California Grill Lounge Review
This post reviews our experience at the California Grill Lounge, which is really just an area in the middle of the restaurant with a different style of tables and chairs that doesn’t require reservations. Like California Grill itself, the lounge is a Signature Restaurant participating in the Disney Dining Plan. It also accepts the Tables in Wonderland card for a 20% discount or Annual Pass/Disney Vacation Club membership for a 10% discount.
The lounge, along with the bar, is often used as a waiting area for guests who have Advance Dining Reservations at California Grill but want to grab a quick drink and light bite before their meal. Unlike a lot of lounges at Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts, this really isn’t a distinct lounge. It’s the same menu and same restaurant, just perhaps a bit more laid back, I guess?
A reasonable alternate title for this review would be, “Sarah & Tom Are Too Cheap For California Grill’s Dinner Menu, So They Just Order Appetizers.” Not quite as concise, but still true. We hadn’t been to California Grill in a while, and we’ve been craving that ambiance. We decided to do the lounge instead of the main dining room(s).
One reason we like the lounges at Signature Restaurants is because they enable us to do these light, appetizer-centric meals without feeling guilty about occupying a table with an ADR. We’d recommend a similar strategy to anyone (not just for California Grill, but for other Signatures, as well) who is not on the Disney Dining Plan. If you are on the Dining Plan, you’re better off making an ADR and getting the full experience, as California Grill and California Grill Lounge are both 2-credit establishments.
Since appetizers are not on the (standard) Disney Dining Plan, you’ll find that their prices are not as inflated to provide the illusion of value to Dining Plan guests. Additionally, we’ve found that chefs get more creative and ambitious with any items that are outside of the Dining Plan. This means that the value for money is typically the best with appetizers.
Along with dining at lower-priced table service restaurants, this is one of several strategies we employ when not using the Disney Dining Plan to maximize our Walt Disney World restaurant experiences while keeping costs in check. (We should probably do a full post on that sometime.)
Much of California Grill’s menu changes seasonally, so if you’re not visiting in the near future, the food section of this review might have limited value to you.
In any event, the first item we ordered was the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli. This has been on the menu since California Grill first opened, and we’ve heard numerous rave reviews of it.
We had some hesitation about ordering a single ravioli at this price point, but it did not disappoint. The tomato broth provided a great complement to the ravioli, and the mushrooms and cheese (on top) provided the perfect texture.
Along with that, we also ordered was the Duck Confit Flatbread. You’ll notice this item is not currently listed on the California Grill menu online, and this is not because it’s gone already–this is brand new and that menu just hasn’t been updated, I guess.
This flatbread was extraordinary–one of the best things we’ve ever had at Walt Disney World. It is worth making a special trip to California Grill just for this. The duck confit on here was generous, and the walnuts, goat cheese, arugula, and other toppings melded to provide a complex flavor unlike any other flatbread I’ve had at Walt Disney World (or anywhere, for that matter).
We enjoyed this flatbread so much that we actually ordered another after our first round of appetizers: the Roasted Tomato Flatbread. Initially, we considered this, but questioned the value of a tomato flatbread.
These tomatoes were juicy and bursting with flavor–cooked just long enough to enhance their flavor without drying them out. They were shockingly good. The goat cheese, arugula pesto, and aged balsamic rounded out the flatbread nicely. It was light, but still substantial.
Overall, the California Grill Lounge exceeded our expectations. We went in hoping for a light, late night snack that would allow us to experience of California Grill without as high of a price tag as a full meal, and it delivered. We left satisfied and full from appetizers that were delicious–and worthy of California Grill’s reputation–at a fraction of the price a full meal would’ve cost. It did make us want to return to California Grill for a “full” experience sometime in the near future (likely the ‘Brunch at the Top’), but as a standalone experience at a lower price point, the Lounge at California Grill was perfect.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about California Grill? Have you dined here since the refurbishment a few years ago? Tried the lounge or wine menu? Any order recommendations of your own to add? Thoughts on the ambiance? Share any questions or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
I have to agree with Kate. I do believe the karma reference was a bit dramatic, but this is Disney! My husband and I have taken our kids to carthay circle lounge in Disney’s California adventure many times. It’s our favorite place to eat at Disney! Gives us a nice break from the day and it’s cheaper than eating at the full restaurant. We usually eat there on the earlier side, but I have never felt out of place. My kids color nicely while waiting for food. If you want a kid free environment, probably choose somewhere other than Disney!!
