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Post by donalddork on Aug 30, 2023 20:16:24 GMT -5
Over the years I have had a love / hate relationship with California Grill. When it's good, it's great. But when it's bad, it's awful. I've had great servers and I've had not-so-great servers (the ones who constantly try to upsell you and make you look cheap in front of everyone at the table). I long for the old days of sitting at the sushi bar and watching the legendary world-class sushi masters do their thing. I haven't seen them there since early 2020. It was great to see my daughters enjoy the "sushi" dessert of gummy fish and rice krispy treats. In addition, one of the bartenders - 'Steva' is his name - has been there for a very long time and makes a great Cosmopolitan.
My last visit was March 2023 and it had the covid-era "prix fixe" menu (a fancy phrase for 'you will pay a lot and we will give you whatever we decide to give you') which now is $89++ (plus tax, plus gratuity) per head.
I am not cheap. I am happy to pay for what I want and what I get. But I don't want an appetizer (part of "prix fixe") and I avoid sugar so I also don't want dessert (again, part of "prix fixe"). All I want is some great sushi and a couple of glasses of whiskey while I'm there. I'm pretty sure I'd spend $89++ on that.
So after that rant, my question is this: does anyone know if I can just (no reservation) go early up to the bar area and avoid the prix fixe and just get my sushi and whiskey at the bar or at those tables next to the bar? I am happy to tip well, but I just want what I want there, and I think Disney is killing the golden goose with this prix fixe thing.
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Post by tomandrobin on Aug 31, 2023 4:24:04 GMT -5
Unfortunately, no. You can sit at the bar and order drinks and a cheese board, but that's it. I hear you..... we love Cali Grill, but have not been back since it changed to a fixed price menu. You can blame this on two things.....1) Disney greed and 2) social media showing people how to hack the system just so the can watch fireworks.
Go to Kona at the Poly, they have lots of sushi options.
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Post by captjacksfamily on Aug 31, 2023 6:54:25 GMT -5
Unfortunately, no. You can sit at the bar and order drinks and a cheese board, but that's it. I hear you..... we love Cali Grill, but have not been back since it changed to a fixed price menu. You can blame this on two things.....1) Disney greed and 2) social media showing people how to hack the system just so the can watch fireworks. Go to Kona at the Poly, they have lots of sushi options. Unfortunately I agree that a lot of restrictions and policies that we don't like are brought on by us the guest searching out ways to beat the system, which has only gotten worse with social media broadcasting "how to beat the system" videos. You know that CMs are now aware of and act carefully knowing that anything nice they do for you can be on social media within minutes and then they'll have guest coming up trying to get the same perk. As far as the prefix menus go I understand the restaurants trying to be sure the tables turn the expected bill, personal I would rather see them set a minimum bill per guest than use a prefix menu. While the prefix menu probably has the desired results it will lead to addition food waste as not everyone will (or should) eat everything they are served. When we go out it is common that I will get a salad and an app for my meal but we would typically order alcoholic drinks or a nice bottle of wine so I would guess our overall bill would definitely meet any minimums that would be on the table while we would eat and drink the way we wanted. It is also not just the popular fireworks views that have issues; we were at the boat house bar having lunch on a fairly busy day and a group of five came in and took one of the first come first served tables outside by the bar. They all carried in to go bottles from Home Coming filled with various colored drinks. They ordered one drink in a martini glass and 5 continued drinking from the bottles they brought. They were there for almost an hour and the one martini was all they ordered. I would say they were taking advantage of nice seat on the lake and the server and restaurant probably didn't see near the income they expect from that table for an hour. |
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Post by bakerworld on Aug 31, 2023 8:32:50 GMT -5
The one Prefix menu we really enjoyed was at Cinderella's Castle. Very nice meal which included the tip, which we added to because the server was running around like a chicken, still being nice and even arranged chairs at a nearby table to a small child who fell asleep.
Haven't been to the Cali Grill in 30 years. They made DH wear a suit jacket over his tee at lunch. POP! LOL.
We're gonna try walking up to Topolina's in September. I doubt it will go well but I'll force the issue just because we're gonna be there one night pre-cruise.
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Post by brp on Aug 31, 2023 10:01:01 GMT -5
Unfortunately, no. You can sit at the bar and order drinks and a cheese board, but that's it. I hear you..... we love Cali Grill, but have not been back since it changed to a fixed price menu. You can blame this on two things.....1) Disney greed and 2) social media showing people how to hack the system just so the can watch fireworks. Go to Kona at the Poly, they have lots of sushi options. Unfortunately I agree that a lot of restrictions and policies that we don't like are brought on by us the guest searching out ways to beat the system, which has only gotten worse with social media broadcasting "how to beat the system" videos. I had not thought of this angle here, but you both make good sense on this. I had just looked at this in regard to the general trend of "eat too much, pay too much" (and that is surely there). But there is undoubtedly "our" component as well.
We did go there to watch the fireworks when we went, but not as a scam. We paid good coin for our meal and felt that we had earned the view. But I'm not above gaming the system, so I get it.
There are other great places to visit at WDW and, while we will miss Cali Grill, we're over it 
Cheers.
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Post by Eli's Nana on Aug 31, 2023 10:32:27 GMT -5
With all the changes to the dining policies, the conversion to prix fixe menus and the more limited bar menus, I have to say we spend far less money eating at Disney establishments. While we certainly don't expect Disney to cater to our preferences, it has been our habit (when it's just the two of us) to eat in the bars and share (which almost always includes a bottle of wine and an after dinner bourbon for my DH). We still rack up a decent bill, but we don't need to eat that much food. We have adapted but we do miss the ability to be spontaneous and casual. Just one more thing we have had to get used to I guess, but Disney could be getting a lot more of our vacation dollars.
