We're Still Hungry! A DDW July Getaway - 8/5 Complete!

[DonaldDoleWhip]

The following day, I woke up extremely early and made it to Contempo Cafe by 7am (this is when they start serving hot food). In case you’re wondering, Contempo has a decent selection of ‘pastries’ available for breakfast.

Would you like some cinnamon bun with your icing?

However, I had a less sugary choice in mind, since I was already looking forward to the exciting food that I’d soon be eating at Sanaa and Narcoossee’s (or none of the above ). Here’s my breakfast (from the kid’s menu): scrambled eggs, a piece of turkey sausage, a side of grapes, and a bottle of water.

This was a delicious breakfast, just like my scrambled eggs and turkey sausage from day one (but without the Mickey waffle, which I felt no need to repeat). The grapes were a refreshing change from the eggs and sausage, and I was happy to see that I could get a mini water bottle with my kid’s meal.

Soon enough, I was done with breakfast, and I made it to the Contemporary bus stop by 7:15am. 5 minutes later, I saw my bus to Hollywood Studios arriving! And you’ll never believe what happened next.

The bus kept going, didn’t stop at all, and was speeding out of the resort before my jaw could even drop. I was kind of annoyed, since I really wanted to be one of the first people in line at the park (and I'd woken up early enough to achieve that). However, I had a backup plan.

I walked over to MK, got on a bus to the Epcot resorts, and made it to the Swan by about 7:53. After a short jog, I was at DHS by 7:58, well in advance of the scheduled 9am opening. DHS is my favorite park (if you ignore the parts outside of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard), and I was excited to spend some time there.

 

[Linda67]

Wow, breakfast and jogging all before 8am - a busy start to the day

Happy to hear you are going back in August, more dining reviews for us all

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I'm very excited to say we might be going back in August. The flights aren't too expensive right now and there have been solid hotel discounts floating around. But first it's time for another review.

Yay! What dates are you looking at?

 

[sushi candy]

Wow that cinnamon bin had a ton of icing.

Also I think that's great that you are coming back in August!

 

[jabead]

Somehow, we also ended up splitting a dessert! We decided to try the Florida blueberry tart with lemon ice cream and honey-thyme anglaise.

This dessert was very pretty, but neither of us loved it. I liked the blueberry layer of the tart (although the texture was a bit ‘thicker’ than I would’ve liked, compared to Artist Point’s berry cobbler where you can appreciate the freshness of the blueberries). The lemon ice cream had a bright and zesty flavor to it, which the fresh thyme on top enhanced. I guess the problem was the crust (it was pretty generic and hard; we’re not crust lovers as it is, so we left it) and the honey-thyme anglaise (it didn’t have much flavor to me). After enjoying a salad with fresh blueberries at Jiko (and with Artist Point’s berry cobbler in my mind), I didn’t love this dessert.

I first must say that that dessert is beautiful, one of the prettiest dessert presentations I have seen for quite awhile. It's really too bad that its taste was not as good as its looks.

We've been very impressed by the other signatures we've been to this year (Artist Point, Yachtsman, Flying Fish, Brown Derby, Narcoossee's, and Jiko). Sadly, Cali Grill is the odd man out. It’s hard to believe that until August 2008, California Grill was our favorite Disney restaurant - things have changed a lot over the years, and I don't know why. Maybe the other signature restaurants have really stepped up their game, while California Grill has remained relatively stagnant? I don’t know what to say. I want to like California Grill and say nice things about it. But almost a year after our last meal there (which was disappointing), we still aren't feeling it.

This is your only statement regarding California Grill that I would have to disagree with. But then again, it's actually a question rather than a statement, isn't it. I feel pretty much the same way about one of the other restaurants which you have listed as your current favorites. It was once my favorite, but after having some just so-so dinners there (nothing bad, but nothing memorable), I am no longer "feeling it". And then there are Signature restaurants like Il Mulino and Citricos that many people here love, but I do not. Yet I can appreciate that their experiences there (the food which they ordered, the level of service they were given, etc.) were different than my own. Another example of differing opinions, is in regard to Le Cellier. I am definitely among its fans but unlike most of my fellow Le Cellier fans, I'm not crazy about their steaks. And then of course, there is sometimes even a difference of opinion among your own family members...which is a problem that I have encountered (and will soon be revealed in my Dining Report ). So yes, everyone has and is most definitely entitled to their own opinion regarding the Disney dining which we are reviewing here. And I for one, greatly value that diversity. Without it, this discussion board would be really boring!

