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

[jarrdisney]

First off, observant jews wear different hats other than Kippas. They must keep their heads covered and if they decide to do so with a baseball cap, than that is their perogative. Being asked 5 times to take off your hat is a bit ridiculous. Just because one person has a great experience at a restaurant doesn't mean someone else could have an awful experience. This is a place the OP has frequented...he wasn't a first time customer either. If I were in his shoes...A: I would have stepped up for my friend because I am outspoken person and B: I would have no problem sharing that experience with the general public because people deserve to know. If someone can state how their steak wasn't cooked medium rare why can't someone vent about how they were treated like garbage at a signature restaurant in disney. The whole.."why couldn't your friend speak up for himself is ridiculous and has nothing to do with what had happened.
Jarrett

 

[Marseeya]

Who on earth is judging?? We're just curious for the OP to fill in some blanks.

Puhleeze. If we're not all sunshine and light, then we're judging?

 

[lillygator]

no one is judging...but the OP never came back to answer and with so few posts...leaves a lot of mystery don't ya think?

 

[mell]

CA Grill has never been a top restaurant at disney, as far as we are concerned. The food has always been sub-standard. We just figured people got wrapped up in the atmosphere and fireworks so they didn't mind paying for mediocre food..lol.

We find Emeril's to be hit and miss.

Tchoup Chop..never misses..oustanding every time we go.

can someone please tell me where Tchoup Chop is located/directions too please? Would love to try it.
Thanks

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Never been but believe it is in the Royal Pacific Hotel at Universal.

I can tell you that we have had AMAZING experiences at Emeril's at City Walk. We want to try Tchoup Chop but LOVE Emeril's so much we keep going back there

 

[DisOrBust]

There might have been a language barrier,geeze I don't think there is a consiperacy here.

 

[phorsenuf]

We've always had a great time at CG. I just love the food and the service has always been great.
What I don't get is they both knew this was an upscale place so why would someone choose to wear a baseball cap (if that's what it was ) to keep their head covered. Dont you think he should would have choosen something a little "fancier".
If it was indeed a ball cap then I can see why they kept asking for it to be removed. They may not have all discussed it. The OP kept saying how they were talking to one another, it doesn't mean they were talking about them, they could have trying to figure out what movie to go to later! LOL

 

[mell]

Never been but believe it is in the Royal Pacific Hotel at Universal.

I can tell you that we have had AMAZING experiences at Emeril's at City Walk. We want to try Tchoup Chop but LOVE Emeril's so much we keep going back there

Thanks Also, do you know if you can make ressie's at emeril's and Tchoup Chop months in advance like disney dining? Or would you just make it a week or so in advance?
Thanks

 

[ducklite]

Thanks Also, do you know if you can make ressie's at emeril's and Tchoup Chop months in advance like disney dining? Or would you just make it a week or so in advance?
Thanks

Not sure how far in advance but they do take reservations, and I strongly urge you to make them as early as possible.

Anne

 

[LongIslandCouple]

The dress code for CG is specific - business casual. Business casual does not the wearing of any hats. In my opinion, CMs are very aware of religious headwear - including turbans & yarmulkes, and they can recognize the difference between those items and say, a Yankees baseball hat.

If the OP would have respected that any had his guest adhere to the policy, then his guest wouldn't have been asked 5 times to remove his hat. If the guest was wearing a baseball cap in leiu of another more suitable alternative that would conform to the specified dress code, then he has no right no complain if he is asked to remove it.

Perhaps, if the OP had followed the recommendations and secured an ADR, they could have been reminded of the dress code and avoided their "problems".

- Ken

 

[cdtommie]

Thanks Also, do you know if you can make ressie's at emeril's and Tchoup Chop months in advance like disney dining? Or would you just make it a week or so in advance?
Thanks

If you go out to emerils.com you can actuallly make a reservation on line (we did one last week for Tchoup Chop for a Saturday night in May...highly recommended and better food than CG IMHO...but going to CG in May also...always enjoyable.

 

[Squirlz]

I just thought this was one of those joke posts...didn't anyone else? A bit long, but I can't imagine that it is serious.

 

[majortom]

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.

The first time downstairs, we both answered after that, I answered first because my colleague tends to get angry much more quickly and I knew if I waited for him to respond it would be even more of a problem.

I am not really sure why it matters who responded. They had received an answer and that should have been it.

/carmi

 

[lillygator]

what kind of hat was it? Was it a ball cap?

 

[majortom]

Also why would they seat you in the restaurant you asked to go to the bar.

They did not seat us any where, we sat ourselves in the bar. We were not looking for dinner, just something light. I wanted to be gone before the fireworks rush.

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.

Actually, that is very common way to get a table at most busy restaurants, sit in the bar and let your waiter or the host/hostess know that if a table opens, you would like to move to the restaurant.

When all those people came to ask about the hat why didn't you just ask for water?

I did not think that asking for water from the Cast Members at check-in or in the elevator made sense. The third Cast Member that came over to ask that he remove his hat (first once we were seated), left immediately after she was told why he was wearing it - too quickly for me to ask for anything.

I wouldn't think to keep filling someones water if they had ordered a bottle of wine and i'd already refilled it.

I guess that you have never been a server. A guest's water glass should always be full (unless specifically asked not to refill it).

/carmi

 

[holcomb-mania]

This was less than what either of us had spent for dinner with just 20% tip at California Grill.

Why on Earth did you leave a tip for such service?

 

[majortom]

What type of a hat was it?

It was a baseball hat.

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.

You apparently know only a very small subset of observant jews. Many, will just wear a hat if they plan to wear it all day.

For all Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and some Reform Jews, the head is covered during prayer with a skull-cap (yarmulke) or ordinary hat.

/carmi

 

[JadenLayne]

I don't see a baseball cap as being religious, I'm sorry I just don't. The Kippa is an entirely other story.

 

[snowbunny]

It was a baseball hat.

This is where I'm confused. If you've been to the California Grill many times, surely you knew (and could have easily warned your colleague beforehand) that they were going to have a problem with a baseball hat, regardless of the stated reason for it.

 

[Cruz Family]

IMHO This all just seems to be a little too bad of an experience.
Every CM the OP came it to contact was rude and incompetent
The food was bad
The whole hat thing??? (and still no answer what kind of hat it was)

The initial complaints of $20 charge if you are a no show, check-in being downstairs. blah blah blah......

We love the CG and cant wait to go back!