Reviews of California Grill
Read prices, menu items, and more
Menus at California Grill
Reviewed by Reed2015 Review Date: 06/07/2022
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
Worst meal and dining experience I have ever had at Disney World and I have been to Tony's and Nine Dragons... I prefer a Value Resort QS over it.
Pros:
The meal is overCons:
Food, Service, experience, and priceReviewed by Reed2015 Review Date: 04/30/2022
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
Awful experience. Food was nothing. Service was horrible. They didn't enforce the dress code. Which I don't care but we were told it was mandatory and had to buy a last min over priced shirt for my husband after we realized we forgot to pack his. We show up and there are people in flip flops, shorts and tank tops.
Pros:
A few seats have park viewCons:
Everything possible other than the view.Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 04/19/2022
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
They comped my husband's meal it was so bad. The steak was mostly fat, cooked very uneven and practically inedible. My salmon was very dry but we did not have the energy to complain about both. Waiter did not come over after the food was served to see how we were doing, only showing up once we were ready to get out of there. The only reason we booked this was so our daughter could see the castle and we were seated in a back room, away from the main dining room, with a view of construction on the hotel. It felt very much like we were being punished for having a child with us even though she was quieter and better dressed than most other adults in that place. We have eaten at many of the fine dining restaurants in Disney and this was our worst experience, especially for the price.
Pros:
My daughter enjoyed the dessert sushiCons:
Food was very overpriced for the quality, poor cook on everything, waiter was nonexistentReviewed by HappyClappy Review Date: 01/11/2014
Rating: (1) Recommended
We have dined many times at the old California Grill and we were looking forward to enjoying the new rehab. Oh dear, what a disappointment. We arrived 15 minutes early for our 7:30 reservation. Wishes was at 8:00. When we checked in the CM at the podium said they were very busy but that's nothing new.
However what we didn't expect was the total pandemonium in the lounge area. Every place in the lounge and at the bar was being used for walk ups eating. Worst of all we were presented with the sight of two adults eating on the floor! We understand that the fireworks are a feature but the management have full control of how many people they allow into the lounge. At no other signature restaurant would the management tolerate this ridiculous situation.
We did give the manager our views and his attitude was couldn't care less. He is obviously focused on squeezing as many dollars from letting as many people into the place as possible. Why have a reservation system at all?
The menu is hugely reduced, the staff appear new and inexperienced, our waitress never even bothered to offer wine suggestions. We didn't bother with deserts, we just didn't feel it was worth it. Sorry California Grill, you've lost your number one spot with me - spend your dollars or 2 table dining credits on Citricos instead - a much better signature experience.
Pros:
Firework viewCons:
Not a signature dining experienceReviewed by wdwfan6 Review Date: 12/13/2013
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
Was excited to go back to the California Grill after the rehab. Change is good, but not in this case. Had a table next to the kitchen, so got to see and hear servers clanging dishes throughout the meal. No view out the window. When the server realized I was solo and not drinking alcohol, the service went out the window. I got extremely slow drive by service (drop a course and run), while the larger tables around me that were drinking received constant checking, smiles and chatting. 30-45 minute waits in between courses. The appetizer was 3 medium sized shrimp for $22. When I asked if they had something a bit more basic for the side dish to the swordfish I ordered (roasted veggies, mashed potatoes, etc), was told they did not have anything. The small piece of seared swordfish was cold, raw and undercooked inside. By the time the server came back, he just grabbed the plate and kept walking. The final straw was when he dropped the dessert menu and made a nasty, sarcastic remark "maybe you will find something here to eat." When I went to leave, the manager asked how the meal was. When I told him my experience, his response was "well I guess you had a bad night." That was all he said, then walked away to glad hand a large group of people. This is the last time I will dine there.
Pros:
NothingCons:
EverythingReviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 10/08/2023
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
Dated. Dirty carpets. College cafeteria style chairs and tables. Same decor from 40 years ago.