So I guess to make a long story short (and as I said to you before), when it comes to California Grill we will have to agree to disagree...at least for now anyway. I'm still hoping that after the renovations are completed, California Grill will regain your favor and bring you back from the "Dark Side."

I'm still happy we went back, however, since now I'm much more excited to see how Cali Grill will be reworked in 2013. The chef and his team will be staying (which I think is a good thing). However, the article on the Disney Parks Blog mentioned that there will be some enhancements to the kitchen. Perhaps this will allow them to incorporate some molecular gastronomy or another example of cutting-edge technology? Whatever happens, I can't wait to see how the menu and decor are updated. Hopefully, the new menu will be a satisfying combo of old classics and newer, creative concepts.

Oh, and one more thing..."molecular gastronomy"??? I have to admit that that one went right over my head.

Ok, now I need to go read your Contempo breakfast review. I have to say I'm a little disappointed though that you didn't have breakfast at Kona, as that is my next review and I wanted to compare notes.

 

[deenbrad]

I'm very excited to say we might be going back in August. The flights aren't too expensive right now and there have been solid hotel discounts floating around. But first it's time for another review.

Yay! More reviews from you before my trip!

 

[minniebeth]

So sorry to hear that Narcoossee's missed the mark for you, especially the bad service. Many people have gone to Narcoossee's for a honeymoon/anniversary dinner and raved about the experience, so I wonder why they aren't consistent when it comes to celebrations. What dishes did you order? I'm very impressed with their current menu, but that doesn't mean every dish is flawless.

Sorry I'm going so far back~ we were out of town but I wanted to still comment on Narcoossee's. I think my expectations were a little high for Narcoossee's. A couple of years back, my DDs and I stayed at the GF literally right next to the restaurant off the boat dock in a MK view room. Every night we smelled the deliciousness wafting by our room and ever since I've been dreaming of eating there! I knew it gets mixed reviews but saw how lately it was getting very positive feedback. It was one of the few Signatures we had left to try, so I passed up Citricos (where my heart was really telling me to go) for Narcoossee's. Like I said, we really loved the location, and view from our table.
We started off with a cheese plate which was fabulous, now I'm obsessed with finding cheese plates for my next couple of trips, lol. We loved the bread and butter too.
Long story short, like I said, our server was horrible. DH ordered the salmon. His fish was great, but he did not like the preparation of it (all the accompaniments). Really not Narcoossee's fault, that was just his own personal tastes. I really struggled with what to order. I love seafood but had a bad reaction a while ago. I'm not allergic, but had a bad experience. That kept me from ordering the seafood I should have gotten. I really wanted the mussels, and should have gone with it along with the lobster and fillet. I stuck with the boring old chicken which I was ok with because I had chicken at other Signatures and it was outstanding. I did ask the server to leave the pork belly off but with it the chef also left off all the jus, garnish, etc. It was very bland and dry (came with a polenta cake) and it was the way the server wrote the ticket we found out later. I did ask about it, but in the meantime, my DDs ordered kids' meals cheeseburgers and they came out raw. In the hubbub of that, my chicken issue went by the wayside. At that point, I didn't care.
DH ordered the Baked Chocolate Mousse. It was good but very rich. A few bites was more than enough. The Bourbon caramel sauce was delicious!
DD ordered the kids' s'mores. They put marshmallows, chocolate and grahms on a plate. Not very original for a Signature. We were blown away by the kids' sushi dessert at CG, so we expected a little more.
Anyway...we were less than thrilled with our experience, especially how $$ Signatures are now. We don't mind paying the $ for a wonderful experience.

BUT....I wouldn't count Narcoossee's out again, I'd give it another shot and order wiser.

