What happened to Cali Grill? And Spice Road is new favorite!

[si-am]

Just back! We had booked some long-standing favorites which disappointed us, but found some new favorites, too!

Cali Grill is seriously now like a really pricey Applebee's. The whole feel of the place is different than what it used to be. Perhaps we went on the wrong night? Am I wrong here? Our service was casual and rushed, and It used to be attentive and elegant. There were multiple kids running around the restaurant everywhere, no exaggeration. I tripped over one crawling on the floor as I made my way to the bathroom. A younger woman at a table across from us was wearing either bathing suit bottoms or hot shorts, I'm not sure, but her tee shirt barely covered them. (And while I typically don't care too much about what others wear, it was kind of like pool bar attire!)

The food was good but we paid $400 (for 4) for what used to feel like a "special" and leisurely meal and it just wasn't. We will never go back. CG was always family-friendly and noisy but this was seriously too casual for the price. My husband, who doesn't get too ruffled about anything in life, was actually fuming as we left because he always used to look forward to eating here.

Our surprise bright spot, though? Spice Road Table at Epcot. We walked in at 3 and they were empty. Got a table by the window and we shared 4 plates. Delicious food and pretty atmosphere. Excellent service. Will be back! A favorite moment from our trip!

Another bright spot: the bakery/cafe at Norway. We had never eaten here and the sandwiches were some of the best and freshest I've had anywhere. Thumbs way up for that one too!

Overall we had some excellent meals, and the CG experience was just a lesson learned, I guess!

 

[kastoney]

Thanks for the update. Haven't tried Cali grill since they returned, but was a fan in the past. Spice road is on my list for next trip so glad to hear a positive review. We love Norway too. The schoolbread pulled me in but agree the sandwiches are great.

 

[Unyeah]

Lol comparing Cali grill to Applebee's. And no way kids running around a resturant at disney world ! That's it end of the world experience ruined!

 

[ShannonMB]

Well yes, it is Disney World, but when you are expecting an upscale experience (and paying dearly for it), you expect not to be dining with people in bathing suits and kids wallowing around on the floor.

 

[Unyeah]

Yeah they weren't exaggerating at all...

 

[maxiesmom]

The OP said she couldn't see what kind of bottoms the woman had on. Probably short shorts, which are not on the banned list of clothing. I do have to be honest, what other people wear doesn't affect me at all. Couldn't care less. I do get irritated when people allow their kids to crawl all over the place.But I don't blame the restaurant for irresponsible parents.

I'm surprised their service was rushed, as when we at there in December it took over 2 hours for our meal. The service was very attentive, they even held a course until we were finished viewing the fireworks. My nephew and I had such a good time, we are going back this October.

 

[si-am]

The OP said she couldn't see what kind of bottoms the woman had on. Probably short shorts, which are not on the banned list of clothing. I do have to be honest, what other people wear doesn't affect me at all. Couldn't care less. I do get irritated when people allow their kids to crawl all over the place.But I don't blame the restaurant for irresponsible parents.

I'm surprised their service was rushed, as when we at there in December it took over 2 hours for our meal. The service was very attentive, they even held a course until we were finished viewing the fireworks. My nephew and I had such a good time, we are going back this October.

Maybe we just had an overworked server who kind of rushed us. She was also taking care of several large parties. It could've just been a bad night. I can't even really explain it but it just wasn't a relaxing experience. We've eaten at CG many times in the past but the ambiance was way different this time, enough that all 4 of us left feeling bleh about the whole thing.

And I wish I were exaggerating, really! It seems like the tables of large parties knew each other? Extended family? And the kids were running back and forth between the tables, and we were right in the middle of it. I think it was just really bad luck, probably! Wrong place, wrong time.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Cali has been dumbed down so to speak. No special service, meals plopped on table in a hurry, kids acting out and no one dressed up. It is just fine if you want to pay so much for so little. Sorry siam. $400 is a lot of money for that in my opinion. Our last experience!

