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California Grill

silverboyd

Active Member
Original Poster
Has anyone here ever eaten at the California Grill on top of the Contemporary Resort? My girlfriend and I have reservations there the first night of our vacation in September. How's the food? We're going to be eating during the fireworks.
 

Bravesfn1

New Member
silverboyd said:
Has anyone here ever eaten at the California Grill on top of the Contemporary Resort? My girlfriend and I have reservations there the first night of our vacation in September. How's the food? We're going to be eating during the fireworks.

The food here is great! I had a steak and a really great glass of cabarnet here back in October. It was awesome! My girlfriend had the pork tenderloin which she said was really good. This is one of my favorite places to eat at WDW, the wine list is excellent and one of the most exstensive ones on property. Unfortunately, when we ate here Wishes was not being held that night. Howevere, we did see the Illuminations fireworks from Epcot and the Electric Water Pageant on Bay Lake. You will not be disappointed in your meal here, good call!
 

mhead

Active Member
My wife and I ate there two years ago - it was decent - we were expecting too much I think but we do not plan to go again.
 

ktrevarrow

New Member
We make a point to go to the California Grill every trip. Great food and atmosphere. If you like beef, try the Filet with Tamarind BBQ Sauce. It sounds weird, but trust me it is amazing. If you like sushi, I think they have the best on property. Enjoy!
 

Since1976

Well-Known Member
I went for the first (and so far, only) time in 2002. It was the perfect capper to our honeymoon.

The waiting area gets a bit crowded, but the atmosphere is great, the food terrific and the view is unbeatable.
 

Frosty466

New Member
My wife and I ate there in Dec 05 for our 'Parents Night Out' and had one wonderful time. The food was excellent as was the wine list. The waiter was one of the best we have had in a long time!. Very knowledgable, prompt without being intrusive or bothersome. The view is fantastic, while we did not get to see any of the fireworks, the giant christmas tree in the front of the Contemporary was captivating. We plan on dining there again on our next trip this December.
 

tigger1968

Well-Known Member
We ate there last year, and loved it. The food was outstanding, and the service was possibly the best we've ever experienced. My wife and I are both in restaurant, so we tend to be somewhat overly critical, but could find nothing wrong with our experience there. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Unless the dress code has changed, I don't recall you needing a jacket. The dress is business casual at a minimum however, if my memory serves me correctly. Having said that, getting to dress up a bit for a nice dinner only served to enhance the experience for us!
 

clarkstallings

New Member
I ate there this past March. I wasn't impressed at all. I was really quite disappointed. The steak and sushi were just OK. I was also surprised by the number of little kids parents brought up with them, they were all over the place. Our reservation was at like 9:20 to boot. If you do go, Wishes is really cool from the observation deck. You can barely hear the music from inside the restaurant while it is going on but they blast it on the Observation deck.
 

PhilharMagician

Well-Known Member
We just went a few weeks ago and it was superb. We also went during the fireworks and after our meal before desert we went out and watched the fireworks. Now the fireworks do not look half as good from up there. They are way out of perspective. As far as the dress code it is business casual. I work a collar shirt and shorts. There were people in there wearing sweaty t-shirts that they had been wearing all day with the entire family. Now I only saw 2 families like that and the rest were dressed for the occasion. The food was superb and our waiter Mike was great. They have sushi and martinis to fit about anyones appetite. Make sure you save room for desert. We just got one desert that we shared between us.

This dining experience rated #2 against the Bistro de France which is currently our #1. You will enjoy.
 

recrat

New Member
Wife and I have been a few times...mostly for Anniversaries. It is our favorite place to have a kid-free night. Food is great...pricey but worth it IMO. Service is exceptional. The best part is the balcony. Fireworks seem to be popping just above you. Jackets are good idea...but we go for the romance and getaway...snuggling is better. Enjoy!
 

durangojim

Well-Known Member
My wife and I love o go sit in the lounge by the window, order a bottle of wine, some sushi and flatbread, and enjoy the fireworks. By the way you can order off the full menu in the lounge. Great food and exceptional service!
 

cherrynegra

Well-Known Member
The last time I ate there it was wonderful. The menu is top notch. I'm not sure about needing a jacket. I had heard they had moved to a business casual dress code, but I'd be happy to be corrected on that one. And here's a link to the menu.
 

recrat

New Member
cherrynegra said:
The last time I ate there it was wonderful. The menu is top notch. I'm not sure about needing a jacket. I had heard they had moved to a business casual dress code, but I'd be happy to be corrected on that one. And here's a link to the menu.


All the literature states "Business Casual" but I think there is a wide interpretation and enforcement.
 
We go every trip!!! They told us the dress code was "resort casual". I wore a golf shirt, and shorts. One of the best meals we've had out, and awesome atmosphere. Great view of the fireworks from the observation area too!!!:sohappy:
 

SIR90210

New Member
octoberbarry said:
Everybody say 'warm dahlrona chocolate cake...' Remember that...

YES! I went there for my birthday a coule of years ago, and the dessert came right as Wishes started. Disney pumped the music into the restaurant and it was amazing! Great restaurant, I would highly reccommend it.
 

Jose Eber

New Member
I like the Sushi there, but don't like to do 'sit down', rather catch an ultra early dinner in the lounge (they serve dinner items there) when few people are there (opens at 5, dinner served at 5:30).

Right up to the window, good sunset...

Jose (the bar fly).
 

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
Visit every trip. They had definately beefed up attitude to dress last August, about time too, I dont want to see hairy armpits as Im having a meal out.
 

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