Another review is coming up soon! It's been a busy few days, and in addition to that, we've been trying to figure out our plans for the rest of the summer. We might be taking another short trip to Disney (since once the academic year starts, it's much harder).

Ok, sooooo happy for you that you are taking another trip! Yay! More dining reviews! Hey, I know you are just itching to go to Blue Zoo, right?
Lol, DH and I are going in September for the ToT 10 Miler and can't wait to try Blue Zoo!

Also loved your Jiko review...one of our favorite Signatures and has remained consistent for us.

CG was a letdown for us last January. I think the refurb. will do it good!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[jabead]

The following day, I woke up extremely early and made it to Contempo Cafe by 7am (this is when they start serving hot food). In case you’re wondering, Contempo has a decent selection of ‘pastries’ available for breakfast.

Would you like some cinnamon bun with your icing?

However, I had a less sugary choice in mind, since I was already looking forward to the exciting food that I’d soon be eating at Sanaa and Narcoossee’s (or none of the above ). Here’s my breakfast (from the kid’s menu): scrambled eggs, a piece of turkey sausage, a side of grapes, and a bottle of water.

Wow, the pile of icing on that cinnamon bun is incredible! Can you imagine the sugar high this would induce?


And I'm definitely selecting the "none of the above" option on this one. I'm pretty sure now that I know where you will be having lunch and dinner, but it is the "how" (your plans got changed) that still has me puzzled.

 

[jabead]

Another review is coming up soon! It's been a busy few days, and in addition to that, we've been trying to figure out our plans for the rest of the summer. We might be taking another short trip to Disney (since once the academic year starts, it's much harder).

I'm very excited to say we might be going back in August. The flights aren't too expensive right now and there have been solid hotel discounts floating around. But first it's time for another review.

I just went back to make sure I didn't miss anything important between your CA Grill review and the Contempo one. And I am glad I did, because I saw these posts. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your August trip works out...'cause you know how much I enjoy your reviews.

 

[Tracerr00]

So I feel pretty stupid, how did I never think to order off of the kids menu?? I've been trying to eat healthy lately and I'm discovering what a REAL portion size is. Which is nothing like what I've been eating all my life! Don't get me wrong, I'm going to eat whatever I want while at WDW but I don't have to eat in excess at every single meal. Every now and then a smaller portion will be preferable such as Uncrustables like emmysmommy or the kids breakfast! But who knows, maybe I'll want to go for that cinnamon bun once I'm there!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Wow, breakfast and jogging all before 8am - a busy start to the day

Happy to hear you are going back in August, more dining reviews for us all

What can I say, I wanted to be one of the first ones at the park. I ended up being second in my line, but because of the rush to TSMM, I was the first one to walk down Sunset Boulevard.

Yay! What dates are you looking at?

Our planned return date is the 20th, so we'd miss you by a few days. But it also means I should be able to write one or two reviews before you leave.

Wow that cinnamon bin had a ton of icing.

Also I think that's great that you are coming back in August!

The cinnamon bun was rather frightening. I think if I ate something like that as my breakfast, it would put me in a food coma before I even make it to the parks!

I first must say that that dessert is beautiful, one of the prettiest dessert presentations I have seen for quite awhile. It's really too bad that its taste was not as good as its looks.

This is your only statement regarding California Grill that I would have to disagree with. But then again, it's actually a question rather than a statement, isn't it. I feel pretty much the same way about one of the other restaurants which you have listed as your current favorites. It was once my favorite, but after having some just so-so dinners there (nothing bad, but nothing memorable), I am no longer "feeling it". And then there are Signature restaurants like Il Mulino and Citricos that many people here love, but I do not. Yet I can appreciate that their experiences there (the food which they ordered, the level of service they were given, etc.) were different than my own. Another example of differing opinions, is in regard to Le Cellier. I am definitely among its fans but unlike most of my fellow Le Cellier fans, I'm not crazy about their steaks. And then of course, there is sometimes even a difference of opinion among your own family members...which is a problem that I have encountered (and will soon be revealed in my Dining Report ). So yes, everyone has and is most definitely entitled to their own opinion regarding the Disney dining which we are reviewing here. And I for one, greatly value that diversity. Without it, this discussion board would be really boring!