Pros:
Food good. Service good.Cons:
Atmosphere. Decor. Noise. Cleanliness.Reviewed by Dopey1wa Review Date: 01/13/2015
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
This use to be our favorite restaurant and we would always go 2-3 times during our stay. I was anxious to see the new remodel that was done since the last time we were there. Total disappointment! The remodel added a huge amount of tables (so more people can enjoy the experience, more money spent). If you are a couple looking for a romantic setting, forget it. You sit in a long row of "couple tables" that are only a couple of feet apart from each other. Barely enough room to walk between the two tables. The room is very noisy with the amount of people they have added to the room. Menu has changed again and was somewhat disappointed in the selection offered. Waiter we had was gone for long periods of time. My water glass (only drink I had) was empty most of the time. Will probably not go back again.
Pros:
viewCons:
crowded and noisy, menu, waiterReviewed by Wendy55 Review Date: 01/25/2014
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
We have made CG a must do for over 30 years and it is always a wonderful experience - not on this past trip of January 10th! We invited 3 couples to join us that had never been to CG before but have listened to us boast on how wonderful it is. What a nightmare from start to finish! Seated 35min past reservation time - waiter was most likely busboy who was pulled to help wait tables - very unprofessional in every way. We asked to try both a white and red wine - bottles were brought to our table 1/2 empty, when we asked for unopened bottles to be brought and opened in front of us we were told - No try first, if you like it then I'll bring new bottles! Only 1 wine glass for table of 8 which our waiter poured and left us to go around to empty tables and get glasses for ourselves! 2 of our guests never received their appetizers. Entree's were wonderful that is the only positive. We had 1 guest with a gluten allergy - when she asked the waiter to speak with the Chef she was told - Order the steak - her response I don't eat steak waiters response - I'll have the Chef steam some veggies for you! Very disappointed with the entire evening and our guests will never venture back again - such a nightmare! We asked to speak with the manager - no luck, in fact we complained to the concierge at our hotel and he also tried reaching a manager at CG - no luck! We will not be back which is sad as we have always made this a special dinner spot when in Disney. Artist Point from now on - fantastic dinner/staff there!
Pros:
FoodCons:
Service -Reviewed by Joeyvee99 Review Date: 10/09/2013
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
Have to give a bad review to our favorite Disney restaurant. First off the menu is blah and uninspired. Gone are all the faves. Sushi selections are near non-existent. Had to send the short ribs back due to the huge fat veins running through it. Everything was blah. Highlight were the meatball appys. They were underdone but delicious and I like my meat rare anyway. Some diners may be put off. The server stood there with the water bottle on his neck while he was explaining the menu. Yuck, find another way to cool off. Doubt if I'll give a second chance to this one.
Pros:
decor and ambianceCons:
food & menuReviewed by LindaQ Review Date: 11/24/2023
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
My husband and I were so disappointed in our Thanksgiving 2023 dinner at the California Grill. Before the pandemic, we had visited the restaurant for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners when we weren’t traveling north to visit family. We are not fans of price fixe dinners – we like to share our appetizers and do not order dessert often. However, we had always love our meals at the California Grill, so we decided to give it a try this Thanksgiving for what would be our 23 yearly visit. We had the perfect table for 2 by the window and the view was spectacular at sunset. The appetizers were delicious. My husband ordered the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli, which was excellent with a very tasty sauce. I ordered The Cascade Sushi Roll, which while very tasty, the rolls very small. In the past I often ordered from the sushi menu for my main course. For our main courses my husband ordered the holiday special turkey, asking for dark meat. What he received was a plate with a mound of small pieces of meat over mashed potatoes. Accompanying the turkey was something that resemble stuffing, but cut into a round cake, string beans and cranberry sauce. The gravy was bland and tasteless. I ordered the venison - I thought I’d be adventurous, but was so disappointed. It was supposed to come with Hasselback potatoes, but instead I had one very small potato. The meat was not what I had envisioned and again, disappointing. I have to say that the dessert Crème Brûlée was outstanding, but not worth the $200 plus we paid for the dinner. Adding to our disappointment was the feeling of being rushed. We had to order all three courses - including the dessert - when we sat down, and the courses were served one after the other with very little time to sit back and savor the moment. The California Grill is not what it used to be and we don’t plan on going back.
