Review: California Grill at Disney World (2019)

This is an older review of the California Grill at Disney World. Some of the items in this review are still on the menu. Unfortunately, the restaurant now offers a prix fixe menu that requires guests to order multiple items instead of offering a wider range of choices. We also reviewed the 50th anniversary prix fixe menu at California Grill, which reflects this setup.

Disney’s California Grill has become my family’s favorite pastime in recent years. A meal here lets you experience Disney dining at its best. Additionally, dinner at California Grill offers a unique view of the nightly fireworks at Magic Kingdom.

In this review of California Grill, we’ll look at several dining experiences we’ve had to date at the Contemporary Resort’s signature restaurant. I’ll be the first to admit I am a bit biased about this particular restaurant. That’s because it’s my absolute favorite signature restaurant at Walt Disney World.

California Grill offers stunning views of the Magic Kingdom and the surrounding resort area. The food is also worth a dining reservation. The ever-changing seasonal menu keeps us coming back for fresh, exciting new dishes.

Since I wrote this initial review, I have returned often. And there have been no complaints. This dining experience keeps me longing to return for more. I doubt that will change. It’s just that good.

I hope this dinner review will encourage you to try a meal there! From the window-seat views of Seven Seas Lagoon to the high-quality cuisine, the entire experience always leaves us looking forward to returning.

This original review of California Grill covered a springtime dining experience. That meal was so good that I returned in the Fall to see if I would have the same experience. This review now reflects several updates and covers multiple meals at the restaurant. This gives me a chance to sample California Grill’s ever-changing menu, and I never want to miss an angle.

If I had to rate California Grill, it would be a 10 out of 10. And that’s considering over five to six dining experiences in the last few years. The restaurant is regarded as a signature dining location, or, as some might call it, fine dining.

The food is high-quality and prepared in an open-style kitchen. California Grill’s menu features fresh, unique ingredients. The service we have received at every meal has been exceptional. A special perk is the restaurant’s nightly fireworks viewing for anyone who has dined there that evening.

Disney’s California Grill has a muted color palette with bright pops of color. The restaurant’s design keeps your attention on the breathtaking views. The picture below shows that the shades are dropped at the beginning of the dinner service. As the sun begins to set, or if it rains, the shades will automatically rise.

The vibe at California Grill is also very modern and airy, keeping in line with the overall feel of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. You’ll notice a lot of golden-toned wood and white accents, like counters and tablecloths. The restaurant has clean lines that support the overall design.

Regarding service, we know several of the servers by name. That’s a testament to the restaurant and how good an experience we have had. One of our last servers was very knowledgeable about the menu, and I asked him his opinion on some items I had in mind.

If you enjoy fine dining, your server should be well trained. They can educate you on what you might be interested in ordering. I have tried many fabulous meals I never would have tried without a server’s guidance.

Disney’s California Grill Menu Items

The online menu is rarely accurate. You might preview the most up-to-date menu online an hour before your experience, then arrive and find a completely different menu.

I mention it because it’s been the case nearly every time I’ve dined here. Sure, some of the classics listed will always be there. However, I couldn’t decide what I wanted until I saw the actual menu at the restaurant.

We’ll start with the cocktail list. Disney’s California Grill has a signature cocktail list with several fun drink offerings. First, we have the Blackberry Sour. This drink comprises Ketel One Citron Vodka, house-made lemonade, and fresh blackberries. It tastes like pink lemonade; I don’t think anyone could consider this a strong drink. I enjoyed the drink, but I don’t think I would return to it, given the variety of options on the menu.

On another evening, I ordered the Ancho Rancho Spicy Margarita on my server’s recommendation.

This drink comprises Patron Añejo, Ancho Reyes Chili Liqueur, lime juice, and agave nectar. I have had this margarita several times at the California Grill and would order it again. It’s a fun play on a classic margarita with a hint of spice.

Disney’s California Grill offers a long list of appetizers and sushi. When I dine here, I like to order an appetizer and pair it with an additional sushi roll or flatbread. This makes for a wonderful meal and sometimes allows you to try more than one item, especially if you are on a budget.

The Market Strawberry Salad below is something I’ve had in the spring. The menu described the dish as–Plant City Strawberries, Pomegranate-Tarragon Vinaigrette, La Tur Cheese, and Pistachio Meringue.

I ordered this dish as an appetizer before my main course. This salad is a contender for one of the best salads I’ve ever had! It was visually appealing, and the strawberries were fresh and had a sweet tang.

The cheese was just AHHHHHH!-dissolve in your mouth, goodness. The coffee grinds gave the dish an unexpectedly sharp flavor and texture. The entire salad was divine and a perfect addition to California Grill’s long list of appealing appetizers.

Late summer brings peaches, and on a return visit, I ordered this peach salad. The chef had rotated this wonderful new salad onto the seasonal menu. It consists of fried goat cheese, candied pecans, summer greens, and a roasted cherry vinaigrette. This salad was another extremely well-composed dish. It’s simple and fresh, and the goat cheese adds the perfect texture.

When I visit, I look at the seasonal salad offering first. From past experience, I know it’s a winner.

California Grill’s Sonoma goat cheese ravioli is a menu signature. Save room for this dish. I tried it for the first time on my last visit, and it won’t be the last. The menu describes this item as tomato-fennel broth, crispy mushrooms, tiny basil, and Arbequina organic olive oil.

It’s one large ravioli, topped with the daintiest, crispiest mushrooms. The mushrooms reminded me of Tiffin’s Restaurant at the Animal Kingdom. When you break the pasta, goat cheese flows out and fills the soupy broth. It’s an experience in itself. My server suggested saturating some of the bread in the broth, so I didn’t miss a bite. He was right. It made a perfect combination.