So I guess to make a long story short (and as I said to you before), when it comes to California Grill we will have to agree to disagree...at least for now anyway. I'm still hoping that after the renovations are completed, California Grill will regain your favor and bring you back from the "Dark Side."

Oh, and one more thing..."molecular gastronomy"??? I have to admit that that one went right over my head.

Ok, now I need to go read your Contempo breakfast review. I have to say I'm a little disappointed though that you didn't have breakfast at Kona, as that is my next review and I wanted to compare notes.

The dessert definitely had potential. With a softer crust, 'looser' filling, and more flavorful sauce, I might be saying very different things about it.

Yep, it was a question - don't worry. I'm just trying to rationalize why we don't love our food there anymore. In comparison, I only have those signatures to recently compare with: Narcoossee's has a documented chef change, and the menu is noticeably different from last year. Jiko also has a new chef, who told us that he tried to spark some positive changes at Yachtsman (and now is doing the same thing at Jiko). Then there's Artist Point and Brown Derby, where some incredible new dishes (Artist Point's oysters with crab ceviche and cucumber foam, and their chicken with bacon jam; Brown Derby's duck duo; etc) and strong recent reviews, have convinced me that these restaurants are also trying to step it up. Likewise with Flying Fish's newer desserts (PB&J crème brûlée with injectable chocolate from a 'syringe'). I have a feeling I know which signature you're no longer feeling, but I'll wait and see if I'm right.

The "stagnant" comment is because it seems so many dishes at Cali Grill remain basically unchanged. The cheese flatbread, several of the sushi dishes, goat cheese ravioli, rock shrimp salad, hearts of romaine, filet (always served with teriyaki barbecue sauce, a potato, and a vegetable), pork tenderloin, molten chocolate cake with seasonal ice cream, banana butterscotch dessert, etc. Cali Grill has a noticeable "core" of dishes. If you love any of them, you're golden. If not, you have to take your chances with the rest of the menu. I've had most of these dishes, and none of them are favorites for me (I was never a fan of the filet and its teriyaki barbecue sauce). And when it comes to the rest of the menu, we used to be more impressed with the choices than we are now. If we ordered classics instead of newer items, our experience would've been different in some way. But I don't know if these dishes (cheese flatbread with sun-dried tomatoes; chocolate lava cake; etc) have the same wow factor when you've seen so many variations of them at other restaurants.

Maybe we're just burnt out of California Grill, and no matter what they do right now, it won't impress us (I was hoping that 11 months apart would be enough of a break). Either way, I'm looking forward to the refurbishment. It gives CG a chance to start from scratch in so many ways, and come up with dishes and flavor combinations that we haven't seen before. Like I said, I want to like Cali Grill (it was truly the highlight of our meals in 2008; the Hawaiian Kona kampachi entree and the strawberry three ways dessert were unbelievable), and I'd be happy to feel that way again.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Yay! More reviews from you before my trip!

I'm really excited to go back! Someone better tell Jiko to keep those head-on prawns on the menu.

