At the very top of the Contemporary Resort you will find an award-winning restaurant that is arguably one of the most sought after dining reservations on Walt Disney World Property — The California Grill. This signature dining restaurant offers Pacific Coast inspired fine dining and unbeatable views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. We have been lucky enough to dine in this establishment a few times over the years, and it has always been a special occasion for us. Since the menu and ambiance makes for a romantic date night we decided to book a dinner here to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Read on to learn more about one of our favorite spots for a magical meal…
About the California Grill
Location
The first thing that comes to mind when people think of the California Grill is the location and views. Located on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort, the restaurant provides views of the Magic Kingdom, the Seven Seas Lagoon, the Grand Floridian Resort, the Polynesian Resort, and plenty of the surrounding Floridian wetlands. Looking at the above picture you can see the restaurant sits atop of the Contemporary Resort (the building on the right) with large windows all the way around to provide amazing views for the patrons. (In non-pandemic times it is one of the best spots to see the fireworks too!) Also with an onstage kitchen in the middle of the restaurant, guests can get a peek at the innovative chefs at work.
Reservations and Checking-In
Reservations for The California Grill are highly recommended and you can make them starting 60 days out. When you arrive at the resort the Check-In area is on the second floor of the resort. Once your party is called guests ascend to the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort via private elevator.
Dress Code
It is good to note that guests are asked to adhere to the minimum dress code requirements at this Signature Dining experience. Dressier attire is also welcome. Please explore the minimum dress code requirements:
Men must wear khakis, slacks or dress shorts and collared shirts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition. Sport coats are optional.
Women must wear Capri pants, skirts, dresses or dress shorts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition.
Not permitted are tank tops, flip-flops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, hats for gentlemen, cut-offs, torn clothing and t-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics.
We personally find a visit to California Grill is a great excuse to get a little dressed up for the night.
A view of the inside of The California Grill.
Colorful art is inspired by vintage Disney, yet still feels modern.
A look at the wide variety of wines available.
Our Table in the Monterey Room
During our most recent visit we are guessing that since it was our Anniversary we may have received some Pixie Dust. Instead of being sat in the main dining area we were instead led to a smaller, more private room off to the side called the Monterey Room. With a handful of tables it made for a quiet and lovely meal and being situated facing Bay Lake we had some slightly different views. We loved seeing the wetlands and the boats go by as the sun was setting. We could also see of in the distance more landmarks such as Disney Springs, Sea World, downtown Orlando, and just about everything else between us and the airport. We truly felt spoiled on this special night with a more intimate table that was decorated for the occasion with confetti. We were even greeted once sat with some complimentary champagne for a celebratory toast!
A view of the Monterey room with views to Bay Lake.
A view of our celebratory table.
Cheers to a special anniversary dinner.
A view from the Monterey room.
Menu
The California Grill incorporates fresh, seasonal ingredients and the international, melting-pot culture of the Golden State. While the dinner menu changes slightly seasonally, the menu usually includes a range of options such as high-quality meat, seafood, sushi, and brick-oven fired pizza. To complement the delicious menu, guests can complement their meals with selections of over 300 hand-picked wines—most of which are from California. As well as other signature cocktails and a full bar. Read on for more details of everything we enjoyed during our dinner celebration.
A view of our celebratory dining table.
California Grill Drink Menu Part 1 (Click to enlarge)
California Grill Drink Menu Part 2 (Click to enlarge)
Our Meal
BREAD SERVICE (complimentary)
Sour dough served with dipping oil
Andrew’s favorite bread is sour dough and we thought this was a perfect choice for a California inspired location. This fairly large loaf had a nice crust but was fluffy inside. The oil was flavorful and a great addition.
COCKTAIL: Ancho Rancho Spicy Margarita $15
Patrón Añejo Tequila, Ancho Reyes Chile Liquerur, Lime Juice, Agave Nectar
Julie loves Margaritas and a little heat and had to try this Margarita. It was a great blend of refreshing with a kick. The spicy rim and chili pepper garnish were a great addition too. It seemed a very fair price for a high quality cocktail too.
