Disney Dining Reviews - Resort Restaurants

Contemporary Resort -

California Grill - Dinner

Our 2nd time at California Grill. My wife liked the filet so much last year, this was a must do for us this trip. Last year, we had a 5:30pm ADR (advanced dining reservation) and walked into the restaurant right at sunset -- beautiful views from the restaurant. Well this trip our ADR was 5:45 but being a month later in the year, the sun was already down. We did have a nice view of the Castle from our table and I imagine the fireworks are great from here but we don't want to eat dinner that late.

No wait at all to be seated. We both like the food here and the service is excellent. The atmosphere could be better. Tables are close together and it just feels crowded. The views from up high are fun but the observation deck is just cement with a railing that makes me nervous with my son, plus people smoke out there. I'll have to come back here during fireworks one trip.

I had the mussels appetizer and this was a tough choice because I like sushi and the Spicy Kazan Roll was very good last year. I enjoyed the mussels but I was so overwhelmed by the Flying Fish mussels, everything else was going to pale in comparison. The broth was very good though.

My wife chose the Asian Rock Shrimp Salad. Strange choice for DW but she was tired of eating crab cakes by now (California Grill was near the end of our trip). We both thought the salad was very good but it just wasn't interesting to me. Nothing to rave about, but still good.

I had the Pacific Monchong fish entree and I was very happy this was on the menu. I saw it on an online menu and had my heart set on it before we even got to Disney. It's a deep sea Hawaiian fish and I wanted to try a fish I've never had before. Our waiter said the fish is flown in overnight from the market fresh, not frozen. I liked the presentation, especially that the fish was on top of all the side items and broth (not in it) so I could taste the fish by itself. Aside from enjoying the novelty, this was great tasting fish...it had some delicate flavor on its own, was moist, and had a nice texture. Eventually, I dipped some of it in the broth and that was good too!

My wife had the filet and still maintains this is the best steak she has had at Disney World or anywhere else. I thought it was very delicious and tender (could cut it easily with the side of a fork). I just think steak is kind of boring to order at a restaurant when there are so many more interesting choices.

Again, we enjoyed our meal so much, we didn't even care about dessert. But, I had some of the granny smith apple dessert and my wife had the Valrhona Cake - we liked both. The desserts were very good, don't get me wrong... but we were still so very happy with our entrees that dessert wasn't going to wow us.

My 5 yr old son had strawberies of course. Waiter brought him some goldfish crackers too, didn't ask but I guess he knew kids liked them. DS has an egg allergy so he can't have some bread. He enjoyed his pizza. He also liked the sushi dessert - it's a fun dessert made to look like sushi rolls -- he didn't really eat much of it but gave him something to play with while we ate our dessert! (sorry no photos of the kid's stuff)

I can't remember if my sonhad veggies too, but that reminds me of something that bugs me... the kids menus at restaurants really lack variety more than the usual pizza, pasta, or nuggets... some have grilled chicken or fish, but there's no vegetables! At every restaurant we ask for either beans or peas for our son and only about 1/2 could accomodate. How can a restaurant not have some veggies for kids? My son doesn't eat cake but he will make a meal out of a bowl of peas. Go figure...

Total cost = $178 (or 2 DDP credits per person) not including tip for 2 adults and 1 child. Last year was about the same price add the cost of a bottle of wine.

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