Sorry I'm going so far back~ we were out of town but I wanted to still comment on Narcoossee's. I think my expectations were a little high for Narcoossee's. A couple of years back, my DDs and I stayed at the GF literally right next to the restaurant off the boat dock in a MK view room. Every night we smelled the deliciousness wafting by our room and ever since I've been dreaming of eating there! I knew it gets mixed reviews but saw how lately it was getting very positive feedback. It was one of the few Signatures we had left to try, so I passed up Citricos (where my heart was really telling me to go) for Narcoossee's. Like I said, we really loved the location, and view from our table.
We started off with a cheese plate which was fabulous, now I'm obsessed with finding cheese plates for my next couple of trips, lol. We loved the bread and butter too.
Long story short, like I said, our server was horrible. DH ordered the salmon. His fish was great, but he did not like the preparation of it (all the accompaniments). Really not Narcoossee's fault, that was just his own personal tastes. I really struggled with what to order. I love seafood but had a bad reaction a while ago. I'm not allergic, but had a bad experience. That kept me from ordering the seafood I should have gotten. I really wanted the mussels, and should have gone with it along with the lobster and fillet. I stuck with the boring old chicken which I was ok with because I had chicken at other Signatures and it was outstanding. I did ask the server to leave the pork belly off but with it the chef also left off all the jus, garnish, etc. It was very bland and dry (came with a polenta cake) and it was the way the server wrote the ticket we found out later. I did ask about it, but in the meantime, my DDs ordered kids' meals cheeseburgers and they came out raw. In the hubbub of that, my chicken issue went by the wayside. At that point, I didn't care.
DH ordered the Baked Chocolate Mousse. It was good but very rich. A few bites was more than enough. The Bourbon caramel sauce was delicious!
DD ordered the kids' s'mores. They put marshmallows, chocolate and grahms on a plate. Not very original for a Signature. We were blown away by the kids' sushi dessert at CG, so we expected a little more.
Anyway...we were less than thrilled with our experience, especially how $$ Signatures are now. We don't mind paying the $ for a wonderful experience.

BUT....I wouldn't count Narcoossee's out again, I'd give it another shot and order wiser.

Ok, sooooo happy for you that you are taking another trip! Yay! More dining reviews! Hey, I know you are just itching to go to Blue Zoo, right?
Lol, DH and I are going in September for the ToT 10 Miler and can't wait to try Blue Zoo!

Also loved your Jiko review...one of our favorite Signatures and has remained consistent for us.

CG was a letdown for us last January. I think the refurb. will do it good!

Can't wait to read more!

So sorry to hear about your Narcoossee's experience. While DH's salmon might have been an ordering mistake (I think the current salmon dish sounds awesome, assuming it's the same one), the other mistakes are very sad. I definitely think your server messed up what would've been an otherwise enjoyable chicken dish, and I'm shocked to hear about the raw cheeseburgers (you'd assume that would be something they've completely mastered). My mom really enjoyed that chocolate dessert (and I liked it too, although I couldn't eat a whole portion of it), but we're both fans of very dark chocolate (I've often eaten chocolate bars with 85-88% cocoa at home ). Overall, I think Narcoossee's could (and should) be better than that, so if you decide to go back, hopefully you'll have a server who doesn't mess anything up.

Thanks for reminding me of the kid's sushi at California Grill! During my first meal there (9 years ago), that was a highlight of my experience. Too bad the rest of the experience was disappointing.

We went to bluezoo last August! Basically, we loved the appetizers and the dessert was very good. My fish entree was underwhelming, my mom's chicken was oversalted, and we didn't think the sides were great. I'd go back, but not soon (and I'd probably stick to appetizers).

Wow, the pile of icing on that cinnamon bun is incredible! Can you imagine the sugar high this would induce?

And I'm definitely selecting the "none of the above" option on this one. I'm pretty sure now that I know where you will be having lunch and dinner, but it is the "how" (your plans got changed) that still has me puzzled.

You'll have to wait and see, but there's definitely a surprise coming.

I just went back to make sure I didn't miss anything important between your CA Grill review and the Contempo one. And I am glad I did, because I saw these posts. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your August trip works out...'cause you know how much I enjoy your reviews.

Thanks so much! If we do go back, we might end up eating at many of the same places as this trip (so it might not be that exciting of a review). But I'll try to post anything noteworthy.

So I feel pretty stupid, how did I never think to order off of the kids menu?? I've been trying to eat healthy lately and I'm discovering what a REAL portion size is. Which is nothing like what I've been eating all my life! Don't get me wrong, I'm going to eat whatever I want while at WDW but I don't have to eat in excess at every single meal. Every now and then a smaller portion will be preferable such as Uncrustables like emmysmommy or the kids breakfast! But who knows, maybe I'll want to go for that cinnamon bun once I'm there!

