California Grill Poor Food Quality?

[HairyChest]

I didn't watch the whole video but he also said a previous time he had ordered steak and it was juicy at medium week and he could cut it with a fork. Not many steaks you could cut with a fork, most likely it was filet. This video definitely doesn't look like filet, not sure what it was supposed to be.

Its a filet. Thats the only cut they offer. I do agree it looks subpar/mediocre.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Its a filet. Thats the only cut they offer. I do agree it looks subpar/mediocre.

They do also offer a Wagyu Strip Loin for a $47 supplement. That may be what it is.

 

[HairyChest]

They do also offer a Wagyu Strip Loin for a $47 supplement. That may be what it is.

It’s definitely not a wagyu. Their wagyu is a completely different presentation then any of their standard menu courses:

 

[westie55]

I go to California Grill every year and was most recently there in November 2023. Every single meal I've had there has been outstanding. I would not hesitate to dine there. I will definitely be back.

 

[samsp99]

Dinner tonight at the California Grill

that restaurant is on point!

food was amazing,

service amazing

the menu was really well designed, and balanced

it is worth the price

I had a very disappointing meal there in early December.
I thought the choice of appetizers was poor - its mostly sushi options and pizza - the latter did not rise to the level of an appetizer at that style of restaurant. It was too filling for a starter, and not that great.
I’m not going to talk about steak temp, my dissatisfaction was with the accompaniment - rather plain veg and a hunk of squash, that had just been roughly hewn and thrown in the oven - it seemed like no effort had been made.

Service was good, but the menu/food did not live up to previous visits.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

I had a very disappointing meal there in early December.
I thought the choice of appetizers was poor - its mostly sushi options and pizza - the latter did not rise to the level of an appetizer at that style of restaurant. It was too filling for a starter, and not that great.
I’m not going to talk about steak temp, my dissatisfaction was with the accompaniment - rather plain veg and a hunk of squash, that had just been roughly hewn and thrown in the oven - it seemed like no effort had been made.

Service was good, but the menu/food did not live up to previous visits.

i had that pizza, my wife had the sushi

both were really good

 

[heynowirv]

They need to stop with the 3 course we'll ick your 3 choice meals and go back to a whole menu.We were there in Oct.22'and it was good ,won't be back until the menu expands. Now our go rest. is Flying Fish.

 

[goofy4prez]

I wouldn't say the food is not good, it actually is. I just highly dislike California Grill going to a prix fixe menu, especially for a signature restaurant. And for that reason I am out.

 

[Chickenparmsandwich]

I had a very disappointing meal there in early December.
I thought the choice of appetizers was poor - its mostly sushi options and pizza - the latter did not rise to the level of an appetizer at that style of restaurant. It was too filling for a starter, and not that great.

I was there last week and had the same thought about the sushi and pizza apps. It was fine, and large but not great... and the pizza was similarly fine, but mostly just a whole personal-sized pizza with some interesting toppings. Imo both of these app genres seem like real poorly executed relics from the 90s Spago-era of "California cuisine" and should be either retired or massively upgraded.

The rest of our meal was great though, especially the venison and fish entrees.

 

[BeachMouse1]

We just ate there. The food was good but we didn’t care for the price fix menu. All the food was tasty but the other couple with us felt that for the price of the menu “gourmet pizza“ as an appetizer was not up to California Grill standards. I had the goat cheese ravioli which was excellent but the portion seemed smaller than last time. All of the portions were not huge and I expect that from a higher end restaurant. It was good but IMHO it’s not what the California Grill used to be. For that price point I would go Jiko or something like that. I will say the peanut torte dessert was amazing I could have eaten 4 of them

 

[heynowirv]

They need to stop with the 3 course we'll ick your 3 choice meals and go back to a whole menu.We were there in Oct.22'and it was good ,won't be back until the menu expands. Now our go rest. is Flying Fish.

As it was one of our go-to's for many years until Yoshi the Sushi chef retired, we were truly disappointed during the 50th celebration and they rolled out the price fix

 

[PPFlight75]

The food here is still very good but the switch to prix fixe is not appealing. We still tried it again once they switched but it is just too much food. I feel they moved off items that might slow down turnover like their awesome soufflé desserts and now moving the wontons to the bar menu or for an extra cost is just a jerk move in my opinion. We’re kind of done there for now unfortunately.

 

[MTP]

The food here is still very good but the switch to prix fixe is not appealing. We still tried it again once they switched but it is just too much food. I feel they moved off items that might slow down turnover like their awesome soufflé desserts and now moving the wontons to the bar menu or for an extra cost is just a jerk move in my opinion. We’re kind of done there for now unfortunately.

I'm a little late this this thread, but just returned from a WDW trip that included a family dinner at the Calfornia Grill. The prix fixe menu killed this place, which used to be great. Now, the food quality is mediocre, the portions are small, and the service is lacking, as the restaurant lives off of its reputation and location. Our sushi tasted fishy, the steaks were lukewarm, and the desserts were average at best. If you want a steak, go to Le Cellier. If you want seafood, go to Narcoosee’s. I can’t recommend this restaurant for anything, unfortunately, and it used to be one of the great dining spots at WDW. It’s a shame.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Will be eating here on the 4th of July after trying unsuccessfully to get an ADR for the 6:30 show at HDDR. As they say: one door opens as the other shuts.

Opted into a fireworks package with savory and sweet small bites and think it’ll be a nice intro to some of the dishes CG offers.

@MTP, sorry to hear you had such a dreadful time- what did the restaurant do about the fishy smelling sushi? Sounds like a serious health problem needing a lot of attention

 

[HairyChest]

I'm a little late this this thread, but just returned from a WDW trip that included a family dinner at the Calfornia Grill. The prix fixe menu killed this place, which used to be great. Now, the food quality is mediocre, the portions are small, and the service is lacking, as the restaurant lives off of its reputation and location. Our sushi tasted fishy, the steaks were lukewarm, and the desserts were average at best. If you want a steak, go to Le Cellier. If you want seafood, go to Narcoosee’s. I can’t recommend this restaurant for anything, unfortunately, and it used to be one of the great dining spots at WDW. It’s a shame.

Sad to hear this is still the case. Regarding Narcoosee’s, it was no good. Salmon was really salty and sauces/accompaniments were really yucky. I wonder if this quality downgrade is a resort wide issue?

 

[MTP]

Will be eating here on the 4th of July after trying unsuccessfully to get an ADR for the 6:30 show at HDDR. As they say: one door opens as the other shuts.

Opted into a fireworks package with savory and sweet small bites and think it’ll be a nice intro to some of the dishes CG offers.

@MTP, sorry to hear you had such a dreadful time- what did the restaurant do about the fishy smelling sushi? Sounds like a serious health problem needing a lot of attention

They offered another appetizer, but by then, the rest of my family had finished theirs [none of them had sushi] and were ready to move on. Then when we got our steaks, they were lukewarm. The entire night was a bust.

 

[MTP]

Sad to hear this is still the case. Regarding Narcoosee’s, it was no good. Salmon was really salty and sauces/accompaniments were really yucky. I wonder if this quality downgrade is a resort wide issue?

That's a bummer about Narcoosee's. We did eat at Le Cellier, which was good, although the portions are definitely smaller; the price [of course!] did not shrink, though.

 

[PetePanMan]

We haven’t had the salmon at Narcoosee’s but it has become our go to restaurant over the last couple of years. The blackened redfish and scallops with gnocchi are outstanding. Their calamari appy is also amazing. We dined with 3 different groups of people and they were all impressed. We still love CG as well but don’t like to be forced to have the pre-fixe.