Worried about CA Grill!!

[jennymouse]

I have had the pleasure to eat there twice and love it there as well. It is a little noisey, not crazy noisey like Jen D said, but a bit noisey. My father and I ate there last February and he can't stand a noisey restaurant and he didn't find it too noisey.

I'm just an ol' Kentucky gal used to "country cookin'" and I absolutely loved the two meals I've had there. The first time I had the filet and it was very good. The second time I had the pork tenderloin with polenta and it was out of this world! I didn't know what polenta was, I new it was good, but I didn't know what it was. I asked the server and he kind of squatted down to be at my eye level and told me all about what polenta was and how they made it. Never be too shy to ask about something, both servers I had seemed to relish in sharing thier knowledge whether it be the food or WDW itself.

Oh, and the goat's cheese raviolli is so good it'll make your tonge want to slap your brains out!LOL

 

[aalan]

...its not the place for a quiet, romantic meal. with the open kitchen, glass windows, and generally full seating area (especially during the fireworks), it can be a little noisy.
if you like it a little calmer, you can request a table in the "wine room," a smaller room at the back and away from a lot of the noise that holds maybe six or seven tables. we ate here last march for the first time, and it was wonderful food (try the pork tenderloin) and attentive service. we were a little dissappointed in the noise level, but things do calm down after the fireworks. its not cheap, but hey, you're on vacation!

 

[wdwfan]

We tried the California Grill last year for the first time and loved it! The pork tenderloin with polenta was fabulous!! We had a window seat with a view of the Magic Kingdom. It was perfect. Can't wait to eat there again this trip.

 

[KFISCHER]

DO NOT CHANGE YOUR DINING PLANS, OR YOU WILL MISS OUT ON A SUPER WDW DINING EXPERIENCE!!!

Food and service are great at CG, and we've been there NUMEROUS times.

I'll just add my perspective about the rather picky criticism that always comes up, that the CG is "noisy."

That's because people are having a good time! It's a lively restaurant, for heaven's sake, not a public library!!!

I've also been in several Emeril's restaurants. Same deal. People are engaged in discussions, enjoying themselves. I wouldn't consider it a negative.

As for CG not being romantic.......are you kidding me? That great view, the fireworks above the castle out on the observation deck, the wonderful menu....

I wonder how many anniversaries and birthdays and wedding proposals have been celebrated here......


Have a wonderful time!


PS: The pork tenderloin and the filet are terrific entrees.

 

[jordanyosh]

We have eaten there in '97 and again last year. Both times we have had excellent food. We had great service and even the staff who were not our servers said hi to our group. When we were walking out the sushi chef stopped us and gabbed for a few minutes...I have a pic with her.....we really like this restaurant.

 

[Cinderella37]

We've eaten here 5 times and it's never really lived up to the hype for us. It's okay, though the pork tenderloin is delicious. We keep going back because we fell that we're missing something that warrants all of the buzz, but have never really been that impressed. Our service is often slow (with the exception being last year when we were seated in the wine room) and it just seems like a typical restaurant to us (the view is beautiful, though).

Personally, I think the buzz about the CG is because it began the dining movement at WDW that definitively moved away from theme park food and into fine dining. Besides V&A's, it's the first WDW restaurant that really caught the attention of the culinary elite, so it remains a symbol for the turn-around in WDW food that has been happening for the past 10 years. I wouldn't cancel your reservation. It should be experienced at least once.

 

[Geoff_M]

The joint isn't stuffy at all... the atmosphere is very nice.

Our waiter bent over backwards for us. I asked for a "mocha" after dessert, and to my surprise the waiter said it wasn't on their menu... but he'd find a way to make me one. I said "Don't bother!" but he insisted. A few minutes later he appeared with a reasonable facsimile of a mocha in hand!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

The CG is an excellent restaurant.

I was quite surprised by how many children were in this restaurant. We had taken our 2 to the Poly Neverland Club. We were looking forward to a nice, quiet dinner.

We had kids to the right and kids to the left and everywhere in between. We are parents so kids don't bother us but again I was shocked.

Just remember that at WDW children are welcome at all restaurants.