I don't order kid's meals very often, but for breakfast, this was a perfect portion (and it included the same food I would've wanted from an adult dish, just minus all the unappealing stuff like biscuits, gravy, bacon, breakfast potatoes etc). So if you're ever feeling overwhelmed by Disney's crazy cupcakes and other creations, go ahead and order a kid's meal! It was a great choice for breakfast.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

So yes, everyone has and is most definitely entitled to their own opinion regarding the Disney dining which we are reviewing here. And I for one, greatly value that diversity. Without it, this discussion board would be really boring!

...

Ok, now I need to go read your Contempo breakfast review. I have to say I'm a little disappointed though that you didn't have breakfast at Kona, as that is my next review and I wanted to compare notes.

I'm really bad at replying to all these posts (and one post with so many parts) all at once.

Agreed. There's nothing wrong with having an opinion difference, and especially with food, it's all subjective. For one person, the best dish in the world could be on someone else's "never again" list. And that's ignoring the fact that restaurants (including the chefs, servers, hosts, etc) all have good days and bad days.

And nope, no Kona this trip. But if you're curious about my thoughts from past trips:

The Tonga Toast is better at Kona than at Captain Cook's IMO. For me, the toast is just too sweet on its own, but Kona's strawberry compote helps cut the sweetness. On another trip, the macadamia-pineapple pancakes were great, and I love the sweet/savory combo. But the portion is huge. Even though it was my breakfast, I could only finish half of it.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

I almost always order a child's breakfast so that I will have more room in my tummy for food later on the day. I was so glad to learn several years ago that it was okay to order off the kids menu since I am a few years older than 9.

Did you eat lunch or dinner at Contempo Cafe? We haven't stayed at CR since 2010, but it wasn't my favorite food court.

I admire your determination to get to DHS before rope drop!

My heart will be broken if you didn't get to eat lunch at Saana.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I almost always order a child's breakfast so that I will have more room in my tummy for food later on the day. I was so glad to learn several years ago that it was okay to order off the kids menu since I am a few years older than 9.

Did you eat lunch or dinner at Contempo Cafe? We haven't stayed at CR since 2010, but it wasn't my favorite food court.

I admire your determination to get to DHS before rope drop!

My heart will be broken if you didn't get to eat lunch at Saana.

Yep, on our last day we had lunch at Contempo. Honestly, we really like it - I think it has some fresh and creative options for quick service, with some of my favorite items being the marinated beef flatbread and the chicken chop salad. Out of all the deluxe resort quick service locations, Contempo is probably my favorite (although I haven't visited the Mara at AKL enough to form an opinion on it).

Sanaa didn't end up happening this trip, but it's a definite for next time (which might be in about 3 weeks).

 

[emmysmommy]

ok, I almost saw eggs on your breakfast plate! I suppose it IS a good portion size if you throw in a breakfast meat but I also demand a repeat of Mickey waffles for my breakfast... just saying!

Very resourceful of you to have plan B for getting to DHS. Did you consider taking the monorail to Epcot vs MK bus??

And I agree with you about the Kona pineapple macadamia nut pancakes - WAY too BIG of a portion! Half of that would be fine for me.

Now on to the IMPORTANT PART... seriously, are you going to return to WDW in August??? And not only August but the August dates that I will be there!!!!! I would be honored to actually meet you! (Can't buy you a cocktail yet but they have plenty of mocktails.)

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

ok, I almost saw eggs on your breakfast plate! I suppose it IS a good portion size if you throw in a breakfast meat but I also demand a repeat of Mickey waffles for my breakfast... just saying!

Very resourceful of you to have plan B for getting to DHS. Did you consider taking the monorail to Epcot vs MK bus??

And I agree with you about the Kona pineapple macadamia nut pancakes - WAY too BIG of a portion! Half of that would be fine for me.

Now on to the IMPORTANT PART... seriously, are you going to return to WDW in August??? And not only August but the August dates that I will be there!!!!! I would be honored to actually meet you! (Can't buy you a cocktail yet but they have plenty of mocktails.)

The Mickey waffle might have to wait until next time, but I was saving room for plenty of sweet treats. I can guarantee you that I went absolutely overboard on the third day.

