California Grill

For a Disney lover such as my self, I can think of no better view to dine alongside than one encompassing the Seven Seas Lagoon, Grand Floridian and Polynesian resorts, and the Magic Kingdom. This view can be found at the much-praised California Grill, located at the very top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Despite a couple of minor bumps, we will definitely be dining at this restaurant again in the future.

Going up…
In order to reach the California Grill, patrons must head to the second floor of the resort to check-in. We were immediately ushered to an elevator exclusively for the use of restaurant guests to whisk us to the fifteenth floor. At this time, we learned the dress code of business casual (read – no shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops) would not be enforced, as everyone else in the elevator was dressed in shorts, t-shirts, and flip-flops. The host did ask a young boy riding with us to take off his baseball cap, but I was a bit disappointed to feel overdressed in our casual dresses and heels. Upon reaching the fifteenth floor, we were greeted and immediately seated…right by the window! Yay! I had literally the best view in the restaurant, staring directly at Cinderella’s Castle. Do hold out for a window table here. On a future visit, I would seriously be willing to wait an additional hour for such a great seat.

Atmosphere and Service
The atmosphere of California Grill turned out to be brighter and a bit more bustling than I expected. Of course, the main attractions are the views, and the blinds raise automatically as the sun sets. The restaurant is decorated with golds, reds, yellows, and a little bit of Tuscan flare. It does have a relatively open kitchen area, which I tend to dislike and believe will soon be out of style.

On the whole, service at the California Grill was very, very good. Our server was conversational and eager to offer suggestions and bring out wines for us to try. We did, however, have a bit of a problem with our entrees and a food carrying employee which I will discuss later. However, I commend our server for his quick fix of the situation and getting the meal back on track rapidly.

The Food
A dizzying array of options awaits the eager diner. As we were eating at California Grill on the Disney Dining Plan, we were more willing to experiment than we might have been under normal circumstances, as the plan includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert for each user. There is an impressive sushi menu that is worth noting although I do not personally eat fish. We started off with the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli, which was recommended by our server. This dish consists of one giant ravioli decorated with mushrooms, tomato, and pesto. Our second appetizer was the Heirloom Tomato Extravaganza, which included three types of tomatoes stacked into a period and drizzled with oils. While both appetizers were great, I give the edge to the goat cheese ravioli for its unique flavor. Other starter options include more traditional salads and soups as well as a selection of flatbreads.

For our entrees, Mom and I both ordered Oak-Fired Beef Filet. This was where the minor issue began. After we finished our appetizer, we noticed an employee carrying around two steaks which looked very much like ours. She seemed to be unable to find the table, and walked around the dining room with them for a good five minutes. Then she went back and set them on the counter where food was placed from the kitchen. The chef seemed surprised that they were still there, and there was no heat source. We kept watched the steaks for the next ten minutes (we literally timed and kept an eye on them), as they sat there, before the same employee seemingly figured out where our table was and brought them back. My mom politely asked if those were the same steaks that had been sitting on the counter for fifteen minutes, and the woman became instantly defensive and claimed they were different ones, and that she had thrown the others away. Although we didn’t believe this we gave the steaks a try and both the meat and potatoes were quite cold. Fortunately, our server had overheard the ending of the exchange, and he swooped in to take them. We did have new steaks within five minutes and a free glass of wine for our troubles, but I’m uncomfortable that the employee lied about the situation instead of just offering to swap out the steaks. The meat was ultimately quite excellent, and I really enjoyed the creamy mashed potatoes.

Anyway, moving on to dessert…can anyone really resist something called Raspberries, Chocolate, and Raspberries? We certainly couldn’t. This warm molten chocolate cake had a creamy chocolate center and was served with raspberry ice cream and sauce. It was a great way to end a very tasty meal, although the Blueberry Blast and Assorted Cheese Platter would also have been great had I been in a different food mood. Our complete three course meal would have been $130 without wine, had we not been on the dining plan. Entrees ranged in cost from $23-$38.

The Grand Finale
One great reason to book a meal at the California Grill is the opportunity to make use of the restaurant’s private balcony for fireworks. Whether one dines early or late, a receipt from that evening provides admission to some of the resort’s best views. We did go out and enjoy the view from the balcony although we did not stay for fireworks. Keep in mind, though, that there is no seating on the balcony. Those who wish to enjoy the fireworks from a seated position would do well to linger over their dinner for as long as possible. Our server told us there was no rush to leave whatsoever, which we appreciated.

Overall…
On the whole, I have a good feeling about the California Grill. The food was the best I’ve had at Disney. Watching the sunset behind the castle from my table was really an experience in itself. However, our meal wasn’t quite as perfect as I had expected from a restaurant of this caliber. Serving guests cold steaks for $40 a pop is fairly ridiculous, and the restaurant loses some elegance because of noise from the kitchen and the lax dress code. If you are not on the dining plan and wish to really splurge for an elegant meal, shoot the extra $30 per person and have an unbelievable meal at Victoria & Albert’s. That said, I did enjoy my meal here and will probably go back in the future.


*Eating at Disney? Check out my Top Ten Places to Eat at Walt Disney World!

Recommend this product? Yes

Kid Friendliness: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Raspberries, Chocolate, and Raspberries
Best Suited For: Romantic Evening