“This Pains Me to Give a Restaurant a Lower Rating But…” — Disney Fan Shares Disappointing Review at Popular Hotel Restaurant

Now, you’ve got a lot of restaurants to chose from when it comes to the Disney World Resort hotels, but any of them like California Grill?

Now, there are a lot of you that are fans of the restaurant, but that being said, not everyone has the warm fuzzies for it. A recent review from a fan left us with the impression that they regretted their experience, so let’s find out what happened!

As we were saying, one of our readers recently left a review of California Grill, and it’s pretty clear that they regretted eating there (and wouldn’t go back).

Let’s dive into what they shared.

Here’s what they said:

“The view and watching the fireworks was the best part. Beautiful view! The hostess was also very sweet and helpful. I really appreciated her. (Checkin area)

We had coffee for our beverage(I was surprised that it was not included in the price :/.. or this was not explained to us)

We got the surf and turf sushi/ravioli, Halibut/Sweet potato Gnocchi; Hazelnut chocolate/Apple Carmel Tart.

appetizers: husband liked the surf and turf but nothing special he said; I enjoyed the ravioli and it was the best part of the meal.
Main: The Halibut was good but husband felt like it was not as fresh as it should have been. The gnocchi was way too sweet. It was sweet potato on sweet potato and the crispy bits tasted burnt/dry. I only ate a few bites and our waiter took it away without asking about me not eating it ..

Dessert: the Carmel apple tarts was very very good and the chocolate was too (but husband said it was a little too rich (and he loves chocolate)

Our waiter seemed rushed and he seemed a little frustrated that we didn’t order faster. I’m sure he was just over worked. It was Christmas Eve but coupled with not enjoying the meal and the shock of being charged $30 for coffee (10 each plus a refill that he asked if we wanted and I said yes not realizing it would be another $10) it was the best coffee we had had in property though.

It was a one and done unfortunately and makes me not want to try any of the other more expensive dinning experiences on property 🙁”

On top of those thoughts, they even rated the restaurant 5 out of 10 stars, which is a pretty rough score for a restaurant that typically scores very well. The reader also went on to list the pros and cons as they saw them.

Pros:

• • Fireworks viewing

Cons:

• • Food/server 🙁

In their conclusion, their experience just didn’t justify the cost and the time they spent. And because of that, they might not ever try any of the other more expensive restaurants on the property.

Our Thoughts on California Grill

If you’re looking to have a top-tier meal in Disney World AND for it to have a killer view, well, there really aren’t many places better than California Grill.

The level of quality in the ingredients is always top-notch, and they’re full of flavors you might not have expected, but you’ll find them to be mouthwateringly delicious. Honestly, we’ve enjoyed everything we have tried there. That all being said, this is a pricey meal, so if you’re on a budget, you’ll want to steer clear, but it is a wonderful place for a special occasion.

And those fireworks views are astounding.

So, if you want to check out California Grill, here is our list the pros and cons as we saw them.

Pros:

• • This is THE special meal for your special occasion. 
  • You can catch Magic Kingdom fireworks view, but you can’t experience them as perfectly as you can here. 
  • The food is top-tier and the flavors are always on point. 

Cons:

• • Your budget will be demolished here.
  • If you’re a picky eater, the food can definitely be out of your comfort zone. 
  • This is not a “quick” service. You’ll be here for hours.

Is It Worth the Money?

Well, that’s a tough one. At the end of the day, the “value” of California Grill is going to depend on your expectations, the budget you have, and if it’s a major “bucket list” item for you. We’ll let you make the decision.

In the meantime, keep it right here at AllEars and we’l keep you updated on all the latest Disney news!

Should You Spend Over $100 For Dinner at This Restaurant in Disney World?

Have you eaten at California Grill? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

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