Hmm, I didn't even think of the monorail. Oddly enough, I quickly get used to buses and walking, regardless of the resort we're at - even while staying at CR, my main uses for the monorail were getting to Poly or GF.

Yep, we're hoping to be back in mid-August! It would be so cool to meet up with you! We just have to wait and see how the dates pan out, but that would be awesome!

 

[emmysmommy]

Yep, we're hoping to be back in mid-August! It would be so cool to meet up with you! We just have to wait and see how the dates pan out, but that would be awesome!

If it helps to bribe you at all... I'll buy you a cupcake! <<--- That's my magic powers working on you!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

If it helps to bribe you at all... I'll buy you a cupcake! <<--- That's my magic powers working on you!

Even without any cupcakes, it would be fun!

 

[jabead]

The "stagnant" comment is because it seems so many dishes at Cali Grill remain basically unchanged. The cheese flatbread, several of the sushi dishes, goat cheese ravioli, rock shrimp salad, hearts of romaine, filet (always served with teriyaki barbecue sauce, a potato, and a vegetable), pork tenderloin, molten chocolate cake with seasonal ice cream, banana butterscotch dessert, etc. Cali Grill has a noticeable "core" of dishes. If you love any of them, you're golden. If not, you have to take your chances with the rest of the menu. I've had most of these dishes, and none of them are favorites for me (I was never a fan of the filet and its teriyaki barbecue sauce). And when it comes to the rest of the menu, we used to be more impressed with the choices than we are now.

I think you have hit the nail squarely on the head here, as this explains perfectly our difference of opinion. California Grill is a restaurant in which my entire family has found at least one thing that they really enjoy and that is why, for us, CA Grill is "golden". Two of my kids now love the filet with teriyaki barbecue sauce and DH really enjoys the pork tenderloin. While I didn't really care for either of these, I found that I do very much like the rock shrimp salad. And then there is DD1 who really enjoys their sushi rolls. Plus of course, we have all liked the various flatbreads and different versions of the lava cake that we have had. Does our list of favorites sound familiar??? Yep, its almost identical to your list of items that either no longer excite you or maybe never did. While we tend to find our favorites and then stick to them, you like to take risks and try new things. Which, by the way, is exactly why I love your reviews.

So for your sake, I hope that along with the new look of the restaurant, they also add some innovative, new dishes which will again excite your more advanced palate. However, I also hope that all of our old favorites are still on the menu as well. Otherwise there is going to be at least one person in my family who is going to be very disappointed.

I'm really excited to go back! Someone better tell Jiko to keep those head-on prawns on the menu.

While this sounds totally unappealing to me and one of only a couple of entrees that I myself would not have ordered from the current Jiko menu, I am strangely looking forward to your review of those head-on prawns.

Thanks so much! If we do go back, we might end up eating at many of the same places as this trip (so it might not be that exciting of a review). But I'll try to post anything noteworthy.

I'm sure the excitement level of your review will not be a problem regardless of where you eat (or eat again). I know this because you have somehow made eating a kid's meal at the Contempo sound pretty darn good.

And nope, no Kona this trip. But if you're curious about my thoughts from past trips:

The Tonga Toast is better at Kona than at Captain Cook's IMO. For me, the toast is just too sweet on its own, but Kona's strawberry compote helps cut the sweetness. On another trip, the macadamia-pineapple pancakes were great, and I love the sweet/savory combo. But the portion is huge. Even though it was my breakfast, I could only finish half of it.

Yes, I agree about the Tonga Toast...not really my thing. But the pancakes, on the other hand.

And I agree with you about the Kona pineapple macadamia nut pancakes - WAY too BIG of a portion! Half of that would be fine for me.

Now on to the IMPORTANT PART... seriously, are you going to return to WDW in August??? And not only August but the August dates that I will be there!!!!! I would be honored to actually meet you! (Can't buy you a cocktail yet but they have plenty of mocktails.)

Oh man, I wish I could be there too!!! If you do get together, you must promise me that you will take pictures...and not just of your food/beverages.

Perhaps you could meet at Kona for breakfast and share an order of pancakes???