California Grill Lounge

Ever since they started requiring you to get a fixed menu in the dining area we always try to get seats at the bar where everything is still a la carte. Matt waited on us and made some awesome drinks. Ordered lots of good food and it was all amazing. Stepped out at 10 to watch the fireworks then called it a night. Always a good time.

This review is for the lounge/bar seating at California Grill. This is located in the Contemporary resort on the 14th floor. The view here is beyond magical and gives you a wide eye view of Magic Kingdom, and the surrounding resorts. We will definitely have to come back here to have an actual dinner, which is a price fix meal and definitely on the higher end. This restaurant 100% needs a reservation BUT if you want to sit at the bar, you have the opportunity to do that. The check in desk is located on the 4th floor, you would go to the check in desk and ask if there are any bar seating available. Based on how busy they are you might be able to get in or you might need to wait a little bit.The first time we had to wait about 20 minutes and the second time we got in immediately. It really depends on the busiest of the bar. Once you get called you take the elevator to the top floor, the 14th floor and again are greeted by more cast members. They have your name on the ticket and will take you to the bar for your seat. The bar is pretty long and has about 20-25 seats. They do have a completely full bar with beer, wine, and all the liquors. Their wine list is pretty extensive as well.They have a few specialty drinks as well. The first time we went here my wife had Blueberry Lemon Drop Martini(Three Olives Blueberry Vodka, Lemon and Pomegranate Juices, Sugared Rim)She absolutely love lemon drop martini and adding the blueberry was a nice added touch. This last time she had the Icewine Martini(Belvedere Vodka, Inniskillin Vidal Icewine, Flame Raisins on the Vine)She thought it was so delicious and just a pretty drink. I ordered the Sonoma Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned both times.(Sonoma Distilling Co. Bourbon, Vanilla Maple Syrup, Angostura Bitters and Luxardo Gourmet Maraschino Cherries with an Orange Twist) Simply put... delicious drink. I love the vanilla maple syrup, it's definitely different addition to a classic drink.In addition to the drinks they have a small bar menu featuring food. They had a few sushi rolls, a charcutier board, pizza and then my absolute personal favorite, the braised short rib wontons. These came with 4 steamed wontons stuffed with braised beef. I literally cannot tell you how wonderful these were. I would actually go back here day after day just to order these. They had so much flavor, were cooked perfectly and were just absolutely delicious. They also had a special our bartender told us we could order. This was a goat cheese ravioli. This was one giant ravioli and was full of goat cheese with a broth over the top and a specialty mushroom. This was also delicious; my only wish was it had more than one ravioli. It was a very large ravioli, but it was so good, and I was sharing with my wife that I wanted more. I think we ordered well! If you order food, they also ask if you want the bread service, which is homemade sourdough bread served with a tomato jam and olive oil. This was really good, but the bread was a little hard and cold. I would have preferred warm bread, but I understand that they probably make large batches, so they are ready to go.All in all this is a fantastic place. If I am basing this off appetizers and drinks, I cannot even imagine how amazing the meal would be. We will definitely be making reservations next time for dinner. There is a thought that children are not allowed here but that is not true. For the price, I personally would not be bringing children but we are also at Walt Disney World. I would expect to see children here. I'm sure the price is different and have children's friendly items for the little ones. It is a little fancier, so they do encourage you to dress up and I did not see one person in shorts or jeans. I really feel the views, the food, the drinks really make this a fantastic place to dine. Even if you are not there during firework time, you can come back and go out to the patio deck. Just keep your receipt.Even if you just sat at the bar, you can come back and utilize the rooftop viewing of Magic Kingdom fireworks. This is a must stop!!!

This was the ultimate experience for fine dining. I would rate this as one of the top 10 meals I have ever had.We checked in and when called an elevator took us to the 15th floor. Our reservation was at 9:50, we were seated at a table next to the window to view the fireworks show from Magic Kingdom, had an option to view from outdoor terrace. They dimed the lights and ported sound into the restaurant when the fireworks started. What an experience. Our waiter Walter was such a gentleman, cheerfully brought orange and mint for our water, I later ordered a tasty Old Fashioned. Orange and mint is a baseline for what I tip, I like to drink lots of water. We chose from the 50th Anniversary Celebration Menu Cascade RollTuna, Salmon and Hamachi Poke, Jicama, Cucumber, Yuzu-Avocado Purée, Masago Arare, Soy GelCalifornia Grill Sushi Classic TripBlue Crab California Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, Spicy Kazan RollVery good, beautiful plating. Florida Black GrouperHerbed basmati rice, cashew chutney, bok choy, baby shitake, green curry-coconut nage a stock flavored with vegetables, white wine and herbs. I wanted to try something new, Walter suggested this. I have never had grouper before, it is a meaty white fish. I am not normally a fan of chutney however the cashew chutney with the green curry-coconut nage was a parade of new delicious flavors for me, this was the star of the meal. Oak Fired Filet of BeefBrown butter Chateau potatoes, San Juaquin Valley asparagus, Golden Raison Vinaigrette, Roasted tomato butter.Ordered medium rare, it came cold. Walter ordered another one immediately and it was a lot bigger and cooked perfectly. I have had many filets in my life, this is the best I have ever had. Earidescent Grand Marnier Crème BruleePineapple-Mango compote, hibiscus textures, toasted coconut, white chocolate. Crème brulee is my go-to dessert, a little boring maybe, but my favorite ice cream is vanilla. This dessert took it to another level. Lavender Sugar DoughnutsCoconut frozen dessert, blueberry gin jam, pistachio crumbleThis was amazing, never thought a doughnut could be so good. Walter comped us Cava wine from Spain, my wife does not drink so I had two glasses lucky me. Big kudos to Chef de Cuisine Robby Sayles.Service a 10 - Walter was gentleman and witty.Ambiance at 10 - see the fireworks Food at 10 - Chef de Cuisine Robby Sayles is the man, dishes plated beautifully. California Grill exceeds the hype, we will return.

