As Walt Disney World winds down its 50th anniversary celebrations, the California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort ends its special 50th menu and debuts a new 3-course prix fixe menu for guests to enjoy. The Menu Chef de Cuisine Matthew Birch and his culinary team… Read More »Walt Disney World’s California Grill Debuts New Prix Fixe Menu
Disney posted an announcement that the special Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Menu at the California Grill restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be ending on March 31, 2023, and we have details on what is replacing it. The Details The Walt Disney World 50th… Read More »Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Menu to End at California Grill on March 31, 2023
The California Grill sits atop Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and is one of the dining jewels at Walt Disney World. We’re happy to report that starting May 26, it will be adding eight new dishes to its menu, many of which will be plant-based to diversify… Read More »California Grill at Walt Disney World Updates Menu with More Plant-Based Dishes and Seasonal Flavors
It appears that the California Grill restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be hosting a special dining experience in honor of Walt Disney World‘s 50th anniversary celebration. A message on the restaurant’s page at the park’s website states that reservations for California Grill will not… Read More »California Grill to Offer Special Dining Experience for Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary
One of Walt Disney World’s most popular and loved restaurants just got better. California Grill offers the chance to have a spectacular meal with an equally spectacular view atop Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Disney is now opening that view and those flavors up to more guests… Read More »California Grill adds ‘Brunch at the Top’
California Grill, which underwent a nine-month refurbishment last year, opened back up in the fall. You’ll now find shades of yellow, blue, orange and red, along with dark wood and nods to famed Imagineer Mary Blair. The effect is both chic and comfortable at the same time. And of course, you’ll still enjoy that spectacular view.
With an entirely new look, it’s not surprising that the menu has changed a bit as well. While the menu has some incredible new additions (hello, banana fritters with salted caramel sauce, I’ll see you in two weeks), I’m going to focus here on two standbys that guests have grown to love over the past few decades: The filet and the pork loin.
Read More »California Grill’s Old Favorites Get Updated
I have a confession to make: I’ve been having a deep, personal relationship with the pork two-ways from California Grill. You may say “Oh, it’s just another pretty dish” or “How can it be any better than its previous incarnation, the pork loin?” Well, it’s better, trust me. And it’s completely worthy of its own post.
If you dined at the California Grill before the recent refurbishment, you know that the pork loin was its number one dish for two decades. It was simple peasant food really, just a basic polenta flavored with goat cheese and topped with a few slices of lightly seasoned tenderloin and some button mushrooms. It’s simplicity, of course, was also what made it perfect. But while it was filling and satisfying, it had gotten a little bit boring. In recent years, I’d found myself straying over to the scallops or, if I was feeling especially adventurous, the sushi. It, not unlike the décor and the overall feel of the rest of the restaurant, was in serious need of an overhaul.
When the California Grill opened back up a few weeks ago, I was pleased to see that they had updated, but not removed entirely, some of its best dishes, the pork being one of them. Now you’ll get a smaller serving of pork loin topped with fried sage and another serving of pork belly. Pork belly, you say? Think a big square of bacon. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.Read More »Pork Two Ways at the California Grill: An Old Friend Returns, Only Better.
Disney’s particular brand of magic does not usually require augmentation with spirits, unless you’re at the Haunted Mansion, but when I dine out at a nice restaurant like Disney’s California Grill, I do enjoy a glass of wine or a well-crafted cocktail with my meal.… Read More »Exploring California Grill’s New Beverage Menu