Why my most recent experience at California Grill will probably be my last.

[LindsayDunn228]

Marseeya, at first I thought maybe is was a yarmulke (sp?), an obvious Jewish headpiece. But it could have been one of the really big black hats. Don't know the name of those.

 

[ducklite]

I have a question. What type of a hat was it? All observant Jews I know wear a kippa at all times, and if they choose to wear another hat (such as a baseball cap) it is over the kippa, or they at least have the kippa in their pocket. If your friend was being told to remove the kippa, then that's simply appalling. But if he had on a baseball cap, then unfortunately I have to agree with the restaurant, that is not a religious article, and they should have removed it, and had the manners to know they would be going to a nicer restaurant and brought a kippa with them.

You seem to not like anything about the restaurant. I much prefer the new check in procedure, it's far better than the mishiga of having mooches hanging over your table to see the fireworks while you are trying to eat. You seem to just have had a chip on your shoulder to begin with, and possibly this excaberated your poor experience?

I have another question--if your friend is observant, why was he eating from a treyf kitchen?

Anne (a goyim with a LOT of Jewish friends!)

 

[Marseeya]

I was looking for an example on the internet to ask the OP of it was that particular hat and came across this one:

http://www.jewishsource.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe?T1=256644

It wasn't this hat, was it?

I'm sorry, I'm not making light of your experience, but this hat just cracked me up.

Anyway, was it like this one? http://www.millerhats.com/jewish_catalog/

 

[ducklite]

Marseeya, at first I thought maybe is was a yarmulke (sp?), an obvious Jewish headpiece. But it could have been one of the really big black hats. Don't know the name of those.

The black hats are fedoras, and are worn by Hasidic Jews. I don't know any Reformed or Orthodox Jews who wear those. Hasidism is generally thought of as the most Orthodox of all Jewish groups, and I can't imagine a Hasid eating in a non-kosher restaurant.

The Fedora is only one item of clothing that identifies a Hasidic Jew, the other would be the white shirt buttoned to the top, black suit jacket and dress pants, and prayer shawl. Additionally their facial hair is very distinctive, and varies depending on if they are married or not. Like I said, I can't imagine a Hasidic Jew eating in a non-kosher (treyf) restaurant anymore than I can imagine someone from management not recognizing a distinctive manner of dress belonging to that religious group.

IMHO, something's just not right with this picture.

Anne

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I am horrified to hear about this experience you had and forgive me if this has already been asked, but why are you speaking for your friend each time? Why isn't your friend explaining his religious tradition?

 

[DisOrBust]

Been there, done that although without the hat experience. Our evening at CG was also subpar. Personally I felt cheated the view was great bu tthe food marginal.

 

[lillygator]

Why did you answer for your friend? Could he not tell them why he wore a hat?

 

[skiwee1]

I agree it was a bad experience. I wouldn't return there either. I do have a question though. Why did you have to answer each and every time about the hat for your friend. Why didn't he say anything?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

The black hats are fedoras, and are worn by Hasidic Jews. I don't know any Reformed or Orthodox Jews who wear those. Hasidism is generally thought of as the most Orthodox of all Jewish groups, and I can't imagine a Hasid eating in a non-kosher restaurant.

The Fedora is only one item of clothing that identifies a Hasidic Jew, the other would be the white shirt buttoned to the top, black suit jacket and dress pants, and prayer shawl. Additionally their facial hair is very distinctive, and varies depending on if they are married or not. Like I said, I can't imagine a Hasidic Jew eating in a non-kosher (treyf) restaurant anymore than I can imagine someone from management not recognizing a distinctive manner of dress belonging to that religious group.

IMHO, something's just not right with this picture.

Anne

Thanks for clarifying

 

[lillygator]

no answer??

 

[Hannathy]

I was wondering those same questions. Also why would they seat you in the restaurant you asked to go to the bar. If they start giving tables to people who just ask to go to the bar pretty soon it will be posted here as a way to get around reservations. When all those people came to ask about the hat why didn't you just ask for water? I wouldn't think to keep filling someones water if they had ordered a bottle of wine and i'd already refilled it.