I’m so glad that I read your review. We will be arriving tomorrow afternoon [June 30] but our son, who works at Chefs do France, couldn’t get off [he usually works a double]. The Cali Grill had been on our bucket list for more than 15 years; my son suggested that the lounge is the way to go. Do you recall an “Allergies” menu? [my husband has celiac so we have to be very careful]. Thanks!
Are all the California Grill pizzas all flatbreads now? We’ll be a party of 6 and I was trying to figure out of they are flatbreads like in your photo or pizzas that only have 4 slices.
What other lounges should we hit on our October 2019 trip ? I’ve added CG to the list and thought we would snack one night and see new places. What other restaurants have lounges like this we can sample the menu and not have an ADR.
I’ve been fortunate to visit WDW many times as an adult and I always made (note past tense) to visit the California Grill Lounge for a meal. It was much easier than getting a reservation and I could view Wishes (so long Wishes!). However, after my last visit I will not return.
California Grill was one of the few places on Disney property where you could have an upscale dining experience and I appreciated that about it. I get that in the parks a casual dress code is necessary and that’s totally fine, but CG always had a dress code that was well enforced. Sadly this seems to no longer be the case as on my last visit in 2016 there were many guests in t-shirts, ripped jeans, flip flops, etc… I asked the bartender about the lack of dress code enforcement and he kinda shrugged. Not 1 minute later he’s talking to other guests who are wearing t-shirts and I hear one guest say “Well if he doesn’t want to see people in t-shirts, maybe he should leave.” That was the final straw for me.
Tom you mentioned ambiance and sadly, I believe CG has lost much of its. I guess Victoria and Albert’s is the last place to have a fine dining experience at WDW.
This is something we’ve noticed at Signature Restaurants for a while now, and seems to be getting worse as the Disney Dining Plan gets bigger. During our visit, I was actually pleasantly surprised by the attire of other guests. (Granted, it was almost 10 p.m.)
Consider either dining late, or going to the Grand Floridian Signature Restaurants. Those seem to be better in that regard, in our experience. (I strongly suspect Coronado Springs will be adding a Signature Restaurant; I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not on the Disney Dining Plan and offers a very high end experience…but you’ll have to wait until 2019 for that!)
Unfortunately this doesn’t seem to be a problem exclusive to Disney. My wife and I have been to upscale dining establishments where people were dressed the way you described.
It’s not even a recent phenomenon either. We went on a dinner cruise about 15 years ago. When I made the reservation the reservationist made a point of telling me the dress code for men was a sport coat and slacks.
When we got on the boat we saw one man wearing a sleeveless v-neck sweater, with no shirt underneath, and shorts. Another guy was wearing jeans and flip flops. It was the last time we took the cruise.
It’s sad really that we’ve become such slobs (it was bad when I saw teenagers wandering the mall in their pj’s, but I saw an adult man doing it recently). Unfortunately, dress code went out the window in the 1970’s, and has been going downhill ever since.
Tom I really appreciate your posts, and I think that one about eating strategies while not on the Disney Dining Plan like you mentioned would be a great idea!
Oh, man, I hope that duck flatbread sticks around through April!
Tom, I went to Crew’s cup on Saturday 2/18 to enjoy that tremendous burger. They’ve changed it. They have added some bells and whistles, check out the menu. It is still very good and they claim the meat is a signature blend. I believe you can still get the old version. The cost is now $18 for the new burger.
My husband and I had a late fireworks timed ADR at the California Grill last fall but scored a window side lounge table when we were given our pager so we just stayed out for our meal. We did something similar to what you guys did – ordered a flatbread, an app, and a sushi roll. We had a great meal as well without ordering $60 entrees.
This was a date night for us – my mom was back in the room with our sleeping 2 1/2 year old. I can’t imagine bringing him to a signature restaurant and we were surprised at the amount of strollers and toddlers making their way through the restaurant at 9/10:00, but it didn’t detract from our experience. We just noted, wow I’m glad our son is at home and in bed so we can enjoy this $20 sushi roll without worrying about what he’s doing or eating. While we have kids with us, we’ll stick to places we like but are still more family friendly. We can eat decently at Disney with our kids at places like Via Napoli that are tasty and fun but won’t break the bank or anyone else’s romance.
I’m all for well behaved kids in nice restaurants, and think giving them an iPad or phone to entertain themselves with is a perfectly acceptable way to prolong your evening. However, I don’t think children have any business in a bar/lounge, Disney or not.
Haven’t dined there, but I’m loving the bokeh in those pics. Which lens did you use?