Lori

 

[kwdietrich1]

We just celebrated our 8th anniversary (on the 22nd) at the CA grill and couldn't have been more pleased!!!! First of all, you won't have to worry about it being too noisy or crowded with the new check in procedure! You NOW check in on the 2nd floor, and are personally escorted via a private elevator to the 14th floor. Only people with PS's may go to the 14th floor now as we were told by the hostess at check in. My DH and I found the restaurant very cozy and romantic. Our server was excellent and the view, Well let's just say that we had a prime window seat with the best views of WDW and Wishes! The beef filet was like butter and I highly recommend the duck flat bread! I had ordered as a surprise a special not on the menu Solid White chocolate Mickey dressed in top hat, cane and tails served with tuxedo strawberries! Delicious! I think it might help to make a late ps around 9pm as well. We found the restaurant to be very relaxing and to have some of the best food we have ever experienced. DEFINITELY KEEP YOUR RESSIES! It is an experience. Enjoy!

 

[Dizneyholic]

Originally posted by kwdietrich1
I had ordered as a surprise a special not on the menu Solid White chocolate Mickey dressed in top hat, cane and tails served with tuxedo strawberries! Delicious!

Hi kwdietrich1 ,
From what I've read on the boards, I thought you could only have these specially made desserts if you were dining at GF? How did you get them to do it at Ca Grill? I'd love to do it Sept for our best friends...it will be their Honeymoon!!

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by NoodlesTheRabbit
Hi everyone! I had recently decided that my DH and I would celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary with a leisurely dinner at CA Grill. I just read a post on another board regarding the "stuffiness" of the staff, the "average" food, and the "noisy" atmosphere. I am worried! Should I switch my plans? CA Grill was the one place that we haven't tried and wanted to. We are not adventurous eaters, but from what I have read, there will be something we can find to eat. On the other hand, I don't want to spend lots of $$ on a disappointing meal. I know there will always be people who disagree with the majority...tell me your opinions please!!

Stuffy? No, I felt very comfortable. Average food? Good, but not "I've got to go back tomorrow." Noisy? Yes, but not in a Chef Mickey's kind of way, more in a poor acoustic kind of way. I have to concentrate in a group setting to hear, anyway. I assume our waiter noticed I was trying to lip-read, because he came around and stood right beside me to finish his intro speech. Everytime he came back to the table, he stood in the same place so I could hear him. I thought that was very sweet. I posted about it when I got back and somebody suggested I request the "quiet room" next time. I guess it has fewer tables and you can't see the fireworks without going outside.

In the main area, you should be able to see the fireworks wherever you sit *IF* people don't stand up. When the lights were dimmed for the fireworks, the people sitting in front of us stood up. Why they didn't just move their chairs, I'll never know.

There were several tables of kids when we were there, too. The kids didn't look too thrilled to be there, but they all seemed pretty well-behaved considering the hour.

 

[kwdietrich1]

Originally posted by Dizneyholic
Hi kwdietrich1 ,
From what I've read on the boards, I thought you could only have these specially made desserts if you were dining at GF? How did you get them to do it at Ca Grill? I'd love to do it Sept for our best friends...it will be their Honeymoon!!

I called Disney dining number and they connected me to the contemporary front desk, who then connected me to the restaurant podium, who then connected me to a voicemail of the chef, who called me back the next day. The chocolate Mickey is apparently on the room service menu and can be special ordered in advance through the restaurant. They will take a cc number to secure the Mickey, but won't charge you until they bring the check. I'm sure they would let you prepay the dessert for your friends. I think that would be a lovely surprise! BTW the strawberries were delicious! I think a few of the deluxe hotels have them on the room service menu. I forgot to check if the WL did (that's where we stayed). The dessert was every bit worth the 45.99 we were charge!

You can call the restaurant directly, but no one ever answered! Good luck and I hope your friends enjoy their honeymoon dessert!

 

[RickNWendy]

my .02:

We are not a fan of overly fancy food- so bear that in mind.

Food was good, expensive, but as expected since you are partly paying for the reputation the restaurant enjoys.

We have 'been there' and the only thing that impressed us enough to return was a window seat for the fireworks.

 

[Dizneyholic]

Originally posted by kwdietrich1

You can call the restaurant directly, but no one ever answered! Good luck and I hope your friends enjoy their honeymoon dessert!

Thanks, I reallly appreicate the info!!

I, too, am trying to decide between Ohana's (& then the beach) and Ca Grill for Saturday night fireworks. So many decisions!