 

[lillygator]

paging majortom....

 

[islandbeachnut]

My husband and I always go to the CG each time we are in WDW and it is the highlight of our dining experience. Fabulous food & service. Top notch

Yeah, I wondered why the friend couldn't speak for himself also.

 

[snowbunny]

I also think it is funny that they do not guarantee you that they will seat you within 20 minutes of your reservation, but if you show up 20 minutes late, you will be billed as a no show.

My doctor does that. You might wait an hour if he's running behind, but try not showing up on time. It's irritating, but it makes people take appointments they make a bit more seriously. I imagine the rationale is the same at the CG, no doubt because people made reservations and then blew them off.

And, you must be aware that the CG discourages people coming up just to go to the bar, nurse a drink and have one sushi roll. Again that was instituted because of the crowds that tromped up to do just that and watch the fireworks without ordering dinner, ruining the experience for those that came to the CG to dine.

Some people have posed really good questions about your account of the events; I'm looking foward to your answers (as well as my upcoming dinner at the California Grill).

 

[princess pooh]

I have another question--if your friend is observant, why was he eating from a treyf kitchen?

Anne (a goyim with a LOT of Jewish friends!)

I have a lot of observant friends who will eat in non-kosher restaurants. They just order dairy or fish.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I too am extremely curious as to why the OP kept answering for his/her friend regarding the hat.

Very odd.

 

[eeyore45]

I too am extremely curious as to why the OP kept answering for his/her friend regarding the hat.

Very odd.

Wow, I never found that odd, I found it as a friend trying to intervene on his friend's behalf - why is that even questioned on this thread? Why isnt there more questions on why this world is not more tollerant???

I read only the OP and had to get back to work, now on my lunch I've been thinking about it, and wanted to write to Disney and use the OP experience as "a friend"... I think that in many ways we all need to learn to do better, to be more tolerant of others... my first thoughts were of many that are disabled that also get intolerant looks, or questions... so I wanted to ask Disney about training of CM's to be more tollerent, to be more respectful - to me this world needs it, Disney should be filled with magic for all...

I'm debating between AP and CG this post has made some very valid points imho!!

 

[lillygator]

Well I find it odd -if someone was asking my husband to take his hat off, I wouldn't answer for him....unless the person couldn't answer for themselves I don't understand why they wouldn't answer or wouldn't want to.

 

[KCMiller]

I have a lot of observant friends who will eat in non-kosher restaurants. They just order dairy or fish.

Umm, not to get into a big religious discussion, but if a Jewish person is observant enough to wear his head covered at all times, he's NOT going to eat dairy or fish (or a salad or a glass of non-kosher wine) in a nonkosher restaurant. The food may have been prepared in pots or with utensils which were used to cut or prepare meat (or dairy, or both), even if you order something parve (neutral) it could be cross contaminated with treyf - keeping kosher as an observant Jew is not just 'what I eat', it's a whole sytem of thinking about and preparing food.

And good point about the kippah. If he's wearing a baseball cap to cover it, then doff the cap and show the kippah - who wouldn't understand that?

I sense a troll in our midst, folks . ..


KC (who's never eaten at Del Posto or Babbo or most other fancy places, but still thinks she's pretty cool)

 

[doodle]

I agree that the OP should have our sympathy and not judgement. It would seem to me that the OP was "hosting" the dinner - taking someone to CG to show them a nice time. If I were in that position I would feel "responsible" for the CMs behavior even though perhaps I shouldn't.

Regardless of who spoke to the CMs, the CMs behavior about the hat was ridiculous. I also would have been very upset.

To the OP, good for you for speaking out about the problems you had. We have not been to CG in about 3 years. We have it planned for this summer but that may change. Will you write/email Disney? If so, please let us know what happens.