I never thought of using the lounge, probably because of having four kids. We’re you able to notice if tables therein would accommodate parties of six? Would like to hear of other lounges you thought delivered like California Grill.
I never thought of eating in the lounge. Do you recall if a party of six would fit? I have no knowledge of the amount of tables in the lounge area.
My wife and I really like California Grill quite a bit. They’ve always provided excellent meals and excellent service. I’m quite the fan of their bison fillet. We’ve watched Wishes more than a time or two from the outdoor areas flanking the Grill.
I believe this was the first restaurant we ever experienced the Mickey Mouse head confetti laid out on the table. Maybe that’s what made it so enchanting for me personally.
Excellent review, thank you! We are planning a visit and have elected not to use the dining plan. I would love a post detailing how to maximize Walt Disney World restaurant experiences while keeping costs in check.
So how do you get up the elevator without a reservation?
Just tell them you want to dine at the lounge or bar. As long as it’s not full, they let you up.
Thanks! I think we might try this next time!
If you are at the California Grill Lounge at the right time can you view the MK fireworks, just as if you were to make an ADR at California Grill, or is it on a completely other side of the building? I’ve never been to the Contemporary so I’m trying to visualize. Thanks!
You can see the fireworks from the lounge. We had a window table and some of the blue bokeh (out of focus dots) behind the food photos are Space Mountain.
Genuinely curious, not at all snarky question: On our first trip to WDW four years ago, DH and I dined at CG with our three kids, then 14, 9 and 6 years old. You’ll have to take my word for it, but the kids didn’t behave any differently than adults – ate, chatted, etc. It wasn’t a case of us getting lucky, either – I had zero doubt that they would behave appropriately (and would not have brought them when they were younger).
So, on to the question: Does the mere presence of kids ruin the experience for others?
I can’t speak for others, but for me: no. There are a lot of kids who are perfectly well-behaved (better than some adults, in fact) who are at-home in fine dining establishments.
Unfortunately, I guess, age is often a reliable proxy for maturity, and having an age restriction is the most manageable way of maintaining a more refined/mature atmosphere.
I can definitely see why an age restriction could be warranted at CG. Even as a parent, out of control kids in a ‘nice’ restaurant are at the top of my pet peeves list. I guess I assumed that because I knew my kids would be ok that others wouldn’t be bothered by their presence, but then again even I’ve had that ‘uh oh’ reaction when seated near kids I don’t know.
I’m a mom of 2 (8 &5) and really wouldn’t mind a few more places at WDW being adult only. My husband and I spent a couple days sans kids at Disney last year and visited Territory Lounge and Crew Cup Lounge. I don’t think I’d hesitate to drop in to either of those with my kids for some soup or burger and a beer. But we also stopped by trader sams ( didn’t stay- too loud) and had a drink at the Outer Rim. I don’t think I’d take the kids to either as they felt much more bar-like. I think banning kids from signature restaraunts as a general rule is tricky. I’m currently planning a trip this year and was looking at CG and Artists Point. My kids are very well – behaved (feel like a douche saying it , but it’s true) so I would hate to miss an opportunity to try amazing meals when I know they wouldn’t have any problems. Having said that I also get that kids and certain atmospheres don’t mix. It would be complicated but I wonder if they could just pin point some of the more refined dining experiences and more bar-like bars from which to ban kiddos. I would hate a blanket – ban from all signature dining and lounges when some of those restaraunts are plenty kid- friendly. Or, maybe a dinner ban would work well to leave lunch options open for ppl with kids. Had lunch at Brown Derby last month and honestly nothing about that experience said “refined”. Rain-drenched tourists in yoga pants eating hamburgers and Cobb salad does not a fine dining experience make. There is really no reason kids shouldn’t be allowed there. I don’t know. It’s tricky territory in my opinion.
Therein lies the issue. Those with well-behaved, or slightly older, children are probably the most cautious about venturing into signature restaurants and lounges. I personally don’t think they should hesitate. Others with a “I’m on vacation/anything goes mentality,” don’t hesitate to head to these restaurants since they’ll “never see any of these people again.” However, I’ve seen raucous groups of adults make a lot more noise and commotion than families of 4 enjoying a nice, quiet meal together, and frankly more noise than rowdy families, too.
