Pork, with Tillamook Cheddar and Cabbage Fennel slaw. Delicious!! Reminded me so much of the BBQ sandwiches with slaw (the ONLY way to eat a BBQ sandwich) I used to get in a restaurant back in Baltimore. MRs U's appetizer was equally as good--Chilled European White Asparagus with Smoked Salmon, Mache Lettuce, and Egg Vinaigrette. She cleaned the entire plate, even using some of our bread to soak up that vinaigrette from the plate. It was that good--.
Entrees came next and both were right on the money. I had the Columbia River King Salmon with fingerling potatoes, vidallia onions, and Orange-soy butter. Mrs U had Swordfish filet, which came with Fennel Red pepper compote, cranberry beans, and tomato-olive vinaigrette. We shared a bit of both fish and agreed that they were the best fish enteees we've had in some time. Cooked right too-not "rare" as many places seem to want to do.
Dessert next--I chose the Coconut Panna Cotta with Passion Fruit Gelee' and MRs U had Valrhona Chocolate and Strawberry warm chocolate cake with molten center, house made strawberry ice cream, and strawberry sauce. Truly a chocolate/ strawberry lovers delight and probably the better of our 2 desserts.
This was one of the best meals we've ever had at CG, and one of the best we've had at WDW. The meal took just under 2 hours--we were seated at 8:30 and finished dinner at 10:15. I already reported in the Kids and Clothes report that the place was crowded with children (the most we've ever seen at CG) and the dress code was NOT enforced.
We're probably going back again in December--I can't think of a better spot to begin a WDW vacation than at the California Grill.
We arrived for our 8:00 ADR's at about quarter 'til and after valet parking the car (a DDE perk!) we went to the second floor check-in podium. There was no one there save the two CM's and so I thought--this is pretty good. But you know how that goes. We learned that there was a 1/2 hour wait from our ADR time, but the CM suggested we have a drink while we waited. I thought she meant at the Outer Rim, but no--since we had ADR's we were invited upstairs to have a drink at the bar or lounge. We went on up and guess what--not only were there no bar seats left, but there was a crowd of people THREE DEEP standing all around the bar. And no seats in the lounge! We couldn't even get NEAR the bar to get a drink, and no one was waiting on the few lounge tables. We finally managed to spot two unattended straight back chairs sitting up against the wall, and that was where we spent the next 1/2 hour --watching the servers trying to make their way back and forth through that sea of people in the bar area.
OK. That's over. Now to the meal. Our server was Gary (whom we had before) and he did a wonderful job as usual. I was able to find Anchor Steam among the beer offerings while Mrs U wasn't quite sure which wine she wanted. Not a problem, as she was offered small samples of the two she had finally decided on, selecting the Angoves Claire Valley Reisling.
At the CG I almost always order a flatbread as an appetizer and this night I was in luck--BBQ pulled Pork, with Tillamook Cheddar and Cabbage Fennel slaw. Delicious!! Reminded me so much of the BBQ sandwiches with slaw (the ONLY way to eat a BBQ sandwich) I used to get in a restaurant back in Baltimore. MRs U's appetizer was equally as good--Chilled European White Asparagus with Smoked Salmon, Mache Lettuce, and Egg Vinaigrette. She cleaned the entire plate, even using some of our bread to soak up that vinaigrette from the plate. It was that good--.
Entrees came next and both were right on the money. I had the Columbia River King Salmon with fingerling potatoes, vidallia onions, and Orange-soy butter. Mrs U had Swordfish filet, which came with Fennel Red pepper compote, cranberry beans, and tomato-olive vinaigrette. We shared a bit of both fish and agreed that they were the best fish enteees we've had in some time. Cooked right too-not "rare" as many places seem to want to do.
Dessert next--I chose the Coconut Panna Cotta with Passion Fruit Gelee' and MRs U had Valrhona Chocolate and Strawberry warm chocolate cake with molten center, house made strawberry ice cream, and strawberry sauce. Truly a chocolate/ strawberry lovers delight and probably the better of our 2 desserts.
This was one of the best meals we've ever had at CG, and one of the best we've had at WDW. The meal took just under 2 hours--we were seated at 8:30 and finished dinner at 10:15. I already reported in the Kids and Clothes report that the place was crowded with children (the most we've ever seen at CG) and the dress code was NOT enforced.
We're probably going back again in December--I can't think of a better spot to begin a WDW vacation than at the California Grill.
I completely agree about the chaos before you are seated. 
The second floor check-in podium only solved half of the problem. Yes, people without reservations can't go up to the restaurant anymore, so it's less of a zoo than it used to be. But come on! There is hardly any room up there for people to wait for their table! I think they should put in an open bar on the second floor by the podium, and keep people down there until their table is ready.
The fish entrees sound heavenly. 
Thanks for the review. I can't wait to hear about some of your other meals!