California Grill Bread Service
Ancho Rancho Spicy Margarita at the California Grill
APPETIZER: A Selection of Farmhouse and Artisanal Cheeses $23
Five Unique Cheeses with Accompaniments
We started the meal with a cheese board. (Because if a cheese board is on the menu Julie has to try it.) This board included a great selection of cheese with crackers and other additions like honey, fig, and tapenade. The cheeses were all amazing to try and included (from left to right):
Bayley Hazen Blue - from Japer Hill Farm
Purple Haze - goat milk cheese with wild fennel and lavender pollen from California
Lamb Chopper - mature gouda-style from the Netherlands
La Bonne Truffle Brie - made with black truffle, salt and Mascarapone
Beecher’s Flagship Reserve - award winning semi-hard cow’s milk cheese from Seattle
California Grill Cheese Selection
APPETIZER: Winter Squash Soup $16
Roasted Squash, Maple Biscotti, Whipped Brie, Candied Hazelnuts
Julie loves a good butternut squash soup and this one was devine. The soup was a nice creamy blend of flavors and came with a unique sweet biscotti topped with a beautiful presentation of cheese and nuts.
Winter Squash Soup
APPETIZER: Braised Beef Short Rib Wontons $18
Doenjang Miso-Cola-Onion Sauce, Crispy Garlic-Chili Oil, Radish, Pickled Lotus Root
This starter Andrew ordered was so good it stood out as his favorite. The tender meat was a perfect mix of spice, sweet, and savory all wrapped up in a delicate wonton. He is still dreaming of this dish.
Braised Beef Short Rib Wontons
SUSHI: Creamsicle Roll $23
Verlasso Salmon, Yellowtail, Jicama, Cream Cheese, Ikura, Jalapeno, Zesty Florida Citrus Sauce
With all of the starters Julie chose to enjoy a simple sushi roll for dinner. When she saw this Citrus inspired sushi she knew she had to try it. It was creamy, a little spicy, and the citrus sauce added a unique touch. It was refreshing and satisfying.
Creamiscle Sushi Roll
ENTREE: Oak-Fired Filet of Beef $59
Root Vegetable-Apple Pavé, Leek Fondue, Fig-Onion Demi
When visiting a high end restaurant Andrew typical sticks with one of his favorites: steak. And this meal was another winner. The high quality steak was cooked perfectly and the sauce was amazing. (He did trade out the side dish for some scalloped potatoes which were cheesy and delicious.
Oak-Fired Filet of Beef
DESSERT (complimentary)
Gelatin and mousse bites
We were so full of delicious food we opted to skip dessert but our server wouldn’t have it. He brought out this lovely little tray of bite size treats. They were fruity and delicious and the celebratory sprinkles were a nice touch.
A celebratory dessert at the California Grill.
Service
As a Signature Dining Experience and one of the flagship restaurants on property, you would expect the California Grill to have some of the best servers on property. On every visit here we have had exceptional service and this time we may have experienced one of the best servers yet.
Our server, Nasser (from Morocco) was absolutely amazing. His recommendations were spot on, and he was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. He had perfect timing when it came to serving the various courses, and was very friendly and personable. We felt so special that night as he treated us to so many magical moments from the champagne and dessert, to even a special call from Mickey Mouse himself. Thank you Nasser for a memorable meal and we hope to request you on our next visit sometime soon!
Final Thoughts
From delicious and innovative food to exceptional service we both wholeheartedly agree that California Grill is a top choice when looking for a special meal on Disney property. We had a wonderful evening celebrating our anniversary and loved every minute. The views are gorgeous and the ambiance is perfect for adults looking for a special date night. The only thing that keeps us from coming back more often is the cost (which we still believe is completely worth it), it keeps California Grill as a special once in awhile meal for us, vs a regular spot to visit all the time. Thank you California Grill for an amazing evening.
A view from the viewing platform outside the California Grill.
One thing that many people love to enjoy while visiting Walt Disney World is food. We hate to admit it, but over the years we have usually ranked the Magic Kingdom at the bottom of the list for finding great restaurant options. But a few years back a new addition to the park quickly became a must do for us: Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen. This spot checks all the boxes for us: theming, good food, and great service. Read on to learn more about this must do spot that is perfect for adults dining in the Magic Kingdom…