California Grill - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

onthegoboomer

What I liked:
The location and views are amazing and truly beautiful. To be able to sit so high and view an amazing sunset and the castle at Magic Kingdom was an absolute joy! The service team were excellent and I give a shout out to Julia who took great care of us. I also liked how they had wine pairings for the food.
Our disappointment:
The food was average at best. I don’t know if we had an off night or what happened because we have heard so many phenomenal stories about this place but we didn’t experience it. The price fixe menu should afford the culinary staff to be on point with a select set of options but my ravioli was like warm at best. I loved the thin pasta and filling but it was hard to overcome the temperature. My husband’s salad was excellent and he loved the caper-looking balsamic pearls. My main entree was the scallops (3) and they too weee lukewarm. Flavorful and cooked to order but I prefer hot food. My husband ordered the lamb as his entree and he said it was dry and overcooked. In retrospect we should have sent the entrees back and requested them to be redone and if we go back I will be more mindful to ask for what I’m paying for, an excellent food experience as I’m sure they would have accommodated us.
The desserts were “okay” but not anything I found to be of “fine dining” quality.

Elena Christinne

After many years of wanting to go back, I was surprised by how noisy it was, definitely not the quiet atmosphere I expected. Normally, these restaurants are calm enough to enjoy your meal, it was just loud like the character experience, like that...

On the positive side, our server was incredibly sweet, patient, and accommodating, which made the experience more enjoyable.

The food was delicious overall, though my child found the steak a bit too salty and thought the kids’ dessert was overly sweet. I personally loved the ravioli, which was the highlight of the meal. Desserts were amazing, but by the time they arrived, we were already so full. The steak was like butter said my husband, but salty. We didn't like the mushroom mane appetizer at all but it was interesting.

For the price ($89 per person), I'd probably prefer Cítricos for the overall experience, but the view of the fireworks was truly spectacular and added something special, balancing out the cost and noise.

I liked it, but I probably wouldn’t go back.

Rayne Grimm

Jason was out server for the evening and was absolutely fantastic!

We were brought in quickly and given a wonderful table with a fantastic view of the castle. My lions mane roll was divine as was my blueberry lemon drop martini

Main course of steak was flavorful and melt in your mouth quality. They paused our courses so we coukd take in the fireworks which is amazing service.

Our desserts were works of art!

A wonderful experience and we will be back again

Alexander Whipp

Unforgettable Sip and Savor at California Grill

The Sip and Savor event at California Grill was an absolute highlight of our trip! The food options were nothing short of amazing, with a wide variety of beautifully prepared dishes that truly impressed us. The drink selection was equally fantastic, offering a perfect complement to the meal.

One of the best parts of the evening was the stunning view of the fireworks. Watching the show from the restaurant added a magical touch that made the whole experience unforgettable. If you’re looking for an upscale dining experience with incredible food, drinks, and a breathtaking view, this event is a must!

Morgan

One of my favorite places to eat in Disney. Great service and the food is so flavorful! My filet was cooked perfectly. We had a 7:05pm reservation which was perfect because when we were done with dessert we were able to go outside and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Such a great experience from start to finish

Zachary Peelman

One of my favorite restaurants that I visited in Orlando. Everything was delicious and well-prepared. Our waiter was extremely attentive (insisting even on refilling our glasses when I attempted to do so myself with the carafe). Our waiter was notified it noticed our anniversary pins and provided a complimentary anniversary dessert. The views of Magic Kingdom, and the Seven Seas Lagoon were breathtaking, especially as night fell. There is an outdoor observation platform on what appears to be the roof of the resort. As many have noted, this is one of the best places to view the Magic Kingdom fireworks that happen every night. Disney announces the fireworks, dims the lights, and pipes in the music and narration to the restaurant. All in all a magical experience. We were not seated at a window but could still see out them pretty well. For pictures I would recommend the outdoor observation deck. Reservations around fireworks time are difficult, but keep checking back—7:30 worked well for us, with fireworks starting at 9. The menu is Prix Fixe with a charge of $89 per person. You get 3 courses (one of which is dessert, as well as bread with a delicious oil-based accompaniment and probably the most beautifully sculpted butter I have seen outside the State Fair. I got the Goat Cheese Ravioli and Oak-fired Beef which were both great and substantial enough to be filling. I felt it was a great value and a memorable experience.

Shannon M

Awful service last night. I’ve eaten here a LOT times over the years, and it’s always been one of my favourite restaurants, but the menu has been getting less intriguing over the past 3 years ever since they switch to the preset menu. Portions also have gotten smaller.. we ended up getting food a couple of hours later.

We felt very rushed last night, and they were even bringing our next course before we finished the previous course…… didn’t even bother to clear the wine glasses from the table so it was very crowded. Also, had to wait for cutlery to eat for the main course? I expected better from a restaurant at that claims to be fine dining. Food flavours good, but that scallop entree is more like an appetizer.

Not sure if this place is worth the money anymore 🙁

We will try somewhere else next time we’re back at Disney. Such a shame..

Wendy Silva

Last night my son proposed to my future daughter in law at Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s California Grill Rooftop Restaurant. It was a beautiful night and the staff at the restaurant were all in this special, surprising moment. A special thank you to Erin and Elizabeth for taking care of every detail. The firework display view was unforgettable and so was the food. Thank you everyone, including the bartender who took amazing photos. ✨?✨