Arriving at Disney’s Contemporary Resort always feels special. This time, my husband Daryon and I weren’t checking in for a stay; we had a dinner date with our friends Rain and Todd. It was clear from the start this wouldn’t be just any meal.

Living in Orlando means our date nights and group outings are always an adventure. Picture a romantic dinner followed by fireworks, or maybe a sunset boat ride across Seven Seas Lagoon. At Walt Disney World, even a simple evening out turns into a grand event.

We rode the escalator to the second floor, checked in, then took a private elevator straight to the top. The anticipation built with every floor! When the doors opened, California Grill truly impressed us. The stunning panoramic views of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom Park immediately made us ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’. What a way to start!

A Look at the Menu

It’s tough to tear your eyes away from Cinderella Castle and Space Mountain, but eventually, our appetites guided us to the menu. Our charming server, Jim, explained that California Grill’s cuisine draws inspiration from fresh, seasonal ingredients. If you’ve dined here before, you know they update the menu multiple times a year, always offering new delights to try!

California Grill features a prix fixe menu, much like Cinderella’s Royal Table or Be Our Guest Restaurant. It costs $99 per person and includes three courses. Our group had diverse tastes, so we dove in to try a bit of everything.

What’s on the Prix Fixe Menu?

• The prix fixe menu at California Grill includes three courses: an appetizer (market inspirations), a main course (chef’s journey), and a delicious dessert (sweet creations).

Looking for Something Extra?

• Beyond the prix fixe, you can elevate your meal with deluxe wine pairings, special enhancements like Tiger Prawns, Lobster Tail, and Scallops, or choose from their fantastic signature cocktails.

Starting with the Bread

For me, the bread truly sets the tone for the entire meal. It’s that first hint of what’s to come! So, imagine my delight when our Warm Onion-Fennel Focaccia arrived, perfectly accompanied by extra virgin olive oil and salted butter.

It was incredibly fresh and simply delicious. We instantly knew this meal would be unforgettable.

Cocktail Break

Alongside that amazing focaccia, Rain and I enjoyed two stunning cocktails. I always love a drink served in a coupe, so the Honeycomb Fizz immediately caught my eye. This specialty cocktail is a new creation from California Grill’s bartender, Matt, and debuted with their updated June menu.

And wow, it did not disappoint! With the first sip, I knew this was my new favorite Disney cocktail. It offered a perfect balance of sweet and tart, thanks to its house-made lemon and honey syrup.

If you prefer darker spirits with a smoky finish, Rain highly recommends the Sonoma Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned she enjoyed. She described it as bold, yet incredibly smooth.

It’s the ideal drink for sipping while gazing dramatically out the windows, especially on a moody, rainy evening like ours, straight out of a music video.

Honeycomb Fizz Details:

• Casamigos Blanco Tequila, house-made lemon-honey syrup, peach nectar, and Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé.

Maple Bourbon Old-Fashioned Details:

• Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon, vanilla maple syrup, Angostura bitters, Luxardo gourmet maraschino cherries with an orange twist.

Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli

Surf & Turf Roll

Small Plates Worth Sharing

For most of us, the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli stole the show. It’s a California Grill classic for good reason! The flavors are simply incredible, and the ravioli serving is surprisingly generous.

I suspected this would be Daryon’s favorite, so I watched his reaction. He paused, surprised by the tomato-fennel broth, then his eyes widened with a big grin. “Wow,” he said, “the broth has such depth and really gives an extra kick to the pasta!”

Our first course was a huge success, and as it ended, we learned more about Lead Sushi Chef Jose and his amazing sushi creations:

• The team puts immense dedication into each sushi roll, knowing it’s often a guest’s first taste of dinner.
• Chef Jose constantly researches global sushi trends, bringing the best practices from around the world to California Grill.
• Keep an eye out! You might even find a Hidden Mickey on your plate.

Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli:

• Organic Mixed Mushroom Ragoût, Tomato-Fennel Broth, California Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Seasonal Flatbread:

• Chef-inspired Creation featuring Seasonal Ingredients.

Surf & Turf Roll:

• Wagyu Beef, Soft-shell Crab, Yuzu-Avocado Purée, Soy Gel.

Spicy Kazan Roll:

• Blue Crab, Ebi Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Fireball Sauce.

Seared Market Fish

Cioppino

Pan-roasted Carrot Gnocchi

The Main Course

When all four plates arrived, it was a feast for both our eyes and our stomachs! We chose a variety of entrées to share, from plant-based pasta to fresh seafood and a beautiful steak. Jim, our server, helped us select the perfect wine pairing for each dish.

Pan-roasted Carrot Gnocchi:

• Toasted Pistachios, Agave-Citrus-glazed Baby Carrots, Pesto Sauce, Carrot Hummus.
• Wine Pairing: Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County ’23.