I was so excited to share these items with you that I almost forgot to mention you will receive bread service. A nice loaf of bread and a wonderful olive oil dipping sauce are brought to the table.

Another specialty item at California Grill is its flatbreads. While I hesitate to add this item, I want to show you what their flatbreads typically look like. This particular flatbread is another seasonal menu item, the Corn and Carnitas. The restaurant is also known for making several different kinds of hand-formed pizzas cooked in a wood-burning oven.

The corn and carnitas pizza had a ton of flavor. Unfortunately, the meat that topped my pie was a little overcooked. No worries. They immediately fixed it and let me change my order.

Personally, this is the only time I’ve ever had any issues at the California Grill. I was very pleased with how promptly they handled the situation.

As you can see, the pizza has many fresh ingredients. During my visit, they confirmed they were having an issue with how it was prepared that evening.

Whether you want halibut or a fresh take on a vegan or plant-based meal, Disney’s California Grill has you covered on entree selections. I’ve enjoyed many wonderfully executed entrees there.

On his last visit, my son had the Oak-Fired Filet of Beef. This dish is another staple on the California Grill menu.

Per the menu, this dish is described as Crème Fraîche Mashed Potatoes, Jumbo Asparagus, Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette, and Triple Garlic Butter. As for the above preparation, it was for food allergies. So your dish might not look the same.

The chef always comes tableside and discusses the allergies when we visit. Then they asked my son what he wanted. After some discussion, they decided on a special order of potatoes made with olive oil and spices. That was accompanied by asparagus, and the filet was prepared in separate pans to avoid cross-contamination. The filet was cooked to a nice medium. He thoroughly enjoyed it, and we were pleased with the accommodation.

Disney’s California Grill is also known for its hand-rolled sushi preparations. I had my eye on the Sashimi and considered trying the Tuna Three Way. Sometimes, the choices are overwhelming. I don’t get to eat sushi often and was having trouble choosing. Again, I asked our server, and he suggested the New Moon Roll.

The New Moon Roll: Maine Lobster, Avocado, Barbecued Eel, Rice Pearls, Gochujang Dragon Sauce

It was scrumptious! I am ashamed to admit (not really) that I ate every single bite of this yummy dish. I would have earned a smiley-face sticker for cleaning my entire plate this evening. The barbecued eel is the seafood you see on top of the sushi, with the avocado and garnish. It had a sweet-and-sour-style barbecue sauce, and the meat had a thin, delicate texture.

The sushi roll was well composed, and it might be hard to beat flavor-wise. This is highly recommended. This California Grill dinner review would not be complete without a look at dessert. Dessert is a treat we usually don’t order while dining out. But if we were going to order something sweet, this is one of the few places we would do it.

This is the Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake-Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Milk Chocolate-whipped Panna Cotta, Cashew Clusters

When the server asked if we wanted dessert, I was at that “Why not?” point on this visit. I looked at the Strawberry Crème Brûlée on the menu because it sounded so good. But I was more in the mood for something chocolate.

The cake came out in the form of a pyramid, while the warm chocolate sauce was perfectly fanned on the plate. Another dish added texture and spark with coffee grounds. The accompanying Panna Cotta was smooth and whipped to fluffy perfection. Dessert was another resonating course that will not be long forgotten.

California Grill Dress Code

All of the signature dining restaurants operate with a formal dress code. Disney’s California Grill is no exception. Here’s an excerpt from Disney covering the dress code:

Magic Kingdom Fireworks from California Grill

I’m not always great at making it to the nightly fireworks, but I enjoy them even though they aren’t a dealbreaker. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been fortunate enough to attend so many fireworks viewings in my lifetime.

That said, I recommend returning for the evening fireworks at Disney’s California Grill. Or schedule a late meal so the fireworks can be part of your dining experience.

Return about fifteen minutes before the fireworks. Show your receipt, and you’ll be escorted by elevator back up to the restaurant’s observation deck.

Large decks line both sides of California Grill. The fireworks audio is streamed to the area through a speaker system. So you get a different viewpoint, but the audio makes it feel like you are standing inside Magic Kingdom Park.

You can also watch the fireworks from your table if they fall during your meal. The entire experience makes you feel special. It feels like you’re part of something distinct and rare.

Disney’s evening fireworks spectacular is exquisite in its own right. The show has many touching moments that can be pretty emotional. It can also be hard to see the fireworks inside the Magic Kingdom because of its popularity. Sitting at your table and taking it in casually feels almost surreal.

Final Thoughts

To summarize this California Grill review, it’s a must-do reservation. Eating here this evening reminded me of the last time I had an evening reservation and how much my life has changed since then.

I was also reminded of a time around Christmas (a year prior) when we walked up to the host stand and asked if we could eat in the California Grill Lounge area during the fireworks without a reservation. We were very fortunate to find a seat that night.

That evening included oysters, pizza, dessert, and indoor fireworks viewing. A bittersweet memory of Jiminy Cricket, as he said, “Home is where the heart is,” during the special Holiday Wishes fireworks.

Indeed, many of you reading this might understand that sentiment. California Grill is a classic favorite and a part of my Disney home. Maybe you can try it out sometime if you haven’t and see what I mean.

For more information about staying at Disney’s Contemporary, you might like the following:

• Disney’s Contemporary Resort Review
• Garden Wing Room Review at Disney’s Contemporary
• Bay Lake Tower Review
• Incredibles Room Review at Disney’s Contemporary

Be sure to visit our full collection of Disney Restaurant Reviews here on the site. Our Disney World Dining Guide is another excellent place to start. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.

In the Comments

I hope you have enjoyed this California Grill review and the updates! If you are looking for that special dining reservation on your next vacation, try it. Let me know your thoughts on dining here in the comments below.