YOUR opinion on California Grill - Help

[GoofyDisney]

We are going to eat at the California Grill for the very first time EVER in November. We have only eaten at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary. So, I am looking for YOUR opinion.

Food quality? Service? Ease of getting to and from MK? Worth it to leave the park to go eat there? Atmosphere at the Contemporary?

Any info YOU have would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[uncle al]

Are there only adults? Are you staying at a WDW resort? These might influence my answer but.......... I'll give it a try-

As far as ease to & from MK: You have 2 options; the monorail or a 10 or so minute walk. I personally like the walk. The monorail is ok but sometimes there is a wait.

I'm not sure I would want to plan to eat there after having been at MK all day. I suppose it would be alright, just not what I would like to do. CG is a nice restaurant, there is certainly an atmosphere where kids are welcomed (if that's an issue for you) but it is upscale. For me I would say spending an abbreviated day at the park (say until 3 or so) then back to the resort for a shower (and a swim maybe). Afterwards head over to the Contemporary. I would plan for a PS around fireworks time - IMHO ther is no better place to watch the show- have a glass of wine or your favorite beverage. Then sit down to enjoy a nice relaxed meal.

We have eaten there a few times and have found the food to be excellent. The service has also been very good. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

 

[barbeml]

We loved it and look forward to going back. The views of the sunset and fireworks were incredible, our server was terrific, and the food was excellent. It was one of the best overall dining experiences we have had at WDW, and we have had many good ones!

I hope you give it a try and have a great time.

 

[GenePA]

My favorite restaurant at WDW is CG. Service is always good and the food is prepared to perfection. The selection of food varies depending on what is fresh but it is always tasty and well presented. I do find the restaurant to be a bit loud at times but the view, food, and service easily overshadow the noise.

It can be pricey so for us, this is always one of the 'special' meals we enjoy at WDW. If you have kids, they'll get a kick out of the kids sushi for dessert. Here's a link for some pics.....http://www.***********.com/id271.htm

 

[WDW4us2003]

You will love it! We ate there for the first time last week and it is now my favorite WDW restaurant. You can't beat the food, service, and of course the view! If you have kids, don't worry. OUrs are 10 and 13, but there were plenty of other kids around. The tablecloth top is actually a sheet of thick paper that the waiter immediately gave our kids crayons to draw on without us asking.
I know it is expensive, but what isn't in WDW??

Don't miss it!

 

[TDC Nala]

If you're coming from the park, remember that the California Grill has a dress code of sorts:

no bathing suits (!!) and no tank tops for men. They call this "smart casual" which always makes me think of Don Adams in a sport coat.

 

[FEEBEE]

HI GUYS,
I HAVE PICKED UPTHIS THREAD AS COMING OVER FROM THE UK IN FEB AND WANTING SOMEWHERE SPECIAL, AS BRINGING PARENTS OVER FOR THEIR FIRST TRIP TO WDW FIRST TRIP TO US!

WILL CG FIT THE BILL FOR OUR SPECIAL MEAL, I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT AT FIREWORK TIME, HOW CAN I CHECK FOR THIS SO FAR IN ADVANCE, WHAT DAYS TIMES WILL THEY HAVE MK FIREWORKS.

WILL I HAVE TO USE A PARK PASS, CAN I JUST DRIVE TO CONT AND GO STRAIGHT IN?


WHAT AM I LOOKING AT ON THE PRICES, I CANT FIND A MENU ON DIS DINING - OR PRICES.

 

[uncle al]

I'm not sure that you will be able to check on the definite time for fireworks this early. However, you can make an assumption that MK will be closing early (I think it's like 8pm during the week and 9 or 10pm on Sat, but I'm not sure about that).

As far as driving directly to Contemporary or having to use park pass. You can drive directly to the Contemporary just tell them at the security gate you have a PS for CG- should be no problem. Of course, if you are staying at a WDW resort you can bus to MK & walk over or take a cab.

I'm not sure about menus. I know that on the times we have been there - some items were new each time so that might explain why they don't post one - not sure though.

Hope this helps. Oops I forgot your first question "will this fit the bill for our special meal?" Most Definitely!!!!!!

 

[FEEBEE]

thabx for that, I have found a menu which looks great, it is expensive but I suspect its a case of "get what you pay for" and I am wanting something special so it seems to fit the bill,

I am however tempted by BOMA any thoughts?........

 

[GoofyDisney]

If you like Bell Peppers and spice, Boma is the place for you...otherwise, RUN!



P.S. THanks for all the tips so far!!! They are great!