Great place! Menu very well though out. Large place with vibrant colors and a view of Lake Buena Vista.

I would give California Grill Lounge a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. As with pretty much every Disney restaurant, the service is *top notch.* The view from up here is the best in all of WDW, and possibly the best in the entire state. The drink selection and quality are both outstanding. However, I would say that the food does not stand up to the quality of offerings at the other WDW "signature" restaurants we've eaten at, or even some of the resort's moderate restaurants. I would still recommend eating here, but more for the view than anything else. You probably first heard about California Grill because of its famous view. And, yes, that view is absolutely stunning. Not only is the sweeping vista that stretches from the Polynesian across Bay Lake to the Magic Kingdom one of the most beautiful sights any Disney fan can lay their eyes on, but the unique vantage point is an absolutely fascinating look into some of the "backstage" workings of the park. Every Disney fanatic owes it to themselves to eat at California Grill (including the Lounge) at least once just for the view (you would also be crazy not to stay or come back for Happily Ever After). So, don't let my review of the food stop you from doing that. Just know you may be a bit underwhelmed by what's on your plate.We chose the California Grill "Lounge" over the "restaurant" for two reasons: it's easier to "walk in" and eat here, and it's potentially cheaper if you don't order a full dinner (which you won't be expected to do, unlike in the restaurant). We arrived around 6:00pm on a Saturday night and had no problem getting a table by a window. By some measurements, the Lounge actually offers a better view than much of the restaurant's tables: even at the bar, every Lounge seat has a great view of the Magic Kingdom. Service was standard Disney: quick, thoughtful, attentive, and friendly. Our drinks came out quickly and tasted great.The menu at the Lounge is exactly the same as the restaurant, which is a nice benefit. We ordered a pizza and a charcuterie plate. Along with the bread and olive oil, it was more than enough food for a meal considering we had only eaten lunch 3 hours earlier. While the quantity of the food was ample, the taste was...mediocre. The bread did not taste super fresh and olive oil was a bit harsh tasting (it had some unidentifiable herbs in it). The pizza was about what I would expect to find at a sit down pizza chain: nothing special. The charcuterie plate was also so/so: while we liked a couple of the options on it, we ended up leaving a couple as well. One great benefit to eating at either the restaurant or the Lounge is that you can come back around 9:00pm with your receipt to watch "Happily Ever After" from one of the outdoor decks next to the restaurant, complete with the music, which is piped in and synced with the show. After grabbing a quick Dole Whip from the Polynesian for desert, we headed back and enjoyed the show from high atop the Contemporary Resort. Come for the service, come for the drinks, and definitely come for the view...but don't expect to be overly impressed by the food.

When in Disney World, I like to check out the magic kingdom fireworks whilst I eat an expensive, yet delicious, dinner.This spot checks all the boxes I require.The 50th anniversary menu selection is pretty comprehensive, so you can have your sushi for an appetizer and have your steak for your main.The dessert selection is eclectic, as the dessert is ordered focused on the historic desserts throughout Disney's storied past chef creations.I'll be back, as I always do.

Shrinkflation has really hit this establishment, the appetizers are very small. They have gotten smaller in the past three months. The entries are very good and the signature cocktails also are very good. The view of Magic Kingdom is great and the service is efficient and professional.

The California Grill on the top floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort is an excellent, top-notch, very expensive restaurant with good service. Some tables have a view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. We enjoyed our two white-tablecloth dinners there. I thought the food was better than at these sit down restaurants: the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom, La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot and the Brown Derby Hollywood Studios. One night I had very tasty sea bass and a soup. We shared some very good (and pretty) desserts. I can't recall what I ate the other night. Adjacent to the California Grill is a very narrow rooftop outdoor viewing platform from which restaurant guests (and perhaps hotel guests?) can view the Magic Kingdom fireworks. It might be 50 yards long and 20 feet wide. There are bannisters so it is safe for all ages.

Hung out here on my most recent trip to WDW, and absolutely recommend it. It is first-come first-served, so be prepared to possibly wait, but the bar is large, so it seats a fair number. I only had to wait maybe 5-10 minutes before going up. I've eaten at the Grill many times, but don't like the way that they've made it a forced Pre Fixe menu, so bar it was this trip. The service, food, and drinks were all amazing, and exactly what you'd expect for a fine dining experience. I had a Manhattan, Pizza, sushi, and a beer, and all were superb. Plus you get to watch the fireworks from the MK! My only complaint is that Disney management needs to actually enforce the dress code. I like to dress up, so wore a jacket and tie, but at the very least I believe they require a collared shirt, and nicer shorts or slacks, and I saw several people not adhering to this. It's disrespectful to those of us who do follow it, as well as the restaurant, plus it also shows a lack of self-respect. That aside, definitely do the Grill's Lounge on your next visit to WDW, 10 out of 10!

Top notch service by a lovely blonde lady!Amazing food with fresh product The view of the vastly was outstanding!The filet mignon was superb!Nice selection of wine The dessert was wonderful and very tasty do not miss the crème brûle with lemon and the banana caramel bar!A GEM