 

[prudence64]

Would spice road have good viewing for illumination? Is it quick service or table service?

 

[si-am]

Would spice road have good viewing for illumination? Is it quick service or table service?

It is table service. I think it would have good viewing if you are by a window but you might need to sit there a long time to get it! (Lots of drinks I guess!)

 

[Miumiu4me]

Would spice road have good viewing for illumination? Is it quick service or table service?

Spice is my new favorite Epcot restaurant. You can see Illuminations from some of the tables. It's table service.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I agree--CG has a different feel to it since the remodel--certainly more noisy and more "open".

As for the kids--that can (and does) happen everywhere at WDW. It isn't just at California Grill!!!!

IF the woman had on a bathing suit or a bathing suit cover-up, she should not have been allowed in. If they were actual "shorts"--well almost anything is permitted unfortunately.

 

[JJsmama]

I have recently noticed that CG has availability lots of times every night of our trip this summer! High season! This seemed very strange to me. It used to be hard to get that ADR ...

What is Spice Road? How have I not heard of it?

 

[smcabee]

Spice is my new favorite Epcot restaurant. You can see Illuminations from some of the tables. It's table service.

While technically it is a ts restaurant since you sit at tables and order it is a small plate restaurant similar to the HBD lounge and Tutto Gusto. There are no reservations and no DDP.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Would spice road have good viewing for illumination? Is it quick service or table service?

It is table service in that you sit at a table and they take your order, but it does not accept DDP in case you were asking regarding the DDP. Spice road also does not take reservations. In WDW categories it's considered a lounge and not a restaurant.

 

[Belle5]

I hope to see the good folks on the DIS to soon stop responding to the poster named "Unyeah". If you check this poster's history he/she is nothing more than a troll trying to get reaction and I even suspect from reading through some of the posts that this person is either intentionally or unintentionally tag-teaming with another troll.

 

[brielise]

We ate at California Grill on our trip and were extremely disappointed. Our server was inattentive and rushed - you could see her bouncing all over the restaurant just trying to catch up. The mussels were recommended but were flavorless, unclean, and overcooked. I got the lamb and it was way overcooked - the manager took it back and was apologetic but that was about it. Because it was our honeymoon they gave us free creme brûlée but that was also flavorless and generic. We don't usually get dessert but decided to get the dessert with 3 mini ice creams - which I would also not recommend.

Overall, what used to be a must do was probably the most disappointing meal of the trip. We got dressed up for nothing - since no one else seemed to care - and way overpaid, even in Disney terms

 

[ascardino]

Unfortunately, I must also agree. We went there in December to celebrate my husband's 50th birthday. I was not feeling 100% so I thought maybe that was it, but after reading your thoughts and comments, I must agree that it has lost what it used to be. We had dined here over the years many times with family members and I always recommended it as someplace "special" but I do not think I would give my recommendation for whatever that is worth. I would probably try it one more time because my kids really love it.

 

[disney meema]

I haven't been since the redo but after reading many review it seems like peeps had a special dining experience or a not so fabulous one. I marked it off our coming trip since I want to try new places and thought this is the visit to pass on CG.

 

[over50visits]

It is table service in that you sit at a table and they take your order, but it does not accept DDP in case you were asking regarding the DDP. Spice road also does not take reservations. In WDW categories it's considered a lounge and not a restaurant.

I am sooooooo glad it's not on the DDP. That probably was the cause of the huge crowding of so many restaurants, and the accompanying huge decline in the experience. Witness Ohana!

We loved Spice Road. Quiet, not crowded, cool decor, unhurried waitstaff who seemed to REALLY care about the guests and the menu, and a wonderful almost exotic menu. Tacos, steaks, fish, Gen Tsos, pastries are all nice, but we go to EPCOT for something we can't get at home. Here it is. What a delight. Everything about it was great. Disney, don't ruin it by putting it on the DDP!