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Post by brp on Aug 31, 2023 10:34:37 GMT -5
With all the changes to the dining policies, the conversion to prix fixe menus and the more limited bar menus, I have to say we spend far less money eating at Disney establishments. While we certainly don't expect Disney to cater to our preferences, it has been our habit (when it's just the two of us) to eat in the bars and share (which almost always includes a bottle of wine and an after dinner bourbon for my DH). We still rack up a decent bill, but we don't need to eat that much food. We have adapted but we do miss the ability to be spontaneous and casual. Just one more thing we have had to get used to I guess, but Disney could be getting a lot more of our vacation dollars. Try the Happy Hour at STK in DS. Weekdays only, I believe, but it is superb for this sort of this as this is what we do.
Also, Polite Pig (also in DS) has an extensive Bourbon bar.
Cheers.
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Post by Eli's Nana on Aug 31, 2023 10:42:12 GMT -5
Oh, that's right! I had seen you recommend STK before and I forgot all about it. Thanks for the reminder, and the pointer to Polite Pig!
Some new things to try on our next trip! Thank you!
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Post by Brian5581 on Aug 31, 2023 15:14:12 GMT -5
Yep, agreed on both the complaints about and the valid reasons behind the prix fixe. I also would be just fine with a minimum spend per diner (even if I was charged "double occupancy" at times, ha). But let me order what I want to order.
And please bring back the brunch!
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Post by bigbahamadada on Aug 31, 2023 15:49:33 GMT -5
Agree with all that has been said . . . very sad to see Cali go from interesting and varied to the exact opposite. I've tried the new format twice and won't be back until it's gone.
It doesn't have the same logistical benefits, but Tiffin's (and Nomad is right there with it if you want to go lighter) is my current favorite on property. Solid bar offerings as well.
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Post by johnb on Aug 31, 2023 16:27:23 GMT -5
Agree with all that has been said . . . very sad to see Cali go from interesting and varied to the exact opposite. I've tried the new format twice and won't be back until it's gone. It doesn't have the same logistical benefits, but Tiffin's (and Nomad is right there with it if you want to go lighter) is my current favorite on property. Solid bar offerings as well. We love Tiffins. Its in my top three, with Jaleo and Flying Fish. As for CG, we've been thee twice in the last year. The prix fixe is a hassle. I just don't eat that much food anymore. I think if you order wisely you can avoid feeling like you need to be wheelbarrowed out after dinner (like I did the first time). But...we did really enjoy both dinners there. Service was good, not great/wow. I'd give service a solid B. We had good views both times (window-side tables). The food was excellent. Solid A. |
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Post by donalddork on Aug 31, 2023 18:46:34 GMT -5
My last trip was over 4th of July and we dined at Narcoossee's for the first time.
Take it from someone who's been to California Grill 20+ times, Narcoossee's is the place to go now if you're on the Monorail.
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Post by disney54us on Aug 31, 2023 19:57:59 GMT -5
I didn’t realize it went to a pre fixed menu and pricing. Haven’t been there for years, I’m thinking 05 our daughters bday and night before our first cruise. We had ADR’s but there was a wait, so we had great seats near the window in the bar area, ordered apps and drinks. I will say I thought I would come up here to sit in the bar and order drinks and apps and watch the fireworks. We all had full dinners when our table was ready. I’m not sure if was me or Mr. That had the braised short ribs, I think him and we had filets. I wasn’t impressed with the short ribs, a bit too much fat. Yes short ribs are fatty, but you trim and when it’s done cooking, you trim and get rid of stringy pieces. So at most, I wasn’t wowed even back then. When food quality and signature restaurants at Disney was supposed to be just that.
I don’t care for desserts, so not having the option to order what I want, depending on what I’m in the mood for. Wouldn’t work for me.
I always loved TIW, 20% off including alcohol. No snack credit, desert credit etc. to keep track of.
Would have no issue that dining was just that, dining. The idea of having a minimum $ amount as long as it was for table of two, 3, etc. the price was braces on I would be fine with.
Agree that social media has contributed to the ruination of many things. The ‘tricks of the trade’ with thousands of views.
Our first two stays was at the Poly in the Hawaii concierge building, first floor direct view of the castle and right past the lawn to the beach to watch the parade of lights. Thanks to the internet, forums, social media etc. everyone learned book o’hanna and crowd the beach to watch the fireworks, that music was piped in. Back then my daughter and I would stroll to the main lobby shops, now it’s a freakin zoo. Gone are the days that the beaches were for resort guests. There use to be hammocks hanging between the trees, my kids loved.
When I read one year, over July 4th they had the beach cordoned off for guests only. I was happy to read that but at the same time sad. It was never that way years prior. You get what you pay for your stay. We spent a lot of money to stay in those rooms. Those were the perks that came with the accommodations. Sorry I’m not spending almost $600 p/night back then. To have a overcrowded beach for someone who is not staying there and paying $100 plus a night.
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Post by tomandrobin on Sept 1, 2023 5:38:06 GMT -5
Gonna also recommend polite pig for a great selection of whiskey in WDW.
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Post by tomandrobin on Sept 1, 2023 5:39:33 GMT -5
My last trip was over 4th of July and we dined at Narcoossee's for the first time. Take it from someone who's been to California Grill 20+ times, Narcoossee's is the place to go now if you're on the Monorail. Narcossee's has always been one of our top choices for dining. |
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