Reviews 9/23-9/30

[Disney 4 2]

A young 50's couple 6th visit to WDW.

California Grill: one of our favorites but this year a B+
We arrived at 6:30pm for a 7pm ADR. This was our day of arrival and we were hungry. The place was packed with kids. Wishes was at 8pm. We were dressed in business casual. We saw suits, semi-formal wear and T-SHIRTS AND FLIP FLOP. Everyone was crowded around the windows with cameras, hanging over the other trying to eat. Many people were saving chairs.
We sat at the bar and told the hostess we would wait for the Wine Room.
We waited an hour. The wine room was full of kids too but they were quiet and well behaved and the room emptied at 8pm and we were left alone.

We ordered sushi (Spicy Sensation) which seem to be thrown together, we also had a flat bread and acorn squash soup. We did not order Entrees because we felt that this visit to California Grill was not living up to our expectations. The service was good but the ambience had been lost.

Don't get me wrong we love kids and know that Disney is for kids, but a restaurant that promotes a business or adult atmosphere is losing out as only a good location to view Wishes.

 

[honeymo78]

Just so you know - tshirts are now part of disney's business casual dress code provided they don't have offensive graphics or language.

 

[always on vacation]

subscribing

 

[my3disneygirls]

Hope you had some positive experiences as well.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

We dined there on Monday night, Oct 1. We had a 7:40 ADR, hoping for a window seat for Wishes. We weren't seated until close to 8:30, but that was fine with us, because we got the window seat we asked for and were willing to wait for.

We ordered the cheese platter which was INCREDIBLE, but unfortunately, it was the highlight of our meal...and there was no cooking involved! We then had the Deluxe sushi platter...the rice was gummy and it tasted to me like it was prepared in advance. It also seemed over chilled, like it was in a fridge or something before service.

I had two first course. I had a lobster on top of a hearts of palm salad and a quail on a bed of greens with fresh figs. The quail was flabby, and there wasn't much to the salad. The lobster was generous on the plate, but again, the dish was very cold, like it was prepared in advance.

DH got a delicious fish (halibut, I think) over farro risotto, it was excellent.

My DH actually said something to the couple next to us, who were ignoring their 5 year old son. He was banging his silverware on the table, getting out of his seat, bumping DH's chair. Dh waited until we (DD and I) went to the restroom and he politely told them he hoped their child would not further disturb our meal. They left shortly after that. Other than that, we had no problem with boisterous kids or annoying adults! I was very disappointed they no longer dim the lights for Wishes, it really takes the "oomph" out of it. I felt the lights were brighter than average inside that restaurant.

The service was excellent, the view was divine. I would like to know how your flatbread was? I was mad at myself for not ordering one, because I hear their flatbreads are good, but it sounds like you weren't so crazy about yours.

I will probably return, just because I am crazy about the view. But honestly, our dinner was not so great.

 

[Joan1]

Abut a restaurant that promotes a business or adult atmosphere is losing out as only a good location to view Wishes.

I feel that any restaurant that puts paper tablecloths over the cloth ones and hands out crayons to the kids to draw on them isn't promoting an adult atmosphere. Personally I feel that Citricos has a much better adult atmosphere even though I have brough my children here numerous times

 

[~Brandy~]

We ate at the California Grill for the first time during that time frame as well. We didn't dress up (had just finished a day at the parks) and I'd say the restaurant was half very nicely dressed, and half more like us. We also weren't overly impressed by our food. I was expecting so much from the pictures I'd seen on the DIS and most of my meal was just so-so. We were on the dining plan and I think that was probably part of the problem - several of the appetizers sounded good to me but none of the main courses, but I had to order one.

The view of Wishes was quite spectacular, although dimming the lights definitely would have helped. I think it almost made up for the average quality of the food.

 

[Minniespal]

Excellent, thanks for posting.

 

[swankybeth]

Thanks for sharing your review, sorry to hear that it turned out so disappointing.

 

[CM1972]

Disney 4 2 : The current soups are Tomato flavored with bacon on Sunday through Thursday. On the weekends ( Fri. and Sat. to keep you up to speed) is Lobster Bisque. How you got acorn squash soup is not just amazing, but magical!!
Wildernesslodegelover: Sorry you had a less than magical time. The salads are meant to be cold. Glad your DH appreciated the halibut. There was a time when people didn't expect to go to dine with their kids (They were then known as children) That explains the last part of your comment. Again, sorry yor was a less than magical experience.
Joan1: Sorry, they haven't provided paper on the tables for months. Kids (yes, kids) are given crayons and coloring book style pages. Keep up please!
To every one else: Thanks for your comments. They seem to be unbiased and informed.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi CM! Oh, um, I know salads are meant to be cold, but not ICE cold, as if they were prechilled. And my last comment was not directed at the child that was acting up, it was about the less than magical food for a super magical price. I just wanted to clarify, not sure what you meant by my "last comment."

ETA-My 8 year old "kid" was dining with us. Were you insinuating I had a problem with children at the restaurant?

 

[Leota]

Don't get me wrong we love kids and know that Disney is for kids, but a restaurant that promotes a business or adult atmosphere is losing out as only a good location to view Wishes

ITA.

I do love CG. For the most part, we have had very good food there as well as good service. The past couple trips there have been tough, tho. There are alot of families with young ones in tow who are bound & determined to see Wishes from CG no matter how long they force their children to sit & wait. The past couple trips have involved poor children pushed beyond their normal limits, much less their vacation limits & parents too oblivious to help the poor kiddos find an acceptable outlet for their energy.

Before anyone gets themselves riled over my comments, know that I love kids, I have kids & I beleive in taking kids out to eat. My frustration is with Parents who refuse to Parent at other peoples expense.

I, personlly, would love to see CG move to a NON-FIREWORKS location & throw Chef Mickey's up there. Lately it seems to me half the folks are going to CG for the view & not the food anyways. Have CG live up to it's aspirations as a New American Cuisine establishment geared towards foodies who are looking for good taste over a good view of the fireworks.

Also, it seems to me whenever someone pposts a less than stellar review of one of the "DIS Darlings" someone gets themselves all worked up, arrogant & takes it personally. Deal, it's a restaurant review. Every restaurant I have ever been in or worked at has an off night. Things go wrong. It happens. It doesn't mean anything except what it should be, an unbiased opinion of one parties experience.

 

[Robert P]

The past couple trips have involved poor children pushed beyond their normal limits, much less their vacation limits & parents too oblivious to help the poor kiddos find an acceptable outlet for their energy.

Before anyone gets themselves riled over my comments, know that I love kids, I have kids & I beleive in taking kids out to eat. My frustration is with Parents who refuse to Parent at other peoples expense.

I could not agree with you more. Very well said !!!