Great post Tom. I wasn’t aware that you could even get on the elevators without a dining reservation! We went recently for the full meal experience. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about both the food and wine menu, made plenty of recommendations when we had questions etc., I would say it was some of the best service we had at any of the signature restaurants. Although, with that price tag, you should expect it. With that being said, we were looking for a romantic ambiance, was supposed to be “the nicest dinner reservation we had” on our trip, and we were slightly disappointed. The placed was running rampant with children. Actually had a mother ask if I minded that her 4 yr old sit next to me at the bar…really? Also saw one of the white tablecloths totally ruined, with what I can only describe as a “hand painting made of food.” My next comment will probably receive lash back from guests with children, but as non-parent adults, I think Disney should strongly consider making some of the more expensive signatures a child-free zone!
I have very strong feelings about the presence of kids at Signature Restaurants and bars at Walt Disney World, but I don’t typically share them here as some parents don’t like to hear that kids shouldn’t be welcome *everywhere* at Walt Disney World.
It works on Disney Cruise Line, so I don’t see why it couldn’t work at Walt Disney World. (At the very least, make certain hours adults-only.) As WDW continues to try attracting more business, convention, and high-end clientele, I think at some point they will have to address this.
I’m not welcome everywhere as an adult…ahem ahem Dumbo waiting area playground, I’m looking at you….we should have a place for our own as well.
I agree with you! I was amazing to see the amount of kids in the bars and lounges when we went in October. Now, I don’t mind children in restaurants if they are will behaved. When I was little and went out to eat with my parents, I was told to act right or we would be going home. Now, I know that this is Disney and it is Kidcentric, but that doesn’t mean you should let your child run wild around the place while you sit there ignore them, or lazily act them to stop with no real meaning behind it. Adult only places would be lovely, as now that I am an adult, I feel like I experience Disney differently (especially since I am paying of it). And I would love some areas to myself.
As a parent of two and one more on the way, I honestly don’t understand why a parent would WANT to take their child in to a Signature Restaurant or bar at Disney World. The Kids Clubs on property are an awesome alternative. We dropped our sons off at Lilo’s Playhouse this past summer while we went to California Grill. The $55/per child cost was very much worth the 8 hours they could be there, along with entertainment, kid-friendly dinner and snack provided. We felt it worth every penny to enjoy a quiet meal for just the adults!
So, as a mother of two well behaved, not too little kids (6, 9) this review and this one: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/crews-cup-lounge-review/ would be why I’d want to take them to a lounge in particular. We can enjoy delicious food for not too big of a price. Of course, I’m a local so we don’t do as much in one day to wear the kids out, and they are big enough that they aren’t going to finger paint or be particularly loud. And, if we did take them to a lounge (haven’t yet–been trying to decide if it was appropriate!) it would be for an early dinner or late lunch to avoid a crowd.
I’m curious how many people feel that kids shouldn’t be allowed certain places. In general, I would be sad to have to miss out on the not too expensive delicious food, but I also wouldn’t be offended if they weren’t allowed. There’s lots of things they can’t do until they’re older.
Michelle – With regard to Crew’s Cup in particular, you’re pretty much fine any time, especially early. It’s not a refined place nor is it inherently ‘adult’. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s a family-friendly sports bar, but I wouldn’t think twice about seeing kids in there.
I don’t have a desire to visit a lounge with my daughter, but why wouldn’t I want to eat at a Signature restaurant? I’m had a couple of the best meals of my life at Jiko.
We’ve eaten at “nice” restaurants at home with my daughter since she was a child and she knows how to behave in a restaurant. There is no reason we shouldn’t do the same on vacation. Kids does not equal running around screaming, it’s just one more person sitting at a table eating their food.
Thanks for the feedback Tom, that review made the lounge a really want to try for me 🙂
You are clearly a non-parent adult based on these comments, but I can’t blame you, because I sounded a lot like you before I actually had kids. If you do have kids in the future, just be aware that the karma you’re putting out there will come back around to bite you hard, as it did me, when you have your own kids and they are making “hand paintings made of food” before your very eyes! All that said, while I understand that adults would like non-kid places to dine at Disney, I think there are a couple things that non-parents need to understand: 1) this is DISNEY (c’mon, you can’t go to Disney and not expect to find children), and 2) parents of relatively well-behaved kids, who choose to dine at signature restaurants for lunch or early dinner, should not be chastised for that choice. Just my two cents.
Kate,
Come on, “the karma you’re putting out there will come back around to bite you hard.” A bit dramatic, don’t you think? I am a parent of four children from 12 to newborn, and I don’t find anything offensive about the comments. In fact, they are very reasonable. Take a breather and everything should be ok 😉