 

[GenePA]

Boma is great....quickly becoming one of my favorties. It you are an adventurous type when it comes to eating 'uncommon foods', Boma is the place. You'll spend less at Boma than at CG though it is not inexpensive. If I was looking for a special meal in a nice setting, CG would be my choice over Boma. But for me, both are winners!

 

[ducklite]

Boma and the CG can't even begin to be comparred to each other. Boma is a buffet style casual family type restaurant. CG is an upscale full service restaurant with an award winning wine list and "best of" cuisine.

Anne

 

[D&R love Disney]

It's been years since I last ate there but when I did it was fantastic. We were able to watch the fireworks from our table

I have PS for one week from today woo hoo! No fireworks scheduled though but we are celebrating our 1 year engagement anniversary and it's the only night we can do during the weekend.

 

[ktulu]

My wife and I went there on my b-day, August 11.

Food, EXCELLENT. Some of the best food, if not THE best food at WDW, IMHO

That said, my b-day visit was not so good.

My wife asked to be by the window for the fireworks, made the PS weeks ahead of time and asked for this mentioned my 30th. We get there, and 'we'll take you back here to the wine room where it is quiet'. Well, I don't care about noise, but fine, we can get up and go outside to watch the fireworks. We do get by a window and see the water pagent and the full moon, that is nice.

Waitress takes our drink order, a bottle of wine and sushi appitizer. That comes pretty quick, she eventually gets our dinner order, wife has pork and I get the filet.

We finish the wine, order two apple martini's.

The table next to us gets their food rather quickly, we do not. Finally it comes, Jill's looks great, I cut into mine and it's still mooing. We send it back. Steak number two comes out. I cut into the middle this time, MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Take this one back, in the meantime we're going to watch the fireworks.

Yay, explosions in the sky. Go back in, manager brings me my dinner this time (Jill is done at this point, didn't think about having her photograph me eating alone, but I wanted her to have a hot meal!) This one is finally done right. I eat, it's good. Waitress comes back, 'for the trouble we're buying the martinis' Now, I'm grateful for this, but back at home, if I sent back a $33 filet more than once, the manager buys the meal. But, we were on vacation so I didn't want to dwell on it.

Will we go back, probably. I do plan on writing a letter to the manager though, when I pay $150+ for dinner, I expect good service, and it was really lacking this time :/

darren

 

[GladysK]

FEEBEE........go to www.wdwig.com for all of WDW menus.

CG is pricey-each part of meal is priced seperately(a la' carte)...$8-9 for soups or salads and desserts. Entrees from $21-31.

 

[GladysK]

Originally posted by ktulu
Finally it comes, Jill's looks great, I cut into mine and it's still mooing. We send it back. Steak number two comes out. I cut into the middle this time, MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Take this one back, darren

I always thought a GREAT steak should be rare,or medium rare?

 

[crystalb]

Like ktulu, I had a very hard time getting the window seating for MK fireworks, even with a PS far in advance. (party of 6)
Made mention at booking of PS, planning specifically for that time rame. (In January yet --- when it is dead at WDW.)
Showed up early, and had to wait. No problem. Was happy to. After telling at least four CM's why we were waiting, we were seated at a table approx a half hour later.
Location we were seated was great -- except it was on the other side of the room.
I mentioned to the waiter why we were there, we had waited with PS', etc. Basically was told No Can Do.
I said there wasn't any reason for us to be there, as that was the whole point. (Got up to leave. Didn't say it nasty. Just truthful.)
We were then seated by the overlook windows, but our group was split and separated from one side to another. And lucky me, I got the worse seat in the place behind a big honkin' window partion.
Food was VERY good. But extremely small portions. Imagine a child's TV dinner portions.
Not generally being one needing appetizers, we didn't order any. It wasn't until we rec'd the meal we saw how little we were being fed.
Nice fireworks. But I do like them down in the park better. You can barely see Tink flying. If you weren't watching, you would probably miss that little flash of speck moving.
CG is the only WDW restaurant where we have left as hungry as when we arrived.
One of those things I don't regret doing. But wouldn't do again, unless someone else was buying!

BTW -- I LOVE Boma's. DH keeps turning up his nose when I mention it. But only because he over eats there and feels miserable after!
GOOD pressed French coffee! And good coffee is HTF at WDW.

Another GREAT place -- our favorite -- is the Flying Fish on Boardwalk. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[ducklite]

Very odd, I've never left CG hungry, in fact have been hard pressed to finish my meal on some visits--without an appetizer or dessert!

Anne

 

[maidmarion]

Is it ever possible to walk in at CG or do you NEED PS? We're going December 13-19th, which should be the "off-season".

 

[crystalb]

ducklite -- That has been our experience with WDW resaurants too. That's why we never bother with an appetizer.

Maybe we just hit a bad night. But we haven't returned to compare.