Wagyu Strip Loin:

• Corn, Beef Tallow-Herb Fingerling Potatoes, Grilled Green Garlic, Salsa Macha.
• Wine Pairing: Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ’23.

Seared Market Fish:

• Wax Beans, Ancient Grains, English Peas, Marcona Almond, Meyer Lemon-Caper Butter Sauce.
• Wine Pairing: Trimbach “Cuvée Frédéric Émile” Riesling, Alsace ’19.

Cioppino:

• Black Bass, Clams, Shrimp, Calamari, Mussels, Crispy Garlic Chips, Sourdough Crouton.
• Wine Pairing: Nickel & Nickel Bear Trach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ’23.

The Pan-roasted Carrot Gnocchi completely changed my perspective. I never knew I loved carrots this much! This dish truly left its mark; I might just pester the Disney Eats team for its recipe daily.

Magic Kingdom Firework Break

As the sky darkened, other diners headed to the private outdoor viewing area. This could only mean one thing: Happily Ever After was about to begin!

Jim invited us to take our wine and join the other guests outside. It felt so intimate, gathering on the balcony, eagerly awaiting the start of Magic Kingdom’s nighttime spectacular.

With a “Ready to begin…” the voices of Jordan Fisher and Angie Keilhauer filled the air as fireworks burst across the sky. While I usually love hearing I Can Go the Distance, that night, nothing beat watching Rain and Todd sing along to each other.

The 18-minute show flew by. Starstruck, we returned to our table, ready for dessert.

Insider Tip: Firework Viewing!

• Dining at California Grill always includes a fantastic firework viewing experience (weather permitting). Even if your dinner finishes before showtime, you’re welcome to return to the restaurant to watch Happily Ever After!

Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée

Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake

Blueberry-Goat Cheese Cheesecake

Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée

A Sweet Treat to End the Evening

Got a sweet tooth? This part’s for you! I knew heading to California Grill meant I’d need my stretchy pants – I wasn’t missing a single bite, especially dessert.

Instead of ordering duplicates, we each picked a different dessert, creating our own amazing tasting experience right in the middle of the table.

Just like with our main courses, each dessert came with a recommended wine pairing, expertly chosen to enhance every sweet flavor.

Celebration of Citrus:

• Meyer Lemon, Olive Oil-Poppy Seed Cake, Blood Orange Gel, Yuzu Curd.
• Dessert Wine Pairing: Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs.

Blueberry-Goat Cheese Cheesecake:

• Blueberry Meringue, Vanilla Chantilly, Raspberry Coulis, Goat Cheese Mousse.
• Dessert Wine Pairing: Dolce Late Harvest, Napa Valley ’21.

Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake:

• Spiced Chocolate Crémeux, Ancho Chile-Caramel Sauce, Candied Nut Crumble (Plant-based).
• Dessert Wine Pairing: Inniskillin Icewine Vidal, Niagara Estate ’24.

Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée:

• with Seasonal Fruit.
• Dessert Wine Pairing: Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszú ’18.

Surprisingly, we all had different favorites from this round. My favorite was the Celebration of Citrus because of the fresh, lemon flavor that felt nice and light after a big meal, but we all had thoughts on why the other three were also the best way to top off the evening. The Blueberry-Goat Cheese Cheesecake was perfect for Daryon, and he’d suggest it to anyone else looking for a more decadent dessert.

Chocolate lovers? Todd would recommend you try the Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake, which somehow felt rich without feeling heavy. He let us know that the combo of chocolate and coffee seemed like a partnership we’d want to cover in the Perfect Pairings series on the blog. And he’s not wrong!

But let’s not forget the Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée because it’s a classic for a reason. At our table, Rain won the privilege of breaking the hard outer shell. With a satisfying snap, we all dove into this timeless option, ensuring there was sugar and custard in every bite.

Our Favorite Bites and Sips

Laura’s Top Picks:

• Appetizer: Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli
• Entree: Pan-Roasted Gnocchi
• Dessert: Celebration of Citrus

Daryon’s Top Picks:

• Appetizer: Spicy Kazan Roll
• Entree: Wagyu Strip Loin
• Dessert: Blueberry-Goat Cheese Cheesecake

Rain’s Top Picks:

• Appetizer: Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli
• Entree: Seared Market Fish
• Dessert: Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée

Todd’s Top Picks:

• Appetizer: Seasonal Flatbread
• Entree: Cioppino
• Dessert: Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake

After an evening bursting with fireworks and incredible food, we slowly walked back to our cars, still reliving every moment. It was truly unforgettable.

Since that night, our group chat has been buzzing – California Grill is officially our go-to spot for special occasions at Disney World. I really hope you visit on your next trip; and please, tell Jim we said hello!